Darrun Hilliard suffers lower back stress fracture

Detroit Pistons guard Darrun Hilliard suffered a stress fracture of the lower back and will not participate in 2016 NBA Orlando Summer League. Hilliard will be evaluated by Detroit Pistons team physicians and a rehab process and timeline for his return to basketball activities will be determined once the diagnosis is complete.

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Lakers extend qualifying offers to Jordan Clarkson, Tarik Black and Marcelo Huertas

The Los Angeles Lakers have extended qualifying offers to Tarik Black, Jordan Clarkson, and Marcelo Huertas. By extending qualifying offers, the players become restricted free agents. Black was awarded to the Lakers on a waiver claim on December 28, 2014 and has averaged 5.3 points and 5.2 rebounds on 57.5% shooting in 77 games (27 starts) over [...]

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Nets waive Jarrett Jack

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard Jarrett Jack. According to the New York Post, “Jack had a salary of $6.3 million for next season, but the Nets had until Thursday night to waive him and owe him only $500,000. The team will stretch that sum over three years to save every possible penny of [...]

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Timberwolves waive Greg Smith

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has waived forward/center Greg Smith. Smith was originally signed to 10-day contracts on March 2 and March 12 before being signed through the end of the season on March 22. He averaged 2.4 points and 2.3 rebounds over 18 games last season with the Timberwolves. In his career, Smith [...]

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Hornets extend qualifying offer to Troy Daniels

The Charlotte Hornets have extended a qualifying offer to guard Troy Daniels. By extending a qualifying offer to Daniels prior to the June 30 deadline, Charlotte owns the right to match any offer sheet he may sign with another team. Daniels will become a restricted free agent on July 1. Daniels averaged 5.6 points and 1.3 [...]

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Mavs center Salah Mejri undergoes knee surgery

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that center Salah Mejri underwent arthroscopic surgery for a right knee debridement this morning. The surgery was performed by team physician Dr. Daniel Worrel at The Carrell Clinic in Dallas. Mejri (7-2, 235) averaged 3.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 11.7 minutes per game in 34 games (six starts) [...]

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The (not-so-hidden) costs of caregiving

Family caregiving is a huge topic nowadays. With over 75 million “baby boomers” poised to become the largest generation in American history to require such caregiving, how can it not be? Already, family members — people like you and me — provide $642 billion worth of unpaid care for our spouses, parents, and relatives each year. But what is the price we pay in terms of our personal well-being, physical and otherwise?

While caregiving has been shown to have benefits — it helps to build character, enrich one’s soul, and even ward off cognitive decline —its burdens can be just as significant, if not more so, as demonstrated by a new study published in a recent issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Realities of caregiving

Researchers at the University of Toronto followed a group of 280 caregivers of critically ill family members who had received seven or more days of mechanical ventilation (“breathing machine”) in the ICU for 12 months. The goal was to assess the impact of caregiving on the caregivers’ well-being and quality of life. The average age of caregivers in the study was 53; 70% of the caregivers were women, and 61% were caring for their spouse. Here’s what the study found:

• More than half of caregivers had high levels of depression (67% were depressed at the start of the study, and 43% were depressed after one year of follow-up).

• The depression decreased somewhat with time in 84% of the caregivers, but did not in 16%.

• Caregivers who were younger, who had to give up regular activities for caregiving, and who had lost a sense of control over their lives tended to be worse off than the rest.

Notably, older caregivers were better off health-wise than younger caregivers, perhaps because they had more free time and faced fewer work-related pressures. Those who fared better also had higher income — so were likely able to afford more paid help and to take more time off work — and had better support from family, friends, and community.

One of the study’s most important findings is that caregivers of critically ill family members may still be at risk for clinical depression for months, if not years, after the crisis is over — and that this risk is higher for these caregivers than for most of us, including those who look after loved ones with chronic progressive illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease. The study also notes that there is currently a lack of resources for caregivers.

Statistical data can hardly convey the anguish that many caregivers of critically ill patients face day-to-day: the anger, sadness, frustration, and loneliness of it all. And yet these are the feelings one hears about most often in the consulting room. Spouses may feel cheated out of their golden years and harbor resentment. (One client described caring for her husband with brain damage to be “as close to hell as it can get.”) Adult children can be in denial of a parent’s condition and blame the caregiving parent for not doing the “right thing,” or can sometimes expect the caregiver to be superhuman.

What caregivers can do to care for themselves

As medical science continues to make advances in prolonging the life span, more and more of us may find ourselves in the role of a family caregiver. The Toronto study reminds us that health crises may be unavoidable and that their effects can be profound. But there are strategies we can employ to mitigate their potential stresses and strains, such as:

• Not doing it all alone. Get as much support as you can. Schedule a regular walk with a walking partner. Find a support group. Let friends and neighbors help out with cooking and errands.

• Timely financial planning. Do not wait for a crisis to put your affairs in order.

• Talking with our loved ones about their goals and wishes for care while they are still in good health, and drawing up “advance directive” documents that put these wishes in writing.

• Last but not least, taking good care of ourselves, both physically and psychologically. Make sure you get enough sleep. Go to the gym. Take a yoga or meditation class.

