Rod and Elton? Just call them Phyllis and Sharon

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rock star Rod Stewart may be famous for his bevy of ex-wives and girlfriends, but it is fellow pop star Elton John who comes in for the lion's share of Stewart's affection in excerpts from his new memoir.

In an excerpt to be published in Rolling Stone magazine on Friday, Stewart recalled bygone days the two British singers spent partying and on holiday, the Christmas presents they exchanged, and even their nicknames for each other - Phyllis and Sharon.

"It was in the early 1970s that Elton and I drew especially close, the best of mates for a while," Stewart, now 67, writes in "Rod: The Autobiography." Reuters was given an advance copy of the magazine article on Wednesday.

John lived with his then-boyfriend just down the road from Stewart in the countryside west of London, not far from one of the royal palaces at Windsor, Stewart recalled.

"Our mutual friend Long John Baldry had christened me 'Phyllis,' he had christened Elton 'Sharon,' and that's what we were to each other: Phyllis and Sharon. Or just 'dear'."

Stewart, who had scored by then with both the No.1 single, "Maggie May" and No.1 album on both sides of the Atlantic, also wrote admiringly of John's stamina for hard partying:

"I also had to be in awe of the fact that, whether it was drink or cocaine, he could see me right under the table every time."

John's extravagance also impressed. Stewart writes of one Christmas when he scoured shops and found a novelty portable refrigerator for John that opened up automatically as a cloud of vapor emanated and a bottle was hoisted up - "Brilliant."

"Elton's present to me that year: a Rembrandt."

"He later tartly referred to my present as 'an ice bucket,'" Stewart wrote.

In 1985 on safari in Africa, the pair would dress up in bow ties and dark jackets for dinner round the fire.

The book also gave Stewart an opportunity to lay to rest a gay sex rumor that has dogged him since the 1970s. It involved a claim that he needed to get his stomach pumped after an encounter with sailors at a gay bar in San Diego, as he describes it.

The singer, who has eight children from three marriages and other girlfriends, attributed its origins to his flamboyant assistant and publicist, the late Tony Toon, who he said fed the story to the press in revenge for Stewart's firing him.

"This story has stayed with me ever since," Stewart wrote. "And God rest his soul -- but he was good at his job."

"Rod: The Autobiography" will be published on October 23 by Crown Archetype.

(Reporting by Chris Michaud, editing by Jill Serjeant and Marguerita Choy)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rod-elton-just-call-them-phyllis-sharon-201500953.html

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Starting Off A Not So Big Scale Webhosting: Is Your Webhosting ...

As a result of huge numbers of web design firms in the present day, the competition in getting clients is now primarily based on who affords a remarkably cheap internetsite design packages. Although the process of getting probably the most credible graphic design company just isn?t so easy, an entrepreneur who want to meet one credible firm must endure completely different analysis in order meet the top web design. One of the many potential ways on easy methods to meet a prime internetsite design firm is to make comparisons on their providers as well as their prices. It is a terrific thing that the Web now offers many tips that we can follow if we wish to be guided in choosing the proper internet design company. One of the best method to pick a web design company is to base your resolution on on-line reviews.

Online evaluations have confirmed their effectiveness as bases of getting the most effective web design service. On-line reviews or web hosting opinions is usually a dependable source of information with regard to the packages and costs of a number of the prime internet design companies. The commonest motive why companies change into successful at present is the presence of a company website that?s professionally designed. An expert website is one of the best device which you can have in your advertising effort. You must not neglect the value of your internetsite because if it isn?t correctly designed or created, your advertising effort of generating extra leads for your online business will all be ineffective because guests will go away out of your site. The probabilities of getting customer on this case will probably be near negative.

Now we know how very important it is to have a design company that?s respected, the subsequent step that we must do then is to find a graphics design company that will help us create the right internetsite and will do the advertising effort on our behalf. There may be a variety of ways on how we can find them. Wise entrepreneurs examine costs to ensure that them to see who among the many choices is the most credible. Some individuals check web hosting critiques as a result of they have been immensely helpful nowadays, in offering assistance to those that want a reputable internet design team. They should have a transparent picture on thoughts how the website should look, how he pictures must be introduced and what textual content ought to be added that approach it catches the eye of many internet surfers. Other than the design of the website, many online graphics design firm additionally do companies like web hosting, marketing, hyperlink constructing, web optimization and advertising.

