ahrahr (99.12)
ahrahr beat the market on Friday

Rank: 610 out of 69556

With STXS, I’m down -20.56% since I selected it with CAPS, against a S&P -6.50%. My CAPS loss is -14.16.

This post is devoted to a review of Q4 and FY2009 numbers; and some comments regarding the last CC.

For a review of what Stereotaxis does and why I like the stock, please see my previous post.

On Thursday February 25, 2010, Stereotaxis reported: 16% revenue increase in the fourth quarter 2009; new orders up 22% sequentially; second consecutive quarterly increase; recurring revenue reached record $5.1 Million; cash burn declined to $2.9 Million; full year 2009 revenue up 27%; gross margin percentage of 67%; operating expenses decreased 14% .

There were many positive and constructive things said on the cc (transcript courtesy of SeekingAlpha):

#1 – “During the year, we saw our first placements of Odyssey and non-Niobe or standard labs, demonstrating its broadening appeal as well as its potential to be a significant driver of future growth.“ Odyssey is an EP lab information management system, designed to optimize workflow and improve productivity, that enables live case transmission, remote procedure sharing, and even remote training. An EP lab can use it without a Niobe. I think it’s a positive that labs are purchasing it as a standalone, because I believe it will lead future Niobe sales (An Odyssey system is less expensive to purchase than a Niobe).

#2 – “(…) patient demand to be treated on the Stereotaxis System is emerging as awareness of the safety and efficacy is becoming more widespread. A live procedure featuring the Niobe was broadcast on the Today’s Show on NBC early in the month and led to several hundred inquiries into the University of Cleveland, where the procedure was performed, within a 24-hour period following the broadcast.The hospitals who informed us to pick several patients throughout North America have been scheduled for the procedure. We also were featured in a BBC documentary and individual hospitals such as Henry Ford in Michigan have advertised the Stereotaxis procedure in the Wall Street Journal New York Times, generating inquiries in the scheduling of procedures.” This a big driver towards widespread adoption of Stereotaxis technology, as everybody can learn from the Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) experience.

#3 – “(…) a worldwide market of more than 12,000 electrophysiology interventional cardiology labs combined (…)” It is the first time I find an accurate estimate of how many EP labs there are around the world. Total Niobe installed base should be 145 (or a number very close to that). It’s actually something more than a 1% penetration. There are vast, green pastures ahead!

#4 – “It’s now about 20, it’s in the mid-20s, 22% to 23% of total sites in Europe and the US are using it (note: Niobes) more than three cases a week.“ That leaves 75% of sites that are using Niobes less than three cases a week. There’s substantial growth ahead, not just from new sites, but from sites that already have a Niobe system.

#5 – On break-even: “To us a break-even quarter is probably something like a $23 million revenue quarter (…) it probably looks like something like 10 Niobe, 20 Odyssey, you know, 10 Cinema, that’s what kind of the quarter would like for us.”

#6 – I’m paraphrasing now. Since Niobe systems are usually sold along with x-ray equipment (typically from Siemens or Philips), Charley Jones of Barrington Research asks a tangential question: Do you have any expectation about the number of X-ray systems that will go into EP labs or new EP labs or redone EP labs in 2010 either in the US, globally, or split up? Mike Kaminski (STXS CEO) answers that STXS is assuming a worldwide number still between 250 and 300, and they get that through their partners. Half of them in the US and the lion’s share of the rest is in Europe and then bounce sprinkle. And China is coming up obviously with a very strong market. In other words, this is how large is the yearly market.

All in all, a good (but not stellar) quarter, and quite a bright horizon ahead for STXS.

Disclosure: I’m long STXS shares.

Just my opinion, not investment advice of any sort.

La domanda alla quale bisogna rispondere è la seguente: se una qualunque lista dell’opposizione, dopo aver presentato in tribunale le carte relative alla partecipazione alle elezione regionale, fosse stata respinta per via del più piccolo vizio di forma, avrebbe trovato il governo pronto a legiferare per riammeterla?

