Thursday, February 28, 2013

Secrets We Keep From Our Kids

Jerry Mahoney is a stay-at-home gay dad blogger (SAHGDB) who writes about what an awesome and/or horrible parent he is on his site Mommy Man: Adventures of a Gay Superdad, which you should totally read. His family includes him, his partner, Drew, and a couple of meddling 3 1/2 year-old twins.

Hey guys, it?s me, Daddy, and I?m only writing this post because you can?t read, you don?t know what a blog is and because you?re still in that developmental sweet spot where you take everything I tell you at face value.

Suckers.

Your old man is full of secrets, things that could destroy my authority if you ever found out.? Here are 10 highly classified facts that I will take to my grave? or at least wait to tell you until you have kids of your own.

secret

1.? TV is a reward for me, not you.

There?s a reason I never promise you TV for being good.? When you?re behaving, I don?t?need?to turn on the TV.? Overall, you guys are terrific company? but when you?re not, that?s when TV comes to my rescue.? Those 22 blissful minutes ofYo Gabba Gabba?are my reward for getting through the crying, whining, fighting meltdown madness that?s become a recurring feature of your toddlerhood.

Here?s the big secret: if you want more TV, you should act out more.? You know how sometimes I?ll pop popcorn and we?ll have a ?movie day?, where we get to watch all of?Beauty & The Beast?orToy Story?from beginning to end?

When that happens, you?ve been BAAAAAAAAAD.

You can never know this, of course, because that would encourage you to misbehave.? So I have to be clever about it.? I always make sure to calm you down first, so you don?t know that I?m only turning on the TV because I?m on the verge of tearing off your Tickle Me Elmo?s head with my teeth.

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2.? While you?re napping, I shove my face full of chocolate chip cookies for two hours straight.

You don?t see me eat much, do you?? It?s not because I don?t require sustenance like every other human being, though if it adds to your sense that Daddy is some kind of awesome superhuman, I?m fine with that.? No, the real reason I never eat in front of you is because when you?re watching, I need to model good eating habits.? You think I like eating vegetables and chewing slowly?? Phooey!

I spend every moment in your presence suppressing my natural urge to shovel peanut butter M&Ms through my maw by the fistful.? When you?re asleep, oh boy, do I make up for lost time.? I practically funnel chocolate sauce directly down my throat.? I watch lots of TV, too, and I sit as close to the screen as I want.

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3. ?I fall for your crocodile tears about 90% of the time.

I don?t know whose side of the family it comes from, but I?d be willing to bet that you two have some Meryl Streep in your blood.? Your performances are unparalleled.? You are gripping emotional powerhouses, both of you, able to summon cascades of tears at will.? I feel like I should be tossing bouquets of flowers at your feet, or at least teaching you to act out?Uncle Vanya?so your talents can be put to good use.

Even when I?m sure you?re faking, I get sucked into the performance.? I want to give you that second cookie you?re demanding only because I don?t have an Oscar to hand over instead.

Seriously, I don?t know how you do it.? You cry over the most trivial things, but still, you get me to believe that nothing matters more in the world than you getting a turn with the ?good? xylophone.

I don?t want to spoil you by always giving in, but I don?t want to stifle your theatrical gifts either.

Bravo, kids.? Brav.? O.

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4.? I don?t know how we?re going to pay for your college.

I?m really grateful you guys have no concept of money, because if you knew what college costs versus how much money we have in the bank, you?d wake up crying at night even more than you already do.

Let?s put it in terms of Play-Doh.? If you add together all the various sources of Play-Doh at our disposal ? the cans in the craft cabinet, the little mini tubs that came with the Cookie Monster Letter Lunch set, a few unopened packages we keep stashed in the closet for rainy days ? it?s a comfortable amount.

Now picture?all the Play-Doh in the world.? That?s what a year of college is going to cost by the time you guys are filling out your applications.? I?m not exaggerating.? Our Play-Doh supply would barely cover one semester of independent study credits at that college in Texas that gets all the oil subsidies.? We?re screwed.

I mean, sure, we have a few years.? We?ll keep stashing away Play-Doh in the meantime, but don?t get your hopes up.

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5.? I find your speech impediments adorable.

I?ve written here before about?how much I hate baby talk, and I stand by that.? Grownups trying to sound like kids are idiotic.? But secretly, I love hearing little kids try to sound like grownups, and failing.

I love Sutton?s slight lisp, and I get a kick out of the way Bennett drops his ?S? from the start of words (?Daddy, ?utton wants a ?nack!?)? These things remind me, as you?re growing up, that you?re still going to be little kids for a while.

I know better than to encourage poor speech habits, of course.? I do the right thing, suppressing my smiles and correcting you gently, so you?ll learn to speak properly.? But secretly, whenever you mangle the English language, I?m thinking, ?Aww!?

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6.? Your other Grandpa, my dad, is dead.

Sorry, this one?s kind of a downer.? I?ve shown you pictures of my dad, and I?ve told you a bit about him, but I?m really grateful that you?re still too young to ask the big question: ?How come we?ve never met him??? To explain that, I?d have to tell you about death.? Then you?d figure out the really big secret, that daddies can die.

Ugh, I just can?t have that talk with you.? And it?s not just about you not being ready.? I?m not ready either.? I don?t know when I will be.

When we talk about your mystery Grandpa, I tell you the good things, and then I change the subject.? I know I won?t be able to get away with that forever, but for now, that?s the best plan I have.

Grandpa loved kids, by the way.? You would?ve had so much fun with him.

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7.? ?F#&%?, ?S*@#?, A$$#@!&?.

You know that Madonna song we love to sing along to?? You?ve probably noticed how I always turn down the volume when M.I.A.?s rap part comes on.? Let?s just say there are a few vocabulary words which may come in handy later in life, but which I?m glad you haven?t picked up on just yet.

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8.? I was an even pickier eater at your age than you are.

I spend way more energy than any sane person should trying to get you kids to eat things you don?t want to.? Even your junk food diet is limited.? C?mon, why can?t you see how awesome Taco Bell is?

Here?s the truth, though: If I?m always encouraging you to try new foods, it?s mostly because I don?t want you to end up like me.? I?m living proof you can live to the age of 14 eating nothing but peanut butter sandwiches and pretzels.

Sure, at some point my tastes got a bit more exotic (i.e., Taco Bell), but I?m hoping that, unlike me, you?ll have at least sampled each of the four food groups before you reach puberty.

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9.? Someday, I?m going to go back to work.

I know you don?t understand work.? That?s why you?ll sometimes cry in the middle of the afternoon and demand to pick Daddy up at the train station, as if he?s just waiting there all day for us to swing by.

Work takes daddies away from their kids, that?s all you really grasp of the concept.? Well, this may come as a shock to you, but before you were born, I used to work, too.? Staying home with you is better than any job I?ve ever had, and it?s worth every sacrifice Daddy and I have had to make.? It?s not going to last forever, though.? In the future, you won?t need me as much, at least not as much as we?ll need the second income.

A few months ago, I was in the running for a job, one that would?ve been too good to pass up. ?I?m not going to lie, I was excited about the prospect.? I was also heartbroken.? I imagined what it would be like to tell you I was going back to work, that you would now have two daddies you hardly ever saw.

