LyrArc Article Gist
Changes in the patent laws and the efforts by the tech and pharmaceutical industries to contest the changes. The changes would have limited the length of applications and the number of claims written, and the possibility of adding more data to support applications. The Patent Office which is financed by user fees has a $200 million shortfall, and there is asizable backlog of applications.

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Eric Cantor, a House member from the Richmond area, who is the face behind the zero Republican votes in the House for the Stimulus Plan. He says Democrats should not take the message from this that they should not mess with the Republicans anymore in discussing the plans for the economy. Is this good policy though, when the bill has given some middle ground between tax cuts and spending, and the spending is on areas neglected for years such as roads and bridges, classrooms and energy infrastructure? And is there an element of lack of comprehension by Republicans stuck on ideological grounds, of the seriously deteriorating nature of this crisis which is likely not to come back with recovery in several years, and is a global crisis? When Prime Minister Thatcher, UK Prime Minister, left office, the British infrastructure rail, rapid transit, hospitals and schools, had been neglected for many years and voters were looking for ways to rebuild the dilapidated infrastructure. The economy was weakening under her Conservative party successor, giving the Labor Party its chance to make a come back on the grounds of rebuilding infrastructure and services, and improving the economy. In which case there are just as many risks in this approach of being left out entirely and losing credibility across the country. Sometimes a feel good position may not be the best, or the wisest option, and may be shortsighted. ...

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A $37 billion deal over 15-20 years for Australian LNG between Woodside Energy, Royal Dutch Shell and PetroChina, China's biggest oil and gas company. The is shows a shift to natural gas in the urban coastline areas of China such as Shenzen and Shanghai, a shift away from the dirter but cheaper coal based fuels as urban incomes rise and preferences change.

LyrArc Article Gist
Preserving muscle mass, function and strength is important as people age, especially after 50 years of age. One solution is resistance training, and nutrition also plays a part- with protein intake supplements helping preserve muscle as one ages. Preserving muscle is as important as preserving bone mass- with medical practitioners describing the condition as sarcopenia, similiar to osteoporosis. Nestle and Danone are developing nutritional products for this.