All Critics (114) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (107) | Rotten (7)
As pretty as it is, this Secret World is too Earthbound by far.
The Secret World of Arrietty is a marvelously captivating animated feature about very tiny people and the full-scale world they inhabit.
Yonebayashi gives Arrietty an excellent sense of balance, with the adventure aspects of the story, which feel legitimately dangerous providing well-paced contrast the film's more placid moments.
It's an enjoyable and attractive-looking film, but a little of that "Speed Racer" energy wouldn't have been such a bad thing.
The visual details are inventive, and the animation - particularly the colors - is lovely.
"The Secret World of Arrietty'' is a feast for the eyes that will engage the entire family.
Like motion picture Yoga--quietly cathartic and just the thing to raise your kids on.
It certainly belongs in the second rank of Ghibli fantasies. But give it a chance.
Most will be caught up in its beautiful spell, immersed in great storytelling at its finest.
The soft-focus animation has an impressionistic quality, as if a gentle breeze had wafted across a Monet canvas.
This smart, winsome fairy tale is not quite Hiyao Miyazaki, but it still might be the best animated film that (some few) will see all year.
Another Studio Ghibli wonder, as heartbreaking for its devotion to craft, artistry and intelligent storytelling (for viewers of all ages) as for its themes of inevitable exile and impossible love.
There's a gentle movie from Japan that's going to seem familiar to a lot of fans of the series of books about 'The Borrowers.'
...yet another jewel in the crown of Studio Ghibli.
...creates a sense of wide-eyed wonder and discovery as we experience the awe-inspiring mysteries of an ordinary house as seen from the four-inch borrower's point of view.
The animation, a gorgeous blend of bewitching watercolored backgrounds and poignantly rendered characters, is, as ever, beyond reproach.
What is most effective is the way the sense of peaceful shelter and retreat in the country setting contrasts with the precariousness of the situations faced by Shawn and Arrietty.
It's hard to imagine this scenario playing out with more delicacy and care than animator-turned-director Yonebayashi Hiromasa brings to bear.
Arrietty has an elegiac mood, like a more wan and sedate Toy Story.
Gently enchanting, an extraordinary adventure
There may not be a frenzy of action and fast cuts but each scene has meticulous details about how the borrowers live, how they make use of the things in their environment to survive.
Tiny people who live in the walls of a rural home are put at risk when they are discovered by the humans residing there. Studio Ghibli offers a soothing animated version of the classic children's novels.
the basic elements of loneliness, friendship, and the fragility of life are intact, along with that ineffable sense of wonder, melancholy, and magic
By being less bizarre than SPIRITED AWAY and having more of a human center to the film, THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY is one of Studio Ghibli's best efforts to date.
A beautiful family film based on THE BORROWERS will delight audiences of all ages
Some owners of the GSM Samsung Galaxy Nexus are finding out that they have a new update waiting for them this morning, albeit a minor one. The latest update for Google's flagship phone leaves the device on Android 4.0.4, but ups the build number to IMM76I, from the older IMM76D. As for what's actually new, some GNex owners are reporting that this fixes the intermittent signal loss issue that'd been affecting some on IMM76D, as well as remedying smaller issues like occasional lock screen lag when using automatic brightness. (Be sure to let us know in the comments if you notice any other changes on your Nexus after applying the update.)
And for any neckbeards out there keeping track of technical stuff, it seems the new software leaves the phone's baseband as it was, while including a fresh kernel built last Friday.
The update should be pushed out to GSM Galaxy Nexus owners over the next few weeks, if earlier release patterns are anything to go by. If you want to manually update (and have the "yakju" variant of the Galaxy Nexus), you can follow our usual instructions to do so, swapping out the old OTA URL for this link right here.
0 20px 10px Columbia, Maryland (PRWEB) April 18, 2012
Beginning today, professional designers and students can submit their entries to the 2012 competition made Visions inspired global. The annual contest, sponsored by Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. and MAXON Computer GmbH, acknowledges today? S leading architects and designers worldwide, and their ability to make visually Vectorworks? models with Renderworks? or CINEMA 4D. Submissions will be accepted from April 18 to August 16, 2012, in the following categories:
??? Rendered with Renderworks 2012 ??? Rendered with Cinema 4D ??? Monochromatic model (released Renderworks or CINEMA 4D)
? We are delighted to again partner with our sister company, MAXON Computer,? said Theresa Downs, director of communications at Nemetschek Vectorworks. ? It is obvious that the designers of more and more people use both programs to create renderings, and we expect great things from the entries this year.?
