বৃহস্পতিবার, ২৮ ফেব্রুয়ারী, ২০১৩

Study: Boozy Brits underestimate their drinking

LONDON (AP) ? Truth and alcohol may not mix, particularly when people are asked how much they drink.

That's the implication of a study released Wednesday that reveals a big gap between the booze Britons own up to drinking and the amount of alcohol sold nationwide. The study indicates that people routinely underestimate their alcohol consumption by around 40 percent.

That may not be particularly surprising, but the study puts a figure to the phenomenon of the drunk who claims not to have anything more than a couple of beers. Lead author Sadie Boniface said the unreported alcohol equates to nearly one bottle of wine per British adult per week ? an amount she said wasn't just disappearing.

"It has to have gone somewhere," she said in a telephone interview.

Boniface and Nicola Shelton, both with the University College London's Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, derived their figures by comparing self-reported data in a public health survey accounting for 14,041 people aged 16 and up to alcohol sales figures kept by British tax authorities.

The gap was huge. More than 20 percent of Britons' annual wine consumption ? or 2.6 million hectoliters (69 million gallons) ? was unaccounted for. Nearly half of Britons' beer consumption ? 45 million hectoliters (1.2 billion gallons) ? was unclaimed. And Britons seemed particularly reluctant to take credit for gulping down whiskey, vodka, tequila and gin. Nearly 60 percent of Britain's spirit consumption remained unreported.

Boniface said the more accurate reporting of wine versus beer and spirits might have something to do with the cultural baggage attached to them.

"If you think about drinking wine, you generally think of sitting around a fancy meal," she said. "It's thought of as much more of a civilized drinking occasion than drinking spirits might be, although that's just speculation."

The study, published in the European Journal of Public Health, considered a host of other possible reasons for the underreporting. Maybe children under the age of 16, tourists or homeless people ? all groups which wouldn't have been covered by the survey ? were buying the unclaimed booze. Maybe the whiskey was being kept on shelves rather than being sipped after dinner. Maybe the wine was being used in cooking, or thrown out when it expired, or being spilled across white carpets.

Boniface said those factors were all considered and then ruled out.

"It can't be a small minority ? such as homeless people ? that are drinking vast, vast amounts," she said. "It's a widespread problem."

Issues around self-reporting aren't new ? people routinely overestimate their height or underestimate their weight, for example. And it's long been known that alcohol intake is particularly liable to be underreported; Boniface said that many doctors mentally double the alcohol intake given to them by their patients.

But Boniface said the study fleshed out an issue which is particularly salient in the context of Britain's struggle to control a surge in boozing which has seen Britain's annual alcohol-related death toll more than double between 1992 and 2008. If authorities don't know how much Britons are drinking, she said, then how can they get a handle on the situation?

Underreporting has "huge consequences for public health," she said, "and we don't have any idea what they are."

___

Online:

European Journal of Public Health: http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org

Raphael Satter can be reached at: http://raphae.li/twitter

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/bbd825583c8542898e6fa7d440b9febc/Article_2013-02-27-Britain-Drinking/id-19b3a7a283304d30b553894b9c77f7da

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Is 30 minutes of physical activity enough? | Dr. Marc Tinsley - Health ...

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans say that adults need 30 minutes of physical activity a day. Seriously? You can?t stay healthy by being active 2% of the day.

You can?t even get out of shape in 30 minutes per day. There?s no way that you can get in shape in only 30 minutes per day.

Image courtesy of photostock/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of photostock/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Healthy people have ants in their pants. Humans are designed to move and move often.

We?re finding out that active couch potatoes?(people who are active enough to meet the PA Guidelines but sedentary much of the rest of the day) have just as much risk of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes as regular couch potatoes.

We need to be active every day, throughout the day.

When you cook sauce or gravy, you can?t stir the pot for 2% of the cooking time and then stop. You have to stir the pot throughout the process.

So if you want to stay healthy, stir the pot and keep moving throughout the day, every day.

Source: http://drmarctinsley.com/is-30-minutes-of-physical-activity-enough/

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বুধবার, ২৭ ফেব্রুয়ারী, ২০১৩

Now hear this: Researchers identify forerunners of inner-ear cells that enable hearing

Now hear this: Researchers identify forerunners of inner-ear cells that enable hearing

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a group of progenitor cells in the inner ear that can become the sensory hair cells and adjacent supporting cells that enable hearing. Studying these progenitor cells could someday lead to discoveries that help millions of Americans suffering from hearing loss due to damaged or impaired sensory hair cells.

"It's well known that, in mammals, these specialized sensory cells don't regenerate after damage," said Alan Cheng, MD, assistant professor of otolaryngology. (In contrast, birds and fish are much better equipped: They can regain their sensory cells after trauma caused by noise or certain drugs.) "Identifying the progenitor cells, and the cues that trigger them to become sensory cells, will allow us to better understand not just how the inner ear develops, but also how to devise new ways to treat hearing loss and deafness."

The research will be published online Feb. 26 in Development. Cheng is the senior author. Former medical student Taha Jan, MD, and postdoctoral scholar Renjie Chai, PhD, share lead authorship of the study. Roel Nusse, PhD, a professor of developmental biology, is a co-senior author of the research.

The inner ear is a highly specialized structure for gathering and transmitting vibrations in the air. The auditory compartment, called the cochlea, is a snail-shaped cavity that houses specialized cells with hair-like projections that sense vibration, much like seaweed waving in the ocean current. These hair cells are responsible for both hearing and balance, and are surrounded by supporting cells that are also critical for hearing.

Twenty percent of all Americans, and up to 33 percent of those ages 65-74, suffer from hearing loss. Hearing aids and, in severe cases, cochlear implants can be helpful for many people, but neither address the underlying cause: the loss of hair cells in the inner ear. Cheng and his colleagues identified a class of cells called tympanic border cells that can give rise to hair cells and the cells that support them during a phase of cochlear maturation right after birth.

"Until now, these cells have had no clear function," said Cheng. "We used several techniques to define their behavior in cell culture dishes, as well as in mice. I hope these findings will lead to new areas of research to better understand how our ears develop and perhaps new ways to stimulate the regeneration of sensory cells in the cochlea."

Cheng recently received a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to study the limited regeneration of the same sensory hair cells that occur in a different region of the inner ear called the vestibular system, which helps us balance. Lessons learned there may also translate into aid for patients with hearing loss.

Although regeneration of sensory hair cells does not happen naturally, recent research has suggested that the mammalian ear may harbor a sub-population of ? presumably inactive ? progenitor cells. The research team led by Cheng and Nusse used a strain of laboratory mice that allowed the scientists to track the activation of a cell-signaling pathway driven by a protein called Wnt. The Wnt pathway has previously been shown to be involved in many developmental functions, and it drives the renewal and proliferation of many types of stem cells.

"We wanted to investigate the Wnt pathway because of its tremendous influence in the development and regeneration of many other organs," said Cheng.

The researchers found that tympanic border cells, or TBCs, which form a thin layer under the sensory epithelium, are actively dividing in mice during the first three weeks after birth (the time corresponding to about the first trimester of human development, during which the ability to hear is established) and give rise to at least a subset of sensory and non-sensory cells in the ear. They also divided vigorously in isolated cochlea when the Wnt pathway was activated, and stopped when the pathway was inhibited. Finally, the researchers showed that purified TBCs were able to specialize into hair cells and support cells when cultured in a laboratory dish.

