National US News @ Anderson Free Press

AsAMom.org Announces the National Seeing Red Rally

kpaul.mallasch — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:53:54 -0800

DALLAS, TX - The national organization of “As A Mom...A Sisterhood of Mommy Patriots, Inc.” (AAM) invites all patriots to join us on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 12:00 noon, local time, as we visit our local Congressman/women’s home offices to let them know that we are, “Seeing Red” over this health care reform bill. We are seeing: Red for our Health; Red for our Debt; and, Red for our Anger.

Despite a FULL YEAR of debate, town halls and grass roots protesting, the Obama Administration is set to defy the will of the American people and ram Health Care Reform through Congress using shady deals and parliamentary gimmickry. Finding no traditional means to pass the sweeping legislation, President Obama has called upon the Democrats to walk the political plank, break Senate decorum, and use a Machiavellian - by any means necessary - procedure to finalize its approval.

We the people have now been put on Two-Weeks Notice; the Administration has called for a final vote by March 18, 2010. Such utter disregard for the people for whom Congress is supposed to represent must be met with an equal and FINAL push back.

It is well past the time for our Representatives to listen to the people. Let’s show them, in a bold move of solidarity all over the country, that we fully understand the legislation, that we reject it, that we are angry, and that we are serious!

On Thursday March 4, 2010, Senator Jim DeMint told Glenn Beck listeners that one of the most effective things we could do to protest the push for Health Care Reform, in its current form, is to go to the local congressional offices and let our voices be heard. He further suggested that we invite the media to cover it. “AsAMom” has taken this advice as a call to arms and a cry to mobilize our mom troops.

“As A Mom” is very proud to be the organizing force behind the National “Seeing Red Rally.” We are taking a unified stand with our representative and with moms across America.

Please, for our children’s sake and for the sake of this great nation, we request media coverage and attendance at the National “Seeing Red Rally” being held at local Congressmen’s offices.

The National Organization of AAM was founded on September 26, 2009 by Lori Parker and Anita Reeves to create a place for Moms who are concerned about the future of our country to go for education and support. The organization of over 60,000 members nationally, is open to all including those who do not fit the traditional definition of “Mom” including Mr. Moms and those without children who are concerned about the future of this nation’s children.

AAM is classified as part of the 9-12 movement based on the principles that Glenn Beck, Fox News Radio and TV personality, outlines on his site: http://www.the912project.com (Copyright © 2009 Mercury Radio Arts, Inc.).

AAM proudly stands up for our nation’s Constitution by creating a sisterhood of Mommy Patriots both online and in person dedicated to the 9 Principles & 12 Values of “The 9.12 Project”: to which we add, “Children are a gift from God and a sacred responsibility.”

For more information about “As A Mom,” please visit our website at: www.asamom.org.

Nonprofit Orthodontic Program Expands to Serve Low-Income Kids Nationwide

kpaul.mallasch — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:52:05 -0800

KANSAS CITY, MO - There are two months until the April 15 tax deadline and if your family has experienced a decrease in income due to the economic downturn, you may now qualify for a low-cost nonprofit orthodontic program. Smiles Change Lives (SCL) is looking for kids from low-income families who need braces.

“She comes home crying about the teasing. I would just like her to have a nice smile, without her covering her mouth all the time.”

– Carol, mother of 12 year old Samantha

In the United States, there are 43 million youth who need, but whose families can’t afford, braces. Unfortunately, in this economy, a lot of families have had to postpone orthodontic treatment for their kids. That means for kids like Samantha, their smile continues to be a source of embarrassment and discrimination.

SCL is seeking applicants who meet the following criteria:

Ages 11-18 with documented good oral hygiene
Have moderately to severely crooked teeth and/or misaligned jaws
Taxable family income is at or below 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines

If you’re a parent whose child needs braces, this economy might seem an unlikely one to pursue orthodontic treatment. 2009 signaled a decreased income for a lot of families who previously may not have qualified for financial assistance. SCL wants to assure families that if their income decreased in 2009, they may be able to take advantage of this nonprofit affordable program. As you file your 2009 taxes, note line 43 on Form 1040 and visit http://www.smileschangelives.org/qualify to see if you meet our financial qualifications.

Dr. Frank Egan, one of SCL’s partner orthodontists from Long Island, NY, is a strong supporter of SCL’s program. “If we can just connect with the kids who need braces but can't afford to have them,” says Egan, “then we’ll be able give them a running start for the future.”

SCL would like to serve thousands of children this year. To apply, please visit Smiles Change Lives at www.smileschangelives/apply or call 888-900-3554 to obtain an application via mail. Information is also available in Spanish.

The Toy Guy Offers Sneak Peeks of Toy Fair 2010

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:06:22 -0800

INDIANA - Top Toys Blog (another website by kpaul media) has released a preview video of Toy Fair 2010 featuring The Toy Guy, Chris Byrne. The Toy Guy will also be live in Hasbro’s studio on February 11th and 15th, where he will give people an inside view of what children will be asking for in 2010 for birthdays and even Christmas 2010. Each day will consist of a different set of toys ranging from hot sneak previews to fair favorites.

The Toy Fair is the largest international toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere. It is where the newest and hottest products - the Top Toys - are exhibited. It is the premier meeting place for manufacturers, retailers, importers, licensors and toy reps from around the world. Over 20,000 attendees come to see over 100,000 of the latest toy innovations. In addition to the hottest trends, attendees also receive the latest news on Safety legislation for families and toy manufacturers alike.

Byrne is the content director for TimetoPlayMag.com aka The Toy Guy. Time to Play is the leading online resource for the latest information on what’s hot for this season’s toys. The toys featured in the tour have been selected by the Time to Play editorial team. They review thousands of toys every year, and only the best make it onto the TimetoPlaymag.com site. Chris receives no compensation from toy manufacturers for the use of their products in these segments.

Byrne has more than 28 years experience in the toy industry and for the past 15 has been at the forefront of identifying trends and hot products. His media appearances reached more than 130 million consumers in 2008 in just a three-month period (October through December). He has appeared on Oprah, LIVE!, Soap Talk, Today, Good Morning America, The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, ABC Nightly News, FOX News, CBS This Morning, Good Day New York, CNBC, CNNfn, MSNBC, ABC, The Motley Fool, National Public Radio, Bloomberg Television and Radio, and on countless other national and local market business and consumer programs around the country and internationally.

The Toy Fair 2010 Preview Video can be seen at Top Toys Blog.

Dollar General Recalls Toy Guns Due to Choking Hazard

kpaul.mallasch — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:37:27 -0800

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Dollar General, announced on February 3, 2010, a voluntary recall of Special Forces and Police SWAT Toy Gun Sets. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Special Forces and Police SWAT Toy Gun Sets

Units: About 9,600

Retailer: Dollar General, of Goodlettsville, Tenn.

Importer: Dolgencorp LLC, of Goodlettsville, Tenn.