The panel of judges includes Jansenson Daniel, Daniel Jansenson principal architect and author of Remarkable Renderworks, Santa Monica, California. Tyler Littman, principal designer and owner of Sholight, LLC, New York, Nicolas Dunand, freelance designer and sculptor, from Melbourne, Australia; Erik Recke, freelance architectural visualizer to Datenland, Hamburg, Germany; Alejandro Nogueira, chief of management at DECC Arte 3D from Tecamachalco, Edo. Mexico City, Mexico, and Ren? Racz of Lichtmaschine Multimedia GmbH, Basel, Switzerland.
winner of each category chosen by the judges will receive $ 2500 USD and will be presented in an official media on the planet and Vectorworks. Winners will also be promoted on the Nemetschek Vectorworks and MAXON social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Furthermore, the public will choose? Fan Favorite? from all entries, which will be posted on the competition? s website. The vote will take place directly on the site.
Designers can enter
several categories. However, all entries must be built on a Vectorworks model. Interested competitors who do not have the current versions of software can request a free 30-day evaluation version of Vectorworks with the software to Renderworks http://www.vectorworks.net/trial/form or http://student.myvectorworks . net (for students), or they can download a 42 day free CINEMA 4D http://www.maxon.net/downloads/demo-version.html.
To enter, vote or learn more about the contest, visit http://inspiredvisions.vectorworks.net
About Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc.
Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nemetschek AG and has been developing software since 1985. The Vectorworks line of software products provides professional design solutions for more than 450,000 designers in the design industries AEC, entertainment and landscape. With a tradition of designing flexible, versatile, intuitive and affordable CAD and Building Information Modeling (BIM) solutions, Nemetschek Vectorworks continues to be a world leader in 3D design technologies. For more information, visit http://www.vectorworks.net.
About MAXON Computer
headquartered in Germany, MAXON Computer is a leading developer of industry professional 3D modeling, painting, animation and rendering solutions. Its award-winning CINEMA 4D and BodyPaint 3D software products have been widely used to help create everything from stunning visual effects in feature films of high-level television shows and commercials for the game cinematics for games advanced AAA, illustration medical, and architectural and industrial applications. MAXON has offices in Germany, USA, UK, France, Japan and Singapore. MAXON products are available directly from MAXON and its worldwide distribution and reseller channel. For more information, visit http://www.maxon.net.
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After Alistair Overeem's license was called into question by the Nevada Athletic Commission because of results of a testosterone screening, the UFC has changed the heavyweight bout at UFC 146 on May 26. Now former champion Frank Mir will face current champ Junior dos Santos for the belt. UFC president Dana White tweeted the news on Friday night.
In early April, Overeem's pre-fight random drug test raised red flags with the NAC, who will administer the May fight in Las Vegas. His testosterone levels were well above the approved levels. He is scheduled to to appear before the NAC on Tuesday.
The ongoing question after Overeem's troubles arose was who would replace him on such an important card. This is dos Santos' first title defense since beating Cain Velasquez for the belt in November. Overeem earned the title shot by defeating Brock Lesnar in December.
Though a vocal group of fans pushed for Mark Hunt, who is fighting Stefan Struve at UFC 146, Mir was always the best option. He would not have to change much to prepare for the bout since he was already scheduled to fight Cain Velasquez. Mir won his last three bouts, including a memorable submission of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140.
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Effective communication is essential in the success of every business. The more effective communication is, the more prosperous the business. Where there is effective communication, there is awareness that promotes understanding and overall positive unity. Effective communication by superiors makes employees feel valued and more understood, which promotes teamwork and productivity. And these, of course, increase the bottom line.
Effective communication should be clear, ongoing, positive, and adaptable.
Effective communication must be clear.
This means that speech-whether written or spoken-should be easily understood by the audience. If a manager, technical expert, or other leader is addressing a group, that person must not use specific terms the group would not understand, unless they are few and easily explained. No one likes to feel like the speaker is using speech that is ?over his or her heads.? Instead of promoting understanding, such speech would most likely promote only resentment and the message would be lost. Then retraining, costing more time and money, would be necessary. So it is important, especially when writing to or speaking to diverse groups of employees at once, to make sure the message communicates basic information in a manner easily understood by the audience.