Then you?d cry about how much you missed both of us, to a person we hired to take care of you all day.

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10.? You guys are my best friends.

I used to think people who were BFFs with their kids were terrifically sad.? Now, I kind of get it.? No offense to any of my grown-up friends, but you?re way cooler than any of them.

Yes, I need adult conversation once in a while.? I need to talk about politics and celebrity scandals and last night?s?Breaking Bad.? But in general, your reluctant, unfocused recounting of your school day is better than any of that.? Really?? Billy spilled his juice at snack time?? Tell me more!

Again,?you can never know this, because the only thing sadder than you being my best friends would be if I were yours.? You don?t need a graying old doofus roughly 14 times your age as a buddy.? You need me as a parent.? My job isn?t to play trains with you and Billy after school, it?s to serve you juice? and to send Billy?s parents the cleaning bill when he spills it all over you.

F#&%in? Billy.

Source: http://www.scarymommy.com/secrets-we-keep-from-our-kids/

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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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Friday, February 22, 2013

Frank Ocean Recorded A Song With Depeche Mode, Is Officially ...

Frank Ocean revealed to BBC Radio 1 on Tuesday (February 19) that he has 10 or 11 songs recorded for his next album, and that he has enlisted the help of Pharrell and Danger Mouse. And now we?ve got another juicy morsel to savor for the next couple weeks: thanks to a fortuitous bit of studio-booking, Ocean has recorded a song with Depeche Mode?and it could end up on the channel ORANGE follow-up.

OK, so he recorded it with half of Depeche Mode. Frontman Dave Gahan told?Entertainment Weekly?Ocean was working in a New York City studio while Depeche Mode was nearby recording a session based around their forthcoming album Delta Machine, when one of Frank?s people approached the iconic synthers.

?We were in the studio in New York, and we were filming and recording some live tracks toward the end of the session. I was singing, Martin [Gore] on guitar, a few of the other guys,? Gahan said. ?I realized there was this guy standing there just watching. An assistant came up to me in between songs and said, ?Do you mind? Frank Ocean is here working in another studio and really wants to meet you guys.? I wouldn?t have thought he would have even known who we are, but it turns out he?s a big fan.?

Of COURSE he?s a big fan, because he?s everything that?s right about music. Anyway, that chance meeting led to Ocean recording a track with DM member Martin Gore?and The Knife producer Christoffer Berg. ?I think [the song] is going to be part of his new record,? Gahan said. ?Martin did some electronics and some modular synthesizer stuff he really wanted.? If this album is a direct sequel to channel ORANGE, as Ocean hinted it was, then we?re hoping that this will be ?Pyramids II? and we. Can?t. Wait.

Source: http://idolator.com/7442763/frank-ocean-depeche-mode-collaboration

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Britain to India: Diamond in royal crown is ours

AMRITSAR, India (Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron says a giant diamond his country forced India to hand over in the colonial era that was set in a royal crown will not be returned.

Speaking on the third and final day of a visit to India aimed at drumming up trade and investment, Cameron ruled out handing back the 105-carat Koh-i-Noor diamond, now on display in the Tower of London. The diamond had been set in the crown of the current Queen Elizabeth's late mother.

One of the world's largest diamonds, some Indians - including independence leader Mahatma Gandhi's grandson - have demanded its return to atone for Britain's colonial past.

"I don't think that's the right approach," Cameron told reporters on Wednesday after becoming the first serving British prime minister to voice regret about one of the bloodiest episodes in colonial India, a massacre of unarmed civilians in the city of Amritsar in 1919.

"It is the same question with the Elgin Marbles," he said, referring to the classical Greek marble sculptures that Athens has long demanded be given back.

"The right answer is for the British Museum and other cultural institutions to do exactly what they do, which is to link up with other institutions around the world to make sure that the things which we have and look after so well are properly shared with people around the world.

"I certainly don't believe in 'returnism', as it were. I don't think that's sensible."

Britain's then colonial governor-general of India arranged for the huge diamond to be presented to Queen Victoria in 1850.

If Kate Middleton, the wife of Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, eventually becomes queen consort she will don the crown holding the diamond on official occasions.

When Elizabeth II made a state visit to India to mark the 50th anniversary of India's independence from Britain in 1997, many Indians demanded the return of the diamond.

Cameron is keen to tap into India's economic rise, but says he is anxious to focus on the present and future rather than "reach back" into the past.

(Reporting By Andrew Osborn; Editing by Michael Roddy)

(This story was corrected to remove reference to Queen Elizabeth I in the lead paragraph)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/britain-india-diamond-royal-crown-ours-000950576.html

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Video: 20 states under winter storm warnings, advisories



>> well tracking the path of this storm. good morning.

>> good morning, david. a live shot of wichita, kansas . your camera bouncing from the wind. you can see the snow coming down picking up snow at a rate of 1-2 inches per hour. this is a huge storm. there are three ingredients to this system. we have the arctic high and provides cold air and the jetstream over this low and a lot of request gulf moisture streaming into it. here's what we're looking for. we have 20 states affected by winter storm watches and ice advisories and a risk of fall weather along the gulf. storm risks are huge. 12-18 inches of snow along the nebraska- kansas border but a wider area of 12 inches of snow in kansas and 3-6 inches in rockies and to chicago. ice is a big problem as well. as much as an inch of ice falling from tulsa all the way from cincinnati and columbus and causes major problems, power outages, trees down and major roadways. as we look to the south, lots of rain from new orleans all the way to north korcarolina between the panhandle of florida and north georgia , we could see 7 inches of rain by sunday morning. this is a monster storm. we might be looking at a nor'easter this weekend affect affecting new england.

Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50885940/

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Demi Lovato Teases 'Dope' Unnamed Collaboration On Next Album

Singer says she's going to 'give it my all' like her 'X Factor' contestants on her unnamed 2013 release.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Chris Kim


Demi Lovato
Photo: MTV News

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1702276/demi-lovato-new-album-collaborations.jhtml

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

Biden: 'We have an obligation to act'

Vice President Joe Biden urged lawmakers to have the "courage" to pass legislation addressing gun violence on Thursday at a conference in Connecticut just 10 miles from Sandy Hook Elementary School, scene of the Dec. 14 mass shooting.

"We have an obligation to act," Biden said of America's politicians, after meeting with two parents of children who were murdered in the Sandy Hook shooting. "You all should know there is a moral price to be paid for inaction."

Biden said a "consensus" is forming around closing loopholes that allow some gun buyers to evade background checks, banning high-capacity magazines and banning some semi-automatic weapons. The vice president also said additional funding should be provided to put more law enforcement officers on the streets and to make mental health services more widely available.

Biden specifically targeted the AR-15 rifle in his speech, mocking those who argue it's a self defense or recreational weapon and thus should not be banned. "There are plenty of ways you can protect yourself and recreate without an AR-15," Biden said. He later expressed disbelief at the idea that banning a 100 round drum, such as was used in the Aurora, Colo. movie theater shooting last summer, would infringe upon anyone's Second Amendment rights.

