FDA Says No to Mouthwash Makers' Gum Health Claims

WASHINGTON -- The FDA warned three mouthwash manufacturers to stop implying their products prevent gum disease or remove plaque without support for the claims.

The agency issued warning letters to Johnson & Johnson, CVS Corporation, and Walgreen Company, which manufacture the products Listerine Total Care Anticavity Mouthwash, CVS Complete Care Anticavity Mouthwash, and Walgreen Mouth Rinse Full Action, respectively. The letters disputed claims on each products' label that the mouthwash fights plaque or promotes healthy gums.

The active ingredient of the noted products is sodium fluoride, which is approved by the FDA to prevent cavities but is not indicated as a plaque remover or gum disease preventer, the agency said in a statement.
In order to include such claims on the product label, the companies would have to submit a new drug application for use in that indication, the statement said.

"It is important for the FDA to take appropriate enforcement action when companies make false or unproved product claims to ensure that consumers are not misinformed or misled," Deborah Autor, of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in the statement.

The letters noted the companies have 15 days to respond with corrective actions taken or plans to fix labeling violations. Failure to fix the faults may result in legal repercussions as strict as seizure and injunction, the warning letters said.

The FDA received no reports of adverse events related to the use of the affected mouthwash products, the agency statement said.

By Cole Petrochko

Breaking News: Gunman opens fire at UT in Austin, kills himself

AUSTIN, Texas — A student wearing a dark suit and a ski mask opened fire Tuesday with an assault rifle on the University of Texas campus before fleeing into a library and fatally shooting himself. No one else was hurt.
The shooting began near a fountain in front of the UT Tower — the site of one of the nation's deadliest shooting rampages more than four decades ago, when a gunman ascended the clock tower and fired down on dozens of people.

Within hours of Tuesday's gunfire, the school issued an all-clear notice, but the university remained closed, and the area around the library was still considered a crime scene.

"Our campus is safe," school President Bill Powers said.

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo expected the school to be "completely open and back to normal" by Wednesday morning.

Authorities identified the gunman as 19-year-old Colton Tooley, a sophomore math major. Police declined to speculate on his motive. Tooley's parents did not immediately respond to a message left by The Associated Press.
Read More

Atheists and agnostics, Jews and Mormons

Apparently the above scored highest on a US survey about general knowledge of religion.

Atheists and agnostics scored the highest, with an average score of 21 correct on the 32-question survey. Jews and Mormons both averaged about 20 correct answers, while Protestants averaged 16 correct answers and Catholics averaged 15. Atheists, agnostics, and Jews also knew the most about other faiths. Questions ranged in difficulty, from the name of the first book of the Bible, to what century the Mormon religion was founded. People who said they attended worship once a week or more tended to score higher, as did those with higher levels of education.

I might hazard that for whatever this little survey is worth (we all know statistics are the work of the devil; long form census anyone?), that the religions with the more ignorant poorly informed followers tend to bray the loudest about the dangers of other [non-]faiths and the merits of their own. 

Posted by Boris

TEXAS: 13 Year-Old Boy Commits Suicide After Years Of Anti-Gay Bullying

Eighth grader Asher Brown put a bullet in his brain this week after enduring years of anti-gay taunting and bullying at his Texas middle school. His parents say they complained to the school repeatedly. The school, of course, claims no knowledge of such complaints.

Cy Fair ISD officials said Monday that they never received any complaints from Brown's parents before the suicide about the way the boy was being treated at school. School district spokeswoman Kelli Durham said no students, school employees or the boy's parents ever reported that he was being bullied. That statement infuriated the Truongs, who accused the school district of protecting the bullies and their parents.

"That's absolutely inaccurate — it's completely false," Amy Truong said. "I did not hallucinate phone calls to counselors and assistant principals. We have no reason to make this up. … It's like they're calling us liars." David Truong said, "We want justice. The people here need to be held responsible and to be stopped. It did happen. There are witnesses everywhere." Numerous comments from parents and students on the Web site of KRIV-TV Channel 26, which also reported a story about Brown's death, stated that the boy had been bullied by classmates for several years and claimed Cy-Fair ISD does nothing to stop such harassment.

