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<p><img src="http://www.handbags-directory.com/wpshopping/uploads/1129-0404.jpeg" alt="Broad Bay Auburn Tigers Embroidered Handbag Purse" /><br><br>The Broad Bay Auburn Tigers Embroidered <b>Handbag</b> <b>Purse</b> is the perfect size for all your necessities. Magnetic snap closure. Double stitched reinforced handles. Interior pockets for cell phones and other accessories. Interior zippered pocket for items that need to be secure.</p><!--more--><br> powered by Yahoo shopping

DBCare eliminates insulin resistance: DBCare mends cell receptors to better recognize insulin which virtually eliminates insulin resistance. Cells are now much more successful at metabolizing glucose which further normalizes blood sugar levels.

<p><img src="http://www.handbags-directory.com/wpshopping/uploads/feha8bbe5.jpeg" alt="Fendi Handbag 8BR000 Beige/Red" /><br><br>This <b>Fendi</b> <b>handbag</b> features: <b>Fendi</b> 8BR001 Zucchino Mamma <b>Handbag</b> &ndash; Beige/Red Red Zucchino FF on beige fabric Red leather trimming Adjustable strap with buckle on each side Gun metal <b>Fendi</b> engraved hardware Magnetic snap closure under FF buckle Buckle adjustable straps Interior zipper pocket with <b>Fendi</b> logo metal plate Lined in signature <b>Fendi</b> monogram fabric Includes <b>FENDI</b> authenticity card and dust bag Made in ITALY 11.5&rdquo; Wide x 7.5&rdquo; High x 4 Deep Strap: 22 adjustable This <b>Fendi</b> <b>handbag</b> comes with a 100% satisfaction money-back guarantee, and a guarantee of authenticity.</p><!--more--><br> powered by Yahoo shopping

The Irvin Law Firm in South Carolina provides legal services to clients on matters like criminal defense, immigration, and injury.

<p><img src="http://www.handbags-directory.com/wpshopping/uploads/" alt="Dolce &amp; Gabbana Navy Leather Handbag DB0875E141280653" /><br><br>Navy blue leather <b>and</b> gold-tone hardware. 2 16 flat leather handles with a 6 drop. 1 46 (max) adjustable <b>and</b> detachable flat leather shoulder strap, with a 20 drop. Main compartment has a zipper closure. Lock <b>and</b> key design. Interior lined with grey canvas. 1 zipper pocket. 16 width x 12 height x 5 depth. Authenticity Guaranteed: Jomashop.com guarantees the authenticity of this <b>Dolce</b> &amp; <b>Gabbana</b> item; all items have been purchased by authorized representative of this product.</p><!--more--><br> powered by Yahoo shopping

At any point of your life, you can name the most important things that are very precious to you. These important things may change as time goes by, but they will always be key aspects of your life. You will always want to protect these most important things both now and in the future. If you have life insurance, you don&rsquo;t leave your family in debt. In addition, you can give them more options for a better life&mdash;a better quality of life. <br /><br />Any one who provides financial support to a spouse, a child or an aging parent will definitely understand why they need life insurance. However, there is one thing that is most confusing&mdash;what type of life insurance to buy and from whom. Usually, people are found pondering over the questions; is term life insurance good for me or is permanent life insurance best for me. For most people the permanent life insurance is the best pick and for some the term life insurance suits best. <br /><br />Whenever you select life insurance policies keep life insurance rates in mind and see their reasonability because they have great influence in the selection process. There is very low cost option in term life insurance policies hence they are attractive choices. As its name &lsquo;term&rsquo; suggests term life insurance policies cover families for certain period. Buyers are aware of such facts that these policies are meant for particular period still they choose them. Even insurance companies keep earning lots of money from term life insurance policies as benefits. <br /><br />Give less get more principle is followed in these policies for which low term life insurance cost is kept deliberately to attract buyers. Usually terms are fixed for 10, 15, 20 and even 30 years in term life insurance policies and hardly any variation is seen in payment or premium option throughout such period. Biggest drawback of term policies is that they cease to exist once term completes. In few term life insurance policies you are given flexible option too through which you can convert them into permanent life insurance policies. <br /><br />You would see bigger leap in payment or premium rates of term policies once renewed. Such factors are problematic issues that diverts mind to buy permanent life insurance policies from the very first stage. Although permanent life insurance policies are costlier but minute assessment of such policies bring into fore amazing long term benefits. They are more suitable insurance options as such policies are designed with specific manner and you enjoy flexibility of carrying them for whatever time you think appropriate. Besides this, such policies have many other advantages too.<br /><br />Saving feature named cash value is other important component of permanent life insurance policies. Although it is similar to that of saving bank account there is big difference in them. Actually cash value is money or cash accrued from some portion of premiums paid. You have advantage of using cash value for tax deduction and at the same juncture enjoying best interest earnings. Feature to build enough cash value through paying more than actual premium amount is possible in universal life insurance policies. Such unique method of saving money ultimately helps you fulfill your future requirements.<br /><br />Facility to withdraw some portion of funds at any point of time during policy period is also availed. Once policyholders superannuate they may choose option to select various methods through which they utilize certain portion of cash value they have in premium tax deferring option. Such options are considered excellent for those getting retired and have fixed budget only. You don&rsquo;t bother to pay premiums from monthly retirement income received. If something unfortunate happens and there is untimely death then beneficiaries avail complete death benefit of life insurance policy bought. <br /><br />Important feature of permanent life insurance policy is that it makes you able for complete control over it. Such flexible policies are not available in term life insurance. Perhaps your life insurance agent offers affordable term life insurance policy but make sure that above mentioned features are available in proposed policies &ndash; no matter term life insurance or permanent life insurance. Best decision keeps your family and you protected. You always think over that fact that if something worst happens and you die untimely then your near and dear ones must get death benefit.<br /><br />To get the most competitive <a href="http://www.equote.com/info/life-insurance-info.html" target='_blank'>life insurance no exam</a>, check out David Livingston's site. He specializes in the different cheap life insurance and getting <a href="http://www.equote.com/li/term-life-insurance-quote.html" target='_blank'>cheap term life insurance quotes</a>. Visit his site for more information.

Puri Jagannath and Gopi Chand have teamed up for the first time. The duo seems to have got together just at the right time, for their last releases are a bit disappointing.

<p><img src="http://www.handbags-directory.com/wpshopping/uploads/" alt="Dior Le Trente Medium Shopping - Black" /><br><br>Buttery leather in a softly gathered shape with lots of polish. Double chain and leather handles with toggle detail; 6 "drop Drawstring top with foldover cuff Signature CD charm Inside zip pocket Protective metal feet Nylon lining 16"W X 12"H X 5 "D Made in Italy</p><!--more--><br> powered by Yahoo shopping

<p><img src="http://www.handbags-directory.com/wpshopping/uploads/247325531.jpeg" alt="OLIVE BROWN DESIGNER STYLE HANDBAG WITH SILVE" /><br><br>New Page 1 New Page 1 Size %%RS300_IMAGE1%% OLIVE BROWN <b>DESIGNER</b> STYLE <b>HANDBAG</b> WITH SILVER BUCKLE</p><!--more--><br> powered by Yahoo shopping