A dependable hosting firm is everybody?s lookout while establishing a web-based business; however, with the multitude of low-cost internet hosting services out there right now, the duty turns into all of the extra difficult. Add to this the choices like disk area, bandwidth allowance, control panel and working system and pricing turns into a phenomenon that confuses; therefore, it?s important to discover an appropriate host who, on the shoppers? behalf, shall decide the individual necessities and still won?t burn a gap within the wallet. We?re, then, speaking about low value internet site hosting or a cheap internetsite hosting plan. After deciding on the necessities, the primary motion that needs to be taken is to make a list of the cheap internetsite hosting providers accessible; the lowest ones charging round $6 a month.

Some entrepreneurs evaluate internet design prices or test on some web hosting critiques to present them an idea about top internet design firms that offer high quality service at a reasonable rate. Many business house owners have to tighten their belts nowadays due to the strict business competition. Since an increasing number of folks put up their own enterprise, the competition is getting stricter. Since there are many corporations that offer an exceptionally low-cost design price, for positive we will find a webdesign firm that can provide a wonderful service. Although there are quite a few web-design firms these days, the one battle that we need to face is how you can know who amongst them is the proper one for your enterprise, or who the top webdesign company is.

Due to this fact, how are we going to know if they are the right one? The only way for a sure firm to fulfill the right design group for his or her enterprise is to follow the guidelines mentioned additional in this article. That is highly relevant if we wish to grow to be a successful entrepreneur. The very first thing to contemplate in searching a web design firm is what we want. Earlier than we will make a web-based analysis about any graphic design company, we must know what we wish for instance, we wish an in depth search we will specify our city or state. We will search on-line for webdesign firms just like Lehi web design, inexpensive internet design in Salt Lake City, design groups in Utah or anywhere else we are within the world.

The following a tip: Visit Fatcow promotions 2012 and browse the piece there for more information.

Related posts:

  1. Starting Up A Small-scale Scale Web Hosting: Is Your Internet Hosting Enterprise a Superb Business Venture Partner?
  2. Starting Up A Smallish Scale Hosting: Is Your Webhosting Corporation a Quality Internet Marketing Business Companion?
  3. Starting Up A Little Scale Website Hosting: Is Your Webhosting Organisation a Superb Small Business Associate?
  4. Shared Webhosting A Perfect Alternative For Very Small Enterprise And Fully Grasp the Significance Of Modest Industry Website Hosting
  5. Minor Webhosting ? Smaller Industry Webhosting Products And Services

Source: http://mysixstringsblog.com/starting-off-a-not-so-big-scale-webhosting-is-your-webhosting-enterprise-a-very-good-industry-partner/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=starting-off-a-not-so-big-scale-webhosting-is-your-webhosting-enterprise-a-very-good-industry-partner

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90% Robot & Frank

All Critics (77) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (68) | Rotten (8)

"Robot & Frank" hits all the right notes - romantic, fantastic, tragic and sweet.

There's a warm and poignant interplay between the co-stars.

Langella ... is tremendous.

It may not seem like an even playing field pitting an actor as powerfully intense as Frank Langella opposite a robot, but that's the game plan behind the waywardly endearing, slightly futuristic fantasy Robot & Frank.

Much of Robot & Frank is (frankly) resistible, including the climactic narrative twist, but there is also a likeable oddness that transcends the sentimental contrivance.

An endearing movie about a human and his mechanical new buddy.

Jake Schreier and scriptwriter Christopher Ford go well beyond the initial fun of the robot conceit to craft a thoughtful film musing on both the ageing process and our relationship with technology.

A little gem of a movie about aging and obsolescence that is also a very modest sci-fi cautionary tale.

... a marvel of the highest order. Robot and Frank manages to seamlessly blend comedy, science fiction and drama into a film that is hilarious, truly original and utterly heartfelt

This blend of sentiment and genre fancy is not unlike something Ray Bradbury might have contrived for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction.

Robot & Frank is an airy, engaging flight of fancy. It's also part caper film, part character study, and part allegory about aging. Robot & Frank shouldn't work, but it does.

..never hits the easy and obvious beats of a buddy comedy; there's no sentimental bonding between man and mecha man. Similarly, though it feints toward romance, the relationship ... resolves in an unexpectedly bittersweet way.