"It's surprising to think that these progenitor cells are among this largely underappreciated group of cells," said Cheng. "This study also highlights that, even in mice, there is a lot of maturation occurring after birth as hearing develops. There's clearly a lot more to be understood. Next we'd like to look at these cells in models of hearing loss. Do they have the ability to regenerate? If so, under what conditions?"

###

Paper: http://dev.biologists.org/lookup/doi/10.1242/dev.087528

Stanford University Medical Center: http://med-www.stanford.edu/MedCenter/MedSchool

Thanks to Stanford University Medical Center for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127023/Now_hear_this__Researchers_identify_forerunners_of_inner_ear_cells_that_enable_hearing_

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Three legal DeKalb school board members: Our hands are tied until ...

The legally recognized and unchallenged DeKalb Board of Education members Melvin Johnson, Jim McMahan and Marshall Orson issued this statement on the state of affairs in the district:

As elected representatives on the DeKalb Board of Education, we find ourselves in a unique and confusing situation. We are the three members of the Board of Education not subject to the State Board of Education?s review process because we joined the DeKalb Board in January 2013, and the State Board?s action concerned the nine Board members who held office prior to January 2013.

We, along with Superintendent Michael Thurmond, are committed to restoring full accreditation and focusing our efforts on the academic achievement of DeKalb?s 99,000 students and the professional well-being of the people who teach and serve those students, and we pledge to restore making outcomes for children the priority of the DeKalb County School District.

We realize there is a great deal of frustration with the current legal proceedings. However, Judge Richard Story?s order clearly states that his intention is to maintain the ?status quo? until at least Friday, March, which, in effect, prohibits any action by the DeKalb Board of Education.

As a result of that order, any potential appointees by Governor Nathan Deal cannot take office, and the suspended members cannot participate in any decisions or official Board activity. Under Georgia law, a quorum of at least five members is required for the DeKalb Board of Education to act. With only the three of us authorized to act by virtue of the federal court order, the DeKalb Board of Education will lack a quorum to conduct any business until such time as there is a decision in the legal matter.

We will continue to work with Superintendent Thurmond to focus on our students, the hardworking educators who are with those students every day in our schools, and the parents and families who support them. We will not be satisfied until every decision made by the DeKalb County School District is made on the basis of how it advances our responsibility for student achievement.

?from Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog

Source: http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2013/02/26/three-legal-dekalb-school-board-members-our-hands-tied-until-court-acts/?cxntfid=blogs_get_schooled_blog

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Herndon Centennial Group Golf Classes (April) | Herndon Sports ...

মঙ্গলবার, ২৬ ফেব্রুয়ারী, ২০১৩

Payday Predators Move to the Internet | The Economic Populist

Payday loans have to be the poster child for exploiting the poor. ?People should never get a payday loan. ?Selling blood or begging in the streets is a better option. ?The Pew Chartable Trust has been on the warpath to expose these exploitive sorts of financial ripoffs which it turns out are quite the profitable business.

Twelve million Americans take out payday loans each year, spending approximately $7.4 billion annually at 20,000 storefronts and hundreds of websites, plus additional sums at a growing number of banks. Though they are marketed as short-term products for temporary needs, payday loans are typically used for ordinary expenses not unexpected emergencies. The average customer ends up indebted for five months and pays $520 in finance charges.

Some of these loans are charging interest rates of 500% and Pew reports the average person taking out a payday loan coughs up $520 in interest and finance charges for just $375 in principle. ?Who needs the mob and loans sharks when we have payday loans?

The New York Times reports major banks are enabling these predatory lenders evade new state laws which cap interest rates or ban payday loans altogether.

With 15 states banning payday loans, a growing number of the lenders have set up online operations in more hospitable states or far-flung locales like Belize, Malta and the West Indies to more easily evade statewide caps on interest rates.

While the banks, which include giants like JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo, do not make the loans, they are a critical link for the lenders, enabling the lenders to withdraw payments automatically from borrowers? bank accounts, even in states where the loans are banned entirely. In some cases, the banks allow lenders to tap checking accounts even after the customers have begged them to stop the withdrawals.

While the banks deny any wrongdoing, Pew Charitable Trust says a full 27% of the people who get payday loans are having their checking and savings accounts go into overdraft due to banks allowing payday loan creditors to make automatic withdrawals. ? Even though Federal Law is supposed to allow a bank account holder to stop authorized bank account withdrawals, many banks are ignoring their customers and letting payday lenders plunder these accounts anyway. ?Those withdrawals are sending bank customer's accounts into overdraft with all of those corresponding penalties and fees. ?Turns out that's quite a profitable business for the banks.

Only 14% of those who take out payday loans can actually afford the payments so what happens is their accounts go into overdraft, charging more fees and they end up being buried in much worse debt than ever before. ? According to Pew Charitable Trust, 51% turn to further desperate measures to pay off the original payday loan. ?Below is the graph on the absurdity on trying to pay back payday loans when one is living paycheck to paycheck as it is.

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pew payday repayment

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Many of these borrowers ultimately turn to the same options they could have used instead of payday loans to finally pay off the loans, including getting help from friends or family, selling or pawning personal possessions, or taking out another type of loan. One in six has used a tax refund to eliminate payday loan debt.

The New York Times claims both the FDIC and the newly formed Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are investigating the major banks, in particular Wells Fargo who moved into payday loans around 2010. ? They are in particular focusing in on Internet payday loans, which skirt around state laws which either ban these loans outright or cap the interest rates payday lenders can charge.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are examining banks? roles in the online loans, according to several people with direct knowledge of the matter. Benjamin M. Lawsky, who heads New York State?s Department of Financial Services, is investigating how banks enable the online lenders to skirt New York law and make loans to residents of the state, where interest rates are capped at 25 percent.

Congress has yet to really act, although Senator Merkley has introduced legislation to try to stop banks from skirting around the laws. ? Introducing a bill means nothing these days where most legislation which gets passed is simply corporate lobbyists yearly wish lists.

The SAFE Lending Act would crack down on the worst practices of the online payday lending industry and give states more power to enforce already-existing rules to protect consumers from predatory loans.

There is simply something wrong with a society that preys on the vulnerable, and demands their pound of flesh at a time when that person is already on the edge of the abyss. ?Yet over and over again, this mentality of picking off the weak like a pack of wolves hunting the wounded gazelle is endorsed as good business and a place for profits, applauded by Wall street.

Source: http://www.economicpopulist.org/content/payday-predators-move-internet

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'i was dead in a bed: now i have a life'

n Do get your blood pressure checked and follow your doctor?s advice.

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? Do cut down on salt. Too much can raise your blood pressure, leading to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

? Do be a healthy weight. Carrying extra weight puts pressure on your heart and is a risk for heart attack.

? Do watch your cholesterol. High cholesterol levels can clog up the arteries and lead to heart attack or stroke.

? Do exercise for at least 30 minutes, five days a week. Physical inactivity can increase your risk of heart disease by 20 per cent.

DoN?T:

? Don?t smoke. Smoking is a major risk for heart attack and stroke.

? Don?t drink too much booze. Men should have no more than the recommended maximum of 17 standard drinks per week (one standard drink is equal to half a pint of lager or a small glass of wine).

? Don?t forget about family. The risk factors for heart disease can be inherited, so check your family history.