The symposium, held at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, is hosted by Connecticut Democratic lawmakers Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and Rep. Elizabeth Esty. It includes panel discussions with local, state and national leaders; law enforcement; mental health experts; sportsmen; faith leaders; and families and survivors of gun violence.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan addressed the conference before Biden, telling the audience that the issue of gun violence is personal to him because of his childhood growing up on the violent South Side of Chicago. "When you grow up and see your mentors and role models dying that has a huge impact on you," he said. "We think the current status quo is unacceptable."

Biden has been the White House's lead on gun violence after President Barack Obama chose him to head up a gun reform task force in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting.

Biden in 1994 was the architect of legislation that temporarily banned assault weapons. The president and Biden have been advocating to reinstate that ban as well as a ban on high-capacity magazine clips, universal background checks and other measures they believe will reduce gun violence.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/biden-address-gun-violence-connecticut-speech-154005068--politics.html

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Little audience for 'Zero Dark Thirty' in Pakistan

In this photo taken on Feb. 15, 2013, Pakistani children play at the demolished compound of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Pakistan stars in "Zero Dark Thirty," from early scenes at a detention site to the dramatic closing minutes as Navy SEALs assault the hideout of bin Laden. But the Academy Award-nominated film about the hunt for the al-Qaida leader has sparked a controversy here about its portrayal of the country, and it will likely not be shown on the local big screen anytime soon. Partly, the film taps into national discomfort that bin Laden was found to be living for years near Pakistan's equivalent. (AP Photo/Aqeel Ahmed)

In this photo taken on Feb. 15, 2013, Pakistani children play at the demolished compound of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Pakistan stars in "Zero Dark Thirty," from early scenes at a detention site to the dramatic closing minutes as Navy SEALs assault the hideout of bin Laden. But the Academy Award-nominated film about the hunt for the al-Qaida leader has sparked a controversy here about its portrayal of the country, and it will likely not be shown on the local big screen anytime soon. Partly, the film taps into national discomfort that bin Laden was found to be living for years near Pakistan's equivalent. (AP Photo/Aqeel Ahmed)

In this photo taken on Feb. 16, 2013, people watch the film "Zero Dark Thirty" outside a computer shop in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Pakistan stars in "Zero Dark Thirty," from early scenes at a detention site to the dramatic closing minutes as Navy SEALs assault the hideout of bin Laden. But the Academy Award-nominated film about the hunt for the al-Qaida leader has sparked a controversy here about its portrayal of the country, and it will likely not be shown on the local big screen anytime soon. Partly, the film taps into national discomfort that bin Laden was found to be living for years near Pakistan's equivalent. (AP Photo/Aqeel Ahmed)

In this photo taken on Feb. 19, 2013, an owner waits for customers at his DVD shop in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Pakistan stars in "Zero Dark Thirty," from early scenes at a detention site to the dramatic closing minutes as Navy SEALs assault the hideout of bin Laden. But the Academy Award-nominated film about the hunt for the al-Qaida leader has sparked a controversy here about its portrayal of the country, and it will likely not be shown on the local big screen anytime soon. Partly, the film taps into national discomfort that bin Laden was found to be living for years near Pakistan's equivalent. (AP Photo/Aqeel Ahmed)

ISLAMABAD (AP) ? Pakistan stars in "Zero Dark Thirty," from early scenes at a detention site to the dramatic closing minutes as Navy SEALs assault the hideout of Osama bin Laden. But the Academy Award-nominated film about the hunt for the al-Qaida leader has sparked a controversy here about its portrayal of the country, and it will likely not be shown on the local big screen anytime soon.

Partly, the film taps into national discomfort that bin Laden was found to be living for years near Pakistan's equivalent of West Point, and anger over the U.S. decision to enter its airspace and raid the compound without giving advance notice. Doubts about whether bin Laden was really hiding out for years in the city of Abbottabad are also common across Pakistan, a country where conspiracy theories often have more weight than fact.

But Pakistanis who have seen the film on DVD or Internet downloads are also making much of what they say are factual errors.

Nadeem F. Paracha, a columnist for the English language newspaper Dawn and a cultural critic in Pakistan, noted that in some scenes characters speak Arabic, whereas Pakistanis in fact speak Urdu or Pashto or one of the tens of other languages found here.

In other scenes protesters get right up to the U.S. Embassy gates when in reality the embassy is situated in an enclosed diplomatic enclave that demonstrators can't access. Some scenes that were supposed to show the frontier city of Peshawar looked more like 19th century Delhi in India.

"How can you make a Hollywood blockbuster, put in so much money and get simple things wrong?" Paracha asked. "Instead of the film being taken seriously, it became a joke among Pakistanis."

The movie traces the arc of the CIA's decade-long hunt for bin Laden through the eyes of a young female analyst, who spends most of her time ostensibly in Pakistan. Screenwriter Mark Boal visited Pakistan to do research, but the movie scenes were not shot here.

One scene that also raises questions shows a vaccination worker going to the compound door as part of the American plan to get DNA samples from the bin Laden family. The U.S. did in fact run a fake hepatitis campaign, but in the movie it's portrayed as an attempt to vaccinate against polio. This could add suspicion to polio workers already facing attacks by militants in the tribal agencies.

Pakistan has only a few movie theaters that show English-language films, and none so far has aired "Zero Dark Thirty." All films shown at cinemas must be approved by a board of censors, and the head of the censor board, Dr. Raja Mustafa Hyder, said no distributor has applied for permission to show the film.

Whether or not it would actually make it past the censor board is another question, considering that a representative of the powerful Pakistani military sits on the board.

After it came out that bin Laden had been living in Abbottabad and that the military failed to detect the American raiding party coming to get him, the once-revered Pakistan army found itself on the defensive. The film also highlights the cooperation between the C.I.A. and Pakistan's intelligence agency during the early years after the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the United States, a potentially embarrassing topic in a country with such vehement anti-American sentiment.

Jamshed Zafar, one of the leading importers and distributors of foreign films in Pakistan, said he decided after discussions with friends that it wasn't worth importing "Zero Dark Thirty."

"If you get into such controversy, you not only lose money but your reputation is also at stake," he said.

Any distributor or movie house that showed the movie might also be courting trouble with the public. Last year during demonstrations against an anti-Islam film crowds of right-wing Islamic hardliners burned some movie houses.

The fact that neighboring India ? Pakistan's archenemy ? substituted for many of the Pakistani street scenes has also raised concerns, said Rashid Khawaja, a Lahore-based film producer and distributor.

Until recently it was possible to purchase a DVD of the film in Islamabad. But at least two stores in the capital said in recent days that they stopped selling it because of rumors it had been banned. Another store was still selling the movie ? albeit under the counter.

In Abbottabad, the DVD is available at local video stores but hasn't sold particularly well.

"This movie is about Osama and Abbottabad, and still I honestly say people living here are not showing much interest in it," said Akhtar Hussain.

Even in the city where people could hear the Navy SEALs as they swooped in on helicopters and flew away with bin Laden's body, there's still disbelief he was living so close.

College student Raheel Ahmed said he watched "Zero Dark Thirty" and came away thinking the movie's intent was to praise President Barack Obama.

"I don't know whether Osama was here," he said, "but Americans have defamed us by producing the movie."