Hazard: The orange tips located at the end of the toy guns’ barrels, which are designed to distinguish them from real guns, can easily be removed from the barrels, posing a choking hazard to children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall includes a Special Forces Weapons and Accessories Set and a SWAT Police Play Equipment Set. Each set includes two toy guns and related accessories. The number 48JQH09 is printed on the right side of the larger gun included in the recalled sets.

Sold at: Dollar General stores in 35 states from September 2009 through October 2009 for about $5.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toy guns away from children and return them to any Dollar General for a full refund or a replacement product.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Dollar General Corp. at (800) 678-9258 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.dollargeneral.com

Iraq Information Technology Intern Exchange Program Launches

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:11:40 -0800

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of State has launched the first Information Technology Intern Exchange program. The Iraq Information Technology (IT) Intern Program is the first IT exchange program bringing six Iraqi information technology professionals to work and study in the U.S. from January 24 to April 27.

The six Iraqi technology interns will spend 12 weeks working with some of the leading technology firms in the country, acquiring critical IT and entrepreneurial skills that they will use to help develop the technology industry in Iraq.

Among the leading companies participating in the pilot program are AT&T, Howcast, Mercy Corps, Engine Yard and Blue State Digital. During the 12-week internship program, the interns will meet with government officials, visit such leading universities as the University of California-Berkeley, Stanford University, the University of Maryland and develop hands-on experience at leading companies such as Google and Twitter.

The Iraq Information Technology Intern Program was created as a result of a Tech Delegation visit to Iraq in April 2009, and was announced at the U.S. Iraq Investment Conference, held in Washington DC on October 20-21, 2009.

New Gene Discovered for Recessive Form of Brittle Bone Disease

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:07:28 -0800

MARYLAND - Researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions discovered last week the third in a sequence of genes that accounts for previously unexplained forms of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetic condition that weakens bones, results in frequent fractures and is sometimes fatal.

The newly identified gene contains the information needed to make the protein Cyclophilin B. This protein is part of a complex of three proteins that modifies collagen, folding it into a precise molecular configuration, before it is secreted from cells. Collagen functions as molecular scaffolding that holds together bone, tendons, skin and other tissues.

Most types of osteogenesis imperfecta result from a dominant mutation in collagen itself, requiring only one copy of the mutated gene to bring about the disorder. Osteogenesis imperfecta involving the Cyclophilin B gene is a recessive trait, requiring two defective copies of the gene to cause the disorder.

"The discovery provides insight into a previously undescribed form of osteogenesis imperfecta," said Alan E. Guttmacher, M.D., acting director of NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). "The advance also provides new information on how collagen folds during normal bone formation, which may also lead to greater understanding of other bone disorders."

The finding was published online January 20, 2010 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The investigation involved a collaboration between researchers at the NICHD, led by Dr. Joan Marini, and the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. There, Dr. Cathleen Raggio diagnosed the children in the study as having a novel form of OI. In addition, researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle and the NIH's National Human Genome Research Institute also took part in the study.

The NIH’s National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases estimates that in the United States a minimum of 20,000 and possibly as many as 50,000 people are affected by osteogenesis imperfecta (http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteogenesis_Imperfecta/default.asp). About 85 percent of all OI cases are caused by mutations in the genes that contain the information needed to make collagen.

In the current study, the researchers determined that a 12-year-old boy and his 4-year-old sister had mutations in the gene for Cyclophilin B. The children’s parents were immigrants from Senegal, consanguineous (blood relatives) and were living in New York. Although the children's bones were brittle and highly susceptible to fracturing, they did not have shortening of the upper portion of limbs (rhizomelia) seen in the children with mutations in CRTAP and P3H1.

Proteins must be carefully folded into distinct configurations needed to function. Dr. Marini explained that a previous study concluded that Cyclophilin B was essential for folding collagen into its final form. In the current study, however, she and her coauthors found that the collagen from the two children was folded into its usual configuration, strongly suggesting that Cyclophilin B is not uniquely involved in its role in collagen folding, and that another, currently unknown, protein must also be involved.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

US Coast Guard Seizes 630 Pounds of Marijuana

kpaul.mallasch — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:09:06 -0800

MIAMI, FL - The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Dolphin interdicted 630 pounds of marijuana Tuesday December 8, 2009, while on patrol in the Caribbean Sea.

The Dolphin crew conducted a boarding of an 18-foot, Florida-registered pleasure craft about nine miles west of Bimini, Bahamas, and located 12 duffel bags and three trash bags filled with bricks of marijuana.

The Dolphin crew transferred the marijuana, the suspected smugglers and their boat to the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is investigating the case.

The Dolphin is an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Miami.

The Chandeleur is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in Miami.

Military Blogs go Silent for Fellow Bloggers

kpaul.mallasch — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:42:53 -0800

Milblogs Go Silent Across the Internet

CYBERSPACE - On Wednesday, December 16 2009, many military blogs (milblogs) have decided to go silent for the day, while others are choosing to go silent for a longer period of time. This is happening because milblogs are facing an increasingly hostile environment from within the military.

According to Mr. Wolf of Blackfive.net, "While senior leadership has embraced blogging and social media, many field grade officers and senior NCOs do not embrace the concept. From general apathy in not wanting to deal with the issue to outright hositility to it, many commands are not only failing to support such activities, but are aggressively acting against active duty milbloggers, milspouses, and others. The number of such incidents appears to be growing, with milbloggers receiving reprimands, verbal and written, not only for their activities but those of spouses and supporters."

The catalyst for the day of silence across the blogosphere is the treatment of milblogger C.J. Grisham who writes A Soldier's Perspective. Grisham has earned accolades and respect, from the White House and people across the Internet because of his honest (although sometimes blunt) discussion of military issues - particularly PTSD.

The Military Times recently did a story on Grisham. While there have been new developments, the core problem remains, and he is trying to raise funds to help with legal expenses to protect his name and his career.

"One need only look at the number of blogs by active duty military in combat zones and compare it to just a few years ago to see the chilling effect that is taking place. Milblogs have been a vital link in getting accurate news and information about the military, and military operations, to the public. They have provided vital context and analysis on issues critical to operations and to the informed electorate critical to the Republic.," Mr. Wolf of Blackfive.net recently wrote in a release about the milblogs blackout.

"Today, many milblogs are gone and others are under attack from within and without. Today, you have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something about it. Make your voice heard by writing your congressional representatives and others, and by making donations as you see fit," he wrote. "The battle for freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas is fought on many fronts and in many ways. Without your help, the battle may well be lost."

Those wanting to support Mr. Grisham can make donations:

Grisham Legal Fund
c/o Redstone Federal Credit Union
220 Wynn Drive
Huntsville, AL 35893
Please write "Grisham Legal Fund" in the memo line if you use this option.