As the Family Caregiver Alliance reminds us, when your needs are taken care of, the person you care for will benefit, too.

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3 great cut-throughs in Central London

Last week we highlighted some favourite cut-throughs in East London. This was somewhat hard to compile as I use a lot of cut-throughs in my regular route construction so picking 3 in any one area was not easy, but it makes you think about how well they really work for expedience.

Now it is the turn of central London and it is just as hard, if not harder. Many little cut-throughs I have used in the past are really part of a longer route along a cycle lane and so don’t really have an inclusive, fanning out appeal as a really useful cut-though should. The ones below are little pieces of infrastructure that can play into many routes and often avoid very busy roads or junctions.

So, without further ado, here are my favourite cut-throughs in central London, in no particular order.

Gray’s Inn Road/Ampton Street

This cut through is a cycle lane going East West across Gray’s Inn Road. It is particularly useful as it connects a lot of cut throughs and cycle specific ‘quiet ways’ (not to be confused with official Quiet Ways) from Islington through into Bloomsbury and beyond.

The Islington side of this cut-though, along Ampton Street has a cycle lane (also a cut-through, does that make one like a meta-cut-through?) between some houses which allows you to get to Kings Cross road and head South from there, or continue North East up and through to Angel and Essex Road where there are some more lovely cut-throughs.

Euston Road/Cartright Gardens

I used to use this incredibly convenient cut-through every day going from Archway to Covent Garden, although it works for anywhere North of Kings Cross or Euston through to just about anywhere within the congestion charge zone when combined with other cut-throughs.

Euston road is generally fairly horrible and I try to void actually cycling on it as much as possible. The road that feeds down onto the cycle lane across the central reservation, Ossulston heads directly into Camden Town so many routes can get you there. The cut-though is a Southbound convenience as it is not possible to turn right at the end of Ossulston Street, and Cartwright Gardens is one way the other way. Therefore, this cut-though turns what would be a Northbound only route into a two way one for bikes.

Hatton Garden/Holborn

This cut through is at the end of Hatton garden, heading south. The road itself is one way for cars but two way for bikes and makes a handy cut through for routes in from the North and East. From here it is easy to get to the Inns of Court, Temple, Blackfriars or Smithfield. It can also be used to get to the city, should you wish.

The infrastructure itself is understated and this is really its only downside – it is not a highly painted bike lane and so it will have pedestrians in it more often than not, therefore you need to use some caution and a low speed. However, the junction at Holborn viaduct that you end up in is not very nice and there is a specific little bike lane to get you into a West bound lane should that be your goal.

There are a lot more great cut-throughs in central London of course. There are loads in Bloomsbury that I find particularly helpful and a few just South of the river near Borough that are also great.

What are your favourites?

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Warriors extend qualifying offers to Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli

Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli are now restricted free agents The Golden State Warriors have extended qualifying offers to forward Harrison Barnes and center Festus Ezeli, the team announced today. By extending a qualifying offer prior to the June 30 deadline, Barnes and Ezeli will become restricted free agents and Golden State owns the right to match [...]

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No. 1 Day Backs Out of Olympics, Cites Zika

For the second time in a week, a golfer ranked in the top 5 in the world is leaving the Olympic field, because of concerns of the Zika virus.

No. 1 Jason Day, the defending champion at the PGA Championship, made his announcement on Tuesday.

“The sole reason for my decision is my concerns about the possible transmission of the Zika virus and the potential risks that it may present to my wife’s future pregnancies and to future members of our family,” Day said in a statement. “I have always placed my family in front of everything else in my life.”

This is the first time golf has been included in the Olympics since the 1904 games in St. Louis. There is some growing thought that many top golfers are backing out of the competition because it is a week without a pay date and will interfere with their travel schedules.

Ireland’s Shane Lowery also announced he would not compete on Tuesday.

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Pistons trade Jodie Meeks to Magic

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has acquired a 2019 conditional second round pick from the Orlando Magic in exchange for guard Jodie Meeks. Meeks, 28, signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons in 2014. In 63 games with Detroit, he averaged 10.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 23.9 minutes. [...]

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Hawks exercise contract option on Mike Muscala

The Atlanta Hawks have exercised the contract option for the 2016-17 season on forward/center Mike Muscala, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. In the 2015-16 season, Muscala played in a career-high 60 games, shooting .500 from the field and .795 from the free throw line in 9.4 minutes per game. [...]

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Trail Blazers extend qualifying offers to Allen Crabbe, Maurice Harkless and Meyers Leonard

The Portland Trail Blazers have extended qualifying offers to guard Allen Crabbe and forwards Maurice Harkless and Meyers Leonard, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey. By extending qualifying offers to Crabbe, Harkless and Leonard prior to the June 30 deadline, Portland owns the right to match any offer sheet they may [...]

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Sixers exercise contract option on Hollis Thompson

The Philadelphia 76ers have exercised their fourth-year team option on the contract of forward Hollis Thompson. Over the course of three NBA seasons, Thompson has appeared in 225 games (81 starts) and averaged eight points and three rebounds per contest while shooting 39 percent from three-point range. His 331 career three-pointers are the eighth-most in Sixers [...]

