29 Oct 2012

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Still Work to be Done By Barbara Grassley

By Barbara Grassley

October brings to mind the colors of autumn, the black and orange of Halloween, and pink, the color of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  It is a time to reflect on strides made in breast cancer prevention and chart a course for the future.

The realm of breast cancer is far different from what it was in 1985, when October officially became Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  What once was a silent killer is now a widely talked about, often highly treatable disease.  Breast Cancer Awareness month has helped us overcome much of the stigma once associated with breast cancer, and women are now encouraged and are lauded for sharing their breast cancer stories.  As a result, many more women in America today have heard messages emphasizing the importance of early detection and screening and know they should schedule their first mammogram by age 40.  We know the mortality rate from breast cancer has decreased over the past two decades, and we know there are more treatment options than ever.  What we seem to have forgotten, however, is that breast cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American women.

Today there exists an alarming thought that breast cancer is simply not as big a concern as it once was, but nothing could be further from the truth.  It is estimated 226,870 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012; in Iowa alone, it is estimated 2,350 women will be told they have breast cancer, and 400 women will die from the disease.  These are still huge numbers, so it is critically important the American public does not become complacent about breast health.

There are many proactive measures women can take toward detecting breast cancer, including:

Breast Self-Exam:  Every woman should perform a monthly examination of her breasts to check for physical changes.  If you are unsure of how to perform a breast self-exam, ask your health care provider to demonstrate and explain the ideal time to conduct one.  It is very important for women to become familiar with their breasts and understand what feels normal. Start early, beginning at age 20.

Clinical Breast Exam:  Be sure to ask your health care provider to give you a clinical breast exam each year. The exam consists of checking the breasts for any changes, lumps, or other possible warning signs of breast cancer through physical touch and appearance.  You should begin having clinical breast exams in your 20s and 30s.

Mammography:  By the age of 40, all women should have a mammogram, and it is important to talk to your health care provider about how often the test should be performed.  The mammogram is an "x-ray" of the breast and, at this time, is the most effective method of detecting breast changes that may be cancer, long before physical symptoms can be seen or felt.

While every man and woman is at risk for breast cancer, some are at higher risk.  Risk factors include a family history of breast cancer, inherited abnormal genes, a previous diagnosis of cancer in one breast, a sedentary lifestyle, and age - women over 50 are more likely to develop breast cancer.  Like all cancers, risk for breast cancer can be reduced by leading a healthy lifestyle, which includes exercise and not smoking.  New drugs have been developed to help prevent breast cancer in high risk patients, so if you believe you are at a higher risk for breast cancer, please talk to your health care provider.

In the paragraph above, you will notice it says, "every man and woman is at risk ...". Yes, men can get breast cancer. too. While breast cancer risk for women is calculated by state, the same information for men is available only for the United States as a whole.  In 2012, the estimate is 2,190 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and there will be 410 deaths.

Survival rates for breast cancer are higher now than they were ten years ago in large part because women are getting tested and catching it early.  Please follow the above guidelines and encourage friends and family to do the same.  A cancer diagnosis affects not only the patient and her immediate family, but also their entire community of friends, schoolmates, neighbors, colleagues, and service providers.  Protect your health this and every month, if not for yourself, then for the people who love you.

If you would like additional information on cancer prevention, please visit  www.preventcancer.org.

Barbara Grassley, a breast cancer survivor, is a member of the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention program of the Prevent Cancer Foundation and the spouse of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa.

29 Oct 2012

Elections and Evolution

By Ginny Grimsley

God Meets Science

In the Presidential Election, the Two Don't Get Along. But Should They?

By: Daniel Friedmann

Do you believe that evolution should be taught in public schools, and that it should be presented as the only explanation for how the species arose?  Based on statements made in the past few years by President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney, it appears they both would answer "yes."

However, Romney's fellow Republicans don't all agree. For example, Republican Congressman Paul Broun from Georgia recently announced that evolution, embryology, and the Big Bang theory are "lies straight from the pit of hell."

Furthermore, Romney may have recently changed his mind since in the first presidential debate he stated, "We're all children of the same God" -- in stark contradiction to evolutionists' conclusion!

Meanwhile, only 15 percent of the US population believes in naturalistic evolution as the explanation for our origins!

