'Diet or die,' world’s fattest woman is warned after hitting FIFTY STONE

• Mother of one, 49, urgently needs brain scan but is too big for an MRI machine
• Bedbound for last three years after doctor changed medication

A woman believed to be the world's fattest at 50 stone (700lbs) is facing a battle to shed weight after being told by doctors she could die.

Terri Smith is confined to her bedroom in her Ohio home unable to move, stand or roll over by herself.
Suffering from severe headaches which doctors fear could stem from a brain problem, Terri urgently needs a brain scan - but is too big to fit inside an MRI machine.

Huge problem: Terri Smith, pictured in her bed with medication, is facing a battle to lose weight so she can fit in an MRI machine

To undergo the scan and receive the life-saving treatment she may require, Terri is now embarking on a weight loss regime of exercise and healthy eating.


She relies on her husband Myron, 44, and oldest daughter Najah, 30, to do everything for her.  

The 49-year-old must be washed, fed and dressed on the bed and wears nappies which her daughter and husband change.


'My husband is my guardian angel,' said Terri.

'He's stuck by me through everything. Most men would have left a long time ago and who could blame them but Myron is a living saint.'

Terri was always large - at age seven she weighed almost eight stone (112lbs).
'My nickname at school was fatso,' she said. 'No one wanted me on their sports team and that didn't help the fat.

'We grew up on soul food and no one thought anything about it.

Devoted: Terri with loving husband Myron who changes her nappies

'That's just what people did where I'm from. We never watched what we ate at all and we didn't know what was healthy and what wasn't.'

By the age of 20 Terri weighed 18 stone (252lbs) but she remained active and held a job as a mental health care worker for 20 years.

'I used to help people wash, feed and dress themselves,' she said.

'Back then I never thought that the tables would turn and someone would be doing all that stuff for me.'
After marrying her husband in 1986 Terri was big but happy.

'I prayed for a man like Myron and he came to me,' she said  'He's kind, gentle and he loves me for who
'I am. Even now he tells me I'm pretty, that man is amazing.'

But she continued to eat the same diet and kept on growing, while her husband and daughter stayed slim.  
Terri, who suffers severe headaches, needs an MRI scan to check for a potential brain tumour but is too big to fit in any scanners or into the doors of a hospital clinic.  

Younger: Terri, left, with friends as she was growing up

She faces a race against time to lose weight in a bid to qualify for gastric surgery to save her life.
When Terri was 32 she developed severe arthritis in her knees and couldn't walk for more than a few steps.
She was given an electric wheelchair and the lack of exercise made the weight pile on.
'I used to walk everywhere and be on my feet at work but suddenly I was trapped,' she said.
As the years passed her weight ballooned until she could hardly stand.  
Then, after her doctor changed her diuretic medication, she gained a staggering 6.5 stone (91lb) in 30 days. She suddenly found herself bedbound and has been trapped for almost three years.

Dr. Dariush Saghafi said: "I have been seeing Terri for six months.

'Caring for someone of Terri's size is very difficult. It is very hard to move and transport her. Hospitals do not have equipment to hold someone of her girth.

Grandmother: Terri with her grandchildren Jurnee Weeams, eight, (right) and Najeir, seven

'Terri needs an MRI but there are no machines in the region big enough to take her weight.

'We thought that it might be possible for Terri to have an MRI at the Cleveland Zoo in the machine used for the elephants and rhinos but the zoo does not have a  licence for humans.
'We're hoping the Cleveland clinic can find an MRI for Terri.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1337077/World-s-fattest-woman-Terri-Smith-told-Diet-die-hitting-50-STONE.html#ixzz17jt6TH00

Will Obama’s Unconventional Approach Prove Successful?

By Richard A. Lee

Barack Obama did not become President of the United States by conventional means.

And if he is re-elected to a second term in 2012, it won’t be by conventional means either.

This became apparent this week when he reached agreement with congressional Republicans to extend Bush-era tax cuts for households earning more than $250,000.

From an economic perspective, there are widely divergent views on the wisdom of extending the tax cuts. Only time will tell the decision was a good one or a bad one.

But from a purely political perspective, the agreement with the GOP makes sense for the President.

If the economy recovers before the 2012 election, it will look as though he made the right decision. Should the economy continue to struggle, Republicans will be unable to argue that he refused to work with them on what they identified as a fiscal priority.

In addition, by working cooperatively with the opposition party, the President has stolen some of the thunder Republicans had hoped to have when they take control of the House in January.

As for the Democrats, their immediate reaction to the President’s decision has been one of disappointment, disapproval, and outright anger. But come 2012, where else are they going to turn?

Moreover, characterizations that Obama has lost his “base” are somewhat misleading.

Think back to 2007 when the Democratic establishment had practically anointed Hillary Clinton as the party’s 2008 presidential candidate. For the most part, it was not until Obama’s upstart campaign started to gain momentum that he garnered support and endorsements from party stalwarts. Eventually, as it became clear that he would win the nomination, the rest of the Democratic establishment hopped on board the bandwagon.

