Catherine Ventura: Tweeting Behind Your Back: What You Can't See Might Hurt You
Every speaker's nightmare is an audience full of hecklers who feel free shout out comments the way sports fans shout at their TVs ("You call that a triple axel?!?") and bloodthirsty ancient Romans shouted at gladiators ("You call yourself a Thracian?!?) Unfortunately, that's exactly what's happening, all too frequently, when cutting edge conferences include a Twitter "backchannel" -- a real-time electronic screen behind the speaker that displays a rolling stream of the audience's tweeted comments. That particular interactive feature is designed to create an impromptu online "community" around the event and to encourage conversation and interaction. But it can also backfire with

Scott Mendelson, M.D.: Increase In Diabetes Will Fuel Explosion Of Alzheimer's Dementia
In a new report published in the December issue of the journal Diabetes Care, it is predicted that in the United States the number of people suffering from Diabetes will double over the next 25 years. This is bad news for those of us concerned about the looming epidemic of Alzheimer's Dementia. Diabetes is a disease of metabolic function in the body that is defined as an inability to control levels of sugar in the blood. However, Diabetes does far more than disturb blood sugar levels. Diabetes adversely affects the functions of virtually every organ in the body. Consequently, it is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and other illness, among which are various

Tom D'Antoni: Spanish Guitarist Pere Soto Traumatized After Arrest, Chaining at U.S. Border
Spanish jazz guitarist Pere Soto was arrested and held in a jail cell when he tried to re-enter the U.S. from Mexico. He remains shocked and traumatized by his treatment by U.S. officials. The Catalan has a Gypsy-jazz band, "Django's Castle," and has played in challenging ensembles which include jazz artists David Douglas and Dave Liebman, In my original reporting on the incident, he told me: The moment they caught me, was like the criminal movies. They said to me, "If now you just move a little we're gonna kick you and put you on the ground in pain...well other words...but something like

Tiger Woods Should Go Public, Image Consultants Say
When it comes to dealing with a personal crisis, Tiger Woods could learn a lot from David Letterman, media experts say. Instead of a vague statement that left many questions unanswered, the late-night comic went very public with his admission of bad behavior, and even cracked a few jokes at his own expense. After a few days, everyone moved on. "Men and women have been forgiven by their public for misbehavior or misstepping, and even philandering," said Gene Grabowski, who guides high-profile figures – Roger Clemens is a client – through public relations crises as a senior vice president with Washington-based Levick Strategic Communications. "But

Afghan Officials Fear Talk Of Exit Strategy
KABUL — Afghan officials hope President Barack Obama's address on Afghanistan won't be weighted too heavily on an exit strategy – even though that's the message many Americans and Democrats in Congress want to hear. If he talks extensively in his speech Tuesday night about winding down the war, Afghans fear the Taliban will simply bide their time until the Americans abandon the country much as Washington did after the Soviets left 20 years ago. That move plunged the nation into civil war and paved the way for al-Qaida and the Sept. 11 attacks. Similarly, in neighboring Pakistan, too much talk of a finite U.S. troop presence gives commanders little reaso