Participating Military Blogs (in no particular order):

This Ain't Hell http://thisainthell.us/blog/
Boston Maggie http://bostonmaggie.blogspot.com/
Blackfive http://www.blackfive.net/main/
Miss Ladybug http://miss-ladybug.blogspot.com
Drunken Wisdom http://beerbrains.com/
Grim's Hall http://grimbeorn.blogspot.com/
Frommyposition http://frommyposition.com/
CDR Salamander http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com
You Served http://www.youserved.com
Bouhammer http://www.bouhammer.com
Pepple Drops http://pebbledrops.blogspot.com
Chromed Curses http://www.chromedcurses.com
Homefront Six http://homefrontsix.blogspot.com
Delta Bravo Sierra http://www.deltabravosierra.us
Yankee Mom http://www.yankeemom.com
Knee Deep in the Hooah! http://www.kneedeepinthehooah.com
Assoluta Tranquillita http://assolutatranquillita.blogspot.com
Wake up America http://wwwwakeupamericans-spree.blogspot.com
Miss Beth's Victory Dance http://missbethsvictorydance.blogspot.com
Soldier's Angels NY http://soldiersangelsny.blogspot.com
Hugh Hewitt http://www.hughhewitt.com
My Own Political Party http://political-party.losito.net
Milblogging.com http://milblogging.com
The Pink Flamingo http://www.thepinkflamingoblog.com
Winds of Change http://www.windsofchange.net
Registered Evil http://www.registeredevil.com
Beer Brains http://beerbrains.com
Right Wing Right Minded http://rightwingrightminded.blogspot.com
Storm'n Norm'n http://normanhooben.blogspot.com
Confederate Yankee http://confederateyankee.mu.nu
The Sniper http://www.thesniper.us
Free Republic http://freerepublic.com
Another Voice http://anothervoice.1776redux.com
United Conservatives http://unitedconservatives.blogspot.com
Support Your Local Gunfighter http://supportyourlocalgunfighter.com/
Knotties Niche http://knottiesniche.com
The SandGram http://www.thesandgram.com

A Soldier's Perspective: Cat5 Commerce Acquires Controversial Military Blog

kpaul.mallasch — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:39:26 -0800

After being shuttered due to censorship threats, A Soldier's Perspective returns as a leading blog for candid military commentary.

CHESTERFIELD, MO - Cat5 Commerce, a niche online retailer, has acquired A Soldier's Perspective, a top military blog currently at the epicenter of a controversial free-speech battle.

Master Sgt. C.J. Grisham, one of the first and most prominent military bloggers, has sold the rights and domain name for A Soldier's Perspective to Cat5 Commerce in an attempt to keep the blog running under new ownership. Grisham, an active-duty U.S. Army non-commissioned officer, has candidly shared personal opinions and stories on the blog since its launch in December 2004.

"I'm pretty happy with the fact that Cat5 Commerce is going to continue to maintain the integrity and traditions of A Soldier's Perspective," said Grisham, who has received numerous awards during his service, including a Bronze Star. "It's encouraging to have the backing from a company like Cat5, which will help to move the site forward and possibly reach an even wider audience."

After a dispute involving Grisham and his children's school PTA, which he documented on the blog, and an investigation from the U.S. Army's Office of the Inspector General, Grisham announced that he was shutting down A Soldier's Perspective.

"As a firm believer in first amendment rights, I found C.J.'s situation to be compelling and astonishing," said Chad Weinman, Cat5 Commerce President. "We will do everything in our power to preserve this tremendous outlet he created."

Grisham and other blog contributors have vowed to return to A Soldier's Perspective and continue to share personal experiences, adding to the ongoing online conversation about military developments. With no major changes planned, Cat5 Commerce will maintain and support A Soldier's Perspective as an uncensored platform where active-duty soldiers and veterans alike can voice their opinions.

"The followers of ASP as well as new readers can be confident that the quality and style of writing will not change as a result of new management," Grisham adds. "I hope to be able to come back and continue writing for ASP."

Source: Press Release

Chief Justice Randall Shepard To Receive American Judicature Society Award

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:04:09 -0800

Des Moines, Iowa - Hon. Randall T. Shepard, Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, has been selected as the recipient of the Sixth Annual Dwight D. Opperman Award for Judicial Excellence. Chief Justice Shepard was chosen by a three-member panel: Hon. Judith S. Kaye, former Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals; Justice Ronald Robie, California Court of Appeal-Third Appellate District; and Judge Frederic Rodgers, Gilpin Combined Courts, Colorado. The award will be presented in early 2010.

Chief Judge Kaye, chair of the selection panel and last year's Opperman Award recipient, said of Chief Justice Shepard, "He is a shining star of the American justice system, the pride of lawyers and judges--especially State Court judges--in and well beyond Indiana, and an example of the success of the great objectives of the American Judicature Society."In his nomination letter, Hon. John G. Baker, Chief Judge of the Indiana Court of Appeals, said of Chief Justice Shepard: "[he] makes those of us from Indiana proud to be Hoosiers."

Chief Justice Shepard, a seventh-generation Hoosier, started his judicial career in 1980 as a judge of the Vanderburgh Superior Court in his hometown of Evansville, Indiana. He was appointed to the Indiana Supreme Court in 1985 and was named Chief Justice eighteen months later at the age of 38, then the youngest chief justice in the nation. He is a graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School and earned an LL.M. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Chief Justice Shepard has authored more than 850 majority opinions and has taught and lectured at Yale Law School, New York University School of Law, and Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis. He is recognized as a national authority on judicial ethics and legal professionalism. Among his leadership roles at the national level, he has served as President of the Conference of Chief Justices and the National Center for State Courts, Chair of the Appellate Judges Conference of the American Bar Association, and Chair of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. In addition to leading the state courts of Indiana for more than two decades, he has been an active force in historic preservation, state and local government reform, and improvement of children and family services. He has received numerous national awards for his work to promote professionalism and diversity in the legal profession and to educate the public about the role of the courts.

The American Judicature Society (AJS) created the Opperman Award to honor state trial and appellate judges for distinguished judicial service. The award is named for Dwight D. Opperman, former chairman and CEO of West Publishing Company. Opperman is a former AJS vice president, director, and executive committee member and currently serves on the AJS Board of Directors as a Distinguished Lifetime Director.

Mullen: Main Threats in Afghanistan Remain in South and East

kpaul.mallasch — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:59:19 -0800

By Gerry Gilmore

WASHINGTON - Many of the extra 30,000 U.S. forces deployed to Afghanistan in the coming months will confront continued enemy threats in the country's southern and eastern regions, the U.S. military's senior officer told Capitol Hill legislators here today.

The principal threat to U.S., coalition and Afghan security forces "will continue to remain in the south and in the east" near the border with Pakistan, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, will look to NATO forces to handle the bulk of operations in the north and west, Mullen said. McChrystal's main effort is in the south "That really is where he will focus most of his troops, supported by his efforts in the east," he told the senators.

McChrystal will use the 30,000 additional troops to secure key population centers, Mullen said, while taking steps to reduce civilian casualties during anti-insurgent operations and leveraging partnerships with and increasing training of Afghan security forces.

The Afghan military is slated to increase from 134,000 troops in December 2010 to 170,000 by July 2011.

"So, those are fundamental shifts to get at achieving the success that I think is possible with these additional forces," Mullen said.

