About time. Fourteen states had filed lawsuits complaining that the previous administration had, as usual, failed to comply with legislation, in this case, the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. Let’s see if we do get stiffer standards. Deadline is middle of this year. From the Federal Register, via Cryptome:
http://cryptome.info/0001/pm020509.htm
Archive for February, 2009
Obama Orders Efficient Appliances
Thursday, February 12th, 2009Demolition Derby in Space
Thursday, February 12th, 2009Coming to an orbital slot right above your head. This will become a bigger problem as more and more satellites die and their orbits decay. Don’t look up, the sky is falling. From
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090211/ap_on_sc/satellite_collision
Parents get Panic Button
Thursday, February 12th, 2009Parents who can’t find the on-off switch may get a large red panic button to turn off their kids’ games. What will they legislate next. From
http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/02/11/euro-parliament-online-games-should-have-quotred-buttonquot-parents
Shock Your Battery
Thursday, February 12th, 2009Potholes decrease efficiency. This technique recovers some of the energy dissipated in shock absorbers as heat to recharge the car battery. Every little bit helps. From MIT:
http://techfragments.com/news/415/Tech/MIT_Team_Creates_Shock_That_Recharges_Your_Car.html
Another Great Depression?
Wednesday, February 11th, 2009by widgette.com
Could the current economic crisis lead to another great depression? The Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank has released a study that suggests the government needs to be careful in order to avoid such a problem. Massive public intervention to maintain employment and investment, if they distort incentives enough, can lead to a great depression.
Business cycles can lead to an ordinary downturn in the economy. However, overreaction by the government can prolong and deepen the downturn leading to depression.
Chasing Down the Robber Barons
Tuesday, February 10th, 2009“A non-profit housing advocacy group said Monday it will protest at the homes of those it calls “financial predators” — investors and banking executives it says are balking at helping struggling homeowners refinance their mortgages.”
…setting up a “financial predators registry” …
“They will be subject to arrest if they violate any laws,” said Greenwich Police Lt. Daniel Allen.
Class war coming to a wealthy neighbourhood near you.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i77rfz-5Ss08X-UpgiIWdbz_3QYgD9689AKG0
Green Headlines: Food Fight!
Monday, February 9th, 2009Food Fight Erupts on the High Seas… Over Food (Full Article)
Activist launch rancid butter at whalers. Whalers hurl blood and blubber at activists.
Stimulus Package to Help Fight Global Warming (Full Article)
A new Greenpeace-commissioned carbon footprint analysis of the economic recovery package projects that the bill’s energy efficiency and conservation provisions alone could cut carbon dioxide emissions by over 61 million metric tons annually.
Australian Wildfires Kill (Full Article)
When this article was first published the death toll from the fires was 84. Today the total killed exceeds 130.
Entertainment Headlines: The Boss & Blink 182
Monday, February 9th, 2009Blink 182 Re-unite! (Full Article)
The members of Blink 182 announced at the Grammy awards they would re-group for a new album and tour.
Ticketmaster And Live Nation To Merge? (Full Article)
Many concert goes fear the price of tickets could become even more unreasonable if two of the world’s largest ticket agencies combine. Bruce Springsteen is furious….
The Boss’s Outrage Prompts Attorney General Investigation (Full Article)
After the public outcry over Ticketmaster’s unethical behavior, the New Jersey Attorney General launches an investigation.
College Consulting Workshops For Athletes and Parents
Monday, February 9th, 2009College Consulting Workshop
Date: March 10-11, 2009
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: Velocity Sports Performance (Warminster, PA)
Ticket Price: $10
son/daughter to continue his/her athletic career. The recruiting process for both can become an
overwhelming and stressful time. More often than not, valuable time is wasted acting on bad
information.
On Deck Baseball has teamed up with College Planning Specialists to provide you with insight and
knowledge of how to navigate through the College Recruiting process.
Featured Speakers
7:00pm - 8:00pm: Con Aquilante, On Deck Baseball (Director College Recruiting & Consulting)
Con Aquilante has worked with over 240 families in guiding them through the college selection
process; placing kids into 192 different colleges. Con has placed 100% of his clients into collegiate
programs. His number one goal is finding a college where the student will be both happy and
successful as a student-athlete. Con will be speaking on his success to date; the most
DEVASTATING mistakes families of student-athletes make during the recruiting process…and how
to avoid them. Con prides himself in the service and support he offers to families, a service that
includes:
- Family interview
- A complete academic and athletic evaluation
- Guidance through NCAA rules and regulations
- Assisting in the development of a realistic list of potential schools
- Ongoing support during the first year of college to ensure a smooth transition; and more.