Effective communication should be ongoing.
There is a reason that broadcast marketing specialists urge their clients to advertise more than once; because, in this information-rich age, repetition of an idea is often necessary to truly get our attention. As parents, we understand this; we often have had to repeat an instruction to our kids more than once. As busy professionals, we understand this even more; we take notes, we email reminders to ourselves or leave messages on our answering machines, or ask our assistants for help about things we want to remember.
When I took the position of Transportation Supervisor for a large pharmaceutical distribution company, I found a 14-year vacuum of communication between management and the drivers?and low morale as well. With the blessing of my insanely-busy superior, I immediately implemented an ongoing communication program: I simply started communicating via memo with the drivers to let them know what was happening, what was coming up, and that management appreciated their hard work! I?d always known communication was important in any setting, but not until one driver who worked the night shift thanked me and kept thanking me did I realize just how much a ?little note? every week meant to him! He said he?d ?never had that before.? Morale improved and the spirit of teamwork blossomed as the drivers quickly learned to trust that those notes were going to keep coming, that they were important people after all.
Effective communication should be positive.
Of course, the message of the memos and counseling/performance reviews I gave the drivers wasn?t always entirely pleasant, but I effectively used humor to inject a positive message to soften the edges as I could. This helps maintain the respect and trust of employees. There is always at least one good point that superiors can find to praise about a person, and usually, several. Every human needs encouragement and it helps maintain the trust level-and thus effectiveness-when an employee is recognized for their contributions and not just told what needs to be improved. The old ?sandwich? rule applies here: Whether a performance review, an alert to change procedures, or even an announcement about an event, start with a positive, explain what is wrong and needs attention in the middle, and end with a positive outlook.
Effective communication should be adaptable.
Employees must trust that the information they receive from superiors is accurate, and it must be updated as new information is known?preferably before the employees know the particulars. This is especially important in keeping and/or rebuilding trust where rumors are flying, there have been major layoffs and fear is gripping the workforce, and in other such situations. If there has been an error in communication, it behooves management to quickly and openly admit the error and correct it. In fact, in turbulent times, I believe that increased communication is necessary to, again, promote trust, respect, and cohesion among the company. No one likes a nasty surprise, and part of fear is caused by the frustration of not understanding something, or getting the wrong information and feeling foolish when one believes it. So effective communication must be adaptable, changing and increasing as needed. In addition, effective and adaptable communication includes listening. Employees are on the front lines, and are very aware of what?s going on. It is a necessary and excellent function of management to listen to employees, learn from them, and adapt communication as needed.
Effective communication is clear, ongoing, positive, and adaptable. Effective communication can only increase profits!
Copyright 2008 by Tonja R Taylor
Tonja Taylor, owner of Kairos Professional which specializes in writing, editing, transcribing, and helping others get their works into print and online, may be contacted at lightspeakers@yahoo.com Tonja has served in various levels of management and in staff positions for diverse profit and nonprofit organizations in a tri-state area. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Applied Sciences degree in Business from Texas A&M University-Texarkana in 1998. She is also a 2004 graduate of CLASS (Christian Leaders, Authors, and Speakers Seminars) and speaks on subjects such as faith, self-development, business, and more. She has published over 300 articles online and in print, and Her first book, LEGACY: Crafting Your Child?s Future With Words, was released last year. In addition, she serves as a online mentor to women around the world through TruthMedia.com and has previously served as columnists for Cfaith.com and other online and print magazines.
That's right, we're back! Newly emboldened by our Webby nomination, we've got a heck of a show for you this month. We put our crew on a flight to Asia, where we'll talk to representatives from ASUS and Huawei and check out the markets of Taipei, Hong Kong and Shenzhen. As always, we'll be showing off the month's hottest gadgets, including the Nokia Lumia 900, a slew of HTC One handsets and some special surprises, including a whole lotta KIRFS. All that plus a performance by Brooklyn band, Suckers. And you, of course -- keep your browsers locked to this handy URL, and you can watch along live at 6PM ET. We'll see you tonight!
