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News Cut: October 10, 2011 Archive

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The ribbon (5x8 - 10/10/11)

Posted at 7:09 AM on October 10, 2011 by Bob Collins (2 Comments)
Filed under: Five by 8

Goodness and tragedy at the finish line, drive-in memories, an anniversary on the farm, Sgt. Prince's final trip, and the hyperbole of mental illness.

Continue reading "The ribbon (5x8 - 10/10/11)"

Arts funding: It helps if you appeal to wealthy whites

Posted at 10:46 AM on October 10, 2011 by Bob Collins (2 Comments)
Filed under: Arts

A report issued today claims when it comes to funding for the arts, it's a rich, white person's world.

The report from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy says foundation giving to the art doesn't properly reflect the changing demographics in the nation, with the large portion of funding going to museums, operas, and symphonies when most of the nation isn't a museum, opera, and symphony culture.

The Associated Press reported:


According to the study, the largest arts organizations with budgets exceeding $5 million represent only 2 percent of the nonprofit arts and culture sector. Yet those groups received 55 percent of foundation funding for the arts in 2009. Only 10 percent of funding went to underserved populations. However, the study's author acknowledged the report may not account for every dollar granted to help reach diverse audiences at larger institutions.

The latest census data shows non-white populations have grown in every region of the country since 2000. More than a third of the country is comprised of people of color. In four states, white people are no longer the majority, the AP said.

"It is a problem because it means that -- in the arts -- philanthropy is using its tax-exempt status primarily to benefit wealthier, more privileged institutions and populations," wrote the report's author, Holly Sidford.

The report said just 2 percent of non-profit cultural organizations have budgets over $5 million, but they get 55 percent of contributions, gifts, and grants. The greater the amount of money given by a foundation, the less likely the foundation is to "prioritize marginalized communities."

View the full report. (pdf)

(2 Comments)

The prostate gamble

Posted at 12:58 PM on October 10, 2011 by Bob Collins (1 Comments)
Filed under: Health

There are some things guys don't want to talk about...

The goal of the Branko the Prostate Czech advertising campaign (no, really, you must check the website) is to try to use humor to get people to talk about prostate cancer.

But no humor was necessary to get people talking about a study late last week that said a fairly routine prostate test -- the so-called PSA blood test -- does little to save lives.

The problem, the study said, is the "cure" -- invasive biopsies, for example -- can be worse than the disease, in this case low-level threats to a man's health that show up as cancer.

"I agree with some of the points they're making," Dr. Badrinath Konety, a urologist at the University of Minnesota, told MPR's Lorna Benson. "But I also am not sure that the current state of the data that's out there supports the strength of their recommendation."

That put him a little at odds with Dr. Timothy Wilt, an internist and a professor at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, who is also a member of the task force making the recommendations.

"What we know from the good medical science is that PSA testing does not reduce prostate cancer deaths or help a man live longer," he told NPR's Melissa Block.

Case closed? Hardly.

There's always the story about the guy whose life was saved as a result of the test.

That's Will Hubel's story. The Langlois, Oregon man wrote us with it after Friday's news.


At age 64, I've been pretty hit and miss about the PSA test. Last November my PSA went up from a below one to 4.6, but I had a negative digital exam and no inflammation. My MD recommended waiting a few months and repeating the test. By then I had moved to Oregon and through some confusion it took 3 months to get the results, which by then the PSA was 6.1.

I found a urologist, that spoke very down to earth like I would talk to someone. We decided to proceed with a biopsy, given my age etc. The biopsy showed stage 2 cancer in two masses, but probably still limited to my prostate.

I've decided, after talking to 3 doctors, a homeopath and an acupuncturist, and a few close friends, my wife, and wives of deceased friends, that I'll have the surgery. Without the test, I wouldn't have known I had cancer.

The description by Dr Tim Wilt was very much unlike what he describes. First there is really only one type of cancer found in the prostate. The cancer considered more aggressive is when it has spread outside the prostate. The men who are dying in my age group are the ones whose cancer has gone undetected.