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Magic extend qualifying offers to Evan Fournier and Dewayne Dedmon

The Orlando Magic have extended qualifying offers to center Dewayne Dedmon and guard/forward Evan Fournier, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today. By extending qualifying offers to Dedmon and Fournier prior to the June 30 deadline, Orlando owns the right to match any offer sheet they may sign with another team. Both players will become restricted [...]

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Magic hire Chad Forcier, Corliss Williamson and David Adelman as assistant coaches

The Orlando Magic have named Chad Forcier, Corliss Williamson and David Adelman assistant coaches. In addition Jay Hernandez will remain as assistant coach/player development, completing Frank Vogel’s coaching staff. “Our staff possesses a tremendous work ethic, has great attention to detail, and will help our players reach their full potential,” said Vogel. “Their talents and experience complement [...]

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Grand Rapids Drive announce coach and GM

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has named Jon Phelps as general manager and Rex Walters as head coach of the Grand Rapids Drive - the NBA D-League affiliate of the Detroit Pistons. “We’re fortunate to be able [...]

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Ancient vs. modern grains: They’re all good!

I grew up in the 70s and 80s, and every once in a while a TV commercial would tout a product with the “goodness of whole grains,” like it was some earth-shattering news that would make your mom floor it to the grocery store. Back then it probably was impressive, since many popular foods were loaded with refined grains and added sugar (I’m talking to you, spongy lunchbox treats and cereals with prizes inside the box).

These days, it’s common knowledge that whole grains like oats and wheat are important for maintaining health: they raise “good” HDL cholesterol levels and lower “bad” LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure.

More evidence

A Harvard study published online on June 13, 2016, in the journal Circulation found that, compared to people who didn’t eat many whole grains each day, people who ate four servings of whole grains daily (about 70 grams) during the study period had a 22% lower risk of death from any cause, a 23% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, and a 20% lower risk of dying from cancer. The study doesn’t prove that whole grains prevent early death, but it adds to increasing evidence that whole grains really are full of “goodness.”

Maybe that’s why some whole grains, called ancient grains, are now trending among foodies, even showing up on the list of the National Restaurant Association’s “What’s Hot in 2016” culinary forecast.

What are ancient grains?

Unlike modern grains such as wheat, corn, and rice, ancient grains have never been processed through hybridization or genetic modification; they’re grown just as they were a thousand years ago. They have exotic-sounding names like teff, einkorn, emmer, amaranth, millet, quinoa, black rice, black barley, and spelt. And they pack a nutritional wallop. “Generally speaking, they offer more protein, fiber, and vitamins than modern grains,” says Debbie Krivitsky, a registered dietitian at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. For example, a cup of cooked teff has 10 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber, compared with 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber in a cup of cooked modern brown rice.

Nutrition isn’t the only difference. Ancient grains sometimes have more calories than modern grains. In our example of teff and brown rice, teff has 255 calories per cup, compared to brown rice, which has 216 calories. Furthermore, a cup of cooked modern oatmeal has only 124 calories, and a cup of cooked modern corn has only 74 calories. In addition to the higher calorie content, there is another difference between the two forms of grains: ancient grains tend to cost more than modern grains.

Whole grains, always in style

Just because ancient grains are “in” right now, it doesn’t mean you should discount modern whole grains. All whole grains are better for you than refined grains. Whole-grain kernels have three parts — the bran, endosperm, and germ — that give you phytonutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants, which protect against chronic disease. “Refined grains get rid of the bran and germ in the processing, and you lose the fiber and many of the nutrients,” says Krivitsky.

Many whole grains contain plenty of fiber, which helps lower cholesterol, improves digestion, and controls blood sugar. “It’s okay to eat lower-fiber whole grains. Just make sure you include other foods that are high in fiber, such as fruit and vegetables or high-fiber breads, cereals, and crackers,” says Krivitsky.

Where to start

The takeaway message is to vary your whole grains. “Keep eating oatmeal and brown rice if you like it, but add in some ancient grains from time to time,” suggests Krivitsky. Enjoy ancient grains as a side dish to a meal, or sample products that contain ancient grains, such as breads, cereals, and pastas.

When buying any whole-grain product, to ensure that you are getting an appreciable serving of that grain, make sure it’s one of the first ingredients listed; ingredients are listed by quantity, in descending order. Also, make sure there’s not a lot of added sugar, which takes away from the value of the food.

And remember to watch your calories when eating any grains. “Some of these are calorie-dense foods, so you really have to be mindful of portions or you may gain weight. But you can have less and still get more nutrients,” says Krivitsky.

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Frank Kaminsky having chest surgery

Hornets forward Frank Kaminsky will not play 2016 summer league. On Wednesday, June 29, Kaminsky will undergo a minor procedure to repair a small pocket of air in his chest wall. The recovery time for the procedure is approximately six weeks. Kaminsky averaged 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 21.1 minutes per game during [...]

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Juwan Howard will coach Heat summer league team

Summer league is approaching. It’s a time for rookies and young players to show some of what they can do. And it’s often a chance for assistant coaches to do the same. Here’s the Palm Beach Post blog reporting: With Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra preparing to walk down the aisle and become a married man next month, [...]