Ne scrive Beppe Grillo, e sono completamente d’accordo con lui (pubblico uno stralcio):

Da questa notte l’Italia non è più, ufficialmente, una democrazia. Napolitano ha firmato il decreto della legge interpretativa del Governo che rende alcuni italiani più uguali degli altri. Le leggi d’ora in poi saranno interpretate, ogni volta che converrà a loro, da questi golpisti da barzelletta e, alla bisogna, interverrà un presidente della Repubblica che dovrebbe essere messo sotto impeachment per alto tradimento.
Napolitano ha firmato di notte, di fretta, mentre gli italiani dormivano (forse per una volta si vergognava anche lui). Le liste elettorali senza firme, con firme non autenticate, liste neppure presentate, le liste porcata sono state interpretate, riverginate. Formigoni e Polverini sono stati riammessi. Una qualunque lista dell’opposizione con il più piccolo vizio di forma sarebbe stata respinta. Siamo in dittatura. Sembra strana questa parola detta all’inizio di una nuova primavera: “dittatura“.

Il post completo è qui: http://www.beppegrillo.it/2010/03/colpo_di_stato.html

Perfino la Chiesa Cattolica, solitamente prudente, ha qualche cosa da dire:

“Cambiare le regole del gioco mentre il gioco è già in atto è altamente scorretto, perchè si legittima ogni intervento arbitrario con la motivazione che ragioni più o meno intrinseche o pertinenti mettono un gioco un valore”. E’ quanto sottolinea Monsignor Domenico Mogavero, vescovo di Mazara del Vallo, e presidente per gli Affari Giuridici della Cei, in un intervento su Radio Vaticana sul rapporto tra voto elettorale e democrazia.

Link: http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/politica/2010/02/27/visualizza_new.html_1708895521.html

ahrahr (99.20)
ahrahr beat the market on Friday

CAPS Rank: 479 out of 69524

With STXS, I’m down -33.57% since I selected it with CAPS, against a S&P -9.38%. My CAPS loss is -24.19.

This post is going to be entirely devoted to Stereotaxis, Inc. (Nasdaq: STXS), which designs, manufactures, and markets cardiology instrument control system for use in hospital’s interventional surgical suite or interventional lab to treat arrhythmias and coronary artery disease.

Before delving into commentary and analysis of the company my background first.

Under the ahrahr nickname there’s a community pharmacist. Warren Buffett famously said that you should invest in what you understand. Thank you Mr. Buffett, my studies and my job allow me to understand most biotechnology and healthcare equipment and supplies companies.

Truth is, a cyberpal back in 2006 (if I recall correctly) alerted me — on a message board, that is — about this company. I studied it since then, and bought my first shares early in 2008.

The Stereotaxis main product, whose name is Niobe, is a proprietary Magnetic Navigation System that’s designed to allow physicians to more effectively navigate catheters, guidewires and other magnetic interventional devices, through the blood vessels and chambers of the heart to treatment sites and then to effect treatment. This is achieved using computer-controlled, externally applied magnetic fields that precisely and directly govern the motion of the internal working tip of the catheter, guidewire or other magnetic interventional devices.

What do I like about the company? Their equipment is superior both to the manual intervention technique and to the only competitor that now exists (it is Hansen Medical, Nasdaq: HNSN).

Why is it superior? Because:

#1 – It takes less time to navigate the catheter into the heart (times are commonly halved);

#2 – It allows physicians go in the cardiovascular system in places that are very difficult or impossible to reach with manual or robotic;

#3 – It is a safer procedure for the patient. Only one adverse event (not fatal) reported to date, against a 2-to-6 percent adverse event ratio with manual. Robotic procedures (i.e. those done with Hansen equipment) experience an adverse event ratio similar to manual.

#4 – It is a safer procedure for the physician. With either manual and robotic, the physician (with his/her heavy lead dress) has to stay close to the patient. Thus they are exposed to x-rays anyway. A Niobe machine is operated from a different, lead-shielded room. The physician gets zero x-rays. And his/her movements are without the heavy lead dress.

#5 – STXS actually has FDA approval to do procedures with Niobe equipment and both in-house and partnered catheters. HNSN product, the Sensei, only has FDA approval for mapping, but not for ablations. They are doing these off-label.

