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West Liberty to hold special event to honor first responders – WDTN

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

WEST LIBERTY, Ohio (WDTN) Sixweeks after the West Liberty-Salem High School shooting, the community is giving thanks to first responders. A special event is planned for this weekend.

Parent Sean Merriman is taking his compassion a step further, showing his appreciation for the people who never hesitate to take action and step into harms way to protect the people who mean the most to us.

To have the community come together as one, Merriman said. And let them know that we appreciate them. Its very common. Its pretty rare so I think theyd appreciate it.

Seth Merriman is the dad to a third and fifth grader at West Liberty-Salem. Back on January 20th, he rushed to the school to be reunited with both of them. Hes thankful for not only the first-responders, but teachers and staff who risked their lives to protect the students, including Assistant Principal Andy McGill who held down 17-year-old Ely Serna until Police arrived.

To have somebody there that cares for your kids just as much as you do and wants to make sure that everyone else is protected as well, Merriman said. Thats a good feeling.

For Merriman, it only made sense to do something to show just how thankful him and hundreds of other parents are for the brave men and women who stepped up that day.

Hopefully the staff of the school and the first responders will appreciate the love, Merriman said. That we have to give.

Merriman is hosting an all-day luncheon, providing food, entertainment and games to the community at the Campaign County Fairgrounds. When he first posted the idea in a local Facebook group, he said it immediately took off.

The outreach that I have had from this is unreal, Merriman said. Theres so many people that are willing to reach out and help.

With a population of just over 1,800 people, Merriman says many people first responders were helping that day werent strangers to them.

He says some officers he knows werent in uniform or on duty that day, but still rushed to the scene that day in their regular clothes.

Thats what theyre calling is, Merriman said. When it comes to fight or flight they fight. Its just in their DNA. Theyre good people.

Merriman says anyone who wants to come is invited. The Appreciation Luncheon is Saturday, March 11th from noon to 5 p.m. at the Champaign County Fairgrounds. He says theyre expected as many as 1,500 people to attend.

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West Liberty to hold special event to honor first responders - WDTN

Don’t Confuse the Alt-Right with Libertarianism. Here’s How They’re Different – PanAm Post

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

The libertarian believes that the best and most wonderful social outcomes are not those planned, structured, and anticipated, but rather the opposite. (Conservative Tribune)

By Jeffrey Tucker

Well, Hillary Clinton has gone and done it.

To the cheers of alt-righters everywhere, those angry lords of the green frog meme who hurl edgy un-PC insults at everyone to their left, the Democratic nominee has put them on the map at long last. Specifically, she accused Donald Trump of encouraging and giving voice to their dark and dangerous worldview.

Lets leave aside the question of whether we are talking about an emergent brown-shirted takeover of American political culture, or perhaps merely a few thousand sock-puppet social media accounts adept at mischievous trolling on Twitter. The key issue is that more than a few alt-rightists claim some relationship to libertarianism, at least at their intellectual dawning until they begin to shed their libertarianism later on.

What are the differences in outlook between alt-right ideology and libertarianism?

1. The Driving Force of History

Every ideology has a theory of history, some sense of a driving theme that causes episodic movements from one stage to another. Such a theory helps us make sense of the past, present, and future. The libertarian theme of history is beautifully articulated by Murray Rothbard:

My own basic perspective on the history of manis to place central importance on the great conflict which is eternally waged between Liberty and Power I see the liberty of the individual not only as a great moral good in itself (or, with Lord Acton, as the highest political good), but also as the necessary condition for the flowering of all the other goods that mankind cherishes: moral virtue, civilization, the arts and sciences, economic prosperity. Out of liberty, then, stem the glories of civilized life.

There it is: liberty vs. power. Liberty unleashes human energy and builds civilization. Anything that interferes with the progress of liberty impedes the progress of humanity. One crowds out the other. The political (or anti-political) goal is clear: diminish power (which means reducing unjust violence) and enhance liberty.

What is the alt-right theory of history? The movement inherits a long and dreary tradition of thought from Friedrich Hegel to Thomas Carlyle to Oswald Spengler to Madison Grant to Othmar Spann to Giovanni Gentile to Carl Schmitt to Trumps speeches. This tradition sees something else going on in history: not liberty vs. power, but something like a more meta struggle that concerns impersonal collectives of tribe, race, community, great men, and so on.

Whereas libertarianism speaks of individual choice, alt-right theory draws attention to collectives on the move. It imagines that despite appearances, we all default in our thinking back to some more fundamental instinct about our identity as a people, which is either being shored up by a more intense consciousness or eroded by a deracination and dispossession from what defines us. To criticize this as racist is often true but superficial. Whats really going on here is the depersonalization of history itself: the principle that we are all being buffeted about by Olympian historical forces beyond our control as mere individuals. Each of us only matters when our uniqueness is submerged to a group. This grop in turn calls forth a leader. It takes something mighty and ominous like a great leader, an embodiment of one of these great forces, to make a dent in historys narrative.

2. Harmony vs. Conflict

A related issue concerns our capacity to get along with each other. Frdric Bastiat described the free society as characterized by a harmony of interests. In order to overcome the state of nature, we gradually discover the capacity to find value in each other. The division of labor is the great fact of human community: the labor of each of us becomes more productive in cooperation with others, and this is even, or rather especially, true given the unequal distribution of talents, intelligence, and skills, and differences over religion, belief systems, race, language, and so on.

And truly, this is a beautiful thing to discover. The libertarian marvels at the cooperation we see in a construction project, an office building, a restaurant, a factory, a shopping mall, to say nothing of a city, a country, or a planet. The harmony of interests doesnt mean that everyone gets along perfectly, but rather that we inhabit institutions that incentivize progress through ever more cooperative behavior. As the liberals of old say, we believe that the brotherhood of man is possible.

The libertarian believes that the best and most wonderful social outcomes are not those planned, structured, and anticipated, but rather the opposite.

To the alt-right mind, this all seems ridiculous. Sure, shopping is fine. But what actually characterizes human association is deep-rooted conflict. The races are secretly at war, intellectually and genetically. There is an ongoing and perpetual conflict between the sexes. People of different religions must fight and always will, until one wins. Nations fight for a reason: the struggle is real.

Some argue that war is what defines us and even gives life meaning, and, in that sense, is glorious and celebratory. For this reason, all nations must aspire toward homogeneity in stock, religion, and so on, and, as for the sexes, there must be dominance, because cooperation is an illusion.

Maybe you notice a certain commonality with the left here. In the 19th century, the Marxists whipped themselves up in a frenzy about the allegedly inherent conflict between labor and capital. Their successors fret incessantly about race, ethnicity, ability, gender, and so on, pushing Marxian conflict theory into ever more exotic realms. Ludwig von Mises captured this parallel brilliantly when he wrote, Nationalist ideology divides society vertically; the socialist ideology divides society horizontally. Here, as with many other areas, the far right and far left are strangely aligned.

3. Designed vs. Spontaneous Order

The libertarian believes that the best and most wonderful social outcomes are not those planned, structured, and anticipated, but rather the opposite. Society is the result of millions and billions of small acts of rational self interest that are channelled into an undesigned, unplanned, and unanticipated order that cannot be conceived by a single mind. The knowledge that is required to put together a functioning social order is conveyed through institutions: prices, manners, mores, habits, and traditions that no one can consciously will into existence. There must be a process in place, and stable rules governing that process, that permit such institutions to evolve, always in deference to the immutable laws of economics.

