peace for kathryn bandics

1.27.2007

shortly before 8 PM this evening, i lost the most important person in my life... my grandmother kathryn.

she was my friend, my strength and my inspiration. she always looked for the best in everyone and loved without limits. throughout all the years of our "dysfunctional family life" kathryn never lost sight of hope and resolution for each of us. no matter how tired she was or how much pain she felt, she always found her way to be there for all of us.

she is a person unlike any I've ever know.

everything that I am, everything that I feel and everything I cherish is all because of her.

my path in life has taken me to many places and allowed me to know many people. my influence, inspiration and effect are, all the beautiful gifts she has given me. it is with great honor and blind determination that i will always share them with you...regardless of who or what you are

Parasite Infection Might Ease Multiple Sclerosis

1.18.2007
17.01.2007 - The bugs may alter immune response in a beneficial way, researchers say

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Parasitic infections may actually benefit people with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggests a study by researchers in Argentina.

These infections may affect the body's immune response in a way that changes the course of the disease.

Previous studies found that parasite infection could affect the course of autoimmune diseases in animals. This is the first study to examine the relationship between parasite infections and MS in humans.

The study included 12 MS patients with a parasite infection and 12 MS patients who were parasite-free. The patients in both groups had a similar disease course. The patients were followed for an average of 4.6 years.

During the study period, there were three clinical relapses of MS among patients infected with a parasite, compared to 56 relapses in the group of uninfected MS patients. Patients in the infected group were less likely to suffer increased disability due to MS.

The researchers also found that infected patients had much higher numbers of cells that produce cytokine suppressants. MS involves an inflammatory response associated with the production of cytokines, which are regulatory proteins.

The findings provide evidence to support the idea that an autoimmune response caused by a parasite infection can decrease the normal inflammatory response associated with MS, the study authors suggested.

The study appears in the January issue of the Annals of Neurology.

More information

The American Medical Association has more about MS.

-- Robert Preidt

the 2 disc set

1.17.2007
The Collector’s Edition hits dvd Jan 23rd.

Bonus Features:

Brokeback Mountain: The Collector’s Edition offers exclusive bonus features, some available for the first time, that will heighten viewers’ understanding and enjoyment of this seminal film, including:

A Groundbreaking Success – In an original documentary, Brokeback Mountain’s producers and cast talk about bringing this unusual story to the screen on their terms. The film also examines the phenomenal attention garnered by the movie, including the numerous parodies that were inspired by its theme.

Music From the Mountain – Composer Gustavo Santaolalla, who won an Oscar for Brokeback Mountain’s emotional soundtrack, anchors a breakdown of the movie’s unforgettable music. Includes interviews with each of the featured artists and a trip to the studio with the legendary Willie Nelson as he records his touching version of Bob Dylan’s "He Was a Friend of Mine."

Impressions From the Film – The raw beauty and splendor of the American West are masterfully showcased in a photomontage of the film’s sweeping vistas.

On Being A Cowboy – Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal discuss their preparations for the film, including rodeo and wrangling training. Exclusive on-set interviews with the film’s stunt coordinator are also featured.

Directing From The Heart: Ang Lee – Director Ang Lee is profiled in this intimate behind-the-scenes look at the creative force that brought the absorbing story of Brokeback Mountain to life.

From Script to Screen: Interviews with Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana – The writers discuss bringing Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Proulx’s visionary short story to the screen.

Sharing the Story: The Making of Brokeback Mountain – This featurette follows the filmmaking process from start to finish and introduces the cast and crew who brought Brokeback Mountain to life through in-depth interviews, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, and more.

Number of Discs: 2

Run Time: 2 Hours 15 Minutes

a time has come

1.03.2007

something i've been waiting for has finally come...

the new film children of men.

please visit the site, it's well done! once i've seen the film i'll share my thoughts with you...

Real Pay Will Only Tread Water


Salary Outlook 2007
Once Again, Real Pay Will Only Tread Water
by John Rossheim
Monster Senior Contributing Writer

With stock indexes reaching all-time highs in 2006, won't there be something for employees to get excited about as they open their 2007 paychecks? Not unless they're executives, who, as usual, will do better.

Base pay for the average worker, projected to increase 3.7 percent or so, will be basically flat after discounting for inflation, according to a consensus of salary surveys. And performance-based bonuses -- these days an anticipated financial shot in the arm for most of us, not an extra -- aren't expected to increase substantially.

"We've seen no real wage gains for most Americans over the past few years," says Sylvia Allegretto, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, DC. "It looks like inflation might be 4 percent in 2007, so if workers get a 3.5 percent increase, they're still falling behind. The economy's expanding, workers are extremely productive, profits are at record highs, but from 2000 to 2005, real earnings were down about 3.5 percent."