There are some hard facts I like about STXS as an investment. These are:

#1 – Intellectual Property rights. If you want to go magnetic, it’s Stereotaxis’ IP.

#2 – Companies that have magnetic catheters (Biosense Webster, a division of JNJ) or that are developing them (STJ), must use those catheters with Niobes. STXS gets a royalty every time those catheters are used.

#3 Leading international physicians are endorsing STXS. You can check this via PubMed and other peer-reviewed publications. Soon every EP lab will want to have a Niobe.

#4 There possibly is a bidding war for STXS on the horizon. If you want to be in the catheter business, STXS is what you must own. Remember, STXS has the Intellectual Property. A Niobe machine can now use catheters from JNJ, Biotronik and, in the near future, STJ. Just imagine that one of these players wants all the pie: one has to buy STXS and shuts all the competitors out. Bidders might also be GE, MDT, Siemens, Philips…

Next post will be a comment of the recently released Q4 and FY2009 data.

Disclosure: I’m long STXS shares.

Fonte: Federfarma

Caro signor Sindaco,

sono stato recentemente in ferie, con la mia famiglia (moglie e due figli, di tre e un anno), nella ridente città da lei amministrata.

Era la prima volta che venivamo, penso di poter dire che altre seguiranno. Abbiamo trovato una accoglienza cordiale da parte del personale dell’albergo e dai negozianti con cui siamo entrati in contatto.

Siamo rimasti favorevolmente colpiti dall’equilibrato sviluppo urbanistico, dalle belle ville e dai giardini. Abbiamo piacevolmente passeggiato in generale un po’ per tutta la città, e in particolare per tutto il lungomare, avanti e indietro, tutti i giorni. Abbiamo notato i lavori per il prolungamento della passeggiata, idea che condividiamo e che abbiamo giudicato positiva per migliorare la vivibilità della città e promuoverne ulteriormente lo sviluppo turistico.

Per i nostri bambini abbiamo apprezzato la presenza di aree recintate dedicate al gioco e la generale tranquillità del luogo.

Tuttavia, c’è una cosa che invece non ho gradito: la presenza di numerosi cani, anche di grossa taglia, senza museruola e qualche volta addirittura senza guinzaglio.

Nei giorni in cui sono rimasto vostro ospite, ho notato il concorso intitolato “Giovani idee per il Futuro di Bordighera“. Cedo gratis, a lei e a chi li vorrà raccogliere, i seguenti miei pensieri.

Perché non istituire una zona della città – penso alla spiaggia e al lungomare – libera da cani?  All’inglese, sempre di moda, la si potrebbe chiamare “Dog-free” oppure “Kids-friendly” (beh, per le etichette c’è sempre tempo). In sostanza, una Bordighera ancora più a misura di bambino e di famiglie.

Durante la nostra permanenza, ho notato sul lungomare cani enormi al guinzaglio di padroni del tutto manifestamente incapaci di trattenerli in caso d’imprevisto. Ho assistito a un litigio tra cani – piuttosto inquietante per me, che ero vicino, con due bambini piccoli appresso – tra due minuscoli cagnolini da una parte e due cani (grandi quanto vitelli, e ovviamente senza museruola) trattenuti a stento dai coniugi che li stavano esibendo. Caro signor sindaco, ho visto un padrone portare in spiaggia il proprio cane Dobermann e lasciarlo libero, senza guinzaglio e senza museruola. La pericolosità del gesto è apparsa chiara a tutti coloro che ne sono stati testimoni, tranne evidentemente allo spregiudicato padrone. E non che sia stato l’unico episodio, che ho visto, di cane completamente libero di scorrazzare in spiaggia, tutt’altro.

Di fatto, il cane libero impedisce a tutte le altre persone l’accesso alla spiaggia: cosa che ho vissuto come un sopruso; e mi fa sorgere domande a proposito dell’igiene della spiaggia stessa.

A me sembra che l’attuale situazione di indifferente permissività sia una pericolosa porta aperta, un invito alla disgrazia perché si verifichi.

Non sarebbe meglio prevenire, invece che curare?

