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American Idol 2012 Results / American Idol Season 11 Top 3 Eliminaton, May 17, the last results before the American Idol 2012 Finale: American Idol 2012 Joshua Ledet was voted off tonight, and the Final Top 2 contestants of American Idol Season 11 are Jessica Sanchez and Joshua Ledet.Announced during the American Idol 2012 Results Show Thursday night, May 17, 2012, Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillip got the most votes from over 90 million votes cast.American Idol 2012 African-American Joshua Ledet, as the lowest vote-getter, was voted off .

Congratulations to Jessica Sanchez we are proud of you.

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UN To Ban "Unnecessary" Languages
Redundant languages blamed for adding to climate change, terrorism and cultural division

CAMBRIDGE, UK (EnglishClub.com) Tuesday April 1, 2008 -- The United Nations is to hold its first debate on language redundancy amid warnings that the problem is "a major contributor" to climate change, a "massive threat" to international security and the cause of "rifts and divisions" within society.
Next week's meeting is the result of an improbable coalition of interests, and follows sustained pressure from the US Administration, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Program.

"We're reacting to two very sobering reports about the impact on climate change of the huge number of languages in use worldwide," Andrew Steiner, head of the United Nations Environment Program, told Reuters news service. At the same time Whitehouse spokesman Gordon Stanzel revealed serious translation challenges for the CIA caused by "an abundance of languages." Pointing to the fact that terrorists typically use non-English languages amongst themselves, he suggested that only by making English the world's "unique" language could security be assured. Asked why the world's "unique" language should be English and not, say, Chinese or Spanish, he replied that English was already so dominant, especially on the Internet, that it was obviously the best language to choose and would cause the least disruption.

The current plan is to begin phasing out all non-English languages, which are seen as redundant and "unnecessary" due to the overwhelming dominance of English in the world community.

Issues for debate
According to UN officials, unnecessary languages require enormous amounts of paper for translations, resulting in huge losses of forested areas, and these losses have become "a major factor" contributing to climate change. Furthermore, the eventual burning of this paper in incinerators has a direct effect upon global warming by boosting atmospheric temperatures "to an alarming degree".

On the security front, a plethora of obscure and redundant languages are used by terrorists to hamper security efforts, as they require time-consuming translation, and as a result these languages constitute a "massive threat" to Washington's war on terror.

And from a socio-cultural point of view, a multitude of unnecessary languages hampers international communication, with the inevitable misunderstandings resulting in "rifts and divisions within the global village".

Latest research
Studies indicate that second-language learning is one of the most stressful ordeals a student can face, and is known to cause a wide range of medical and psychological disorders, the treatment of which is a huge drain on health resources. In one study, it was found that learning a second language can facilitate the development of multiple-personality disorder. Dr. Adrian Wong of the Camden Language Research Facility notes that "this has been seen for example when teachers assign 'second-language names' from a foreign culture to learners in role-play exercises."

It has been theorized that the human brain is adapted to the learning of a single language only, as for tens of thousands of years this was all that human development required. Dr. Wong suggests that the unnatural imposition of a second language on the human brain can lead to a serious disruption of its development, and added: "We can only speculate as to the extent of the damage done. I submit that second-language learning and teaching should be prohibited until more is known about the effects of this activity on the human brain."

"Lingua Non Gratae" to be phased out
Under the plan, languages will be phased out according to a schedule based partly on a language's number of speakers (Table 1). Languages spoken by fewer than one million people, such as Welsh or Maltese, will be deemed lingua non gratae by 2014. Languages with fewer than 25 million speakers (for example, Greek or Hmong) will be LNG in 2021, and below 50 million (say Romanian or Kurdish) in 2028. For languages, like Thai or Turkish, with fewer than 100 million speakers the date will be 2035. Next will come languages with up to 250 million speakers, in 2042, and a billion speakers in 2049. For technical reasons, French and Mandarin will be subject to an accelerated withdrawal process setting them outside the normal schedule. Citing the historical place of French as a language of diplomacy, Steiner said: "French in particular is causing enormous damage environmentally. By clinging to a past notion of French as a universal language, and trying to prop up its language through institutions like l'Académie française, France is thwarting the process of natural selection and adding disproportionately to the problems of global warming."