? Don?t stress. Stress can contribute to heart problems and poor lifestyle. Take time out to destress.

? Don?t delay. Call 999 at the first sign of heart attack.

?I had my first birthday last year. This year, I?ll be two,? says David Berber plainly. The 56-year-old former lecturer is speaking in the considered tones that would have defined his career, and the strange statement is backed with adamantine logic. ?My family changed my birthday to the date of my transplant because I?d be dead without it. It?s a great thing to celebrate, so why not??

Much of what Berber says this morning in his quiet Rathfarnham home follows this pattern; optimism and reasoning borne out of the trauma of near-death. ?Dying was easy for me,? he?ll say at one point about his nine months in the Mater Hospital?s Coronary Care Unit, his health spiralling away, his muscles disintegrating and his heart counting down as he awaited a transplant.

Since the first Irish heart transplant in 1985, hundreds have availed themselves of the procedure. We hear anecdotes about this unimaginable operation. We may even know someone whose life has been extended by what Berber calls ?six hours of plumbing and tying of laces?. It is rare, however, to encounter someone with the faculties and courage to impart the gruesome lead-up to it and the trouble-strewn recovery (?the real battle?).

In December 2009, Berber was due to go on holidays with his teenage daughter. He?d been feeling lethargic for a while, and had breathing difficulties. Two days before leaving, his wife Jackie insisted he get checked out. A cardiac efficiency test prompted a red alert and he was immediately referred to Tallaght Hospital.

If an optimist is someone who just doesn?t understand the gravity of the situation, then Berber was optimistic.

?I thought I had asthma,? he says. ?But they listened to my chest and said there?s nothing wrong with your breathing. An hour later, they diagnosed me with heart failure.?

He feels he should have known. Berber?s father died at 59. Being Jewish, no post-mortem examination was carried out, but the suspicion was heart failure or heart disease. His grandfather also died young, with breathing difficulties and heart problems. Although she had rheumatoid arthritis, it was also heart failure that ended his mother?s life.

Before all this, there weren?t enough hours in the day. He paints a picture of a ?spoiled, selfish kid? worshipped by his doting mother in a typical Jewish upbringing.

By 25, he?d snapped out of it, throwing himself into a career in academia and marrying at 36. He was a passionate sailor and bridge player. Often, he?d cycle to DIT for a satisfying day of research work, lecturing and private consultancy, then cycle out to Dun Laoghaire to sail, before cycling home.

?At 45, I was at my mental and physical peak,? he says.

Medication allowed him to return to work after the diagnosis of heart failure, but the effects of diuretics on his kidneys had him in and out of hospital. His pills were tweaked as his heart efficiency deteriorated slowly. ?As you get worse, it?s a psychological battle to live a normal life. Then it got to the stage where I could either work or play. Not both.?

Gradually, the car replaced the bicycle and Berber had to drop out of a long-held aspiration to compete in the National Sailing Championships. Soon, going upstairs was hard. Then walking itself.

He believes it was August 2010 when he reached the limit of what he could do with a heart.

?Every time your heart beats, you pump a certain amount of blood. A really fit person will pump around 75 per cent. It?s like a rag,? he explains, wringing his two fists, one on top of the other. ?The upper and lower chambers twist the blood out which pushes it around your body. Those twisting muscles went on me. I got to about 20 per cent.? At this point, a transplant wasn?t considered. Instead, Berber was brought into the Mater for assessment, two weeks ahead of a valve operation. The rate of his fall-off was now increasing and hospital afforded him too much time to think.

?I?d be up all night. I was nervous and angry. I saw myself as David the lecturer, the sailor, the bridge player; I didn?t want to see myself as David the dying person. You have an identity for yourself and suddenly this new identity is plopped on you. You get fantastic psychotherapy before the transplant and none after, which I?m a bit annoyed about.?

The morning of the operation, the doctors reassessed the likelihood of success and the valve job was scrapped. He remained in hospital ?limbo? for another month while doctors vetted him medically and psychologically for a transplant.

He went on the waiting list for a new heart, and the ?psychological warfare? really began. He accepted that diminishing blood pressure would cause his organs to fail and that he was technically dying.

What really troubled him, though, was the waiting.

?I had a very bad night one night,? he remembers, ?and a nurse said to me: ?David, you?re probably not going to live too long unless you get a transplant. But how would you like to spend your last few months? Being angry and bitter, or enjoying it? Think about that. We?re doing our best here.?

?I stayed awake the whole night thinking about that. After, I tried to treat every day like a good day.?

By October 2010, a balloon pump was fitted to assist his heart beat. The pump became infected on five occasions, leading to septicaemia and a fever that he describes as ?horrendously painful on the way up, but deliriously fine at maximum temperature?. Before Christmas, he then suffered damage to his spine and was down to about eight stone.

Keeping mind and spirit occupied was the major hurdle, he recalls. ?The worst loneliness is at night when everyone?s gone and there?s nothing to distract you. My attention span was useless; I couldn?t concentrate on reading or bridge. I could only sit up at 15 degrees, so focusing became difficult. I had to eat like that, too. I wasn?t allowed to exercise. You think it?s a chance to read every novel you ever wanted or do a PhD, but it?s not. It?s just a chance to sit there and wait.?

Incredibly, Berber still found ways to challenge himself. He insisted that one Chinese nurse teach him basic Mandarin. Another friend who sings professionally taught him how to hold a note. When general and presidential elections came along, he exercised his right to vote despite being in intensive care, changing his legal address to the Mater Hospital and mouthing his decision to the visiting garda.

Other rays of light trickled through. The nurses became like family members, helping him laugh and ?stay sane?. A visiting rabbi, meanwhile, entered his ward and noticed a crucifixion effigy on the wall, only to quip: ?One suffering Jew in a room is enough, but two.? It was Jackie, however, who was the only person he was able to express his real fears to. ?I think it?s really brought us together. She supported me so well; she gave me the comfort of knowing that, if I died, my daughter would be looked after.?

The day finally came. When Berber?s daughter asked if he was afraid, he answered with steely resolve: ?No. This is my chance to live.? He asks me not to reveal the exact date, for fear the donor?s family recognise it. Each year, donor families and transplant patients share a non-denominational mass in memory of the souls who died. No one knows who is who because donors and recipients are never encouraged to know the other party.

?Someone has to lose a life in order for you to gain one; that part?s very difficult. You feel ?survivor guilt?. You go to sleep and this thing?s beating and you know it?s not yours. I do cherish and look after it as a gift. When I?m alone and hear it beat, I always think someone kindly donated this to me and it lives in my chest. I hope that gives comfort to any family that donates.?

He flashes back: ?I woke up and everything was white. It was like waking up with a really bad hangover. I said to the nurse: ?Am I dead?? She pinched me and said: ?Did you feel that?? I nodded. She said: ?Well, if you?re dead you don?t feel pain?.?

What followed was a grisly recovery that involved time in the cardio-thoracic higher dependency unit. The new heart had problems settling in, including a blockage, emergency surgery for an internal bleed, another spell in intensive care, and a terrifying ordeal where a stoppage required adrenaline and defibrillation.