8:00pm - 9:00pm: Sean Connors, College Planning Specialists (Founder/CEO)
Sean Connors is the founder of College Planning Specialists, which helps families find creative and
ethical planning solutions to maximize all untapped financial aid resources.
Sean will speak on:
- What college really costs families & solutions if your scholarship doesn’t pay for
college in its entirety; - The “secret” method Ivy League and other elite colleges use to pay their athletes’ way…
and the “hidden” formula that calculates how much they have to give; - The surprising amount of money that is really available for student athletes;
- Double or triple free grant money
Sean will reveal astonishing ways to beat the high cost of college that educated parents across the
country are using to pay almost nothing for college.
Come join us on March 10-11 and find out how we can help you navigate through the College
selection process. Reservations are required a space is limited!!! Please use the link below to
register,
http://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ws.asp?studioid=1612&stype=-8&sTG=11&sVT=72
Please contact Jason Aquilante for more information:
215-259-1040 or jason.aquilante@velocitysp.com
Genetically Engineered Animals
Sunday, February 8th, 2009FDA approves 1st drug from genetically altered animals
FDA Approves Orphan Drug ATryn to Treat Rare Clotting Disorder
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued its first approval for a biological product produced by genetically engineered (GE) animals.
The approval is for ATryn, an anticoagulant used for the prevention of blood clots in patients with a rare disease known as hereditary antithrombin (AT) deficiency. These patients are at high risk of blood clots during medical interventions, such as surgery, and before, during and after childbirth.
ATryn is a therapeutic protein derived from the milk of goats that have been genetically engineered by introducing a segment of DNA into their genes (called a recombinant DNA or rDNA construct) with instructions for the goat to produce human antithrombin in its milk. Antithrombin is a protein that naturally occurs in healthy individual and helps to keep blood from clotting in the veins and arteries.
GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc., the manufacturer of ATryn, received approvals from two FDA centers. The Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) approved the human biologic based on its safety and efficacy, and the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) approved the rDNA construct in the goats that produce ATryn.
“This product offers an important new treatment option for patients with hereditary antithrombin deficiency, preventing life-threatening clots that otherwise frequently occur during high risk situations,” said Jesse Goodman, M.D., M.P.H., CBER director.
Because hereditary AT deficiency occurs in a small population (approximately 1 in 5,000 people in the United States), the FDA granted ATryn an orphan drug designation. The orphan drug designation system encourages the development of medications for patients with a rare disease or condition.
The agency held an advisory committee meeting in January to seek the opinion of outside experts, who agreed that ATryn is safe and effective. CVM also briefed the committee about the animal drug components of the application.
Hereditary AT deficiency generally is first recognized and diagnosed in teenagers or young adults when they develop clots in their blood vessels, particularly during pregnancy, surgery, or prolonged bed rest.
CBER evaluated two studies that included 31 patients with hereditary AT deficiency who received ATryn to prevent thromboemboli (TE) before, during or after surgery or childbirth. All but one patient had a prior history of at least one TE, which are likely to recur in high-risk situations if left untreated. Only one of the 31 patients treated with ATryn developed a TE. The most common adverse reactions reported were hemorrhage and reactions at the infusion site. These reactions occurred in approximately five percent of patients.
As part of its review of the GE goat, CVM assessed the safety of the rDNA construct to the animals, including a full review of the construct and its stability in the genome of the goats over seven generations. No adverse outcomes were noted. CVM reviewed and concurred with the sponsor’s plan to continue to monitor the construct and its expression for the lifetime of the approved product.
During its review, CVM determined that introduction of the rDNA construct did not cause any adverse outcomes to the health of the goats over seven generations. CVM also determined that the manufacturer, GTC, has adequate procedures in place to ensure that food from these goats does not enter the food supply. As part of the approval, CVM specified that these goats cannot be used for food or feed and validated a method suitable for identifying the rDNA construct in both animals and their products.
As required by the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations, CVM also determined that the GE goats do not cause any significant impact on the environment.
“We have looked carefully at seven generations of these GE goats; all of them are healthy and we haven’t seen any adverse effects from the rDNA construct or its expression. I am pleased that this approval makes possible another source of an important human medication,” said Bernadette Dunham, D.V.M., Ph.D., CVM director.
A summary of the information on which the FDA made its approval decision for the rDNA construct in the goats, and CVM’s guidance on the regulation of GE animals containing heritable rDNA constructs are available at http://www.fda.gov/cvm/GEAnimals.htm .
ATryn previously received approval from the European Medicines Agency for use in preventing clotting conditions during surgical procedures in patients with hereditary AT deficiency.
ATryn is manufactured by GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc., Framingham, Mass.