___

Associated Press writers Aqeel Ahmed in Abbottabad and Zarar Khan in Islamabad contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-02-20-Pakistan-Zero%20Dark%20Thirty/id-fe4afef1c59f433d9b41b91004ed3be4

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Techquity: Apple iWatch clues, Google gains

About Reuters TV

Hard-edged reporting, insight and analysis, Reuters TV breaks ground creating informative news and financial videos. Showcasing Reuters? 3000 award-winning journalists, Reuters TV delivers high-energy investigative journalism with concise explanations. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/USVideoTopNews/~3/VWnJnypNACU/techquity-apple-iwatch-clues-google-gain

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Shift Work and Relationships | Psych Central

Shift Work and RelationshipsResearch shows shift work has a negative effect on health, relationships, marriages and children, and increases rates of separation and divorce. When partners work different shifts there is often little face-to-face interaction. It becomes difficult to plan any family activities, maintain healthy communication, and sometimes even a regular sex life.

In today?s economy, more and more unemployed people are finding it increasingly difficult to find work. As a result, many people are taking whatever jobs they can find ? even undesirable jobs such as shift work.

Shift work jobs can leave both partners with very different feelings. For example, the partner working the job may experience feelings of guilt regarding being away from the home. They may feel frustrated and ?left out? due to being unable to participate in particular events or family time. This worker also may experience increased stress, feelings of overwhelm, and even irritability due to inconsistent sleep patterns combined with other emotions.

On the other hand, the other partner with more regular hours may experience feelings of loneliness. If there are children or others to be cared for in the home, this partner may feel a greater sense of responsibility and accountability. These feelings may lead to resentment and frustration.

Shift work may not be the ideal way of working or living, but it may be necessary to make ends meet or to keep employment. However, even with all of the negative things stated, there is hope.
If you and your partner work different shifts, there are ways to ensure you still maintain a happy and healthy relationship. Consider the following tips:

  1. Call or text during breaks.

    This simple gesture will keep communication open throughout the day. If possible, try to keep the conversations light. Avoid talking about things that require more time than you have or that could create negative feelings.

  2. Remember, quality is better than quantity.

    You and your partner may not have tons of time to spend together, but you can make the most of the time you have. Set a date or plan a fun activity during your next available time together and make the most out of whatever you do.

  3. Leave little reminders of your love.

    Little reminders can come in the form of a note or a simple gift. Leave your partner items in surprising places such as the car, the bathroom, or even the fridge. This will let your partner know that you are thinking of them and leave them thinking of you as well. If you?re not really into notes or don?t have time or money for small gifts, consider completing a chore for your partner. This will show that you are considerate of his or her feelings and willing to pitch in to help in any way you can.

  4. Set aside time for ?business talk.?

    When partners have different, hectic schedules there is little time for anything. You don?t want the majority of your time spent talking about serious matters such as finances, household issues, etc. Set aside a specific time to address these issues so the remaining time can be enjoyed to the fullest.

  5. Check in emotionally.

    In the chaos of hectic days we can remember to say ?hi? or ask ?how are you?? in passing. We may also get to squeeze in an ?I love you? and ?can you pick up some milk?? We want to make sure that we are checking in with our partners on a deeper level. Take the time to know how your partner is really feeling. As mentioned earlier, each spouse can experience various emotions as a result of their roles. Talk about these feelings and discuss what can be done to help both partners fell more comfortable.

Shift work doesn?t have to be miserable for partners, nor does it have to be a death sentence to your relationship. Relationships take hard work. For partners who have very different schedules, hectic lifestyles, or minimal time to spend together, these relationships may require a little extra work. You may choose to use some or all of the tips in this article or you may choose to use none. Evaluate your relationship, look at your partner?s needs, and do whatever is necessary to keep your relationship healthy. Don?t let shift work get the best of you.

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APA Reference
White, D. (2013). Shift Work and Relationships. Psych Central. Retrieved on February 21, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/2013/shift-work-and-relationships/

Scientifically Reviewed
????Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 15 Feb 2013
????Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

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Source: http://psychcentral.com/lib/2013/shift-work-and-relationships/

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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Saber Blast Lets Brands Team Up On Social Media To Form A Marketing Alliance

attract_imageSmall businesses and new brands are mere sardines in the ocean of social media. But a school of small fish is much more powerful than a lone minnow, which is why Saber Blast, a new alliance marketing tool, has launched out of beta. The service lets any brands sign up and join forces with other companies and brands, by RT-ing and re-sharing social media content. The idea is that a service like Airbnb, a home-sharing marketplace, would pair well with a Lyft or GetAround, other peer-to-peer services focused on transportation. The products overlap in the sense that travelers need both lodging and transportation, and customers are bound to be more comfortable with peer-to-peer services, yet these companies don’t directly compete. Saber Blast would then allow Lyft and Airbnb, or whomever, to form an alliance, wherein they would RT and re-share eachother’s content across their own social media channels. Users have complete control over what they share or don’t share, but the more content you share on behalf of your brand partners, the more likely they are to blast out your content. The entire show can be run from the web, where Saber Blast provides a simple dashboard for alliance forming, requesting promotion from alliances, sharing, and analytics. Saber Blast generates revenue with a paid subscription model, starting at $20/month for 20 marketing alliances and 2,000 email contacts, and incrementally reaching $100/month for the most comprehensive package. Founder Matt Ackerson, who is in his fourth go-around as a founder, says that Saber Blast is more aimed at small businesses and startups, but that it can be beneficial to small and large brands alike.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/xnOOtfZo0rU/

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British neighborhood wants its Banksy back

This is an undated image of an art work from British artist Banksy made available by Haringey Council Wednesday Feb. 20, 2013. The stencil by the famed, secretive graffiti artist of a young boy sewing Union Jack bunting on an antique sewing machine appeared on the side of a north London bargain store last May. Soon the gritty Turnpike Lane area was drawing art lovers keen to see Banksy's typically cheeky take on the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the British throne. Last week it vanished, leaving nothing but a rectangle of exposed brick ? only to reappear on the website of a Miami auction house. Listed as "Slave Labor (Bunting Boy)," it is due to be sold Saturday with an estimated price of between $500,000 and $700,000. (AP Photo/Haringey Council) NO ARCHIVE

This is an undated image of an art work from British artist Banksy made available by Haringey Council Wednesday Feb. 20, 2013. The stencil by the famed, secretive graffiti artist of a young boy sewing Union Jack bunting on an antique sewing machine appeared on the side of a north London bargain store last May. Soon the gritty Turnpike Lane area was drawing art lovers keen to see Banksy's typically cheeky take on the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the British throne. Last week it vanished, leaving nothing but a rectangle of exposed brick ? only to reappear on the website of a Miami auction house. Listed as "Slave Labor (Bunting Boy)," it is due to be sold Saturday with an estimated price of between $500,000 and $700,000. (AP Photo/Haringey Council) NO ARCHIVE

(AP) ? A London neighborhood wants its Banksy back.

A stencil by the famed but secretive graffiti artist of a young boy sewing Union Jack bunting on an antique sewing machine appeared on the side of a north London bargain store last May. Soon the gritty Turnpike Lane area was drawing art lovers keen to see Banksy's typically cheeky take on the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the British throne.