"Robot & Frank" is a study of a man who lives with his past mistakes but can't shake how truly alive they made him feel when he was making them, regardless of what they cost him.

Hodgepodge of moods built around an unlikely story of friendship between a man and his service robot, the film carries itself confidently, with occasional moments of significant emotion.

They get the robot right, with fluid movement (by dancer Rachael Ma) and canned warmth in its user-friendly voice (performed by Peter Sarsgaard).

What a weird, winning little movie is Robot & Frank.

The chief spectacle here -- and it's a good one -- is Langella in gruff, curdled mode, an underappreciated master actor slipping seamlessly into a bespoke role.

"Robot & Frank" is so endearing it's easy to forget it's science fiction.

The movie is sweet and agreeably unambitious, derailed only by an egregious third-act twist.

Frank Langella gives a terrific performance as the second of the two title characters in this modest but heartfelt science-fiction comedy.

There's no denying the, err, chemistry between Langella and his nameless buddy.

Amusing and ingratiating, leaving a bittersweet afterglow

Smart and sweet, Robot and Frank feels familiar while you're watching it yet consistently finds ways to catch you off-guard.

More Critic Reviews

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/robot_and_frank/

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The Humble Ebook Bundle Is Back With Works By Doctorow, Gaiman, and Scalzi

Screen Shot 2012-10-09 at 7.03.48 PMEveryone's favorite ebook bundle charity online sale thinger is back and you have 13 hours to grab eight sci-fi books from folks like Neil Gaiman, John Scalzi, and the Craphound himself, Cory Doctorow.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/HJa05S0Vm2I/

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Opera Mobile 12.1 brings improved security, HTML5 standards, and ...

Opera has released a new version of its Opera Mobile browser in the Google Play Store. We?re already on version 12 if you don?t remember, and this latest revision brings us up to version 12.1. The list of changes don?t necessarily get us ready to explode from excessive excitement, but they?re good changes nonetheless.

For starters, increased security will warn users of potentially malicious sites before allowing them to visit said sites. This feature isn?t really as prominent on mobile as it is on desktops so Opera?s proud of themselves for this one.

Secondly, new connection technology SPDY and WebSockets should make for a better overall browsing experience. The former is a new protocol improvement technology that makes it more efficient to fetch web pages. Two popular sites already supporting SPDY are Google and Twitter, and hopefully more will follow suit over time. WebSockets will improve two-way server communication for mobile users.

Finally, Opera has added more HTML5 goodness to its engine, including HTML5 drag and drop, and HTML5 clipboard APIs. Opera remains one of the best browsers in the Play Store and with today?s upgrade we don?t see it slipping anytime soon. Be sure to grab the upgrade from the Play Store whenever you?re ready. Read on for full press details.

Opera launches Opera Mobile 12.1 for Android

Oslo, Norway ? October 9, 2012 ??After a strict diet, the new Opera Mobile 12.1 for Android is ready to show off its sleek new binary in the Google Play store. Despite being tailor made for four different chipsets, ARM v5 and v7, MIPS and X86, the Opera Mobile 12.1 browser remains sleek and slender since you only get the version suited for the chipset in your Android mobile or tablet. That saves time and data on downloading ? Opera style. Combined with its Opera Turbo compression technology, Opera Mobile 12.1 is one lean, mean surfin? machine.

If you don?t know Opera Mobile from before, it?s most easily described as the full-featured sibling of the data-saving Opera Mini, a browser essential for anyone on a slow network, or in need of compression to save data, for example while roaming abroad. Opera Mobile 12.1 features Opera Turbo technology, one click turns on the compression capability ? and you will use less data.

Keeping the baddies at bay

The bad guys on the web never pass up an opportunity to try their tricks on surfers, but staying mobile doesn?t have to mean being unsafe. Unlike Blade Runner, you don?t need a Voight-Kampff test to determine whether you have a rogue site on your hands, just Opera Mobile?s new fraud detection. The fraud detection system tells you when a webpage has been marked as being suspicious or used for illicit activity. If you get a warning, it?s a good idea to think twice about visiting that site.
Raisin? the standards

Using the web on the go should not mean sacrificing functionality. That?s why Opera Mobile now supports even more web standards, making sure the experience of mobile surfing is as close to the desktop experience as possible.