Le statistiche sono molto chiare: ogni anno, accusa il Codacons, vengono denunciati 70 mila casi di aggressioni compiute da cani. Il fatto che a provocare la tragedia sia quasi sempre il cane di casa, lo stesso che fino a un istante prima era sempre stato “buonissimo, dolcissimo e affettuosissimo”, è forse l’elemento più inquietante: possiamo passeggiare tranquilli, quando vediamo venirci incontro, liberi come l’aria, questi cani che in un momento d’ira sono capaci di uccidere persino i loro padroni?

La sostanza del mio suggerimento è che l’istituzione di una zona garantita e controllata “senza cani”, che ipotizzerei essere la spiaggia e il lungomare, potrebbe attirare l’interesse dei media, dare pubblicità gratuita alla città, caratterizzare Bordighera come città attenta alle esigenze e alle preoccupazioni del turismo famigliare, incrementare – come conseguenza di tutto quanto esposto sopra – l’economia turistica locale.

La ringrazio per l’attenzione.

Con cordiali saluti,
Giancarlo Nicoli

Comune di Bordighera – il Sindaco

Il Secolo XIX – Uffici di corrispondenza di Imperia e Sanremo

–New Orders Up 22% Sequentially; Second Consecutive Quarterly Increase

–Recurring Revenue Reaches Record $5.1 Million –Cash Burn Declines to $2.9 Million

–Full Year 2009 Revenue Up 27%; Gross Margin Percentage of 67%; Operating Expenses Decrease 14%

ST. LOUIS, Feb 25, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Stereotaxis, Inc. (Nasdaq: STXS) today reported its financial results for the quarter and the year ended December 31, 2009. Revenue for the recent fourth quarter grew 16% to $14.1 million compared with $12.1 million in the same quarter a year ago. The Company recognized revenue on six Niobe(R) Magnetic Navigation Systems, nine Odyssey(TM) systems and four Odyssey Cinema(TM) systems, totaling $9.0 million. Disposables, services and accessories revenue set another record at $5.1 million, a 51% increase from the fourth quarter of 2008, attributable to favorable pricing and procedure growth. The 2009 fourth quarter operating loss decreased 9% to $5.8 million from $6.4 million in 2008.

For the full year 2009, revenue grew 27% to $51.1 million compared with $40.4 million in 2008. Recurring revenue increased 54% to $18.5 million from $12.0 million in 2008. Gross margin for the year was up 30% to $34.1 million, or 66.7% of sales, compared with 64.9% of sales in 2008. Operating expenses decreased 14%, resulting in a 42% reduction in the operating loss to $23.8 million in 2009 compared with the $41.0 million operating loss in 2008.

Michael P. Kaminski, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are very pleased with our financial performance in 2009. Both systems revenue and revenue from disposables and services grew substantially during the year. During the quarter, we generated new orders totaling $7.7 million, up from $6.3 million in the third quarter and just $5.0 million in the second. The increase in orders is an indication that capital spending by hospitals is improving. The Odyssey platform continues to gain recognition in the market. There was substantial interest in the Odyssey platform at the Atrial Fibrillation Symposium in Boston last month. Physicians recognize Odyssey’s value in integration of diverse sources of diagnostic and other patient information into a single format, which provides improved efficiency, enhanced archiving and a unique opportunity to network labs and sites. We anticipate significant Odyssey revenue in 2010 from non-magnetic labs. We anticipate the economic recovery in the U.S. to result in increased commitments from hospitals for new capital projects. From a financial perspective, we are committed to driving revenue growth, generating solid gross profit margins and controlling our expenses,” Mr. Kaminski concluded.

Fourth Quarter 2009 Financial Performance

Gross margin for the quarter was $9.5 million, or 67.3% of revenue, compared with $8.2 million, or 67.6% of revenue, in the fourth quarter of 2008. Fourth quarter operating expenses increased 5% to $15.3 million from $14.6 million in the fourth quarter of the prior year as 2008 benefited from the reversal of certain non-cash compensation costs related to stock compensation programs. Cash burn improved 36% to $2.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with $4.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.