Last week it vanished, leaving nothing but a rectangle of exposed brick ? only to reappear on the website of a Miami auction house. Listed as "Slave Labor (Bunting Boy)," it is due to be sold Saturday with an estimated price of between $500,000 and $700,000.

London authorities concede the sale is probably legal ? the mural was on private property. But they hope moral pressure will make the auction house change its mind.

"(It's) totally unethical that something so valued should be torn without warning from its community context," local lawmaker Lynne Featherstone said.

Featherstone said she had asked the building's owner for an explanation, but had yet to receive a reply. Poundland, the store that occupies the building, said it had nothing to do with the removal.

On Wednesday, the local government authority appealed to the auctioneer for the return of the work.

In an open letter to auction house chief Frederic Thut, Haringey Council called the artwork "a much-loved local landmark" that had been visited by people from around the world.

"We understand that there may be nothing illegal in the way this artwork was quietly removed from our streets and put up for auction by you in Miami," the letter said.

"But for you to allow it to be sold for huge profit in this way would be morally wrong, and completely contrary to the spirit in which we believe it was given to our community."

Councilor Alan Strickland said the work had become "a real symbol of local pride" in an area badly hit in England's August 2011 riots. He said its disappearance had left residents "shocked and angry."

Strickland said he had asked England's Arts Council for help retrieving the work.

The government-funded council called the loss of the Banksy "a shame," but said there was little it could do. The council has the power to stop the export of culturally significant artworks, but only if they are more than 50 years old.

Fine Art Auctions Miami said it had acquired the work legally, but gave few other details. It said in a statement that it had "done all the necessary due diligence about the ownership of the work."

"Unfortunately we are not able to provide you with any information by law and contract about any details of this consignment," it said. "We are more than happy to do so if you can prove that the works were acquired and removed illegally."

Banksy's publicist did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The anonymous street artist, who refuses to reveal his real name, began his career spray-painting buildings and bridges in his home city of Bristol in southwest England. His often satirical images include two policemen kissing, armed riot police with yellow smiley faces and a chimpanzee with a sign bearing the words "Laugh now, but one day I'll be in charge."

Original Banksy works now sell for up to hundreds of thousands of dollars and the artist has become an international celebrity. He has created sequences for "The Simpsons" and directed an Academy Award-nominated documentary, "Exit Through the Gift Shop."

His works are still sometimes obliterated by zealous local officials, street cleaners or ? as in this case ? taken off buildings along with a chunk of wall for private sale.

___

Jill Lawless can be reached at http://Twitter.com/JillLawless

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-02-20-Britain-Missing%20Banksy/id-d163115898b34183b9894a27e5e91de3

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Stem cell-based bioartificial tissues and organs

Feb. 18, 2013 ? Surgeon Paolo Macchiarini has made his name by successfully transplanting bioengineered stem cell-based trachea, composed of both artificial and biological material. He now plans to use the technique to recreate more complex tissues, such as the esophagus and diaphragm or organs such as the heart and lungs. He has also made an experimental attempt to regenerate brain in mice and rats.

This is part of the news he will be presenting during his seminar at the scientific AAAS Annual Meeting in Boston.

In June 2011, media all over the world reported about a ground breaking transplant, where a patient received an artificial trachea covered in his own stem cells. The result was an artificial windpipe with biological functions. To date, five operations have been carried out using this technique.

"We learn something from each operation. This means we can develop and refine the technique. We are also evaluating how we can transfer our experiences to other fields, such as neurology. The aim is to make as much use of the body's own healing potential as we can," says Paolo Macchiarini, Professor of Regenerative Surgery at Karolinska Institutet, and responsible for the surgery.

At the AAAS Annual Meeting, he will talk about how he believes the technology can be used in the future. This will include:

  • The plan to operate on a 2 year-old girl in the USA in March. The girl was born without a trachea and has lived her entire life in intensive care, where she breathes through a tube placed in the esophagus and connected directly to the lungs. Without a new trachea, she will never be able to leave the hospital. This will be the first time the procedure is conducted on a small child. It is also the first time the procedure will be conducted on an individual without a trachea -- as previously, diseased organs have been replaced.
  • There are also plans to transplant the esophagus, an organ that is more complex than a trachea as it has muscles.
  • In experimental trials on rats, the research team has investigated the possibility to replace brain matter that has been damaged by serious trauma sustained from events such as traffic accidents, gunshot wounds or surgery. The aim is to replace the lost brain matter with a cultivated stem cell based substance and in turn, avoid neurological damage. The experimental attempt that has been conducted on rats and mice has shown positive results.
  • On two occasions, severely injured patients with acute refractory lung failure received stem cell based therapy showing immediate functional improvement. Although both patients died as a consequence of multi-organ failure, the result has provided the first evidence that stem cell therapy can be a promising alternative to restore function in certain damaged organs -- without the need for them to be removed and replaced with healthy donor organs.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Karolinska Institutet.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/strange_science/~3/guZorg34jcQ/130218103026.htm

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Colorado lawmakers pass gun measures

DENVER (AP) ? Limits on the size of ammunition magazines and universal background checks passed the Colorado House on Monday, during a second day of emotional debates that has drawn attention from the White House as lawmakers try to address recent mass shootings.

The bills were among four that the Democratic-controlled House passed amid strong resistance from Republicans, who were joined by a few Democrats to make some of the votes close.

The proposed ammunition restrictions limit magazines to 15 rounds for firearms, and eight for shotguns. Three Democrats joined all Republicans voting no on the bill, but the proposal passed 34-31.

"Enough is enough. I'm sick and tired of bloodshed," said Democratic Rep. Rhonda Fields, a sponsor of the bill and representative of the district where the shootings at an Aurora theater happened last summer. Fields' son was also fatally shot in 2005.

Republicans argued that the proposals restrict Second Amendment rights and won't prevent mass shootings like the ones in Aurora and a Connecticut elementary school.

"This bill will never keep evil people from doing evil things," said Republican Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg.

The House also approved a bill requiring background checks on all gun purchases, including those between private sellers and firearms bought online.

Other proposals would ban concealed firearms at colleges and stadiums, and another requires that gun purchasers pay for their own background checks. Democrats eked out the closest vote on the background check measure, which passed on a 33-32 vote.

Democratic Rep. Ed Vigil, who represents rural southern Colorado, voted against the four bills, saying his decision was rooted in the state's rugged history.

"This is part of our heritage. This is part of what it took to settle this land. I cannot turn my back on that," he said.

But even though a few Democrats joined Republicans in voting no for the bills, the Democrats' 37-28 advantage in the House gave them enough leeway.

The Senate still needs to consider the proposals. Democrats will need to be more unified in their support there because their advantage is only 20-15. That means Republicans need only three Democrats to join them to defeat the bills.

House lawmakers began debating the bills Friday. Lawmakers debated for 12 hours before giving initial approval to the bills, setting up the final recorded votes Monday. During the debate Friday, Vice President Joe Biden called four Democrats, including two in moderate districts, to solidify support for the measures.

Democratic Rep. Dominick Moreno, who represents a district in suburban Denver, was among the four lawmakers. He said Biden "emphasized the importance of Colorado's role in shaping national policy around this issue."

