Tim Sheridan, wearing a headset containing sensors for the forehead and earlobes to measure brainwave activity, uses his mind to raise a small purple foam ball as he demonstrates the Mindflex game at the Mattel display at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 8, 2009.
It's not magic, but rather the latest game from toy maker Mattel, which allows players to move a ball around an obstacle course by using just their powers of concentration.
Focusing on the ball causes a fan in the base of the game -- called Mind Flex -- to start up and lift the ball on a gentle stream of air. Break your concentration and the ball descends.
Once a player has the ball in the air they need to try to weave it through hoops, towers and other obstacles.
"It's a mind-eye coordination game," said Mattel's Tim Sheridan. "As you relax you'll find that the ball drops."
Mind Flex relies on EEG technology to measure brain wave activity through a headset equipped with sensors for the forehead and earlobes.
The game, which will be available in September for 79.99 dollars, is being displayed by Mattel at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
But Mattel is not the only toy maker tapping into the power of the mind.
In a report this week USA Today newspaper said game maker Uncle Milton plans to release a similar game this year. Called "Force Trainer" it is named after "The Force" powers of Yoda and Luke Skywalker in the popular Star Wars films.
The game calls for players to lift a ball inside a transparent tube using their powers of concentration.
"It's been a fantasy everyone has had, using The Force," the daily quoted Howard Roffman, president of Lucas Licensing, as saying.
"Force Trainer" also uses electroencephalography, or EEG, to measure electrical activity in the brain recorded on a headset containing sensors.
A company called NeuroSky adapted the EEG technology for both games, according to USA Today.
2009/01/21
Tips on How to Find Love Before Valentine’s Day
Dreary feelings like confusion, frustration, tension, and sadness are some of the feelings we experience when we are out of balance. Love is an essential part of life, especially on Valentine’s Day. Life without love is like a tree without blossom and fruit, wrote Khalil Gibran.
Finding the one big love has always been an uphill battle. Think of this: there are approximately three billion men and women on the planet. Eliminating the old, the young and the already committed, this still leaves a substantial potential pool of perfectly precious people.
Love is the most beautiful feeling. It thrills the heart including other organs. So, do not bite your nails worrying, with the appropriate behavior, here are some tips on how to find love before Valentine’s Day.
Be fresh. Be clean and neat, inside and out. The feeling of cleanliness makes you comfortable to huddle up or to get close with anyone.
Do not put your image down. The first ingredient to dating success is self-confidence. In short, if you cannot convince yourself that you are such a charming, and appealing person, how can you convince others? Get rid of negative subconscious messages inside of you. Forget thoughts like “I am fat,” “I stammer,” or “I am short in height.” However, do not over do it, you might end up conceited or arrogant. Just be kind to yourself.
Be interesting and interested. You may not be very interested in computer games and you may want to hear more tips on cross-stitching, however, if you are open to the potentials in someone else’s world, you can find new and interesting surprises. Ask questions—this is the best cure for the anxiety of wondering what to talk about--or you can prepare a few in advance. Likewise, be a good listener. A great conversation is a good blend of talking and listening.
Make first contact short. Lunch date is brilliant. If it ends great, it means both of you want more. If it ends otherwise, the next thing to do is to wave goodbye. Remember, dating is gaining experience. Dating is a gracious activity.
Be yourself. Most people try to be someone else—usually a smarter, more likeable, more compelling version of themselves. Do not impart your darkest secrets or provide a detailed list of your worst fears. Be yourself means being you, without fretting about your perfection percentage. Things that make a first date truly memorable are the mental more than the physical connections.
Breathe. Relax. Do feel desperate if your date is not a contender for the Big Time. Appreciate the fact that your date took the time to meet you. If your date is not interesting enough, then it is time to move on.
When will love come? Some find love late. Some find love soon. Some find love with the rose in May and some with the nightingale in June, wrote Pakenham Beatty.
Dating is the look-see encounter. If the person wins your heart, or vice-versa, then your Valentine's Day will be special. If not, look back at the experience with appreciation and respect. For some love sings, for some love sighs, for some love's lips are dumb, added Pakenham Beatty.
Finding the one big love has always been an uphill battle. Think of this: there are approximately three billion men and women on the planet. Eliminating the old, the young and the already committed, this still leaves a substantial potential pool of perfectly precious people.
Love is the most beautiful feeling. It thrills the heart including other organs. So, do not bite your nails worrying, with the appropriate behavior, here are some tips on how to find love before Valentine’s Day.
Be fresh. Be clean and neat, inside and out. The feeling of cleanliness makes you comfortable to huddle up or to get close with anyone.
Do not put your image down. The first ingredient to dating success is self-confidence. In short, if you cannot convince yourself that you are such a charming, and appealing person, how can you convince others? Get rid of negative subconscious messages inside of you. Forget thoughts like “I am fat,” “I stammer,” or “I am short in height.” However, do not over do it, you might end up conceited or arrogant. Just be kind to yourself.
Be interesting and interested. You may not be very interested in computer games and you may want to hear more tips on cross-stitching, however, if you are open to the potentials in someone else’s world, you can find new and interesting surprises. Ask questions—this is the best cure for the anxiety of wondering what to talk about--or you can prepare a few in advance. Likewise, be a good listener. A great conversation is a good blend of talking and listening.
Make first contact short. Lunch date is brilliant. If it ends great, it means both of you want more. If it ends otherwise, the next thing to do is to wave goodbye. Remember, dating is gaining experience. Dating is a gracious activity.
Be yourself. Most people try to be someone else—usually a smarter, more likeable, more compelling version of themselves. Do not impart your darkest secrets or provide a detailed list of your worst fears. Be yourself means being you, without fretting about your perfection percentage. Things that make a first date truly memorable are the mental more than the physical connections.
Breathe. Relax. Do feel desperate if your date is not a contender for the Big Time. Appreciate the fact that your date took the time to meet you. If your date is not interesting enough, then it is time to move on.
When will love come? Some find love late. Some find love soon. Some find love with the rose in May and some with the nightingale in June, wrote Pakenham Beatty.
Dating is the look-see encounter. If the person wins your heart, or vice-versa, then your Valentine's Day will be special. If not, look back at the experience with appreciation and respect. For some love sings, for some love sighs, for some love's lips are dumb, added Pakenham Beatty.
German computer geeks learn to flirt
A university in Berlin is now offering 'Flirting courses' to budding IT engineers.
Even the most quirky of computer nerds can learn to flirt with finesse thanks to a new "flirting course" being offered to budding IT engineers at Potsdam University south of Berlin.
The 440 students enrolled in the master's degree course will learn how to write flirtatious text messages and emails, impress people at parties and cope with rejection.
Philip von Senftleben, an author and radio presenter who will teach the course, summed up his job as teaching how to "get someone else's heart beating fast while yours stays calm."
The course, which starts next Monday, is part of the social skills section of the IT course and is designed to ease entry into the world of work. Students also learn body language, public-speaking, stress management and presentation skills.
"We want to prepare our students with the social skills needed to succeed both in their private life and their work life," said Hans-Joachim Allgaier, a spokesman for the institute at Potsdam University where the course is being offered.
Even the most quirky of computer nerds can learn to flirt with finesse thanks to a new "flirting course" being offered to budding IT engineers at Potsdam University south of Berlin.
The 440 students enrolled in the master's degree course will learn how to write flirtatious text messages and emails, impress people at parties and cope with rejection.
Philip von Senftleben, an author and radio presenter who will teach the course, summed up his job as teaching how to "get someone else's heart beating fast while yours stays calm."
The course, which starts next Monday, is part of the social skills section of the IT course and is designed to ease entry into the world of work. Students also learn body language, public-speaking, stress management and presentation skills.
"We want to prepare our students with the social skills needed to succeed both in their private life and their work life," said Hans-Joachim Allgaier, a spokesman for the institute at Potsdam University where the course is being offered.
Can Money Make You Holy?
It's possible to have the wealth of a billionaire and the heart of a saint at the same time.
Is it possible to have the wealth of Bill Gates and the heart of Mother Teresa at the same time? Yes, it is very possible. It’s not going to be easy but great accomplishments doesn't come effortless. As Napoleon Hill said: Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness.
If the wealth will be used to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give shelter to the homeless, heal the sick; to care for and love people, then money can make you holy.
Money isn’t the root of evil, but the love of money is. Having great wealth is good, but wealth having you is not. Destruction of people, families and nations are sometimes caused by love of money. But money can also help spread love in this world. Money can be used to support God’s work on earth.
Recently, thee billionaires committed suicide. Why? It only mean one thing: The love of money can never answer the deepest longings of the soul. Only love can do that. Only God can do that.
Is it possible to have the wealth of Bill Gates and the heart of Mother Teresa at the same time? Yes, it is very possible. It’s not going to be easy but great accomplishments doesn't come effortless. As Napoleon Hill said: Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness.
If the wealth will be used to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give shelter to the homeless, heal the sick; to care for and love people, then money can make you holy.
Money isn’t the root of evil, but the love of money is. Having great wealth is good, but wealth having you is not. Destruction of people, families and nations are sometimes caused by love of money. But money can also help spread love in this world. Money can be used to support God’s work on earth.
Recently, thee billionaires committed suicide. Why? It only mean one thing: The love of money can never answer the deepest longings of the soul. Only love can do that. Only God can do that.
For jet-setters, a new way to get a restful night
Many people hate the idea of having to sleep on a plane. But Swedish entrepreneur Oscar Dios thinks they can be persuaded otherwise and he has created a new kind of hostel to prove it.
Dios says it is the world's first jumbo jet hostel, an actual jet-plane at Sweden's main airport outside Stockholm which has been converted into a 25-room guesthouse that sleeps as many as 72 people.
"I learned about this plane that was standing abandoned at Arlanda airport and I've been trying the concept of hostels in many different houses and buildings," he told reporters. "I thought, 'Why not a plane?'"