With so much muscle wastage, he needed 22 weeks of rehabilitation, including intensive physiotherapy. New restrictions took getting used to. Medication to stop his body rejecting the new heart has weakened his immune system, meaning exposure in public areas is a risk. He must watch what he eats (?Ironically, it?s almost a Jewish diet: no bacon, pork products or prawns?). The damage to his spine and left leg still curtails certain movements and his energy levels are nowhere near what they were. But as someone who thrived on setting goals for himself, David was restless.

Learning table tennis invigorated him, even if progress was slow and frustrating. A six-week window of health also allowed him to swim as a means to get a full body workout that also brought meditative tranquillity. He then set his sights on the Transplant Games, an international sporting event that promotes organ donation, winning silver in the 50m swim.

?There were only two of us in the race,? he laughs. ?But I sat in the chair, catching my breath, and said: ?I did it!? I stood on the podium with my crutches in the air, cheering. From being dead in a bed to being able to swim 50m ? it was huge for me.?

Forced into early retirement, his active mind is now kept busy by seats on Tallaght Hospital?s Patient Advisory Committee and the board of the Irish Heart and Lung Transplant Association. He pays visits to others awaiting transplants, something that provided him with much hope during his own long wait.

His advice to them is simple: ?Face the fact of what you?re going through. Consult with professionals. There?s always treatments, but you have to change your lifestyle.

?Accept your limitations and make the best of it.?

That Transplant Games medal now hangs on the wall of Tallaght Hospital Rehab Clinic, his way of thanking them and to encourage other transplant patients to set goals, too.

?It wasn?t the competition; it was the fact I actually did it. I was given this gift of life, and I?m trying to pay it back in whatever way I can. Having a transplant doesn?t make you the most perfect human being in the world, but to be able to get back to semi-normality is perfection.?

As men, are we bad with health matters? Berber rolls his eyes and groans. ?Men. Ignore. Ill. Health. I ignored it. I had tasks to achieve, bills to pay, a role to play and an image to keep. A man doesn?t want to talk about failure. We just go out and get drunk and laugh at the football.

?It took my wife to say, ?Go to a doctor?. Women get together and say, ?How do we deal with this?? Men hide the broken wing, and we?ll do anything not to show it, including killing ourselves.?

This second life has its complications, but it?s a ?wonderful frustration? for him. ?If I can learn to lie in bed and accept dying, I can learn to sit on a couch and accept living, and do it with grace and dignity. That?s my journey. I haven?t got there yet, but I will.?

A Man?s Guide to Heart Health is available free on irishheart.ie or by calling (01) 668 5001

More Optimist Sailing News on: http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/i-was-dead-in-a-bed-now-i-have-a-life-29090574.html

Source: http://www.optimist.co.za/i-was-dead-in-a-bed-now-i-have-a-life/

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US gas prices jump 20 cents over past 2 weeks

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) -- The average U.S. price of a gallon of gasoline has jumped 20 cents over the past two weeks.

The Lundberg Survey of fuel prices released Sunday says the price of a gallon of regular is $3.80. Midgrade costs an average of $3.95 a gallon, and premium is $4.09.

Diesel was up a dime to $4.17 gallon.

Of the cities surveyed in the lower 48 states, Billings, Mont., has the nation's lowest average price for gas at $3.23. Los Angeles has the highest at $4.29.

In California, the lowest average price was $4.02 in Sacramento. The average statewide for a gallon of regular was $4.18, up 20 cents.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-gas-prices-jump-20-150517889.html

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Geneva Preview: Audi e-tron Gets Sensible with 153 mpg A3

Audi A3 e-tron

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Remember Audi?s outrageous e-tron Concept? The R8-inspired supercar project claimed a locomotive-like 3,319 lb-ft of torque, a 0-62 mph time of 4.8 seconds, and 134 miles of range?and like many pie-in-the-sky concepts, the low-slung EV proved too futuristic for production.

?

Fast forward to the upcoming 2013 Geneva Motor Show, and the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer will be displaying their latest interpretation of e-tron technology, only this time it's far more feasibly packaged. Beneath the otherwise pedestrian exterior of the A3 5-door hatchback is a plug-in hybrid drivetrain producing 204 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, which should scoot it to 62 mph in 7.6 seconds. The internal combustion portion of the proceedings is provided by a 1.4-liter, 150 hp TFSI powerplant, while remaining oomph is augmented by a 75 kW electric motor. In all-electric mode, this particular A3 is capable of achieving a hair over 80 mph, while covering a maximum range of 31 miles under EV propulsion... but here's the kicker: US fuel consumption is estimated at a positively moped-like 156.81 mpg.

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Will the A3 e-tron become a reality? While John Pearley Huffman's 2009 test drive of the supercar concept left more questions than answers (and made a projected late 2012 launch seem rather unlikely) Glenn Derene's more recent scoot around Manhattan in an all-electric A3 e-Tron suggests this pipsqueak hatchback actually feels like an Audi, and has a decent chance of making production. So while Audi won't be taking the EV supercar route to future propulsion (a la Mercedes-Benz's SLS AMG Electric Drive), perhaps a production A3 e-tron will pave the way for future Audi exotics.

?

Related:?Audi e-tron Supercar Concept Test Drive, Audi A3 e-tron Test Drive

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/auto-blog/geneva-preview-audi-e-tron-gets-sensible-with-153-mpg-a3_?src=rss

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CSN: Phils trade Schwimer to Jays for minor leaguer

CLEARWATER, Fla. ? Michael Schwimer knew something was up when instead of being brought into the game to pitch his scheduled inning Saturday he was summoned to the clubhouse to speak with assistant general manager Scott Proefrock.

Schwimer, a 27-year-old reliever, was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor-league first baseman Art Charles.

According to both Schwimer and Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr., a dispute between the pitcher and the team over an injury late last season had nothing to do with the team?s decision to move the reliever who finished third in innings pitched in the Phillies? bullpen last season.

Amaro said a glut of relievers, the desire to add power potential to the system, and potential issues with roster space led to the deal.

Schwimer said the Phillies made the deal to better their club now or in the future and added that the Phils weren?t a team that would ?let any petty differences affect them wanting to win.?

Still, one has to wonder if the relationship between the two sides impacted the parting. Pitching coach Rich Dubee described Schwimer as ?an arm that should pitch in the big leagues if he sticks to doing things the right way instead of being too macho at times and coming out of his delivery.? Schwimer had options remaining, meaning he could have been sent to the minors. There was no overriding pressure to trade him.

Schwimer pitched in 35 games for the Phils last season and was sent to the minors in late August. The pitcher initially balked at the assignment, saying he had a shoulder injury. Players who are injured can?t be sent to the minors, per Major League Baseball rule. Phillies medical personnel said Schwimer was not injured. The pitcher sought outside medical opinions and the Players? Association investigated whether the Phillies had violated the basic agreement.

Though Schwimer reported to camp healthy, he admitted that his injury dispute with the Phillies remained an open issue.

?Nothing has been filed,? he said, meaning an official grievance. ?But as far as I?m concerned it?s definitely an open issue.?

If a grievance is filed and Schwimer wins, he could get back pay and service time.

?There?s a lot of things I can?t get into,? Schwimer said of the dispute. ?What I will say was there was definitely a disconnect in communication. It was nothing personal against them. It was nothing personal against me. As a young player you really don?t know how to handle certain things and in their opinion I handled things the wrong way, and in my opinion they handled things ? It was just a communication difference.?

Despite the situation, Schwimer said he was grateful to the Phillies.