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Stenson Takes BMW Title

Henrik Stenson won the BMW International Open on Sunday, his first victory of any sort in 17 months.

His final-round 71 was enough to complete a 17-under 271, holding off Darren Fichardt and Thorbjorn Olesen, who finished tied for second at 14-under.

Played at the Golf Club Gut Laerchenhof, ,the tournament was Stenson’s first victory since the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November of 2014. He had four top six finishes on the European Tour in 2015, and four more to date in 2016.

He’s the fourth man to win the BMW more than once – joining Pablo Larrazabal, Thomas Bjorn, and Paul Azinger in that rare air. The victory moved Stenson from seventh in the world up to fifth, knocking Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler each down a notch.

Rankings Update

Jason Day remained No. 1 for the 14th consecutive week, ahead of No. 2 Jordan Spieth and No. 3 Dustin Johnson. American Billy Hurley III, who won the Quicken Loans National, jumped to No. 169 from No. 607, a leap of some 438 spots. Vijay Singh, who finished second behind Hurley, jumped 91 spots to No. 119.

Race to Dubai Update

Stenson moved up to sixth in the Race to Dubai standings with 1,448,095 points. He is the eighth player to top 1 million points for the season, although everyone is still leagues behind No. 1 Danny Willett (3.13 million). The Top 60 players at year’s end qualify for the four-tournament Final Series.

FedEx Cup Update

Billy Hurley III climbed into the field for the FedEx Cup with his first win ever, moving from 198th to 70th. Also now in the mix is Singh, who rose from 143rd to 73rd. The top seven players remained unchanged, followed by Justin Thomas, who rose from 11th to eighth.

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A bummer for kids: Nasal flu vaccine not effective

Follow me at @drClaire

Every year, many of my patients have been able to skip the needle — and still get vaccinated against the flu. That was the great thing about the nasal spray version of the flu vaccine, known as the LAIV (live attenuated influenza vaccine): kids scared of needles could get a squirt up each nostril and be all set.

This coming flu season, everyone is getting the shot.

It turns out that the nasal spray just didn’t work that well. Despite studies from the 2002-2003 and 2004-2005 flu seasons that seemed to show that the nasal spray actually worked better than the shot in children ages 2-8 years, over the past couple of years it became clear that it wasn’t working very well. Data from the 2015-2016 season showed that the spray only offered protection 3% of the time, as opposed to 63% with the shot.

We might as well have been squirting water up those noses, which is so upsetting to me as a pediatrician. I recommended the nasal spray. I told families it worked just as well. But it didn’t.

We don’t know why the nasal spray hasn’t been working well. Usually, “live attenuated” viral vaccines, the ones that are not completely inactive but aren’t active enough to cause infection in most people, work better than inactive ones. Usually, they cause a stronger immune response from the body and give better protection. It’s particularly puzzling since those earlier studies showed it worked better than the shot. In retrospect, those studies were done before the H1N1 virus became a big actor in the flu scene, and for some reason, the spray doesn’t seem to work as well against that type of influenza. Also, many of the children in the studies were getting a flu vaccine for the first time, and this may have skewed the results; the way the body reacts is different when it’s your second or third or tenth time being vaccinated.

That’s the thing about medicine: our understanding of diseases and treatments is always evolving. Diseases and treatments can be amazingly intricate and complicated. Sometimes we think we understand something, only to find out that we don’t — or that we misunderstood it. That’s why ongoing research is so important. We must always be questioning and studying — and always applying what we learn to what we do.

Having learned what we did about the nasal spray flu vaccine, we won’t be giving it anymore. I will always feel upset about my patients who didn’t get the protection I thought they were getting, the protection I told them they would get. But at the same time, I’m grateful to the researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for always questioning and studying — and using what they learn to help us take better care of people.

We often stumble sometimes as we make progress in anything, including medicine. It’s our ability to be humble and honest, and our willingness to always strive to do things better, that makes the difference.

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• Protection from the TdaP vaccine doesn’t last very long

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Grizzlies add Tony Wroten

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today announced that the Grizzlies claimed guard Tony Wroten off waivers. Wroten (6-6, 205) holds career averages of 11.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 21.2 minutes in 145 games (34 starts) over four seasons with the Grizzlies and Philadelphia 76ers. The 23-year-old averaged 8.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and [...]

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Brookmere by Onni

The Brookmere by Onni, offers a 28 story tower that will rise above West Coquitlam.  Located at 535 North Road, Coquitlam, right in the heart of the new Burquitlam city centre. Brookmere blends Burnaby’s urban vive with the Coquitlam’s neighbourhood spirit.

Brookmere offers several amenities as well including a media room, yoga space, meeting room and 3^rd floor outdoor terrace with several garden plots. The media room is a great place to watch movies or the season finale of Game of Thrones.   On the other hand, the yoga space is a great place to exercise in. You can go to the yoga room and carry out yoga to stay fit or you can simply just go there and exercise however you want to.