And while the Catholic Church has stopped arguing against scientific findings such as the age of the universe or when life first appeared, it holds that whatever happened was guided in some way by God; in agreement with nearly half of Americans.

For the past couple hundred years, the creation-evolution conflict has been a recurring point of contention in the United States, from the presidential election to what should be taught in schools. American science legend Carl Sagan tried to settle this conflict by calling both camps "non-overlapping magisterial" - in other words, science and religion each preside as the source of wisdom over separate domains.

However, most of us feel that Sagan's explanation is not right. In fact, it turns out that a significant portion of Americans believe science and religion can coexist when it comes to explaining our origins.

The problem between science and religion did not originate over the question of HOW we came to be ? creation vs. evolution ? but over the question of WHEN the Earth came to be.  The creation-evolution conflict was sparked when early geologists began to find evidence that the Earth was older than the Bible seemed to indicate.

Today science tells us that the universe is 13.7 billion years old and the earth 4.5 billion years old; seemingly in contradiction to the biblical creation timeline of six days, less than 6,000 years ago.

A couple years ago I found the blueprint for my house, a piece of rolled up paper with lots of lines that bore little resemblance to my beautiful three-dimensional home. I could not make heads or tails of the blueprint. That is, until I saw the scale: 1 inch equals 8 feet. Now I could compare the blueprint and the house - everything matched, at least as to what it was and how big it was.

Now, the Bible claims to be the blueprint for the universe; but has anyone bothered to look for the scale of this blueprint? I mean, the story is narrated in creation days (analogous to the role of inches on the house blueprint), but what are these creation days in the physical structure, the universe?

It turns out that the Scriptures contain the scale ? it has been found: 1 creation day is 1,000 X 365 X 7,000 or 2.5 billion years. That's right, the scale is really simple, it's been there all along,  and when you apply it to events in Genesis, it converts 19 events to the time we measure in science.

What do we get after converting these events? Agreement within measurement error; very old Scriptures contain the times for key events relating to the development of the universe and the appearance of life on Earth that science has only recently uncovered.

So if both science and the Bible agree on what happened and when it happened, why keep arguing?

Because there is still the HOW it happened. But having found agreement on the "when" and the "what," sheds new light on the issue. It is time to check out the scale, reread the biblical blueprint and stop the 200-year-old argument in politics, education....

Daniel Friedmann is the author of The Genesis One Code, and CEO of an aerospace company. He has a master's in engineering physics and 30 years' experience in the space industry, and has published more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific papers. He is also a long-time student of cosmology and religion.

29 Oct 2012

2nd Annual Andrew Connolly Day of Service Joins National Make a Difference Day in Dubuque

By Amanda Bowman

Waterloo, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) will host the second annual Andrew Connolly Day of Service on Saturday, October 27th. The Andrew Connolly Day of Service will be held in conjunction with Make a Difference Day in Dubuque.

Andrew Connolly was an Iraq Veteran who lost his battle to terminal cancer in August 2011. Because of Andrew's efforts to pay it forward and Braley's legislation in Congress, thousands of Veterans will have sufficient funds to pay for adaptive housing.

In honor of his life and service to others, the yearly day of service to pay it forward will take place this Saturday. This year, efforts will go toward helping elderly residents in Dubuque, Andrew's hometown.

The press is welcome to attend.

Saturday, October 27th, 2012

 

8:00 AM CDT                        

2nd Annual Andrew Connolly Day of Service/Make a Difference Day

Westminster Presbyterian Church

2155 University Avenue

Dubuque, Iowa

 

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29 Oct 2012

Celebrate Fall with us! Winter Market starts Next Week!

By Freight House Farmers' Market
This week we are very lucky to have two great performers sharing the stage at the market, both have been on stage before and have delighted the shoppers at the market with their easy listening singer songwriter style. Dave Maxwell and Kevin Boyd will share the stage this Saturday October 27th. So the entertainment at the market is doubling this week! And don't forget that we have the River City Marching Band performing between sets with their New Orleans style FUN! Bring the whole family and laugh, dance, dine and celebrate with us the end of summer and the start on the winter market! Yes it is true, we are a year round market both indoors and outdoors. So come and celebrate with us!