From the big screen to the mobile

In Opera Mobile, several features that have previously only been seen on the big screen, the computer screen that is, come to life on your Android mobile or tablet. In Opera Mobile 12.1, several heavy-hitting desktop capabilities are available for your mobile and tablet devices:

SPDY:?Shortly after the introduction of SPDY on Opera 12.10 desktop beta, the HTTP improvement protocol has made it into the Opera Mobile version. Using a new and improved protocol for communicating to web servers around the world, the SPDY protocol makes fetching webpages more efficient. Twitter and Gmail are two early adopters of the SPDY protocol. Rumors has it that SPDY, by the way, would be pronounced ?sp?-ddi? in Norwegian.

WebSockets:?Rich content is the new way of the web, and WebSockets is here to make it happen. With WebSockets, the browser in your mobile device get top notch access to the web server, improving two-way communications between your mobile device and web server for applications.

Better-looking browsing

There is no reason for letting surfers have a bad day on the web while using mobile devices. With Opera Mobile 12.1, there are even more options for web developers to improve the surfing experience and make sure the content of their webpages is displayed in the best way possible. This is why we included even more web standards in the new, smaller package.

CSS features:?New support for CSS Animations and Flexbox allows web developers to be even more creative in design and layout of their webpages.

More HTML5 goodies:?Combine the visual eye candy of CSS with some HTML5 practicality and voil?, even better mobile browsing. That?s why we?ve added HTML5 goodies like HTML5 Drag and Drop and the HTML5 Clipboard API to Opera Mobile 12.1. These features help web developers connect better to the surfer?s devices and, e.g., access clipboard content such as text and pictures.

Download Opera Mobile 12.1 for free Android from the Google Play store!

About Opera Software ASA

The worldwide World Wide Web ? any device, any platform, any bandwidth, absolutely anywhere in the world. Opera Software was founded in 1994, based on the idea that access to the web should be a universal right. 275 million people (and counting) use the Opera web browsers for computers, mobile phones, TVs and other connected devices. Opera also delivers tools, distribution, engagement, monetization and market insights to developers, publishers and brands around the world. We are passionate about breaking down barriers, so everyone can share in the power of the internet. Our vision of one web for all remains at the heart of what we do, because we believe that participation changes everything. Opera Software ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA. ?Opera?, ?Opera Software?, ?Opera Mini? and the ?O? logo are trademarks of Opera Software ASA. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Learn more about Opera at?www.opera.com.

Source: http://phandroid.com/2012/10/09/opera-mobile-12-1-brings-improved-security-html5-standards-and-more/

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Satellite Communications ? How to setup GPS on Iridium 9575

From the main menu, select ?Setup? and then ?Location Options?
? By default, GPS is disabled. To enable GPS, select ?GPS Options,?
?GPS On/Off,? and select ?Enabled.?
? Your phone is equipped with a programmable SOS button on the top
of the phone for emergency notifications to your specified contacts.
You will be prompted to enter an emergency call recipient and
emergency message recipient each time your phone is powered on
until these contacts are programmed. Once the SOS button is
pressed, a message and/or call will be initiated and your location
will be sent every 5 minutes to your specified emergency recipient.
To modify these settings, select ?Emergency Options.?
CAUTION: you must configure the SOS button Emergency Mode
contact in order to send an emergency message to a designated
emergency call recipient.
? To view your current GPS location, press the side Convenience Key
(initial update can take up to 2 minutes). You will be provided with
the option to Share your location by attaching your location to a
New Message or a preconfigured Quick GPS list. To program a
Quick GPS list, select ?Message Options? and then ?Quick GPS List.?
Your message will be sent with a link to Iridium.com that will display
your location on a map.
? To send your location on a regular update schedule, select ?Message
Options? and ?Regular Updates.? First program the message recipient
by selecting ?Update Recipient.? Next, program the message schedule
by selecting ?Update Frequency.? Once the Update Frequency is set,
your location will be sent automatically to your programmed
recipient on the defined frequency.
? Your phone provides the ability to lock your GPS settings to maintain
your desired configuration by selecting ?GPS Options? and ?GPS
Settings Lock.? The default GPS settings lock code is 3333 and can be
changed in the ?Security? menu under ?Change PIN? and ?GPS Settings
Lock.?
? Your phone supports integration with 3rd party online portals using
short burst data (SBD). These 3rd party online portals provide the
ability to track your phone?s location online, see location history,
two-way message, set-up geofences, and coordinate scheduled
check-ins. For more information about 3rd party online portals,
contact your service provider or visit Iridium.com.
? GPS location will be downloaded and stored locally when your phone
is powered on to provide an initial location status if Emergency Mode
is initiated by pressing the SOS button. Pressing the programmable
SOS button will always enable GPS for the Emergency Mode to send
location updates whether GPS is enabled or disabled. Monthly access
and usage fees may apply for location messaging and short burst data
services.