By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ted_Vinci">Ted Vinci</a> <div id="body"> Tools Needed: Drill 3/4" speed bore drill bits - approximately 1 for every 20 balusters. Caulking Gun Angle Grinder or Metal Saw to cut iron balusters 1-5/8" drywall screws Jig Saw or circular saw. Products needed: Iron balusters of your choice and color Baluster Shoes Epoxy adhesive or polyurethane adhesive Installation Instructions: LAYOUT GUIDE AND DESIGN - Before ordering your balusters, make a detailed drawing of your stairway, layout in a straight line or circular line (depending on the stairway design) each of the steps and the number of balusters on each step, and the landing areas (flat areas) with the number of balusters in the landings. Assign a circle to each of the space. In other words, if your steps have 3 balusters per step, you would assign 3 circles to each step in your layout as shown below in diagram #2. Please make note that the layout has been determined and a number has been assigned to each baluster and then totaled to place the proper number for your order. Step #1 Baluster Removal - Remove the wood baluster by cutting them with either a circular saw or a jig saw half way between the treads and the handrail. Pull out the lower portion and the upper portion and then remove any remaining nails left in the holes with pliers. After the baluster has been removed, you will have either a hole in the tread like pictured above, or the area will be flat with no hole, depending on the installation of the old wood balusters. Step #2 Drill Holes for Iron Balusters - You will now drill a 3/4" hole in the center of this space vacated by the wood baluster, drill as deep as the drill will go, preferably 3-4" deep. Step #3 Measure the Baluster Length - Set the new iron balusters in this new 3/4" hole UPSIDE DOWN and mark the other end (actually the bottom) of the balusters against the bottom of the handrail near the corresponding top hole. Be careful to align the top and bottom in a plumb (level) line as it is easy to move from one side to the other giving you an improper length. This mark is where you will cut the new iron baluster baluster. NOTE: By placing the baluster upside down in the hole and marking the other end, you are actually marking the bottom of the baluster. YOU ALWAYS CUT THE BOTTOM OF THE BALUSTER. When you are drilling holes, you will occassionally encounter nails in the lower framing. Do not worry if your drill penetrates the wood framing completely, sometimes this will happen. Step #4 Baluster Cutting - Cut the baluster approximately 1/2" shorter than the mark, this will allow for you to slide the baluster into the hole, and up inside the top hole of the handrail. Always test your baluster fit before gluing. Slide your shoe onto the baluster. The baluster should slide down into the lower hole first, and then into the upper hole. If you drilled the hole deep enough and cut it properly, your baluster should fit in this space by filling the upper hole and still have 2" into the lower hole. Step # 5 - Adhesive in the TOP hole - Apply adhesive (epoxy or polyurethane) to the upper hole. Step #6 Fastening the Baluster in the LOWER hole - Place a 1-5/8" drywall screw into the lower hole on the side of the baluster at a 45 degree angle, wedging it into place. Repeat this process on the adjacent side if necessary. These two screws will wedge the baluster firmly into place holding it permanently. Adhesive can also be applied. Final Steps Wipe off any adhesive left in the top hole. Slide the shoe down over the baluster for a finished look. Align the baluster so it is properly aligned. Enjoy your new stairway. Always wear safety glasses when operating power tools and use tools in the manner they were designed. Neither Stairway Creations Supply or any of its employees assumes any liability for the installation of products purchased from our company. Installation instructions are general because each and every job will be different and certain conditions will have to be adapted to the individual situation. We assum no liability for use or misuse of any equipment or products. Please make sure you comply with all building codes.</div> <div> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <div id="sig" class="sig"> Ted Vinci <a href="http://www.stairwaycreationssupply.com/" target="_new">http://www.stairwaycreationssupply.com/</a></div> Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ted_Vinci">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ted_Vinci</a></td> <td></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div>

<p><img src="http://www.handbags-directory.com/wpshopping/uploads/" alt="2007 Christian Dior Fashion House 50th Anniversary Silver Proof" /><br><br>Monnaie de Paris is paying a tribute to <b>Christian</b> <b>Dior</b> on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his death. The Fashion House t 30 avenue Montaigne is the inevitable symbol of the New Look launched by <b>Christian</b> <b>Dior</b>. In just ten years, from 1947 to 1957, the fashion designer created a fashion label that became famous all over the world. The release of this low-mintage silver proof is now very hard-to-find - the entire program consists of only two coins, with a total mintage of only 3,500 - only 500 gold proofs and only 3,000 silver proofs! Both coins are sold out at the mint.</p><!--more--><br> powered by Yahoo shopping

<p><img src="http://www.handbags-directory.com/wpshopping/uploads/4874-194.jpeg" alt="Blowfish Baggins Canvas Handbags, Messenger and Laptop {Fuchsia} - Women" /><br><br>The &ldquo;Baggins&rdquo; is back and better than ever! Made just like the original with buttons and ruffles on a large <b>canvas</b> tote that will keep you organized with its multi-compartment interior. Always be in style with Blowfish!</p><!--more--><br> powered by Yahoo shopping

<p><img src="http://www.handbags-directory.com/wpshopping/uploads/3071205.jpeg" alt="Brahmin 'Melbourne' Tote" /><br><br>Rich crocodile texture distinguishes a chic leather tote with a classically contoured shape. Color(s): black, white, lemon snake, marigold, pecan, pecan (pending), raspberry snake, red, turquoise, turquoise snake. Brand: <b>Brahmin</b>. Style Name: <b>Brahmin</b> 'Melbourne' Tote. Style Number: 282371. Manufacturer part number C76151</p><!--more--><br> powered by Yahoo shopping

<p><img src="http://www.handbags-directory.com/wpshopping/uploads/654330.jpeg" alt="Betsey Johnson Women BEADING AROUND LIP STICK CLUTCH - Handbags - Clutches" /><br><br>Known for her celebration of the exuberant, the embellished, and the over the top, Betsey Johnson has been rocking the fashion industry with her unique and original designs since the 1960s. The <b>Beading</b> Around Lip Stick Clutch from Betsey Johnson features: Fold over hand held clutch Seed <b>bead</b> embellished exterior, with oversized lipstick print on front panel Built in magnetic closure Single pocket with satin lace lining Length: 9", Width: 4.5"</p><!--more--><br> powered by Yahoo shopping

Free DOwnload Paa (2009) from www.movieplace.in

<p><p>The basic health hazards relating to asbestos are certainly not a secret. Through public awareness, a high number of mesothelioma lawsuits, and of course public education, asbestos is known to cause a very specific type of lung cancer that attacks the lining of the lung known as mesothelioma.<br /> <br /> Mesothelioma lawsuits are not quite as cut and dry as we would like to think they are. It should be a simple matter of asking the responsible party to step up and assist those detrimentally affected by asbestos. However, because of changes in regulations, it takes a qualified mesothelioma lawyer to help you file a mesothelioma lawsuit.<br /> <br /> Mesothelioma settlements range anywhere from nominal to significant, depending on the usage of asbestos, the time period in which the building was constructed, the current laws at the time, and the quality of the mesothelioma lawyer.<br /> <br /> In 1970, the use of asbestos was limited, but not banned. Public awareness coupled with significant mesothelioma lawsuits and mesothelioma settlements have led to a serious decrease of asbestos use, but current construction is still permitted, and often chooses to use asbestos.<br /> <br /> Individuals who work or have worked with asbestos are at a very high risk for asbestos related illnesses, and those who have been diagnosed even years later have been able to successfully file mesothelioma lawsuits and are typically granted mesothelioma settlements provided their mesothelioma lawyer is able to thoroughly understand the laws and how they apply to each individual case.<br /> <br /> Because mesothelioma lawsuits are not as cut and dry as we would like to think they are, there are individuals who are told that they do not qualify for a mesothelioma settlement by an incompetent mesothelioma lawyer. It is best to check with two or even three mesothelioma lawyers to find out how the asbestos laws best relates to your case. Most mesothelioma lawyers will provide an initial consultation free of charge.<br /> <br /> An internet search will provide a list of mesothelioma lawyers that are capable of representing you mesothelioma lawsuit. As with any other business, the proof is in the pudding. When choosing a mesothelioma lawyer, check their record for attaining mesothelioma settlements.<br /> <br /> People living with asbestos related illnesses should not have to suffer the pain alone. Sometimes a mesothelioma lawyer has had enough experience in dealing with mesothelioma lawsuits that they can even recommend treatment options that have worked well for other clients, or at the very least, drop the name of a facility in your lap. Mesothelioma lawyers are attorneys who are ready to fight for the rights of the injured. There is great care and concern in dealing with mesothelioma lawsuits and obtaining mesothelioma settlements. Don't hesitate. You're health and your time is too valuable.</p><br><br> Nick Johnson<br>http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/asbestos-hazards-are-serious-business-98716.html</p>

Your trash is an invitation for an identity thief to steal your identity. Not everyone realizes just how severely your trash can be used against you. Mostly because so many of us mindlessly throw away documents with personal information that could be harmful in the wrong hands. You don’t always consider how important protecting your trash really is, until it’s too late.