Don't forget we still have Freight House Farmers Market t-shirts available indoors first table on left or see Barb.
29 Oct 2012

Instructional program: "Preparing Your Advanced Directives"

By Sara McLees

Chaplain Robert Hanson, Director of Pastoral Care from Trinity Health System's will be offering an instructional program "Preparing Your Advanced Directives."  The program will include an overview of advanced directives, a time for questions, and an opportunity for those in attendance to complete personal advanced directives. 

 

The program is hosted by First Congregational Church, 2201 - 7th Ave Moline, IL on Wednesday November 7th. At 6:30 pm. From 5:30-6:15 will be a fellowship dinner. The program and meal are free of charge.

 

 

Call the church at 309-762-0787 to RSVP.

29 Oct 2012

Double Trouble for Soybean Cyst Nematode

By United Soybean Board
Two recent checkoff-funded discoveries provide more possible solutions to billion-dollar disease

ST. LOUIS (October 25, 2012) - When it comes to soybean cyst nematode (SCN), which costs U.S. soybean farmers $1 billion annually in crop losses, farmers can never have enough potential solutions. Twice recently, research funded by the United Soybean Board (USB) and soy checkoff has yielded potential breakthroughs in fighting off this devastating disease.

In a paper titled "A Soybean Cyst Nematode Resistance Gene Points to a New Mechanism of Plant Resistance to Pathogens," scientists reveal that they identified and validated the gene at the Rhg4 locus, a major driver in a soybean plant's resistance to SCN.

"The checkoff has a number of projects that aim to identify the genes in a soybean plant that can effectively control SCN," says USB Production program Chair Jim Schriver, a soybean farmer from Bluffton, Ind. "Even though there are different types of SCN, if we could take advantage of those genes that control resistance, it would be effective for all types of SCN."

The study, published recently in the online journal Nature, is the first to identify the gene and its mechanism for creating resistance, according to the article's lead authors, Khalid Meksem, Ph.D., of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) and Melissa Goellner Mitchum, Ph.D., of the University of Missouri at Columbia.

"Funding and support from USB and the soy checkoff have been crucial to this new discovery of disease resistance, which will be used to develop products that will benefit U.S. soybean farmers," says Meksem, associate professor of plant, soil science and agricultural systems at SIUC. "This discovery comes at a time when farmers need new solutions, as the nematodes adapt and find ways through the soybeans' defenses."

The team hopes their research will lead to a better understanding of how the resistant genes work and ultimately lead to improved crop yield.

A separate checkoff-funded project recently found that soybean plants with multiple copies of a multi-gene block known as Rhg1 also show better resistance to SCN. Both projects allow researchers to focus on these gene structures - Rhg1 and Rhg4 - to help them develop SCN-resistant U.S. soybean varieties.

The 69 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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29 Oct 2012

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Attend Grand Opening of NewBo City Market in Iowa

By The Buzz Gallery of modern Art

WASHINGTON, October 25, 2012 - On Saturday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the grand opening of the NewBo City Market. He will highlight the growing strength of local and regional food systems, USDA's continuing efforts to expand marketing opportunities for producers and small businesses, and the important role this market and ventures like it can play to strengthen the Iowa economy.

NewBo City Market, located in a reclaimed, formerly flood-ravaged industrial site in the heart of Cedar Rapid's New Bohemia district serves as a public market for area small businesses selling Iowa-produced food and food products. In addition to the market space, NewBo comprises an entire city block at the crossroads of 12th Ave. and 3rd St. SE and houses an event hall, a culinary kitchen, and a distribution center that will facilitate efforts to feed hungry families in the area.

The local and regional food sector is a multi-billion dollar piece of America's thriving agricultural economy. Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Agriculture under Secretary Vilsack's leadership has supported all sectors of American agriculture, including efforts to strengthen local and regional food systems for farmers of all types and sizes, helping them take advantage of new opportunities and succeed in today's diverse marketplace. Today, the number of farmer's markets has increased more than 60 percent over 2008 levels, and USDA efforts have supported more than 200 new food hubs across America that are helping small and medium-sized producers and value-added small businesses reach broader markets.

Saturday, October 27, 2012
10:45 a.m. CDT

WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will host a press availability to discuss the importance of local agriculture at the grand opening of the NewBo City Market.