Another offering of Brookmere is the party room. The party room comes equipped with full kitchen and dining. The full kitchen and dining is offers you an all exclusive access to kitchen appliances. You can easily cook your favorite meals there. On the other hand, the dining is also a great place to go and sit in and have food in. Aside from these amenities, another great offering at the Brookmere is the professional equipped gym. The professional equipped gym allows you to work out the best free of charge. It lets you exercise and keep your health intact.

Brookmere starts at $269,000 and it has a total of 216 units.

 

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Video: Penne alla Betsy! by Ree

If you have read my website for any length of time, you have probably seen this recipe here and there! It’s truly one of the simplest, tastiest recipes in my (and my sister’s!) arsenal, and I knew I wanted to turn it into a video. I still get feedback from folks who make the recipe who declare it a keeper.

So here ’tis! Penne alla Betsy. Thought I’d post it now before we get heavily into the Fourth of July recipes. (Ack! Is that seriously one week from now?) Note that there are a couple of minor differences between the quantities/ingredients in the old post and the video. I just tidied things up a bit, but both versions are just dandy.

(Be sure to listen to the audio with the video! I get a kick out of the sound effects.)

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Single payer healthcare: Pluses, minuses, and what it means for you

Follow me at @andrea_sylvie

As someone who researches inequities in health care, I’ve diligently followed the debate about healthcare reform. However, most of my friends (and I suspect most Americans) wonder exactly what single payer healthcare is and how will it affect them. In a New England Journal of Medicine perspective piece, Jonathan Oberlander, PhD, a professor of social medicine at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, expounds on the history and obstacles facing calls for single payer healthcare reform.

Problems with the current U.S. healthcare system

Oberlander points out that the impetus for reorganizing the entire healthcare system has to do with the regrettable state of healthcare in the United States. Currently, the healthcare finance structure is made of an impressively complicated network of multiple payers, involving both private and government health insurance options. Despite spending more on healthcare than comparable countries, the U.S. has the lowest life expectancy and performs poorly on a variety of health outcomes. Thus, our complex network of insurance plans is wasteful — in large part due to high administrative costs and lack of price control.

Inequity is another major problem. The United States remains the only developed country without universal healthcare. The Affordable Care Act has made important gains toward improving and expanding health insurance coverage. However, it was never designed to provide universal healthcare and 30 million Americans remain uninsured.

What is a single payer healthcare system?

In a single payer healthcare system, rather than multiple competing health insurance companies, a single public or quasi-public agency takes responsibility for financing healthcare for all residents. That is, everyone has health insurance under a one health insurance plan, and has access to necessary services — including doctors, hospitals, long-term care, prescription drugs, dentists and vision care. However, individuals may still choose where they receive care. It’s a lot like Medicare, hence the U.S. single payer nickname “Medicare-for-all.”

Proponents advocate that a single payer system would address several problems in the U.S. system. Universal health coverage would be a major step towards equality, especially for uninsured and underinsured Americans. Overall expenses and wasteful spending could be better controlled through cost control and lower administrative costs, as evidenced in other countries. Furthermore, a single payer system has more incentive to direct healthcare spending toward public health measures. For example, targeting funding towards childhood obesity prevention programs in elementary schools and daycares reduces the rates and complications of obesity more effectively and at lower costs than paying for doctor visits to recommend healthier diets and increased physical activity.

At the same time, we must also recognize the potential tradeoffs of transitioning to a single payer system. Lengthy wait times and restricted availability of certain healthcare services (such as elective surgery or cosmetic procedures) are important criticisms. Thus, despite its advantages, single payer will not ease the constant tension of balancing access, quality and cost in healthcare. However, Oberlander suggests these issues are much smaller in countries with single payer healthcare when compared to the current U.S. system.

How could single payer be successful in the U.S.?

Oberlander implies the major obstacles to adopting Medicare-for-all are political, rather than actual practical problems within the single payer structure. Stakeholders who stand to lose — such as health insurers, organized medicine, and pharmaceutical companies — represent a powerful opposition lobby. Public opinion needs to be redirected to focus on how the net benefits of a single payer system outweigh the tradeoffs discussed above. Furthermore, despite the individual level savings, behavioral economics predicts the general public will wince at the notion of transferring healthcare spending from employers to higher taxes managed by the federal government. Additionally, despite long term savings projected from moving to a single payer system, the upfront costs of the transition are also politically unpopular.

A way forward

If the major barrier to implementing single payer healthcare in the U.S. is a matter of politics, the pathway forward will require mobilizing public support. A recent poll suggests 58% of Americans support Medicare-for-all. Interestingly, whereas a majority of physicians support transitioning to single payer, they are less likely to believe their colleagues share this opinion. This raises an interesting question of whether the “conventional wisdom” that it is too difficult to reorganize the healthcare insurance system overshadows actual public opinion.

Multiple strategies to continue to push for Medicare-for-all have been proposed. This includes individual states implementing a single payer system as a demonstration of feasibility, which failed before implementation in Vermont but will be on Colorado’s 2016 ballot. An alternative proposes implementing a single payer system on a federal level by lowering the Medicare qualifying age every few years. Through education of the general population about the merits of single payer, perhaps eventually the public will vote politicians into office willing to overcome Medicare-for-all’s political barriers.