Castle Rock Republican Rep. Carole Murray brought up Biden's calls during Monday's debate, saying she didn't appreciate "East-coast politicians" trying to influence Colorado legislators.

Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper supports the expanded background checks, and thinks gun buyers should pay for them. He also said he may support limits on the size of magazines, if lawmakers agree to a number between 15 and 20. He said he hasn't decided whether to support banning concealed firearms on campuses and stadiums.

Republicans say students should have the right to defend themselves.

"Do not disarm our young adults in general and our young women in particular on our college campuses in the name of a gun-free zone," Republican Rep. Jim Wilson said.

The gun debate highlights a fundamental philosophical difference between many Democrats and Republicans.

"I resent the implication that unless we all arm ourselves we will not be adequately protected," said Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, the Democrats' leader in the House.

Republican Rep. Christ Holbert became emotional while explaining his opposition to the bills. He said he understood Fields cares about the bills, because of her district and because her son was shot and killed in 2005.

"But I care passionately about the United States Constitution and the constitution of this state, and the oath that we have taken," Holbert said.

___

Find Ivan Moreno on Twitter: http://twitter.com/IvanJourno

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/colo-house-passes-gun-control-measures-211816177.html

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Who Should Share the Responsibility for Sustainability ...

About two years ago, in December 2010, I addressed the different changes in our collective thinking that might usher in a sustainable world. It was argued that this depended to a great extent on folks ?getting it? with respect to how people view sustainability and their responsibility (personal and corporate ? although I understand some believe corporations are individuals!).

I quoted Lester Brown and his observations on this. He compared the change in thinking needed relative to sustainability (and sustainable development, industry, products, etc.) as the realization of the notion that the earth revolves around the sun and not the other way around. Mr. Brown noted that we used to consider the environment as part of the economy but it is really that the economy is part of the environment. Wikipedia quotes his speech in 2008 stating, ?indirect costs are shaping our future,? and by ignoring these, ?we?re doing exactly the same thing as Enron- leaving costs off the books. Consuming today with no concern for tomorrow is not a winning philosophy.?

So, it boils down to, first, accepting the idea that there are indirect costs associated with the environment, second, identifying these indirect costs in a comprehensive way, third, assessing the ?ownership? of these costs to the appropriate stakeholders (the ?term du jour? for those involved in the process or benefitting/suffering from the outcome; or, according to Merriam-Webster ? ?one that has a stake in an enterprise or one who is involved in or affected by a course of action?) and, fourth (the tricky bit), getting the stakeholders to accept responsibility, or pay in some cases, for their part of the indirect costs.

In the older blog posting referenced above, I also cited Hawken and Lovins, in ?Natural Capitalism? (Little Brown, 1999), commenting that ?The best solutions are based not on tradeoffs or ?balance? between these objectives [economic, environmental and social policy] but on design integration achieving all of them together ? at every level, from technical devices to production systems to companies to economic sectors to entire cities and societies.?

Achieving the economic, environmental and social policy objectives all together across all sectors from producers to consumers.

Great concept. How can we do this?

In Berkeley, I pay for the removal of my waste each week ? divided into three containers ? compostable waste (i.e. lawn waste and food products), trash (nothing recyclable left ? at least recyclable as defined by the City of Berkeley) and recyclable waste ? glass, plastic and metal recyclables. Regardless of where the contents of these three containers was generated (at the farm, as packaging for a product I purchased or had sent to me from an on-line retailer, end of life items,etc.) I pay to have them removed from my household. If the producer creates a product with a larger or smaller carbon footprint (or environmental damage) I see no difference in my waste bill. I do pay, probably, more in property taxes, etc. to cover the cost of environmental impacts on my fellow citizens who need special treatment due to air, water or soil problems associated with production, use and disposal of products. On a national level I am sure I am covering this cost for many who rely on the resources of their governments to help them if they are not able to, or don?t have, coverage for such problems. And, to the extent that the manufacturer (if located in the US) or the distributor or local retailer pay fees and taxes and to the extent some of those go to support such services, they are paying something as well.

If I want to impact what I pay for waste/recycling removal my recourse is to consume less, chose manufacturers who package efficiently, use less. And I do. But this is hardly enough.

These costs are not seen on the bottom line of the business as clearly linked to their product or service and its ?sustainability.?

In the earlier blog I had referred to California?s introduction of ?cap and trade? as one possible approach to accommodating these indirect costs. This might be one way to ?rethink the structure and reward system of commerce? to bring the external costs firmly into play.

I was thinking about this over this holiday period as part of the preparation for this posting. I am an avid reader of the New Yorker (ok, first the cartoons, then the articles). In the comment section under ?The Talk of the Town? (sort of an opinion piece at the beginning of the magazine) in the December 10th issue was a column written by Elizabeth Kolbert, a staff writer for the magazine titled ?Paying for it? and dealing with, this issue. If you are not a New Yorker reader bear with me a bit ? it is worth it!

Ms. Kolbert?s piece begins with a short review of a work by Arthur Pigou, a British economist, titled ?The Economics of Welfare? first published in 1920. In this work, Pigou develops the concept of externalities in some detail and uses their existence as a justification for government intervention. The article starts out relating an example from Pigou about a man in a bar. After ordering a couple of drinks he staggers out drunk. Pigou describes this scenario as follows: the man gets plastered, the bar owner gets the man?s money, and the public will be on the hook for any expenses related to the police finding this drunk in the bushes somewhere and escorting him home or, worse, to an emergency room for treatment. The government may attempt to tax this product (alcohol here) and use some of the money to offset the public cost of such scenarios. In the words of Ms. Kolbert ?The idea is to incorporate into the cost of what might seem to be a purely personal choice the expenses it foists on the rest of society.?

In the rest of the article, she reasons that one way to think about global warming (where in general the results of one set of actions of producers, etc., driven to a great extent by another group disconnected from the first set, the consumers, but for which the full costs resulting from the extraction of resources, conversion of resource, distribution of products manufactured from these resources, and consumption of the resources including the ?end of life? disposal, is not covered by the consumer but, ultimately the public at large) is like our friend at the bar. She replaces ?bar? with ?gas station?, ?downing a few rounds? with ?filling up? our vehicle, and ?staggering out? with ?driving off.? The gas station and oil company got its money for its product, the consumer got ?his tank full? and the public at large got stuck with the carbon it took to refine and distribute the petroleum now in the atmosphere and is now spewing out of the tailpipe of the car when combusted. If this carbon builds up to sufficient levels (and adds to that from other sources of course) the atmosphere warms, sea levels rise and storms get more disastrous and ?once again, it?s the public at large that gets left with the bill.?

Ms. Kolbert observes that the ?logical, which is to say fair, way to make the driver absorb the cost of his slice of the damage ? could be achieved by a new ? tax on carbon.? The rest of the article goes on to comment about various political initiatives in DC and elsewhere to address the idea of putting a cost on carbon.

Obviously, the other element here is that, to keep competitive, the companies making and selling the automobiles will try to make them as fuel efficient as possible to offset the?additional cost of the carbon from the auto operation. Hmmmm, like hybrids? Or the high efficiency diesels in Europe?

