Blogburger

99.5 % of the Population in Bolivia is Being Taught to Read and Write

Blogburger — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:01:08 +0000

Through the Cuban method “Yo si pseudo!“ adapted to Bolivian reality, Bolivia has been declared territory free of illiteracy. The program was put in place three years ago. BREAKING NEWS America chooses its future Russia to retrieve…

Brain pacemaker helps Parkinson’s, but with risks

Blogburger — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:01:08 +0000

By CARLA K. JOHNSON Associated Press Writer CHICAGO (AP) - Parkinson’s sufferers who had electrodes implanted in their brains improved substantially more than those who took only medicine, according to the biggest test yet of deep brain stimulation. The study, which followed patients for six months, offers the most hopeful news to date for Parkinson’s sufferers. The new technique reduced tremors, rigidity and flailing of the limbs and allowed people to move freely for nearly five extra hours a day. But the research also revealed higher-than-expected risks. About 40 percent of the patients who received these “brain pacemakers” suffered serious side effects, including a surprising number of…

Judge Dismisses Medtronic Lawsuits Over Fidelis Lead Recall

Blogburger — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:01:05 +0000

A federal judge has dismissed scores of lawsuits that followed Medtronic’s recall of its Sprint Fidelis leads. Here’s the decision, which came down yesterday.

The leads are wires that connect an implantable defibrillator to the heart. The decision is important not only to patients and Medtronic, but also as a sign of the state of play for medical device liability lawsuits in the wake of a closely watch Supreme Court case last year.

The Supremes held, in an unrelated case called Riegel v. Medtronic, that federal law bars lawsuits “challenging the safety or effectiveness of a medical device,” as long as the device is marketed in a form that received premarket approval from the FDA.”

The Sprint Fidelis case is the “biggest win for the device industry since Riegel came down,” defense lawyer Mark Hermann told the Health Blog. He was a bit more emotional on his own blog, where he and a colleague posted the headline: “Sprint Fidelis Preemption Decision - Yessssss.”

Milky Way a swifter spinner, more massive, new measurements show

Blogburger — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:01:00 +0000

Fasten your seat belts — we’re faster, heavier, and more likely to collide than we thought. Astronomers making high-precision measurements of the Milky Way say our home Galaxy is rotating about 100,000 miles per hour faster than previously understood.

Watch Bodies of Water’s Dark New Video for "Under the Pines"

Blogburger — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:00:54 +0000

The Breaking Blog kicked off 2008 with a post about L.A. quartet Bodies of Water, and we’re happy to do the same in 2009! Click above to watch the band’s creepy but beautiful new video for “Under the Pines,” which features a shotgun, a dog, a child burned by lye and the band’s thick layers of knotty rock. Last year we said the band’s sound recalled “The Arcade Fire as composed by Ennio Morricone. The band funnels roots rock, soaring gospel, the Mamas & the Papas-style harmonies and Spaghetti Western themes into an uplifting, California-baked package.” We’ll stand by that description in ‘09.

Arca Seals Coca-Cola Acquisition But Economic Backdrop Looks Shaky (Americas Food and Drink Insight)

Blogburger — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:00:34 +0000

Mexico-based Coca-Cola bottler Embotelladoras Arca has announced the successful conclusion of its purchase of a Coca-Cola franchise for the north-western region of Argentina. The deal, first announced in March 2008, highlights the firm’s commitment to Argentina and can be viewed in light of the rapid increase in consumption of soft drinks in the country, which compares with growing signs of market maturity in Arca’s Mexican home market. However, the possibility of a sharp reduction in consumption must be factored into any purchase due to the economic risks associated with Argentina’s idiosyncratic economic policies, risks which have worsened since the deal

Heads Up: A Budding Revival in the Land of Obama’s Roots

Blogburger — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:00:30 +0000

The beleaguered tourism industry of Kenya is hoping that Obamamania will result in a resurgence of visitors to the ancestral homeland of the president-elect.

Scifres gives Chargers big leg up against Steelers

Blogburger — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:00:28 +0000

The San Diego Chargers hold an enormous advantage over Pittsburgh at a position that could determine the outcome of Sunday’s playoff game, and I’m not talking about quarterback, running back or tight end. I’m talking about Mike Scifres, the team’s punter. Maybe you recognize him as the guy who almost singlehandedly took down Indianapolis last weekend. Maybe that’s a stretch, but without him the Chargers never would have won. All six of his punts wound up inside the Indy 20, four were inside the 10 and the last was a 52-yarder that jammed the Colts at the 1. If I’m Pittsburgh, that has me concerned. The Steelers aren’t exactly Air Coryell on offense. In fact, when they beat San Diego in…

Golden Globe-Worthy Performances

Blogburger — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:00:16 +0000

Golden Globe-Worthy Performances

See scenes from the movies that earned Globe nominations for Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé and other stars.

Egypt announces Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire plan

Blogburger — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:00:08 +0000

Sharm Al Shaikh, Egypt: Egypt said on Tuesday it was proposing an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza. The move is to be followed by talks on long-term arrangements including an end to the blockade of Gaza. Egyptian…