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Hurley Celebrates Hometown Win at Quicken National

It’s wins like this one that make sports so very special.

See  Billy Hurley III, see him very well. Eleven months ago, he found out his father had gone missing, without warning, reason, or logic. Hurley used his power as a golfer to hold a press conference and reach out to his father. His dad was sighted thousands of miles from the family home in Maryland, but never returned, ending his own life two weeks later.

On Sunday, Hurley, a former US Navy officer turned pro golfer, was in Bethesda, Maryland for the Quicken Loans National. Playing barely 45 minutes’ drive from the Naval Academy, he won his first PGA Tournament.

“It’s been a hard year,” Hurley said. “It’s been a really hard year, so it’s nice to have something go well.”

Quicken Loans National is sponsored by the Tiger Woods Foundation, and Woods, himself still recovering from multiple surgeries, was on hand in his traditional Nike Sunday red. But instead of intimidating the field, Woods acted as somewhat of a dampener for Hurley, who surely felt the pressure mount as his storyline played out Sunday.

Although his Sunday 69 was his highest score of the tournament, it was more than enough for Hurley to claim a three-stroke win over 53-year-old Vijay Singh, who played well enough to earn a place in the Open Championship next month. Hurley finished 17-under with his 66-65-67-69 – 267, earning him $1.242 million and 500 FedEx Cup points.

His biggest stroke of the day was an impossibly long putt to save par on No. 11 when he was just 1-under for the day, while Singh was 4-under through nine. He went on to birdie 15 and 16 to seal the win, with Singh birdying 16 and 18, but bogeying 17 to put himself out of reach.

Bill Haas finished tied for third with Jon Rahm at 13-under. Haas was the only player in the field besides Hurley to shoot under 70 in all four rounds, going 66-69-68-68 – 271.

Rahm, just 21, was the low amateur at the 2016 US Open. A native of Barrika, Spain, he is the two-time recipient of the Ben Hogan Award. His finish Sunday qualified him for the Open Championship.

 

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Thunder rookie Domantas Sabonis will miss summer league

Here’s the Oklahoman reporting on that a Thunder rookie will be battling in the Olympics instead of playing summer league ball: A few of OKC’s young pieces are expected to compete: Cameron Payne, Josh Huestis and Mitch McGary. But perhaps the Thunder’s most anticipated young talent, rookie Domantas Sabonis, won’t be in Orlando for summer league, The Oklahoman [...]

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Marshall Plumlee reportedly joining Knicks summer league team

Summer leagues start soon. Rosters don’t come out all at one time. Teams figure them out one by one. No official summer squad rosters have been released by the teams yet. As for the Knicks, here’s the New York Post with an update: The Knicks need a center, and at least their summer league team has a familiar [...]

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Lakers want Hassan Whiteside

Hassan Whiteside is one of the most intriguing young centers in the league. At worst, he’s an excellent defensive addition to any team. And at best — well, we don’t know yet because he’s still developing. Here’s ESPN.com reporting the latest on Whiteside’s free agency situation: The Los Angeles Lakers plan to aggressively pursue Miami Heat center Hassan [...]

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Sixers reportedly add Shawn Long

Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting on the Sixers, who recently selected Ben Simmons first overall in the 2016 Draft and continue to shape their team for the future: Shawn Long agreed to a two-year partially guaranteed contract with the 76ers on Friday, according to a league source. The 6-foot-9, 245-pound post player of Louisiana-Lafayette went undrafted in Thursday’s NBA [...]

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Expect Celtics to chase Kevin Durant

Every team in the league would love to add a star like Kevin Durant. And although the assumption is still that he’ll remain with the Thunder, there’s no guarantee that he’ll do so. And even if he plans to stay, it makes sense to hear what some other teams have to say. It doesn’t really [...]

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Taking advantage of incidental findings

Have you ever gone looking for one thing and found another?

Maybe it’s that favorite pen you find under the couch cushion when you’re searching for your keys. Or perhaps you stumble across the leftover cheesecake in the fridge while looking for a healthier snack. Running across something you weren’t actually looking for can be distracting — but it can also be a lucky break.

Did I mention the cheesecake?

A new study has pointed out that, at least in the world of medicine, serendipity of this sort can actually be lifesaving.

Can mammography screen for heart disease?

Researchers publishing in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging report a fascinating link between incidental findings on mammograms and heart disease. Ordinarily, mammograms screen for breast cancer by detecting tiny bits of calcium in breast tissue. These “microcalcifications” can be a telltale sign of breast cancer. But blood vessels can also have calcium deposits, and that can be a sign of atherosclerosis, the “hardening of the arteries” linked to heart attacks and strokes. Currently, a radiologist reading a mammogram might see blood vessel calcium deposits but make no mention of them because they are “incidental” findings — that is, they were not what the test was designed to detect and their meaning isn’t clear. That could be about to change.

In this study, researchers compared the results of mammograms with CT scans of the coronary arteries. They found that there was a good correlation between the finding of calcium-laden blood vessels on mammograms and finding calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. If future research confirms this link — and, more importantly, if these mammographic findings lead to preventive measures or treatments that lower the incidence of heart attacks, strokes, and premature cardiovascular-related deaths — mammography could become a common screening test for both breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.

