I thought I’d try a really plain theme for my blog. I think it’ll help with load time, and probably make things easier to find.
I haven’t posted anything of any substance lately, but I’m still here!
The dog and I went out for a walk this afternoon, and stopped for a bit to talk to these friendly neighbors.
By the way, if you have a horse farm, and you’re looking for the best equine fence builder in Southern Pines, get in touch with my friend, Brad Charles.
I got this today from TiVo.
TiVo® Service Announcement
Dear TiVo Customer,
Today we were informed by our email service provider that your email address was exposed due to unauthorized access of their system. Our email service provider deploys emails on our behalf to customers who have opted into email-based communications from us.
We were advised by our email service provider that the information that was obtained was limited to first name and/or email addresses only. Your service and any other personally identifiable information were not at risk and remain secure.
Please note, it is possible you may receive spam email messages as a result. We want to urge you to be cautious when opening links or attachments from unknown third parties.
We regret this has taken place and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. We take your privacy very seriously, and we will continue to work diligently to protect your personal information.
If you have unsubscribed in the past, there is no need to unsubscribe again. Your preferences will remain in place.
Sincerely,
The TiVo Team
Quarter-Finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Competition < Read this first
Amazon.com Review
A nicely-paced, intriguingly written story that has a palpable ring of truth in its universal portrait of thorny family dynamics. First person narrator is honest and sympathetic and her observations are smart and articulated with an original style.
Amazon.com Review
The main character, Sarah, is the strongest aspect (at least in this excerpt). She is quite fully realized, very believable and so well drawn that I can easily visualize her. Her reactions as she deals with her problems are realistic. The author has done an excellent job introducing the characters and setting out the problems they face. The needed information is supplied but it is done in an interesting manner
PDF version of excerpt. Download and review!
http://rachelunkefer.com/2011/03/26/more-about-a-useful-life/trackback/
This was done in 2007, when Ms. Ferarro was in remission. She expressed concern in this video about the fact that drugs that allowed her to stay alive were not available for all. This continues to be the case. Unless you have a lot of money or good insurance, you may not be able to get the treatment many of us count on to keep us among the living. In this video, she’s getting Velcade and talks about research and funding.
Apologies. This video can no longer be located.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
This is from the AP. Other reports mentioned only “complications,” which we now know to be pneumonia. It’s very common for myeloma patients to develop pneumonia.
Ferraro died at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she had gone Monday for a procedure to relieve back pain caused by a fracture. Such fractures are common in people with her type of blood cancer, multiple myeloma, because of the thinning of their bones, said Dr. Noopur Raje, the Mass General doctor who treated her.
Ferraro, however, developed pneumonia, which made it impossible to perform the procedure, and it soon became clear she didn’t have long to live, Raje said. Since she was too ill to return to New York, her family went to Boston.
Raje said it seemed Ferraro held out until her husband and three children arrived. They were all at her bedside when she passed, she said.
“Gerry actually waited for all of them to come, which I think was incredible,” said Raje, director of the meyloma program at the hospital’s cancer center. “They were all able to say their goodbyes to Mom.”
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Mourns Loss of Geraldine Ferraro
Pioneer, Leader, and MMRF Honorary Board Member Succumbs to Multiple Myeloma
Norwalk, CT — March 26, 2011
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) is deeply saddened by the loss of Geraldine Ferraro (1935-2011), a Member of the MMRF Honorary Board of Directors and a dear friend. Ferraro passed away this morning from complications following a long and courageous battle with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer.
“Geraldine Ferraro was a true trailblazer, an inspiration to many, an incredible advocate for cancer research, and a very dear friend. She will be sadly missed, never far from our hearts, and fondly remembered for her incredible legacy and the extraordinary woman who she was. We pray that her family finds comfort and peace during this sorrowful time,” said Kathy Giusti, Founder and CEO of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, and a patient with multiple myeloma.
In addition to serving on the MMRF’s Honorary Board of Directors, Ferraro was actively involved in the Foundation’s work to bring new treatments to patients. In 2002, she passionately testified before Congress for the critical need for increased research funding, and a year later, a bill was signed authorizing $250 million for blood cancer research. Congress then appropriated $5 million to the Geraldine Ferraro Blood Cancer Education Program in 2003 and renewed funding in 2006, enabling the MMRF to provide high-quality educational programs to underserved populations.
About Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer. The five-year relative survival rate for multiple myeloma is approximately 38 percent, one of the lowest of all cancers. In 2010, more than 20,000 adults in the United States will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma and nearly 11,000 people are predicted to die from the disease.
About the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) was established in 1998 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization by twin sisters Karen Andrews and Kathy Giusti, soon after Kathy’s diagnosis with multiple myeloma. The mission of the MMRF is to relentlessly pursue innovative means that accelerate the development of next-generation multiple myeloma treatments to extend the lives of patients and lead to a cure. As the world’s number-one private funder of multiple myeloma research, the MMRF has raised over $160 million since its inception to fund more than 130 laboratories worldwide. An outstanding 89% of funds raised go toward research and related programming. The MMRF has supported 70 new compounds and approaches in clinical trials and pre-clinical studies and has facilitated 30 clinical trials through its sister organization, the MMRC. For more information about the MMRF, visit www.themmrf.org.
Media inquiries, contact:
Anne Quinn Young – (203) 536-8691
This is from the Millennium Pharmaceuticals web site. Just a snippet here, with the URL so you can read more. Chances are good you’ve already heard about this if you’re on Velcade.
As a precautionary measure, Millennium is voluntarily recalling a limited number of lots of VELCADE® (bortezomib) for Injection 3.5mg/vial due to the possibility that small white polyester particles may be observed upon reconstitution of VELCADE drug product.
Millennium is undertaking this recall in consideration of the potential for safety issues if the affected product is administered to patients including local injection site reactions, inflammatory responses and thromboembolic events.
The VELCADE Package Insert (Section 2.7) and Investigator Brochure have specific guidelines recommending visual inspection for particulate matter or discoloration prior to administration. Do not use the reconstituted product if you observe particulate matter or discoloration.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been informed of this voluntary limited recall.
This action is limited to the VELCADE lots listed below, produced by one of our manufacturers before certain process improvements were implemented.
http://www.mlnm.com/velcade_recall.asp
I was in a trial once, and got a letter about there being some particles found in my drug, too. I wonder how polyester and other things get into our drugs?