Uptick in colorectal cancer among under-50 crowd poses questions for researchers
?....Whatever the cause, the rate of colorectal cancer in young adults has increased to the point where nearly 10 percent of new diagnoses are in patients younger than 50. Most of these patients were diagnosed in their forties, but the disease has been found in patients in their twenties and thirties.......Another troubling recent finding is that when colorectal cancers are diagnosed in younger patients, they are more likely to be at an advanced stage of the disease. A study published Feb. 13 online in Archives of Internal Medicine found 63 percent of colon cancers and 57 percent of rectal cancers are stage III or IV at diagnosis......?The important thing for radiologists would be the notion that certain individuals, because of their age, may be denied radiology procedures by insurance companies,? she said.......
Take a timeout this Tuesday for our recommended reads: 10 adorable accessories for your little ringbearer ? lilSugar.com The right way to raise your child vegan ? Today Moms Too cute or too much? Dior dress-up doll costs $600 ? ChildMode.com Six-year-old raises $10,000 for dad battling cancer with lemonade stand ? KLTV.com ESSAY: I [...]
A home cook takes on the challenge of making gnocchi from scratch.
One of my?food goals for 2012?was to try my hand at making gnocchi from scratch.? I love these little potato dumplings, whether served with a simple marinara sauce, sage and browned butter, or?lamb ragu.? I bought a?gnocchi board?just to encourage myself, but it languished in the pantry for a few months awaiting the right opportunity.? Last weekend, that opportunity came.
Skip to next paragraph Christina Masters
The Rowdy Chowgirl
Christina Masters is a Seattle-based food blogger. As The Rowdy Chowgirl, she writes about recipes, gardening, restaurants, food ethics, feeding the hungry, and more. She believes that food is never just food ? it is always part of a larger story that includes context, community and connections. An enthusiastic home cook, she favors local, seasonal ingredients prepared in simple, flavorful ways
Recent posts
I spent a recent weekend with my friend?Christie?in Eastern Washington, and Saturday was gnocchi making day.? We went over to the home of her friends Pete and Jewel late in the morning.? Jewel is a cook of extraordinary calibre, and was gracious enough to teach us how to make Pete?s mother?s gnocchi, also known as Cavatele, or ?sinkers? ? a reference to the lead sinkers put on fishing lines. Gnocchi can have that effect, filling the tummy surprisingly quickly.
Jewel had done some advance work in the kitchen. A crockpot of sauce burbled on the counter. A cauldron of potatoes boiled on the stovetop. And the large center island was already stacked with eggs, flour, bowls, and utensils.
When the potatoes were done, we peeled them while they were still hot, then shot them through a ricer into a bowl of flour. We sifted and stirred this mixture with our hands until the potatoes were incorporated into the flour and cooled enough to not cook the eggs.? Jewel warned us not to mash the potatoes into the flour, so we tried to use a light touch.
She dumped this mixture onto the counter, created a well in the center, and cracked eggs into it.? After salting the eggs she stepped back and let us mix the eggs into the flour with our hands, smashing and kneading until we had a ragged but cohesive pile.
Then it was our turn to step back while Jewel kneaded the dough until she judged it smooth enough, but not too stiff.? The dough rested under a bowl for half an hour, while we rested on stools around the counter and engaged in the sort of relaxed conversation that happens best in a warm kitchen during the pauses in a cooking project. Kitchen wisdom was shared. Ideas were batted back and forth.?
Soon the dough was ready and we began by rolling it into snakes, then cutting these snakes into inch-long nuggets. I felt my brow furrowing and my tongue poking out between my teeth as I tried to follow Jewel?s swift movements. She took a piece of dough and, pressing two fingers into the middle, gave it a sort of roll and a flick on the counter top, set aside a gnocchi with the characteristic dimple in the middle, then made another and another. My hands struggled to copy her practiced motions, but after a few tries, using the gnocchi board for assistance, I had it ? more or less ? and began to produce a series of irregular dumplings.
Jewel started boiling the gnocchi while Christie and I made more.? When she decided that they were perfect ? plump and firm but no longer chewy ? she drained the gnocchi and mixed them with sauce. We all got a little sample bowl of gnocchi and one of her meatballs to enjoy.? Our gnocchi were good, but I nearly burst into applause after my first bite of meatball. Truly, it was worthy of a standing ovation. But this was only a teaser to whet our appetites for later.
We returned that evening for dinner, to gather around a long table set with a big pan of saucy gnocchi, meatballs the size of my fist, Italian sausage, garlic bread, grated cheese, and an extra pitcher of sauce.? We laughed, and talked, and ate. I felt proud of our efforts, as I slowly savored the pillowy gnocchi.? Everything on the table was incredibly delicious, but more than that; it was made and served with love.