Meanwhile, the improvised explosive device remains the weapon of choice of insurgent groups in Afghanistan, Mullen said, noting many of the makeshift bombs are fabricated in Afghanistan.

After his testimony before the Senate committee, Mullen appeared before the House Armed Services Committee, where he told legislators that the military would know by July 2011 whether or not the revised Afghanistan strategy was achieving the desired results.

July 2011 is a nonarbitrary date "where we will know, certainly, whether we are succeeding or not in Afghanistan with this strategy," Mullen told House legislators. About 10,000 Marines, the admiral noted, were deployed to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan last July.

After three years, U.S. authorities will "really be able to assess ... how they're doing and where this is going," Mullen said of the Marine contingent in Helmand province.

A major assessment of U.S. operations in Afghanistan will occur about a year from now, Mullen told the House committee, noting that review will look at what happened over the previous 12 months and recommend any changes or adjustments.

Mullen also saluted President Barack Obama's decision to increase U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan from 68,000 to about 100,000 service members. Obama's "decision to commit the forces is one of very, very strong resolve to turn this around," he said.

At the same time, Mullen added, the Afghan government must step up so that its soldiers and police eventually can take the lead for the country's security.

Care Package Quartermasters Supply Soldiers With Treats

kpaul.mallasch — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:00:47 -0800

By J.P. Lawrence

COB BASRA, IRAQ - Few things put a smile on a Soldier's face faster than getting a care package during a deployment.

For Soldiers, these boxes are a reminder of home, a wanton luxury, a treasure chest filled with cookies and cakes and treats.

While many boxes come from family and friends, some boxes hail from unfamiliar addresses, from men and women back home who chose to adopt and supply Soldiers they do not know.

These men and women are "care package quartermasters," home front philanthropists who mail their appreciation overseas. These postal patriots want to do what they can for Soldiers, like the women from the Good Samaritan Society Senior Center in Maplewood, Minn., who send cookies.

Anne Carson, the Good Samaritan Society Health Information Coordinator, said the residents came up with the idea.

"The residents wanted to do something for the troops," Carson said. "They threw around a few ideas before they decided to make the cookies."

These women, veritable cookie veterans, have been baking cookies for their families for many years and it was an easy switch from baking cookies for little Johnny to shipping cookies to G.I. Joe.

"They are just like grandma's cookies," Good Samaritan resident Helen Malmberg said. "We are all grandmas."

Once mailing has begun, care package quartermasters can quickly find themselves captivated with supplying Soldiers. Laurie Kate Collier, a dentist, started sending care to one Soldier and quickly found herself baking for six, including the author of this article.

"They know me very well at the post office," Collier said.

Sending cookies is not as simple as just baking and folding and stamping, Collier said. Care package quartermasters must gently prepare their gifts for warzone conditions, a task that includes "making sure the custom forms are correct, packing the boxes so the items don't get crushed in transit, waiting in long lines at the post office," she said.

"I had to figure out what baked items would survive the trip to Iraq because it takes a week or two," Collier says. "I went through lots of ice packs also, so the items could survive the heat."

Despite these challenges, Collier said she's "happy to make things a little better over there for the Soldiers."

"It's the least I can do to make things a little better while you all are away from home," Collier said.

Patriotism has never been so delicious.

Remains of U.S. Soldier Found in Afghanistan

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:26:17 -0800

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The remains of a U.S. paratrooper reported missing since early this month in western Afghanistan was recovered on November 29, 2009 according to military officials.

The body of Army Sgt. Brandon Islip was recovered from the Bala Murgahab River in Badghis province after a local Afghan resident provided information on his whereabouts, officials said.

Islip, a paratrooper with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, went missing with another paratrooper Nov. 4 after being swept away by a fast-moving current while on an airdrop re-supply mission in western Afghanistan.

The recovery comes weeks after British divers found the body of Islip's fellow soldier, Spc. Benjamin Sherman, who was posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant.

"The recovery of Sgt. Islip and Sgt. Sherman would not have been possible without the untiring support and efforts of our fellow international forces, the Afghan national security forces and the local people of Bala Murghab," said Col. Brian M. Drinkwine, commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, to which the two soldiers were assigned.

A memorial service for the two paratroopers will be held in Afghanistan in the coming days, officials said.

In other operations around the country, Afghan and international forces detained several suspected militants in Wardak province while pursuing a militant Taliban commander involved in weapons trafficking.

Placing an Emphasis on Teaching Values to Families is Getting Noticed

kpaul.mallasch — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:42:56 -0800

At a time of year when many seemed to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of shopping, cleaning and more shopping. One creative company is appealing to families to 'calm things down' and spend some valuable time together. Growing Great Families has developed an unique and inspirational Advent Calendar and their concept is getting noticed.

Babble.com (a family resource web site that boasts one million unique vistors per month) has recently posted an article on the top 12 Advent Calendars. They have placed the Growing Great Families' Interactive Family Advent Calendar as the 5th Best Advent Calendar.

"It's encouraging that people are realizing the immense value that a simple tool like this can provide to families," says Nikki Glahn, the owner and operator of Growing Great Families and a mother of two. "I knew as I was creating this product, that it held the ability to really inspire families."

The Interactive Family Advent Calendar provides daily stories that the family reads together. These stories center around values like gratitude, empathy and kindness. In addition, for each day of December (leading up to Christmas) you get 10 fun links for the whole family to enjoy; colouring pages, craft ideas, recipes, jokes and more.

"If you have a family and are striving to raise empathetic, grateful, kind children. This is a great tool for your toolbox," states Glahn. "Our calendar will open up the lines of communication within your family. And really, isn't knowing that we are raising upstanding citizens of the future, the greatest success we can have as parents?"

Aligning themselves with two very respectable charities; United Way and SOS Children's Villages, allows Growing Great Families to donate 20% of the purchase price of each calendar to a very worthy cause.

Interested? You can visit their website: http://www.GrowingGreatFamilies.com where you can experience the product before buying. Simply click through to the Products page and enter the sample pin code provided. If you have procrastinated too long, they also offer a VIRTUAL calendar option, which eliminates the shipping delay

Hess Toy Truck Celebrates a 45 Year Holiday Tradition

kpaul.mallasch — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:27:59 -0800

2009 Hess Race Car and Racer Kicks Fun and Innovation into High Gear

NEW YORK, NY – Hess Corporation today celebrates the 45th anniversary of what has become a family holiday tradition for generations with the newest addition to its renowned collection of holiday toy trucks: The 2009 Hess Race Car and Racer.

Not since 1993 has the Hess Toy Truck featured a car, when the Patrol Car was first introduced and went on to become the fastest selling Hess Toy Truck ever. The race is on to get this year’s Hess Toy Truck. The 2009 Hess Race Car and Racer goes on sale Friday, November 13 at participating Hess and Hess Express retail stores, retailing for $24.99 plus tax – Energizer® batteries included.