<p><p>The question of how to find a good attorney is on everyone's mind when in need of a lawyer. And it's difficult for an ordinary person to know how to find a good attorney. The legal profession is just like any other profession where you have good, disciplined and honest members as well as bad, not disciplined and dishonest ones. And in the legal profession, unfortunately, only fellow attorneys and judges know who is who. That leaves us, the ordinary people, to learn as best as we could on ways of how to find a good attorney to represent our case.</p> <p>When faced with a legal issue that requires lawyer's participation, the only thing worse than not having a lawyer is to have a bad one. However, the "good" and the "bad" labels are a subject to a personal judgment. As mentioned above, while only fellow attorneys and judges know who is the good, the bad, and the ugly attorney, in the ordinary human world, two people could share a totally opposite opinion about one attorney who represented both of their cases. It's all based on the results that the attorney was able to obtain for them and whether the clients' expectations were met or not. This leads us to a conclusion that when we have a lack of resources to evaluate our prospect attorneys, we need to depend solely upon our individual judgment to pick a good attorney for our case.</p> <p>On the other hand, there are ways to at least sense a bad attorney. Wait! Isn't it the subject of this article "How to find a good attorney"? Indeed so. In order for you to know how to find a good attorney, you need to know how to at least sense a bad one. Let's touch up on some basics.</p> <p>1. Very simple. If you need to file for a divorce, would you call a criminal lawyer? Of course not. That's a bad lawyer for your case. On the same note, if other than a divorce lawyer is offering to handle your case, you would say no. You immediately know that a good lawyer for your case would be the one who has expertise in whatever legal issue you're facing.</p> <p>2. You somehow find a lawyer that has the expertise in your problem area and you make a contact with him or her. But, it takes that lawyer a week or two to get back to you. That attorney may not be a bad lawyer but he or she may be overbooked with other clients and does not have enough time to give the needed attention to your case. That's a bad lawyer for your case. That attorney needs to immediately tell you that because of their current work load he or she wouldn't be able to handle your case. But if he or she doesn't tell you that, you need to immediately dismiss that attorney and look for another one who can give you the needed attention.</p> <p>3. Here comes the bad one. It is highly unethical for a lawyer to pay a referral fee or a bonus for "leads" on new cases. (Depending on state law, a referral fee sometimes may be paid to another lawyer, but it needs to be disclosed to the client). Some of the profession's "bad apples" may still engage in the practice of paying "runners" for tips on new clients. So if a stranger (or even someone that you know) seems excessively persistent that you need to see a lawyer, or just happens to have a supply of the attorney's business cards, look out! This is not the kind of person who deserves your trust. On the same note, if you bump into a lawyer who does not take his or her time to understand your case but is also excessively persistent that you need to hire him or her, look out!</p> <p>Now, let's cover some basics on ways of how to find a good attorney. </p> <p>1. One of the best ways on how to find a good attorney is to ask someone whose opinion you trust; another lawyer, your accountant, banker, coworker, family friend, business acquaintance. These are the people that you trust and you know that they wouldn't refer you to a bad lawyer if they happen to know one related to your legal need. </p> <p>2. If the above doesn't work for you, you could always call a company that may be represented by a lawyer of your need. For an example, if you're looking for a real estate lawyer, call a title company and ask them who they use. If you need a collection lawyer, call a collection agency. But, if your issue is pure personal, ask anyone who you trust, who has recently been through a lawsuit, and who is very satisfied with their lawyer. Even if that lawyer is not the right one for your case, you know that you're contacting a good lawyer. Call that lawyer and explain that you couldn't find an attorney on your own and ask him or her if they could refer you to the appropriate attorney for your case. Lawyers are the best source of information about other lawyers. And a good lawyer will always refer you to another good lawyer who could handle your case. </p> <p>3. And last but not least on how to find a good lawyer, call your local or state bar association and ask them to refer you to a lawyer who is in good standing with the bar. Also, always check with your state or local bar association if your prospect lawyer has ever been the subject of an ethical complaint or inquiry.</p> <p>To sum up the ways on how to find a good attorney, the primary considerations in selecting an attorney needs to be whether you feel comfortable with the attorney selected, and if you are confident that the attorney is competent in his or her field of expertise. You must feel very comfortable with the attorney and must feel confident that the attorney selected is the one who can capably handle your needs. Make sure that you interview two or three lawyers before making a decision on which one to retain. Ask yourself when interviewing a lawyer: "Do I feel comfortable talking to this lawyer, and am I confident in his or her abilities?" If the answer is anything other than a definite "yes," you need to keep looking. Your case is too important to entrust to someone who does not inspire your confidence.</p> <p>Disclaimer: The author and publisher of this article have done their best to give you useful, informative and accurate information. This article does not represent nor replace the legal advice you need to get from a lawyer, or other professional if the content of the article involves an issue you are facing. Laws vary from state-to-state and change from time-to-time. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions about the issues described in this article. Thank you.</p> <br><br> Steve Dimeck<br>http://www.articlesbase.com/law-articles/how-to-find-a-good-attorney-66819.html</p>