Jumbo Hostels opened for business on Thursday, giving customers the chance to check in and sleep in a room that can best be described as cozy.
"The most challenging part with this project is trying to build something inside a metal hull -- it's just really, really tight."
The jet, which was originally produced for Singapore Airlines, was taken out of service in 2002.
One thing the hostel has going for it is price -- a room starts at 350 Swedish crowns (about $41), which is a lot less than hotel rooms outside of major airports.
Another feature: customers can get married on the wing of the plane and reside in the plane's more luxurious honeymoon suite situated in the cockpit.
Instead of walking down the aisle, lovebirds can take what Jumbo Hostels calls the "wing walk," where they can be joined in bliss at the wing tip. The hostel has someone ready to perform the ceremony.
But in some respects, this hostel remains a plane -- most clients have to share the jet's nine bathrooms and staff only wear air steward and stewardess outfits. The only room that has its own bathroom is the honeymoon suite.
Dios says it is the world's first jumbo jet hostel, an actual jet-plane at Sweden's main airport outside Stockholm which has been converted into a 25-room guesthouse that sleeps as many as 72 people.
"I learned about this plane that was standing abandoned at Arlanda airport and I've been trying the concept of hostels in many different houses and buildings," he told reporters. "I thought, 'Why not a plane?'"
Jumbo Hostels opened for business on Thursday, giving customers the chance to check in and sleep in a room that can best be described as cozy.
"The most challenging part with this project is trying to build something inside a metal hull -- it's just really, really tight."
The jet, which was originally produced for Singapore Airlines, was taken out of service in 2002.
One thing the hostel has going for it is price -- a room starts at 350 Swedish crowns (about $41), which is a lot less than hotel rooms outside of major airports.
Another feature: customers can get married on the wing of the plane and reside in the plane's more luxurious honeymoon suite situated in the cockpit.
Instead of walking down the aisle, lovebirds can take what Jumbo Hostels calls the "wing walk," where they can be joined in bliss at the wing tip. The hostel has someone ready to perform the ceremony.
But in some respects, this hostel remains a plane -- most clients have to share the jet's nine bathrooms and staff only wear air steward and stewardess outfits. The only room that has its own bathroom is the honeymoon suite.
New Year pledge going up in smoke? You're not alone
Promised yourself to quit smoking in the new year, but just can't stop lighting up? You're not alone, with an Australian survey showing that only 3 percent of smokers who made such resolutions stuck with them.
An online poll of just over 1,000 people, conducted ahead of the launch of a video game designed to help smokers quit, showed one in four Australians made New Year's resolutions to quit -- but more than half went back on their word within a week.
Some 15 percent lit up within hours of making the pledge, the survey showed.
The research revealed that seven out of ten smokers have tried to kick the habit at some point.
"Our research shows that the majority of smokers in Australia want to quit but are struggling to stick to their resolution. For most people, the desire to stop smoking is not enough," Edward Fong, general manager of Ubisoft, the videogame manufacturer selling the anti-smoking software, said in a statement.
According to the survey, Australian smokers light up an average of 13.8 cigarettes every day or 5,037 cigarettes a year.
There are currently 2.63 million smokers in Australia, which equates to 16 percent of the population over the age of 18, with women on average making more attempts to quit than men.
The World Health Organization says smoking kills about 4 million people each year, causing a quarter of deaths related to heart disease.
The organization estimates that by 2030, more than 8 million people will die from tobacco-related causes each year, mainly in developing countries.
An online poll of just over 1,000 people, conducted ahead of the launch of a video game designed to help smokers quit, showed one in four Australians made New Year's resolutions to quit -- but more than half went back on their word within a week.
Some 15 percent lit up within hours of making the pledge, the survey showed.
The research revealed that seven out of ten smokers have tried to kick the habit at some point.
"Our research shows that the majority of smokers in Australia want to quit but are struggling to stick to their resolution. For most people, the desire to stop smoking is not enough," Edward Fong, general manager of Ubisoft, the videogame manufacturer selling the anti-smoking software, said in a statement.
According to the survey, Australian smokers light up an average of 13.8 cigarettes every day or 5,037 cigarettes a year.
There are currently 2.63 million smokers in Australia, which equates to 16 percent of the population over the age of 18, with women on average making more attempts to quit than men.
The World Health Organization says smoking kills about 4 million people each year, causing a quarter of deaths related to heart disease.
The organization estimates that by 2030, more than 8 million people will die from tobacco-related causes each year, mainly in developing countries.
Why Global Warming Portends a Food Crisis
It can be difficult in the middle of winter — especially if you live in the frigid Northeastern United States, like I do — to remain convinced that global warming will be such a bad thing. Beyond the fact that people prefer the warmth to the cold, there's a reason the world's population is clustered in the tropics and sub-tropics: warmer climates usually mean longer and richer growing seasons. So it's easy to imagine that on a warmer globe, the damage inflicted by more frequent and severe heat waves might be balanced by the agricultural benefits of warmer temperatures.
A comforting thought, except for one thing: it's not true. A study published in the Jan. 9 issue of Science shows that far from compensating for the other damages associated with climate change (heavier and more frequent storms, increasing desertification, sea level rise), hotter temperatures will seriously diminish the world's ability to feed itself. David Battisti, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Washington, and Rosamond Naylor, director of the Program for Food Security and the Environment at Stanford University, analyzed data from 23 different climate models and found a more than 90% chance that by the end of the century, average growing season temperatures would be hotter than the most extreme levels recorded in the past.
That means that barring a swift and sudden reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, by the end of the century an average July day will almost certainly be hotter than the hottest heat waves we experience now. And the extreme heat will wilt our crops. Battisti and Naylor looked at the effect that major heat waves had on agriculture in the past — like the ruthless heat in Western Europe during the summer of 2003 — and found that crop yields had suffered deeply. In Italy maize yields fell by 36% in 2003, compared with the previous year, and in France they fell by 30%. Similar impacts were seen during a major heat wave in 1972, which decimated farmers in the former Soviet Union, helping to push grain prices to worryingly high levels. If those trends hold in the future, the researchers estimate that half the world's population could face a climate-induced food crisis by 2100. "I'm very concerned," says Naylor. "How are we going to feed a world of eight or nine billion, with the effects of climate change?"
It's true that as temperatures warm, there is likely to be a temporary, beneficial effect on agriculture. (Like people, plants generally prefer the warmth to the cold, and they may flourish with rising levels of CO2.) But as research from Wolfram Schlenker at Columbia University shows, as average temperatures continue to warm, those benefits dwindle and then eventually reverse, and crop yields begin to decline. "It simply becomes too hot for the growing plants," says Naylor. "The heat damages the crops' ability to produce enough yield."
What's more, Battisti and Naylor are looking only at the impact of higher temperatures in their study — not at the possible impact of changing precipitation patterns. Yet many climatologists believe that global warming will make dry areas drier and further damage farming, which is especially dire news for sub-Saharan Africa, a region that already struggles with heat waves, droughts and famines, even as population continues to grow. "Climate change is going to be a major concern for Africa," says Nteranya Sanginga, the director of the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, in Nairobi. "We could lose whole growing seasons."
With these frightening predictions in mind, we need to try to heat-proof our agriculture. That can be accomplished by using crops that have proven resistant to extreme heat — like sorghum or millet — to breed hybrid crop varieties that are more capable of withstanding higher temperatures. We'll need to drop any squeamishness about consuming genetically modified crops — unless we can tap the power of genetics, we'll never feed ourselves in a warmer world. But we'll need to act quickly — it can take years to breed more heat-resistant species, and investment in agricultural research has shriveled in recent years.
We also need to focus on improving the agricultural productivity of those parts of the world that have been left behind by the Green Revolution — such as Africa, where average crop yields per acre remain well below those in Asia or the West. One simple way is to increase the amount of fertilizer available to African farmers. Sanginga notes that about 440 lbs. (200 kg) of nitrogen fertilizer is generally needed to grow five tons (5,000 kg) of maize, but the average African farmer can afford only 8 lbs. of fertilizer. We can also work on safeguarding the degraded soils of Africa, where almost 55% of the land is unsuitable for any kind of cultivated agriculture. Help is on the way: the African Soil Information Service is launching a real-time, digital map of sub-Saharan Africa's soils, which should allow farmers and policymakers to make better use of the continent's agricultural resources. "Farmers need to know when to invest, and when to hold back," says Sanginga, who is involved with the mapping project.
There's a limit, however, to our ability to adapt to climate change — we still need to reduce carbon emissions, sharply and soon. If we fail, a warmer future won't just be uncomfortable, it will be downright frightening. "We need to wake up and take care of this," says Naylor. "We won't have enough food to feed the world today, let alone tomorrow."
A comforting thought, except for one thing: it's not true. A study published in the Jan. 9 issue of Science shows that far from compensating for the other damages associated with climate change (heavier and more frequent storms, increasing desertification, sea level rise), hotter temperatures will seriously diminish the world's ability to feed itself. David Battisti, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Washington, and Rosamond Naylor, director of the Program for Food Security and the Environment at Stanford University, analyzed data from 23 different climate models and found a more than 90% chance that by the end of the century, average growing season temperatures would be hotter than the most extreme levels recorded in the past.
That means that barring a swift and sudden reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, by the end of the century an average July day will almost certainly be hotter than the hottest heat waves we experience now. And the extreme heat will wilt our crops. Battisti and Naylor looked at the effect that major heat waves had on agriculture in the past — like the ruthless heat in Western Europe during the summer of 2003 — and found that crop yields had suffered deeply. In Italy maize yields fell by 36% in 2003, compared with the previous year, and in France they fell by 30%. Similar impacts were seen during a major heat wave in 1972, which decimated farmers in the former Soviet Union, helping to push grain prices to worryingly high levels. If those trends hold in the future, the researchers estimate that half the world's population could face a climate-induced food crisis by 2100. "I'm very concerned," says Naylor. "How are we going to feed a world of eight or nine billion, with the effects of climate change?"