Further issues
By 2035, when all languages other than English will have been phased out, the only language that will have international sanction will be English. All other languages will be grouped under the heading of "Non-E" (non-English), and it will be an offence to use, teach or publish Non-E. Officials explain that a distinction will be made similar to that made between drug users and drug dealers. People found "using" Non-E (that is, speaking, listening to, reading or writing it) will be weaned off Non-E in rehabilitation camps. Anyone "dealing in" Non-E (for example, teaching or publishing it) will be subject to more serious penalties, including a mandatory prison sentence with no right of appeal. Lawyers are already working on the legal implications for such a framework, and a new department will be set up within Interpol to coordinate police activity internationally.

"Any language school owners in currently English-speaking countries who imagine that the new laws will benefit their business do not understand the concept," said Steiner. Since one of the motives for stamping out redundant languages is environmental, planners have already foreseen the environmental dangers inherent in hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of people travelling abroad for the sake of improving their English. They propose two measures to avoid such problems: the use of terms like "ESL" (English as a Second Language) will be replaced by EOL (English as the Only Language); and it will become illegal to travel abroad to learn EOL. Steiner says the bonanza will go to the "EOL" schools in what are currently non-English speaking countries. Among UN plans are massive retraining schemes for teachers in such countries.

Ironically, one of the last issues that will have to be resolved is the thorny question of which variety of English to use. Interpreting the doctrine of language redundancy strictly, there is no room for more than one variety of English. Washington is likely to argue that American English is the modern, more vibrant variety that should be kept. The Australian and Canadian governments are thought to be commissioning studies intended to show why their varieties should prevail. But the most likely outcome is for all parties to accept the British argument that British English is not only a purer form of English, but the original language itself and thus not a variety at all. However, the Language Redundancy Panel, which will be steering the new plans through to fruition, will have ample time to resolve the issue and will not need to make a decision until the start of the second phase in 2021.

To all Filipinos in the United States don't forget and give your votes to Ms. Ramiele Malubay.

Ramiele Malubay American Idol

Filipino-American Ramiele Malubay ROCKS! Her references to Philippine culture was just fantastic. For starters, her favorite singer is none other than Regine Velasquez! Here’s Regine Velasquez singing her signature song “Narito Ako“. And then she talks about balut, which is common food in the Philippines (and China, I think) that also happens to be the most terrifying food in the world. Hahaha. I love balut. It’s delicious! Ramiele Malubay gets my vote. I don’t think she has an entire state behind her like Jasmine Trias, but she’s certainly going to make waves in the Philippine community here in the U.S. and back in the Philippines.

Ramiele Malubay on rickey.org

Anybody here from tubag bohol who can give an explanation or Idea why there are poor and rich people.

We all know what caffeine can do for our moods in the morning, but caffeine is also increasingly celebrated in the dermatological community for its impact on the skin.
For years, caffeine's ability to quickly and effectively constrict blood vessels has made it a valued topical ingredient, particularly in products designed to minimize facial flushing. For that reason, caffeine can be a tremendous boon to those who suffer from rosacea, which is essentially caused by frequently dilated blood vessels that lose their ability to contract.

La Roche Posay Rosaliac products, for example, are a great anti-inflammatory option for anyone who suffers from rosacea or facial redness. Topix Replenix CF Anti-Photoaging Complex SPF 45 is another excellent, well-rounded product that offers a blend of powerful antioxidants, caffeine, and sunscreen.

Caffeine's blood vessel-constricting benefits also make it a go-to ingredient in many eye creams (like MD Formulations Moisture Defense Antioxidant Eye Crème, for example), as it can quickly minimize redness and puffiness.

In addition to its anti-inflammatory benefits, though, caffeine is starting to get lots of attention for its antioxidant properties when used both topically and orally. (That morning cup o' joe might not be so bad after all!)

In fact, research suggests that both oral and topical caffeine may offer powerful anticarcinogenic benefits. A series of studies performed on mice found that caffeinated green and black teas prevented sun damage and even repaired damage once it occurred, whereas decaffeinated teas did not.