?Do you ever write about how food is more than just food?? Pete asked as he gazed down the loaded table in my direction.
May I never write about anything else.
Jewel?s Cavatelli (Gnocchi) Recipe
3 to 5 medium red potatoes 3 to 5 cups flour 3 to 5 eggs 1 tablespoon cooking oil 1 teaspoon salt?
Start with cold water. Boil 3 to 5 medium red potatoes with skins in unsalted water for 25 ? 30 minutes.? Peel potatoes while still hot.
Place 3 to 5 cups of flour in kneading bowl. Rice the skinned potatoes into flour bowl and slowly add flour. Sift potatoes and flour through fingers until cool; do not mash together.
Add 3 to 5 unbeaten eggs to well made in mixture?after cool.?Salt eggs. Knead until smooth.
Cover 1/2 hour. Roll out into a snake 1/2-inch thick. Cut 1 inch long pieces. Press with two lightly floured fingers in center and roll open like large macaroni to form cavatelli, little hot dog bun-shaped dough rolls
Let dry 10 minutes.
Add 1 tablespoon oil and 1 teaspoon salt to boiling water. Drop the cavatelli?in large pot of rapidly boiling water, boil for approximately 30 minutes. Add a handful at a time so the water keeps boiling. If you let the water cool down they get gummy. Be sure to use lots of water when you cook and stir gently but often.?
Drain and mix with spaghetti sauce and serve or keep warm in oven until ready.?
Serve with spaghetti sauce and meatballs.
The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of food bloggers. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by The Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own and they are responsible for the content of their blogs and their recipes. All readers are free to make ingredient substitutions to satisfy their dietary preferences, including not using wine (or substituting cooking wine) when a recipe calls for it. To contact us about a blogger, click here.
Plans to make anyone carrying out a loft or garage conversion pay more for environmental upgrades "will not happen", Downing Street sources say.
Proposals to require homeowners spend 10% of the value of any such work on energy efficiency improvements were unveiled in January.
It would extend rules for large developments to domestic improvements.
But senior Conservatives, including the prime minister, are reportedly opposed to the proposal.
Some critics have called the plans a 'conservatory tax', although the government says most conservatories will not be affected.
The Department for Communities and Local Government have been consulting on the changes to building regulations since January, when Lib Dem minister Andrew Stunnell said the coalition was "committed to being the greenest government ever".
Bonkers
According to the government there are around 200,000 domestic extensions and loft and garage conversions every year.
Under the plans homeowners would be compelled to spend 10% of the cost of their extension, or loft or garage conversion on draught proofing or insulation.
According to the Daily Mail, a source close to David Cameron said the plans were "bonkers" and "should never have been in the consultation".
Downing Street sources told the BBC: "This will not happen."
Tim Yeo, Conservative chairman of the Commons energy and climate change committee, told the BBC last week: "Compelling people who've applied for planning consent to make some alteration in their home to go down this route isn't necessarily going to help."
A Department of Communities and Local Government spokesman said the department had been "consulting on technical changes to building regulations, including energy".
Ministers would "consider the consultation responses carefully" before announcing their plans, he said.
The spokesman added that there were no plans to change regulations covering conservatories.
The government also stressed that plans for its flagship "Green Deal" programme were separate from the building regulations proposals and were not compulsory.
Under the Green Deal, private firms offer to make energy improvements to homes, then recoup payments from homeowners through additional charges on energy bills.
The consultation had suggested that it be "aligned" with the change in building regulations so that homeowners who did have to make energy efficiency improvements could take advantage of the deal "at no upfront cost".
You know that expression ?It?s the thought that counts?? Well this act of love is going to get your creative juices flowing and will definitely require a good amount of thought. Today you are going to write a short, fun poem for your sib. There are lots of types of poems you could go for, but for now we are going to go for Limericks and Acrostic poems.
Objective: To write a cute, thoughtful poem about your sibling to bring smiles and laughs.
What To Do:
First you need to decide on the type of poem you want to write. We are suggesting either Limerick or Acrostic.
So, for example, this is the limerick I wrote for my baby brother who is moving off to college next semester:
You once were so cute and so small I remember the way you would crawl You grew up so fast And your life is a blast And now I am so short and you?re tall
Need some help writing a limerick? This is a great limerick resource.