The operating loss in the fourth quarter decreased 9% to $(5.8) million compared with $(6.4) million in the prior year. The Company reported a net loss for the fourth quarter of 2009 of $(6.7) million, or $(0.14) per share. This compares with a net loss for the fourth quarter of 2008 of $(7.5) million, or $(0.20) per share. The weighted average shares for the recent fourth quarter totaled 48.4 million compared with 36.7 million in the fourth quarter of last year. The increase was due in large part to the issuance of 7,475,000 shares as part of the secondary stock offering completed in October 2009.

Cash and equivalents at December 31, 2009 totaled $30.5 million, compared with $30.4 million at December 31, 2008. Included in the cash position at the end of 2009 was approximately $27.8 million in net proceeds received from the stock offering during the fourth quarter. Total debt was $23.7 million, including $10 million drawn against the Company’s $30 million line of credit. As previously disclosed, in October 2009 the Company received a commitment to expand its line of credit from $25 million to $30 million and to extend the maturity date from March 31, 2010 to March 31, 2011.

2010 Financial Guidance

The Company provided its outlook for 2010 as follows:

• New capital order growth in excess of 40%
• Total revenue growth in the mid-20% range
• Gross margins above 65%
• Operating expenses between $60 and $65 million

Conference Call Information

The Company has scheduled a conference call for 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today to discuss its financial results for the fourth quarter. To access the conference call, please dial (877) 941-9205. International participants can call (480) 629-9866. An audio replay of the call will be available for seven days following the call at (800) 406-7325 for U.S. callers or (303) 590-3030 for those calling outside the U.S. The password required to access the replay is 4207018#. The call will also be available on the Internet live and for 90 days thereafter at the following URL:

http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=66045

About Stereotaxis

Stereotaxis designs, manufactures and markets an advanced cardiology instrument control system for use in a hospital’s interventional surgical suite to enhance the treatment of coronary artery disease and arrhythmias. The Stereotaxis System is designed to enable physicians to complete more complex interventional procedures by providing image guided delivery of catheters and guidewires through the blood vessels and chambers of the heart to treatment sites. This is achieved using computer-controlled, externally applied magnetic fields that govern the motion of the working tip of the catheter or guidewire, resulting in improved navigation, shorter procedure time and reduced x-ray exposure. Stereotaxis’ Odyssey solutions integrate and manage information from disparate information sources, eliminating the challenge of interacting simultaneously with many separate diagnostic systems, driving optimized workflow and improved productivity. The core components of the Stereotaxis system have received regulatory clearance in the U.S., Europe and Canada.

This press release includes statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements, usually containing the words “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “expect” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, continued acceptance for the Company’s products in the marketplace, the effect of global credit and economic conditions on the ability and willingness of customers to purchase our systems, competitive factors, changes in government reimbursement procedures, dependence upon third-party vendors, timing of regulatory approval and return of the irrigated catheter to the market, and other risks discussed in the Company’s periodic and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release. There can be no assurance that the Company will recognize revenue related to its purchase orders and other commitments in any particular period or at all because some of these purchase orders and other commitments are subject to contingencies that are outside of the Company’s control. In addition, these orders and commitments may be revised, modified or canceled, either by their express terms, as a result of negotiations, or by project changes or delays.

(Tables to follow)

STEREOTAXIS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (1)
(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended        Twelve Months Ended
December 31,              December 31,
2009        2008         2009           2008
----        ----         ----           ----
Revenue
System          $8,966,960   $8,743,693   $32,661,573   $28,375,880
Disposables,
service and
accessories     5,114,431    3,382,791    18,487,982    11,989,293
---------    ---------    ----------    ----------
Total revenue      14,081,391   12,126,484    51,149,555    40,365,173

Cost of revenue
System           3,990,424    3,233,985    13,240,430    12,008,090
Disposables,
service and
accessories       619,061      693,558     3,781,203     2,169,700
-------      -------     ---------     ---------
Total cost of
revenue            4,609,485    3,927,543    17,021,633    14,177,790