<p><p><strong><a href="http://www.passenlaw.com" title="Chicago personal injury attorneys, negligence, wrongful death, brain injury ">Personal Injury Law Firms experienced in negligence, malpractice and other types of personal injury actions</a></strong> have taken note of recent product liability actions involving the drug, Duragesic.</p><br /> <p>Duragesic® is the trade name for a pain-medication patch containing fentanyl, a potent opioid analgesic.  Duragesic is a transdermal system-the medicine, fentanyl, is absorbed through the patient's skin and into the bloodstream, providing pain relief for up to three days (72 hours) from a single patch application.</p><br /> <p>Duragesic is prescribed in five dosage strengths:  12, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mcg of fentanyl per hour. The 50, 75, and 100 ug/h doses are only prescribed for patients who are already on and tolerant to opioid therapy, and require continuous opioid administration.  Moreover, the Duragesic label warns that 12 mcg/hour as an initiating dose has not been systematically evaluated; therefore, Duragesic should be used only in patients who are opioid-tolerant.</p><br /> <p>Fentanyl was found to be a good choice for transdermal application because of its physicochemical properties and high analgesic potency.  However, Fentanyl is not without its serious adverse effects.  Pharmacologically, fentanyl acts on the central nervous system causing analgesia, sedation, severe respiratory depression, muscle rigidity, seizures, coma, and hypotension.  Adverse reactions include mood changes, euphoria, dysphoria, drowsiness, constricted pupils, nausea, and vomiting.  The most serious side effect of fentanyl overdose is hypoventilation (respiratory depression), which can be fatal.</p><br /> <p><strong>Development of Duragesic</strong></p><br /> <p>Currently, only eleven transdermally administered drugs are on the market; seven of which were developed by ALZA.  In 1981, ALZA responded to a plea from a White House-created committee of scientists and physicians to develop more potent analgesics with alternative delivery systems for critically ill and dying patients who were suffering from intractable pain. ALZA began work on a project to develop a fentanyl transdermal patch in late 1982.</p><br /> <p>In early 1983, ALZA representatives met with agents from the DEA to discuss the handling of fentanyl.  Among other issues, the DEA expressed concern that the dosage be kept to an absolute minimum, because of the potential for overdose and abuse.</p><br /> <p>In 1991, ten years after ALZA proposed the development of a transdermal fentanyl patch, Duragesic was made available for sale in the United States.  Originally, Duragesic was approved to treat acute, postoperative and moderate-to-severe pain.  However, due to the slow onset of drug levels from the transdermal delivery and three day maintenance of drug levels with Duragesic, the system was more suited for treatment of chronic pain conditions, in particular, cancer patients.  By 1998, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended transdermal fentanyl for treatment of cancer pain in stable patients.</p><br /> <p>Since receiving FDA approval in 1990, ALZA and Janssen aggressively sought the expansion of Duragesic use beyond cancer patients.  For example, transdermal fentanyl has been used to treat rheumatologic pain and severe back pain.</p><br /> <p>The FDA has also approved an expansion of Duragesic to treat pediatric patients.</p><br /> <p>Janssen's most recent advertising campaign to expand the use of Duragesic was thwarted by the FDA.  In the late 1990s, the company sent a document called Top Ten List to doctors urging physicians to switch their patients to Duragesic patches rather than use more traditional type pain relievers.  Among the reasons listed is the phrase "It's not just for end stage cancer any more!"  However, in 2000, the Department of Health and Human Services wrote a letter to Janssen informing the company that its promotional pieces concerning the "Broadening of indication" for Duragesic were misleading and contained misrepresentations.  The government agency responded, "The suggestion that Duragesic can be used for any type of pain management promotes Duragesic for a much broader use that is recommended by the PI, and thus, is misleading."</p><br /> <p>Currently, Duragesic is the most widely prescribed transdermal medication.  From 2002 to 2003, the total number of fentanyl patch prescriptions within the United States rose from 4.5 million to 5.4 million-a twenty percent increase.  And the resulting sales figures for Duragesic have been enormous:  total annual sales in the United States have reached one and a half billion ($1,500,000,000.00) dollars annually.</p><br /> <p>And in 2005, Duragesic sales generated two point one billion ($2,100,000,000.00) dollars worldwide.</p><br /> <p><strong>Duragesic Defects:</strong></p><br /> <p>Package Leak-Subsequent Recalls</p><br /> <p>The design/manufacturing defect most applicable to our case is an improper sealing of one edge of the Duragesic patch, resulting in millions of patches being recalled.  During 2004, ALZA (through Janssen) initiated two large Class I recalls of Duragesic for this exact reason.  The first was February 17, 2004 at which time Duragesic Control No. 0327192 (75 mcg/hr) was pulled from the market.  The cited reason was a potential seal breach on one edge of the patch, which could result in fentanyl leaking from the patch.  This recall included about 440,000 patches.</p><br /> <p>On April 5, 2004, Janssen expanded its recall of Duragesic to include 2.2 million patches (Control Numbers 0327192, 0327193, 0327294, 0327295, and 0330362).  Again, the reason cited was the potential for a breach of the seal, which would result in fentanyl leakage.  Janssen sent a "Dear Healthcare Professional" letter to inform of the expanded recall.</p><br /> <p>A leak of fentanyl from a Duragesic patch could cause patients to receive either too much or too little of the drug.   If the fentanyl seeps out of the patch before its application to the skin, patients may receive too little medication to adequately treat their pain. In this situation, patients used to a specific does may experience withdrawal effects including sweating, sleeplessness, and abdominal discomfort.</p><br /> <p>Conversely, fentanyl leaks that occur while the patch is on the skin expose patients to a potentially life-threatening overdose of fentanyl.  Duragesic is designed to deliver only a controlled amount of fentanyl into the patient's skin.  Patients wearing a defective patch that leaks fentanyl directly onto the skin will receive too much of the medication.  If this occurs, patients could experience minor complications such as sedation, drowsiness, and nausea.  Fentanyl overdose may result in more serious complications, including fatal hypoventilation (respiratory depression) or cardiac arrest.</p><br /> <p>When Jansen placed Duragesic on the market in 1991, reports of toxicity due to fentanyl overdosing were fairly common.  In fact, one study in California of 112 deaths associated with fentanyl concluded that the general availability of the drug may be responsible for the high incidence of overdoses.</p><br /> <p>Furthermore, in a recent Duragesic lawsuit filed against Johnson &amp; Johnson, Janssen, and ALZA, the plaintiffs alleged that "despite knowing of this defect, the defendants (Johnson &amp; Johnson, Janssen, ALZA) took inadequate steps to advise physicians, hospitals, nursing homes and other health care professionals of the defect and the significant damages to users of the Duragesic patches."</p><br /> <p><strong>Heat-Induced Overdose</strong></p><br /> <p>ALZA and Janssen's knowledge of the overdosing potential caused by external heat dates back to 1986, when ALZA did lab testing on a nitroglycerin-delivering patch using the same co-polymer membrane used in Duragesic patches.   ALZA subsequently did lab testing on Duragesic in 1988-that showed that a five degree Centigrade increase in temperature doubled Duragesic's release rate.  Dr. Curtis Wright, the FDA Medical Review Officer, was quite concerned in 1989 and again in 1990 that ALZA had not responded to his request for more information on the effects of external heat.  After Duragesic hit the market in April of 1991, ALZA and Janssen learned of six reports from healthcare providers that external heat appeared to increase blood fentanyl levels in patients in the hospital setting and at home.</p><br /> <p>However, the first time Janssen or ALZA made an effort to warn of the effects of external heat came in a January 17, 1994 "Dear Doctor" letter with an attached proposed labeling revision.  The labeling contained a new heat warning, which was buried at page 10 of the attachment, but no mention was made in the letter itself to alert physicians that external heat applied to the patch was potentially life-threatening.</p><br /> <p><strong>GOVERNMENT REGULATION</strong></p><br /> <p>In 2004, the FDA influenced Janssen and ALZA to issue two Class I Recalls of Duragesic, "due to improper sealing of one of their edges," which could result in a life-threatening overdose of fentanyl.  Yet, this was not the first time the FDA encountered problems with the companies' handling of Duragesic.  In fact, prior to the recalls in 2004, the FDA has required Duragesic labeling revisions 13 times.</p><br /> <p>And, as recently as July 2005, the FDA issued a Public Health Advisory concerning the use of Duragesic Patches in response to reports of deaths in patients using the patch.</p><br /> <p>Beginning in 1994, the FDA sent ALZA a "warning letter" identifying certain violations and deviations from Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) regulations under the Food and Drug Act. This prompted the company to issue a letter to all health care professionals warning of Duragesic misuse.</p><br /> <p>In the late 1990s, the Department of Health and Human Services warned Janssen that its promotional materials to expand the use of Duragesic were in direct violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and contained misrepresentations as to the safety and efficacy of the product. The agency determined that the promotional pieces were "false or misleading because they contain misrepresentations of safety information, broaden Duragesic's indication, contain unsubstantiated claims, and lack fair balance."</p><br /> <p>Following Janssen's "voluntary" recall of Duragesic in 2004, the FDA issued a "Safety Alert" warning that the recall was "due to a potential leak in the product seal," which could result in skin exposure to fentanyl.  The warning adds that "skin exposure to any leaked medication from a DURAGESIC patch may cause nausea, sedation, drowsiness, or potentially life-threatening complications."  Govt Regulation 6.  Janssen also wrote a letter to "Healthcare Professional[s]" informing them of the expanded recall in April 2004.</p><br /> <p>Furthermore, on September 2, 2004 the FDA issued Janssen another "warning letter." This letter states that the latest Duragesic promotional pieces make "false or misleading claims about the abuse potential and other risks of the drug, including unsubstantiated effectiveness claims for Duragesic."  The letter states, "By suggesting that Duragesic has a lower potential for abuse compared to other opioid products, the file card could encourage the unsafe use of the drug, potentially resulting in serious or life-threatening hypoventilation."</p><br /> <p>The Duragesic product label was again updated in June 2005 to add new safety information in several areas of labeling, and Janssen issued another "Dear Healthcare Professional" letter about these changes. Under a section entitled "Hypoventilation (Respiratory Depression)," the letter warns that "Serious or life-threatening hypoventilation may occur at any time during the use of DURAGESIC® especially during the initial 24-72 hours following initiation of therapy and following increases in dose."  Janssen also warns of a "potential for temperature-dependant increases in fentanyl released from the system resulting in possible overdose and death."  Therefore, the letter instructs all patients to avoid exposing Duragesic to "direct external heat sources, such as heating pads or electric blankets, heat lamps, saunas, hot tubs, and heated water beds, etc., while wearing the system."</p><br /> <p>Finally, on July 15, 2005 the FDA issued a "Public Health Advisory" concerning the use of Duragesic Patches in response to reports of deaths in patients using the patch. The FDA stated it is conducting an investigation into the deaths related to fentanyl overdose in patients using Duragesic.  According to the FDA, "Some patients and health care providers may not be fully aware of the dangers of this very strong narcotic painkiller.  Therefore, FDA is issuing this public health advisory to alert patients and their caregivers and health care professionals by highlighting the following important safety information."</p><br /> <p><strong>MEDICAL LITERATURE</strong></p><br /> <p>Fentanyl Overdose</p><br /> <p>Since Duragesic hit the marketplace in 1991, studies have shown continued high numbers of overdoses involving transdermal delivery of fentanyl.  The most serious side effect is respiratory depression, which can be fatal.  One study, published in 1991, examined 112 fentanyl-related deaths in the Eastern United States, mostly in California.  Fentanyl deaths appeared to occur rapidly, "probably the result of acute respiratory depression."  While acknowledging the extreme potency of fentanyl, the author suggests that "the incidence of fentanyl-related deaths is probably determined by the general availability of the drug, rather than the relative potency of the analogs."</p><br /> <p>In a study published in 2000, the Los Angeles County Department of the Coroner analyzed 25 cases involving fentanyl-related deaths.    The author notes that the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office evaluates nearly one case each month involving fentanyl patch-related death.  Another study that same year identified 61 cases of transdermal drug overdoses in a Regional Poison Information System over a five-year period.</p><br /> <p>Head-Induced Overdose</p><br /> <p>Heat is expected to increase skin permeability, metabolism and elimination of fentanyl.  If drug release from the system is much faster than permeation through the skin, the skin controls the transdermal absorption rate into the patient's systemic circulation, rather than Duragesic's special rate control membrane.</p><br /> <p>Several case reports have described the development of life-threatening overdose caused by a heating pad or rise in body temperature.  Frolich et al. reported a narcotic overdose in a patient that was using a warming blanket to relieve pain following surgery.  Medical Literature 17, see M.A. Frolich et al., Opioid Overdose in a Patient Using a Fentanyl Patch During Treatment with a Warming Blanket, 93 ANESTH. ANALG. 647-48 (2001) (unable to obtain hard copy).  The increase in absorption may account for other heat-related toxicity associated with transdermal fentanyl.  G. Newshan, Heat-Related Toxicity with the Fentanyl Transdermal Patch, 16 J. PAIN SYMPTOM MGMT. 277-78 (1998) (unable to obtain hard copy).</p><br /> <p>One study, in 2003, examined the effect of heat on transdermal fentanyl absorption. The authors concluded that increases in skin temperature may result in increased systemic absorption of fentanyl.  Therefore, warming blankets and heating pads should not be either used in conjunction with, or placed over Duragesic patches.</p><br /> <p>However, as of 2003, the Duragesic label warned that serum fentanyl concentrations may "theoretically" increase by one third in patients with a body temperature of 40 degrees Celsius because of accelerated drug release and increased skin permeability.  The current label warns of a "potential for temperature-dependent increases in fentanyl release from the system."</p><br><br> Mathew A. Passen<br>http://www.articlesbase.com/personal-injury-articles/duragesic-product-liability-personal-injury-lawsuits-723732.html</p>