For the first time in Hess Toy Truck history, a race car takes the spotlight as the main featured vehicle. The 2009 Race Car and Racer reinforces a long tradition of quality, value and craftsmanship. It features a touch-release canopy compartment that opens to reveal a hidden compartment with surprise cargo – a smaller, faster race car powered by a pull-back racing motor and its own set of working lights. The toy set’s full lineup of fun features includes:

Race Car

· 29 lights with an optional flashing mode

· 3 realistic sound features (ignition, acceleration and horn)

· Alloy-look racing wheels

· Chrome detailed rear view mirrors and air vents

· Low profile headlights (a first for a Hess Toy Truck)

· Rear spoiler

· Canopy compartment with a spring-release hood that opens with a touch

· 2 Energizer ‘C’ batteries

Small Racer:

· 15 lights

· Pull-back racing motor

· Alloy-look racing wheels

· Chrome detailed rear view mirrors and vents

· Low profile headlights

· Rear spoiler

· 1 Energizer ’AA’ battery

The Hess Toy Truck has been a holiday tradition since 1964, and is one of the longest running toy brands on the market. As in past years, the truck will be sold exclusively at Hess retail stores in 16 East Coast states while supplies last. For a complete list of Hess Toy Trucks through the years or to find the nearest Hess location, please visit: www.hesstoytruck.com.

Hess Corporation, with headquarters in New York, is a global integrated energy company engaged in the exploration, development, production, purchase, transportation and sale of crude oil and natural gas. The corporation also manufactures, purchases, trades and markets refined petroleum and other energy products.

Free Military Boots For Life Contest Continues

kpaul.mallasch — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:19:34 -0800

CHESTERFIELD, MO - MilitaryBoots.com unveiled its Military Boots For Life Contest last month. The contest gives boot lovers in the United States and Canada a chance to win a lifetime supply of Converse military boots.Their website states:

Your boots have endured everything you've thrown at them. Drilling. Marching. Combat. Miles upon miles through never-ending plains, scorching deserts, and urban jungles. Whatever your boots' story may be, we want to see 'em.

"We thought this would be a great way to reward someone who really enjoys wearing military boots," Chad Weinman, President of Cat5 Commerce, which owns MilitaryBoots.com, stated in a press release last month. "If you really do wear your boots that much, you deserve military boots for life."

The online store is still seeking people who adore (and wear) military boots on a regular basis. The person who submits the best photos of the most weathered boots will win a lifetime supply.

"We're thrilled to dig through these entries to see what sorts of boots people are still wearing," Mr. Weinman added. "We'll be posting pictures of the top 10 on our website."

MillitaryBoots.com plans on announcing the winner on February 5, 2010. That person will receive one pair of Converse military boots for the next 20 years, and boots will be featured on MilitaryBoots.com.

For more information, you can visit the military boots contest page on their website, or simply e-mail your name, contact information, photos and story to contest@militaryboots.com. All entries must be received by midnight CST on January 31, 2010.

Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita to testify before U.S. House Subcommittee on Elections

kpaul.mallasch — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:56:39 -0700

Secretary Rokita to outline concerns about H.R. 1719, the Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2009

WASHINGTON, DC - Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita will testify before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Elections today at 1 p.m. in room 1310 of the Longworth House Office Building. As Indiana’s chief elections officer, Secretary Rokita will provide expert testimony on H.R. 1719, the Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2009.

“While I applaud Congress’ efforts to improve the election process for voters, there needs to be a balance between increased access and responsibility,” said Secretary Rokita. “H.R. 1719 certainly increases access to the voter registration process, but the legislation falls short of providing the security necessary to ensure that voters’ franchises are protected. Because of this, H.R. 1719 as written, ultimately will do nothing more than decrease participation because not everyone will have confidence in or trust the process that now would threaten to disenfranchise them by letting their votes be diluted by those who will try to cheat through the use of this easily cheatable reform.”

H.R. 1719 outlines requirements for states to modernize their election registration processes. The bill requires states to provide for online voter registration. However, it does not require or permit states to use existing databases to verify information. Indiana’s General Assembly recently passed legislation – with unanimous support in both the House and Senate – that permits online voter registration, starting next year, for Hoosiers who have valid driver’s license numbers or state identification cards. Secretary Rokita will recommend to the committee that signatures from existing databases, such as Indiana’s BMV database, should be required for on-line voter registration.

Secretary Rokita will point out that H.R. 1719, as currently written, appears to prohibit states from inactivating and eventually removing inaccurate records, as is currently permitted under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. In Indiana, and many other states, there is a history of several jurisdictions with more voter registrations than voting age population. Secretary Rokita will recommend that state and local government election officials be permitted to conduct voter list maintenance activities.

Section 5 of H.R. 1719 eliminates the state’s ability to verify an applicant is qualified to register to vote. During the 2008 Primary Election, ACORN employees submitted several hundred fraudulent voter registration applications in Indiana counties. This resulted in county election administrators and several members of the Office of the Secretary of State taking time away from election preparation in order to flush these bogus registrations out. Secretary Rokita will recommend removing the mandate in H.R. 1719 that eliminates the state’s ability to verify an applicant is qualified to register to vote.

The legislation requires election officials to allow an applicant to provide their email address and, if provided, requires election officials to send voting information to the voter via email only. This may violate equal protection laws. Secretary Rokita will recommend that this mandate be removed.

The bill has a provision that mandates a voter registration deadline of no later than 15 days prior to the election. Indiana has a 29 day deadline based on voter eligibility requirements in the state constitution. Reducing this to 15 days will impact the processes that currently work well in Indiana. Secretary Rokita will recommend that the 15 day mandate be removed.

Secretary Rokita’s testimony will be available at 1 p.m. on the House Subcommittee’s web site, http://houseadmin.edgeboss.net/wmedia-live/houseadmin/11435/100_houseadmin-1310lhob_060525.asx.

Kanye West is Not Dead

kpaul.mallasch — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:05:13 -0700

MUNCIE, IN - According to various news sources, reports of the death of Kanye West have been greatly exaggerated. While RIP Kanye West is trending up in Twitter (or was at the time of this report), a San Franciso blog post, the Examiner and many other reputable media sources have squashed the rumor. No word from Kanye West himself about this, although someone

Celebrity blogger Necole Bitchie summed it up in a post yesterday, October 20, 2009.

Who comes up with these elaborate stories. His girlfriend Amber Rose thinks that the trending topic has gone a bit too far. She writes:

This RIP KanyeWest topic is not funny and its NOT TRUE! He has people like myself and his family that love him very much. Its in extreme poor taste to have that as a trending topic. It’s totally disrespectful to make up a story like this. We are all human and we all make mistakes and to say someone died cuz of a mistake is ridiculous. U wouldn’t want someone to say that about u. Or someone u love it’s not funny.

There has been no official word from Kanye West on his blog. Still, his name has been in the news quite a bit lately. From the Taylor Swift incident to this, Mr. West is a man who knows how to keep his name in the media.