Gross margin        9,471,906    8,198,941    34,127,922    26,187,383

Operating expenses:
Research and
development     4,012,977    3,561,488    14,260,854    17,422,828
Sales and
marketing       7,269,738    5,363,663    28,694,540    28,660,663
General and
administration  4,003,449    5,663,051    15,010,490    21,121,164
---------    ---------    ----------    ----------
Total operating
expenses          15,286,164   14,588,202    57,965,884    67,204,655
----------   ----------    ----------    ----------
Operating loss     (5,814,258)  (6,389,261)  (23,837,962)  (41,017,272)
Other income/
(expense)            845,470            -       911,977             -
Interest income        10,699       29,205        44,768       194,870
Interest expense   (1,752,762)  (1,131,965)   (4,613,240)   (3,063,572)
----------   ----------    ----------    ----------
Net loss          $(6,710,851) $(7,492,021) $(27,494,457) $(43,885,974)
===========  ===========  ============  ============

Net loss per
common share:
Basic and
diluted          $(0.14)      $(0.20)       $(0.63)       $(1.20)
======       ======        ======        ======

Weighted average
shares used in
computing net
loss per common
share:
Basic and
diluted        48,374,735   36,714,618    43,344,324    36,585,086
==========   ==========    ==========    ==========

(1) On September 23, 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
ratified Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue 08-1, creating
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2009-13 "Multiple-Deliverable
Revenue Arrangements".  The Company adopted this standard in the
fourth quarter of 2009, effective for transactions occurring on or
after January 1, 2009.  Since there were no material changes to any
amounts previously reported in 2009 or 2008, these periods were not
required to be restated.

STEREOTAXIS, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS

December 31,    December 31,
2009             2008
----             ----
(Unaudited)
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents                 $30,546,550      $30,355,657
Accounts receivable, net of allowance
of $322,463 and $328,307 in 2009 and
2008, respectively                        11,152,648        9,739,008
Current portion of long-term receivables       66,800          197,351
Inventories                                 4,403,675        8,086,956
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   3,872,535        2,966,510
---------        ---------
Total current assets                         50,042,208       51,345,482
Property and equipment, net                   4,790,310        6,420,600
Intangible assets                             1,144,445        1,277,778
Long-term Receivables                           138,441          298,123
Other assets                                      5,112           98,382
-----           ------
Total assets                                $56,120,516      $59,440,365
===========      ===========

Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt       $3,333,333       $3,901,491
Accounts payable                            3,881,205        4,561,928
Accrued liabilities                         8,615,287        9,873,818
Deferred contract revenue                   7,191,492        9,676,339
Warrants                                    4,142,614                -
---------              ---
Total current liabilities                    27,163,931       28,013,576

Long term debt, less current maturities      20,346,655       25,271,547
Long term deferred contract revenue             948,574        1,225,656
Other liabilities                                20,013          158,905

Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.001;
10,000,000 shares authorized at 2009
and 2008; none outstanding at 2009
and 2008                                           -                -
Common stock, par value $0.001;
100,000,000 shares authorized at 2009
and 2008; 50,208,171 and 42,049,792
issued at 2009 and 2008, respectively         50,208           42,050
Additional paid-in capital                331,249,918      300,892,957
Treasury stock, 40,151 shares at 2009
and 2008                                    (205,999)        (205,999)
Accumulated deficit                      (323,452,784)    (295,958,327)
------------     ------------
Total stockholders' equity                    7,641,343        4,770,681
---------        ---------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $56,120,516      $59,440,365
===========      ===========

SOURCE: Stereotaxis, Inc.

(Questa persona tra l’altro sostiene di essere una pensatrice indipendente, di non averla mai data per far carriera, di non essere legata ad alcun partito e di non avere alcun politico come referente. E lavora in RAI? Lo trovo uno stravagante ossimoro).

Ci avverte che il mondo dello sport non è quello che sembra. Il giuoco del calcio, che in Italia conta schiere enormi di appassionati, muove parecchi soldi. Esistono calciatori che si dopano e si drogano; movimenti di denaro in nero; scommesse (legali e illegali) sui risultati; partite truccate dai giocatori; partite truccate dagli arbitri; arbitri corrotti; dirigenti corruttori e corrotti; minacce e violenze. Nella serie A italiana come ai Campionati del Mondo.

La Tea si scandalizza. Come fate a non vedere? Come potete dire di non sapere? Perché continuate a seguire lo sport (in generale) e il calcio (in particolare)?