Again, the alt-right mind finds all of this uninspired and uninspiring. Society in their conception is built by the will of great thinkers and great leaders with unconstrained visions of what can be. What we see out there operating in society is a result of someones intentional and conscious planning from the top down.

If we cannot find the source, or if the source is somehow hiding, we imagine that it must be some shadowy group out there that is manipulating outcomes and hence the alt-rights obsession with conspiracy theory. The course of history is designed by someone, so we might as well engage in the great struggle to seize the controls and hence the alt-right obsession with politics as a contact sport.

Oh, and, by the way, economics is a dismal science.

4. Trade and Migration

Of course the classical liberals fought for free trade and free migration of peoples, seeing national borders as arbitrary lines on a map that mercifully restrain the power of the state but otherwise inhibit the progress of prosperity and civilization. To think globally is not a bad thing, but a sign of enlightenment. Protectionism is nothing but a tax on consumers that inhibits industrial productivity and sets nations at odds with each other. The market process is a worldwide phenomenon that indicates an expansion of the division of labor, which means a progressive capacity of people to enhance their standard of living and ennoble their lives.

The alt-right is universally opposed to free trade and free migration. You can always tell a writer is dabbling in alt-right thought (or neoreactionary or Dark Enlightenment or outright fascism) if he or she has an intense focus on international trade as inherently bad or fraudulent or regrettable in some sense. To them, a nation must be strong enough to thrive as an independent unit, an economic sovereignty unto itself.

Today, the alt-right has a particular beef with trade deals, not because they are unnecessarily complex or bureaucratic (which are good reasons to doubt their merit) but because of their meritorious capacity to facilitate international cooperation. And it is the same with immigration. Beginning at some point in the late 19th century, migration came to be seen as a profound threat to national identity, which invariably means racial identity.

5. Emancipation and Progress

The libertarian celebrates the profound changes in the world from the late Middle Ages to the age of laissez faire, because we observed how commercial society broke down the barriers of class, race, and social isolation, bringing rights and dignity to ever more people. Slavery was ended. Women were emancipated, as marriage evolved from conquest and dominance into a free relationship of partnership and consent. This is all a wonderful thing, because rights are universal, which is to say, they rightly belong to everyone equally. Anything that interferes with peoples choices holds them back and hobbles the progress of prosperity, peace, and human flourishing. This perspective necessarily makes the libertarian optimistic about humanitys potential.

The alt-right mind cant bear this point of view, and regards it all as naive. What appears to be progress is actually loss: loss of culture, identity, and mission. They look back to what they imagine to be a golden age when elites ruled and peons obeyed. And thus we see the source of their romantic attachment to authority as the source of order, and the longing for authoritarian political rule. As for universal rights, forget it. Rights are granted by political communities and are completely contingent on culture. The ancients universally believed that some were born to serve and some to rule, and the alt-right embraces this perspective. Here again, identity is everything and the loss of identity is the greatest crime against self anyone can imagine.

Conclusion

The alt-right knows exactly who its enemies are, and the libertarians are among them.

To be sure, as many commentators have pointed out, both libertarians and alt-rightist are deeply suspicious of democracy. This was not always the case. In the 19th century, the classical liberals generally had a favorable view of democracy, believing it to be the political analogy to choice in the marketplace. But here they imagined states that were local, rules that were fixed and clear, and democracy as a check on power. As states became huge, as power became total, and as rules became subject to pressure-group politics, the libertarian attitude toward democracy shifted.

In contrast, the alt-rights opposition to democracy traces to its loathing of the masses generally and its overarching suspicion of anything that smacks of equality. In other words, they tend to hate democracy for all the wrong reasons. This similarity is historically contingent and largely superficial given the vast differences that separate the two worldviews.Does society contain within itself the capacity for self management or not? That is the question.

None of this will stop the mainstream media from lumping us all together, given that we share a dread of what has become of the left in politics today.

But make no mistake: the alt-right knows exactly who its enemies are, and the libertarians are among them.

Jeffrey Tucker is Director of Content for the Foundation for Economic Education. He is alsoChief Liberty Officer and founder ofLiberty.me, Distinguished Honorary Member of Mises Brazil, research fellow at theActon Institute, policy adviser of theHeartland Institute, founder of the CryptoCurrency Conference, member of the editorial board of theMolinari Review, an advisor to the blockchainapplication builderFactom, and author of five books. He has written 150 introductions to books and many thousands of articles appearing in the scholarly and popular press. This article was originally published on FEE.org. Read the original article.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxfRNgRajjM&feature=youtu.be Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute has been a formidable opponent of ObamaCare; so formidable, in fact, that he has been described by the New Republic as ObamaCare's "single most relentless antagonist." Along with Case Western Reserve Law School professor Jonathan Adler, he has provided the legal foundation for the Supreme Court case King v. Burwell, which questioned the legality of subsidies administered under the auspices of a federally run health insurance exchanges. In 2015, the court by a 6-3 decision, upheld ObamaCare. In this interview, Cannon discusses the inherent problems with ObamaCare, explains his role in encouraging states to refuse to set up their own exchanges, and discusses the failure of Vermont's single payer healthcare scheme. Read More: The Perpetual Failure of ObamaCare and Single Payer Healthcare Read More: Why Trump Shouldn't Immediately Repeal ObamaCare He voices concerns regarding the Republicans current Repeal/Replace plans, which many have feared will result in "ObamaCare lite," and takes aim at the Democrats for the disingenuous manner in which they implemented such provisions as the "Millennial Mandate" which obligates health insurers to cover children under their parents' policies until the age of 26. Cannon also shares his thoughts on the now-infamous words of ObamaCare architect Jonathan Gruber, who generated a firestorm of controversy by referencing a "lack of transparency" and lampooning the "stupidity of the American voter" in relation to ObamaCare passage. Libertarians and conservatives are presented with a blueprint for addressing the problems with ObamaCare, single payer healthcare, and socialized medicine. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1459522593195-0'); }); Ultimately, he concludes that ObamaCare, in fact, offers less choice and less competition to American consumers, while obligating many Americans to buy expensive healthcare plans that they neither want nor need. Cannon suggests that a Balanced Budget Amendment is the key to taking money and power out of the hands of politicians, and returning it to the American citizens and taxpayers.

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Don't Confuse the Alt-Right with Libertarianism. Here's How They're Different - PanAm Post

Trump’s ‘libertarianism’ endangers the public – CNN

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

President Trump's recent executive order, titled "Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Cost," speaks the language of the principled libertarians, but its beneficiaries are likely to be the thugs.

The order prohibits any agency from issuing any new regulation unless it also repeals two regulations that cost as much as the new one. "Costs" mean the cost of complying with the regulation. The harms that were the reason for the regulation don't count at all.

David Dana and Michael Barsa observe the implications of Trump's order. The Department of Interior created a set of new regulations in response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, in which BP spilled nearly 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. It was the largest marine oil spill in history, and, Dana and Barsa wrote, it cost "nearly $9 billion for lost fisheries and $23 billion for lost tourism, not to mention the catastrophic effects on marine life and birds. Yet under the president's order, the only costs that matter are those to the oil companies. Costs to the public and to the environment are completely ignored." The regulations aren't cheap; the cost to the industry has been estimated at hundreds of millions. But that's peanuts compared to the costs of another spill.

