2012: AN AUTOMOTIVE JOURNEY - Speedhunters

Photographer. I?ve always felt a little uncomfortable around the term. It?s true a lot of my job involves framing shots and pressing that shutter button, but cars are the sole reason I took an interest in photography in the first place. From the moment I first picked up an SLR camera I saw it not as a tool for artistic expression, but as a way to share my interest in automobiles with others. My skill as a shooter has certainly evolved over the years, but the goal has always remained me the same ? to express my love of cars.

So with that in mind, for the first of my 2012 year in review stories, rather than just sharing what I think are my best photos, I thought I?d recap my overall automotive journey in 2012. The photos? My way of sharing it. Whether I?m considered a photographer or just a strange car-loving fellow with a camera, let?s take a look back.

Just a few weeks after 2012 began I found myself on a jet heading for Japan. At this point it had been close to three years since I?d been back, so I was excited to say the least. As soon as I set foot back in the country, my passion for Japan and it?s car culture was reignited in an instant.

During the roughly month long period that I was there, I was able to get back in touch with everything that makes Japan?s car culture so amazing. I?m talking about the things that made me fall in love with the country in the first place. From browsing vintage car parts in Odaiba?

?to catching up on the hot rod and custom scene at the Razzle Dazzle in Yokohama. It was a brilliant trip.

But more importantly, it seemed that everywhere I went I?d be greeted by enthusiastic people who were not only familiar with Speedhunters, but regular followers. My Speedhunters sticker supply was diminished quickly by the privateer racers at the Tsukuba Circuit GTCC event?

?and by the grassroots drift crowd when I headed up to Nikko Circuit to catch some of Japan?s signature sideways action. All along the way I made new friends who I?ve stayed in touch with and hope to see during my next visit.

Another big highlight of my 2012 Japan trip was my visit to Osaka. Despite having lived in Japan in the past, this would be first real exposure to Kansai?s automotive scene.

And what better place to get a taste of that Kansai style than at Osaka Auto Messe? Not only was I overwhelmed by the homegrown show cars that were on display?

?but I had forgotten about the strange sights that accompany events like Auto Messe or Tokyo Auto Salon. I?m talking about the sight of dozens of dudes crawling on top of each other trying to get a shot of the campaign girls. Oh Japan, you are so funny.

As it turns out, what followed Auto Messe was even more memorable for me. Thanks to some gracious hosts I was able to experience real Osaka street style at a giant late night car meet. Not only that, but I was treated as a special guest and asked to pick my favorite car as the ?Speedhunters choice? winner.

It was not an easy choice, but in the end I was won over by the signature Osaka style and chose a legit Kanjo racer ?Wonder? Civic as my pick. Needless to say, I can?t wait to see what?s in store for Japan 2013.

By the time I returned from Japan, the winter had begun to thaw and it was time to get going with the traditional event season. One of the most memorable events for me was the NHRA Museum?s Shelby Reunion, not just for the chance to see cars racing on the old Pomona road course?

?but for the fact the Carroll Shelby himself would sadly end up passing away not long after this. The man may be gone, but after attending events like this it?s clear the passion for his automobiles has never been higher.

In terms of events, other highlights for me are the Eagle Field drags with their laid back vibe and throw back to the golden years of American drag racing. There?s just something about seeing Gassers and old school front engine rail dragsters running on a dusty airstrip.

Another great experience from 2012- traveling to Santa Maria for the Cruisin? Nationals and seeing the entire town taken over by custom car fans from around the world. I?m not quite sure why, but it?s always these more ?loose? events that leave the biggest impressions on me.

2012 also marked by first ever trip to Bonneville for Speed Week. As anyone who has been will tell you, it?s just one of those things that every auto enthusiast should experience in their lifetime. Even without the speed contest, the other-worldly environment alone is enough to warrant a trip.

The fact that there is a historic and massive speed trial event happening is just a bonus?

But what?s even better about Bonneville is the sense of spirit and friendliness of the people who gather there from all over the world. When you go to the salt, you feel like you are part of something bigger.

It?s impossible to talk about the year?s big events without mentioning the SEMA Show. In terms of schedule, there is nothing more hectic than that week in Las Vegas.

It?s one of those events where there?s so much going on that you can hardly process what you?ve seen before it?s time to move on to the next booth, meeting, party, or event post. Pure madness.

Then on the complete opposite end of the spectrum there are weekly meets like Cars & Coffee that can be every bit as enjoyable with an equally impressive mix of cars. Yes, the life of a Speedhunter can be strange.