Source: http://satcomms.co.za/blog/2012/10/10/how-to-setup-gps-on-iridium-9575/

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First universal standards guiding content, appearance of prescription container labels

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 9-Oct-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Francine Pierson
fp@usp.org
301-816-8588
US Pharmacopeia

Nearly half of patients misunderstand 1 or more dosage instructions

Rockville, Md., October 9, 2012 With medication misuse resulting in more than one million adverse drug events per year in the United States, new standards released today by the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) for the first time provide a universal approach to the format, appearance, content and language of instructions for medicines in containers dispensed by pharmacists. Wide variability in prescription container labels exists today across individual prescriptions, pharmacies, retail chains and states. The USP standards provide specific direction on how to organize labels in a "patient-centered" manner that best reflects how most patients seek out and understand medication instructions.

"Lack of universal standards for labeling on dispensed prescription containers is a root cause for patient misunderstanding, non-adherence and medication errors," said Joanne G. Schwartzberg, M.D., director, aging and community health for the American Medical Association and a member of the USP Nomenclature, Safety and Labeling Expert Committee, the group of independent experts responsible for the new standard. "With an aging and increasingly diverse population, and people utilizing a growing number of medications, the risks are more pronounced today than ever. These USP standards will promote patient understanding of their medication instructions, which is absolutely essential to preventing potentially dangerous mistakes and helping to ensure patient health and safety."

Studies have found that 46 percent of patients misunderstood one or more dosage instructions on prescription labels. The problem is particularly troublesome in patients with low or marginal literacy (one study showed patients with low literacy were 34 times more likely to misinterpret prescription warning labels), and in patients receiving multiple medications that are scheduled for administration using unnecessarily complex, non-standardized time periods. However, even patients with adequate literacy often misunderstand common prescription directions and warnings.

The USP effort to create these new standards developed from an Institute of Medicine (IOM)-led initiative to improve health literacy, which is defined as the degree to which people can obtain, process and understand the basic health information and services they need to make appropriate health decisions. According to IOM, 77 million Americans have limited health literacy, and a majority of Americans have difficulty understanding and using currently available health information and services.

Elements of the new USP standards, contained in General Chapter Prescription Container Labeling, of the United States Pharmacopeia and the National Formulary, include:

  • Emphasize instructions and other information important to patients. Prominently display information that is critical for patients' safe and effective use of the medicine. At the top of the label specify patient name, drug name (spell out full nonproprietary and brand name) and strength, and clear directions for use in simple language. Less critical information (e.g., pharmacy name, drug quantity) should not supersede critical information and should be placed away from dosing instructions.
  • Improve readability. Labels should be designed and formatted so they are easy to read. Typography should be optimized by using high contrast print; adequate white space between lines of text (i.e., 25-30 percent of the point size); simple uncondensed familiar fonts (Times Roman or Arial are specifically recommended); and large font size (e.g., minimum 12-point Times Roman or 11-point Arial) for critical information. Older adults, in particular, have difficulty reading small print.
  • Give explicit instructions. Instructions for use should clearly separate the dose itself from the timing of each dose. Do not use alphabetic characters for numbers. For example, write, "Take 2 tablets in the morning and 2 tablets in the evening" rather than "Take 2 tablets twice daily." Dosing intervals such as "twice daily," "3 times daily," or hourly intervals such as "every 12 hours" should be avoided because such instructions are implicit rather than explicit, may involve numeracy skills, and patient interpretation may vary from prescriber intent. Although instructions worded in terms of specific hourly times (e.g., 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.) may be assumed to be more easily understood, in actual use they are less readily understood and may present greater adherence issues due to individual lifestyle patterns (e.g., shift work) than general timeframes such as "in the morning" or "after breakfast." Ambiguous directions such as "take as directed" should be avoided without clear supplemental information.
  • Include purpose for use. If the purpose of the medication is included on the prescription, it should be included on the label unless a patient prefers that it not appear. Confidentiality and FDA approval for intended use (i.e., labeled vs. off-label use) may cause some to constrain its inclusion on labels. Current evidence supports inclusion of purpose-for-use language in clear, simple terms, e.g., "for high blood pressure" rather than "for hypertension."
  • Address limited English proficiency. Whenever possible, the directions for use on a prescription container label should be provided in the patient's preferred language. The drug name shall be in English as well so that emergency personnel can have quick access to the information. Translations should be produced using a high-quality translation process; an example is provided in the standard.
  • Address visual impairment. Provide alternative access for visually impaired patients (e.g., tactile, auditory, or enhanced visual systems that may employ advanced mechanics or assistive technology).