A blogger from a Fox website summed it all up pretty nicely, and wonders if it was a publicity stunt. Whatever it was, it shows the power and influence of a tool like Twitter. Indeed, a tool that can be used for good or for bad purposes like this rumor.

At this time, there's no word about where or how the rumor started, but Kanye West has had problems with Twitter in the past. The real news here may be about Twitter itself and what steps are being taken (if any) to stop things like this before they happen - if they can be stopped.

Modern Whig Party continues to build its national presence

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:04:34 -0700

Washington, DC - As the only grassroots political movement recognized by various media outlets throughout the country to appeal to mainstream voters of all political stripes, the Modern Whig movement has taken another step in its national development with the reconstitution of the Whig National Committee. The first public act of the WNC is to announce that two more viable, common sense advocates have filed to run for Congress under the revived Whig Party banner.

The latest federal Whig candidates to announce their official candidacy, in conjunction with the Florida Whig Party, include John Annarumma of Gainesville, FL and Clayton Schock of Broward County, FL. Paul McKain's Congressional campaign already is making waves in his district, as is our state candidate, Gene Baldassari, who is running for the New Jersey Assembly.

Clayton Schock is described as a common man with common sense who has risen to the task of accepting the difficult duty and responsibility of standing up to a highly trained and financed political machine that is understood and resonates with the voting majority known as "We the People."

And as a national movement revived by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, John Annarumma is among the countless Modern Whigs to have directly served in the post-9/11 conflicts. With over eleven (11) years of law enforcement combined with fourteen (14) years of active duty and reserve military experience, John has served his country to the highest order for most of his adult life. This truly unique experience has enabled John Annarumma to possess a unique perspective on what it means to serve, protect, and defend his nation, state, and community.

The WNC is based in Washington, DC and designed to serve as an umbrella for the overall Modern Whig Party.

About the Whig Party:

Established in 1833, the Whigs are one of America's oldest mainstream political parties. They were the original party of Abraham Lincoln and four other U.S. Presidents.

Revived by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, the grassroots movement has quickly attracted tens of thousands of members. They represent moderate voters from all walks of life that cherry-pick between traditional Democratic and Republican ideals in what has been called the Modern Whig Philosophy. This Washington, DC-based national movement values common sense, rational solutions ahead of ideology and partisan bickering.

This includes general principles of fiscal responsibility, strong national defense and educational/scientific advancement.

Florida is the first state in the nation to achieve ballot access for Whig candidates. To date, members and leaders of the national Modern Whig movement have been invited to play a role in GOP and Democratic initiatives while pushing their own common sense, non-fringe agenda of what some have called the fastest growing mainstream political party in the nation.

Working Dogs Keep Marines Safe

kpaul.mallasch — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:37:28 -0700

By Pfc. Khoa Pelczar

"Watch him! Watch him!" is all it takes for a seemingly docile canine to transform into a trained killer, its snarling teeth exposed as it readies to attack.

When Horst, a 7-year-old German Shepard and military working dog, hears the command from his handler, he instantly prepares to take down the enemy. When the command "Bite!" is given, Horst rushes his attacker in the blink of an eye, grabbing onto the enemy's arm with the utmost strength – and not letting go.

Military working dogs have helped Marines on and off the battlefield for years, but their training continues to adapt to new circumstances. To become more familiar in a combat environment, Military working dogs and their handlers headed out to San Mateo here for field training, Sept. 26, with Military Police Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group.

The dogs were brought out to the field so they could experience a live-fire movement while working together with Marines, explained Sgt. Alfred C. Nieto, working dog handler with Military Police Support Company, 1st Marine Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

"[By bringing the dogs] out here, we can get them used to things we encounter on a daily basis and have them operating with a Marine squad," he said. "They need to be able to adapt and work it through."

It's important for the dogs to become familiarized with their surroundings and the sounds of gunfire because it could easily become a hazard out in the battlefield if the dog isn't properly trained, clarified Nieto. If the dog freaks out during battle and the handler tries to control his dog while having live rounds loaded, he could possibly flag the entire platoon of Marines and endanger those around him.

"Mission accomplishment is one of the most important things in the Marine Corps," Nieto said. "Keeping our numbers up is a part of mission accomplishment."

On a daily basis, these dogs are constantly training; everything from doing line drills or taking them on hikes, to having them run through obstacle courses, explained Nieto. Sometimes the dogs also get to go out with a patrol unit or a convoy exercise.
Handlers teach their dogs the five phases of aggression and how to react accordingly to each command.

Phase one, "bite," is when the dog is ordered to take down the fleeing suspect by force. During phase two, "stand-off," the suspect surrenders or is taken down by the dog, and the dog lets go of the suspect. If the suspect tries to escape again, though, then the dog receives the command to enter phase three, "re-attack." Phase four is simply "search," in which the dog approaches to check out strangers, making sure they have nothing dangerous on them. Phase five, "field interview," is when the dog and trainer come up to a stranger who tries to enter the base to make certain the person has a good reason to enter.

"Everything is a game to the dogs," added Nieto, 24, from San Antonio. "So it's instantaneous how their aggression changes from chill and calm to tearing a man apart."

Military Working Dogs are trained to obey orders instantly, which is important in a life or death situation.

"If the suspect flees, [the dog is] one step less than lethal, right below a gun," said Cpl. Ramiro Olgun, working dog handler with Military Police Support Company, 1st Marine Headquarters Group, I MEF.

"These dogs are trained," added Olgun, 22, from Eagle Pass, Texas. "It takes months and years to train these dogs. They're trained to attack and they're trained to find explosives."

After months of training, eventually the dog and handler develop a special bond.
"Me and my dog, Horst, he's a part of me," said Olgun of his faithful four-legged partner who waits by his side. "Rapport building is very important, it never ends."

Military working dogs have worked side by side with Marines on the battlefield for years, helping them to accomplish the mission. Through proper training, man's best friend can continue to keep Marines safer in combat.

Stockman Bank selects Frontline Processing as exclusive payment processor

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:36:20 -0700

BOZEMAN, MT - Frontline Processing, a leader in merchant processing and electronic payment solutions, announced that they have formed a strategic alliance with Stockman Bank to provide electronic payment processing for their customers. Building on its successful partnership, Stockman Bank clients will now be able to provide their customers with a full spectrum of transaction processing solutions using traditional processing, Internet Point-of-Sale (POS), e-commerce and mobile (wireless) terminals to extend their payment capabilities. With Frontline Processing, Stockman will be able to provide their business customers access to flexible and innovative merchant processing programs enabling them to meet their various business needs while providing services designed to help their businesses grow.

Stockman Bank clients will also have the opportunity to utilize Frontline Processing risk management services. Managing risk is a significant, and often under-stated, factor in the success of any business. In addition to access to Frontlines experienced and knowledgeable staff, merchants will also be able to protect their company by using Frontline’s PCI DSS compliant platform, which helps keep sensitive payment data out of merchants' daily business operations.