On the morning of his suicide, Asher told his parents that he was gay, but his stepfather says they were accepting of Asher's revelation. "We didn't condemn," he said. The day before, Asher had been tripped and pushed down a flight of stairs at his school. The school claims to have investigated that incident, but says they can find no corroboration.

Texas law does not protect students from anti-gay bullying, no doubt thanks to the work of Christianist groups like Focus On The Family, who lobby nationwide for the right of Christian students to abuse LGBT kids.
Posted by Joe

Rowan Williams makes a startling revelation

There is a fascinating interview behind the paywall at The Times with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.  We'll be posting an excerpt from it in a moment - but frankly, there is another discovery that affects us here at the cafe most especially - and good news for the Bishop of South Carolina.  If we can't agree on theology and politics, there is always something else that can bring together people of diverse views, backgrounds, and political and religious persuasions.


From the Times of London, via email:

How about singing? (I’ve heard that he has a beautiful voice – and always leads rousing choruses of Happy Birthday for his staff; certainly his speaking voice is mellifluous.) “I like the chance to sing when I can. Just before the holiday I went down to Salisbury for the weekend to sing the Monteverdi Vespers, which was pure bliss.”

His family do musical things together. “We don’t all sing but my son does. I play the piano very, very badly – I’m not being modest. My daughter plays the piano and my son plays the bassoon, the guitar and the piano, and Jane used to play the flute.”

Have your children turned you on to any contemporary bands? “I learn about them but my tastes are all formed in the Sixties: Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Simon & Garfunkel but also, less fashionably, the Incredible String Band.” Oh, what a delight! I start warbling, “Stepping out of the grey day she came, her red hair falling from the sky” – was that The Hangman’s... “...Beautiful Daughter,” he finishes. (We were both wrong: it was Liquid Acrobat as Regards the Air.)

Yes, Rowan Williams is a Bob Dylan fan.  Life is good.

Former President Jimmy Carter In Hospital

CNN is reporting that Former President Jimmy Carter has been hospitalized in Cleveland after unknown health issue on a plane. Carter was scheduled to be at a Lyndhurst book store this afternoon to sign copies of his most recent book.
UPDATE FROM ABC NEWS;

Former President Jimmy Carter was transported by ambulance to a Cleveland hospital after falling ill during a flight, an airport spokeswoman said Tuesday.
An ambulance met Carter’s plane when it landed just after 11:30 a.m. this morning at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, according to the airport’s public information officer Jacqueline Mayo.
“Former President Jimmy Carter was taken by ambulance to Metro Health Hospital when he landed,” said Mayo.
A number of news sources are currently reporting that Jimmy Carter has been taken to a Cleveland hospital following health problems on a flight. He was in Ohio for a signing of his new book White House Diary. The 85 year old former president had been making the rounds of numerous media outlets in support of the book, including a jovial appearance last week on The Daily Show.
NPR is now reporting that Carter fell victim to airsickness while on a flight and was taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure. The former president is now said to be resting comfortably.
Follo

Delonte West Asked About LeBron James’ Mother

After rumors circulated about Delonte West sleeping with LeBron James’ mother, then LeBron “tanked” the series against the Celtics, then “took his talents” to South Beach, Delonte West signed with the Celtics. Then at Monday’s Celtics Media Day, West was asked about the rumors, despite the media being asked not to ask about them.

“I come from an era where you don’t say nothing bad about someone’s parent. So not at all,” said West, when asked by a radio station.

Sleeping with Gloria James and saying bad things about her are different things. I’m not hearing a nooooo…

Prosecutor in Stevens Case Commits Suicide

Published 1, September 28, 2010 

Nicholas Marsh, a Justice Department prosecutor who was under investigation for his role in the botched prosecution of former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), has committed suicide. It is a sad end to a promising career for Marsh who was removed by the Public Integrity Section after the investigation was commenced at Justice.


The prosecution of Stevens unraveled when it was discovered that the prosecutors had withheld critical evidence and were accused of allowing false or misleading evidence to be presented to the Court. This includes withholding an interview with key witness Bill Allen that contained exculpatory evidence. The Justice Department filed a motion to set aside the conviction and sentence of Stevens on April 1, 2009. The prosecutorial team was held in contempt by the Court for their misconduct.