?This is a business,? he said. ?Everybody has to do what they think will make their team better. I respect their decision completely. I absolutely loved my time with the Phillies. I loved the teammates I had and the team. I hope we meet in the World Series. It?s been a great time and a great ride.?

Amaro said, ?There?s nothing wrong with Schwim. He?s a great kid. We have some depth with our young bullpen arms and we are going to have some roster issues down the pike. We could have waited, but we felt this was the right thing to do right now for us.?

Charles, 22, is a 6-foot-6 lefthanded hitter with power. He was a 20th-round draft pick in 2010. He has a .239 batting average, an OPS of .840, and 28 homers in 585 minor-league at-bats. He has never played above Class A.

?He?s got big pop,? Amaro said. ?Whether he?s going to be a major league hitter at some point, we don?t know. He?s a big kid and a pretty decent athlete. He hits home runs and has a lot of strikeouts and a lot of walks. We?ll see. We?re taking a chance on a guy.?

Source: http://www.csnphilly.com/phillies/phillies-schwimer-say-injury-dispute-not-reason-trade

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New York Mayor Bloomberg finances anti-gun ads in Chicago race

WASHINGTON ? One of the key players in a special Democratic congressional primary Tuesday in Chicago comes from New York.

That city's mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, is using his vast wealth to challenge a candidate running on a gun rights platform in the first election since the school shooting in Newtown, Conn. ? a move that underscores his crusade to serve as a political counterweight to the National Rifle Assn.

The NRA has chosen not to counter Bloomberg's ads attacking its preferred candidate, former Rep. Debbie Halvorson, and liberal Chicago districts are an imperfect test case. But Bloomberg's lavish participation in the race may be enough to cause political ripples, as other lawmakers are put on notice that next time, the mayor's millions could be spent in their districts.

"Folks running for office are going to have to stand behind their record," said Stefan Friedman, spokesman for Bloomberg's "super PAC," Independence USA.

Gun rights supporters have clearly gotten the message. Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Assn., said his group was caught off-guard by the mayor's surprise attack, and he warned sympathizers in other states: "Bloomberg is coming to your state. Be ready."

The race is for the seat that was held by Jesse Jackson Jr. until his resignation last fall. His congressional tenure was cut short by mental health troubles and allegations of ethical lapses. More than a dozen Democrats have launched bids to replace him; in the solidly liberal district, the primary winner is almost certain to win in April's general election.

Halvorson has tried to distinguish herself from the large Democratic field, and to appeal to voters in a rural portion of the district, by supporting the right to carry concealed weapons and opposing an assault weapons ban. Bloomberg's advertising barrage has relentlessly attacked Halvorson, who has an "A" rating from the NRA, and has championed Cook County administrator Robin Kelly, who has made support for new gun laws a centerpiece of her campaign.

The district includes predominantly African American communities in urban southern Chicago and its nearby suburbs, and neighboring rural areas that are largely white.

Even before December's shooting in Newtown, gun violence was destined to be a central election issue. Chicago recorded more than 500 homicides in 2012, and the vast majority of those deaths were linked to firearms.

By spending $2.2 million on anti-gun ads, Bloomberg has propelled the race into the national spotlight, prompting other advocacy groups to jump into the fray.

"This is our first chance to beat the NRA this year," exhorted Democracy for America, a Vermont-based organization that is an offshoot of former Gov. Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign, in an email to supporters.

"We absolutely should see this as a bellwether," said Arshad Hasan, the group's executive director. "It is a referendum on the power that the NRA has."

Political analyst Stuart Rothenberg cautioned against viewing this special election as an indicator of larger trends.

"This is not a district somehow reflective of the nation as a whole," Rothenberg said. "The gun issue is going to play differently there than it will in rural Ohio or the South or a number of places."

The Halvorson campaign says the economy, not guns, is the top concern of voters in the district.

"We're just not going to let a guy from N.Y. dictate what's going to happen in this election," said Sean Howard, spokesman for the Halvorson campaign.

The NRA has kept a low profile in this race, opting not to weigh in with its own television ads or direct mail. The only advocacy for gun rights has come from the Illinois State Rifle Assn., which sent mailers on Halvorson's behalf to its several thousand members in the district.

This is not Bloomberg's first foray outside of his home state.

In 2012, Bloomberg spent $8.2 million on five House races, targeting candidates with top marks from the NRA. Three of his preferred candidates won; in one notable coup, his super PAC helped defeat Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.) by spending more than Baca and his opponent combined. The television ads in that race did not focus on guns, as the Illinois ones have.

Democratic strategist Bill Carrick said Bloomberg's spending in Chicago demonstrates that his political activism will be sustained.

"I don't think he's going away," Carrick said. "I don't think, win or lose, they'll overreact to results of one election. They're just going to keep on coming."

melanie.mason@latimes.com

Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-bloomberg-chicago-20130224,0,2511089.story?track=rss

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Oscars 2013: What To Expect From Seth MacFarlane

'Family Guy' creator will bring music, cameos and cutaways to the 85th Academy Awards.
By Josh Wigler


Seth MacFarlane
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1702488/oscars-2013-seth-macfarlane-prediction.jhtml

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Ronda Rousey Makes UFC History

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/02/ronda-rousey-makes-ufc-history/

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রবিবার, ২৪ ফেব্রুয়ারী, ২০১৩

New York Mayor Bloomberg finances anti-gun ads in Chicago race

WASHINGTON ? One of the key players in a special Democratic congressional primary Tuesday in Chicago comes from New York.

That city's mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, is using his vast wealth to challenge a candidate running on a gun rights platform in the first election since the school shooting in Newtown, Conn. ? a move that underscores his crusade to serve as a political counterweight to the National Rifle Assn.

The NRA has chosen not to counter Bloomberg's ads attacking its preferred candidate, former Rep. Debbie Halvorson, and liberal Chicago districts are an imperfect test case. But Bloomberg's lavish participation in the race may be enough to cause political ripples, as other lawmakers are put on notice that next time, the mayor's millions could be spent in their districts.

"Folks running for office are going to have to stand behind their record," said Stefan Friedman, spokesman for Bloomberg's "super PAC," Independence USA.

Gun rights supporters have clearly gotten the message. Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Assn., said his group was caught off-guard by the mayor's surprise attack, and he warned sympathizers in other states: "Bloomberg is coming to your state. Be ready."

The race is for the seat that was held by Jesse Jackson Jr. until his resignation last fall. His congressional tenure was cut short by mental health troubles and allegations of ethical lapses. More than a dozen Democrats have launched bids to replace him; in the solidly liberal district, the primary winner is almost certain to win in April's general election.

Halvorson has tried to distinguish herself from the large Democratic field, and to appeal to voters in a rural portion of the district, by supporting the right to carry concealed weapons and opposing an assault weapons ban. Bloomberg's advertising barrage has relentlessly attacked Halvorson, who has an "A" rating from the NRA, and has championed Cook County administrator Robin Kelly, who has made support for new gun laws a centerpiece of her campaign.

The district includes predominantly African American communities in urban southern Chicago and its nearby suburbs, and neighboring rural areas that are largely white.

Even before December's shooting in Newtown, gun violence was destined to be a central election issue. Chicago recorded more than 500 homicides in 2012, and the vast majority of those deaths were linked to firearms.