“Frontline Processing, like Stockman Bank, has significant experience serving the needs of Montana merchants. Merchants are increasingly looking to reduce processing costs while maintaining the highest level of risk management to reduce their exposure to fraudulent activity," said Chris Kittler, Owner and CEO of Frontline Processing. "As a Level One certified PCI Compliant provider, Frontline offers market-leading risk management tools and controls designed to protect our customers, and we believe Stockman Banks clients will be well served through our relationship."

About Frontline Processing

FRONTLINE PROCESSING has been pioneering merchant processing solutions since 1997. Frontline is a nationwide provider of credit card processing and electronic payment services enabling merchants to process transactions in a secure, real-time environment 24 hours a day. Frontline provides a suite of services enabling merchants to accept all major credit and debit cards, ATM cards and ACH check drafts for payment. The only locally owned and operated merchant processor based in Montana, Frontline is located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in beautiful Bozeman. Frontline Processing is a registered ISO/MSP of HSBC Bank USA, National Association, Buffalo NY. For more information, please visit Frontline Processing's web site at www.frontlineprocessing.com or email mdh@frontlineprocessing.com.

About Stockman Bank

STOCKMAN BANK is a complete financial center providing personal, business, agricultural and real estate banking services across Montana, northern Wyoming and western North Dakota. Founded in 1953 by William Nefsy, the original vision was to create a banking organization to serve the needs of the entire community. His inspired vision, along with a focus on service, continues today. Stockman Bank is deeply committed to community banking and believes that this commitment will bring maximum benefit to customers and the communities served. Stockman Bank has been committed to their customers for over 50 years and continues to be proactive in strategy and focus. For more information, please visit www.stockmanbank.com.

$5,000 Reward Offered in Search for Stolen FBI Weapons

kpaul.mallasch — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:38:55 -0700

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Michael S. Welch, Special Agent in Charge of the Indianapolis Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today that a reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to the identification and arrest of individual(s) responsible for the theft of FBI weapons and equipment from a government vehicle parked in a residential neighborhood in northwest Indianapolis, Indiana. This theft took place between the evening hours of September 16, 2009 and the early morning of September 17, 2009. During this same time period and within the general area, an additional 10 vehicles and/or residences were broken into.

The reward is also being offered for information concerning the location and return of three stolen weapons. The stolen weapons are described as an H & K MP5/10A3 10 mm gun, a Rock River Arms LAR15 rifle, and a Springfield 1911A1 .45 caliber handgun. Additionally, a large green duffel style gear bag was stolen which contained an FBI SWAT uniform and two sets of body armor, green in color, one set having FBI letters displayed on the front and back.

The FBI, along with Agents and Officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE), the Indiana State Police (ISP), and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), are jointly investigating this matter.

Anyone with information regarding the above is asked to contact the Indianapolis Office of the FBI at (317) 639-3301.

A Record $2.3 Billion Settlement Against Pfizer

kpaul.mallasch — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:15:46 -0700

The superlatives were flying at today’s press conference announcing that pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has agreed to pay $2.3 billion to resolve charges of illegal and fraudulent promotion of its products:

The largest health care fraud settlement in Department of Justice history;
The largest criminal fine of any kind imposed in the U.S.;
The largest ever civil fraud settlement against a pharmaceutical company.

The case was also a massive investigation on the part of the FBI and our law enforcement colleagues, involving countless hours of investigation over a period of more than four years.

Speaking at the press conference this morning at Department of Justice Headquarters in Washington, D.C., Kevin Perkins, assistant director of our Criminal Investigative Division, said the record settlement “sends a clear message that the FBI and our partners will not stand by and let any manufacturer peddle their prescriptions or products for uses beyond their intended—and federal government-approved—purpose.”

The case against Pfizer and its subsidiary Pharmacia & Upjohn (Pharmacia) primarily involved so-called off-brand promotion of several drugs, notably the anti-inflammatory drug Bextra. The company promoted the sale of Bextra for uses and at dosages the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically declined to approve for safety reasons.

Pfizer “intended to circumvent specific FDA indications concerning their drugs by using its sales force to aggressively promote off-label uses,” Perkins said. “We have interviewed numerous physicians, sales representatives, and managers who have corroborated these assertions.”

Indeed, it was company employees who blew the whistle about off-label marketing—and kickbacks to physicians, who were paid to prescribe certain drugs—that first brought the case to our attention in 2005.

Special Agent Christine O’Neill, who heads the Health Care Fraud Squad in our Boston office, explained that we worked jointly on the case with investigators from the Department of Health and Human Services, the FDA, the Veteran’s Administration, and the U.S. Postal Service, among others.

“These cases can be very time consuming and difficult,” O’Neill said, because there are a multitude of documents to review and analyze—from sales reps’ e-mail and call logs to contracts and other documents between Pfizer and physicians and health care organizations.

“When this case started,” she said, “our agents were physically going through boxes and boxes of material to find evidence to support the case.”

Later, we began using software that allows documents to be scanned and then searched by keyword to speed up the process. “Still,” she said, “there is no getting around the exhaustive investigative work.”

Criminally, Pharmacia has agreed to plead guilty to misbranding Bextra—which was pulled from the market in 2005—with the intent to defraud or mislead. The company will pay a fine of $1.195 billion and will also forfeit $105 million to the government.

On the civil side, Pfizer has agreed to pay an additional $1 billion to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act that it illegally promoted Bextra and three other drugs and paid kickbacks to health care providers.

Perkins noted that “although these types of investigations are often long and complicated, the FBI will not be deterred from continuing to ensure that pharmaceutical companies conduct business in a lawful manner.” And he thanked the whistleblowers for speaking out “against a corporate giant that was blatantly violating the law and misleading the public through false marketing claims.”

Kevin Perkins, assistant director of our Criminal Investigative Division, speaks to the media at the Pfizer settlement press conference.

Sex Trafficker Sentenced to Over Four Years for Conspiracy to Prostitute Underage Girls

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:41:51 -0700

GREENBELT, MD - U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. sentenced Paul Raymond Green, a/k/a “PJ,” age 24, of Washington, D.C., late last week to 52 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking in a scheme to prostitute three minor females, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King, of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. Judge Williams also ordered that upon his release from prison Green be required to register as a sex offender where he lives, works and goes to school.

“Anyone who pays for or profits from sex with a child should be on notice that Maryland’s human trafficking task force is committed to a policy of zero tolerance for child prostitution," said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.

“The defendant took an active role in prostituting young girls to users of illegal narcotics in order to facilitate his drug sales,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King. “This is a despicable crime whose harm permeates throughout society. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute these cases.”

According to Green’s guilty plea, from April to May 2007 Green, through his coconspirator, arranged on two separate occasions to provide minor victims to an acquaintance of Green’s who was paying to have sex with the victims. On both occasions “dippers” or “wets” (cigarettes dipped in phencyclidine liquid known as PCP), were available in the hotel room where the girls were brought to have sex. Green also sold cocaine to that same individual.

This case was investigated by members of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, which was created in 2007 to discover and rescue victims of human trafficking while identifying and prosecuting offenders. For more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md/Human-Trafficking/index.html.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein and Acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Montgomery County Police Department for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorney Solette Magnelli, and Trial Attorney James Felte of the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, who prosecuted the case.