Maybe the chances of harm from the test are higher than the chances of discovering something that can kill you. Both present a gamble that men have to make.

(1 Comments)

Serves 'em right 2

Posted at 2:31 PM on October 10, 2011 by Bob Collins (2 Comments)

A woman in California was pushing a stroller across railroad tracks when it got stuck. A train was coming. She got it unstuck and kept moving, but it got stuck again. This time she couldn't get it free. She desperately pushed the baby out of the way, and was killed by the train.

It happened Saturday night in Riverside, California.

"She gave her life," the baby's father, Paul Dibene, said.

Commenters on the Los Angeles Times' website were in no mood to pay respects to the woman, who obviously made a mistake:

This woman knowingly put her child in harms why by going around the Gates. This in itself does not make this woman a hero for saving her child, had she have lived she should have been charged with Child Endangerment. Noone should EVER walk around the gates to cross in front of a train, that is just STUPID. Would you drive around the gates? No, so why would someone walk? Is saving a couple of minutes really worth it? Think about it had she have not been so self centered and think her time was so important she would still be alive today. Think People before you act.
blammo13 at 6:53 AM October 10, 2011

The only positive thing is that this baby's life will NEVER be put in danger by the mother ever again. Let's hope the father has more brains.
Helpful at 5:58 AM October 10, 2011

That woman was an irresponsible idiot. First, she gave birth. Second, she pushed her child onto a railroad track after the oncoming train signal was activated. Darwinism in action. The only thing stupider than this woman is The Times headline, which suggests that the idiot woman was a heroine.

Even the Huffington Post, which fancies itself a more humane location on the web, took part in the serves-her-rightfest.... with one exception:

ENOUGH! Between this article, in which people are quick to list off the faults of the deceased mother and the article regarding the survivors of a boating accident that had to tread water for over twenty hours only to be immediatel­y criticized for not using life jackets, i am disgusted by how easy it is for people to judge. For this particular article, I find it offensive that people are not able to simply realize that it is a tragedy that should not be dissected for what could have been done. It's in the past; all that remains is a woman whose life was lost, and a family who no doubt wishes to grieve without hurtful and harsh comments of nameless, faceless bloggers. As for me, I'll keep my judgements to myself and give my prayers to the family mourning a loss.

Last week, we applauded -- correctly -- the vision of a man who allowed us all to get on computers and communicate with each other. With his gift, we lost the knowledge of when to hold our tongues.

(h/t: Todd Nakanishi)

See also: The Serves 'em right society

(2 Comments)

Tyler's touchddown

Posted at 3:49 PM on October 10, 2011 by Bob Collins (1 Comments)
Filed under: Life, Sports

Seventh grader Tyler Johnson's Prescott Middle School football team lost its game to River Falls last week, but he scored a touchdown. That's a big deal, the Hastings Star Gazette reports, because he has Fragile X syndrome, a genetic disorder that has led to learning disabilities and cognitive disabilities.

He wanted to play football this year, and the coaches embraced him on the team, with no guarantees of any playing time. He showed up for practices and was apparently OK with the fact he hadn't been in a game so far this season...

With his team trailing late in the game, one of the Prescott coaches walked over to Tyler and struck up a conversation. Then, with about nine seconds to play, the coach brought Tyler on to the field. They handed the ball off to him on the next play, and Tyler raced toward the end zone. He scored a touchdown, and people cheered like wild.

"The funny thing is, when he started to run, he saw the kids from the other team coming toward him, so he turned around and started running the wrong way," Angie Johnson said. "They turned him around, and he scored a touchdown. It was just awesome."

The Prescott coaches had talked to the coaches of the opposing team from River Falls, and they had agreed to let Tyler score, the paper reports. "The boys on the River Falls team were understanding, too, and while they chased after Tyler they knew to let him score."

His mom was videotaping the whole scene, until the camera ran out of film time before he scored.


(1 Comments)
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