By spending $2.2 million on anti-gun ads, Bloomberg has propelled the race into the national spotlight, prompting other advocacy groups to jump into the fray.

"This is our first chance to beat the NRA this year," exhorted Democracy for America, a Vermont-based organization that is an offshoot of former Gov. Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign, in an email to supporters.

"We absolutely should see this as a bellwether," said Arshad Hasan, the group's executive director. "It is a referendum on the power that the NRA has."

Political analyst Stuart Rothenberg cautioned against viewing this special election as an indicator of larger trends.

"This is not a district somehow reflective of the nation as a whole," Rothenberg said. "The gun issue is going to play differently there than it will in rural Ohio or the South or a number of places."

The Halvorson campaign says the economy, not guns, is the top concern of voters in the district.

"We're just not going to let a guy from N.Y. dictate what's going to happen in this election," said Sean Howard, spokesman for the Halvorson campaign.

The NRA has kept a low profile in this race, opting not to weigh in with its own television ads or direct mail. The only advocacy for gun rights has come from the Illinois State Rifle Assn., which sent mailers on Halvorson's behalf to its several thousand members in the district.

This is not Bloomberg's first foray outside of his home state.

In 2012, Bloomberg spent $8.2 million on five House races, targeting candidates with top marks from the NRA. Three of his preferred candidates won; in one notable coup, his super PAC helped defeat Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.) by spending more than Baca and his opponent combined. The television ads in that race did not focus on guns, as the Illinois ones have.

Democratic strategist Bill Carrick said Bloomberg's spending in Chicago demonstrates that his political activism will be sustained.

"I don't think he's going away," Carrick said. "I don't think, win or lose, they'll overreact to results of one election. They're just going to keep on coming."

melanie.mason@latimes.com

Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-bloomberg-chicago-20130224,0,2511089.story?track=rss

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শনিবার, ২৩ ফেব্রুয়ারী, ২০১৩

Purported pic of Retina iPad mini appears online

Retina iPad mini has made its first appearance in the underbelly of the Internet where mockups and fake pictures mix freely with truth and actual product specifications. CNET reports that a Chinese website has posted what it claims is a picture of Retina iPad mini.

In case you've been living a rock, it's worth reiterating that Apple introduced the iPad mini alongside the fourth generation iPad at a special event in San Jose, California on October 23rd last year. The iPad mini features a 7.9-inch display, FaceTime HD and iSight cameras, ultrafast wireless performance and 10 hours of battery life.

With the 'bigger' iPad featuring a Retina display of 2048x1536 resolution, many found iPad mini's 1024x768 display rather underwhelming. Speculation about Apple releasing a Retina iPad mini has been rampant almost since the day the iPad mini was announced. Most analysts and technical experts full expect Apple to release the Retina iPad mini, and now it has made its first alleged appearance.

The picture on the Chinese forum features an iPad mini-like device pictured from the bottom. The speaker grill can be seen, as can be the Apple branding on the back, which is, strangely, in a shade of blue. The pictured device is visibly thicker than the current iPad mini, which adds credence to the fact this could be a Retina version, since the Retina iPad was famously thicker than the iPad 2. On the other hand, that blue colour sticks out like a sore thumb, since no Apple devices feature that particular shade.

We're sure we'll see a lot more leaks between now and the actual launch. Keep your seat belts on. This could be a bumpy ride.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ndtv/uQAc/~3/fKDHbL00LsI/story01.htm

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The World's Longest Floating Bridge Is No Longer Dying

At more than 7,580 feet long, Seattle's Governor Albert D. Rosellini Bridge is already the world's longest floating bridge. But after fifty years of service the four-lane concrete span has aged worse than Gerard Depardieu. Its pontoon supports can no longer endure the region's strong storms and the bridge itself is likely to collapse under a moderate earthquake. But Washington can rebuild it, they have the power, they have the technology. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/8PP84A6svYU/the-worlds-longest-floating-bridge-is-no-longer-dying

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Surprise: GOP?s Violence Against Women Act Excludes LGBT Victims

House Speaker John Boehner crying about something not important. (Getty Images)

House Speaker John Boehner crying about something that isn?t violence against women. (Getty Images)

Surprising exactly no one,?House Republicans released a watered-down version of the Violence Against Women Act on Friday that fails to guarantee equal coverage for LGBT victims of domestic violence. Where the bipartisan VAWA bill?that cleared the Senate last week?granted access to federal grants for LGBT victims, the 288-page bill? House version contains?some notable changes.?HuffPost reports:

The House GOP bill entirely leaves out provisions aimed at helping LGBT victims of domestic violence. Specifically, the bill removes ?sexual orientation? and ?gender identity? from the list of underserved populations who face barriers to accessing victim services, thereby disqualifying LGBT victims from a related grant program. The bill also eliminates a requirement in the Senate bill that programs that receive funding under VAWA provide services regardless of a person?s sexual orientation or gender identity. Finally, the bill excludes the LGBT community from the STOP program, the largest VAWA grant program, which gives funds to care providers who work with law enforcement officials to address domestic violence.

Single-handedly keeping Kleenex? in business, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) was unable find the time to release a statement about the bill. Similarly, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) stayed mum, but his spokeswoman Megan Whittemore said the GOP leader is ?committed to ending violence against all women.?

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), a chief advocate for VAWA in the Senate, blasted the House bill as a ?non-starter? and urged moderate Republicans to take action: ?It?s not a compromise, it?s an unfortunate effort to exclude specific groups of women from receiving basic protections under the law? The protections included in the Senate for new communities of women are not bargaining chips that can be played with in order to appease the far right in their party. These are badly needed new tools to give women an escape from a life stunted by abuse?It?s time for moderate Republicans in the House to step up and finally force their leadership to stop ignoring the calls of women across the country.?

The House is?expected to vote on the new measure next week.

Source: http://www.newnownext.com/surprise-gops-violence-against-women-act-excludes-lgbt-victims/02/2013/

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Baby boomers still in 'good' financial shape despite familial ...

February 21st, 2013

Baby boomers say they're still in good shape, even though they're often providing for adult children and elderly parents.

While insurance leads prep agents with info on their potential customers, it's often not until they meet them in person that they realize some of their financial and family obligations. In an increasing number of instances, parents are often forced to juggle their own needs with those of their adult children.?

According to a recent poll conducted by Harris Interactive among more than 2,200 U.S. adults 18 years of age and older, approximately one in every four?respondents?say that they are providing financial assistance for their kids who are already grown, often times to the point where they're still living at home. In addition, more than 20 percent of adults say that they're supporting, or have supported, their aging parents, with 18 percent of them indicating that they live with them.

Yet despite these trying circumstances, baby boomers ? or who some refer to as the "Sandwich Generation" ? do not consider their financial situation to be in poor shape. In fact, nearly two-thirds of those polled said that it was in "good" or "average" condition.

"In the past few years, many baby boomers have made drastic changes to their plans for their families, retirement and savings," said Jackie Warrick, senior savings advisor for CouponCabin.com, which commissioned the poll. "As the economy continues to recover, though, baby boomers are making the best of a tough situation by staying positive and making an effort to save money as best they can."

Consumers may also be able to improve their situations by taking advantage of certain reforms to the nation's healthcare system. For example, parents can keep their adult children on their health plans even after they turn 25 years of age, sparing them of significant out-of-pocket expenses.