It's true that as temperatures warm, there is likely to be a temporary, beneficial effect on agriculture. (Like people, plants generally prefer the warmth to the cold, and they may flourish with rising levels of CO2.) But as research from Wolfram Schlenker at Columbia University shows, as average temperatures continue to warm, those benefits dwindle and then eventually reverse, and crop yields begin to decline. "It simply becomes too hot for the growing plants," says Naylor. "The heat damages the crops' ability to produce enough yield."
What's more, Battisti and Naylor are looking only at the impact of higher temperatures in their study — not at the possible impact of changing precipitation patterns. Yet many climatologists believe that global warming will make dry areas drier and further damage farming, which is especially dire news for sub-Saharan Africa, a region that already struggles with heat waves, droughts and famines, even as population continues to grow. "Climate change is going to be a major concern for Africa," says Nteranya Sanginga, the director of the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, in Nairobi. "We could lose whole growing seasons."
With these frightening predictions in mind, we need to try to heat-proof our agriculture. That can be accomplished by using crops that have proven resistant to extreme heat — like sorghum or millet — to breed hybrid crop varieties that are more capable of withstanding higher temperatures. We'll need to drop any squeamishness about consuming genetically modified crops — unless we can tap the power of genetics, we'll never feed ourselves in a warmer world. But we'll need to act quickly — it can take years to breed more heat-resistant species, and investment in agricultural research has shriveled in recent years.
We also need to focus on improving the agricultural productivity of those parts of the world that have been left behind by the Green Revolution — such as Africa, where average crop yields per acre remain well below those in Asia or the West. One simple way is to increase the amount of fertilizer available to African farmers. Sanginga notes that about 440 lbs. (200 kg) of nitrogen fertilizer is generally needed to grow five tons (5,000 kg) of maize, but the average African farmer can afford only 8 lbs. of fertilizer. We can also work on safeguarding the degraded soils of Africa, where almost 55% of the land is unsuitable for any kind of cultivated agriculture. Help is on the way: the African Soil Information Service is launching a real-time, digital map of sub-Saharan Africa's soils, which should allow farmers and policymakers to make better use of the continent's agricultural resources. "Farmers need to know when to invest, and when to hold back," says Sanginga, who is involved with the mapping project.
There's a limit, however, to our ability to adapt to climate change — we still need to reduce carbon emissions, sharply and soon. If we fail, a warmer future won't just be uncomfortable, it will be downright frightening. "We need to wake up and take care of this," says Naylor. "We won't have enough food to feed the world today, let alone tomorrow."
2009/01/18
BMW car sex manual, we also learn
(1) REMOVE SEAT BELTS.
(2) MOVE FRONT SEAT SLIGHTLY FORWARD.
(3) LOWER BACKREST,NOT QUITE ALL THE WAY.
(4) PUT SMALL PILLOW OR FOLDED CLOTHING ON SEAT BOTTOM:HELPS SOFTEN SEAT HINGE HITTING PARTNER'S BACK.
(5)MAKE SURE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS IN DOWN POSITION.
(6)THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM IN DOOR POCKETS FOR CLOTHES,PLEASE NOTE PHALLIC DESIGN OF DOOR PULLS.
(7)BE CAREFUL OF FEET ON DASHBOARD WHERE TOGGLE SWITCHES FOR WINDOWS AND LIGHTS ARE CLUSTERED.
(8)ALLOW FEET TO GAIN PURCHASE IN CUTOUT IN SIDE OF CENTRAL CONSOLE.
(9)THERE'S MORE ROOM ON PASSENGER SIDE,BUT DRIVER SIDE MIGHT WORK WITH FEMALE-ASTRIDE POSITION.
(10)DON'T WORRY ABOUT CAR ROCKING-THE SUSPENSION IS VERY STIFF.
----DONALD ERICKSON
Anchor Text : BMW Wheels
Link Url : http://www.bmwpartswheels.com/bmw-wheels-33/
BMW joint venture car project in China gets initial approval - report
The first stage in Bayerische Motoren Werke AG's joint venture plan to make cars in China has been approved by Chinese officials, Handelsblatt said, citing the Beijing-based official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party.
It said the next phase is for BMW to complete a feasibility study by end this year and sign a joint venture contract with local partner Brilliance.
The party's official newspaper said BMW will hold 50 pct in the joint venture. Billiance and the Chinese government will take 40 pct and 10 pct, respectively.
It said initial capacity is planned at 20,000 cars annually and 40,000 in the second phase.
(2) MOVE FRONT SEAT SLIGHTLY FORWARD.
(3) LOWER BACKREST,NOT QUITE ALL THE WAY.
(4) PUT SMALL PILLOW OR FOLDED CLOTHING ON SEAT BOTTOM:HELPS SOFTEN SEAT HINGE HITTING PARTNER'S BACK.
(5)MAKE SURE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS IN DOWN POSITION.
(6)THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM IN DOOR POCKETS FOR CLOTHES,PLEASE NOTE PHALLIC DESIGN OF DOOR PULLS.
(7)BE CAREFUL OF FEET ON DASHBOARD WHERE TOGGLE SWITCHES FOR WINDOWS AND LIGHTS ARE CLUSTERED.
(8)ALLOW FEET TO GAIN PURCHASE IN CUTOUT IN SIDE OF CENTRAL CONSOLE.
(9)THERE'S MORE ROOM ON PASSENGER SIDE,BUT DRIVER SIDE MIGHT WORK WITH FEMALE-ASTRIDE POSITION.
(10)DON'T WORRY ABOUT CAR ROCKING-THE SUSPENSION IS VERY STIFF.
----DONALD ERICKSON
Anchor Text : BMW Wheels
Link Url : http://www.bmwpartswheels.com/bmw-wheels-33/
BMW joint venture car project in China gets initial approval - report
The first stage in Bayerische Motoren Werke AG's joint venture plan to make cars in China has been approved by Chinese officials, Handelsblatt said, citing the Beijing-based official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party.
It said the next phase is for BMW to complete a feasibility study by end this year and sign a joint venture contract with local partner Brilliance.
The party's official newspaper said BMW will hold 50 pct in the joint venture. Billiance and the Chinese government will take 40 pct and 10 pct, respectively.
It said initial capacity is planned at 20,000 cars annually and 40,000 in the second phase.
France to aid immigrants in suburbs
New York Times
PARIS — President Nicolas Sarkozy promised Friday to tackle the problems of the nation's immigrant suburbs, vowing to send in 4,000 more police officers and aid for neighborhoods that have struggled with despair, violence and riots.
He pledged to begin the "de-ghettoization" of such neighborhoods with a busing plan to move children out of underperforming, segregated schools. He also announced a job-training program for 100,000 youths and "second chance" schools for young adults without diplomas.
Sarkozy also threatened a new battle against drug traffickers in the neighborhoods.
France's national postal service announced that it would stop delivering mail to some suburban neighborhoods because its employees had faced attacks on their routes.
Sarkozy, whose approval ratings have plunged recently, is seeking to deliver on a campaign pledge to create a "Marshall Plan" to revive the suburbs, where seething anger about discrimination and unemployment exploded across France in car burnings and clashes with the police in 2005 and last year.
PARIS — President Nicolas Sarkozy promised Friday to tackle the problems of the nation's immigrant suburbs, vowing to send in 4,000 more police officers and aid for neighborhoods that have struggled with despair, violence and riots.
He pledged to begin the "de-ghettoization" of such neighborhoods with a busing plan to move children out of underperforming, segregated schools. He also announced a job-training program for 100,000 youths and "second chance" schools for young adults without diplomas.
Sarkozy also threatened a new battle against drug traffickers in the neighborhoods.
France's national postal service announced that it would stop delivering mail to some suburban neighborhoods because its employees had faced attacks on their routes.
Sarkozy, whose approval ratings have plunged recently, is seeking to deliver on a campaign pledge to create a "Marshall Plan" to revive the suburbs, where seething anger about discrimination and unemployment exploded across France in car burnings and clashes with the police in 2005 and last year.
West and an absent Winehouse grab 4 Grammys each
LOS ANGELES — Amy Winehouse may have been physically absent from the Grammy awards on Sunday, but her presence was strong as the famously troubled singer won four awards, including song of the year for her autobiographical hit Rehab.
Kanye West, who had a leading eight nominations, also won four awards: best rap album for Graduation, best solo performance for Stronger, best rap song for Good Life and best rap performance by a duo or group for his collaboration with Common on Southside.
West delivered an electric, glow-in-the-dark rendition of Stronger, then segued into a stirring tribute to his mother, Donda West, who died unexpectedly last year at age 58. "Last night I saw you in my dreams, and now I can't wait to go to sleep," sang West, dressed in all black and with MAMA etched into his haircut, as he launched into Hey Mama, a celebratory tune from his second album that has now turned into a somber ode.
When West accepted the best rap album trophy, the orchestra was trying to play him off the stage when he began speaking about his mother.
"It would be in good taste to stop the music," West said — and the music stopped.
"I know you're really proud of me right now and I know you want me to be the No. 1 artist in the world and Mama," West continued, "all I'm going to do is keep making you proud. We run this."
One of the most anticipated moments was still to come — a satellite performance by Winehouse, who was sprung from a rehab center to sing for the show from a London studio. Besides song of the year and best new artist, she also won best pop vocal album for Back to Black and best female pop vocals.
The Grammys, celebrating its 50th year, emphasized its history with its very first performance. Alicia Keys, glammed-up with a '50s style, sat at the piano and sang Learnin' the Blues along with a black-and-white video performance from the late legend Frank Sinatra.
Frank Sinatra looked good for 150, didn't he, Prince joked moments later before introducing Alicia Keys as the winner for best female R&B vocal for her smash No One.