One particularly promising study suggested that topical caffeine may also repair UV damage - and that it may prove to be a stronger antioxidant than certain green tea polyphenols, currently among the strongest and best-researched antioxidants around. (On a related note, coffeeberry, which comes from the fruit of the coffee plant, is also getting a lot of attention lately as the next big antioxidant.)


Just a couple words of caution, though: Caffeine is dehydrating, so be sure to follow your coffee or tea with plenty of water. And if you're prone to facial flushing, hot beverages can cause redness; consider enjoying your caffeinated beverages over ice.

This may surprise you: The world’s most expensive universities are not haute institutions in the Swiss Alps or on the balmy shores of the Persian Gulf. Nor are they the Ivy League citadels of America’s elite like Harvard or Princeton, or ancient halls of learning like Cambridge or Oxford in the United Kingdom.

No, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education, the most expensive four-year university in the U.S. (and most likely the world) is Washington, D.C.’s George Washington University, with a price tag of $39,240 in 2007-2008. Rounding out the top five: Ohio’s Kenyon College ($38,140), Bucknell University in Pennsylvania ($38,134) and Vassar College ($38,115) and Sarah Lawrence College ($38,090), both in New York. All private, all selective and all extremely pricey--and that’s before room, board and books are factored in.

More From Forbes.com

• In Pictures: The World's Most Expensive Universities

• In Pictures: America's Most Expensive Colleges

• In Pictures: Most Expensive Preschools in the U.S. 

Those costs reflect a trend among private American universities--charge a stratospheric tuition fee, then offer a generous financial aid package. A GW official says the university provides the most need-based aid in the country, according to national rankings. For this year’s freshman class, that package was an average of $23,466. Next month, the school’s new president is expected to announce a plan for improving affordability at GW.

“The cost of obtaining a U.S. degree is among the highest in the world and rising, which may discourage international students,” says a 2007 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Globally, the average cost of a public education in the U.S. ($4,587) was second only to Australia ($5,289) in 2003-2004, the years surveyed for the study. For private education, the U.S. schools have the highest average price tags.

Five Most Expensive Colleges 
George Washington University
Kenyon College
Bucknell University
Vassar College
Sarah Lawrence College
For the complete list, please click here.

Of course, the affordability of an education all depends on how much income one brings home. In Western Europe, where most universities are heavily subsidized by national governments, the price can appear astoundingly cheap. Even at Cambridge and Oxford in the United Kingdom, a student’s contribution toward tuition is capped at 3,070 British pounds annually. The average cost of public higher education in Spain was only about $800 just five years ago, according to the GAO. But it's worth noting that Europeans pay higher income taxes than Americans to pay for these and other social services.

Private universities in Europe can be as pricey as their U.S. counterparts. One example: The American University of Paris, just around the block from the Eiffel Tower, which charges 23,784 euros ($34,725 USD) annually for tuition and fees.


Not good news for its U.S. students, which comprise 35% of the student population, as the dollar has fallen sharply against the euro in the past year. To be sure, there are indeed some pricey Swiss schools, like Franklin College near the Italian border, where tuition and fees are $30,860.

In many former communist countries, particularly in Eastern Europe and Africa, governments offer a "dual-track" tuition policy, where tuition is provided free to the nation's top students but a fee is charged to everyone else. The alliance between student unions and far-left political parties in those countries makes governments terrified of tuition fees.


In general, tuition fees at non-U.S. private universities are below $10,000 per year. Some exceptions:

In Japan, where some of the best undergraduate programs are found at national universities (costing about $7,500 USD per year), top-rated private schools typically base their tuition on one’s major. At Tokyo’s Aoyama Gakuin, an educational institute founded in 1874 by Methodist Episcopal missionaries, tuition ranges from $11,700 to $16,100 annually.

Canada’s Quest University, which opened last September, charges $24,000 Canadian dollars ($23,420 USD) annually for an alternative-style education where students study just one subject at time for 18-day “blocks.”


In the U.K., the University of Buckingham, which claims to be the only university in the country that does not receive government aid, tuition fees are tiered and an undergraduate degree is packed into two years. All told, a Buckingham education costs 15,500 pounds ($30,400 USD) for British students and 27,000 pounds ($52,800) for international students. It’s got prestige, though: former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was a Buckingham chancellor.