WHERE: NewBo City Market
1100 3rd Street SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

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29 Oct 2012

Scott County Extension Calendar Oct 2, 2012

By Amanda Heitz
29 Oct 2012

First Lady writes in ISU Daily: It's time to vote

By Obama for America

http://www.iowastatedaily.com/opinion/article_366f5a7e-1d62-11e2-87ec-0019bb2963f4.html

Election Day is fast approaching, but your chance to vote and make your voice heard is already here. Thanks to early voting, you can cast your vote today ? well before Nov. 6. Your chance to have your say in the future of our country starts now, and it's more important than ever that young people like you make yourselves heard.

Early voting has made it easier than ever to participate in this election. At GottaVote.com you can find out how and where to vote early, and you don't have to worry about missing out on Election Day because you're caught up with a paper or cramming for a midterm. If you vote early, I promise you'll thank yourself for it when you wake up on Nov. 6.

And if you wonder whether your vote will really matter, I want you to remember that in 2008, Barack won North Carolina by only 14,000 votes. That breaks down to just five votes per precinct. This year, any battleground state could be just as close, and we'll need every single vote we can get.

In 2008, young Americans like you turned every piece of conventional political wisdom on its head. For years, we had heard that young people couldn't be counted on, and that they wouldn't turn out at the polls on Election Day. But you didn't just turn out on Election Day ? you volunteered and organized for nearly two years beforehand, and you built a national movement that made history.

You worked hard for this campaign because you knew that if you elected Barack, he was going to have your back. And over the last four years, Barack has never stopped fighting for young Americans.

Barack has helped make college more affordable so that no student has to turn down a college acceptance letter because they can't afford the tuition. He's done that by keeping loan interest rates low, doubling funding for Pell Grants, and setting up a tax credit for middle class families. Because of health reform, you can stay on your parents' insurance until age 26, women can no longer be arbitrarily charged higher premiums than men, and insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage for a so-called "pre-existing condition." Barack has also repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" so that every American can serve this great country no matter who they love, and he's stood up to attacks on women's health because he believes women should be able to make our own decisions about our health care.

Most importantly, Barack is rebuilding our economy based on the values that made our country great: fairness, hard work, and responsibility. We've now had 31 straight months of private sector job growth and the unemployment rate is at the lowest level since my husband took office. And while we still have a long way to go, our businesses have created more than 5 million new jobs right here in the United States of America.

Your vote is your chance to make sure we don't turn back on all of this progress. And now is the time we need you to help Barack keep moving our country forward. Go to GottaVote.com to find out how and where to vote today.
29 Oct 2012

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell Endorses President Obama

By Randy Stalsberg

CHICAGO -- Former Secretary of State, National Security Adviser, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell endorsed President Obama for re-election today. Powell cited the President's leadership in bringing us back from the brink of economic collapse, ending the war in Iraq, his plan to end the war in Afghanistan, and his strong record of fighting terrorism as reasons for his endorsement.

Watch Colin Powell's endorsement HERE.

TRANSCRIPT

ROSE: Will you endorse President Obama this race?

POWELL: Well, you know I voted for him in 2008 and I plan to stick with him in 2012, and I'll be voting for he and for Vice President Joe Biden next month.

ROSE: That's an endorsement for President Obama for re-election?

POWELL: Yes. And let me say why. When he took over the country was in very, very difficult straits, we were in one of the worst recessions we had seen in recent times, close to a depression. The fiscal system was collapsing. Wall Street was in chaos. We had 800,000 jobs lost in that first month of the Obama administration and unemployment would peak a few months later at 10%. So we were in real trouble. The auto industry was collapsing. The housing industry was starting to collapse, and we were in very difficult straits. And I saw over the next several years stabilization come back in the financial community, housing is now starting to pick up after four years, it's starting to pick up. Consumer confidence is rising. So I think generally we've come out of the dive and we're starting to gain altitude. It doesn't mean we are problem solved, there are lots of problems still out there. The unemployment rate is too high. People are still hurting in housing. But I see that we are starting to rise up. I also saw the President get us out of one war, start to get us out of a second war and did not get us into any new wars. And finally, I think that the actions he's taken with respect to protecting us from terrorism have been very, very solid. And so I think we ought to keep on the track that we are on. With respect to Governor Romney, I have the utmost respect to him but as I listen to what his proposals are especially with respect to dealing with our most significant issue, the economy, it's essentially let's cut taxes and compensate for that with other things. But that compensation does not cover all of the cuts intended or the new expenses associated with defense.

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