"Patients' bestand often onlysource of information regarding the medications they have been prescribed is on the prescription container label," Dr. Schwartzberg noted. Although other written information and oral counseling may be available, the prescription container label must fulfill the professional obligations of the prescriber and pharmacist. These include giving the patient the most essential information needed to understand how to safely and appropriately use the medication and to adhere to the prescribed medication regimen.

USP issued a draft version of this standard for public review and comment by all interested stakeholdersincluding healthcare practitioners, retailers, software vendors, consumers and othersin December 2011. The final standard will be published in November 2012, and incorporates multiple additions based on comments received, including more detail on producing high-quality translations, the visual impairment section, and the direction to include both brand and nonproprietary names on labels.

Enforcement of the standard will be the decision of individual state boards of pharmacy, which may choose to adopt it into their regulationssimilar to USP standards for sterile and nonsterile pharmaceutical compounding, both of which are widely recognized by states. At its 2012 annual meeting, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy passed a resolution supporting state boards in requiring a standardized prescription container label.

###

Examples of prescription container labels that comply with the new USP standard are available at http://uspgo.to/prescription-container-labeling. Media inquiries may be directed to mediarelations@usp.org.

USP Advancing Public Health Since 1820

The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a scientific, nonprofit, standards-setting organization that advances public health through public standards and related programs that help ensure the quality, safety, and benefit of medicines and foods. USP's standards are relied upon and used worldwide. For more information about USP visit http://www.usp.org.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 9-Oct-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Francine Pierson
fp@usp.org
301-816-8588
US Pharmacopeia

Nearly half of patients misunderstand 1 or more dosage instructions

Rockville, Md., October 9, 2012 With medication misuse resulting in more than one million adverse drug events per year in the United States, new standards released today by the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) for the first time provide a universal approach to the format, appearance, content and language of instructions for medicines in containers dispensed by pharmacists. Wide variability in prescription container labels exists today across individual prescriptions, pharmacies, retail chains and states. The USP standards provide specific direction on how to organize labels in a "patient-centered" manner that best reflects how most patients seek out and understand medication instructions.

"Lack of universal standards for labeling on dispensed prescription containers is a root cause for patient misunderstanding, non-adherence and medication errors," said Joanne G. Schwartzberg, M.D., director, aging and community health for the American Medical Association and a member of the USP Nomenclature, Safety and Labeling Expert Committee, the group of independent experts responsible for the new standard. "With an aging and increasingly diverse population, and people utilizing a growing number of medications, the risks are more pronounced today than ever. These USP standards will promote patient understanding of their medication instructions, which is absolutely essential to preventing potentially dangerous mistakes and helping to ensure patient health and safety."

Studies have found that 46 percent of patients misunderstood one or more dosage instructions on prescription labels. The problem is particularly troublesome in patients with low or marginal literacy (one study showed patients with low literacy were 34 times more likely to misinterpret prescription warning labels), and in patients receiving multiple medications that are scheduled for administration using unnecessarily complex, non-standardized time periods. However, even patients with adequate literacy often misunderstand common prescription directions and warnings.

The USP effort to create these new standards developed from an Institute of Medicine (IOM)-led initiative to improve health literacy, which is defined as the degree to which people can obtain, process and understand the basic health information and services they need to make appropriate health decisions. According to IOM, 77 million Americans have limited health literacy, and a majority of Americans have difficulty understanding and using currently available health information and services.