Just as private U.S. universities are the world’s most expensive, American-style universities abroad fetch top-dollar tuition fees. One such is the American University of Sharjah, founded in 1997. It’s a sign of globalization in the Persian Gulf region, with a wide range of degrees--from architecture to business--with all courses taught in English.

So what are beleaguered students and their parents to make of such high tuition fees? Take heart: Paying top dollar gets you a good education, but there are always attractive and far cheaper publicly funded alternatives available.

One thing to note: We excluded junior colleges and schools serving a particular need from our list. Had we included them, Vermont’s Landmark College ($41,275 per year), which caters to students with learning disabilities, would have been first. Texas Culinary Academy ($38,850 annually) would have ranked third.

Date or Acquaintance Rape



Date rape is a serious crime with serious consequences for both the victim and the perpetrator. Many perpetrators rationalize their acts by claiming that their dates led them on by being flirtatious. Others feel that because they paid for the date, they therefore were owed sexual intercourse as compensation. Continuing to force sexual activity after being told no is considered rape and is punishable under the law.

Alcohol and drugs often are present in date-rape situations. For the victim, use of these substances can impair her judgment, memory and ability to sense an unsafe situation developing. Some date rapes occur after the victim has passed out from too much alcohol. Drugs and alcohol also may cause the perpetrator to become more sexually aggressive.

Date rape especially can be hard for the victim to deal with because it was committed by an acquaintance. Victims often berate themselves for not using caution or better judgment. Like other forms of rape, date rape is not primarily about sex. It is an act of violence in which power and control are the underlying motivating factors. Counseling through a rape crisis center can help victims cope with the trauma and make more informed decisions about their legal options

Avoid Becoming a Victim   back to top
The following tips can help prevent you from becoming a victim:·   
Provide your own transportation to and from your date. This asserts your independence and makes it easier to get away from an unpleasant or dangerous situation.
Carry cab fare and a cell phone when possible.·   Refrain from drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Be especially wary of situations in which games or contests encourage drinking lots of alcohol in a short time.·   Be aware of your surroundings, and avoid isolated areas. If you are even the least bit uncomfortable, remove yourself from the situation immediately.·   Examine your feelings about sex, and establish your limits before you are in a sexual situation. Then communicate those limits clearly and forcefully.·   Do not give mixed messages; be clear. Say yes when you mean yes, and say no when you mean no. If you have trouble doing this, counseling or assertiveness training can help.·   Do not worry about seeming impolite or causing a scene if you feel that your safety is threatened.·   Be aware of specific situations in which you do not feel relaxed or in control. Avoid attending or staying late at parties where men greatly outnumber women, especially when drinking is involved. If you decide to leave early, do not be worried that it might seem rude.·   Until you get to know and trust your date better, stick to dates in public places like movie theatres or restaurants. Try a double date or group date until you feel comfortable on a solo date.·   Think twice before inviting someone home. Most date rapes occur in the victim's own residence. Take time to develop a trusting relationship before going to your date's house.·   Be extra cautious about what you consume. The increased use of date-rape drugs like Rohypnol poses a real danger to your safety. Avoid beverages that are not sealed or were not prepared in your sight.·   Trust your instincts. Many victims report that they sensed things were not quite right, but were embarrassed to act on their suspicions until it was too late.

All things being equal, people will do business with and refer business to those people they know, like and trust. Now if your are the boss/ manager/ supervisor etc.. or even in your own life or family could you share and describe your leadership.

OMAHA, Neb. - A man opened fire with a rifle at a busy department store Wednesday, killing eight people before taking his own life in an attack that made holiday shoppers run screaming through a mall and barricade themselves in dressing rooms. Five more people were wounded, two critically.

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The gunman left a suicide note that was found at his home by his mother, said a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak. TV station KETV reported that the note said he wanted to "go out in style."

The official identified the gunman as Robert A. Hawkins, age 20.

Witnesses said the gunman fired down on shoppers from a third-floor balcony of the Von Maur store. One witness told a TV station that he shot up a teddy bear as he sprayed fire on shoppers.

He was found dead on the third floor with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and his victims were discovered on the second and third floors, police said.