Still under investigation are former Public Integrity Section Chief William Welch II; Brenda Morris, a former section supervisor; Alaska-based assistant U.S. attorneys James Goecke and Joseph Bottini; and former Public Integrity trial attorney Edward Sullivan.

Regardless of the merits of the investigation, this is a tragedy for the Marsh family and the Public Integrity Section.

Source: Legal Times

Kudos: Kay S.

Jonathan Turley

Democrats To Attempt Jamming Up To 20 Bills Through Lame Duck Session, DeMint Vows To Block Them

After the midterm elections which political handicappers give House Republicans favored odds of taking control of the House of Representatives, during the time in between the election itself and seating the newly elected, Democrats plan of slamming up to 20 bills through what is referred to as the "lame duck" session.

The Hill reports:

Democrats are considering cramming as many as 20 pieces of legislation into the lame-duck session they plan to hold after the Nov. 2 election.

The array of bills competing for floor time shows the sense of urgency among Democratic lawmakers to act before the start of the 112th Congress, when Republicans are expected to control more seats in the Senate and House.

Reportedly some of that agenda will including but not limited to; DADT (Don't Ask, Don't Tell), The DREAM Act (giving illegal immigrants up to 35 yrs of age, amnesty), and Tax issues.

Republican Senator Jim DeMint vows to stop the lame duck congress from jamming anything through that has not already been approved and not letting Democrats take advantage and abuse their power in those months after the American people vote and decide who they want running the House of Representatives.

South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint warned Monday evening that he would block all legislation that has not been cleared by his office in the final days of the pre-election session.

Bret Bernhardt, DeMint's chief of staff, said in an e-mail to GOP aides that his boss would place a hold on all legislation that has not been cleared by both parties by the end of the day Tuesday.

Any senator can place a hold to block legislation — and overcoming that would require the Senate to take time-consuming steps to invoke cloture, which would require 60 votes.

If voters do hand control of the House of Representatives to the GOP, then Democrats should not try to pass any controversial bills, allowing the will of the people to know their voices were heard and understood.

If voters do not hand control to the GOP and instead vote to leave the Democrats as the majority in the House, then DeMint should not use those specific rules to block everything but allow bills to be won or lost with up or down votes.

The voters should be the last word in whether Democrats should continue setting the agenda, and to use the time in between the election and the seating and/or handing over control to force issues against the election results, would indeed be a tremendous abuse of power and further proof that Democrats do not care what the American people, those they swore to represent, actually want.

The midterm election should be the deciding factor, that is why we have elections to begin with and both parties should respect the will of the people after November.

Related:

Tradition Values Coalition has a petition to stop the lame duck congress. (Photo credit for image above goes to them)

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Posted by Susan Duclos

VP Biden Tells Democrat Liberal base to Stop Whining, Take Some Cheese Instead

 
Hey Democrats, how about some cheese with that “whine” so says VP Joe Biden.

Its getting a bit tense in the Democrat party these days.  Vice president Joe Biden visited New Hampshire and told Democrats to stop whining. Wow Joe, way to make friends and influence people. This is how they talk to and treat their donors, can you imagine what they think of the rest of the American people? Biden, Obama and the Democrat power elite live in a different, alternative universe from the place we like to call Earth. Maybe that is what Biden is referring to when he says “compare us to the alternative”.

Stop Whining, run on your Obama record … Oh my there is a winning strategy for Dems

At a fundraiser in Manchester, NH, today, Vice President Biden urged Democrats to “remind our base constituency to stop whining and get out there and look at the alternatives. This President has done an incredible job. He’s kept his promises.”

The remarks, made to roughly 200 top Democratic activists and donors, recall comments President Obama made last week to “griping and groaning Democrats…Folks: wake up. This is not some academic exercise. As Joe Biden put it, Don’t compare us to the Almighty, compare us to the alternative.”

The Vice President said that “every one of these political races is winnable” if the candidates draw clear distinctions between themselves and their GOP opponents. Biden also believes that the moon is made of cream cheese. Democrats drawing distinctions between them selves and their republican opponents, are you joking? Democrats do not even reference in their ads that they are Democrats, or that they voted for the stimulus bill or Obamacare. They only one’s that do are the one’s who opposed Obamacare.