The network that Barack Obama assembled to win the nomination and the election was not a Democratic network per se; it was his own unique network that transcended the traditional party establishment. As Republican political strategist Stuart Stevens told New York magazine in the aftermath of the 2008 election: “They have basically invented their own party that is compatible with the Democratic Party but is bigger than the Democratic Party. Their e-mail list is more powerful than the DNC or RNC.”

New Jersey’s 2009 gubernatorial election provided further proof that Obama’s network was uniquely his own. While there were several factors that contributed to the defeat of Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine, it was clear that large numbers of new voters who turned out to cast ballots for Obama in 2008 felt no obligation to support the Democratic candidate for Governor.

Likewise, Democrats in Congress have shown little evidence that they are a loyal “base” for the President. Over the past two years, rarely have they put their necks on the line for the leader of their party. Instead, they forced the President to jump through hoops and make concessions in order to gain the votes needed to pass major initiatives such as health care reform. And when the midterm elections took place last month, most Democrats ran away from the President and his agenda.

As the wheels begin to spin and set the 2012 presidential race in motion, Barack Obama finds himself surprisingly close to where he was at this juncture of the 2008 campaign – a candidate whose own party has doubts about his ability to win.

In 2008, he proved the doubters wrong. Much has changed in the two years since he took office. To win re-election, Obama will need a different strategy than the one that proved successful in 2008. Whether he can find – and implement – a winning strategy for 2012 is not yet clear. But despite what the poll numbers and his critics are suggesting, it’s far too early to count him out.

# # #

Richard A. Lee is Communications Director of the Hall Institute of Public Policy – New Jersey.  A former journalist and Deputy Communications Director for the Governor, he also teaches courses in media and government at Rutgers University, where he is completing work on a Ph.D. in media studies.

Cam Newton’s Dad not Attending Heisman Ceremony, Releases Statement

 

Cecil Newton, the father of the most decorated player in the 2010 college football season will NOT be attending the Heisman ceremony in New York City on Saturday.

Cam Newton has full NCAA eligibility, but it was previously thought that he inevitably would not, and that Heisman Saturday would have kind of “grey area” surrounding it. But despite all the turmoil and allegations, here he is with Heisman hopes live and kicking. More than live and kicking, he’ll probably win the award hands down. But his dad won’t be there and here’s why:
By Paul M. Banks

Here’s Cecil Newton’s statement:
“The events to take place in New York at the Heisman Trophy ceremony this weekend will serve as a crowning moment for the athletes and their families alike.

“For all of my fifty years of life, coupled with 25 years of marriage, I have made an exhausting attempt to be a good husband, father, and generally a good person of integrity. The past 60 days have caused all that my family worked to accomplish to come into question.”

“So that my son Cam Newton can receive all the honors and congratulations that he has worked so hard to accomplish and without distraction, I have decided not to be in attendance at the Heisman ceremony, as it will perhaps rob Cam and the event of a sacred moment.”
With Deepest Respect,

Cecil Newton
On a side note, it was announced a few minutes ago that Cam Newton took home the Maxwell Award (given to the nation’s top collegiate player) and the Davey O’Brien Award (top QB). He also took home the Walter Camp Award as well.

For both awards Newton beat out Stanford’s Andrew Luck and Boise State’s Kellen Moore. During his first season at Auburn, the junior college transfer has led the top-ranked Tigers to a 12-0 record, Southeastern Conference Championship and a berth in the 2011 Tostitos BCS National Championship game against the Oregon Ducks.

The junior from College Park, Ga. has continuously demonstrated his versatility and athleticism, dominating opponents with his speed and accuracy. Newton, the nation’s top-rated passer (188.16), leads the SEC in rushing (108.38 yards) and total offense (307.54 yards). He also ranks second in the NCAA in total points responsible for (22.62 per game). He has amassed 3,998 yards of total offense and 49 touchdowns this season. Newton is one of just three players to have 20 passing and 20 rushing touchdowns in one season.

Verizon Got Fed Bailout, Twice: $1.5 Billion for Them While Your Credit Trashed and Slashed

The Federal Reserve comes to the rescue of Big Telecom

Credit crisis?  What credit crisis?  That’s for little people.

While “challenging economic times” and “a difficult business environment” were among the reasons cited by banks for raising consumer credit interest rates, closing accounts, and slashing credit lines, some of America’s largest corporations received special credit favors from the Federal Reserve — cheap and easy money with little collateral required.

Among the companies that feasted on $3.3 trillion dollars of bailout credit largess – Verizon Communications, which had its $1.5 billion in debt picked up by the Fed — easy credit accessed twice during a major credit crisis.

The Washington Post uncovered Verizon’s Federal Reserve “Platinum Card” while reviewing more than 21,000 recently released loan records, forced into the open by new financial regulatory legislation.

Most of Verizon’s credit came in the form of covering the company’s “short term paper” — temporary debt taken on to fund daily business activities.

 Although the Federal Reserve got the loan money back, the fact only major corporations, Wall Street banks, and other inside players got access burns many Americans, especially small business owners forced into hardship or out of business when their credit lines dried up at the height of the credit crisis.
While banks like Advanta, popular with small businesses, shut down all of its credit operations and raised interest rates to 30 percent or more on current balances, large companies like Verizon never had a thing to worry about thanks to the federal government.