Later, the cast from Cirque Du Soleil's Love Beatles' show and the cast of the Beatles-inspired movie Across the Universe paid tribute to the Fab Four as Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow Olivia Harrison watched from the audience.
It was a hot-legs competition when Tina Turner teamed up with Beyonce on Proud Mary. The senior citizen kept up with her younger counterpart, showcasing her famous dance moves while wearing a tight-fitting silver bustier and pantsuit.
Carrie Underwood was an early performer with her revenge anthem, Before He Cheats, which earned two Grammys, including for best female country vocal performance.
Bruce Springsteen took three pre-show Grammys, including best rock song for Radio Nowhere. Other early winners included the White Stripes, Justin Timberlake and Mary J. Blige with two each, the Foo Fighters, Herbie Hancock and even Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama for best spoken-word album.
Though the pre-telecast ceremony, where most of the Grammys' 110 categories are doled out, is usually low on star-wattage, there were several big names on hand to accept their trophies, including Underwood, the Foos and Brad Paisley.
"You couldn't keep me from actually getting this myself — it's not the same when someone else gets this on your behalf," said Underwood.
In any other year, West would have been the main storyline thanks to his history of awards-show tirades, his huge album Graduation and the shocking death of his mother. But the absent Winehouse, up for six trophies, threatened to upstage West and everyone else.
The 24-year-old singer-somgwriter's personal life has fallen apart over the past year as her career blossomed. As the ceremony approached, suspense built over whether she would appear. She was rejected Thursday for a U.S. work visa, and Grammy producers arranged for her to perform via telecast. Soon afterward, the U.S. government reversed itself and approved Winehouse, but it was too late for her to make the cross-continental trek.
The retro-soul singer's top-selling American debut was also up for song and record of the year for Rehab.
Besides West and Winehouse, the other album of the year contenders were the Foo Fighters' Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace, Vince Gill's These Days, and Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters.
For record of the year, Winehouse's Rehab was competing against Beyonce's Irreplaceable, Rihanna's Umbrella, The Pretender by the Foo Fighters and Justin Timberlake's What Goes Around ... Comes Around.
Kanye West, who had a leading eight nominations, also won four awards: best rap album for Graduation, best solo performance for Stronger, best rap song for Good Life and best rap performance by a duo or group for his collaboration with Common on Southside.
West delivered an electric, glow-in-the-dark rendition of Stronger, then segued into a stirring tribute to his mother, Donda West, who died unexpectedly last year at age 58. "Last night I saw you in my dreams, and now I can't wait to go to sleep," sang West, dressed in all black and with MAMA etched into his haircut, as he launched into Hey Mama, a celebratory tune from his second album that has now turned into a somber ode.
When West accepted the best rap album trophy, the orchestra was trying to play him off the stage when he began speaking about his mother.
"It would be in good taste to stop the music," West said — and the music stopped.
"I know you're really proud of me right now and I know you want me to be the No. 1 artist in the world and Mama," West continued, "all I'm going to do is keep making you proud. We run this."
One of the most anticipated moments was still to come — a satellite performance by Winehouse, who was sprung from a rehab center to sing for the show from a London studio. Besides song of the year and best new artist, she also won best pop vocal album for Back to Black and best female pop vocals.
The Grammys, celebrating its 50th year, emphasized its history with its very first performance. Alicia Keys, glammed-up with a '50s style, sat at the piano and sang Learnin' the Blues along with a black-and-white video performance from the late legend Frank Sinatra.
Frank Sinatra looked good for 150, didn't he, Prince joked moments later before introducing Alicia Keys as the winner for best female R&B vocal for her smash No One.
Later, the cast from Cirque Du Soleil's Love Beatles' show and the cast of the Beatles-inspired movie Across the Universe paid tribute to the Fab Four as Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow Olivia Harrison watched from the audience.
It was a hot-legs competition when Tina Turner teamed up with Beyonce on Proud Mary. The senior citizen kept up with her younger counterpart, showcasing her famous dance moves while wearing a tight-fitting silver bustier and pantsuit.
Carrie Underwood was an early performer with her revenge anthem, Before He Cheats, which earned two Grammys, including for best female country vocal performance.
Bruce Springsteen took three pre-show Grammys, including best rock song for Radio Nowhere. Other early winners included the White Stripes, Justin Timberlake and Mary J. Blige with two each, the Foo Fighters, Herbie Hancock and even Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama for best spoken-word album.
Though the pre-telecast ceremony, where most of the Grammys' 110 categories are doled out, is usually low on star-wattage, there were several big names on hand to accept their trophies, including Underwood, the Foos and Brad Paisley.
"You couldn't keep me from actually getting this myself — it's not the same when someone else gets this on your behalf," said Underwood.
In any other year, West would have been the main storyline thanks to his history of awards-show tirades, his huge album Graduation and the shocking death of his mother. But the absent Winehouse, up for six trophies, threatened to upstage West and everyone else.
The 24-year-old singer-somgwriter's personal life has fallen apart over the past year as her career blossomed. As the ceremony approached, suspense built over whether she would appear. She was rejected Thursday for a U.S. work visa, and Grammy producers arranged for her to perform via telecast. Soon afterward, the U.S. government reversed itself and approved Winehouse, but it was too late for her to make the cross-continental trek.
The retro-soul singer's top-selling American debut was also up for song and record of the year for Rehab.
Besides West and Winehouse, the other album of the year contenders were the Foo Fighters' Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace, Vince Gill's These Days, and Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters.
For record of the year, Winehouse's Rehab was competing against Beyonce's Irreplaceable, Rihanna's Umbrella, The Pretender by the Foo Fighters and Justin Timberlake's What Goes Around ... Comes Around.
How New York Became America’s Largest City
In the 18th century New York was smaller than Philadelphia and Boston. Today it is the largest city in America. How can the change in its size and importance be explained？
To answer this question we must consider certain facts about geography， history，and economics. Together these three will explain the huge growth of America’s most famous city.
The map of the Northeast shows that four of the most heavily populated areas in this region are around seaports. At these points materials from across the sea enter the United States， and the product of the land are sent there for export across the sea.
Economists know that places where transportation lines meet are good places for making raw materials into finished goods. That is why seaports often have cities nearby. But cities like New York needed more than their geographical location in order to become great industrial centers. Their development did not happen simply by chance.
About 1815，when many Americans from the east coast had already moved toward the west，trade routes from the ports to the central regions of the country began to be a serious problem. The slow wagons of that time，drawn by horses or oxen，were too expensive for moving heavy freight very far. Americans had long admired Europe’s canals. In New York State a canal seemed the best solution to the transportation problem. From the eastern end of Lake Erie all the way across the state to the Hudson River there is a long strip of low land. Here the Erie Canal was constructed. After several years of work it was completed in 1825.
The canal produced an immediate effect. Freight costs were cut to about one-tenth of what had been. New York City，which had been smaller than Philadelphia and Boston， quickly became the leading city of the coast. In the years that followed， transportation routes on the Great Lakes were joined to routes on the Mississippi River. Then New York City became the end point of a great inland shipping system that extended from the Atlantic Ocean far up the western branches of the Mississippi.
The coming of the railroads made canal shipping less important，but it tied New York even more closely to the central regions of the country. It was easier for people in the central states to ship their goods to New York for export overseas.
Exports from New York were greater than imports. Consequently，shipping companies were eager to fill their ships with passengers on the return trip from Europe. Passengers could come from Europe very cheaply as a result.
Thus New York became the greatest port for receiving people from European countries. Many of these people remained in the city. Others stayed in New York for a few weeks，months，or years，and then moved to other parts of the United States. For these great number of new Americans New York had to provide homes， goods， and services. Their labor helped the city be come great.
How New York Became America’s Largest City
New York was once smaller than Philadelphia and Boston，but now it is America’s largest city because of geography，history and economics.
New York was located at the seaport where materials were imported to the US and the products of the US were sent abroad across the sea. The city was further developed when the Erie Canal was completed in 1825.This linked Lake Erie to New York via the Hudson River and the cost of transporting goods to those who had settled inland was cut down. In addition， the Great Lakes were soon linked to the Mississippi. Later，railroads tied New York closer to the central states，whose goods were exported via New York. Fewer goods were imported，so cheap passages were available from Europe. New York became the main port for receiving Europeans，many of whom stayed in the city and helped it become great.
To answer this question we must consider certain facts about geography， history，and economics. Together these three will explain the huge growth of America’s most famous city.
The map of the Northeast shows that four of the most heavily populated areas in this region are around seaports. At these points materials from across the sea enter the United States， and the product of the land are sent there for export across the sea.
Economists know that places where transportation lines meet are good places for making raw materials into finished goods. That is why seaports often have cities nearby. But cities like New York needed more than their geographical location in order to become great industrial centers. Their development did not happen simply by chance.
About 1815，when many Americans from the east coast had already moved toward the west，trade routes from the ports to the central regions of the country began to be a serious problem. The slow wagons of that time，drawn by horses or oxen，were too expensive for moving heavy freight very far. Americans had long admired Europe’s canals. In New York State a canal seemed the best solution to the transportation problem. From the eastern end of Lake Erie all the way across the state to the Hudson River there is a long strip of low land. Here the Erie Canal was constructed. After several years of work it was completed in 1825.
The canal produced an immediate effect. Freight costs were cut to about one-tenth of what had been. New York City，which had been smaller than Philadelphia and Boston， quickly became the leading city of the coast. In the years that followed， transportation routes on the Great Lakes were joined to routes on the Mississippi River. Then New York City became the end point of a great inland shipping system that extended from the Atlantic Ocean far up the western branches of the Mississippi.
The coming of the railroads made canal shipping less important，but it tied New York even more closely to the central regions of the country. It was easier for people in the central states to ship their goods to New York for export overseas.