While I didn?t spend a whole lot of time doing car feature shoots in 2012, the ones I did do were quite memorable. Getting an up close look at these cars is great, but what?s even better is meeting the owners and learning the stories behind these machines.

While talking to the owners and builders of these cars, we get a tale that can?t be told by a spec sheet and some photos alone.

Whether the car comes from a big budget race team or a working class enthusiast, hearing these stories is absolutely one of the most enjoyable parts of the job for me.

The same thoughts can be applied to the various shops we visit during our Speedhunting exhibitions. Each one has its own fascinating story, and seeing builds in progress never gets tiring.

One of the most memorable shops I visited in 2012 is JDM Legends in Salt Lake City, Utah. After following their work online for a few years now it was great to finally get to see it all in person and chat with Eric Bizek about the state of the Japanese classic car movement.

Of course 2012 also included other events outside of the events, shops, and vehicles we covered. In my case I bought a new daily driver in July ? a 2012 Volkswagen GTI.

It?s my first VW, and so far I?m really enjoying it?s mix of practicality and fun. I?m hoping to have some fun with this thing in the coming year.

Then to wrap things up, just a few weeks go I acquired a new project car and a fairly unusual one at that. It?s a 1969 Toyota Crown Custom Wagon and it needs a hell of a lot of work, but I?m absolutely in love with it.

At this point I?m not even sure exactly what my plan is for it, but I have some strange ideas in my head. Watch this space.

Yes, 2012 was quite a year. Here?s hoping 2013 will be even better.

-Mike

Tags: japan Mike Garrett Project Cars USA Year in Review

Categories: Editorial, Mike Garrett, Photojournalists, Special Features, Speedhunters Crew

Source: http://www.speedhunters.com/2012/12/automotive-journey/

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Merck KGaA, Oncothyreon hit as cancer vaccine fails

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - An experimental lung cancer vaccine from Germany's Merck KGaA failed to improve survival in a pivotal study, dealing a blow to the company and the high-risk field of using vaccines to fight tumors.

Stimuvax, which Merck licensed from U.S. biotech firm Oncothyreon, failed to increase overall survival in the Phase III clinical trial, the German chemicals and pharmaceuticals group said on Wednesday.

The trial's coordinating investigator, Frances Shepherd of the University of Toronto, said the result was disappointing, although she said "notable treatment effects were observed in certain subgroups of patients".

While this could mean that Merck might conduct more studies to try and find particular groups of patients who would benefit from the treatment, industry analysts were skeptical that Stimuvax had any future.

"Despite potential positive effects in subgroups, we consider the drug dead," said Deutsche Bank analyst Holger Blum.

The trial was testing Stimuvax on more than 1,500 patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors could not be completely removed via surgery and whose disease had at least stabilized following chemoradiotherapy.

Merck said it would discuss the data with experts and regulatory authorities over the coming months.

Helvea analyst Odile Rundquist, who cut her price target on Merck by 2 euros to 97 euros a share, said the setback for Stimuvax was another blow for Merck's pharmaceutical division following recent disappointments with cancer drug Erbitux and the earlier failure of cladribine in multiple sclerosis.

Merck shares fell 3.3 percent to 98.22 euros by 1145 GMT, while Germany's blue-chip DAX index was up 0.2 percent. The market impact was limited by the fact that many Merck analysts had not included Stimuvax sales forecasts in their financial models, given the risky nature of the project.

The news is a much bigger setback for the German company's small U.S. partner Oncothyreon, whose shares fell 70 percent in premarket trading on Nasdaq.

Stimuvax is one of a number so-called therapeutic cancer vaccines being developed by drug companies to fight tumors by stimulating the body's immune system.

The first such vaccine was approved two years ago but Provenge for prostate cancer, made by Dendreon, has met with limited success, due to management missteps and doctors' reluctance to adopt the difficult-to-administer therapy.

A number of other cancer vaccines are in development that analysts believe may be more successful, including a product from GlaxoSmithKline against melanoma and lung cancer which is set to report clinical trial results next year.

Some investors had already been wary about prospects for Stimuvax after Merck said in March the trial would be continued and final data would be presented later than expected, raising doubts over its success.

"Given the history of the drug's development with postponements, discontinuations and break-ups we are not surprised about today's outcome," DZ Bank analyst Peter Spengler said.