Now, lest you all think I am some sort of closet socialist (my Berkeley connection notwithstanding!), I want to assure you that I consider this healthy thinking and the prominence of such discussions about externalized costs is heartening and, in fact, is more broadly considered than one might think ? even by the business community.

Some of it is pure competitiveness. A blog back in August of 2010 addressed some of the issues associated with carbon trading. An article in the New York Times about the recent auction of CO2 allowances and the ?new cost of CO2 in California? describes the recent auction of carbon credits in California and another Times article mentions how the basis for a company?s carbon footprint is determined. The article states that, with respect to those worried that this will make the companies less competitive if this additional cost is factored in, ?? ? such a cost-centric analysis ignores the jobs and economic activity that the law could generate. Emission and efficiency standards for cars, buildings and appliances in California over the last four decades have succeeded in cleaning the air, making residents? per-capita energy use rate among the lowest in the country and spurring innovations and new industries, like the one that arose around catalytic converters.?

More to be said about this for sure. But, to me at least, including all the costs of a product into the price the consumer pays insures that everyone pays their ?fair share? and encourages innovation.

And that?s what engineers do ? innovate. What better task than to innovate to create greener manufacturing?

David Dornfeld is the Will C. Hall Family Chair in Engineering in Mechanical Engineering at University of California Berkeley. He leads the Laboratory for Manufacturing and Sustainability (LMAS), and he writes the Green Manufacturing blog. Additionally, the Green Manufacturing Facebook page is constantly updated with tidbits on the topic of green manufacturing, anecdotes, examples and stories of interest. Additionally, the book Green Manufacturing: Fundamentals and Applications written by the researchers in the Laboratory for Manufacturing and Sustainability (LMAS) at UC Berkeley is now available. It can be found on Amazon. The book introduces the basic definitions and issues surrounding green manufacturing at the process,machine and system (including supply chain) levels. It also shows, by way of several examples from different industry sectors, the potential for substantial improvement and the paths to achieve the improvement.

Stay Up-to-Date On Environmental Management, Energy & Sustainability News with EL's Free Daily Newsletter

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Source: http://www.environmentalleader.com/2013/02/19/who-should-share-the-responsibility-for-sustainability/

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Monday, February 18, 2013

Ancient fossilized sea creatures yield oldest biomolecules isolated directly from a fossil

Feb. 18, 2013 ? Though scientists have long believed that complex organic molecules couldn't survive fossilization, some 350-million-year-old remains of aquatic sea creatures uncovered in Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa have challenged that assumption.

The spindly animals with feathery arms -- called crinoids, but better known today by the plant-like name "sea lily" -- appear to have been buried alive in storms during the Carboniferous Period, when North America was covered with vast inland seas. Buried quickly and isolated from the water above by layers of fine-grained sediment, their porous skeletons gradually filled with minerals, but some of the pores containing organic molecules were sealed intact.

That's the conclusion of Ohio State University geologists, who extracted the molecules directly from individual crinoid fossils in the laboratory, and determined that different species of crinoid contained different molecules. The results will appear in the March issue of the journal Geology.

William Ausich, professor in the School of Earth Sciences at Ohio State and co-author of the paper, explained why the organic molecules are special.

"There are lots of fragmented biological molecules -- we call them biomarkers -- scattered in the rock everywhere. They're the remains of ancient plant and animal life, all broken up and mixed together," he said. "But this is the oldest example where anyone has found biomarkers inside a particular complete fossil. We can say with confidence that these organic molecules came from the individual animals whose remains we tested."

The molecules appear to be aromatic compounds called quinones, which are found in modern crinoids and other animals. Quinones sometimes function as pigments or as toxins to discourage predators.

Lead author Christina O'Malley, who completed this work to earn her doctoral degree, first began the study when she noticed something strange about some crinoids that had perished side by side and become preserved in the same piece of rock: the different species were preserved in different colors.

In one rock sample used in the study, one crinoid species appears a light bluish-gray, while another appears dark gray and yet another more of a creamy white. All stand out from the color of the rock they were buried in. The researchers have since found similar fossil deposits from around the Midwest.

"People noticed the color differences 100 years ago, but no one ever investigated it," O'Malley said. "The analytical tools were not available to do this kind of work as they are today."

O'Malley isolated the molecules by grinding up small bits of fossil and dissolving them into a solution. Then she injected a tiny sample of the solution into a machine called a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer. The machine vaporized the solution so that a magnet could separate individual molecules based on electric charge and mass. Computer software identified the molecules as similar to quinones.

Then, with study co-author and Ohio State geochemist Yu-Ping Chin, she compared the organic molecules from the fossils with the molecules that are common in living crinoids today. Just as the researchers suspected, quinone-like molecules occur in both living crinoids and their fossilized ancestors.

Though different colored fossils contained different quinones, the researchers cautioned that there's no way to tell whether the quinones functioned as pigments, or that the preserved colors as they appear today were similar to the colors that the crinoids had in life.

Part of why the crinoids were so well preserved has to do with the structure of their skeletons, the researchers said. Like sand dollars, crinoids have skin on top of a hard calcite shell. In the case of crinoids, their long bodies are made up of thousands of stacked calcite rings, and each ring is a single large calcite crystal that contains pores filled with living tissue. When a crinoid dies, the tissue will start to decay, but calcite will precipitate into the pores, and calcite is stable over geologic time. Thus, organic matter may become sealed whole within the rock.

"We think that rock fills in the skeleton according to how the crystals are oriented. So it's possible to find large crystals filled in such a way that they have organic matter still trapped inside," Ausich said.

The location of the fossils was also key to their preservation. In the flat American Midwest, the rocks weren't pushed up into mountain chains or heated by volcanism, so from the Ohio State geologists' perspective, they are pristine.

Their next challenge is to identify the exact type of quinone molecules they found, and determine how much information about individual species can be gleaned from them.

"These molecules are not DNA, and they'll never be as good as DNA as a means to define evolutionary relationships, but they could still be useful," Ausich said. "We suspect that there's some kind of biological signal there -- we just need to figure out how specific it is before we can use it as a means to track different species."

This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Geological Society of America.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Ohio State University. The original article was written by Pam Frost Gorder.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. C. E. O'Malley, W. I. Ausich, Y.-P. Chin. Isolation and characterization of the earliest taxon-specific organic molecules (Mississippian, Crinoidea). Geology, 2013; DOI: 10.1130/G33792.1

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/aPB3H72IZ4k/130218164130.htm

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Release Date Set for 14 March

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Source: www.ibtimes.com --- Monday, February 18, 2013
Several sources have confirmed that Samsung will launch its Galaxy S4 smartphone at an event in New York on 14 March. ...

Source: http://www.ibtimes.comhttp:0//www.ibtimes.co.in/articles/436560/20130219/samsung-galaxy-s4-iv-release-date-confirmed.htm

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Hugo Chavez returns to Venezuela from cancer surgery in Cuba

Hugo Chavez has returned to Venezuela following his cancer surgery in Cuba, with the president announcing his arrival on Twitter.

According to Reuters, he wrote:?

"We have arrived again to the Venezuelan motherland. Thank you God. Thank you my beloved people. We will continue my treatment here."

According to the Associated Press, they were the first messages seen on Chavez's Twitter account since Nov 1.