As Sundries Shack aptly states, there certainly is a civil war going on; however, it is in the Democrat party as the minions suddenly realize they have been sold down the river by Obama and his agenda. What did Democrats expect when they blindly followed Obama, Pelosi and Reid against the will of the American people, forgiveness?

If you listen to the Democratic Party or their lapdogs in the MSM, there is a “civil war” right now raging inside the Republican Party. This is a good story for them for two reasons. First, they get to paint the Tea Parties as a bunch of violent reactionaries who want to take over the Capitol, smear feces all over the wallpaper, and paint moustaches on the portraits of the great Democratic statesmen; and Republicans as a bunch of old-fashioned do-nothings.

Or as Hot Air refers to what Biden did, “Hippie Punching”.  it is hard to believe at this late hour with the 2010 midterm elections in sight, VP Biden has to go to the liberal base and tell them that Obama has done an outstanding job and they need to get over it. Can you say trouble in paradise? Even the moonbat LEFT knows that Obama has been an empty suit.

It is not whining that Democrats will be doing election eve 2010, it might, however, be crying. What will Joe Biden say t Democrats after the 2010 midterms?

by Scared Monkeys 

Rahm “all but certain” to leave White House, run for Chicago mayor (yawn)

by Paddy 

Whatev. The constant soap operas leave me cold. If only the media would cover topics of substance like they do this crap. (About 15 “BREAKING” stories in my RSS)

(CNN) – Three Democratic sources close to Rahm Emanuel tell CNN that the White House chief of staff informed senior colleagues he is all but certain to run for mayor of Chicago, and will leave the White House to take the final exploratory steps.

Close associates are already building a campaign team according to sources.

An announcement by Emanuel is expected to be scheduled for Friday, sources said.
One of the sources, a prominent Democrat close to the White House chief of staff, told CNN, “We see nothing that will stop a run. But you don’t announce a campaign for mayor of Chicago in Washington, D.C. You leave and go home and finish your business there.”

The second source said Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg’s research of a possible mayoral run for Emanuel was “very positive. He has some obvious things to deal with, but it was very encouraging.”

Asked what the potential issues were, the source said “nothing you wouldn’t expect. Just reminding people Chicago always was before Washington.”

Assuming there is no hitch – and none is expected – longtime Obama adviser Pete Rouse is in line to be tapped as interim chief of staff, two of the sources said.

Obama, the Rolling Stone Cover, and Playing from Behind

By Michael Shaw

It’s not a distinctive photo, by any means, but it’s noteworthy, and attracting attention, for a couple reasons.

First, is the timing. If anything characterizes Obama (just like John MacEnroe in the old days), it’s that he tends to play best from behind (1, 2).  It’s probably been a week or two now that pundits have been questioning the conventional wisdom that the GOP and the Tea Party will romp in the mid-terms.  It’s only the past week, however, that Obama has started the big PR push — and this cover helps crystallize a sober “oh, perhaps we shouldn’t have written off Obama so quickly” dejavu.

A couple of other elements.  It’s vintage Obama tacking to the center-right with the red tie.  There isn’t a chance in the world he would have worn a different color.* Playing off the red letters above, juxtaposed with the “hope white” Colonnade only drives home a picture of a determined, but more importantly, a not-angry, not-crazy and not-dangerous looking President.

 

If you recall, Obama thrashed McCain primarily because, coming out of the Bush madness, O seemed to John and Jane Q. Public — forget what the spinmeisters were saying — like the far more steady, thoughtful and, frankly, sane alternative.   With the Tea Party’s standard bearers looking more and more radical and wild-eyed (and determined to make the election a referendum on Obama himself), this photo of the President, calm and grounded outside the Oval Office, is all the more impactful for the lack of drama or pizzaz.

* Of the three previous Obama Rolling Stone covers (not including the Shepard Fairey retake on his campaign poster), Obama is only wearing a blue tie in one, which was July 10th, ‘08, a month before the Democratic convention.  Here’s October 08 and the March 08 endorsement illustration.

Obama in Command: 
The Rolling Stone Interview