Friday, February 28, 2014
Multiple Myeloma:What Tom Brokaw Has
The well-known NBC Newsman and author Tom Brokaw,72,recently revealed he is being treated for multiple myeloma.It is a type of blood cancer in which abnormal plasma cells accumulate in the bones and bone marrow,where they can interfere with the production of blood cells and damage or fracture bones,as well as produce M proteins that damage the body.Plasma cells are white blood cells that produce antibodies which help the body fight infection.In multiple myeloma,these cells can multiply uncontrollably in several bones,causing a range of problems.Progressive MM is a terminal illness,but can be fought off for a number of years.The four year survival rate is up to 60% on the latest drug regimen.One doctor described it as being similar to having diabetes for many of his patients.*
Multiple myeloma has no known cause,but there are a number of risk factors,such as being over 65;an African American;a male;and having a family history of the disease.About 22,000 Americans a year are diagnosed with it.It may be detected during routine blood and urine tests,or a patient may present with such symptoms as bone fractures,back pain,infections,nosebleeds or anemia.Diagnosis and staging is achieved with more blood and urine tests,x-rays,CT scans,PET scans and MRI,and most definitively by needle biopsy.*
Complications of MM may include kidney failure,bone pain and fractures,weakness,bleeding,infections,hypercalcemia-calcium leaking into the bloodstream from damaged bones-spinal cord compression and neuropathy.*
This cancer can be without symptoms for years or may require immediate treatment.The treatments range from oral and IV chemotherapy,to radiation and stem cell transplants,with their attendant side effects.Clinical trials for new treatments are also a possibility for MM patients.*
As with other cancers,being hopeful and staying as active as possible for as long as possible is a wise course.Mr.Brokaw is said to be responding well to treatment and continuing with his projects.
Multiple myeloma has no known cause,but there are a number of risk factors,such as being over 65;an African American;a male;and having a family history of the disease.About 22,000 Americans a year are diagnosed with it.It may be detected during routine blood and urine tests,or a patient may present with such symptoms as bone fractures,back pain,infections,nosebleeds or anemia.Diagnosis and staging is achieved with more blood and urine tests,x-rays,CT scans,PET scans and MRI,and most definitively by needle biopsy.*
Complications of MM may include kidney failure,bone pain and fractures,weakness,bleeding,infections,hypercalcemia-calcium leaking into the bloodstream from damaged bones-spinal cord compression and neuropathy.*
This cancer can be without symptoms for years or may require immediate treatment.The treatments range from oral and IV chemotherapy,to radiation and stem cell transplants,with their attendant side effects.Clinical trials for new treatments are also a possibility for MM patients.*
As with other cancers,being hopeful and staying as active as possible for as long as possible is a wise course.Mr.Brokaw is said to be responding well to treatment and continuing with his projects.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Facebook and WhatsApp-what's up with that
Facebook is acquiring mobile messaging service WhatsApp for 19 billion dollars.It is a cross-platform mobile messaging app which allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for it.It works with Android,iPhone,BlackBerry,Windows Phone and Nokia.It may also be downloaded to your PC via DownloadApper.com.There is a nominal subscription charge of one dollar a year.The Mountain View,California company was founded in 2009 by CEO Jan Koum and Brian Acton.*
CNBC's tech analyst John Fortt commented on the move,saying we're in this interesting land grab period for mobile and social.Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg spent 10% of his company for this.That's a lot.It has no revenue raising opportunity.Its users are mostly in the emerging markets and are not willing to pay much more.It's gigantic.A couple of bucks a year in some of these countries is a lot of money.
I don't say it's a bad move.It's a move to increase scale,to take out a potential competitor.Facebook and WhatsApp have it cut out for them to scale it and make it succeed financially.There are lots of different ways to look at the strategic value of something like this,and we won't know for a couple of years how good it was.Facebook investors never got to go to WhatsApp and look into it,Fortt pointed out.*
His colleague,CNBC Contributor Jon Steinberg,added that the rules have changed,and you have to take bold moves.WhatsApp is way bigger than Twitter.With this move,Facebook is now diversified.
Everyone in the Valley has been talking about this company for months.Everybody wanted to buy this company.Shareholders should bear in mind that Zuckerberg made a good move that was an expensive move,but they should be glad they have a CEO willing to take bold action in a rapidly changing field.*
Facebook might not make much money off the move initially,but that doesn't mean they had a choice if they want to stay in the big leagues of mobile and social media.*
Facebook(FB)
CNBC's tech analyst John Fortt commented on the move,saying we're in this interesting land grab period for mobile and social.Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg spent 10% of his company for this.That's a lot.It has no revenue raising opportunity.Its users are mostly in the emerging markets and are not willing to pay much more.It's gigantic.A couple of bucks a year in some of these countries is a lot of money.
