September 21, 2009 at 10:23 am
“While genes play a role in determining your body weight, it’s just one piece of the weight management puzzle. The incidences of obesity among Americans have more than doubled since the 1980s, and it can’t be due to a change in genetic makeup during this short time period. Rather, it’s more likely due to the changes in other pieces of the weight management puzzle, including our eating habits and inadequate daily physical activity.”
Find out more about Salge Blake’s recommendations for successful weight loss.
September 21, 2009 at 9:00 am
The Boston University’s Women’s Council is hosting a Vintage Bazaar & Book Sale today from 11-6 at the GSU to benefit their scholarship fund for BU Women Graduate Students. Items for sale will include period clothing, hats, scarves, and belts, china plates, records, DVDs, holiday decorations, artwork, and vintage jewelry. There will also be a drawing for a chance to win dinner and one night accommodations at the Fairmont Copley Plaza. The event is free and open to the public.
September 18, 2009 at 10:41 am
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are seeking amendments to the healthcare reform bill offerd by Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus to make it more affordable for middle-class Americans. School of Management Professor Alan Cohen, executive director of the Health Policy Institute, says a smart amendment under consideration would require employers to offer a choice of at least two insuance plans, one of which is a low-cost, high-value option.
"But allowing individuals to opt out is not a wise option."
Contact Alan Cohen, 617-353-9222, abcohen@bu.edu
September 17, 2009 at 2:54 pm
The Supreme Court soon will take up a church vs. state case pitting veterans groups and the Interior Department against the ACLU and a former Park Service worker. It's about a cross erected on public land 75 years ago as a WWI veterans' memorial. Law Professor Jay Wexler, author of "Holy Hullabaloos: A Road Trip to the Battlegrounds of the Church/State Wars," says the Supremes should uphold lower court decisions finding the cross unconstitutional.
Contact Jay Wexler, 617-353-3789, jaywex@bu.edu
September 16, 2009 at 4:59 pm
With five Sunday TV talk shows and the Letterman show on Monday, President Obama is launching an unprecedented media blitz on behalf of his healthcare reform initiatives. College of Communications Professor Tobe Berkovitz, an expert on political communications, jokes about all-Obama-all-the-time.
"Obama's appearance on Letterman squelches the theory that the White House requested that GE topper Jeff Immelt ordered NBC CEO Jeff Zucker to replace Jay Leno with Barack Obama."
Contact Tobe Berkovitz, 617-353-7724, tobetv@bu.edu
September 16, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Israel has dismissed the UN fact-finding mission's recommendation that the Israeli government launch an independent investigation into "serious violations" of international law during last year's war in Gaza. Journalism Professor Bob Zelnick, a former ABC News Middle East correspondent and author of "Israeli Unilateralism: Beyond Gaza," says the UN report authored by South African jurist Richard Goldstone misses the mark.
"The Goldstone report is yet another example of how the UN's anti-Israel bias has deprived it of any meaningful role in the peace process."
Contact Bob Zelnick, 617-353-5007, bzelnick@bu.edu
September 15, 2009 at 4:44 pm
A new report indicates that retailers and suppliers are expecting a tough holiday season, with fully 67 percent of retailers planning to stock less inventory than in 2008. School of Management marketing Professor Shuba Srinivasan says, given this outlook, expect that discount retailers will continue to be the big winners.
"What will matter is paying close attention to value and delivering the pricing message to consumers."
Contact Shuba Srinivasan, 617-353-5978, ssrini@bu.edu
September 15, 2009 at 9:58 am
A federal judge rejected a proposed $33 million deal between the Securities and Exchange Commission and Bank of America over the banks' lying to investors about $5.8 billion in bonuses given Merrill Lynch employees after BofA took over Merrill. School of Management Professor James Post, an authority on corporate governance and business ethics, calls it "a body blow" to the SEC's credibility.
Contact James Post, 617-3534162, jepost@bu.edu
September 15, 2009 at 8:54 am
Presidential challenger Abdullah Abdullah has accused incumbent Hamid Karzai of treason and called for a criminal probe into alleged election fraud. College of Communication Professor Nick Mills, who has know Karzai since the 1980s when Mills ran BU's Afghan Media Project, says such language borders on insurrection.
"He wants Karzai out of the palace even before the investigation is complete, even before a runoff election. The quicker the election commission rules, the better."
Contact Nick Mills, 617-353-3492, nmills@bu.edu
September 15, 2009 at 6:00 am
The School of Education Alumni Speaker Series is hosting an evening with the Superintendent of Boston Public Schools, Dr. Carol Johnson, tonight beginning at 6 PM in the School of Education (Rm 130) at 2 Silber Way. The lecture, entitled “The Challenge and Promise of Teaching,” will discuss Johnson’s belief in equity and access to quality education for all children, regardless of race, gender or socioeconomic status. For more information, call 617-358-5494 or email aslate@bu.edu. The event is free and open to the public.