Or you could go with the Acrostic, which may take a little less time. Here is one I wrote for my sister, Terah.
Totally amazing at sports Energetic Really stinkin? beautiful Absolutely?incredible?in every way Happy all the time
Once you come up with your poem, send it to your sib. You could ?email it, text it or write it in a cute card and stick it in the mail. However you send it, it is sure to bring a smile!
For the ?Over-Achiever?- After you have written you poem, write, or print the poem and include a picture of you and you sibling, frame it and send it in the mail to your sib
Assessing whether a person with dementia can take decisions is the job of neurologistsPublic release date: 16-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Amaia Portugal a.portugal@elhuyar.com 34-943-363-040 Elhuyar Fundazioa
This is what Luis Carlos Alvaro of the University of the Basque Country says in the journal Neurologia
Luis Carlos lvaro, a clinical neurologist at the Hospital of Basurto (Bilbao) and lecturer at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), has had an article published on the capacity of patients with dementia to make decisions. It is entitled Competencia: conceptos generales y aplicacin en la demencia (Competence: general concepts and application in dementia), and has been published in the journal Neurologa.
lvaro is a member of the Health Care Ethics Committee at the above hospital, and this has influenced the motivation behind his paper. "It is about the interaction between a clinical pathology that is very common for us [neurologists] and the capacity to make decisions, and which has received much attention from committees on bioethics," he says. But that is not all, because this paper serves to assert the importance of neurologists when it comes to determining the extent to which dementia has damaged the patient's competence: "Owing to a tradition that we neurologists at least do not share, it is often the psychiatrists who assess competence in the case of dementias. This is an area in which we neurologists are in fact the ones who can contribute most, because it is our pathology. We know the patients and deal with them, and we are the most qualified when it comes to taking decisions of this kind."
Risk level
lvaro explains what we are talking about when we refer to competence: "It is about assessing the capacity to decide in any activity in daily life. Most of the decisions have to do with the patient's daily life: whether he or she wishes to be admitted to a nursing home, whether he or she wants to take a particular medication It is about deciding whether his or her mental capacity is sufficient to be able to take a decision of this kind." Something which, in the view of this author, is very complex, and in which no standardization has yet been reached on a universal agreement or on the tools, although there are several available: "It is not easy, because there are many kinds of decisions, and many stages of dementia, too."
As far as the stages are concerned, the article refers, among other things, to the so-called Drane table, which specifies the level of capacity that neurologists should demand of the patient (not just in cases of dementia), in terms of the risk involved in the decision to be taken. In other words, the more risks that are involved in accepting or rejecting a procedure, the greater the patient's competence has to be, and vice versa. For example, the capacity of a patient with meningitis has to be high if he or she wants to refuse to take antibiotics, since the consequences of such a decision may prove fatal. By contrast, such a degree of capacity is not required of a patient with dementia when what is being rejected is a cranial tomography, because the risks of not performing one are minimal.
Nevertheless, in connection with this matter, he points to certain practices in need of improvement from the bioethical perspective: as the patient does not normally reject the treatment, nor do there tend to be high risks in the event of doing so, the lack of competence passes unnoticed, and so there is little sensibility towards this incapacity. "The lack of power to decide in favour of a specific activity is very common, but as in most of them there are no consequences because they are minor matters, the alarm bells do not usually sound. But that does not exempt us from assessing them. We ought to assess them more and bear in mind that they depend on the level of decision required," says lvaro.
Guidelines for assessment
Nowadays, neurologists resort mainly to experience to assess whether the patient understands the information being transmitted to him or her and the consequences arising out of the decision he or she makes. As pointed out already, there is no standardization of the tools available, "but in any case they are always useful," as lvaro points out. They consist of different sets of questions that are designed to enable one to make sure that the patient understands the information and the consequences of making a decision one way or the other, and is aware of the alternatives and their benefits and drawbacks, etc.
This researcher lists in his paper a series of guidelines for evaluating competence; such as the capacity criteria of Becky White (Georgetown University, Washington), the ACE guidelines of the University of Toronto, the MC-CAT of the University of Virginia, etc. The White guideline, for example, is conducted in the form of a semi-structured interview; it considers, on a range of scales, the capacity to be informed (for example, to recognise the importance of the details transmitted), cognitive and affective capacities (to argue the options and put them in order of importance), the taking of decisions (accepting and maintaining the chosen option), and the critical review of the process (telling someone about the chosen option and giving reasons). lvaro points out that in the daily clinical scenario the interview may suffice to determine capacity, as long as it is sufficiently structured for detecting the key aspects, and for this the guidelines are extremely helpful.