La risposta la troviamo nel bellissimo libro di Merendero e Franchini, “La prevalenza del destino”, Cortese Editore, 256 pp., quella che ho in biblioteca è la prima edizione, costava 26.000 lire. Non so se al giorno d’oggi lo stampano ancora: forse lo potete trovare su eBay.

In estrema sintesi, la tesi del libro è questa: cara Tea, cercare di aprire gli occhi alle masse è una fatica inutile. Panem et circenses. È dalla notte dei tempi che la gente non vuole alzare lo sguardo e odia chi la obbliga a togliersi i paraocchi e affrontare la realtà. Il destino prevalente delle persone è quello di essere gregge di pecore, per libera scelta.

Ho tirato dritto (solo per la cronaca).

Mi è tornato alla mente un episodio di quella trasmissione televisiva. Durante la puntata uno degli ospiti, il cantante bergamasco Ivan Cattaneo, disse (cerco di riportare il pensiero, in quanto non ricordo le parole esatte) che per un uomo pubblico non è possibile rivelare la propria omosessualità, perché la rivelazione comporta svantaggi nel mondo del lavoro. Disse inoltre (in sostanza) che lui si era dichiarato e viveva molto bene la propria condizione, disse (guardando dritto negli occhi il proprio interlocutore) che molti sono omosessuali e non lo dicono, sono degli ipocriti, se si rivelassero starebbero molto meglio con sé stessi.

Ero vicino alla libreria Hoepli, mi sono infilato dentro e sono andato a cercare il libro di Giorgio Paradiso, “Formidabili quegli ani”, ed. Il Cavatore, 64 pp, 12,00 euro (il prezzo è alla data di oggi). Sono stato fortunato perché ho comprato l’ultima copia disponibile a magazzino.

Ricordavo di aver sentito parlare di questo libro, ma non lo possedevo e non l’avevo ancora letto. In esso, l’autore dedica poco meno di trenta ritratti (ciascuno lungo due pagine) ad altrettanti omosessuali (da lui incontrati intimamente), visti da dietro.

Il libro non l’ho ancora letto (queste cose non è che mi interessino dopotutto), però la curiosità era tanta e ho guardato l’indice. Peldicarota non c’è.

According to the documentary, fifteen percent of strokes are caused by atrial fibrillation, which affects over 6 million people world-wide and will increase approximately 2.5-fold by the year 2050. The program emphasizes how tens of thousands of people can be saved from stroke by identifying and treating patients with arrhythmia.

The Stereotaxis system allows the physician to control the tip of the catheter by using magnetic fields, providing reduced radiation exposure, a low major adverse event rate and clinical results which mimic the best hands in the world.

For more information on Stereotaxis, please visit www.stereotaxis.com.

About Stereotaxis

Stereotaxis designs, manufactures and markets an advanced cardiology instrument control system for use in a hospital’s interventional surgical suite to enhance the treatment of coronary artery disease and arrhythmias. The Stereotaxis System is designed to enable physicians to complete more complex interventional procedures by providing image guided delivery of catheters and guidewires through the blood vessels and chambers of the heart to treatment sites. This is achieved using computer-controlled, externally applied magnetic fields that govern the motion of the working tip of the catheter or guidewire, resulting in improved navigation, shorter procedure time and reduced x-ray exposure. Stereotaxis’ Odyssey workstation integrates and standardizes data through a consolidated display of multiple systems, eliminating the challenge of interacting simultaneously with many separate diagnostic systems. The magnetic irrigated catheter is not approved for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in the US. The core components of the Stereotaxis system have received regulatory clearance in the U.S., Europe and Canada.

SOURCE: Stereotaxis

Finora la pubblicazione dei risultati ottenuti dai diversi ospedali era solo opzionale, ma diventerà obbligatoria dal primo gennaio. Da quando queste «pagelle» sono compilate e rese pubbliche, il numero delle infezioni nosocomiali in Francia sarebbe in costante diminuzione. Per il momento, la hit parade è guidata dal policlinico Lariboisière nel decimo arrondissement di Parigi, l’unico ospedale «a cinque stelle» di Francia.

Fonte:

• Il Messaggero, 14 dicembre 2009, pag. 17