Scamming isn't something Precise Leads is known for. We are a 100% legitimate enterprise looking to help insurance professionals secure leads that can help transform their business into a successful one.

Source: http://preciseleads.com/news/index.php/health-insurance-and-medicare/baby-boomers-still-in-good-financial-shape-despite-familial-challenges-645/

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শুক্রবার, ২২ ফেব্রুয়ারী, ২০১৩

MacTech, Microsoft team up to offer Office for Mac support credential

Got Macs? Got Office? For support personnel who want to show the world that they know which end of a pivot table goes into a stylesheet and how to upgrade PowerPoint for full compatibility with Exchange Server 2013*, your opportunity has arrived.

MacTech's upcoming seven-city BootCamp II tour, which provides a full day of seminars for people supporting the Mac in small to medium size business and other contexts, now has a frontloaded (and free) certification option for Microsoft's new Office for Mac Accredited Support Professional credential. For a half-day ahead of the BootCamp, attendees can learn all about Office installation, deployment, troubleshooting and much more.

While the Office credential program, including the final evaluation and certificate, is free, MacTech BootCamp II itself is $299 for early-bird registrants, $499 for regular registration. The tour kicks off in Seattle in early March, so check to see when it's coming to your neck of the woods. If you do sign up, be sure to use our TUAW reader affinity link to make sure you get your special benefit!

*Yes, those are nonsensical support challenges. Congratulations, you passed the first quiz.


Share

Source: http://www.tuaw.com/2013/02/21/mactech-microsoft-team-up-to-offer-office-for-mac-support-crede/

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Teachers create own iPad texts

SALEM - Some Salem junior high teachers unhappy with the science textbooks available used today's technology to create their own books for use on the iPad tablets in their classrooms.

Known as iBooks, the instructional creations incorporate videos, interactive 3-D images and even the capability for sample questions and quizzes the students can use as part of the education process.

"They felt they could create something that was better than what was being offered out there," Salem Schools Superintendent Tom Bratten said.

The iBooks also incorporate the new state standards schools are required to teach so lessons can focus on what students need to learn. All districts must have the new standards in place by 2015, but Bratten said they've already been using most of them since last year.

Eighth grade science teacher Ruth Baker, seventh grade science teacher Amie Cochran and intervention specialist and technology liaison Nicole Rothbauer explained what they did to board members during their meeting Thursday night, equipping them with iPads so they could see the iBooks and their capabilities first-hand.

The three of them each put 50 to 90 hours of their own time into the project over the summer, with Rothbauer learning how to use a Mac computer to help write the iBooks and Baker and Cochran working on the content. To date, they have three iBooks completed which they're already using in the classrooms and have two more nearly completed. They have a couple more iBooks they want to work on this summer.

"When we've used them in the classroom, I've never seen the students so engaged. It's a wonderful experience," Cochran said.

Baker explained that students can go at their own pace, they can get definitions of terms and learn through the visuals available.

Cathy Sanor, Director of Curriculum and Federal Programs at the district, said Rothbauer has shared what she learned through the writing program with other teachers and they're working on their own iBooks for use in the classrooms as a teaching tool. Junior High Principal Sean Kirkland praised the teachers for what they've done and board member Brad Myers said these are the types of efforts the public doesn't see that teachers do in their off hours.

Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net

Source: http://www.salemnews.net/page/content.detail/id/563585.html

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Obama to deliver commencement address at Ohio State University

(CNN) - President Barack Obama will deliver the commencement address at The Ohio State University on May 5, the school announced Wednesday, becoming the third sitting president to deliver a commencement address at the school.

Obama has visited the Columbus, Ohio school at least five times, including on May 5, 2012 for the first campaign rally of his re-election campaign. His most recent visit to the university was in October for a campaign rally in the important battleground state.

Presidents George W. Bush and Gerald Ford also delivered commencement addresses there; George H. W. Bush and Walter Mondale delivered commencement addresses when they were vice presidents.

The university has approximately 43,000 undergraduate students and a total enrollment of 63,000.

Obama will also speak at the spring commencement at Morehouse College in Atlanta, the college announced over the weekend.

? CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report

Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_politicalticker/~3/tzh0drYeXkI/

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Mini planet found far beyond Earth's solar system

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida | Wed Feb 20, 2013 5:23pm EST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - - Astronomers have found a mini planet beyond our solar system that is the smallest of more than 800 extra-solar planets discovered, scientists said on Wednesday.

The planet, known as Kepler-37b, is one of three circling a yellow star similar to the sun that is located in the constellation Lyra, about 210 light years away. One light year is about 6 trillion miles (10 trillion km).

"We see very large planets and they're uncommon. Earth-sized planets seen to be pretty common, so our guess is that small planets must be even more common," said Thomas Barclay, with NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California.

The smaller the planet, the more difficult it is to find.

Kepler-37b, as well as two sibling planets, were discovered with a NASA space telescope of the same name, which studies light from about 150,000 sun-like stars.

The Kepler telescope works by detecting slight dips in the amount of light coming from target stars caused by orbiting planets passing by, or transiting, relative to the observatory's line of sight. The smaller the planet, the less pronounced the dip.

Of the 833 confirmed planets found beyond the solar system, 114 were discovered by the Kepler science team, according to the project's website. Nearly 3,000 more Kepler candidate planets are being analyzed.

Planets located in "habitable zones" around their host stars, where water can exist on their surfaces, are of particular interest. Water is believed to be necessary for life.

A planet positioned about where Earth orbits the sun would take a year to fly around its parent star. At least two, and preferably three or more, orbits are needed to confirm that a transit spotted by the Kepler telescope is indeed a planet and not a star flare or some other phenomenon.

Kepler-37b flies about 10 times closer to its star than Earth circles the sun, which gives it a surface temperature of about 800 degrees Fahrenheit (427 degrees Celsius).

"This particular one is nowhere near habitable," University of Florida astronomer Eric Ford said.

Mercury is the closet planet to the sun in our solar system, so scientists compared Kepler-37b to a mini Mercury.

The little planet, which is slightly larger than Earth's moon, has two somewhat larger siblings. Kepler-37c, which is slightly smaller than Venus, circles the trio's parent star in 21 days and Kepler-37d, about twice the size of Earth, orbits in 40 days.

The whole system would fit within the orbit of Mercury, which circles the sun in 88 days.

"When we first found exo-planets, they were all much larger than anything we have in the inner solar system. We didn't know of anything that was smaller. This is the first time we've been able to probe the smallest range, smaller than anything we have in our solar system," Barclay said.

The research was published in this week's Nature.

(Editing by Jane Sutton and Stacey Joyce)

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/scienceNews/~3/fj0RFl9-y0s/us-space-planets-idUSBRE91J1BV20130220

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বৃহস্পতিবার, ২১ ফেব্রুয়ারী, ২০১৩

Witness heard "non-stop shouting" from Pistorius home

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend, "Doug" (24), and I (22) have been in a long-distance relationship for a year, but we were friends for a couple of years before that. I had never had a serious relationship before and lacked experience. Doug has not only been in two other long-term relationships, but has had sex with more than 15 women. One of them is an amateur porn actress.I knew about this, but it didn't bother me until recently. Doug had a party, and while he was drunk he told one of his buddies -- in front of me -- that he should watch a certain porn film starring his ex-girlfriend. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blank-headline-received-081543108--sector.html

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Bone marrow cells used in bladder regeneration

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

A new approach to bladder regeneration is capitalizing on the potential of two distinct cell populations harvested from a patient's healthy bone marrow, a new study reports.