Trump is a big fan of Ayn Rand. Like her fictional hero John Galt in "Atlas Shrugged," he wants to free business from the heavy hand of government. But this is an oddly distorted libertarianism, in which Rand's villains masquerade as her heroes: those who talk most of liberty are the looters and moochers.

Conservatives worry about "regulatory capture": the danger that regulators will abandon the public interest at the behest of regulated industries, keeping prices high and stifling competition. The solution is to get rid of regulation: the state should butt out and let the market operate. There's no doubt that capture has sometimes happened. A notorious example is the Civil Aeronautics Board: after it was abolished in 1985, airline competition intensified and prices plunged.

There is, however, another way in which unworthy special interests can seize control of government. They can work to cripple regulation, so that they can hurt and defraud people. Libertarian rhetoric has turned out to be a rich resource for them.

Barack Obama is actually a better libertarian than Trump. He spent years teaching at the University of Chicago, where the idea of regulatory capture was developed. That had an impact: when he was President, he demanded (following a principle laid down by Ronald Reagan!) that any new regulations survive rigorous cost-benefit analysis. That immunizes regulations from capture, and makes sure that regulators take account of just what worries Trump, the cost to businesses. The overall net value -- benefits minus costs -- of Obama's regulations was upward of $100 billion.

Trump, on the other hand, has replaced cost-benefit analysis with cost analysis. Benefits are ignored. This isn't even business-friendly. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill destroyed hundreds of well-functioning businesses. On the other hand, the businesses that were crushed were small and had nothing like BP's political connections.

There's room for reasonable disagreement with Obama's regulations. The calculation of both costs and benefits inevitably involves some guesswork. The cumulative effect of regulation can hamper businesses. The big difference between Trump and the standard conservatives' critique of Obama is that Trump's executive order holds, as a matter of principle, that benefits don't matter. Consumer fraud, tainted food, pollution, unsafe airplanes and trains, epidemic disease all have to be put up with, if stopping them would increase the costs of regulation.

Trump's new "regulatory reforms" show a persistent pattern. One targets a rule that requires retirement advisers to put clients' interests ahead of their own. Conflicts of interest in retirement advice, for example steering clients into products with higher fees and lower returns, costs American families an estimated $17 billion a year. You can understand why some parts of the financial industry hated the rule. That $17 billion was going into someone's pocket, and that someone finds libertarian rhetoric right handy.

The Libertarian Party, which got more than 4 million votes in the last presidential election, is enthusiastic about the order. It shouldn't be. The order is a deep betrayal of libertarianism, which holds that people should do what they want as long as they don't hurt anyone else.

Freeing businesses to hurt people is not libertarian. The libertarians -- at least, the ones who don't see through Trump -- are being played. If the crippling of the state allows economic behemoths to do whatever they like to others, then what libertarianism licenses, in the garb of liberty, is the creation of a new aristocracy, entitled to hurt the commoners. This is just a different kind of mooching and looting.

It is a new road to serfdom. It reinforces the prejudices of those on the left who repudiate capitalism. The libertarians who embrace it, thinking that they are thereby promoting freedom, are useful idiots, like the idealistic leftists of the 1930s whose hatred of poverty and racism led them to embrace Stalin. John Galt is a sap.

Trump's 'libertarianism' endangers the public - CNN

Seriously: Libertarian Party to give up paying taxes for Lent – Rocky Mountain Collegian

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

Editors Note: Seriously is a satire column, which may or may not use real names, often in semi-real or mostly fictitious ways. The vies expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the Collegians editorial board.

Claiming that Libertarians everywhere want to resist the temptation of government and grow closer to God, Executive Director of the Libertarian Party Wes Benedict announced that the Libertarian Party is giving up paying taxes for Lent.

We as Libertarians want to refocus this time of year on our most Heavenly duty: to not do a goddamn thing for anyone else, Benedict said, noting that while Libertarians would be participating in the Catholic tradition of Lent, its not like theyre religious or anything. Our country was founded by people who wanted to be free from religious persecution and we hope the statists respect our religious rights to not give a fucking dime to benefit anyone other than ourselves.

When questioned by critics, Benedict defended the move as living as God intended, probably, free from the shackles of shared social responsibility and having to actually cooperate with other human beings.

I dont know the Bible, like, super well, Benedict said, but the devil is totally a statist. I mean, forcing people to give up their souls and suffer for eternity? Hes like the IRS!

When asked by reporters why the party didnt simply give up government for Lent, Benedict said that the idea hadnt been discussed.

Damn, thats a good idea! Why didnt we think of that?

At press time, Benedict could be overheard loudly debating the merits of the Sixteenth Amendment with tax collectors, arguing that the constitutional right of the government to collect taxes was freaking bogus.

Disclaimer: Seriously is a satire blog, which may or may not use real names, often in semi-real or mostly fictitious ways. All articles from Seriously are creations of fiction, and presumably fake publications. Any resemblance to the truth is purely coincidental, except for all references to politicians and/or celebrities, in which case they are fictitious events based on real people. Photos used do not have any connection to the story and are used within the rights of free reuse, as well as cited to the best of our ability. Seriously is intended for a mature, sophisticated, and discerning audience.

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Seriously: Libertarian Party to give up paying taxes for Lent - Rocky Mountain Collegian

Island in Atlanta, Georgia with Reviews – YP.com

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

Murphy's

Iris L. rated

10/26/2016

Location: Right off of the street and in the same plaza as Yogli Mogli. Parking is a bit tight and they do not offer much parking space, so I recommend finding a spot on the side of the street and then walking. Atmosphere: My friend and I sat on the patio, which was nice and offered views onto the street. It also has a warm and rustic vibe. When you first walk into the restaurant I was greeted by a very friendly host who asked if we wanted to either sit inside or outside. He then led us to our table which was very clean and simple. The inside of the restaurant features a wall of wine options that you can choose from and also features desserts that I think you can pick up for togo. Murphys has a very casual laid back atmosphere that transports you to a Cali winery. Food/Beverages: We ordered the mimosas which were good because how can you really butcher a mimosa (juice & champagne)? I ordered the quinoa squash with the artichokes as an appetizer and a side of their mac and cheese. My lovely friend ordered their special, which was grilled scallops over angel hair pasta and tossed in a pesto sauce. The artichokes were very good because they were grilled and served with a delicious lemon aioli of some sort. I LOVE artichokes and boy, they did this artichoke justice. The quinoa squash was also delicious and perfectly seasoned. Many places usually offer bland vegetable entrees, but Murphys seasoned this entree to perfection. It was surprisingly good. The thing that stole my heart was actually the mac and cheese. I love mac and cheese and this was some good ole mac and cheese. I think they used some sort of white cheddar and truffle oil, which complemented the cheese very nicely. I also loved the fact that they used a thicker type of pasta in order to catch every drop of their delicious cheese sauce. If you do not thick that the shape of the pasta affects how a dish tastes, then you my friend need to try their mac and cheese. It was goooooood. My friends scallop pesto pasta was also very flavorful, light and filling. The pesto sauce was divine and she raved about the perfection that the scallops were cooked to. Service: Our server was very attentive to us and made sure that we had everything we needed. Overall: Murphys is a great place for a unique spin on traditional american food. Everything was seasoned to my liking and I will definitely be back to try some of their other offerings. Parking is a bit of a pain, but a bit of walking is not all that bad. I am surprised that I havent heard about this gem in Virginia Highlands until now.

