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Website: http://www.nflooring.com


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Index Quizzes With Jonathan Lewis (Talk Show Host) July 21, 2009Posted by Richard Foote in Oracle Indexes.
I've recently looked at some really atrocious Oracle related articles that are out there to confuse the newbies and uninitiated. Scary stuff indeed !!
However, there's of course plenty of excellent Oracle related material being written all the time, with none better than the writings of Jonathan Lewis on his blog.
Jonathan recently started a series of postings relating to Oracle B-Tree indexes that are going to be well worth a read. He's going to use a series of little quizzes to explore and get people thinking about some of the more unusual scenarios regarding the behavior of Oracle B-Tree indexes.
I've promised to keep quiet regarding some of the specific details to be covered so as not to spoil the show (while researching further some of the issues myself), but if you don't already, I would highly recommend popping over and having a read. You'll be sure to learn something both interesting and useful.
I'll likely blog about some of the specifics myself in due course.
No comments yet — be the first.

subset: commoncrawl


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Are Jamiroquai coming to the U.S. ?Do you have Canned Heat in your heels and are planning on attending a forthcoming concert or have you just been to one? Tell us about your High Times... Post your photos, set-lists, stories and more...
Re: Jamiroquai coming to the U.S.
Y'know, I sit here thinking about the name Jamiroquai. And I know it is based on the Iroquois tribe (or the helicopter from Vietnam named after them). And it's ironic that both of these references are American.
The Iroquois territory is approximately New York to Michigan (USA). I live in the heart of Native American land.
2 houses over from mine is Iroquois street. Subdivisions have Native American names here. Schools have NA names here. Cities have NA names here. Many people have Native blood here.
But yet the band doesn't come here?
Re: Jamiroquai coming to the U.S.
Let me know if I'm off base here, I don't know if there is any history (bad blood) between Sade and Jamiroquai. But could these two bands tour together? Is that idea too far fetched? Would there be a problem with Sade being the headliner in the US? Sade is huge here. Everyone seems to love them. Let me know if I'm being crazy. I honestly don't know if this doesn't make sense.
Re: Jamiroquai coming to the U.S.
I'd still go. But Well, I wouldn't be going to see Sade. She had a couple of okay tunes (kinda simple).
I definitely think Jamiroquai would be better as the headliner. But not a bad pair-up.
Re: Jamiroquai coming to the U.S.
If the tour takes place in the U.S.Sade would have to be the headliner. They're just more popular here. Not necessarily better, but def more popular. I'm a fan of both Jamiroquai and Sade so I'd like this to happen. However,I do wonder about their individual fan bases. Does the average Sade fan also like Jamiroquai and vice-versa? It may not matter. Earth,Wind and Fire toured with Chicago earlier this year and I believe it worked out well.
Jamiroquai are only human. No one wants to go where they are not welcomed. No one wants to put themselves in a position to fail. We'll see.
Re: Jamiroquai coming to the U.S.
Stevie Wonder, disco, The Iroquois Nation, huh, where dey all from? Please show some respect brother. We're people too believe it or not. Just ask my tribe and Stevie. We'll tell ya. Please don't forget about us like your ancestors before you have.
Re: Are Jamiroquai coming to the U.S. ?
according to http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20101022/te ... df947.html
the US release for RDLS will probably be by 2011?
once its released here maybe they will stop by because if they are coming to mexico in april, how can they skip the rest of north america?
Re: Are Jamiroquai coming to the U.S. ?
Please excuse my expression but...... HOW gay is that!
Ok I feel better. I'm sure things will work out. *woo sahhh*
Re: Are Jamiroquai coming to the U.S. ?
I'm a fairly new Cosmic Girl, can anybody give me a rundown of Jamroquais past in the US? I don't see many, if any, US shows on youtube. Do they ever come here? Do they do big 50 states tours or do they just play in New York and California? (I hate that!).
More importantly do they ever play in Texas? Or anywhere near Texas? I'd for sure be up for roadtripping so I could see more than one show!
Does this site send out emails for when Jamiroquai announces tours?
Where in Mexico are they going? Is is relativley close to Dallas?
This is alot of questions. Maybe i should start my own topic...
Re: Are Jamiroquai coming to the U.S. ?
Ellimac25 --> you're on-line, I'll try to type fast!
Jamiroquai has toured the U.S. but I'd say it has been limited. I think they are more likely to hit NY & California consistently. But this new tour I would assume to be determined by their future record sales and states' interest.
You can sign up somewhere for notification. Or check back for the news under 'home'.
But I've heard the U.S. release of the album RDLS may be closer to 2011.