Elements of the new USP standards, contained in General Chapter Prescription Container Labeling, of the United States Pharmacopeia and the National Formulary, include:

  • Emphasize instructions and other information important to patients. Prominently display information that is critical for patients' safe and effective use of the medicine. At the top of the label specify patient name, drug name (spell out full nonproprietary and brand name) and strength, and clear directions for use in simple language. Less critical information (e.g., pharmacy name, drug quantity) should not supersede critical information and should be placed away from dosing instructions.
  • Improve readability. Labels should be designed and formatted so they are easy to read. Typography should be optimized by using high contrast print; adequate white space between lines of text (i.e., 25-30 percent of the point size); simple uncondensed familiar fonts (Times Roman or Arial are specifically recommended); and large font size (e.g., minimum 12-point Times Roman or 11-point Arial) for critical information. Older adults, in particular, have difficulty reading small print.
  • Give explicit instructions. Instructions for use should clearly separate the dose itself from the timing of each dose. Do not use alphabetic characters for numbers. For example, write, "Take 2 tablets in the morning and 2 tablets in the evening" rather than "Take 2 tablets twice daily." Dosing intervals such as "twice daily," "3 times daily," or hourly intervals such as "every 12 hours" should be avoided because such instructions are implicit rather than explicit, may involve numeracy skills, and patient interpretation may vary from prescriber intent. Although instructions worded in terms of specific hourly times (e.g., 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.) may be assumed to be more easily understood, in actual use they are less readily understood and may present greater adherence issues due to individual lifestyle patterns (e.g., shift work) than general timeframes such as "in the morning" or "after breakfast." Ambiguous directions such as "take as directed" should be avoided without clear supplemental information.
  • Include purpose for use. If the purpose of the medication is included on the prescription, it should be included on the label unless a patient prefers that it not appear. Confidentiality and FDA approval for intended use (i.e., labeled vs. off-label use) may cause some to constrain its inclusion on labels. Current evidence supports inclusion of purpose-for-use language in clear, simple terms, e.g., "for high blood pressure" rather than "for hypertension."
  • Address limited English proficiency. Whenever possible, the directions for use on a prescription container label should be provided in the patient's preferred language. The drug name shall be in English as well so that emergency personnel can have quick access to the information. Translations should be produced using a high-quality translation process; an example is provided in the standard.
  • Address visual impairment. Provide alternative access for visually impaired patients (e.g., tactile, auditory, or enhanced visual systems that may employ advanced mechanics or assistive technology).

"Patients' bestand often onlysource of information regarding the medications they have been prescribed is on the prescription container label," Dr. Schwartzberg noted. Although other written information and oral counseling may be available, the prescription container label must fulfill the professional obligations of the prescriber and pharmacist. These include giving the patient the most essential information needed to understand how to safely and appropriately use the medication and to adhere to the prescribed medication regimen.

USP issued a draft version of this standard for public review and comment by all interested stakeholdersincluding healthcare practitioners, retailers, software vendors, consumers and othersin December 2011. The final standard will be published in November 2012, and incorporates multiple additions based on comments received, including more detail on producing high-quality translations, the visual impairment section, and the direction to include both brand and nonproprietary names on labels.

Enforcement of the standard will be the decision of individual state boards of pharmacy, which may choose to adopt it into their regulationssimilar to USP standards for sterile and nonsterile pharmaceutical compounding, both of which are widely recognized by states. At its 2012 annual meeting, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy passed a resolution supporting state boards in requiring a standardized prescription container label.

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Examples of prescription container labels that comply with the new USP standard are available at http://uspgo.to/prescription-container-labeling. Media inquiries may be directed to mediarelations@usp.org.

USP Advancing Public Health Since 1820

The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a scientific, nonprofit, standards-setting organization that advances public health through public standards and related programs that help ensure the quality, safety, and benefit of medicines and foods. USP's standards are relied upon and used worldwide. For more information about USP visit http://www.usp.org.


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Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-10/up-fus100912.php

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National Estate Planning Awareness Week Begins on October 15

In 2008 the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (or NAEPC for short), in conjunction with Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and 49 of his colleagues, co-sponsored and helped pass H. Res. 1499, which declared the third week in October National Estate Planning Awareness Week. This means that in 2012, National Estate Planning Awareness Week falls on October 15 through 21.

NAEPC works with over 220+ local estate planning councils to educate its 25,000+ members on all areas of estate planning, including emphasizing a multi-disciplinary approach to estate planning involving all members of a client's financial advisory team, including attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, and life insurance agents. In addition, through its foundation known as The NAEPC Education Foundation, NAEPC has an ongoing commitment to promote financial awareness and literacy in estate and financial planning throughout the year, and in particular during the third full week in October.