“Incidentalomas”: More troublesome than helpful?

The finding of an “incidentaloma” — an abnormal finding that wasn’t the abnormality that a test was intended to find — poses challenges to doctors and their patients. The simple truth is this: it’s hard to know what to do with something you find when it wasn’t what you were looking for, especially when no one is sure if what you found is useful.

This problem is not a new one. As imaging tests such as CT scans and MRIs have improved and become commonplace, more and more people are dealing with the uncertainty of the “abnormal shadow,” a lump or a nodule that’s of uncertain importance. A recent example is lung cancer screening by chest CT for smokers: about 25% have non-cancerous abnormalities (“false-positive” results) detected. Of course, patients and their doctors only know for sure that the abnormality is non-cancerous after a biopsy or a period of time has gone by without growth. Often these abnormalities may lead to unneeded worry, additional testing (which can be somewhat risky), and added health care costs.

The challenge — and potential — of incidental findings

Most of the time, incidental findings aren’t particularly helpful. You may hear about the occasional unexpected finding that did matter — an early, curable tumor or an aneurysm ready to burst, for example. But what you don’t hear as much about are the far more common “incidentalomas” that aren’t helpful at all: they don’t lead to any specific treatment or lead to improved health. And you also may hear little about the unneeded anxiety these findings provoke.

But, as this new study proves, incidental findings can also represent an opportunity. If mammography proves useful as a screening tool for heart disease, we’ll have taken advantage of an incidental finding that, in the past, was misleading, distracting, or just plain confusing.

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3 great cycle cut-throughs in East London

We mentioned this in our route planning guide and here it is – the first of our posts on our favourite cut-throughs: East London.

I love a good cut through – that feeling that you are getting away from the traffic while at the same time saving a few minutes on a commute home or journey to see a friend is great.

A true cut-through is a small piece of genuinely useful cycling infrastructure that cuts time off your ride by making the route more direct. It is usually something that cars are restricted from but allows bikes to pass through. Think small gaps over pavement between two roads, alleyways, lights with a bike phase etc.  I have not included longer park routes or the canals and marshes as these are more likely to be a large part of a route, rather than a small convenience.

Obviously the thing with cut-throughs is you have to know an area well to find them, so these are based on personal experience rather than covering the whole of East London – please add any you might have found to the end to help others who live outside of my field of exploring!

Haggerston Park/Columbia Road

A series of cut-throughs around here make it a real possibility to use London Fields and Broadway Market as part of a route into the City from the East, which is nice because these are lovely route highlights.

There is a convenient short cycle path at the end of Haggerston Park where it meets Hackney Road. At the end of this there is a set of traffic lights with a cycle phase which either allow you to easily join the fairly heavy traffic on Hackney Road going West, or you can cross the road to another series of cut-throughs if you want to avoid the main junctions and head a bit further South before going West.

Stratford

There are loads of cut-throughs around Stratford and it doesn’t seem right not mention a couple of my personal favourites.

Through the Olympic park there are sections of roads you can cycle on that are restricted to cars. There is a very useful one that links High Road Leyton directly into Stratford and the Olympic park. This road is closed to cars but open to buses. Even though traffic on it is limited, there is still enough cycling infrastructure to make cyclists of any level feel comfortable, including a protected lane and a shared use path to avoid the road narrowing.

There are also several junctions that have small bike lanes over the curbs at traffic lights that allow cyclists to turn left on a red light. The junctions are generally quiet and the path is wide so it works well and it means that you can legitimately use the regular roads as cut throughs to save time.

Eastway is a great cut-though with some protected cycle lane at the Leyton end, but with a bit of road at the Hackney end that is closed to cars going East bound, making it nice and quiet and a good route both ways for cyclists. All of these cut-throughs together make a route, but individually they are useful in their own rights.

Pritchard Street/ CS1

This junction is now part of CS1 and as such has been significantly upgraded, but it has always been a useful cut-through between areas in East Islington/West Hackney and the city. The main benefit of this cut through is a link between the quiet roads north of Shoreditch to the busy roads approaching Old Street.

The provision of a large bicycle crossing across Old Street makes joining the road from the North East a lot easier. It also makes getting through the whole junction and into the quiet roads behind Liverpool Street Station a breeze.

There is also a small section of protected cycle lane for those heading East along Old Street to protect those cycling around the corner from the cars. It is one of those small touches that just makes cycling in a very busy junction a little bit more bearable.

What are your favourite cut-throughs in East London? Please add them below to help others with their route planning.

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Thunder trade Serge Ibaka to Magic for Victor Oladipo and more

The Orlando Magic have acquired forward-center Serge Ibaka from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for guard Victor Oladipo, forward Ersan Ilyasova and the draft rights to Domantas Sabonis (#11 overall), General Manager Rob Hennigan announced tonight. “Serge (Ibaka) is a young veteran who brings tremendous athleticism and toughness to our frontcourt,” said Hennigan. “His [...]