I know the TWM release in Europe was 2 months earlier than in the U.S.
Re: Are Jamiroquai coming to the U.S. ?
Ahh thanks! NY and Cali are really far away and expensive =(. I think Mexico might be a better bet for this poor college kid. I don't mind battling drug cartels to see Jamiroquai! Hopefully they'll come a lil closer to the real Cowboys though.
Re: Are Jamiroquai coming to the U.S. ?
Ha! Rather battle the drug cartels then driving up to meet the rude New Yorkers?
I believe they just hit one place in Mexico. But probably be more.
Re: Are Jamiroquai coming to the U.S. ?
heyy!! only the New Yorkers who moved here after 2000 are rude! !!
Re: Are Jamiroquai coming to the U.S. ?
You can try signing up for the newsletter on the homepage (upper right corner).
You can also check the Shows page for regular updates: http://www.jamiroquai.com/shows
You can also access the newsletter link on the Shows page as well as the other web pages.
I would keep checking the news feed on the homepage, as there are usually very up-to-the-minute info releases there. Many times new shows are added to the news feed. It's a good source spot.
We mods will also continue to do our best at bringing you all the latest and greatest!
And believe me...I'll hopefully be the FIRST to spring any US news!
Re: Are Jamiroquai coming to the U.S. ?
Hello ErinUSA! Hello fellow American (and Canadian) Jamiroquai Fans! I'm so glad to know you are out there!
Each day I check to see if there is any news of a US release date for RDLS, because there will be no US concert dates without a US release! I went to the Forum gig in London in October, and I would gladly travel again, but it's a very expensive hobby to fly overseas just to see Jamiroquai (it was so worth it, though)! Tonight I reviewed all of the venues they played during the last two tours. WHEN they come to the US and Canada (not "if" but "when") they will likely play at the kind of intimate venues that we all love, so that is a definite advantage over seeing them in a massive stadium, imo.
I'd like to share an excerpt from an article featured in the November 2010 online business magazine called mad.co.uk. The article features some clear insight into the science behind where Jamiroquai books their gigs. Please read it, and share it with every US Jamiroquai fan you know. Get them tweeting, get them clicking, and get Jamiroquai to take notice that America LOVES them, and wants them BACK! Cheers, love and I'll see you at the concerts! ♥ xxx
Case study: Jamiroquai plans tour using web data
Next year, Jamiroquai's comeback world tour will be plotted using data from the huge pockets of social media interest in countries where record sales have flatlined.
Neil Cartwright, head of digital at entertainment marketing agency Media Junction, has worked with the band for 15 years and enabled its site for analytics around five years ago. Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, YouTube Insights, Last.fm, Alexa and Social Mention are now among the services Cartwright monitors. "We've built up a huge amount of data, which we've submitted to the label Mercury and the booking agent ITB," he says.
"We know where people are, which pages they look at and for how long, and their demographics. Jay Kay has just played two festivals in South America, partly because the Facebook analytics demonstrated that there was an enormous fanbase over there.
"Analytics from Google and Facebook are now instrumental in where bands play," Cartwright adds. "If you were looking at CD sales alone, the level of piracy in some countries would mean you wouldn't know where half your fans were."
Re: Are Jamiroquai coming to the U.S. ?
Awesome Fresh_era! Thanks for the info on the research. But all research (and stats) are somewhat flawed. Not every fan is on FB or Tweets. Some people don't even use the computer.
And their method would be greatly flawed if they were waiting for the U.S. fans to tweet before a U.S. release! Release the album, then wait to see the reaction.
Law of motion "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction".
(but I'm no science major!)
Re: Are Jamiroquai coming to the U.S. ?
You're right, Giba7 - analytics aren't everything, and I doubt the US release will be determined by how many Americans are currently googling Jamiroquai. But I'm *hoping* that once the album is released here, US fans will set the web on FIRE with our interest, the same way fans do in other parts of the world. The analytics angle gives me new hope, and makes me feel that my online contributions are making at least a small differnce in letting the band know that American fans LOVE them, miss them, and are anxiously awaiting their return!!! Cheers to you! xxx
Re: Are Jamiroquai coming to the U.S. ?
yes! 100%
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Resident Program
This program is for people who wish to live, study, and practice at Upaya for a minimum of three months. Residency at Upaya requires an application and approval. Upon acceptance of your application, an initial month of mutual evaluation is required and then, if approved, you may make a three-month commitment. As a member of our resident community, you participate in three meditation periods per day, attend weekly Dharma talks and seminars, engage in our resident council, have private interviews with teachers, engage in daily samu (work practice), and participate in our Practice Periods and special programs.More about Upaya's residential program
Long Term Residents
The center has openings for residents who have completed their initial commitment of three (3) months and wish to make a longer commitment. Long-term residents receive room and board and a modest monthly stipend; they participate fully in the resident program, all Upaya core practice periods, and have more responsibility and authority. These positions are for a minimum of one year and may be renewed upon mutual agreement between Upaya and the individual.