ab7668 rated

11/02/2010

I recently had the pleasure of dining with friends at Miller Union on a Saturday evening. This was Sat, Oct 30, the night before Halloween when it seemed that all of Atlanta was out-and-about. As we drove into the parking lot, I was grateful to see a valet on hand. A full parking lot is always a good sign at a restaurant, but the thought of negotiating the full lot to find a spot was overwhemling. We were seated immediately in a very cozy dining room just behind the bar. The wait staff was incredibly attentive (considering how busy the restaurant was) and knowlegable. Cocktails were ordered all-around. I have to suggest the cleverly named Miller Thyme cocktail, a gin drink with lemon and a thyme-infused simple syrup - very refreshing. I ordered a seasonal appetizer that was the special that evening, butternut squash with a roasted kale leaf and a shaving of parmesan on a slice of warm sourdough baguette. Unbelievable flavor combination. Of course I sampled everyone else's appetizer and highly recommend the farm egg in celery cream - amazingly rich and creamy. I chose the grilled GA mountain trout with creamed potatoes and a sprinkling of the most fantastic crumbled bacon that I have ever put in my mouth. The trout was very flavorful and beautifully cooked. I also tasted bites of my fellow diners' entrees including, the heritage pork chop and the griddled chicken. These dishes were also full of flavor and served alongside fresh, seasonal braised and roasted vegatables. The table shared 4 desserts: a plum crisp (just the right blend of sweet and tart combined with a crumbly topping), a gluten-free almond buckwheat cake (nice alternative), a terrific apple-pecan cake, and my personal favorite, a fudge brownie with homemade ice cream. Owners Chef Satterfield and Neal McCarthy took the time to stop by our table (and the tables of many other diners) to thank us for choosing Miller Union. Straightforward food prepared with an appreciation and respect for fresh, seasonal, high-quality ingredients. I cannot wait to go back.

Iris L. rated

11/10/2016

Location: Right near two urban licks. They offer complimentary valet parking because the parking can get very tight. Atmosphere: Cool, hip, and peaceful. They have a big wooden tree and fountain in the center of their restaurant, which is very serene and modern. The decor is very simple and allows you to focus on their food and bar. Food/Beverages: They offer a wide array of beers, cocktails and food as well. Their dishes range from traditional japanese items such as Okonomiyaki (japanese pancake) to other yummy dishes such as their georgia white shrimp. We ordered the curry ramen, spicy bacon ramen, Okonomiyaki, georgia white shrimp and gommae. Their ramen is extremely flavorful and not the typical ramen that you imagine. It is also very filling and their soups are very rich as well. Their Okonomiyaki was very, very good also. Their version had bacon and lobster and was cooked to perfection. The georgia shrimp appetizer featured locally grilled shrimp served over spicy mayo, which was delicious also. The gommae was a bit different than others because it tasted like chrysanthemum, which was pretty cool and different. My favorites were the Okonomiyaki and the curry ramen. Service: Our server was very sweet and attentive. She made us feel very comfortable and helped us answer any questions that we had. Overall: Cool, fun and delicious place to grab ramen when you are on the Beltline. I also love that they offer so many other choices and a late night menu as well. After 10pm, they offer a ramen burger. Usually they do not close until 2am on the weekends, which is a great option for people who want to grab a drink or late night bowl of delicious ramen. They do not serve your traditional ramen, but ramen with a good twist. It is nice to have something different from time to time and Nexto is doing a fantastic job at this.

felicia m. rated

07/03/2015

This place was the ultimate experience for out of state visitors. My friends and I are all about the true dining experience. We love chic eateries with amazing decor that put such a big smile on your face when you walk in. I love to feel like I'm in a movie when I am out dining and this place did just that. When you pull up to the establishment you are a little confused because it looks like you just pulled up to a garage shipping dock. Parking wasn't anywhere insight so we paid for valet. Shortly there after we walked into an amazing restaurant that is mouth dropping. It has a very urban New York sophisticated upscale hipster appeal. The bar tender was very well versed in her knowledge of cocktails so we took her suggestions for drinks. The restaurant is very large in size. We decided to sit outside on their amazing patio surrounded by trendy lofts and a beautiful landscape of rich greenery. Their outside dining was absolutely one of the best experiences I have had. The weather was even great in November of 2014. The drinks are a bit pricey as it is upscale dining, but I experience is well worth. We only stayed for drinks as we were just looking for place to kick back and have a few cocktails. I totally recommend this place as a date night restaurant or a girls in the city night out with your with your closest friends. I will definitely visit this place the next time that I am in Atlanta. The service was a plus. This place is definitely an attraction for Atlanta visitors.

Lauren L. rated

01/03/2017

This restaurant is perfect for a first date. The wine list is extensive and the staff is really interested in helping you find something you like without trying to up charge. That being said, they still have pretty pricey wine. Every single bottle on their menu you can get by the glass, even the $500 dollar bottles. They have an air filtration system that keeps the wines fresh without letting the oxygen touch them. This information was all given to me by a very friendly and helpful waiter. On to the atmosphere. This restaurant is very urban chic. It has exposed ceilings but the booths are actually plush couches that feels like you are lounging on them. The lighting is perfect. Dark enough to be intimate but light enough to see what you're eating. On to the food. Our food was delicious. I tried the Orecchiette pasta. Now it takes something special for me to like a dish if it contains onions. This one did. And it was so worth me picking through them. I even took what I couldn't eat home. My boyfriend got the short rib ravioli which was awesome, and we decided we'd agree to disagree on who's was better. The single complaint I had was that the bread came out cold and not fresh baked. The olive oil to dip it in was a nice touch though.

alice75 rated

07/11/2008

My brother and I ate at Wisteria last week, and as always, it rocked my world. My favorite server, Jeffrey, was there to take care of us, and he continues to amaze. He remembered me from my visit a few weeks ago, and asked if I'd like to start with a green tea mojito like I did on my last visit. Of course I took him up on it--it's one of the tastiest cocktails I've ever had. I get such a kick out of servers having such great memories! Jeffrey is definitely a pro. Dinner was delicious, of course. I tried the duck for the first time and loved it. My brother, Edward, got an 8 bone rack of lamb. It was HUGE, and delicious by the look of it, as Edward cleaned his plate. I also recommend the citrus salad or the crabcake as a great starter. Dessert was divine; we had a sampler of three that only cost $10. Wisteria always impresses me with their wide range of options. For instance, the wine list contains half bottles, many wines by the glass, wine flights, and an impressive selection of Bordeaux wines. There is truly something for everybody at Wisteria. I'm looking forward to another excuse to go back.

bigbadben rated

08/02/2008

Ok so after the club we're driving around downtown looking for something to eat and all the fast food joints are around the corner out of the driveway like always after the club. So we see these neon lights under the 620 building on peachtree and go in and there is this great diner tucked away under the building. We go in get seated in booths and theres music people are friendly the menue like four pages long i got a steak my girlfriend got a sandwich that was giant and our budy got a huge burger with onion rings. Now its four in the morning keep in mind and we have a waiter great service free refills and no loud crowds of teenager causing a rucus like every other place in the city. Broadway diner is great if your looking for a place to get great food anytime of the day because we came back the next day, sober, (lol) and it was just as good! Awesome prices large plates quick service and the best deserts i've ever had try the german choclate. On top of it all the food is actually really good, tastes like homemade.