<p><h3>Arundhati Roy: Mumbai was not India's 9/11</h3> <br /> <a title="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/12/mumbai-arundhati-roy" target="_blank" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/12/mumbai-arundhati-roy">http://www.guardian .co.uk/world/ 2008/dec/ 12/mumbai- arundhati- roy</a> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> The Mumbai attacks have been dubbed 'India's 9/11', and there are calls for a 9/11-style response, including an attack on Pakistan. Instead, the country must fight terrorism with justice, or face civil war. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> We've forfeited the rights to our own tragedies. As the carnage in Mumbai raged on, day after horrible day, our 24-hour news channels informed us that we were watching &quot;India's 9/11&quot;. Like actors in a Bollywood rip-off of an old Hollywood film, we're expected to play our parts and say our lines, even though we know it's all been said and done before. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> As tension in the region builds, US Senator John McCain has warned Pakistan that if it didn't act fast to arrest the &quot;Bad Guys&quot; he had personal information that India would launch air strikes on &quot;terrorist camps&quot; in Pakistan and that Washington could do nothing because Mumbai was India's 9/11. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> But November isn't September, 2008 isn't 2001, Pakistan isn't Afghanistan and India isn't America. So perhaps we should reclaim our tragedy and pick through the debris with our own brains and our own broken hearts so that we can arrive at our own conclusions. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> It's odd how in the last week of November thousands of people in Kashmir supervised by thousands of Indian troops lined up to cast their vote, while the richest quarters of India's richest city ended up looking like war-torn Kupwara &ndash; one of Kashmir's most ravaged districts. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> The Mumbai attacks are only the most recent of a spate of terrorist attacks on Indian towns and cities this year. Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Guwahati, Jaipur and Malegaon have all seen serial bomb blasts in which hundreds of ordinary people have been killed and wounded. If the police are right about the people they have arrested as suspects, both Hindu and Muslim, all Indian nationals, it obviously indicates that something's going very badly wrong in this country. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> If you were watching television you may not have heard that ordinary people too died in Mumbai. They were mowed down in a busy railway station and a public hospital. The terrorists did not distinguish between poor and rich. They killed both with equal cold-bloodedness. The Indian media, however, was transfixed by the rising tide of horror that breached the glittering barricades of India Shining and spread its stench in the marbled lobbies and crystal ballrooms of two incredibly luxurious hotels and a small Jewish centre. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> We're told one of these hotels is an icon of the city of Mumbai. That's absolutely true. It's an icon of the easy, obscene injustice that ordinary Indians endure every day. On a day when the newspapers were full of moving obituaries by beautiful people about the hotel rooms they had stayed in, the gourmet restaurants they loved (ironically one was called Kandahar), and the staff who served them, a small box on the top left-hand corner in the inner pages of a national newspaper (sponsored by a pizza company I think) said &quot;Hungry, kya?&quot; (Hungry eh?). It then, with the best of intentions I'm sure, informed its readers that on the international hunger index, India ranked below Sudan and Somalia. But of course this isn't that war. That one's still being fought in the Dalit bastis of our villages, on the banks of the Narmada and the Koel Karo rivers; in the rubber estate in Chengara; in the villages of Nandigram, Singur, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Lalgarh in West Bengal and the slums and shantytowns of our gigantic cities. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> That war isn't on TV. Yet. So maybe, like everyone else, we should deal with the one that is. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> There is a fierce, unforgiving fault-line that runs through the contemporary discourse on terrorism. On one side (let's call it Side A) are those who see terrorism, especially &quot;Islamist&quot; terrorism, as a hateful, insane scourge that spins on its own axis, in its own orbit and has nothing to do with the world around it, nothing to do with history, geography or economics. Therefore, Side A says, to try and place it in a political context, or even try to understand it, amounts to justifying it and is a crime in itself. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> Side B believes that though nothing can ever excuse or justify terrorism, it exists in a particular time, place and political context, and to refuse to see that will only aggravate the problem and put more and more people in harm's way. Which is a crime in itself. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> The sayings of Hafiz Saeed, who founded the Lashkar-e-Taiba (Army of the Pure) in 1990 and who belongs to the hardline Salafi tradition of Islam, certainly bolsters the case of Side A. Hafiz Saeed approves of suicide bombing, hates Jews, Shias and Democracy and believes that jihad should be waged until Islam, his Islam, rules the world. Among the things he said are: &quot;There cannot be any peace while India remains intact. Cut them, cut them so much that they kneel before you and ask for mercy.&quot; <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> And: &quot;India has shown us this path. We would like to give India a tit-for-tat response and reciprocate in the same way by killing the Hindus, just like it is killing the Muslims in Kashmir.&quot; <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> But where would Side A accommodate the sayings of Babu Bajrangi of Ahmedabad, India, who sees himself as a democrat, not a terrorist? He was one of the major lynchpins of the 2002 Gujarat genocide and has said (on camera): &quot;We didn't spare a single Muslim shop, we set everything on fire &hellip; we hacked, burned, set on fire &hellip; we believe in setting them on fire because these bastards don't want to be cremated, they're afraid of it &hellip; I have just one last wish &hellip; let me be sentenced to death &hellip; I don't care if I'm hanged ... just give me two days before my hanging and I will go and have a field day in Juhapura where seven or eight lakhs [seven or eight hundred thousand] of these people stay ... I will finish them off &hellip; let a few more of them die ... at least 25,000 to 50,000 should die.&quot; <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> And where, in Side A's scheme of things, would we place the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh bible, We, or, Our Nationhood Defined by MS Golwalkar, who became head of the RSS in 1944. It says: &quot;Ever since that evil day, when Moslems first landed in Hindustan, right up to the present moment, the Hindu Nation has been gallantly fighting on to take on these despoilers. The Race Spirit has been awakening.&quot; <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> Or: &quot;To keep up the purity of its race and culture, Germany shocked the world by her purging the country of the Semitic races &ndash; the Jews. Race pride at its highest has been manifested here ... a good lesson for us in Hindustan to learn and profit by.&quot; <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> (Of course Muslims are not the only people in the gun sights of the Hindu right. Dalits have been consistently targeted. Recently in Kandhamal in Orissa, Christians were the target of two and a half months of violence which left more than 40 dead. Forty thousand people have been driven from their homes, half of who now live in refugee camps.) <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> All these years Hafiz Saeed has lived the life of a respectable man in Lahore as the head of the Jamaat-ud Daawa, which many believe is a front organization for the Lashkar-e-Taiba. He continues to recruit young boys for his own bigoted jehad with his twisted, fiery sermons. On December 11 the UN imposed sanctions on the Jammat-ud-Daawa. The Pakistani government succumbed to international pressure and put Hafiz Saeed under house arrest. Babu Bajrangi, however, is out on bail and lives the life of a respectable man in Gujarat. A couple of years after the genocide he left the VHP to join the Shiv Sena. Narendra Modi, Bajrangi's former mentor, is still the chief minister of Gujarat. So the man who presided over the Gujarat genocide was re-elected twice, and is deeply respected by India's biggest corporate houses, Reliance and Tata. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> Suhel Seth, a TV impresario and corporate spokesperson, recently said: &quot;Modi is God.&quot; The policemen who supervised and sometimes even assisted the rampaging Hindu mobs in Gujarat have been rewarded and promoted. The RSS has 45,000 branches, its own range of charities and 7 million volunteers preaching its doctrine of hate across India. They include Narendra Modi, but also former prime minister AB Vajpayee, current leader of the opposition LK Advani, and a host of other senior politicians, bureaucrats and police and intelligence officers. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> If that's not enough to complicate our picture of secular democracy, we should place on record that there are plenty of Muslim organisations within India preaching their own narrow bigotry. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> So, on balance, if I had to choose between Side A and Side B, I'd pick Side B. We need context. Always. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> In this nuclear subcontinent that context is partition. The Radcliffe Line, which separated India and Pakistan and tore through states, districts, villages, fields, communities, water systems, homes and families, was drawn virtually overnight. It was Britain's final, parting kick to us. Partition triggered the massacre of more than a million people and the largest migration of a human population in contemporary history. Eight million people, Hindus fleeing the new Pakistan, Muslims fleeing the new kind of India left their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> Each of those people carries and passes down a story of unimaginable pain, hate, horror but yearning too. That wound, those torn but still unsevered muscles, that blood and those splintered bones still lock us together in a close embrace of hatred, terrifying familiarity but also love. It has left Kashmir trapped in a nightmare from which it can't seem to emerge, a nightmare that has claimed more than 60,000 lives. Pakistan, the Land of the Pure, became an Islamic Republic, and then, very quickly a corrupt, violent military state, openly intolerant of other faiths. India on the other hand declared herself an inclusive, secular democracy. It was a magnificent undertaking, but Babu Bajrangi's predecessors had been hard at work since the 1920s, dripping poison into India's bloodstream, undermining that idea of India even before it was born. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> By 1990 they were ready to make a bid for power. In 1992 Hindu mobs exhorted by LK Advani stormed the Babri Masjid and demolished it. By 1998 the BJP was in power at the centre. The US war on terror put the wind in their sails. It allowed them to do exactly as they pleased, even to commit genocide and then present their fascism as a legitimate form of chaotic democracy. This happened at a time when India had opened its huge market to international finance and it was in the interests of international corporations and the media houses they owned to project it as a country that could do no wrong. That gave Hindu nationalists all the impetus and the impunity they needed. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> This, then, is the larger historical context of terrorism in the subcontinent and of the Mumbai attacks. It shouldn't surprise us that Hafiz Saeed of the Lashkar-e-Taiba is from Shimla (India) and LK Advani of the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh is from Sindh (Pakistan). <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> In much the same way as it did after the 2001 parliament attack, the 2002 burning of the Sabarmati Express and the 2007 bombing of the Samjhauta Express, the government of India announced that it has &quot;incontrovertible&quot; evidence that the Lashkar-e-Taiba backed by Pakistan's ISI was behind the Mumbai strikes. The Lashkar has denied involvement, but remains the prime accused. According to the police and intelligence agencies the Lashkar operates in India through an organisation called the Indian Mujahideen. Two Indian nationals, Sheikh Mukhtar Ahmed, a Special Police Officer working for the Jammu and Kashmir police, and Tausif Rehman, a resident of Kolkata in West Bengal, have been arrested in connection with the Mumbai attacks. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> So already the neat accusation against Pakistan is getting a little messy. Almost always, when these stories unspool, they reveal a complicated global network of foot soldiers, trainers, recruiters, middlemen and undercover intelligence and counter-intelligenc e operatives working not just on both sides of the India-Pakistan border, but in several countries simultaneously. In today's world, trying to pin down the provenance of a terrorist strike and isolate it within the borders of a single nation state is very much like trying to pin down the provenance of corporate money. It's almost impossible. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> In circumstances like these, air strikes to &quot;take out&quot; terrorist camps may take out the camps, but certainly will not &quot;take out&quot; the terrorists. Neither will war. (Also, in our bid for the moral high ground, let's try not to forget that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the LTTE of neighbouring Sri Lanka, one of the world's most deadly terrorist groups, were trained by the Indian army.) <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> Thanks largely to the part it was forced to play as America's ally first in its war in support of the Afghan Islamists and then in its war against them, Pakistan, whose territory is reeling under these contradictions, is careening towards civil war. As recruiting agents for America's jihad against the Soviet Union, it was the job of the Pakistan army and the ISI to nurture and channel funds to Islamic fundamentalist organizations. Having wired up these Frankensteins and released them into the world, the US expected it could rein them in like pet mastiffs whenever it wanted to. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> Certainly it did not expect them to come calling in heart of the Homeland on September 11. So once again, Afghanistan had to be violently remade. Now the debris of a re-ravaged Afghanistan has washed up on Pakistan's borders. Nobody, least of all the Pakistan government, denies that it is presiding over a country that is threatening to implode. The terrorist training camps, the fire-breathing mullahs and the maniacs who believe that Islam will, or should, rule the world is mostly the detritus of two Afghan wars. Their ire rains down on the Pakistan government and Pakistani civilians as much, if not more than it does on India. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> If at this point India decides to go to war perhaps the descent of the whole region into chaos will be complete. The debris of a bankrupt, destroyed Pakistan will wash up on India's shores, endangering us as never before. If Pakistan collapses, we can look forward to having millions of &quot;non-state actors&quot; with an arsenal of nuclear weapons at their disposal as neighbours. It's hard to understand why those who steer India's ship are so keen to replicate Pakistan's mistakes and call damnation upon this country by inviting the United States to further meddle clumsily and dangerously in our extremely complicated affairs. A superpower never has allies. It only has agents. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> On the plus side, the advantage of going to war is that it's the best way for India to avoid facing up to the serious trouble building on our home front. The Mumbai attacks were broadcast live (and exclusive!) on all or most of our 67 24-hour news channels and god knows how many international ones. TV anchors in their studios and journalists at &quot;ground zero&quot; kept up an endless stream of excited commentary. Over three days and three nights we watched in disbelief as a small group of very young men armed with guns and gadgets exposed the powerlessness of the police, the elite National Security Guard and the marine commandos of this supposedly mighty, nuclear-powered nation. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> While they did this they indiscriminately massacred unarmed people, in railway stations, hospitals and luxury hotels, unmindful of their class, caste, religion or nationality. (Part of the helplessness of the security forces had to do with having to worry about hostages. In other situations, in Kashmir for example, their tactics are not so sensitive. Whole buildings are blown up. Human shields are used. The U.S and Israeli armies don't hesitate to send cruise missiles into buildings and drop daisy cutters on wedding parties in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan. ) But this was different. And it was on TV. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> The boy-terrorists' nonchalant willingness to kill &ndash; and be killed &ndash; mesmerised their international audience. They delivered something different from the usual diet of suicide bombings and missile attacks that people have grown inured to on the news. Here was something new. Die Hard 25. The gruesome performance went on and on. TV ratings soared. Ask any television magnate or corporate advertiser who measures broadcast time in seconds, not minutes, what that's worth. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> Eventually the killers died and died hard, all but one. (Perhaps, in the chaos, some escaped. We may never know.) Throughout the standoff the terrorists made no demands and expressed no desire to negotiate. Their purpose was to kill people and inflict as much damage as they could before they were killed themselves. They left us completely bewildered. When we say &quot;nothing can justify terrorism&quot;, what most of us mean is that nothing can justify the taking of human life. We say this because we respect life, because we think it's precious. So what are we to make of those who care nothing for life, not even their own? The truth is that we have no idea what to make of them, because we can sense that even before they've died, they've journeyed to another world where we cannot reach them. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> One TV channel (India TV) broadcast a phone conversation with one of the attackers, who called himself Imran Babar. I cannot vouch for the veracity of the conversation, but the things he talked about were the things contained in the &quot;terror emails&quot; that were sent out before several other bomb attacks in India. Things we don't want to talk about any more: the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, the genocidal slaughter of Muslims in Gujarat in 2002, the brutal repression in Kashmir. &quot;You're surrounded,&quot; the anchor told him. &quot;You are definitely going to die. Why don't you surrender?&quot; <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> &quot;We die every day,&quot; he replied in a strange, mechanical way. &quot;It's better to live one day as a lion and then die this way.&quot; He didn't seem to want to change the world. He just seemed to want to take it down with him. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> If the men were indeed members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, why didn't it matter to them that a large number of their victims were Muslim, or that their action was likely to result in a severe backlash against the Muslim community in India whose rights they claim to be fighting for? Terrorism is a heartless ideology, and like most ideologies that have their eye on the Big Picture, individuals don't figure in their calculations except as collateral damage. It has always been a part of and often even the aim of terrorist strategy to exacerbate a bad situation in order to expose hidden faultlines. The blood of &quot;martyrs&quot; irrigates terrorism. Hindu terrorists need dead Hindus, Communist terrorists need dead proletarians, Islamist terrorists need dead Muslims. The dead become the demonstration, the proof of victimhood, which is central to the project. A single act of terrorism is not in itself meant to achieve military victory; at best it is meant to be a catalyst that triggers something else, something much larger than itself, a tectonic shift, a realignment. The act itself is theatre, spectacle and symbolism, and today, the stage on which it pirouettes and performs its acts of bestiality is Live TV. Even as the attack was being condemned by TV anchors, the effectiveness of the terror strikes were being magnified a thousandfold by TV broadcasts. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> Through the endless hours of analysis and the endless op-ed essays, in India at least there has been very little mention of the elephants in the room: Kashmir, Gujarat and the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Instead we had retired diplomats and strategic experts debate the pros and cons of a war against Pakistan. We had the rich threatening not to pay their taxes unless their security was guaranteed (is it alright for the poor to remain unprotected? ). We had people suggest that the government step down and each state in India be handed over to a separate corporation. We had the death of former prime minster VP Singh, the hero of Dalits and lower castes and villain of Upper caste Hindus pass without a mention. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> We had Suketu Mehta, author of Maximum City and co-writer of the Bollywood film Mission Kashmir, give us his version of George Bush's famous &quot;Why they hate us&quot; speech. His analysis of why religious bigots, both Hindu and Muslim hate Mumbai: &quot;Perhaps because Mumbai stands for lucre, profane dreams and an indiscriminate openness.&quot; His prescription: &quot;The best answer to the terrorists is to dream bigger, make even more money, and visit Mumbai more than ever.&quot; Didn't George Bush ask Americans to go out and shop after 9/11? Ah yes. 9/11, the day we can't seem to get away from. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> Though one chapter of horror in Mumbai has ended, another might have just begun. Day after day, a powerful, vociferous section of the Indian elite, goaded by marauding TV anchors who make Fox News look almost radical and leftwing, have taken to mindlessly attacking politicians, all politicians, glorifying the police and the army and virtually asking for a police state. It isn't surprising that those who have grown plump on the pickings of democracy (such as it is) should now be calling for a police state. The era of &quot;pickings&quot; is long gone. We're now in the era of Grabbing by Force, and democracy has a terrible habit of getting in the way. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> Dangerous, stupid television flashcards like the Police are Good Politicians are Bad/Chief Executives are Good Chief Ministers are Bad/Army is Good Government is Bad/ India is Good Pakistan is Bad are being bandied about by TV channels that have already whipped their viewers into a state of almost uncontrollable hysteria. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> Tragically, this regression into intellectual infancy comes at a time when people in India were beginning to see that in the business of terrorism, victims and perpetrators sometimes exchange roles. It's an understanding that the people of Kashmir, given their dreadful experiences of the last 20 years, have honed to an exquisite art. On the mainland we're still learning. (If Kashmir won't willingly integrate into India, it's beginning to look as though India will integrate/disintegr ate into Kashmir.) <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> It was after the 2001 parliament attack that the first serious questions began to be raised. A campaign by a group of lawyers and activists exposed how innocent people had been framed by the police and the press, how evidence was fabricated, how witnesses lied, how due process had been criminally violated at every stage of the investigation. Eventually the courts acquitted two out of the four accused, including SAR Geelani, the man whom the police claimed was the mastermind of the operation. A third, Showkat Guru, was acquitted of all the charges brought against him but was then convicted for a fresh, comparatively minor offence. The supreme court upheld the death sentence of another of the accused, Mohammad Afzal. In its judgment the court acknowledged there was no proof that Mohammed Afzal belonged to any terrorist group, but went on to say, quite shockingly, &quot;The collective conscience of the society will only be satisfied if capital punishment is awarded to the offender.&quot; Even today we don't really know who the terrorists that attacked the Indian parliament were and who they worked for. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> More recently, on September 19 this year, we had the controversial &quot;encounter&quot; at Batla House in Jamia Nagar, Delhi, where the Special Cell of the Delhi police gunned down two Muslim students in their rented flat under seriously questionable circumstances, claiming that they were responsible for serial bombings in Delhi, Jaipur and Ahmedabad in 2008. An assistant commissioner of Police, Mohan Chand Sharma, who played a key role in the parliament attack investigation, lost his life as well. He was one of India's many &quot;encounter specialists&quot; known and rewarded for having summarily executed several &quot;terrorists&quot; . There was an outcry against the Special Cell from a spectrum of people, ranging from eyewitnesses in the local community to senior Congress Party leaders, students, journalists, lawyers, academics and activists all of whom demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident. In response, the BJP and LK Advani lauded Mohan Chand Sharma as a &quot;Braveheart&quot; and launched a concerted campaign in which they targeted those who had dared to question the integrity of the police, saying it was &quot;suicidal&quot; and calling them &quot;anti-national&quot; . Of course there has been no inquiry. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> Only days after the Batla House event, another story about &quot;terrorists&quot; surfaced in the news. In a report submitted to a sessions court, the CBI said that a team from Delhi's Special Cell (the same team that led the Batla House encounter, including Mohan Chand Sharma) had abducted two innocent men, Irshad Ali and Moarif Qamar, in December 2005, planted 2kg of RDX and two pistols on them and then arrested them as &quot;terrorists&quot; who belonged to Al Badr (which operates out of Kashmir). Ali and Qamar who have spent years in jail, are only two examples out of hundreds of Muslims who have been similarly jailed, tortured and even killed on false charges. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> This pattern changed in October 2008 when Maharashtra' s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) that was investigating the September 2008 Malegaon blasts arrested a Hindu preacher Sadhvi Pragya, a self-styled God man Swami Dayanand Pande and Lt Col Purohit, a serving officer of the Indian Army. All the arrested belong to Hindu Nationalist organizations including a Hindu Supremacist group called Abhinav Bharat. The Shiv Sena, the BJP and the RSS condemned the Maharashtra ATS, and vilified its chief, Hemant Karkare, claiming he was part of a political conspiracy and declaring that &quot;Hindus could not be terrorists&quot;. LK Advani changed his mind about his policy on the police and made rabble rousing speeches to huge gatherings in which he denounced the ATS for daring to cast aspersions on holy men and women. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> On the November 25 newspapers reported that the ATS was investigating the high profile VHP Chief Pravin Togadia's possible role in the Malegaon blasts. The next day, in an extraordinary twist of fate, Hemant Karkare was killed in the Mumbai Attacks. The chances are that the new chief whoever he is, will find it hard to withstand the political pressure that is bound to be brought on him over the Malegaon investigation. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> While the Sangh Parivar does not seem to have come to a final decision over whether or not it is anti-national and suicidal to question the police, Arnab Goswami, anchorperson of Times Now television, has stepped up to the plate. He has taken to naming, demonising and openly heckling people who have dared to question the integrity of the police and armed forces. My name and the name of the well-known lawyer Prashant Bhushan have come up several times. At one point, while interviewing a former police officer, Arnab Goswami turned to camera: &quot;<a title="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/arundhatiroy" target="_blank" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/arundhatiroy">Arundhati Roy</a> and Prashant Bhushan,&quot; he said, &quot;I hope you are watching this. We think you are disgusting.&quot; For a TV anchor to do this in an atmosphere as charged and as frenzied as the one that prevails today, amounts to incitement as well as threat, and would probably in different circumstances have cost a journalist his or her job. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> So according to a man aspiring to be the next prime minister of India, and another who is the public face of a mainstream TV channel, citizens have no right to raise questions about the police. This in a country with a shadowy history of suspicious terror attacks, murky investigations, and fake &quot;encounters&quot; . This in a country that boasts of the highest number of custodial deaths in the world and yet refuses to ratify the International Covenant on Torture. A country where the ones who make it to torture chambers are the lucky ones because at least they've escaped being &quot;encountered&quot; by our Encounter Specialists. A country where the line between the Underworld and the Encounter Specialists virtually does not exist. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> How should those of us whose hearts have been sickened by the knowledge of all of this view the Mumbai attacks, and what are we to do about them? There are those who point out that US strategy has been successful inasmuch as the United States has not suffered a major attack on its home ground since 9/11. However, some would say that what America is suffering now is far worse. If the idea behind the 9/11 terror attacks was to goad America into showing its true colors, what greater success could the terrorists have asked for? The US army is bogged down in two unwinnable wars, which have made the United States the most hated country in the world. Those wars have contributed greatly to the unraveling of the American economy and who knows, perhaps eventually the American empire. (Could it be that battered, bombed Afghanistan, the graveyard of the Soviet Union, will be the undoing of this one too?) Hundreds of thousands people including thousands of American soldiers have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. The frequency of terrorist strikes on U.S allies/agents (including India) and U.S interests in the rest of the world has increased dramatically since 9/11. George Bush, the man who led the US response to 9/11 is a despised figure not just internationally, but also by his own people. Who can possibly claim that the United States is winning the war on terror? <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> Homeland Security has cost the US government billions of dollars. Few countries, certainly not India, can afford that sort of price tag. But even if we could, the fact is that this vast homeland of ours cannot be secured or policed in the way the United States has been. It's not that kind of homeland. We have a hostile nuclear weapons state that is slowly spinning out of control as a neighbour, we have a military occupation in Kashmir and a shamefully persecuted, impoverished minority of more than 150 million Muslims who are being targeted as a community and pushed to the wall, whose young see no justice on the horizon, and who, were they to totally lose hope and radicalise, end up as a threat not just to India, but to the whole world. If ten men can hold off the NSG commandos, and the police for three days, and if it takes half a million soldiers to hold down the Kashmir valley, do the math. What kind of Homeland Security can secure India? <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> Nor for that matter will any other quick fix. Anti-terrorism laws are not meant for terrorists; they're for people that governments don't like. That's why they have a conviction rate of less than 2%. They're just a means of putting inconvenient people away without bail for a long time and eventually letting them go. Terrorists like those who attacked Mumbai are hardly likely to be deterred by the prospect of being refused bail or being sentenced to death. It's what they want. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> What we're experiencing now is blowback, the cumulative result of decades of quick fixes and dirty deeds. The carpet's squelching under our feet. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <br /> The only way to contain (it would be na&iuml;ve to say end) terrorism is to look at the monster in the mirror. We're standing at a fork in the road. One sign says Justice, the other Civil War. There's no third sign and there's no going back. Choose. <h3>&nbsp;</h3><br><br> MUHAMMAD SHAKEER KS<br>http://www.articlesbase.com/news-and-society-articles/arundhati-roy-mumbai-was-not-indias-911-711720.html</p>