"My knees rocked. I didn't know what to do, so I just ran with everybody else," said Kevin Kleine, 29, who was shopping with her 4-year-old daughter at the Westroads Mall, in a prosperous neighborhood on the city's west side. She said she hid in a dressing room with four other shoppers and an employee.

Sgt. Teresa Negron said the gunman killed eight people, then apparently killed himself. Authorities gave no motive for the attack and said they did not know whether he said anything during the rampage.

Hawkins lived for a little more than a year with a friend's family in a house in a middle-class Bellevue neighborhood.

"When he first came in the house, he was introverted, a troubled young man who was like lost pound puppy that nobody wanted," said Debora Maruca, who owns the home.

Maruca said Hawkins was fired from his job at a nearby McDonald's this week and had recently broken up with a girlfriend.

Police received a 911 call from someone inside the mall, and shots could be heard in the background, Negron said. By the time officers arrived six minutes later, the shooting was over, she said.

The Omaha World-Herald reported that the gunman had a military-style haircut and a black backpack, and wore a camouflage vest.

"Everybody was scared, and we didn't know what was going on," said Belene Esaw-Kagbara, 31, a Von Maur employee. "We didn't know what to do. I was praying that God protect us."

Mickey Vickory, who worked at Von Maur's third-floor service department, said she heard shots at about 1:50 p.m.

She and her co-workers and customers went into a back closet behind the wrapping room to hide, then emerged about a half-hour later when police shouted to come out with their hands up. As police took them to another part of the mall for safety, they saw the victims.

"We saw the bodies and we saw the blood," she said.

Keith Fidler, another Von Maur employee, said he heard a burst of five to six shots followed by 15 to 20 more rounds. Fidler said he huddled in the corner of the men's clothing department with about a dozen other employees until police yelled to get out of the store.

Witness Shawn Vidlak said the shots sounded like a nail gun. At first he thought it was noise from construction work at the mall.

"People started screaming about gunshots," Vidlak said. "I grabbed my wife and kids we got out of there as fast as we could."

Shortly after the shooting, which came three weeks before Christmas, a group of shoppers came out of the building with their hands raised. Some were still holding shopping bags.

Police told people to park their cars at businesses across from the mall and to wait for their loved ones, then directed them to an Omaha hotel to await information.

President Bush was in Omaha on Wednesday for a fundraiser, but left about an hour before the shooting.

"Having just visited with so many members of the community in Omaha today, the president is confident that they will pull together to comfort one another," White House press secretary Dana Perino said.

The Von Maur store is part of a 22-store Midwestern chain. The sprawling, three-level mall has more than 135 stores and restaurants. It gets 14.5 million visitors every year, according to its Web site.

It was the second mass shooting at a mall this year. In February, nine people were shot, five of them fatally, at Trolley Square mall in Salt Lake City. The gunman, 18-year-old Sulejman Talovic, was shot and killed by police.

How true is it 88% the woman are more concerned about a mans stamina in the bedroom and not the size.

A BEAMING Zhang Zilin was busy plotting her travels round the globe after the Chinese beauty wowed the home crowd to become China's first-ever Miss World.

The statuesque 23-year-old pipped her rival finalists from Angola and Mexico to take the crown yesterday at the 57th edition of the beauty pageant â€" which organisers said was watched by a global television audience of two billion people.

The model-thin Zhang, who nevertheless says her favourite foods are chocolate and ice cream, was the tallest of the 106 contestants at 182cm â€" and was standing even taller after Saturday's win.

“I'm the first Chinese to win the title and more importantly I won in my own country,” said Zhang, resplendent in a sparkling, pale pink dress as she addressed the media on her first full day on the job as Miss World 2007.

“I'm very proud and surprised as well,” she said in the Chinese resort of Sanya, which has hosted the annual gala of gloss and glitz for four of the past five years.

Zhang, who spoke in halting English during yesterday's competition, used an interpreter on Sunday â€" something that may have to change during her year-long tour of duty.

Trips to the Caribbean, Europe and South Africa have already been pencilled in for Zhang, a former secretary who has pledged to use her title-holder's year to “dedicate my time to the rest of the world”.

Organisers said her predecessor, Tatana Kucharova of the Czech Republic, took more than 180 flights around the globe while fulfilling the duties that come with the crown.