The Northwestern Medicine? research, which will be published February 18 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by lead author Arun K. Sharma, research assistant professor in urology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and colleagues, is an alternative to contemporary tissue-engineering strategies. The bone marrow cells are being used to recreate the organ's smooth muscle, vasculature, and nerve tissue.

"We are manipulating a person's own disease-free cells for bladder tissue reformation," said Sharma, a member of the Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine and the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Research Center. "We have used the spina bifida patient population as a proof of concept model because those patients typically have bladder dysfunction. However, this regeneration approach could be used for people suffering from a variety of bladder issues where the bone marrow microenvironment is deemed normal."

In end-stage neurogenic bladder disease ? an illness often associated with spinal cord diseases like spina bifida ? the nerves which carry messages between the bladder and the brain do not work properly, causing an inability to pass urine. The most common surgical option, augmentation cystoplasty, involves placing a "patch" derived from an individual's bowel over a part of the diseased organ in order to increase its size. The current "gold standard," the procedure remains problematic because the bowel tissue introduces long-term complications like the development of electrolyte imbalance and bladder cancer.

Because Sharma's procedure does not use bowel tissue, it offers the benefits of augmentation without the association of long-term risks. His technique combines stem and progenitor cells from a patient's bone marrow with a synthetic scaffold created in the lab of Guillermo Ameer, ScD, professor of biomedical engineering at McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science and of surgery at Feinberg. The scaffold takes the place of the traditional patch.

"We decided to use material that has the ability to be tailored to simulate mechanical properties of the bladder," said Sharma, director of pediatric urological regenerative medicine at Lurie Children's. "Using the elastomer created by Dr. Ameer and the bone marrow stem and progenitor cells, I believe that we have developed a technique that can potentially be used in lieu of current bladder augmentation procedures. However, further study is needed."

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Northwestern University: http://www.northwestern.edu

Thanks to Northwestern University for this article.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126870/Bone_marrow_cells_used_in_bladder_regeneration

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Egypt signs debt deals with Petronas, BG Group

CAIRO, Feb 20 ? The Egyptian government has signed agreements with Malaysia?s Petronas and Britain?s BG Group to reschedule debt owed by Cairo, the minister of petroleum, Osama Kamal, told reporters yesterday.

He did not say now much debt had been rescheduled.

Oil producers working in Egypt are estimated by Exclusive Analysis to be owed US$9 billion (RM28 billion) - a figure Kamal disputed at a news conference this month.

Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Kandil met yesterday with a delegation from American energy company Apache and BG Group to discuss investment opportunities in Egypt.

?They (BG Group) have assured, through the meeting, that they will continue investing in Egypt and expressed their interest in increasing it in the future,? a statement from the cabinet said.

The company?s investment in Egypt over the next five years is estimated at about US$5 billion, Kamal said. ? Reuters

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Source: http://business.rss.themalaysianinsider.com/c/33362/f/567636/s/28bdc611/l/0L0Sthemalaysianinsider0N0Cbusiness0Carticle0Cegypt0Esigns0Edebt0Edeals0Ewith0Epetronas0Ebg0Egroup0C/story01.htm

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Graphic material | The Anchor Newspaper

Anchor photo by Alex BVerard

James Lucey, A&E Editor
February 18, 2013
Filed under Arts and Entertainment

Assembled before me, like the hipster Justice League, were the artists of Story/Line: Narrative Form in Six Graphic Novelists:
Gabrielle Bell, standing a full head taller than me, rail thin and radiating a muted old world elegance. Bishahk Som, with black hair down to his ass and jeans so tight they had to be experimental. Ellen Crenshaw, bubbly and cheerful, smiling wide behind the thick curly hair obstructing her face. Kevin Mutch, a salt-n?-pepper artiste who looked something like Henry Rollins combined with Andy Warhol.

And Karl Stevens, who walked away as soon as he realized what was going on.

The Bannister Gallery?s latest show, the Story/Line: Narrative Form in Six Graphic Novelists, certainly appeals to a niche audience. You?re going to be investing a little more time in this exhibit than most. You?re going to be reading? a lot. But the work on display offers something to validate your endeavors: a story.

In step with the art, which spans a range of styles and qualities, are also narrative stories. Herein, an entirely new component of art appreciation is triggered. You no longer consider the palate, line work and background alone. You are forced to reconcile word choice, dialogue and exposition against the visual medium.

?Most artists are no damn good with words.? Kevin Mutch admits as I probe the Hipster League of America for answers.
?I wanted to be an animator, but I was too lazy.? said Ellen Crenshaw. Mutch replied, ?I wanted to be a filmmaker, but I was too shy.? I wondered if there was a difference between the kind of creative block a writer gets versus the kind a graphic novelist experiences.

?I don?t have the block, it?s easy to imagine the next thing, visually.? said Mutch. ?Depends on the kind of story,? Som interjects, ?I always start with a script.?Now the artistry became evident.

Bishahk Som?s work orbits around the dialogue. A lot of flowery vocabulary and really specific foods. In ?Da?ara City,? Som uses a static aerial landscape perspective to form a narrative with multiple magnifications of city residents.

I mentioned earlier that Karl Stevens lost interest in my discussion with the artsy defenders of truth and justice and meandered off. This was disappointing. Stevens? work is among the most appealing on display. A stark realism stylized by heavy cross-hatching, Stevens offers amusing content. Most of the panels from his work are episodic, representing a period past in Boston. There?s a beagle?s contemplative internal monologue, a bunch of topless nudies, a selfie of Stevens getting baked at 3 a.m., and my personal favorite, ?Reason no. 9901 not to ride the T on acid.?

Ellen Crenshaw?s work had more a film than comic feel to it. This was ironic, considering that she herself admitted that her work was basically storyboarding. Crenshaw has a cool little story to tell, though. The disappointment of a deflating romance represented in a cartoony, fantastic format.

I didn?t realize it at first, but Crenshaw is responsible for my hands down favorite piece of art ever on display at the Bannister Gallery.

A tandem project with Stephen Cartisano, ?America?s Past Time? is an ultra-disturbing depiction of a bloody-thirsty baseball ump. The composition is super clean, and atmospherically bleak. If you have two minutes, read this comic. There?s a nice twist, even if it is a bit of a logical fallacy. The dialogue is as striking and stylized as the artwork, as the ump declares ?They will do whatever is asked of them?if you simply tell them it?s alright.? Yeah, some dude gets iced with a bat.

Gabrielle Bell has ten comics on display, word heavy with a recurrent bear motif. Kevin Mutch wins the creativity award for a panel-by-panel recreation of an old school comic. The clincher being that Mutch provides his own original narrative, satirical and honestly funny.

I would argue these graphic novelists are more complete creatively than many who only deal with only one artistic medium. There isn?t a great deal of cross section between visual and verbal artists. As someone who can tackle any of the performing arts with gusto, but completely suffocates when forced to represent something visually, I cannot understate how impressed I am with these indie weirdos and their work.

Story/Line: Narrative Form in Six Graphic Novelists runs through March 1st. The Bannister Gallery is open to visitors Tues through Fri, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Source: http://www.theanchoronline.org/ae/2013/02/18/graphic-material/

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