Exports from New York were greater than imports. Consequently，shipping companies were eager to fill their ships with passengers on the return trip from Europe. Passengers could come from Europe very cheaply as a result.
Thus New York became the greatest port for receiving people from European countries. Many of these people remained in the city. Others stayed in New York for a few weeks，months，or years，and then moved to other parts of the United States. For these great number of new Americans New York had to provide homes， goods， and services. Their labor helped the city be come great.
How New York Became America’s Largest City
New York was once smaller than Philadelphia and Boston，but now it is America’s largest city because of geography，history and economics.
New York was located at the seaport where materials were imported to the US and the products of the US were sent abroad across the sea. The city was further developed when the Erie Canal was completed in 1825.This linked Lake Erie to New York via the Hudson River and the cost of transporting goods to those who had settled inland was cut down. In addition， the Great Lakes were soon linked to the Mississippi. Later，railroads tied New York closer to the central states，whose goods were exported via New York. Fewer goods were imported，so cheap passages were available from Europe. New York became the main port for receiving Europeans，many of whom stayed in the city and helped it become great.
Career or Family
Which is more important? When asked about their opinion of career and family, people always respond differently.
Some people deem it more important to pursue their career, while there are always other people argue that family should be the number one in one’s life. It goes without any question that career plays a key role in our life.
In the very first place, career can give us an aim to live on. Without career, much of our living time will be certainly wasted. What’s more, career can provide us with a means to live on. Most of the people earn their income from a job.
On the other hand, family is also an indispensable part of life, as many people will admit. Family is always regarded as a place where we can escape from troubles in life. In addition, we can obtain a sense of belonging to from family. Without it, anyone will fell lonely and desperate.
In my opinion, career and family are not in opposition to each other. Rather, they can enhance each other so that one’s life can become better and better. Therefore, it is not a choice between right and wrong, but one between ideal and practical.
Some people deem it more important to pursue their career, while there are always other people argue that family should be the number one in one’s life. It goes without any question that career plays a key role in our life.
In the very first place, career can give us an aim to live on. Without career, much of our living time will be certainly wasted. What’s more, career can provide us with a means to live on. Most of the people earn their income from a job.
On the other hand, family is also an indispensable part of life, as many people will admit. Family is always regarded as a place where we can escape from troubles in life. In addition, we can obtain a sense of belonging to from family. Without it, anyone will fell lonely and desperate.
In my opinion, career and family are not in opposition to each other. Rather, they can enhance each other so that one’s life can become better and better. Therefore, it is not a choice between right and wrong, but one between ideal and practical.
The Computer Versus The Human Brain
Today we are living in a time when technology progresses by leaps and bounds every day and every month. The computer is playing an increasingly important role in the society. With the computer you can conduct scientific statistical analyses, surf the internet and get useful information, and undertake some virtual experiments. You can also watch movies, listen to music, and play video games. We may say that the computer is indispensable to our life. Someone even hold the belief that the computer may replace the human brain one day in people’s life, work, and every other respect. Despite all the advantages of the computer, it is no match to the human brain.
It is undeniable that the computer becomes more intelligent as technology develops with each passing day. The computer can conduct data processing at the speed of 280.6 TFLOPS (trillion floating point operations per second) which is much faster than the human brain does. It can be applied to robots so that these intelligent robots can sing, dance, and do some hard manual or poisonous job for men. These may lead to the thought that the computer can substitute the human brain. In terms of intelligence, the human brain is the father of the intelligent computer. The human brain is an inexhaustible well of intelligence and it is creative, while the computer just passively receives the intelligence from the human brain, like a tool to actualize the human brain’s intelligence.
We all know that the computer is just a cold machine and cannot communicate with the users or the communication is unilateral. But the human brain has a lot of emotions—happiness, anger, sorrows and so on. Only the human brain can listen to you and understand you when you are in trouble. The computer, lifeless and mechanical, which can only do what people tell it to do, will hardly be emotional. Due to the down sides of the computer, it is second to the human brain as far as emotion is concerned.
To sum up, the computer is inferior to the human brain. So, those who still hold the wrong opinion, correct yourself and free your own intelligence and creation. Don’t rely on the computer too much.
It is undeniable that the computer becomes more intelligent as technology develops with each passing day. The computer can conduct data processing at the speed of 280.6 TFLOPS (trillion floating point operations per second) which is much faster than the human brain does. It can be applied to robots so that these intelligent robots can sing, dance, and do some hard manual or poisonous job for men. These may lead to the thought that the computer can substitute the human brain. In terms of intelligence, the human brain is the father of the intelligent computer. The human brain is an inexhaustible well of intelligence and it is creative, while the computer just passively receives the intelligence from the human brain, like a tool to actualize the human brain’s intelligence.
We all know that the computer is just a cold machine and cannot communicate with the users or the communication is unilateral. But the human brain has a lot of emotions—happiness, anger, sorrows and so on. Only the human brain can listen to you and understand you when you are in trouble. The computer, lifeless and mechanical, which can only do what people tell it to do, will hardly be emotional. Due to the down sides of the computer, it is second to the human brain as far as emotion is concerned.
To sum up, the computer is inferior to the human brain. So, those who still hold the wrong opinion, correct yourself and free your own intelligence and creation. Don’t rely on the computer too much.
Boys And Girls
Boys like fighting; girls like dressing.
Boys like beauties; girls like handsome guys.
When we talk about the taste of man, it is full of sweat smell; when we talk about the aroma of woman, it is full of sweet smell.
Boys always make troubles for their parents; girls always earn praise for their parents.
Boys always stand when they piss; no matter they make water or have a bowel movement, they squat.
Most of the boys have short hair, except F4; most of the girls wear braids, except “Super Girls”.
Even in hot summer days, girls always wear more clothes than boys.
Each month, girls feel ill at ease in that certain week; boys always have several special nights in those uncertain days.
Boys are called men when grow up; girls are called women when they reach maturity.
Women have the contraction when are delivering a baby; men are scared by their cursing.
Men like cheating; women are likely to be cheated.
When a girl tells you she loves you, indeed; when a boy tells you he loves you, be careful!
The reason why I am a boy is that I like what I am now. I have made a great deal with our Almighty God that If I want to be a guy in next life, I should respect females and take care of them in this life.
I am trying.
Boys like beauties; girls like handsome guys.
When we talk about the taste of man, it is full of sweat smell; when we talk about the aroma of woman, it is full of sweet smell.
Boys always make troubles for their parents; girls always earn praise for their parents.
Boys always stand when they piss; no matter they make water or have a bowel movement, they squat.
Most of the boys have short hair, except F4; most of the girls wear braids, except “Super Girls”.
Even in hot summer days, girls always wear more clothes than boys.
Each month, girls feel ill at ease in that certain week; boys always have several special nights in those uncertain days.
Boys are called men when grow up; girls are called women when they reach maturity.
Women have the contraction when are delivering a baby; men are scared by their cursing.
Men like cheating; women are likely to be cheated.
When a girl tells you she loves you, indeed; when a boy tells you he loves you, be careful!
The reason why I am a boy is that I like what I am now. I have made a great deal with our Almighty God that If I want to be a guy in next life, I should respect females and take care of them in this life.
I am trying.
Feelings After Diagnosis
Sometimes in trying to find reasons why cancer has happened you may blame yourself or other people for your illness. This may be because you feel better if you know why something has happened.
Although asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma, a number of other factors play a role. A large part is pure chance . some people are genetically predisposed to developing a mesothelioma cancer. In addition, workers exposed to asbestos years ago were not informed of the dangers involved, and even
a single strand of asbestos is sufficient to trigger a mesothelioma cancer. With the widespread use of asbestos, this was simply impossible to completely avoid. It may be difficult to not blame yourself, but sharing your feelings with others may help.
Why Me?
It is also common to be angered by people who do not have mesothelioma. You may ask why you have been .singled out. instead of someone else. Family and friends may also be angry with you or your illness for interfering with their lives. It helps to express your feelings to discuss them openly. Bottling it up may make everyone feel upset and cross.
Leave Me Alone
There may be times during your illness when you want to be left alone to sort out your own feelings. This can be hard for family and friends who may not understand how you feel, and want to share this difficult time with you. You can make it easier for them by telling them that
You don't feel like talking about your illness now, but you will talk to them when you do.
You still care about them even if you do not want to talk about your illness.
Depression
Depression can be immediately triggered by a malignant mesothelioma diagnosis. It may be difficult to think clearly or participate in everyday activies, or even get out of bed in the morning. Your treatment provider can explain that these feelings are normal, and may prescribe a course of drugs or refer you to a doctor specializing in cancer treatment. Again, seeking help for depression is not a sign of weakness, it is simply a normal reaction.
Positive Thinking
"Be positive" is a common piece of advice for mesothelioma patients. However, if you have recently been diagnosed, you know it is not that simple. Life after a mesothelioma diagnosis can be frightening, and there will be times that you fear for your future.
In many cases, mesothelioma patients are frightened about how they might die and what will happen to their families. These emotions are completely normal and extremely difficult to deal with. You will undoubtedly hear from friends and family members to stay positive during these trying times. It is important to remember that being positive doesn.t necessarily mean be cheerful and optimistic. It can even include feelings of fear or being upset. However, these feelings can be a sign of strength and may reflect your courage in dealing with your future.
Being positive may include allowing your full range of feelings to be expressed. It is, perhaps, more about being able to balance the bad with the good, and not allowing negative emotions overwhelm you.
Although asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma, a number of other factors play a role. A large part is pure chance . some people are genetically predisposed to developing a mesothelioma cancer. In addition, workers exposed to asbestos years ago were not informed of the dangers involved, and even
a single strand of asbestos is sufficient to trigger a mesothelioma cancer. With the widespread use of asbestos, this was simply impossible to completely avoid. It may be difficult to not blame yourself, but sharing your feelings with others may help.