“There's a lot of work to be done,” said Julia Morley, chairwoman of the Britain-based Miss World Organisation which runs the pageant.

“Being Miss World is a very serious obligation.”

Contestants were rated on an array of measures including fitness, style and personality.

Fashion designer Ben de Lisi, one of nine judges, said Zhang's “poise, elegance, natural beauty and charm” made her a natural for the title.

Micaela Reis of Angola was awarded second place and Carolina Moran Gordillo, Miss Mexico, took third.

The leading choice of Britain's bookmakers, Ada Aimee De La Cruz of the Dominican Republic, only made it as far as the last 16.

This year's competition took place on World AIDS Day, as organisers said they wanted to use the pageant to help raise awareness about the ongoing fight against the disease.

Former South African president Nelson Mandela's eldest daughter Maki served on the panel of nine judges. The leader's son Makgatho died of an AIDS-related illness in 2005.

Most of the contestants were headed home tonight after what has been a busy month of rehearsals, publicity and charity events and just plain nerves.

“We've been here a month now. It's a long time to be away from home,” said 23-year-old Romanthi Maria Colombage, Miss Sri Lanka.

RP to entice OFWs back with work offers--De Castro

MANILA, Philippines -- Vice President Noli de Castro said Wednesday that the government will lure back overseas Filipino workers to the country by offering them work and business opportunities that could match those in their workplaces abroad.

Addressing the Conference on International Migration and the launching of the State of the Philippine Population Report at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Manila, De Castro said the government was putting in place the economic and social infrastructure that would give OFWs what they find in foreign countries.

"We hope to bring back our overseas Filipinos, and offer them opportunities that would be at par or even better than what they see abroad," he said.

De Castro said the government should undertake a careful study and deliberately manage the population issue.

"It should be one that considers both the capacity of our country to support our people and the reforms needed to make full use of the potential of our labor force," he added.

He admitted though that OFWs work abroad because the local economy could not employ the country's labor force.

As a result, he said the OFWs were forced to work abroad and face risks and dangers that they would not normally be confronted with at home.

On the brighter side, De Castro said, the OFWs are partly responsible for the continued strength of the peso against the dollar and the continued growth of the local economy.

He pointed to the record-high remittances of overseas Filipino workers, noting that the country is expected to receive $14 billion from OFWs remittances.

Quoting figures from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, De Castro said that total remittances for the first nine months of the year reached US$10.5 billion, 15.0 percent higher than a year ago.

Remittances came largely from the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong.

To All TB if your kids are still using or playing this kind of toys or things, the consummer recommend to remove them from use.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Dishes, toys, jewelry and backpacks that have not yet been recalled all carry "worrisome" levels of lead, the nonprofit Consumers Union said on Monday.

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The group's Consumer Reports magazine staff recommended that people immediately stop using some of the products tested.

"Our lab tests detected lead at widely varying levels in samples of dishware, jewelry, glue stick caps, vinyl backpacks, children's ceramic tea sets and other toys and items not on any federal recall list," the group wrote in a magazine report.

It said the items were not included in recent recalls. Last week the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 665,000 products, including Go Diego Go Animal Rescue Boats from Mattel Inc's Fisher-Price division.

More than 20 million toys made in China have been recalled worldwide over the past four months due to potentially dangerous levels of lead and hazards posed by small magnets that can be swallowed.

Retailers and manufacturers have stepped up product testing, as high levels of lead can cause brain damage in children.

"We screened products from stores and consumers' homes in the New York metropolitan area using home lead testing kits and an X-ray fluorescence analyzer," the magazine article reads.

Consumers Union said some of the products it tested included a Fisher-Price blood pressure cuff from a toy medical kit, caps from seven Elmer's Glue Sticks and some duck-shaped backpacks.

"We detected the highest concentration of total lead, more than 10,000 parts per million, in a cuff that a child had regularly played with for the past two years," the group wrote.

The caps were on glue sticks decorated with cartoon characters and were all orange colored, the group added.

"What we envision is that a child will pull the cap off with their teeth will potentially chew on it," Donald Mays, who heads product safety planning for the group, said in a telephone interview.

Mays said the group used commercially available home lead testing kits.