Guest Practitioner
Visitors who wish to sample resident life at Upaya may stay for a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 30. A Guest Practitioner participates in the practice schedule completely* and participates in all sitting periods, dharma talks (Wednesday evenings), seminars (Thursday mornings), dokusan, as well as 4 hours of samu/work per day. Guest Practitioners staying one week or longer receive two days off per week. Guest Practitioners must sit one zazen period of their choice on both their days off.More about being a guest practitioner
Personal Retreats
Individuals who wish the quiet and serenity of Upaya are invited for personal retreat and practice. The rate is determined by the type of room desired. Dorm rooms are $65 per night, double occupancy rooms are $90 per night, and a single (if available) is $110 per night. Meals are $35 for the day or individually, breakfast is $8, lunch is $15, and dinner is $12. Private retreatants are welcome to participate in the practice schedule as they desire. No application necessary For more information on this opportunity, please contact email@example.com about personal retreats
Work exchange or volunteer at our front desk, kitchen, garden, or in housekeeping
Our volunteer program is intended for people who wish to contribute to Upaya and spend time working with the resident sangha; it is non-residential.More about volunteering and work exchange


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Five Years Later: Has Longer Three-Point Line Achieved Desired Results?Posted by BHayes on October 3rd, 2013
With five full seasons of college basketball's 20-foot, 9-inch three-point line under our belt (formerly 19'9″), now would seem like a good time to take inventory on the impact of the rule change. There was ample debate back in summer 2008 on just how much of a difference the extra foot would make, but believers, and more importantly, the enforcers (the NCAA) trusted that the new line would promote better offensive spacing, and again make the three-pointer an option for only the finest of shooters. Those on the other side of the debate refused to believe that a measly 12 inches would alter a whole lot, with common refrains ranging from "players will be able to adjust very quickly" to "most three-point attempts came from well beyond the arc anyways." So which group gets to say "I told you so" now? We have a large enough sample size to draw legitimate conclusions, but if we recall the initial objectives of the rule change – increased floor spacing and a decrease in non-shooters attempting the shot — it's hard to argue that the evidence shows anything but mixed results.
At the simplest level, the new line served its purpose: Three-point shots have been harder to make since 2008-09. In the last decade, the peak of three-point shooting proficiency came in the final year of the 19'9" line, when players shot 35.02% from distance. That number immediately plummeted to 34.18% in the first year with the new line — a significant drop when you consider that the largest shift in percentage in the five years prior was just .21%. Also worth noting is that the overall percentage in each of the last five years is well below even the lowest percentage (34.49%) in the five years before the change. StatSheet has some wonderful visual representations of this data, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out that college players are simply not making as many threes as they did when the line was shorter. No PhD necessary to deduce that they are also taking fewer threes – another desired outcome for the rule book authors back in 2008. Total attempts saw a drastic decline between 2007 and 2008, as the average of 38.25 3FGAs per game fell to just 36.73 in the year after the change. That number has experienced a relative flatline in the four years since – a sharp interruption to a decidedly upward trending graph in the years prior.


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Womens Junior National Team Wins NORCECA Bronze
Deb Stadick
Intern, Communications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: email@example.com
@USA_Volleyball - USAV Facebook
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 26, 2012)-The U.S. Women's Junior National Volleyball Team defeated Costa Rica 25-18, 25-14, 25-22 to earn the bronze medal at the 2012 NORCECA Women's Junior (U-20) Continental Championship Sunday evening in Managua, Nicaragua, and a bid to the 2013 FIVB Volleyball Women's Junior Continental Championship.
Team USA finished its run at NORCECA with a 4-1 record. The top three teams in the tournament receive berths into the 2013 FIVB Volleyball Women's Junior Continental Championship.
The U.S. has now medaled in all eight of the biennial NORCECA Women's Junior Continental Championships dating back to the first in 1998. The Americans had entered this edition as four-time defending champions (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010), but lost to Dominican Republic in a five-set battle in the semifinals on Aug. 25. Team USA now has three silver medals (2000, 2002, 2012) to go with its five gold medals in the event, including the inaugural championship in 1998.