Why Me?
It is also common to be angered by people who do not have mesothelioma. You may ask why you have been .singled out. instead of someone else. Family and friends may also be angry with you or your illness for interfering with their lives. It helps to express your feelings to discuss them openly. Bottling it up may make everyone feel upset and cross.
Leave Me Alone
There may be times during your illness when you want to be left alone to sort out your own feelings. This can be hard for family and friends who may not understand how you feel, and want to share this difficult time with you. You can make it easier for them by telling them that
You don't feel like talking about your illness now, but you will talk to them when you do.
You still care about them even if you do not want to talk about your illness.
Depression
Depression can be immediately triggered by a malignant mesothelioma diagnosis. It may be difficult to think clearly or participate in everyday activies, or even get out of bed in the morning. Your treatment provider can explain that these feelings are normal, and may prescribe a course of drugs or refer you to a doctor specializing in cancer treatment. Again, seeking help for depression is not a sign of weakness, it is simply a normal reaction.
Positive Thinking
"Be positive" is a common piece of advice for mesothelioma patients. However, if you have recently been diagnosed, you know it is not that simple. Life after a mesothelioma diagnosis can be frightening, and there will be times that you fear for your future.
In many cases, mesothelioma patients are frightened about how they might die and what will happen to their families. These emotions are completely normal and extremely difficult to deal with. You will undoubtedly hear from friends and family members to stay positive during these trying times. It is important to remember that being positive doesn.t necessarily mean be cheerful and optimistic. It can even include feelings of fear or being upset. However, these feelings can be a sign of strength and may reflect your courage in dealing with your future.
Being positive may include allowing your full range of feelings to be expressed. It is, perhaps, more about being able to balance the bad with the good, and not allowing negative emotions overwhelm you.
2009/01/16
Birthday Bonus Club
Welcome
Hi - I’m Gang and my Birthday is on 29th August
Just imagine - you wake up and it’s Your Birthday!
You get up, switch on your PC and check your mail - and there are thousands of emails from friends who have sent you cash!
It’s not a dream - it really can happen!
With Birthday Bonus Club (BBC)
BBC is a matrix - and we’re proud of it! Because we are a matrix with some very BIG differences
It costs you nothing to join - BBC is completely free!
There are no monthly fees - ever.
There are no upgrade fees
We don’t sell anything
..and - you will never be asked to buy anything
We just ask you to agree to a simple request …
When asked to do so, you agree to donate an amount of $2.00 to $5.00 to another member on his or her Birthday.
The members to whom you will donate will be
Your upline - a maximum of nine people
The first level of your personal network - a maximum of three people
If you are asked to donate the maximum amount ($5.00) then BBC will never cost you more than $60.00 per year - in return, you could receive a Birthday Bonus of more than $140,000 !
How does that work ..
When you sign up with BBC you’ll want to tell your friends about it - after all, who wouldn’t want the chance of making a huge Birthday Bonus each year. You need only invite three friends and these are the people who form the basis of your personal network. You will be asked to donate to their Birthday Bonus’s - as they will donate to yours.
When your friends invite their friends, those people will form the second level of your network and that can continue down to nine levels. If you are able to create a full 3×9 network there will be 29,523 people in your personal network. If each of those members send you the maximum of $5.00 on your Birthday, your Birthday Bonus will be $147,000.
.and there’s another BONUS!
For every Dollar that you donate to another member’s Birthday Bonus, Birthday Bonus Club will credit your Personal Advertising Account with $1.00! You can advertise what you like - except porn - or you can exchange your Advertising Credits for cash!
You can sign up with BBC here or find out more about the workings of Birthday Bonus Club here
Study finds Lilly cancer drug lengthens patients' lives
A drug developed by Eli Lilly and Co. to treat a rare cancer linked to asbestos exposure lengthened the lives of patients who took the drug in clinical trials, researchers said Monday. The findings involving the new drug, Alimta, heartened cancer researchers because pleural mesothelioma has proven resistant to treatment and no drugs are approved in the United States to treat it. "This is an historic day. Patients and their families who deal with this disease now have a clear path forward," said Dr. Nicholas J. Vogelzang,
director of University of Chicago Cancer Research Center.
The clinical trial results were presented during a meeting of oncology researchers in Orlando, Fla. Alimta is in the last of three phases of human testing for mesothelioma. The dramatic results came in the largest-ever patient study for mesothelioma patients. The study of 456 patients showed that those given Alimta, plus a commonly used chemotherapy drug and vitamins, lived for 13 months after diagnosis of the cancer. That compared with seven months for those who received only the standard chemotherapy cisplatin and vitamins. "That is a very, very striking difference for a disease considered hopeless," Vogelzang said. Patients taking Alimta during the yearlong study also suffered less pain and had fewer breathing difficulties, said Dr. Paolo Paoletti, a Lilly researcher who is leading Lilly's development of Alimta.
Lilly plans to file in 2003 for approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market Alimta for the lung cancer. It could win approval as early as next year. Mesothelioma is diagnosed in only 2,500 Americans and 5,000 Europeans a year, but its prevalence is rising as more people are found to be exposed to the once commonly sold asbestos that causes the cancer. Most people die within nine months of diagnosis.
director of University of Chicago Cancer Research Center.
The clinical trial results were presented during a meeting of oncology researchers in Orlando, Fla. Alimta is in the last of three phases of human testing for mesothelioma. The dramatic results came in the largest-ever patient study for mesothelioma patients. The study of 456 patients showed that those given Alimta, plus a commonly used chemotherapy drug and vitamins, lived for 13 months after diagnosis of the cancer. That compared with seven months for those who received only the standard chemotherapy cisplatin and vitamins. "That is a very, very striking difference for a disease considered hopeless," Vogelzang said. Patients taking Alimta during the yearlong study also suffered less pain and had fewer breathing difficulties, said Dr. Paolo Paoletti, a Lilly researcher who is leading Lilly's development of Alimta.
Lilly plans to file in 2003 for approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market Alimta for the lung cancer. It could win approval as early as next year. Mesothelioma is diagnosed in only 2,500 Americans and 5,000 Europeans a year, but its prevalence is rising as more people are found to be exposed to the once commonly sold asbestos that causes the cancer. Most people die within nine months of diagnosis.
Proposed asbestos trust would quickly go broke
WASHINGTON DC. - According to a study released Monday, a proposed national trust fund for asbestos victims will go broke within three years of its' start. The analysis, done by the economic consulting firm Bates White, concluded that the proposed fund would face claims between $301 and $561 billion dollars, while the proposed budget of the fund was only $140 billion.
The estimate was much larger than an estimate released by the Congressional Budget Office last month, which predicted payouts between $120 and $150 billion over the next 30 years. However, the CBO estimate did not account for the probable rise in claims filed, instead using the current rate. The Bates White analysis included this variable, as the fund would create a new entitlement for those affected by cancer, but not currently compensated in court.
The estimate was much larger than an estimate released by the Congressional Budget Office last month, which predicted payouts between $120 and $150 billion over the next 30 years. However, the CBO estimate did not account for the probable rise in claims filed, instead using the current rate. The Bates White analysis included this variable, as the fund would create a new entitlement for those affected by cancer, but not currently compensated in court.
Hurricane Katrina EPA Asbestos Warning
EPA Urges Avoiding Problems from Airborne Asbestos and Lead Dust -- Elevated concentrations of airborne asbestos can occur if asbestos-containing materials present in many older homes are disturbed. Pipe or other insulation, ceiling tiles, exterior siding, roof shingles and sprayed on-soundproofing are just some of the materials found in older buildings that may contain asbestos. Buildings constructed before 1970 are more likely to contain asbestos. Airborne asbestos can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer of the chest
and abdominal linings. Lead is a highly toxic metal which produces a range of adverse health effects, particularly in young children. Many homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. Disturbance or removal of materials containing lead-based paint may result in elevated concentrations of lead dust in the air.
-- If you know or suspect that your home contains asbestos or lead-based paint and any of these materials have been damaged or will otherwise be disturbed during cleanup, seek the assistance of public health authorities and try to obtain help from specially trained contractors, if available.
-- If possible, removed materials should be handled while still wet or damp, double bagged and properly labeled as to contents.
-- In handling materials that are believed to be contaminated with asbestos or lead, EPA recommends that, at a minimum, you wear gloves, goggles, and most importantly, OSHA-approved respiratory protection, if available.
-- While still wearing a mask, wash hands and clothing after handling such materials.
-- If at all possible, avoid activities that will generate dust, such as sweeping or vacuuming debris that may contain asbestos or lead.
-- Take precautions before your contractor or you begin remodeling or renovations that disturb surfaces that may contain lead-based paint (such as scraping off paint or tearing out walls):
-- Have the area tested for lead-based paint.
-- Do not use a belt-sander, propane torch, heat gun, dry scraper, or dry sandpaper to remove lead-based paint. These actions create large amounts of lead dust and potentially harmful fumes.
-- Temporarily move your family (especially children and pregnant women) out of the apartment or house until the work is done and the area is properly cleaned. If you can't move your family, at least completely seal off the work area.
Properly Dispose of Waste -- Caution must be exercised to assure that all waste materials are removed and disposed of properly. Open burning of materials by individuals should be avoided. Improperly controlled burning of materials not only represents significant fire hazards but can also produce additional hazards from the vapors, smoke, and residue that are produced from the burning.
and abdominal linings. Lead is a highly toxic metal which produces a range of adverse health effects, particularly in young children. Many homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. Disturbance or removal of materials containing lead-based paint may result in elevated concentrations of lead dust in the air.
-- If you know or suspect that your home contains asbestos or lead-based paint and any of these materials have been damaged or will otherwise be disturbed during cleanup, seek the assistance of public health authorities and try to obtain help from specially trained contractors, if available.