(Editing by Erica Billingham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/merck-kgaa-cancer-drug-stimuvax-fails-stage-trial-084519774--finance.html

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Anthropologist inspires students to embrace the world

?It kind of blows you away,? Peter Brown says of the many success stories of his students, who have gone on to careers in academia and health care.

By Carol Clark

Someone once videotaped Emory anthropologist Peter Brown teaching a class. One of his sons, who was around 4-years-old at the time, was shocked when he saw the video.

?He asked me, ?Daddy, why are you yelling at all those people??? Brown recalls, laughing. ?Sometimes I can get really worked up while giving lectures.?

That passion netted Brown two major career awards in 2012: The American Anthropological Association (AAA)/Oxford University Press Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in Anthropology and the Society for Medical Anthropology Graduate Student Mentoring Award. Both awards ? the first recognition by his peers, and the second by his students ? were presented at the recent AAA annual meeting in San Francisco.

?I?ve been an anthropologist for half-a-century,? says George Armelagos, one of Brown?s colleagues at Emory, ?and I?ve never seen anyone receive two teaching awards at one meeting. Peter has taught more than 3,000 students at Emory, but nationwide, he?s reached more than 180,000 through his books.?

When one of those former Emory students told Brown that she was headed to Malawi to apply her new skills as a medical doctor, Brown felt immensely proud, and asked her what useful knowledge she had retained from his anthropology courses.

She wrote back: ?What I really remember is the story of how the town doctor (in Sardinia) came to your door after some fishermen saw you hanging out the laundry. They were worried because the only reason a man would do the laundry was if his wife was terribly sick! Your wife Betsy was fine, but you said that you learned an important lesson in appropriate sex-role behavior. It was a funny story for sure.?

The housewives of Sardinia. While researching the effects of malaria eradication in 1976, Peter Brown, at left, learned that Italian men rarely do laundry.


In nominating Brown for the awards, several of his students described how he cultivated their interest in medical anthropology by combining facts and personal stories.

?I try to draw on my experiences to help students better understand their own lives, and their own world,? Brown says.

Emory graduate student Kathryn Bouskill recalls how Brown commemorated World AIDS Day last year with a moving talk that wove in stories about his brother and brother-in-law, to whom he was very close, and who both lost their lives to AIDS. ?Many students in the lecture hall had tears in their eyes, and many expressed to me afterwards that they had never heard a personal account of HIV/AIDS,? Bouskill wrote to the AAA awards committee. ?They said it gave them a compassionate view of real-world issues that they will hold with them long after graduation.?

Brown grew up in Los Angeles where his early passions were ecology and the Boy Scouts. ?They say anthropologists are sociologists who like to camp,? Brown says, adding that he knew fairly early that he wanted to be a teacher.

He attended Notre Dame, and then graduate school at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where he honed his interest in medical anthropology and disease ecology. Brown was finishing up his PhD when Emory offered him a job in 1978.

"I think it's important to teach with optimism and identify heroes," says Brown. He cites a Bangladesh campaign for simple, life-saving oral rehydration as a global health success story.


?I told my wife that I would go anywhere with a football team,? Brown recalls. ?That was a joke, because pretty much every college had football.?

Emory, of course, did not. The small, private college had not been on Brown?s radar, but he accepted the offer to become one of the three founding faculty members of Emory?s new anthropology department. The next year, Emory received what was then the largest single gift to higher education in U.S. history: The $105 million Woodruff Fund.

?Who gets chances like that? I felt unbelievably lucky, to be part of a growing department at a growing university,? Brown recalls.

Brown was among the key faculty who helped Emory anthropology develop a strongly collaborative, bio-cultural niche, and gain a reputation as one of the leading graduate programs for anthropologists in the country. The students can draw on resources from throughout the University, including the Rollins School of Public Health (where Brown also teaches), and the adjacent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For undergraduates, Brown created a Global Health Minor. ?No matter what their major, I want students to become international citizens and understand that the living conditions in most of the world are not nearly as luxurious as here,? Brown says. ?In many places, what?s needed to improve health is not CAT scanners and other technology, but sewage systems and better nutrition.?

Brown has developed and taught some two-dozen different courses while at Emory, in addition to conducting research and writing books. During the course of his career, ?international health? evolved into what is now called ?global health,? encompassing scores of non-governmental agencies that brought more money and actors to the table.

?Incredible progress has been made,? Brown says, ?things have been done that I wouldn?t have thought possible.?

After the cause of HIV/AIDS was found, he notes, anti-retroviral drugs were developed relatively fast, the price of the drugs soon came down, and wealthier nations began funding their widespread use in the developing world.