Loren B. rated

11/11/2016

Have you ever been to a Brazilian steakhouse or a Chinese dim sum? Imagine both but with refined Southern food and if you haven't gone to either.....you're in for a treat. This was a very unique dining experience. I was NOT expecting cafeteria style seating with my date sitting on the opposite side of me and other patrons so close to me but I LOVED IT. I was so curious to see what others ordered and ask if we should order it as well. Gunshow serves amazing small dishes and the actually chef comes out and presents each course to you. The drinks are made table side. I did feel bad declining some dishes since it looks so yummy but after dish number 5 - I was stuffed. This by far is one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta due to its creativity, amazing food, and ambiance. The menu is constantly changing with revolving chefs. I wouldn't recommend it for a first date, since it's quite loud and busy, but definitely worth it with friends, family, or if you're in a relationship. We parked on the street. 🙂

Jennifer C. rated

10/27/2016

I started my evening on the rooftop fully stocked bar overlooking the cosmopolitan view of the Buckhead shops and city. After quenching our thirst over happy hour. We headed down to the 2nd floor where we had reservations for dinner. We feasted entreees of various steaks, tuna tartar, family style sides of savory garlic green beans, perfectly seasoned brussel sprouts, icey cold oysters, pan fried golden potatoe cakes, gooey mac-n-cheese, and homemade biscuits (that reminded me of the red lobster bisquits). The divine wine full bodied wine was the perfect touch to our meal. The service was top notch despite the fully reserved restaurant. In receiving our check we were quite surprised that we had been charged extra for butter for our$30-50 steaks. I was not able lo finish my steak tuna tartar. After the third request the server finally up my food, but forgot to close the bottom of the tartar, which has seeped into the steak box and through the paper bag, which I then had to toss the unsalvageable food.

keekee79 rated

09/30/2009

Saturday, September 26,2k9 I planned a surprise bday party for my boyfriend's 30th...however it was last minute and I didn't have reservations. I showed up at Dugans @ 9 and it was already standing room only. OMG!!! So I panic, not only is he on the way but the guest are starting to arrive as well...The manager seemed to hear my prayers because he came over and offered me a pick up table. It would seat 10. Perfect right? Not yet. He told me that I would have to share the table with other patrons. I told him about my situation and he told me I could have the whole table!!!! And when I realized more people had showed up, no problem, he offered us 2 more tables. Our server was Bobby "Blu" and he was polite, efficient, and very understanding under pressure. The deejay played all the right songs and we didn't leave the dance floor until we left the Bar. I would highly recommend this bar. Good spirits+good music=a dam good time. Needless to say,everything flowed as planned..THANKS DUGANS!!!

Island in Atlanta, Georgia with Reviews - YP.com

With Talent From Two Small Islands, the Netherlands Is a W.B.C. … – New York Times

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

New York Times

With Talent From Two Small Islands, the Netherlands Is a W.B.C. ...
New York Times
A 5-0 win over host South Korea put the team in a strong position.

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With Talent From Two Small Islands, the Netherlands Is a W.B.C. ... - New York Times

Flash flood watch covers all islands – Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

Britain beefs up defenses in the Falkland Islands – DefenseNews.com

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

LONDON - Britain has awarded 153 million (US $187 million) worth of contracts to equip the Falkland Islands with a new ground-based air-defense system known as Sky Sabre, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. A clutch of deals agreed around the turn of the year but only now becoming public includes award of a contract by the British to an Israeli company to supply a key battlefield command-and-control network to defend the South Atlantic island from potential Argentinian aggression. The main contract award, which the MoD valued at 78 million (US $95 million), was signed Jan. 9 with Israels Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, to develop a battle management, command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (BMC4I) network. Missile builder MBDA and surveillance radar supplier Saab have also been awarded contracts to integrate other, already ordered, ground-based air-defense system elements into the BMC4I. Rafael, with help from UK partners Babcock, will supply its Modular, Integrated C4I Air & Missile Defense System and associated equipment in a development and manufacture phase likely to be completed around 2020. Babcock will provide a proportion of UK based activity including: synthetic based test and integration facilities, project management and hardware procurement. The percentage of UK work content on BMC4I is put at 40percent with the remainder coming from Israel. The requirement is to deliver a ground-based air defence (GBAD) capability along with an initial support solution for up to 5 years. As part of the agreement, Rafael will serve as key systems integrator, including provision of communications links and integration with existing in-service communications infrastructure.

The Israelis secured the deal on the back of delivering the best technical solution for the best value for money, said an MoD official.

Concerns have also been raised by executives here about sharing sensitive Land Ceptor missile data with the Israeli company, which is itself a significant missile developer.

Last month, the Argentine government announced the suspension of efforts to procure fighter aircraft, putting an end to rumors about talks to buy Kfirs from Israel and MiG 29s from Russia.

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Britain beefs up defenses in the Falkland Islands - DefenseNews.com

Eyes on the Street: New Pedestrian Islands on Northern Boulevard … – Streetsblog New York (blog)

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

Thedangerous five-legged intersection of Northern Boulevard, 34th Avenue, and 48th Street has a new pedestrian island, sidewalk extension, and crosswalks. Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg joined Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer on Friday to unveil the improvements.

Northern Boulevard is one of themost dangerous roads in Queens, according to city data,with an average of more than two people killed while walking or bikingeach year.Theintersection with 48th Street is one of 14 where DOT is installing pedestrian islands and other safety improvements on a1.3-milestretchfrom Honeywell Avenue to Broadway [PDF].

Northern Boulevard is critical to Queens and the safety of the tens of thousands of people who live near it and travel on it every day, and its part of what is really at the heart of Vision Zero, Trottenberg said.

Three years ago, Van Bramer held a press eventat the same intersection to call on Mayor de Blasioto make safety on Northern Boulevarda Vision Zero priority.

Its an important corridor, and in the past it has been a dangerous corridor, Van Bramer said.

Since 2014, DOT has installed pedestrian islands at the intersection with 61st Street where an unlicensed truck driver killed8-year-old Noshat Nahian, andat nine locationsbetween 62nd Street and 102nd Street [PDF]. The agency plans to implement five morebetween 105th Street and 114th Street [PDF].

Other segments of North Boulevard have yet to receive attention, including the intersection with Junction Boulevardwhere17-year-old Ovidio Jaramillo was struck and killed in 2015. Agency repshave said left turn bans, which where implemented at nearby intersections, would be problematic at that location because both streets are designated truck routes.

In 2016, all three fatalities on Northern Boulevard occurred in Eastern Queens, whereDOThas been absent.

Our intention is to continue over the years to move throughout the whole boulevard, Trottenberg said aboutsafety improvements further east.

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Mariana Islands on display at Chamorro Festival – Saipan Tribune

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

SAN DIEGO, CaliforniaThe San Diego-based non-profit group CHELU, or Chamorro Hands in Education Links Unity, will be celebrating its 8th Annual Chamorro Cultural Festival on March 25, 2017, at the California State University-San Marcos.

The festival is a free event with free parking.

The annual Chamorro cultural festival is a highly anticipated family-fun event, celebrating the arts, culture, customs and people of the Mariana Islands, which include Guam, Saipan, Rota, Tinian, and islands in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

CCF is a unique day of celebration for Chamorros, uniting the indigenous people of the Marianas from around the world with music and cultural dance performances, educational workshops, cultural foods and a diverse array of products to accentuate the Chamorro in everyone.