-- If possible, removed materials should be handled while still wet or damp, double bagged and properly labeled as to contents.
-- In handling materials that are believed to be contaminated with asbestos or lead, EPA recommends that, at a minimum, you wear gloves, goggles, and most importantly, OSHA-approved respiratory protection, if available.
-- While still wearing a mask, wash hands and clothing after handling such materials.
-- If at all possible, avoid activities that will generate dust, such as sweeping or vacuuming debris that may contain asbestos or lead.
-- Take precautions before your contractor or you begin remodeling or renovations that disturb surfaces that may contain lead-based paint (such as scraping off paint or tearing out walls):
-- Have the area tested for lead-based paint.
-- Do not use a belt-sander, propane torch, heat gun, dry scraper, or dry sandpaper to remove lead-based paint. These actions create large amounts of lead dust and potentially harmful fumes.
-- Temporarily move your family (especially children and pregnant women) out of the apartment or house until the work is done and the area is properly cleaned. If you can't move your family, at least completely seal off the work area.
Properly Dispose of Waste -- Caution must be exercised to assure that all waste materials are removed and disposed of properly. Open burning of materials by individuals should be avoided. Improperly controlled burning of materials not only represents significant fire hazards but can also produce additional hazards from the vapors, smoke, and residue that are produced from the burning.
Mesothelioma Symposium Held to Help Find Cure
With the goal of improving treatment for mesothelioma, a lethal asbestos-related cancer, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has announced that it will be holding the Second International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma in Las Vegas at the Caesars Palace convention center on October 6 through 8.
Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor that most commonly develops in the linings of the lungs, abdomen and heart. The research to find the cure for mesothelioma has been under way for decades and a
lot of progress has been made over the last few years. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, a non-profit organization whose goal is to put an end to mesothelioma as a life-threatening disease, has established an annual symposium to review and communicate such progress. Similarly to last year?s symposium, this year?s agenda includes valuable information for the patient and advocacy communities as well as presentations by the leading specialists in mesothelioma treatment.
The symposium will begin with the presentation outlining the scope of the disease and the threat it still brings to the community. It will be held by Dr. Stephen Levin from the well-known Mount Sinai Irving Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, a renowned author and Pulitzer winner Andrew Schneider, as well as mesothelioma experts Michael Harbut and Michele Carbone.
Lectures held specifically for patients and their families will cover many aspects of mesothelioma treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, pain management as well as other newly developed treatments. Additionally, emotional, physical and psychological aspects of the disease will be covered as well as their effect on patients and caregivers.
Some other scientific topics covered at the symposium will include early detection, and diagnostics of the disease. Treatment options such as surgery, radio and chemotherapy will be covered for both peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma types. Chemotherapy options will also be covered including such topics as Alimta/Cisplatin treatment. Novel treatment approaches will be presented including some of the new developments in scientific research against the disease. Attending medical professionals will receive CME credits for these sessions, however, all are welcome to attend.
The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation will award its Pioneer Awards to those organizations investing in mesothelioma research. In addition, the winner of the annual "Congressman Bruce Vento Hope Builder Award" established by MARF will be announced
Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor that most commonly develops in the linings of the lungs, abdomen and heart. The research to find the cure for mesothelioma has been under way for decades and a
lot of progress has been made over the last few years. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, a non-profit organization whose goal is to put an end to mesothelioma as a life-threatening disease, has established an annual symposium to review and communicate such progress. Similarly to last year?s symposium, this year?s agenda includes valuable information for the patient and advocacy communities as well as presentations by the leading specialists in mesothelioma treatment.
The symposium will begin with the presentation outlining the scope of the disease and the threat it still brings to the community. It will be held by Dr. Stephen Levin from the well-known Mount Sinai Irving Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, a renowned author and Pulitzer winner Andrew Schneider, as well as mesothelioma experts Michael Harbut and Michele Carbone.
Lectures held specifically for patients and their families will cover many aspects of mesothelioma treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, pain management as well as other newly developed treatments. Additionally, emotional, physical and psychological aspects of the disease will be covered as well as their effect on patients and caregivers.
Some other scientific topics covered at the symposium will include early detection, and diagnostics of the disease. Treatment options such as surgery, radio and chemotherapy will be covered for both peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma types. Chemotherapy options will also be covered including such topics as Alimta/Cisplatin treatment. Novel treatment approaches will be presented including some of the new developments in scientific research against the disease. Attending medical professionals will receive CME credits for these sessions, however, all are welcome to attend.
The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation will award its Pioneer Awards to those organizations investing in mesothelioma research. In addition, the winner of the annual "Congressman Bruce Vento Hope Builder Award" established by MARF will be announced
Levels of Osteopontin to Help Diagnose Patients with Early Stages of Mesothelioma
Specialists from several medical research facilities have identified that serum osteopontin levels can help diagnose people exposed to asbestos that may or may not have mesothelioma. Detailed information about this study is provided in the October 13, 2005 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
The primary cause of mesothelioma, a rare but deadly cancer, is exposure to asbestos.
Between 2000 and 3000 new cases are reported in the United States every year, which is an increase compared to previous years. The urgency to fight the deadly disease has prompted researchers to conduct more clinical trials aimed at finding the cure. In England alone, the number of mesothelioma-related deaths is expected to top 3000 by the year 2020. Since almost all cases of mesothelioma are related to the patients’ exposure to asbestos, it is projected that the peak in mesothelioma cases will not be seen until next decade.
Mesothelioma is typically detected as pleural nodules or diffuse involvement of the pleura. However, in some cases it occurs in the abdomen. The most effective treatment for mesothelioma so far has been surgery, however, due to the seriousness of the disease and the rate at which it spreads, it is often much too late even for surgery to have a positive outcome. Close to 70% of all cases of mesothelioma are too advanced at the time of diagnosis and are fatal. Therefore, any test that would allow doctors to diagnose mesotheloma at its early stages would greatly increase the survival rate of patients. A study conducted recently suggested that by measuring mesothelin-related proteins doctors would be able to differentiate between mesothelioma and benign conditions in patients exposed to asbestos. A new study measured the levels of osteopontin, which is over-expressed in lung, gastric, ovarian, breast, and colorectal cancer.
Specialists conducting the study examined 69 patients with benign disease and 76 patients with pleural mesothelioma by measuring their serum osteopontin levels. It was detected that levels of osteopontin were highly elevated in patients with pulmonary plaques and fibrosis but not in those who had normal X-rays. Additionally, levels of osteopontin were elevated in patients with pleural mesothelioma, but not those exposed to asbestos without contracting the disease. Based on these results, most mesothelioma cases would be detected at the first stage of the disease, when it is still treatable.
The primary cause of mesothelioma, a rare but deadly cancer, is exposure to asbestos.
Between 2000 and 3000 new cases are reported in the United States every year, which is an increase compared to previous years. The urgency to fight the deadly disease has prompted researchers to conduct more clinical trials aimed at finding the cure. In England alone, the number of mesothelioma-related deaths is expected to top 3000 by the year 2020. Since almost all cases of mesothelioma are related to the patients’ exposure to asbestos, it is projected that the peak in mesothelioma cases will not be seen until next decade.
Mesothelioma is typically detected as pleural nodules or diffuse involvement of the pleura. However, in some cases it occurs in the abdomen. The most effective treatment for mesothelioma so far has been surgery, however, due to the seriousness of the disease and the rate at which it spreads, it is often much too late even for surgery to have a positive outcome. Close to 70% of all cases of mesothelioma are too advanced at the time of diagnosis and are fatal. Therefore, any test that would allow doctors to diagnose mesotheloma at its early stages would greatly increase the survival rate of patients. A study conducted recently suggested that by measuring mesothelin-related proteins doctors would be able to differentiate between mesothelioma and benign conditions in patients exposed to asbestos. A new study measured the levels of osteopontin, which is over-expressed in lung, gastric, ovarian, breast, and colorectal cancer.
Specialists conducting the study examined 69 patients with benign disease and 76 patients with pleural mesothelioma by measuring their serum osteopontin levels. It was detected that levels of osteopontin were highly elevated in patients with pulmonary plaques and fibrosis but not in those who had normal X-rays. Additionally, levels of osteopontin were elevated in patients with pleural mesothelioma, but not those exposed to asbestos without contracting the disease. Based on these results, most mesothelioma cases would be detected at the first stage of the disease, when it is still treatable.
Blood Test May Allow for Early Detection of Mesothelioma
Wednesday November 30, 4:30 pm ET
New York University and Wayne State University researchers have discovered that the protein Osteopontin may serve as a marker for the early stages of pleural mesothelioma. This suggests that blood tests for Osteopontin may be an early indicator of the disease, which currently cannot be detected in its early stages through blood testing. Although further studies are necessary to confirm the reliability of this protein as a marker, the study is certainly a step in the right direction for those exposed to asbestos.
Pleural Mesothelioma is a disease which affects the lung lining in the chest, that has been directly associated with asbestos exposure. Those that have been exposed to asbestos are encouraged to speak with their physicians about possible clinical trials.
New York University and Wayne State University researchers have discovered that the protein Osteopontin may serve as a marker for the early stages of pleural mesothelioma. This suggests that blood tests for Osteopontin may be an early indicator of the disease, which currently cannot be detected in its early stages through blood testing. Although further studies are necessary to confirm the reliability of this protein as a marker, the study is certainly a step in the right direction for those exposed to asbestos.
Pleural Mesothelioma is a disease which affects the lung lining in the chest, that has been directly associated with asbestos exposure. Those that have been exposed to asbestos are encouraged to speak with their physicians about possible clinical trials.