“The American people are finally learning the incredible and jaw-dropping details of the Fed’s multitrillion-dollar bailout of Wall Street and corporate America,” said Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), a longtime Fed critic whose provision in the Wall Street regulatory overhaul required the new disclosures. “Perhaps most surprising is the huge sum that went to bail out foreign private banks and corporations. As a result of this disclosure, other members of Congress and I will be taking a very extensive look at all aspects of how the Federal Reserve functions.”
Verizon spokesman Robert A. Varettoni said that it was “an extraordinary time,” adding that there was no credit available otherwise at the time.

Ordinary Americans already knew that, of course.  But they didn’t get the same kind of help companies like Verizon received.

As far as Sanders is concerned, banks and large American corporations did splendidly during The Great Recession — some like Goldman Sachs are paying record-busting bonuses for the second year running — all thanks to the special favors given by the federal government during the last months of the Bush Administration.

Sanders told the Post the federal government could have made demands on those accessing easy credit to help ordinary Americans, such as requirements to lend to small businesses, modify mortgages of homeowners, or agree to hire more workers.

“We bailed these guys out, but the requirements placed upon them had very little positive impact on the needs of ordinary Americans,” Sanders said.

Venezuela to Host Iranian Missiles Capable of Hitting U.S

BY Roy Ryder

According to German magazine Die Welt, Iran will be placing medium-range Shahab-3 missiles in a military base in Venezuela, which puts them within striking distance of the U.S. mainland (mostly Florida – sorry MadBrad). During the October 19 visit of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez to Tehran, a deal was signed that allows for a jointly run military base to be established in the South American country and the joint development of strategic ground-to-ground missiles. Of course, Iran is also developing an atomic bomb, too.

According to Die Welt, Venezuela has agreed to allow Iran to establish a military base manned by Iranian missile officers, soldiers of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Venezuelan missile officers. In addition, Iran has given permission for the missiles to be used in case of an “emergency”. In return, the agreement states that Venezuela can use these facilities for “national needs” – radically increasing the threat to neighbors like Colombia. The German daily claims that according to the agreement, Iranian Shahab 3 (range 1300-1500 km), Scud-B (285-330 km) and Scud-C (300, 500 and 700 km) will be deployed in the proposed base. It says that Iran also pledged to help Venezuela in rocket technology expertise, including intensive training of officers

In addition to threatening the U.S., it also puts Venezuela in a position where it can threaten all of its South American neighbors, especially Columbia. Chavez has provided support to the faltering FARC narcoterrorists in Columbia and relations between the two countries are poor at best.

In addition to the joint military base, Venezuela is also likely going to be the route by which Iran acquires advanced surface-to-air defense systems. Previously, Russia was going to sell 5 battalions of S-300PMU-1 air defense systems to Iran. That deal was scrubbed because of sanctions and instead Russia offered the system to Venezuela. How much does anyone want to bet that at least some of those S-300PMU-1 systems magically wind up in Iran anyway?

Educator Geoffrey Canada Rejected NY School Chancellor Position

New York — In defending his selection for schools chancellor, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has called Cathleen P. Black, a publishing executive with no education experience, “exactly the right person for the job” and suggested that her skills as a manager were unrivaled.

Ms. Black, however, was not the first person the mayor asked to take the position. Mr. Bloomberg tried to persuade Geoffrey Canada, the prominent Harlem education leader and a friend of the mayor, to be chancellor, but Mr. Canada turned it down, according to two people with direct knowledge of the discussions.

The two people did not want to be identified because Mr. Bloomberg has sought to keep the process private.

Mr. Bloomberg has repeatedly declined to offer details about whom he consulted during the search process, or how he ultimately settled on Ms. Black, the chairwoman of Hearst Magazines.

Read more at NYTimes

GLOVER VERDICTS IN

A federal jury on Thursday found three New Orleans police officers guilty in a high-stakes case accusing them of killing Henry Glover, burning his body and fashioning an elaborate cover-up that kept the truth hidden for four years and acquitted two officers completely. (See: "Henry Glover guilty verdicts are first in sprawling federal probe of New Orleans police misconduct").

"Lt. Travis McCabe, left, was convicted of writing a false police report about the incident and lying to federal investigators. Officer Greg McRae, center, was convicted of burning Henry Glover's body in a car. The jury convicted former officer David Warren, right, for shooting Glover, finding he was responsible for the man's death and that he committed manslaughter." id.

See Also:

NEW ORLEANS TRIAL CONTINUES IN THE GLOVER DEATH and the posts linked thereunder

Posted by Greg Aymond

Ron Paul to Chair Monetary Policy Subcommittee

The Federal Reserve-hating Rep. Ron Paul got the gig as chair of the domestic monetary policy subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee. His jurisdiction? "Jurisdiction: Domestic monetary policy, currency, precious metals, valuation of the dollar, economic stabilization, defense production, commodity prices, financial aid to commerce and industry."