This years theme is Ta Na Lala Gi Halom i Famaguontai Lengguahita yan Kutturata which translates to Let it Live from Within Our ChildrenOur Language and Our Culture.

The Chamorro Cultural Festival helps many of us Chamorros celebrate our unique culture and heritage with a vast array of workshops, arts and crafts and entertainment, said Danny Blas, chairman of the CHELU board of directors. Every year this event grows and grows. The CCF has become the premier Chamorro event in the mainland away from the Marianas, and our team is very proud to be able to continue the work to preserve our culture, language and the Chamorro ways of life.

The CSU-San Marcos festival site allows CHELU to continually improve the festival-goer experience by providing a spacious ground, protected parking, more seating areas and enhanced facilities, including free Wi-Fi and family-friendly restrooms.

CHELU is a nonprofit organization, created and sustained by volunteers in San Diego. It was established in 2005 to highlight the unique Chamorro culture and its indigenous people. Its mission statement says: CHELU is dedicated to the Chamorro community by strengthening our native language, culture and health through education.

Some of the ways CHELU preserves the culture are through the programs we support. In particular we reach out to the greater community through our Sakman Chamorro project, an outrigger canoe project that returned pride to our community by reigniting our ancient seafaring traditions and our youth cultural music and dance programs.

Our entire board hopes you are able to celebrate with us in San Marcos on March 25, 2017. (PR)

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Mariana Islands on display at Chamorro Festival - Saipan Tribune

Japan’s border islands to get 5 billion boon for tourism, defense – The Japan Times

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

OSAKA The government has earmarked 5 billion in increased economic assistance to 71 islands off the coast of eight prefectures, as concerns over declining populations are compounded by recurring intrusions into sovereign territory by foreign vessels.

In addition to its four main islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, plus Okinawa, Japan consists of about 6,800 islands. Of these, 148 are designated populated border islands, situated along the border of Japans exclusive economic zone and prioritized for fishing and natural resources development.

The fiscal 2017 budget starting April 1 will allocate funds to 71 border islands to build up transportation infrastructure, support local industry and promote cultural activities all in the hopes of attracting visitors and future residents.

For the existing 293,000 residents, the funding will lower the cost of travel by plane or shinkansen from their homes to cities on larger islands, as well as offset hikes in ferry fares incurred as older vessels are replaced. The money will also be used to help cover the cost of transporting products from small fishing ports to markets elsewhere.

Under a plan called Just One More Night, financial support will be offered to local industries on select islands to promote traditional culture and provide discounts for local goods. Islands hoping to transform into destinations for corporate retreats or student tours will also be able to tap into the new fund.

This money comes in addition to the projected 71.2 billion spending next fiscal year to shore up defense surveillance of all outer islands, nearly a threefold increase on fiscal 2016. In addition, the Japan Coast Guard will receive an extra 22.2 billion to strengthen its presence in and around the smaller islands.

Ainosuke Kojima, executive director at the Center for Research and Promotion of Japanese Islands, said more is needed to spur tourism and get people to move to outlying islands. Our center plans to discuss how to attract more foreign tourists, and in order to get people to relocate, a system that leads to employment expansion and industrial growth is needed, Kojima said.

A mysterious medical condition gets a name – and a genetic link to deafness – Napa Valley Register

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

He loves dancing to songs, such as Michael Jacksons Beat It and the Macarena, but he cant listen to music in the usual way. He laughs whenever someone takes his picture with a camera flash, which is the only intensity of light he can perceive. He loves trying to balance himself, but his legs dont allow him to walk without support.

He is one in a million, literally.

Born deaf-blind and with a condition, osteopetrosis, that makes bones both dense and fragile, 6-year-old Orion Theodore Withrow is among an unknown number of children with a newly identified genetic disorder that researchers are just beginning to decipher. It goes by an acronym, COMMAD, that gives little away until each letter is explained, revealing an array of problems that also affect eye formation and pigmentation in eyes, skin and hair. The rare disorder severely impairs the persons ability to communicate.

Children such as Orion, who are born to genetically deaf parents, are at a higher risk, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics. The finding has important implications for the deaf community, said its senior author, Brian Brooks, clinical director and chief of the Pediatric, Developmental and Genetic Ophthalmology Section at the National Eye Institute.

It is relatively common for folks in deaf community to marry each other, he said, and whats key is whether each of the couple has a specific genetic misspelling that causes a syndrome called Waardenburg 2A. If yes, theres the likelihood of a child inheriting the mutation from both parents. The result, researchers found, is COMMAD.

Because the disorder was only recently identified, there is much to learn about its impact over a lifetime. Brooks, who estimates that fewer than one person in a million is affected, has seen only a couple cases. Orion is one of them.

When Withrow was pregnant with Orion, she and her husband, Thomas Withrow Jr., suspected that he might be born deaf. While their daughter, 11-year-old Anastasia, has normal hearing, their other son, 12-year-old Skyler, is deaf. Then the results of initial imaging showed their third child would likely be born blind.

A subsequent MRI raised even more worries, suggesting that they were confronting trisomy 13, a chromosomal condition involving devastating physical abnormalities. Her doctor recommended the pregnancy be terminated.

We just closed that discussion quick, Withrow recalled through an interpreter. It is sad when people think, Oh well, he is going to be disabled so go ahead and end his life. Its in Gods hands. It was not my decision to make, and it wasnt my husbands decision to make.

Even though he could not see, Orions right eye would occasionally react to bright light. At just several months of age, he had special prostheses similar to jumbo contact lensescalled shellsinserted over his eyeballs to allow the sockets to grow proportionally with his face. And he started physical therapy to improve his motor functions. By the time he was 18 months old, he was able to keep his head straight, his mother said.

COMMAD explains those problems and others, Withrow now knows. It stands for coloboma (a condition in which normal tissue in or around the eye is missing), osteopetrosis (abnormally dense bones prone to fracture), microphthalmia (small or abnormally formed eyes), macrocephaly (abnormal enlargement of the head), albinism (lack of pigment or more specifically melanin in the skin, hair, and eyes) and deafness.

COMMAD can affect Orion in unusual ways. His body clock keeps its own schedule, his mother said, making it difficult for him to distinguish day and night: He would think its morning outside at 2 a.m., and he would want to play at a time when we want to go to sleep.

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A mysterious medical condition gets a name - and a genetic link to deafness - Napa Valley Register

Who Wins and Who Loses Under Republicans’ Health Care Plan – New York Times

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

NBCNews.com

Who Wins and Who Loses Under Republicans' Health Care Plan
New York Times
Both Obamacare and the recent Republican replacement proposal use refundable tax credits to help people buy their health insurance. That is part of the reason the new G.O.P. bill is under fire from conservatives, who see it as a new entitlement program.
Experts: The GOP Health Care Plan Just Won't WorkNBCNews.com
New anti-Obamacare ads conflate the exchanges with the entire health-care systemWashington Post
House panels to launch fight in Congress over Obamacare replacementReuters
Business Insider -FiveThirtyEight -Huffington Post -Energy and Commerce Committee
all 2,374 news articles »

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Who Wins and Who Loses Under Republicans' Health Care Plan - New York Times

GOP Health Care Bill Would Cut CDC Fund to Fight Killer Diseases – NBCNews.com

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

Health workers slaughter chickens on a farm in Yunlin County, Taiwan in an image released on Feb. 15, 2017. Taiwan is killing tens of thousands of chickens, ducks and turkeys since discovering its first case of H5N6 bird flu in Hualien County. Yunlin Animal and Plant Disease Control Center / EPA

On Wednesday, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, or ASTHO, will try. It's bringing state health officials to Washington to make the case not only for the prevention fund, but also for increased public health funding.