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Thunder trading Serge Ibaka to Magic

It’s 2016 Draft night, and the biggest news, other than the Sixers making the expected first-overall pick of Ben Simmons, is that the Thunder, who came within one win of reaching the 2016 NBA Finals, are trading power forward Serge Ibaka to the Magic. Here’s the Oklahoman reporting: In a draft night bombshell, the Thunder traded Serge Ibaka [...]

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Willy Hernangomez plans to join Knicks

The Knicks are going to add some international talent to their frontcourt this offseason. Here’s Yahoo Sports reporting: Spanish center Willy Hernangomez plans to join the New York Knicks on a multiyear contract this summer, his agent, Andy Miller, told The Vertical. “It is my intent to reach an agreement with the Knicks and have Willy come to New [...]

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No Team USA for Kawhi Leonard this summer

San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard today announced that he has withdrawn his name from consideration for the 2016 USA Basketball Men’s National Team. “This was a very difficult decision. It’s an honor to have been considered for the team and I hope that in the future I will have the chance to represent my country [...]

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Report: Nets trade Thaddeus Young to Pacers

The Nets finished last season with a 21-61 record, the third worst in the league, ahead of only the Lakers and Sixers. A Brooklyn rebuild is clearly in order, which is difficult when a team has traded lots of first round draft picks away. But they have reportedly taken a step in the rebuild direction [...]

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Jeremy Lin reportedly declines contract option

The core of the Hornets backcourt this past season was Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum. Jeremy Lin, however, played fairly big minutes (26.3 mins/game) but was paid like a guy who sits close to the end of the bench. It isn’t a surprise that he’s seeking a new contract. Here’s ESPN.com reporting: Facing a Wednesday deadline, Charlotte [...]

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Report: Sixers want No. 3 pick from Celtics

The 2016 Draft is tonight, and rumors will be flying around like crazy all evening. We’ll share the most interesting stories, and we especially like stories that tell a bigger tale even if the deal doesn’t happen — like what a team’s goals may be and what they hope to accomplish. Here’s ESPN.com with the latest: The Philadelphia [...]

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Expect Cavs to re-sign LeBron James

LeBron James returned to the Cavs, reached the Finals, and then this year won Finals MVP and a championship for Cleveland. Here’s ESPN.com with the latest on the future between him and the squad: LeBron James stands to make less money on a one-year contract re-signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers than he could earn by going to the [...]

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How to stop your bike lock from jamming

Of course, it’s important to have a good lock and know how to use it. However, if you’ve ever put your key in your lock and it hasn’t opened as easily as it once did, it’s time for a little TLC. Here’s what you need to know about maintaining your bike lock…

Clean and lubricate the mechanism

There is nothing worse than having a lock jam while in use (unless you couple a cold, wet, dark night into the scenario). Once it is jammed there is not much you can do to instantly fix the situation other than cut the lock. You can follow the maintenance steps below to get it working again, but it takes time. Therefore, your best bet is to keep the lock in good working order before it jams.

Locks usually jam because they dry out and seize up, often due to water ingress. GT85 is a wonder substance. It can clean most things and it gets complex mechanicals working again smoothly. It is also a water displacer and therefore the best thing you can put into a lock to keep it working smoothly.

Spray a little GT85 into the lock and leave it for a few hours (overnight is best). You can put the GT85 into the locking mechanism and the holes where the lock itself inserts if you want to, this will of course vary by lock type. This will displace any water inside the lock and clean it out a bit. Wipe away any excess in the morning.

In the morning, add a little 3-in-1 and move your key around to work the oil in. Your lock should be good as new!

Note: There may be a little excess oil over the next few weeks, so keep your lock away from your favourite white t-shirt (either in a separate part of your backpack or store the lock inside a plastic bag).

Do not use WD-40, this is not a lubricant.

Lock with keyhole pointing down

Ideally you want to stop water and other crud from getting in in the first place, which you can achieve by locking with the keyhole pointing down. Even if a lock has a cover to slide into place, as most Kryptonites do, this will be most effective at preventing anything getting into the lock.

This is the wrong way to lock your bike!

An added bonus is that as you should be trying to make your lock as tight around your bike and locking object as possible, having it pointing down will make it even harder to pick. It may also help deter people from maliciously shoving things into your locking mechanism to disable it.

Insert the key gently

Sometimes you really want to just get going on your journey without the faff and bother of locking/unlocking your bike and sorting everything out. You may be in crush to get somewhere or be running late, we all know how it can be – the process of locking up is sometimes a frustrating drag, even though it really doesn’t take very long. Obviously, it is best not to rush so you don’t accidentally fail to properly lock your bike.

A further issue around rushing your bike locking manoeuvres is potential long term damage to your lock. If you insert your key into the lock too vigorously and force the barrels into position with it, in the long term you risk damaging your key by rounding off the edges and making it harder to unlock your bike. This is a particular problem with Kryptonites as they rely on the barrels all lining up internally and can often require a gentle jiggle with the key as it is going in. It can get irritating and so you will be tempted to force it (I have done this myself with one of my locks that is always a bit finicky to open).

Do you have any other lock-care advice that has proven its worth over the years? Please share it below!

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