Lung Cancer Asbestos
Asbestos Lung Cancer is a known risk when people are exposed to asbestos. Exposure to asbestos frequantly occurs within the home from old insulation on heating pipes and boilers. Just because something comes from the ground (like asbestos) you should not assume it is safe as lung cancer is a known risk.Asbestos has been known to cause asbestos related lung cancer when fibers stick inside the lungs. Fibers in the lungs cause irritation and allow cancers to grow. Lung cancer takes many years to develop and it is fatal many times. In New Jersey home inspector regulations do not require home inspectors to point out environmental hazards including those that may cause lung cancer, like asbestos. Prudent home inspectors do look to find asbestos and if material that may contain asbestos is found they alert the home buyer to the potential for lung cancer.Occupational exposure is usually more acute than residential exposure. Although small children spend little time in the work place they spend lots of time at home and have long lives ahead of them to allow lung cancer to develop. Exposure to even to low levels of asbestos should be a concern.Although excluded from our contract we tell frequantly tell clients insulation on the boiler and/or distribution piping is similar in appearance to materials known to contain asbestos and can cuase lung cancer or. We can not say the insulation is asbestos during a visual inspection. We can say there is a very high probability the material is asbestos because it is simply not possible to visually determine if the material is asbestos with absolute certainty, laboratory analysis is necessary.Since exposure to asbestos is a lung cancer risk, consultation with a licensed asbestos contractor is necessary prior to expiration of your inspection contingency to determine the proper course of action and to obtain an opinion as the necessity of air or bulk samples and the risk of lung cancer. Bulk samples are samples of the actual insulation, air samples are samples of the air in the home. Due to the age of construction, there may be other materials within the home that contain asbestos but are not identified by this inspection report. Asbestos fibers that get into the air represent a health hazard. If you suspect it the insulation might contain asbestos and place you at risk for lung cancer the next logical step is to order a lab test called a bulk sample where a section of insulation is brought back to the lab. If the sample is positive for asbestos air testing should be ordered to determine what an occupants exposure level is.It is important not to disturb asbestos or allow contacts such as plumbers to disturb it during renovations or repairs either. Asbestos removal should be performed by trained people using all the required protective gear. Amateur asbestos removal frequantly results in higher levels of asbestos than was ever in the air before. If an owner represents the asbestos was properly removed contact the municipal health and building departments to be sure the necessary and required permits were obtained.Improperly removed asbestos leaves fibers floating around in the air just about forever. Use common sense, avoid lung cancer hire a professional!
Inspiration who was brave to the end
AN inspirational Failsworth woman has become the youngest person in the UK to die from an asbestos-related cancer.
Leigh Carlisle, 28, was diagnosed with mesothelioma – a form of lung cancer caused by breathing in asbestos fibres – back in 2006 following years of investigation by doctors.
Sadly, she lost her fight for life at the North Manchester General last Wednesday.
Leigh and lawyers acting on her behalf believed she had developed the condition
during childhood. Initial investigations centred around whether she could have contracted it by taking a shortcut to school through a factory yard where asbestos was cut.
But her lawyers had recently ruled that out and – just days before her death – submitted a Freedom of Inform-ation (FOI) request to Oldham Council to determine whether asbestos was present in three Failsworth schools she attended as a youngster. They have this week confirmed the fight for answers will continue.
Leigh, who worked in public relations and marketing until her diagnosis in 2006, had campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of mesothelioma and encouraged investigations into schools built in the 1960s and early 1970s.
She also volunteered her services to Cancer Research UK as a public speaker and their campaigns ambassador. Unsurprisingly, tributes have poured in this week.
Michael Price, her partner, said: "Leigh had so much courage and strength. She was an inspiration to me and others."
Her mother, Sheila, added: "Leigh is still very much a part of our family and will always be a treasured daughter, sister and auntie. Everyone remains so proud of her."
Failsworth councillor Jim McMahon, who met Leigh via her work with Oldham Cancer Research, said: "There are some people you meet and get a real sense that you are near someone very special. It is hard to quantify that, but Leigh was one of those people.
"My thoughts are with her family and they can seek some comfort and be very proud of the inspiration Leigh gave to those she met and all that she achieved."
Adrian Budgen, from Irwin Mitchell, the law firm representing Leigh, said there are now more than 2,000 cases of the incurable mesothelioma disease each year in the UK: making it more common than cervical cancer.
Children are particularly vulnerable to the deadly effects of asbestos, although mesothelioma – which is an aggressive cancer which attacks a thin membrane coating the lungs and abdomen – can take more than 20 years to reveal itself after exposure.
"For a long time it has been the forgotten cancer and the silent epidemic," he said."Leigh’s case shows it cannot be seen as an ‘old person’s disease’ any more."
Mr Budgen cautions against a panic reaction but thinks other victims could surface. He wants the government and the Health and Safety Executive to compile a register of buildings, especially hospitals and schools, where asbestos could have been present.
"There is a big issue about asbestos in schools built in the post-war period," he said. "When doors are slammed by young children or chairs are pushed against pipes it can disturb the asbestos. This may have happened to Leigh."
He added: "Invisible fibres can be released in this way – the problem is that they are microscopic – and we know that children with underdeveloped lungs are especially susceptible."
Children have also been known to develop the disease after being exposed to asbestos dust on their parents’ clothes and, in one case, an ex-teacher from Cheshire is though to have contracted mesothelioma from school pipes.
Oldham Council was asked by the Advertiser about the progress it has made with the FOI request from Leigh’s lawyers about her schooling years – from 1984 to 1996 Leigh was a pupil at Propps Hall and Mather Street primary schools, and Failsworth School.
A spokesman said: "We have been in contact with Irwin Mitchell to explain the complexity of sourcing the information they have requested and they have agreed to an extension to the end of this month to receive our response. This is, of course, a very difficult time for the Carlisle family and they have the council’s every sympathy. We would wish to stress to them , indeed all parents of school-going children then and now, that the health and safety of pupils, as well as teachers and staff working in Oldham’s schools, is, and always has been, our paramount concern."
Leigh’s funeral was taking place at 11am on Thursday at St Mary’s RC Church, Failsworth, followed by internment at Failsworth Cemetery. Her family has asked for donations to be made to the Oldham Cancer Support Centre, based at Failsworth Health Centre.
Leigh’s partner, Michael Price, said: "Leigh would have liked to think that she helped the cancer centre to support other people."
Leigh Carlisle, 28, was diagnosed with mesothelioma – a form of lung cancer caused by breathing in asbestos fibres – back in 2006 following years of investigation by doctors.
Sadly, she lost her fight for life at the North Manchester General last Wednesday.
Leigh and lawyers acting on her behalf believed she had developed the condition
during childhood. Initial investigations centred around whether she could have contracted it by taking a shortcut to school through a factory yard where asbestos was cut.
But her lawyers had recently ruled that out and – just days before her death – submitted a Freedom of Inform-ation (FOI) request to Oldham Council to determine whether asbestos was present in three Failsworth schools she attended as a youngster. They have this week confirmed the fight for answers will continue.
Leigh, who worked in public relations and marketing until her diagnosis in 2006, had campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of mesothelioma and encouraged investigations into schools built in the 1960s and early 1970s.
She also volunteered her services to Cancer Research UK as a public speaker and their campaigns ambassador. Unsurprisingly, tributes have poured in this week.
Michael Price, her partner, said: "Leigh had so much courage and strength. She was an inspiration to me and others."
Her mother, Sheila, added: "Leigh is still very much a part of our family and will always be a treasured daughter, sister and auntie. Everyone remains so proud of her."
Failsworth councillor Jim McMahon, who met Leigh via her work with Oldham Cancer Research, said: "There are some people you meet and get a real sense that you are near someone very special. It is hard to quantify that, but Leigh was one of those people.
"My thoughts are with her family and they can seek some comfort and be very proud of the inspiration Leigh gave to those she met and all that she achieved."
Adrian Budgen, from Irwin Mitchell, the law firm representing Leigh, said there are now more than 2,000 cases of the incurable mesothelioma disease each year in the UK: making it more common than cervical cancer.
Children are particularly vulnerable to the deadly effects of asbestos, although mesothelioma – which is an aggressive cancer which attacks a thin membrane coating the lungs and abdomen – can take more than 20 years to reveal itself after exposure.
"For a long time it has been the forgotten cancer and the silent epidemic," he said."Leigh’s case shows it cannot be seen as an ‘old person’s disease’ any more."
Mr Budgen cautions against a panic reaction but thinks other victims could surface. He wants the government and the Health and Safety Executive to compile a register of buildings, especially hospitals and schools, where asbestos could have been present.
"There is a big issue about asbestos in schools built in the post-war period," he said. "When doors are slammed by young children or chairs are pushed against pipes it can disturb the asbestos. This may have happened to Leigh."
He added: "Invisible fibres can be released in this way – the problem is that they are microscopic – and we know that children with underdeveloped lungs are especially susceptible."
Children have also been known to develop the disease after being exposed to asbestos dust on their parents’ clothes and, in one case, an ex-teacher from Cheshire is though to have contracted mesothelioma from school pipes.
Oldham Council was asked by the Advertiser about the progress it has made with the FOI request from Leigh’s lawyers about her schooling years – from 1984 to 1996 Leigh was a pupil at Propps Hall and Mather Street primary schools, and Failsworth School.
A spokesman said: "We have been in contact with Irwin Mitchell to explain the complexity of sourcing the information they have requested and they have agreed to an extension to the end of this month to receive our response. This is, of course, a very difficult time for the Carlisle family and they have the council’s every sympathy. We would wish to stress to them , indeed all parents of school-going children then and now, that the health and safety of pupils, as well as teachers and staff working in Oldham’s schools, is, and always has been, our paramount concern."
Leigh’s funeral was taking place at 11am on Thursday at St Mary’s RC Church, Failsworth, followed by internment at Failsworth Cemetery. Her family has asked for donations to be made to the Oldham Cancer Support Centre, based at Failsworth Health Centre.
Leigh’s partner, Michael Price, said: "Leigh would have liked to think that she helped the cancer centre to support other people."
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