As leaders in the financial and estate planning community, members of NAEPC have first-hand experience with the challenges Americans face with regard to saving, investing, and planning for their financial futures. For example:

  • The majority of Americans over 65 are totally dependent on their Social Security checks. With proper knowledge and planning, future generations can have a more secure retirement.

  • It is estimated that over 120 million Americans do not have an up-to-date estate plan to protect themselves and their families, making estate planning one of the most overlooked areas of personal financial management. With advance planning, issues such as guardianship of children, managing bill paying and assets in the event of sickness or disability, care of a special needs child, long-term care needs, and distribution of retirement assets can all be handled with sensitivity and care, a reasonable cost.

  • The majority of Americans lack the ability to adequately plan for their retirement. This can be changed immediately with knowledge and the right planning tools.

  • Many people mistakenly believe that since they aren't "rich" they do not need to do any financial and estate planning. Estate planning is not just for the wealthy and is important for everyone. This attitude can be financially harmful in the long-run and can be avoided with proactive action.

With these factors in mind, next week is the week that local estate planning councils will be offering programs to educate the public on the importance of initial estate planning as well as updating old estate plans as the years go by. A list of local estate planning councils can be found on the NAEPC website so that you can check for a program in your area, or if there is not a local estate planning council close to you, then make it a point this week to locate and meet with a qualified estate planning attorney in your area to discuss all of your estate planning needs.

And aside from programs at the local level, NAEPC and The NAEPC Education Foundation are presenting the following free live webinars for the public:

  • Monday, October 15, 1 p.m. EDT: Charitable Planning in an Uncertain World
  • Wednesday, October 17, at 12 p.m. EDT: Estate Planning Basics
  • Thursday, October 18, 1 p.m. EDT: Plan Now for 2013: Tax, Gift and Estate Planning Tips - What to Do Before December 31

You can sign up for these webinars by following this link: FREE Estate & Financial Planning Public Webinars During National Estate Planning Awareness Week

You can also visit The NAEPC Education Foundation's website called EstatePlanningAnwers.org for informative articles about estate planning, disability planning, long term care planning, estate and trust administration, and financial planning.

Source: http://wills.about.com/b/2012/10/08/national-estate-planning-awareness-week-begins-on-october-15.htm

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Start A Blog In Your Niche | Information

As any Internet Marketer will tell you the one reason they got started in this business in the 1st place was to start making more cash. Affiliate marketing is the initial thing most individuals turn to with regards to making cash on the web, and this is primarily because it is so easy to make money because all you need to do is market your link. Affiliate links can be advertised using a number of different methods but one of the more popular methods is using forums for advertising and marketing their links. Something you may possibly not have considered with regards to advertising a link is by adding your link to your own personal forum that you develop.
One of the best things relating to this type of advertising is that you?ll be able to add affiliate links and affiliate banners to every page of the forum itself. There are a huge number of different forums on the internet and you are going to find that at least half of them do not allow the publishing of affiliate links on their site. If you decide not to allow your members to promote their affiliate links you will be the only one with targeted products being promoted in an affiliate manner. Remember that all the affiliate sales which are generated from your forum will be yours if you opt to not allow your members to advertise their affiliate links.
Many of you have most likely heard of google AdSense, and you ought to comprehend that by including this on your forum as well you will have another way to generate an (hausratversicherung vergleich) income. Just about every successful Internet Marketer uses this kind of marketing on their website in an attempt to earn cash without having to create any product sales whatsoever. Another thing you should remember is that other Internet Marketers will pay you good money in order to place a banner on your web site that will advertise one of their products.
Although all the advertising and marketing you can do on your forum is fantastic you are going to also be able to produce your own posts in order to generate an income from promoting products directly. Even if you do not use affiliate marketing so as to make money online you will discover that the other marketing and advertising methods could be much more than enough to generate you a good income.
When it comes to creating the forum itself you are going to discover that there are plenty of different scripts available today that will allow you to do this quite easily. What this means is that even if you?re a complete newcomer to the Internet you?ll have the ability of installing a forum on your internet site quite easily. So whether you are brand new to the Internet or you are an experienced marketer, setting up your own forum will provide you with the ability of producing a much larger income than you are generating without one.

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Source: http://gosselinfiat.com/business/start-a-blog-in-your-niche/

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