September 25, 2009 at 9:00 am
“A recent study in the American Journal of Heath Promotion estimates that 1.5 million cases of high blood pressure could be eliminated and over $2 billion in health care costs could be save annually if Americans would reduce their daily intake by a mere 400 milligrams (mg) of sodium. Americans are consuming over 3,000 mg of sodium daily, way above the upper level recommended at 2,300 mg. While sodium comes from the salt (sodium chloride) that you use to season your foods, the majority of the sodium in your diet is from processed foods.”
Use this chart to help you reduce your daily sodium consumption and your blood pressure.
September 24, 2009 at 8:29 pm
September 24, 2009 at 9:44 am
With Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick expected to name former DNC national chair Paul Kirk as "interim" senator, attention shifts to those seeking the late Ted Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat. Journalism Professor Fred Bayles, a former USA Today and AP reporter who now directs the BU Statehouse journalism program, can discuss the players and the political landscape.
Contact Fred Bayles, 617-353-7736, fbayles@bu.edu
September 23, 2009 at 4:54 pm
When the Group of 20 meets in Pittsburgh this week, a focus will be a push for banks to keep more reserves to prevent another crash. Former Deputy Comptroller of the Currency Bob Bench, now a senior fellow at the BU School of Law's Morin Center for Banking and Financial Law, says this is necessary because the invisible hand of the marketplace has failed.
"The Reagan/Thatcher period of deregulation is over. It is in the best interest of the financial institutions themselves to fortify their financial conditions so as to restore trust in the marketplace."
Contact Bob Bench, 617-353-5428, bobbench@bu.edu
September 23, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Because the Justice Department says the original deal likely violates antitrust law, a $125 million settlement of a lawsuit that would give Google the right to digitize millions of out-of-print books will be renegotiated. School of Law Professor Keith Hylton, an antitrust-law expert, says opponents may have a weak antitrust case against Google and a new settlement is a smart solution.
"The parties to the settlement probably realized that they are better off changing the terms of the settlement than spending years in court defending the original deal."
Contact Keith Hylton, 617-353-8959, knhylton@bu.edu
September 23, 2009 at 12:04 pm
President Obama reportedly is looking at alternatives to a major troop increase in Afghanistan, including possibly scaling back U.S. forces and refocusing on chasing Al Qaeda there and in Pakistan. Journalism Professor Bob Zelnick, a former ABC News Pentagon correspondent, has reservations about the shift in policy.
"Bowing to political pressure from his own party's left, the president appears to be galloping toward undisguised defeat in Afghanistan."
Contact Bob Zelnick, 617-353-5007, bzelnick@bu.edu
September 23, 2009 at 6:00 am
The Dean of Students Office, Howard Thurman Center, Women’s Resource Center and Student Activities Office host renowned microfinancer and human rights advocate Padma Venkataraman to speak on issues facing women and women’s empowerment tonight at 7 PM at Metcalf Hall. Venkataraman spent nearly 20 years in the United Nations in Vienna as a permanent representative of the All India Women’s Conference, and is a founder-member of the Women’s India Association, President of the UN Women’s Guild and Vice President of the NGO Committee on Women. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Kat Hasenauer at 617-353-4126 or khasena1@bu.edu.
September 21, 2009 at 4:16 pm
A proposal by Senate Banking Committee Chair Chris Dodd would merge the four bank regulatory agencies into a single super regulator, diminishing the singular power of the Federal Reserve. School of Law Professor Cornelius Hurley, director of the Morin Center for Banking and Financial Law and a former counsel to the Fed Board of Governors, says this would addess the issue of the Fed's mission creep.
"Chairman Dodd's support of a consolidated prudential regulator for all banks creates a new legislative dynamic for reform."
Contact Cornelius Hurley, 617-353-5427, ckhurley@bu.edu
September 21, 2009 at 3:51 pm
The European Union, which in May fined Intel $1.45 billion for strong-arm sales tactics, has released e-mails showing how Intel pressured chip buyers. School of Law Professor Keith Hylton, an antitrust law expert, says the unusual move going to the media to make their case is questionable.
The E.C.’s decision to take its case to the newspapers raises questions about the proper ethical constraints that should be placed on a prosecuting authority.
Contact Keith Hylton, 617-353-8959, knhylton@bu.edu
September 21, 2009 at 2:33 pm
The FCC has proposed new Internet rules that would prevent service providers - like AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast - from deliberately slowing or blocking Web traffic. College of Communication Professor T. Barton Carter, an authority on the FCC and communication law, says it is significant that such "net neutrality" would be extended to wireless carriers.
We can expect heavy lobbying on both sides of this issue with many major players -- including the broadband companies, wireless service providers and Internet content providers -- playing major roles.
Contact T. Barton Carter, 617-353-3482, comlaw@bu.edu