Brown shares a dinner in Mexico with former students Sarah Willen, center, and Svea Closser, right, and Closser's 4-year-old son, Kaif.


Brown also cites the success of the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, or BRAC, which he calls ?the largest NGO you?ve never heard of.? BRAC helped spur a child-survival revolution by targeting the deadly effects of diarrheal disease. ?They teach people how to use a Gatorade-like solution for oral rehydration,? Brown says. ?They scaled up a liter of water, a handful of sugar and a pinch of salt into a major health-care intervention.?

Brown believes in focusing on the hopeful examples amid the complex problems facing global health. ?I think it?s important to teach with optimism and identify heroes,? he says. ?If you?re a pessimist, you?re not helping students at all.?

That affirming spirit made a big difference in the life of Aun Lor, who attended Emory after surviving the ?killing fields? genocide of Cambodia, where he lost his father, his three older brothers and his sister. ?These experiences could have set me on the wrong path to self-destruction, but among a few people who have helped me channel my frustration and energy into something positive was Peter Brown,? Lor wrote to the AAA awards committee. ?I learned from Peter that among my best teaching and advocacy tools are my life experiences. These experiences give me a real voice.?

Lor, who was mentored by Brown both as an undergraduate at Emory and a graduate student at Rollins School of Public Health, now works at the CDC.

?It kind of blows you away,? Brown says of the many accomplishments of his students who have gone on to successful careers in academia and health care.

His mentoring often evolves into friendships that extend far beyond Emory.

Svea Closser, now an assistant professor at Middlebury College, wrote that one of her favorite memories of Brown occurred after she received her PhD and attended a conference in Mexico. ?Peter rented a minivan to drive me and many other current and former grad students across Mexico, all the while tirelessly playing ?Guess What Animal I Am? with my four-year-old,? Closser wrote. ?And, of course, he made time at the conference to give thoughtful, much-appreciated advice to an undergraduate student of mine.?

Related:
Great teacher thrives in unique habitat
Doctorate's ORDER: Teach your research
Cultivating brains for science
Uganda closing in on river blindness

Credits: Top photo by Carol Clark; Bangladesh photo by iStockphoto.com; other photos courtesy of Peter Brown.?

Source: http://esciencecommons.blogspot.com/2012/12/anthropologist-inspires-students-to.html

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Christmas Home Tour - Our Family Room | A Blissful Nest

I thought it would be fun to take a tour of our family room and show you parts of my happy place. With all the craziness going on in the world right now I am nesting more than ever with my little family and truly feeling truly blessed for them. So with that . . .

Welcome to my home ? Christmas Edition!

This is the room we live in most so it is definitely the most decorated room in the house and why I am sharing this first for our Christmas Home Tour. The focal point of the room is our fireplace. We did not have a fireplace back in California so I feel spoiled having THE perfect spot to display some of my favorite pieces.

I have my prized Pottery Barn sea fan shadow box art as the main anchor to the top of the mantel and my white flower vases flanking either side.

I just filled these with some berries that match the mesh and berrie garland I draped along the front of the mantel.

This year a client had asked me to create her a reindeer art print with the sentiment ?Believe?. I loved it so much that I made one for myself too!

And at the bottom of this post you too can have this print! A little Christmas present from me to you my sweet friends.

I went a little crazy with ribbon this year thanks to Hobby Lobby! I wrapped, tied and added a bow to anything that I could! Touches of my favorite (low maintenance greenery!) were my touches of green ? boxwood and moss.

And a special little man has graced my mantel!

Since we are building fires we need to have wood piled up and ready to use. So I decided to wrap them up! I used wrapping paper from the $1 bins at Target and tossed in my moss wreaths from our Christmas Wish Party decorations.

A stacked pile of old soda crates on the other side of the fireplace, is a nice drink table for our chair nearby.

I hold this little bookcase very near and dear. My husband made it with his grandfather as a birthday gift for me many years ago. I put my favorite trinkets on it including coral from trips to Hawaii, black earthen ware from our honeymoon to Portugal, favorite photos and design books.

Of course I Christmas-fied the top!

Lastly our writing desk got dressed up with a little mesh, berries and Christmas balls.

Have fun this holiday season and enjoy EVERY moment with your family!

Here is a sweet little present to download to place in your home: ?

Believe Reindeer Art Print

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Believe Reindeer Art Print

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Source: http://www.ablissfulnest.com/2012/12/christmas-home-tour-our-family-room-christmas-edition.html

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