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Assessing whether a person with dementia can take decisions is the job of neurologistsPublic release date: 16-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Amaia Portugal a.portugal@elhuyar.com 34-943-363-040 Elhuyar Fundazioa
This is what Luis Carlos Alvaro of the University of the Basque Country says in the journal Neurologia
Luis Carlos lvaro, a clinical neurologist at the Hospital of Basurto (Bilbao) and lecturer at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), has had an article published on the capacity of patients with dementia to make decisions. It is entitled Competencia: conceptos generales y aplicacin en la demencia (Competence: general concepts and application in dementia), and has been published in the journal Neurologa.
lvaro is a member of the Health Care Ethics Committee at the above hospital, and this has influenced the motivation behind his paper. "It is about the interaction between a clinical pathology that is very common for us [neurologists] and the capacity to make decisions, and which has received much attention from committees on bioethics," he says. But that is not all, because this paper serves to assert the importance of neurologists when it comes to determining the extent to which dementia has damaged the patient's competence: "Owing to a tradition that we neurologists at least do not share, it is often the psychiatrists who assess competence in the case of dementias. This is an area in which we neurologists are in fact the ones who can contribute most, because it is our pathology. We know the patients and deal with them, and we are the most qualified when it comes to taking decisions of this kind."
Risk level
lvaro explains what we are talking about when we refer to competence: "It is about assessing the capacity to decide in any activity in daily life. Most of the decisions have to do with the patient's daily life: whether he or she wishes to be admitted to a nursing home, whether he or she wants to take a particular medication It is about deciding whether his or her mental capacity is sufficient to be able to take a decision of this kind." Something which, in the view of this author, is very complex, and in which no standardization has yet been reached on a universal agreement or on the tools, although there are several available: "It is not easy, because there are many kinds of decisions, and many stages of dementia, too."
As far as the stages are concerned, the article refers, among other things, to the so-called Drane table, which specifies the level of capacity that neurologists should demand of the patient (not just in cases of dementia), in terms of the risk involved in the decision to be taken. In other words, the more risks that are involved in accepting or rejecting a procedure, the greater the patient's competence has to be, and vice versa. For example, the capacity of a patient with meningitis has to be high if he or she wants to refuse to take antibiotics, since the consequences of such a decision may prove fatal. By contrast, such a degree of capacity is not required of a patient with dementia when what is being rejected is a cranial tomography, because the risks of not performing one are minimal.
Nevertheless, in connection with this matter, he points to certain practices in need of improvement from the bioethical perspective: as the patient does not normally reject the treatment, nor do there tend to be high risks in the event of doing so, the lack of competence passes unnoticed, and so there is little sensibility towards this incapacity. "The lack of power to decide in favour of a specific activity is very common, but as in most of them there are no consequences because they are minor matters, the alarm bells do not usually sound. But that does not exempt us from assessing them. We ought to assess them more and bear in mind that they depend on the level of decision required," says lvaro.
Guidelines for assessment
Nowadays, neurologists resort mainly to experience to assess whether the patient understands the information being transmitted to him or her and the consequences arising out of the decision he or she makes. As pointed out already, there is no standardization of the tools available, "but in any case they are always useful," as lvaro points out. They consist of different sets of questions that are designed to enable one to make sure that the patient understands the information and the consequences of making a decision one way or the other, and is aware of the alternatives and their benefits and drawbacks, etc.
This researcher lists in his paper a series of guidelines for evaluating competence; such as the capacity criteria of Becky White (Georgetown University, Washington), the ACE guidelines of the University of Toronto, the MC-CAT of the University of Virginia, etc. The White guideline, for example, is conducted in the form of a semi-structured interview; it considers, on a range of scales, the capacity to be informed (for example, to recognise the importance of the details transmitted), cognitive and affective capacities (to argue the options and put them in order of importance), the taking of decisions (accepting and maintaining the chosen option), and the critical review of the process (telling someone about the chosen option and giving reasons). lvaro points out that in the daily clinical scenario the interview may suffice to determine capacity, as long as it is sufficiently structured for detecting the key aspects, and for this the guidelines are extremely helpful.