"Any time that we saw a positive result with these kits and did more scientific testing for lead, we confirmed the presence of lead," he said.

The group said it also found lead in products that were unlikely to leach lead, even when chewed on by children, which raised less concern.

"There is no federal standard for lead in plastics, but the amount of lead detected in the glue stick caps was more than three times the 600 parts per million allowable for paint in the United States," the article reads.

"If you own those items, Consumers Union recommends that you remove them from use."

One of three HIV patients is an OFW - DOH report

Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us One of every three Filipinos with Human Immuno Virus or HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is an overseas Filipino worker, according to the Department of Health.

In a report that is part of the Philippines’ mid-term progress report on the Millennium Development Goals launched on October 10, the DOH said that most of OFWs infected by the disease are seafarers and domestic workers believed to be practicing unprotected sex.

In 2006, a DOH report said the dreaded disease has reached an alarming level particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao where tourism reportedly doubled.

In that report, the health department also noted a news article by a Manila newspaper saying that the disease is prevalent among Filipino women whose husbands are in the seafaring profession.

In its 2007 midterm report, the DOH said that the total number of reported HIV/AIDS cases from January 1984 to December 2006 has already hit 2,719. Of the number, 72 percent (1,957) were without obvious symptoms, while 28 percent (762) were full-blown AIDS cases.

From 2004 to 2006, the DOH has noticed an increase in the number of reported cases ranging from 200 to 300 annually, and that cumulative deaths already reached 298.

HIV-infected OFWs now make up 35 percent of the total cumulative reported cases since 1984 and 42 percent of the newly reported infections.

Underreporting

The 2,719 reported HIV cases is very different from government estimates in January 2006, which reached 11,168 â€"almost double that of the DOH projection of 6,000 in 2002.

The DOH theorized that the social stigma that the disease brings maybe one of the reasons for underreporting, especially in a predominantly Catholic population.

Previous DOH studies identified four types of people who are considered to be at high risk of HIV: men having sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW), male clients of FSW, and injecting drug users (IDU).

In an attempt to reverse the spread of the disease, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that government has increased the budget for the purchase of antiretroviral drugs to avert HIV.

DOH’s National Epidemiology Center has adopted a system called the Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance, used in countries with low HIV epidemic.

In March 2007, the Philippines and the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) signed a letter of understanding on a joint program to address the growing problem on HIV among OFWs.

Secretary Duque and Sunseta Mukherjie, UNPF representative, signed the agreement, which could also address a range of problems regarding migration and development.

The joint undertaking contains a comprehensive package of national and local development interventions in selected provinces on HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for OFWs and the community.

Duque said that the country’s multi-sectoral response to HIV and migration is wanting, noting the limited services such as referral system of the health sector, outreach and education of families and returning OFWs infected with HIV/AIDS

What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts. Without blood and the oxygen it carries, part of the brain starts to die. The part of the body controlled by the damaged area of the brain can't work properly.

Brain damage can begin within minutes, so it is important to know the symptoms of stroke and act fast. Quick treatment can help limit damage to the brain and increase the chance of a full recovery.

What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of a stroke happen quickly. A stroke may cause sudden:

Numbness, weakness, or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
Trouble seeing in one or both eyes. You may have double vision, or things may look dim or blurry.
Confusion, and trouble speaking or understanding.
Trouble walking. You may feel unsteady, dizzy, or clumsy.
Severe headache.
If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 or other emergency services right away.

See your doctor if you have symptoms that seem like a stroke, even if they go away quickly. You may have had a transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a mini-stroke. A TIA is a warning that a stroke may happen soon. Getting early treatment for a TIA can help prevent a stroke.

What causes a stroke?
There are two types of stroke:

An ischemic stroke develops when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain. The clot may form in the blood vessel or travel from somewhere else in the blood system. About 8 out of 10 strokes are ischemic (say “is-KEE-mik”) strokes. They are the most common type of stroke in older adults.
A hemorrhagic stroke develops when an artery in the brain leaks or bursts. This causes bleeding inside the brain or near the surface of the brain. Hemorrhagic (say “heh-muh-RA-jik”) strokes are less common but more deadly than ischemic strokes.
How is a stroke diagnosed?
Seeing a doctor right away is very important. If a stroke is diagnosed within the first 3 hours, doctors may be able to use medicines that can lead to a better recovery.