I don't say it's a bad move.It's a move to increase scale,to take out a potential competitor.Facebook and WhatsApp have it cut out for them to scale it and make it succeed financially.There are lots of different ways to look at the strategic value of something like this,and we won't know for a couple of years how good it was.Facebook investors never got to go to WhatsApp and look into it,Fortt pointed out.*
His colleague,CNBC Contributor Jon Steinberg,added that the rules have changed,and you have to take bold moves.WhatsApp is way bigger than Twitter.With this move,Facebook is now diversified.
Everyone in the Valley has been talking about this company for months.Everybody wanted to buy this company.Shareholders should bear in mind that Zuckerberg made a good move that was an expensive move,but they should be glad they have a CEO willing to take bold action in a rapidly changing field.*
Facebook might not make much money off the move initially,but that doesn't mean they had a choice if they want to stay in the big leagues of mobile and social media.*
Facebook(FB)
Monday, February 24, 2014
Sochi Winter Olympics:Gold in the Winter Sun
The final medal count is as follows:
1.Russia 33
2.USA 28
3.Norway 26
4.Canada 25
5.Netherlands 24
6.Germany 19
7.Austria 17
8.France 15
8.Sweden 15
9.People's Republic of China 9
Italy won 8 medals,including 6 silver and 2 bronze.Russia won the most gold medals(13).Ukraine,which had been in severe political unrest during the Games,won 2 medals,1 gold and 1 bronze.*
It was a final triumph for Team Russia on Sunday,a full restoration of national pride,when they swept the medals at the last skiing event of the Games,the 50km cross country race.Alexander Legkov won the gold;Maxim Vylegzhanin the silver;and Ilia Chernousov the bronze.This is priceless,Legkov said.It is more valuable than my life.I can't express how I feel.I've been trying for this result for 15 years.*
Likewise,Team Canada went out of the games with a flourish by sweeping the ice hockey gold as the Canadian men blanked Sweden 3-0.Team USA was also pleased to win a bobsled medal on Sunday,taking the four-man bobsled bronze behind Russia and Latvia.
On the whole,Team USA had a very good Games,winning five alpine skiing medals,but was disappointed by taking only one speedskating medal,and having to go home with a men's ice hockey goose egg.*
Overall,the Games were a positive event on the global calendar.This blog congratulates Russia for its excellent athletic and security effort.The Games were definitely a high point in their history.*
As for Sochi itself,it was clearly transformed by the sprirt and success of the Olympic Games.It is looking ahead to the Winter Paralympics March 7-16 and a Formula One Grand Prix motor race in October.
__________________________________________
Gold in the Winter Sun
Where it shines on Sochi town.
For two weeks,the world with its eyes
Absorbed every win,and the sighs
Were gathered in as well.We heard "Kalinka,"
The Russian birch still well,
The swell of the sea and the people
Magnificent Slavic emotion
With soft snow on the mountain.
(C)2014 Andrew K Taylor
1.Russia 33
2.USA 28
3.Norway 26
4.Canada 25
5.Netherlands 24
6.Germany 19
7.Austria 17
8.France 15
8.Sweden 15
9.People's Republic of China 9
Italy won 8 medals,including 6 silver and 2 bronze.Russia won the most gold medals(13).Ukraine,which had been in severe political unrest during the Games,won 2 medals,1 gold and 1 bronze.*
It was a final triumph for Team Russia on Sunday,a full restoration of national pride,when they swept the medals at the last skiing event of the Games,the 50km cross country race.Alexander Legkov won the gold;Maxim Vylegzhanin the silver;and Ilia Chernousov the bronze.This is priceless,Legkov said.It is more valuable than my life.I can't express how I feel.I've been trying for this result for 15 years.*
Likewise,Team Canada went out of the games with a flourish by sweeping the ice hockey gold as the Canadian men blanked Sweden 3-0.Team USA was also pleased to win a bobsled medal on Sunday,taking the four-man bobsled bronze behind Russia and Latvia.
On the whole,Team USA had a very good Games,winning five alpine skiing medals,but was disappointed by taking only one speedskating medal,and having to go home with a men's ice hockey goose egg.*
Overall,the Games were a positive event on the global calendar.This blog congratulates Russia for its excellent athletic and security effort.The Games were definitely a high point in their history.*
As for Sochi itself,it was clearly transformed by the sprirt and success of the Olympic Games.It is looking ahead to the Winter Paralympics March 7-16 and a Formula One Grand Prix motor race in October.
__________________________________________
Gold in the Winter Sun
Where it shines on Sochi town.
For two weeks,the world with its eyes
Absorbed every win,and the sighs
Were gathered in as well.We heard "Kalinka,"
The Russian birch still well,
The swell of the sea and the people
Magnificent Slavic emotion
With soft snow on the mountain.
(C)2014 Andrew K Taylor
Friday, February 21, 2014
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