It's no help that in the second half of 2006, economic growth slowed significantly. "The construction and housing bubble has been pricked, if not deflated," says Joseph Kilmartin, director of compensation at Salary.com.

Still, pay increases for those who exit and enter companies or receive promotions are often better than those in aggregate statistics, according to Steven Gross, a senior compensation consultant with Mercer Human Resources Consulting in Philadelphia.

Variable Pay: Nothing New Here

Though the trend leveled off several years ago, employers and their consultants portray performance-based pay as the up-and-coming compensation component that will help make up for the meager salary increases most workers will see in 2007. A statement accompanying a compensation survey from human resources consulting firm Hewitt Associates begins: "As base pay increases remain stable for 2007, more companies are relying on variable pay -- performance-related awards that must be re-earned each year."

However, the same survey reveals that participation of US companies in variable-pay plans has been essentially flat from 2001 -- when the proportion stood at 81 percent -- to 2006 at 80 percent.

Variable pay as a percentage of total payroll budget has actually declined slightly from 11.4 percent in 2005 to 11.2 percent in 2006 and a projected 11 percent in 2007, according to Hewitt.

So workers should take performance-based pay as a given and evaluate how their employers' bonus packages compare to the competition. According to Mercer, the most common forms of variable monetary rewards beyond the annual bonus are spot cash awards, project milestone awards and signing bonuses.

Pay in Many IT Occupations Struggles to Keep Pace with Inflation

In the information technology field, starting salaries will rise 2.8 percent in 2007, according to staffing firm Robert Half Technology. Such an increase, trumpeted as evidence of healthy demand for IT workers, might not even be enough to keep pace with inflation.

"Some technology occupations with stronger salary growth are being offset by others with lower growth," says Katherine Spencer Lee, Robert Half executive director.

Indeed, there will be substantial variation in 2007 pay increases across IT occupations, according to Robert Half's projections. While Web developers will receive an average hike of 4.2 percent, starting help-desk workers will see their pay rise just 0.8 percent, or an average $250, to $37,000. Offshoring of help-desk services is a likely contributor to these feeble wage increases.

In Salary.com's survey of salary budget increases, technology jobs garnered most of the good news. Professionals working in computer and electronics manufacturing, computer systems design, and scientific and technical services all are expected to see raises of 4 percent to 5 percent.

Executives Still Garner the Biggest Salary Increases

More old news is likely to continue making headlines in 2007: High-ranking employees are the most likely to receive relatively large merit increases.

For example, in Mercer's analysis of the 2006 distribution of employers' performance-rating systems, 38 percent of executives scored in the highest category, while only 22 percent to 24 percent of staff professionals and workers in clerical, administrative, production and service roles placed in the top band, which is tied to the biggest percentage raises.

"Higher-level positions are more visible," explains Gross. "If executives don't produce, they have a greater chance of being fired."

post holiday


this from my daily OM...

January 3, 2007

Hold onto the Magic
Coping with Post-Holiday Blues

For many people, the act of packing away the holiday decorations, opening the last gift, or parting with visiting loved ones evokes feelings of sadness. The busyness associated with the holidays that distracted us from life subsides, and we are left wondering why life seems a bit empty. Yet we need not give ourselves over entirely to the blues we feel when the celebrations end. And this post-holiday period of mellowness should not be viewed as a sign that your festivities were less than fulfilling. To feel a few pangs of gloom as the decorations come down and guests return to their homes is natural. Your physical and mental selves, which existed in a state of arousal as you immersed yourself in the magic of the holiday season, need time to adjust as you settle back into your usual routine. Rest assured that which warmed your heart and fulfilled you in previous days will satisfy you again.

There are many ways you can gently smooth the transition between the holidays and the pleasures of everyday existence. In the midst of your yearly celebrations, strive to achieve balance and acknowledge that holidays are special, precisely because they represent a short time of your life. If you minimize the impact the festivities have on your personal and professional schedules, reverting to these timetables will not shock your system. Once the holidays are over, try to keep a small spark of celebration aglow in your heart. Accomplishing this can be as easy as treating yourself well and integrating holiday values such as forgiveness, generosity, and gratitude into your day-to-day existence. Stay in touch with relatives who you traditionally only see once per year, and spread goodwill by volunteering or hosting a post-celebration celebration, just for the fun of it. Even leaving one decoration unpacked and displayed can help you stay cheerful in the days that follow the holi! days.

Consider that all of the virtues that touch you deeply as you celebrate the holiday season—charity, togetherness, magic, beauty, etc.—exist year-round. With a little effort, you can carry the celebratory spirit in your heart always. The post-holiday blues will soon pass, leaving you feeling as happy and buoyant as you did just weeks before.