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More activity in the social and casual gaming space, following on from the $200 million acquisition of OMGPOP by Zynga. The UK-based games company Zattikka has started trading on the public markets and says it has raised ?12.6 million ($20 million) after its placing with institutional and other investors on London's AIM exchange. Zattikka -- which develops freemium games for PC web browsers, social networks, mobile devices (including smartphones and tablets), connected consoles, and other emerging platforms including IP TVs and set top boxes -- says that it will be using the funds to buy three smaller social games developers: Hattrick Holdings, Sneaky Games, Inc. and Concept Art House, Inc. -- a sign not just of more transactions in social/casual games but also of increasing consolidation of smaller, independent studios as the market continues to mature. The listing today gives the company a market capitalization of ?22 million ($35m), it says.
All Critics (69) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (63) | Rotten (6)
"Footnote" deals with ambition, isolation, the dangers of too much success and the inevitable gap between generations.
Footnote requires little knowledge of Judaism and its texts. Rather, it's about the complications of love, guilt, and rage.
Israeli writer-director Joseph Cedar's tale of two Talmudic scholars set in present-day Jerusalem, while not exactly side-splitting, is quietly riotous. And, yes, the guffaws are bittersweet.
A droll, deadpan satire of the professional contempt and personal rancor that breeds in any narrow field.
Footnote is a film about the nature of truth, about sacrifice, hubris, hypocrisy. It's nothing short of brilliant.
It speaks to anyone who's been on either end of a grudge or family antagonism. And it saves its best for those who have witnessed clusters of the best and brightest descend to the level of grade school kids on the playground.
... a bitter and mordant comedy that evokes winces instead of laughs ...
Light yet heavy comedy/drama no footnote in Israeli cinema
Ultimately it's about how fathers and sons manage the added complexity in their relationship of professional rivalry - and the potential for deep wounds to be inflicted by one upon the other
It's an interesting premise with an equally interesting structure and the use of music, injecting high drama alongside a curious cat and mouse curiosity, gives the film a unique slant
This is a film that skims the surface layer of politesse from human interactions and reveals us as the blustering bundles of ego that we all are.
Cedar mines dark humor from the humiliations of identity checks and pecking orders.
...the movie works best [when it's] sending up pompous bureaucrats, petty university politics and personal jealousies.
A bright, smart and funny movie that evinces a real feel not only for the daily work of scholars but for the bloody minefields of academia.
At times, the film seems to turn into a microfiche machine, with the story's sections divided by frames thumping past us as if propelled by a researcher, eyes scanning.
A first half frivolous enough that it's not as ghastly sentimental as it seems like it could be, and with a second half brittle enough that it's not as frivolous as it was when it started out.
While the premise delves into an alien landscape for most viewers not immersed in Talmudic study in Jerusalem, the universal feeling of familial irritation and begrudging respect shines right through.
"Footnote" gets sly, subtle comedy from the similarities between the two men, particularly since Uriel is unaware how much like his dad he is.
To many viewers the picture might seem as forbidding as a dense scholarly tome. But give it a chance, and you might find it as pleasurable as a good novella.
Oakley's Thump glasses haven't exactly succeeded in fending off the competition when it comes to portable music playback, but that isn't stopping it from working feverishly to develop the next round of vaguely intelligent eyewear. CEO Colin Baden told Bloomberg that the company has been toying with ways to project information onto sunglasses since 1997, hoping to start by augmenting the world of sports before ultimately blending into more consumery pursuits with shades that could run solo or pair up with a smartphone. Functionality is only part of the puzzle, says Baden, as aesthetics play an important role. "People get very particular when they put stuff on their face." This, perhaps, explains the lack of sales of the aforementioned Thumps.
Angelina Jolie wasn't flaunting an engagement ring when she walked the red carpet at the Oscars in February (that would have drawn attention away from her very exposed right leg) -- but she's wearing one now.
Brian Dunn was the CEO of America's largest seller of electronics, making over $10 million a year, until he was forced out for spending company money to cheat on his wife with a coworker. Is this the digital dame? More »
After Alistair Overeem's license was called into question by the Nevada Athletic Commission because of results of a testosterone screening, the UFC has changed the heavyweight bout at UFC 146 on May 26. Now former champion Frank Mir will face current champ Junior dos Santos for the belt. UFC president Dana White 
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Public release date: 16-Apr-2012
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More activity in the social and casual gaming space, following on from the $200 million acquisition of 