In another tweet, Chavez wrote:

"I'm clinging to Christ and trusting in my doctors and nurses. Onward toward victory always!! We will live and we will triumph!!"

Chavez's son-in-law, Science and Technology Minister Jorge Arreaza, said he had been taken from the airport to a military hospital in Caracas.

The 58-year-old, diagnosed with cancer in 2011, declared himself free of the disease after surgery and treatment in Cuba, and went on to win last October's elections.

Agence France-Presse wrote that Chavez relapsed after surgery on Dec.11 in Havana.

He was too sick to return to Venezuela for his inauguration on Jan.10 and it was?postponed indefinitely.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/130218/hugo-chavez-venezuela-cancer-surgery-cuba

Source: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/130218/hugo-chavez-venezuela-cancer-surgery-cuba

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Sunday, February 17, 2013

Rhapsody for Windows Phone Gets Offline Playback, Other Enhancements

A new flavor of the Rhapsody application is now available for download for the owners of Windows Phone devices, namely version 3.0.0.22, with appealing new features packed inside, including the possibility to listen to downloaded music when offline.

The new app iteration also enables users to view their music library, save artists and tracks to My Music, and access them from any Rhapsody-supported device.

Furthermore, the mobile software will provide info on new releases from favorite artists, while also enabling users to explore genre with stations, new releases and top tracks.

As WPCentral notes, the new app release also brings improvements to audio playback, album art, and search, as well as the option to view one's listening history.

The app is available for download for free via Microsoft?s app portal, compatible with Windows Phone 7 and Windows Phone 8 handsets.

Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Rhapsody-for-Windows-Phone-Gets-Offline-Playback-Other-Enhancements-330127.shtml

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Jackson Jr.'s downfall tied to objects, not power

FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2011 file photo, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., D-Ill., attends the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington. For all the talk of Jesse Jackson Jr. aspiring to be a U.S. senator or mayor of the nation?s third-largest city, his career wasn?t ended by attempts to amass political power. Instead, it was the former congressman?s desire for flashy items like a gold-plated Rolex watch and furs, and collectibles, such as Eddie Van Halen?s guitar. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2011 file photo, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., D-Ill., attends the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington. For all the talk of Jesse Jackson Jr. aspiring to be a U.S. senator or mayor of the nation?s third-largest city, his career wasn?t ended by attempts to amass political power. Instead, it was the former congressman?s desire for flashy items like a gold-plated Rolex watch and furs, and collectibles, such as Eddie Van Halen?s guitar. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

FILE - In this March 20, 2012, file photo taken in Chicago, then-Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill. speaks at a Democratic primary election night party. The former and his wife Sandra were charged Feb. 15, 2013, with spending $750,000 in campaign funds on personal expenses. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

(AP) ? For all the talk of Jesse Jackson Jr. aspiring to be a U.S. senator or mayor of the nation's third-largest city, his career wasn't ended by attempts to amass political power.

Instead, it was the former congressman's desire for flashy items ? a gold-plated Rolex watch, furs and collectibles, such as Eddie Van Halen's guitar.

In a state where stop-at-nothing political ambition has been well documented ? and often rewarded ? the seemingly frivolous cause of Jackson's undoing is seen by political observers and former colleagues as both nonsensical and sad.

"When you have a magic name like that, he was in position, waiting for the gun to go off, for mayor, the Senate ... he was playing with the big guys," said Paul Green, a longtime political scientist at Roosevelt University in Chicago who moderated Jackson's first congressional campaign debate. "To go down for this, you just feel sad."

Federal prosecutors on Friday charged Jackson Jr. with one count of conspiracy for allegedly spending $750,000 in campaign money on personal expenses. The Chicago Democrat's wife, former alderman Sandra Jackson, was charged with one count of filing false joint federal income tax returns.

Authorities say the returns, for the years 2006 through 2011, knowingly understated the income the couple received.

Both agreed to plead guilty in deals with federal prosecutors. Their sentencing dates have not been set, but the charges both carry possible sentences of several years in prison. Jackson Jr. also could be ordered to repay thousands of dollars in fines and forfeitures.

While former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich went to prison because he tried to trade President Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat for a more prestigious job or millions in campaign donations, Jackson could go to prison for, in part, buying memorabilia tied to martial arts movie star Bruce Lee.

The son of a civil rights icon, Jackson represented Illinois' 2nd District, which includes part of Chicago's South Side and south suburbs, for 17 years. He was wildly popular in his heavily Democratic district, consistently winning elections with more than 80 percent of the vote.

Jackson served as national co-chair of Obama's presidential campaign in 2008 and had his eyes on becoming mayor or a senator. But those hopes were dashed when his name surfaced as part of the Blagojevich corruption investigation and with revelations that Jackson had been involved in an extramarital affair.

Jackson denied any wrongdoing in the Blagojevich matter, which involved unproven allegations that he was involved in discussions to raise campaign funds in exchange for being appointed to Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat.

Suddenly last summer, Jackson disappeared from public view for several weeks. His staff eventually revealed he was being treated for bipolar disorder and other medical issues.

When Jackson resigned from office in November, he cited his bipolar disorder and acknowledged he also was under federal investigation. Sandi Jackson resigned from her Chicago alderman seat in January.

U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, who represents a neighboring district and visited Jackson Jr. shortly after his release from treatment at the Mayo Clinic, said the charges against the Jacksons "couldn't be more unfortunate."

"I think things probably just got out of hand for them and they got involved in making decisions that just didn't make a lot of good sense," Davis said.

Davis wondered whether the long list of luxury purchases mentioned in the federal criminal complaint were "an indication that his bipolar condition kind of was manifesting itself even then."

If so, he said, it's unfair to compare this situation to other Illinois corruption.

"It's hard to rationalize it," Davis said. "Not all elected officials in Illinois are corrupt or building any kind of political dynasty or trying to develop political power. Most individuals elected to public office are citizens who want to make the most effective use of themselves and make this world a better place in which to live."

Delmarie Cobb, a Chicago political consultant who worked on Jackson Jr.'s first campaign and was an aide to his father when he ran for president in 1988, said Saturday she was "absolutely astonished" by the news. She, too, believes Jackson Jr.'s actions were triggered by his bipolar disorder.

"It is just not the Jesse Jr. I knew," said Cobb, who's known Jackson Jr. since he was a senior in college and was present when he met Sandi.

"It's a very sad ending for everybody."

___

Associated Press writers Don Babwin and Tammy Webber contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-16-Jesse%20Jackson%20Jr/id-1bfbe474ec184114b5c6be63597abd55

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International roundup: HTC One and Galaxy S4 rumors, new LG phones confirmed and an early Xperia Z launch

Android CentralAndroid CentralAndroid CentralAndroid Central

As Phil mentioned in this week's column, the next two weeks in the smartphone world are going to be particularly crazy. We've got events from HTC and Sony next week, and Mobile World Congress starting the following weekend. (And we have a feeling March is going to be even more action-packed.)

So in the run up to these events, there's been plenty of international news to report from all the major manufacturers. Head past the break to find out what's been stirring these past seven days with the rumored HTC "One," Galaxy S4, Optimus G Pro and Sony Xperia Z.

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