They know it will be an uphill battle.

"It's a tough sell," ASTHO Executive Director Michael Fraser said. "People know what it means to go to the doctor. They don't know what it means when public health agencies agencies keep you from getting bird flu or an E. coli."

They'll frame their message in terms they hope will get the attention of conservatives, using the language of national defense.

"This is national security. Public health is protecting Americans," said Amanda Jezek of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Fraser also hopes to tap into Trump's campaign promises about rebuilding American infrastructure.

"People think about bridges and roads. ... We need similar attention to the public health infrastructure," he said. "We want to get the message out that public health is part of homeland security, part of public safety. It's not just a bunch of pamphlets and health fairs."

Dr. Jay Butler, Alaska's chief medical officer and president of the ASTHO, knows this is another tough sell.

"Public health infrastructure doesn't have same appeal as a bridge that could be named after you," he said.

Scary tactics might help, Fraser said.

"In terms of scaring the hell out of people, [we are] thinking about the spring and what we have to do around Zika, especially now that states are preparing for mosquito season," he said.

"When you have a burning airplane on the runway, that's not the time to start the discussion about whether you need to buy a firetruck."

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Cokie Roberts Answers Your Health Care Questions – NPR

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

NPR

Cokie Roberts Answers Your Health Care Questions
NPR
Email. March 8, 20175:05 AM ET. Heard on Morning Edition. Republicans have unveiled a new health care proposal. Commentator and columnist Cokie Roberts answers questions from listeners about the history of politics and health care in the U.S..

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Cokie Roberts Answers Your Health Care Questions - NPR

‘The Daily’: Harry Truman and Newt Gingrich on Health Care – New York Times

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

New York Times

'The Daily': Harry Truman and Newt Gingrich on Health Care
New York Times
We begin in 1948, when the United States started to debate whether to create a nationwide health care system. While national health care programs spread in Europe, the United States never enacted such sweeping legislation. In 2010, that changed. Margot ...

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'The Daily': Harry Truman and Newt Gingrich on Health Care - New York Times

Healthcare bill faces steep climb in Senate – The Hill

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellMitch McConnellRight revolts on ObamaCare bill AARP rips GOP's 'harmful' healthcare legislation Healthcare bill faces steep climb in Senate MORE (R-Ky.) has only three weeks to unify conservatives and moderates in his conference behind an ObamaCare repeal and replacement bill.

The American Health Care Act, which Vice President Pence on Tuesday declared the framework for reform, will move first in the House, but it faces perhaps an even steeper climb in the Senate.

Republicans control 52 seats in the upper chamber and can only afford to lose two votes, since Pence can vote to break a 50-50 tie. So far, at least eight Republican senators have voiced concerns with aspects of the legislation.

Three conservatives, Sens. Mike LeeMike LeeRight revolts on ObamaCare bill GOP senators to Trump: Pledge to veto bills with earmarks Healthcare bill faces steep climb in Senate MORE (R-Utah), Ted CruzTed CruzDoes GOPs health plan keep Trumps promises? GOP senators to Trump: Pledge to veto bills with earmarks Healthcare bill faces steep climb in Senate MORE (R-Texas) and Rand PaulRand PaulFreedom Caucus members say GOP doesn't have votes to pass healthcare plan Right revolts on ObamaCare bill Trump: Rand Paul will 'come along' on GOP healthcare plan MORE (R-Ky.), are unhappy with parts of the House bill, which allied conservative groups have panned as not going far enough.

Lee blasted the House bill as a missed opportunity and a step in the wrong direction.

He warned that policymakers dont know how much tax credits proposed in the House legislation to help Americans buy insurance would wind up costing the federal government.

Paul dismissed the legislation as dead on arrival and a bailout for the insurance companies.

Cruz has been less vocal about his views on the bill. He skipped a press conference Tuesday afternoon that Paul and Lee held with House conservatives critical of the bill.

The Texas senator told reporters that he has a number of concerns but declined to say whether he would vote no.

The proper way to address those concerns is working with colleagues in the House, the Senate and the administration, and thats what Im doing right now, Cruz said.

Meanwhile, two influential Republican senators, Susan CollinsSusan CollinsHealthcare bill faces steep climb in Senate ObamaCare repeal bill would defund Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood tells Trump it won't end abortions in exchange for continued funding MORE (Maine) and Lisa MurkowskiLisa MurkowskiAARP rips GOP's 'harmful' healthcare legislation Healthcare bill faces steep climb in Senate Overnight Energy: Another setback for Dakota Access opponents MORE (Alaska), have objected to including language in the bill defunding Planned Parenthood a top priority of House conservatives.

Collins and Murkowski told reporters Tuesday that they were reviewing the newly released legislation.

Three other Republican senators Rob PortmanRob PortmanAARP rips GOP's 'harmful' healthcare legislation Healthcare bill faces steep climb in Senate Conservative groups blast GOP healthcare plan MORE (Ohio), Shelley Moore CapitoShelley Moore CapitoAARP rips GOP's 'harmful' healthcare legislation Healthcare bill faces steep climb in Senate Conservative groups blast GOP healthcare plan MORE (W.Va.) and Cory GardnerCory GardnerAARP rips GOP's 'harmful' healthcare legislation Healthcare bill faces steep climb in Senate Conservative groups blast GOP healthcare plan MORE (Colo.) along with Murkowski sent a letter to McConnell Monday warning him that a draft House healthcare plan that leaked last month failed to ensure stability for hundreds of thousands of people in their states who were newly enrolled in Medicaid under ObamaCare.

Sen. Dean HellerDean HellerHealthcare bill faces steep climb in Senate On the commercialization path: New research supports women in STEM Overnight Cybersecurity: Sessions recuses himself from Russia probe | Bill would help states with cybersecurity | Typo took down Amazon cloud MORE (R-Nev.), widely considered the most vulnerable Senate Republican incumbent in 2018, has also raised concerns about rolling back the Medicaid expansion. On Tuesday he said he hadnt yet reviewed the House bill.

Taken together, its clear that there will be a large number Republican votes for McConnell to shore up by the week of March 27, when he plans to bring the American Health Care Act to the Senate floor, provided the legislation passes the House on schedule.

McConnell wants to get the bill done before the Senate begins debate on Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, who is scheduled to reach the floor the first week of April. Congress is scheduled to leave town April 7 for a two-week recess.

Democrats made clear Tuesday that GOP leaders shouldnt expect any votes from their side of the aisle.

Senate Democratic Leader Charles SchumerCharles SchumerWhy Jeff Sessions must resign Schumer promises Dems will try to defeat 'Trumpcare' Conway: Dems want 'to stop everything' Trump is trying to do MORE (N.Y.) vowed that his caucus would fight tooth and nail against TrumpCare.

TrumpCare means higher costs for less healthcare, plain and simple, he said. TrumpCare cuts taxes on the very wealthy while forcing average Americans to pay more. Premiums are going to go up.

McConnell called in the heavy artillery Tuesday by inviting Pence to a Senate GOP lunch to persuade wavering colleagues to get behind the House bill.

Pence told lawmakers pointedly that Trump supports the legislation, and while hes open to making changes, he will not scrap it and start over, as some conservatives would prefer.