<p><p>Copyright (c) 2009 Katie Kelley<br /> <br /> Scientists have recently made a link between the onset of childhood diabetes and development of an eating disorder later in life. Researchers from the Medical College of Georgia's Prevention Institute are studying the potential link as to the causes behind the connection including prescription drug treatments.<br /> <br /> With funding from The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and assistance from Harvard and Emory Universities, researchers will follow 90 diabetic children between the ages of 10 to 17. The researchers will attempt to determine the causes of the over-eating disorder as well as to follow eating patterns, behaviors and "psychological adjustment," according to a Science Daily news article.<br /> <br /> Childhood Diabetes<br /> <br /> According to the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), which is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), type 1 diabetes may be increasing in children and many additional cases of type 2 diabetes are also being reported among children and adolescents.<br /> <br /> Additionally, "diabetes is one of the most common diseases in school-aged children" and the National Diabetes Fact Sheet reports that "about 186,300 young people in the U.S. under age 20 had diabetes in 2007." It is imperative that individuals who are responsible for children with diabetes know and learn the signs of the condition as well as treatment options. The following are signs and symptoms of type 1 and type 2 childhood diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic:<br /> <br /> * increased thirst<br /> <br /> * frequent urination<br /> <br /> * extreme hunger<br /> <br /> * weight loss<br /> <br /> * blurred vision<br /> <br /> * slow-healing sores<br /> <br /> * frequent infections<br /> <br /> * fatigue<br /> <br /> Diabetic Drug Risks<br /> <br /> While scientists continue to determine as to whether or not the children's diabetic medication is causing the eating disorder side effect, there have, unfortunately, been additional drugs that have been discovered to have damaging risks associated with consumption. For example, a diabetes drug known as Avandia, which was released in May 1999 from GlaxoSmithKline.<br /> <br /> Avandia belongs to a new class of type 2 diabetes drugs known as thiazolidinediones. Officials have been investigating the drug and those from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after an article in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that the drug was causing unintended and severe side effects among patients.<br /> <br /> Most recently the drug has been subject to another study that was published in a recent issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal in which researchers from the University of East Anglia in Norwich found a strong link to the development of bone fractures and loss of bone density among women.<br /> <br /> The research being studied also reinforces the estimated risks commonly attributed to prescription drugs including Avandia. Patients who have suffered from the drug's side effects are encouraged to locate an Avandia attorney to learn how to develop an Avandia class action lawsuit in which monetary compensation may be awarded to a victim of the drug's dangers.<br /> </p><br><br> Katie Kelley<br>http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/study-finds-children-with-diabetes-more-likely-to-develop-eating-disorder-712796.html</p>

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