US Justice Department Announces Biggest Health Care Fraud Settlement in Its History

kpaul.mallasch — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:19:49 -0700

Pfizer to Pay $2.3 Billion for Fraudulent Marketing

WASHINGTON, DC - American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. and its subsidiary Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc. (hereinafter together “Pfizer”) have agreed to pay $2.3 billion, the largest health care fraud settlement in the history of the Department of Justice, to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal promotion of certain pharmaceutical products, the Justice Department announced today.

Pharmacia & Upjohn Company has agreed to plead guilty to a felony violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act for misbranding Bextra with the intent to defraud or mislead. Bextra is an anti-inflammatory drug that Pfizer pulled from the market in 2005. Under the provisions of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, a company must specify the intended uses of a product in its new drug application to FDA. Once approved, the drug may not be marketed or promoted for so-called “off-label” uses – i.e., any use not specified in an application and approved by FDA. Pfizer promoted the sale of Bextra for several uses and dosages that the FDA specifically declined to approve due to safety concerns. The company will pay a criminal fine of $1.195 billion, the largest criminal fine ever imposed in the United States for any matter. Pharmacia & Upjohn will also forfeit $105 million, for a total criminal resolution of $1.3 billion.

In addition, Pfizer has agreed to pay $1 billion to resolve allegations under the civil False Claims Act that the company illegally promoted four drugs—Bextra; Geodon, an anti-psychotic drug; Zyvox, an antibiotic; and Lyrica, an anti-epileptic drug—and caused false claims to be submitted to government health care programs for uses that were not medically accepted indications and therefore not covered by those programs. The civil settlement also resolves allegations that Pfizer paid kickbacks to health care providers to induce them to prescribe these, as well as other, drugs. The federal share of the civil settlement is $668,514,830 and the state Medicaid share of the civil settlement is $331,485,170. This is the largest civil fraud settlement in history against a pharmaceutical company.

As part of the settlement, Pfizer also has agreed to enter into an expansive corporate integrity agreement with the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services. That agreement provides for procedures and reviews to be put in place to avoid and promptly detect conduct similar to that which gave rise to this matter.

Whistleblower lawsuits filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act that are pending in the District of Massachusetts, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Eastern District of Kentucky triggered this investigation. As a part of today’s resolution, six whistleblowers will receive payments totaling more than $102 million from the federal share of the civil recovery.

The U.S. Attorney’s offices for the District of Massachusetts, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the Eastern District of Kentucky, and the Civil Division of the Department of Justice handled these cases. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts led the criminal investigation of Bextra. The investigation was conducted by the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the FBI, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Office of Criminal Investigations for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Veterans’ Administration’s (VA) Office of Criminal Investigations, the Office of the Inspector General for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Office of the Inspector General for the United States Postal Service (USPS), the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units and the offices of various state Attorneys General.

“Today’s landmark settlement is an example of the Department of Justice’s ongoing and intensive efforts to protect the American public and recover funds for the federal treasury and the public from those who seek to earn a profit through fraud. It shows one of the many ways in which federal government, in partnership with its state and local allies, can help the American people at a time when budgets are tight and health care costs are increasing,” said Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli. “This settlement is a testament to the type of broad, coordinated effort among federal agencies and with our state and local partners that is at the core of the Department of Justice’s approach to law enforcement.”

“This historic settlement will return nearly $1 billion to Medicare, Medicaid, and other government insurance programs, securing their future for the Americans who depend on these programs,” said Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services. “The Department of Health and Human Services will continue to seek opportunities to work with its government partners to prosecute fraud wherever we can find it. But we will also look for new ways to prevent fraud before it happens. Health care is too important to let a single dollar go to waste.”

“Illegal conduct and fraud by pharmaceutical companies puts the public health at risk, corrupts medical decisions by health care providers, and costs the government billions of dollars,” said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. “This civil settlement and plea agreement by Pfizer represent yet another example of what penalties will be faced when a pharmaceutical company puts profits ahead of patient welfare.”

“The size and seriousness of this resolution, including the huge criminal fine of $1.3 billion, reflect the seriousness and scope of Pfizer’s crimes,” said Mike Loucks, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. “Pfizer violated the law over an extensive time period. Furthermore, at the very same time Pfizer was in our office negotiating and resolving the allegations of criminal conduct by its then newly acquired subsidiary, Warner-Lambert, Pfizer was itself in its other operations violating those very same laws. Today’s enormous fine demonstrates that such blatant and continued disregard of the law will not be tolerated.”

“Although these types of investigations are often long and complicated and require many resources to achieve positive results, the FBI will not be deterred from continuing to ensure that pharmaceutical companies conduct business in a lawful manner,” said Kevin Perkins, FBI Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division.

“This resolution protects the FDA in its vital mission of ensuring that drugs are safe and effective. When manufacturers undermine the FDA’s rules, they interfere with a doctor’s judgment and can put patient health at risk,” commented Michael L. Levy, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “The public trusts companies to market their drugs for uses that FDA has approved, and trusts that doctors are using independent judgment. Federal health dollars should only be spent on treatment decisions untainted by misinformation from manufacturers concerned with the bottom line.”

“This settlement demonstrates the ongoing efforts to pursue violations of the False Claims Act and recover taxpayer dollars for the Medicare and Medicaid programs,” noted Jim Zerhusen, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

“This historic settlement emphasizes the government’s commitment to corporate and individual accountability and to transparency throughout the pharmaceutical industry,” said Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. “The corporate integrity agreement requires senior Pfizer executives and board members to complete annual compliance certifications and opens Pfizer to more public scrutiny by requiring it to make detailed disclosures on its Web site. We expect this agreement to increase integrity in the marketing of pharmaceuticals.”

“The off-label promotion of pharmaceutical drugs by Pfizer significantly impacted the integrity of TRICARE, the Department of Defense’s healthcare system,” said Sharon Woods, Director, Defense Criminal Investigative Service. “This illegal activity increases patients’ costs, threatens their safety and negatively affects the delivery of healthcare services to the over nine million military members, retirees and their families who rely on this system. Today’s charges and settlement demonstrate the ongoing commitment of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and its law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those that abuse the government’s healthcare programs at the expense of the taxpayers and patients.”

“Federal employees deserve health care providers and suppliers, including drug manufacturers, that meet the highest standards of ethical and professional behavior,” said Patrick E. McFarland, Inspector General of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. “Today’s settlement reminds the pharmaceutical industry that it must observe those standards and reflects the commitment of federal law enforcement organizations to pursue improper and illegal conduct that places health care consumers at risk.”

“Health care fraud has a significant financial impact on the Postal Service. This case alone impacted more than 10,000 postal employees on workers’ compensation who were treated with these drugs,” said Joseph Finn, Special Agent in Charge for the Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General. “Last year the Postal Service paid more than $1 billion in workers’ compensation benefits to postal employees injured on the job.”