Were certainly open to improvements and to recommendations in the legislative process, Pence told reporters after the meeting, though he emphasized that this is the bill.

Over the next several weeks McConnell and his leadership team will argue to colleagues that voters are expecting action from Congress, and this month presents them with a historic opportunity to deliver on their campaign promises to repeal ObamaCare.

The American people have given us an opportunity to govern. Were no longer floating ideas, McConnell said. We have an obligation now to the American people to deliver a replacement for ObamaCare that is better than the status quo.

He noted ObamaCare was a huge issue in the 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016 elections.

Pence tried to reassure Republicans nervous about capping the Medicaid expansion that the House bill would return resources and flexibility to the states that will allow them to reform Medicaid so it can more effectively meet the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.

Gardner, who signed the letter to McConnell expressing concerns about Medicaid, said Tuesday hes still trying to understand the details of how the House bill would impact low-income constituents.

Were looking at it, he said.

Specifically, he wants to figure out whether new Medicaid enrollees starting in the year 2020 will still be eligible for the same federal subsidies that have covered the cost of expanding the program in 31 states under ObamaCare.

You can add new people to the program. At least, thats the way we initially understand it, he said.

Centrist Democrats showed no signs of being inclined to back the House GOP bill.

Sen. Jon TesterJon TesterHealthcare bill faces steep climb in Senate Liberals threaten to primary over Gorsuch Dem senator introduces bill to 'drain the swamp' MORE (D-Mont.), who is up for reelection next year in a state Trump won by 20 points, said he has serious reservations.

Some things theyre doing with Medicaid [are] not going to be helpful. Im not sure theyre helping with lowering premiums for people who are really getting gouged with big premiums, he said. On first blush, its certainly got some issues. Major issues.

Sen. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinHealthcare bill faces steep climb in Senate Liberals threaten to primary over Gorsuch Get wise, GOP. The healthcare groundswell isn't going away MORE (D-W.Va.), who is running next year in a state Trump won by nearly 42 points, said he was reviewing the bill.

Manchin said, however, that he would not vote for legislation he views as a straight repeal of ObamaCare.

Schumer told reporters that the House bill is an ObamaCare repeal, even though it will keep in place some of the laws reforms, such as allowing adults to stay on their parents health plans until age 26.

Republicans say it would also bar insurance companies from discriminating against people with pre-existing medical conditions, but Democratic leaders are disputing that claim.

Jessie Hellmann contributed.

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Republicans Mixed On New Health Care Bill – NPR

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

NPR	Republicans Mixed On New Health Care Bill NPR Many Tea Party Republicans are raising objections to the new GOP-written health care bill, but Speaker Paul Ryan says he's guaranteeing it will pass the House in the coming weeks. Facebook; Twitter. Google+. Email ...

Study parses influence of genes and environment in metabolic disease – Medical Xpress

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

March 8, 2017 White fat stores energy, while brown fat dissipates energy by producing heat, mediated by uncoupling protein 1, or UCP1. Credit: Ray Soccio, MD, PhD, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

By comparing two strains of miceone that becomes obese and diabetic on a high-fat diet and another resistant to a high-fat regimenresearchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania identified genome-wide changes caused by a high-fat diet.

The a team, led by Raymond Soccio, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of Medicine, and Mitchell Lazar, MD, PhD, director the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, published their findings online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI), in addition to an Author's Take video.

"We focused on the epigenome, the part of the genome that doesn't code for proteins but governs gene expression," Lazar said.

Their research suggests that people who may be genetically susceptible to obesity and type 2 diabetes due to low levels of a protein that helps cells burn fat, may benefit from treatments that ultimately increase the fat-burning molecule.

The team looked at the interplay of genes and environment in two types of white fat tissue, subcutaneous fat (under the skin) versus visceral fat around abdominal organs. The latter correlates strongly with metabolic disease. This visceral fat shows major gene expression changes in diet-induced obesity. The JCI study confirmed this relationshipand importantlyextended these findings to show that the epigenome in visceral fat also changes on a high fat diet.

Diet-induced epigenomic changes in fat cells occur at histones - proteins that package and order DNA in the nucleus, which influences gene expression - across the genome. There were also changes in the binding to DNA of an essential fat cell protein, a transcription factor called PPARgamma.

The team next treated obese mice with the drug rosiglitazone, which targets PPARgamma in fat to treat diabetes in people. "While the drug-treated obese mice were more insulin sensitive, we were surprised to see that the drug had little effect on gene expression in visceral fat," Soccio said. "This led us to look at subcutaneous fat and we discovered that this depot is much more responsive to the drug."

"These results are clinically relevant and indicate that the 'bad' metabolic effects of obesity occur in visceral fat, while the 'good' effects of rosiglitazone and other drugs like it occur in subcutaneous fat," Lazar said.

In particular, the drug-induced changes they found in subcutaneous fat reflected the phenomenon of browning, in which white fat takes on characteristics of brown fat, typically in response to cold exposure or certain hormones and drugs.

White fat stores energy, while brown fat dissipates energy by producing heat, mediated by uncoupling protein 1, or UCP1. The most interesting discovery of the study, say the authors, involves UCP1.

They showed that rosiglitazone, as expected, increases Ucp1 expression in both obesity-prone and obesity-resistant strains of mice. However, in subcutaneous fat of the obesity-resistant mice, Ucp1 expression was high even in the absence of the drug. "But the real surprise came when we looked at the offspring of obesity-resistant and obesity-prone parents, which have one of each parent's version of the Ucp1 gene," Soccio said.

Strikingly, they found that the obesity-prone mouse strain's version of the Ucp1 gene has lower expression and less PPARgamma binding than the obesity-resistant version. This imbalance shows that the obesity-prone mouse strain's Ucp1 is genetically defective, since it is less active than the other strain's version, even when both are present in the same cell nucleus.

In their final experiments, the team asked what happens when browning and Ucp1 expression are activated using rosiglitazone or exposure to cold, both environmental factors. They found that in both cases, total Ucp1 expression goes up as expected, but the obesity-prone strain's defective version of Ucp1 now reaches equal levels to the obesity-resistant strain's version.

"Importantly, we were only changing the mouse's environment with a drug or temperature, not the actual DNA sequence of the Ucp1 gene," Lazar said. "We propose that this result indicates epigenomic rescue of Ucp1 expression in subcutaneous fat cells."

The team is following up the mouse studies using human fat biopsies to figure out the exact DNA sequence differences responsible for variable Ucp1 expression, both in mice and in humans.

The relevance of this study extends even beyond UCP1 and obesity. "Many gene variants are thought to exert their effects by ultimately altering gene expression levels, and this study shows that a genetic predisposition to altered gene expression can be identified and then overcome with treatment," Lazar said. "This is the dream of precision medicine, and hopefully our study is a step in this direction."

Explore further: Medication improves obesity-associated gene expression in mice

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Study parses influence of genes and environment in metabolic disease - Medical Xpress

New genetic research provides hope for families with rare diseases – the Irish News

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Danzig

the Irish News

New genetic research provides hope for families with rare diseases
the Irish News
THE Northern Ireland Regional Genetics Centre was set up in 1968 and is part of a network of 24 Genetics Centres across the UK. The centre, spearheaded by consultant in genetic medicine Dr Shane McKee, have been involved in the design and operation ...

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New genetic research provides hope for families with rare diseases - the Irish News

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