The first thing the doctor needs to find out is what kind of stroke it isâ€"ischemic or hemorrhagic. This is important because the medicine given to treat a stroke caused by a blood clot could be deadly if used for a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain.

To find out what kind of stroke it is, the doctor will do a type of X-ray called a CT scan of the brain, which can show if there is bleeding. The doctor may order other tests to find the location of the clot or bleeding, assess the amount of brain damage, and check for other conditions that can cause symptoms similar to a stroke.

How is it treated?
For an ischemic stroke, treatment focuses on restoring blood flow to the brain. If less than 3 hours have passed since your symptoms began, doctors may use a medicine that dissolves blood clots. Research shows that this medicine can improve recovery from a stroke, especially if given within 90 minutes of the first symptoms.1 Other medicines may be given to prevent blood clots and control symptoms.

A hemorrhagic stroke can be hard to treat. Doctors may do surgery or other treatments to stop bleeding or reduce pressure on the brain. Medicines may be used to control blood pressure, brain swelling, and other problems.

After your condition is stable, treatment shifts to preventing other problems and future strokes. You may need to take a number of medicines to control conditions that put you at risk for stroke, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Some people need to have a surgery to remove plaque buildup from the blood vessels that supply the brain (carotid arteries).

The best way to get better after a stroke is to start stroke rehab. The goal of stroke rehab is to help you regain skills you lost or to make the most of your remaining abilities. Stroke rehab can also help you take steps to prevent future strokes. You have the greatest chance of regaining abilities during the first few months after a stroke. So it is important to start rehab soon after a stroke and do a little every day.

Can you prevent a stroke?
Once you have had a stroke, you are at risk for having another one. You can make some important lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk of stroke and improve your overall health.

Don't smoke. Smoking can more than double your risk of stroke.2 Avoid secondhand smoke too.
Eat a heart-healthy diet that includes plenty of fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, high-fiber grains and breads, and olive oil.
Get regular exercise on most, preferably all, days of the week. Your doctor can suggest a safe level of exercise for you.
Control your cholesterol and blood pressure. If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar in your target range.
Limit alcohol. Having more than 2 drinks a day increases the risk of stroke.
Take a daily aspirin if your doctor advises it.
Avoid getting sick from the flu. Get a flu shot every year.
Work closely with your doctor. Go to all your appointments, and take your medicines just the way your doctor says to.

Princeton holds the top spot in the latest U.S. News & World Report college rankings, the eighth straight year the private, New Jersey school has either tied or held the top slot outright.
Just like last year, Princeton was followed by Harvard at No. 2 and Yale at No. 3 in the controversial rankings. As usual, a few schools moved up or down a slot, but there were no major changes. Stanford was No. 4, followed by Cal Tech and the University of Pennsylvania tied for fifth
Williams and Amherst were the highest-ranked liberal arts colleges.
The rankings, which hit newsstands Monday in the magazine's annual "America's Best Colleges" guide, are facing particularly vocal complaints this year from a group of colleges and educators working to develop an alternative to the system
So far, the group led by education activist Lloyd Thacker hasn't formally enlisted any of the top-ranked schools. But the magazine has responded to one complaint: that the rankings punish schools for enrolling low-income students. For the first time this year, U.S. News is factoring the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants into its calculation of a school's "graduation rate performance."
Also new this year: The magazine has included the service academies. The U.S. Naval Academy is ranked No. 20 in the liberal arts college category, and the U.S. Military Academy is No. 22. The U.S. Air Force Academy leads the list of "Best Baccalaureate Colleges" in the western region.
The formula for the rankings includes variables such as graduation and retention rates, faculty and financial resources, and the percentage of alumni donating money to their alma mater. The biggest single variable â€" and the most controversial â€" is a reputation assessment by peer institutions.
The top 10 national universities were:
1. Princeton University
2. Harvard University
3. Yale University
4. Stanford University
5. California Institute of Technology
University of Pennsylvania (tie)
7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
8. Duke University
9. Columbia University
University of Chicago (tie)