An evenly-distributed offense propelled Team USA to a first-set victory. The Americans jumped out to an 15-9 lead midway through the first set. Costa Rica came within one point at 18-17, but Team USA scored seven of the final eight points for a 25-18 victory. Eight U.S. players chalked up at least one kill during the set. The second set featured more of the same as Team USA took the early 7-4 advantage. The Americans extended their lead to 19-9 before clinching the set at 25-14. Costa Rica jumped out to a 7-6 lead in the third set. The U.S. battled back and regained the lead late in the set at 22-21 after trailing 19-16. They did not let up, pushing to the 25-22 victory to claim both the match and the bronze medal.
Azariah Stahl (Elkhart, Ind.) led the U.S.'s well rounded-offense with 11 points on seven kills, two blocks and two aces coming off the bench. Haleigh Washington (Idaho Springs, Colo.) was close behind with nine points on six kills, two blocks and one ace. Kadie Rolfzen (Papillion, Neb.) tallied five points on three kills and two aces, while her twin sister Amber added five kills of her own. Haley Fauntleroy (Winnetka, Ill) contributed five points on three kills, one block and one ace. Maya McClendon (Louisville, Ky.) chipped in five points on four kills and one ace. Kayla Morin (Portage, Mich.) added four kills while Kelly Hunter (Papillion, Neb.) tallied three points on two blocks and one kill. Kelsey Humphreys (Newport Beach, Calif.) added three points on two kills and one block. McKenzie Willey (Highland, Utah) added one kill to round out the point-earners for the U.S.
Amanda Benson (Litchfield, Ariz.) led Team USA's defensive effort and was designated libero for the match.
Team USA out-blocked (8-2), out-hit (36-19) and out-aced (7-2) its opponent. The U.S. forced Costa Rica into committing 24 errors and only allowed them to score a total of 54 points throughout the match, 31 of which were on USA errors.
In the first set, U.S. Women's Junior National Team Head Coach Rod Wilde started Humphreys at setter, Washington and Fauntleroy at middle blocker, the Rolfzen sisters and Willey on the outside and Benson at libero. McClendon, Morin, Hunter and Stahl subbed into the set.
In set two, Wilde started Hunter at setter, Washington and Fauntleroy at middle blocker, Morin, McClendon and Stahl on the outside and Benson at libero.
In set three, Wilde started Hunter at setter, Washington and Fauntleroy at middle blocker, the Morin, Stahl and McClendon on the outside and Benson at libero. Humphreys along with the Rolfzen sisters subbed into the set.
Costa Rica was led by Montero Alfaro Angie's team-high 8 points.
2012 U.S. Women's Junior National Volleyball Team Roster
# - Name (Position, Hometown, Grad Year, Club, Region)
2 - McKenzie Willey (OH, Highland, Utah, 2013, Club Utah, Intermountain)
3 - Kelly Hunter (S, Papillion, Neb., 2013, Nebraska Juniors, Great Plains)
7 - Merete Lutz (MB, Houston, Texas, 2013, Southwest Juniors, Lone Star)
8 - Kelsey Humphreys (S, Newport Beach, Calif., 2013, Laguna Beach, Southern California)
10 - Amanda Benson (L, Litchfield, Ariz., 2013, Club Red, Arizona)
11 - Haleigh Washington (MB, Idaho Springs, Colo., 2014, Colorado Juniors, Rocky Mountain)
12 - Kayla Morin (OH, Portage, Mich., 2014, Dead Frog, Lakeshore)
13 - Maya McClendon (OH, Louisville, Ky., 2013, KIVA, Pioneer)
14 - Haley Fauntleroy (MB, Winnetka, Ill., 2014, Wildcat Juniors, Great Lakes)
15 - Amber Rolfzen (OH, Papillion, Neb., 2013, Nebraska Juniors, Great Plains)
16 - Kadie Rolfzen (OH, Papillion, Neb., 2013, Nebraska Juniors, Great Plains)
19 - Azariah Stahl (OH, Elkhart, Ind., 2014, Circle City, Hoosier)
Head Coach: Rod Wilde
Assistant Coach: Charlene Whitted
Assistant Coach: Blaine Tendler
Team Leader: Alex Dunphy
2012 NORCECA Women's Continental Championship
Pool A
Aug. 21: Costa Rica def. Antigua & Barbuda 25-9, 25-9, 25-7
Aug. 22: Nicaragua def. Antigua & Barbuda 25-12, 25-13, 25-12
Aug. 23: Nicaragua vs. Costa Rica 25-20, 25-23, 25-14
Pool B
Aug. 21: Mexico def. Guatemala 25-11, 25-11, 25-3
Aug. 22: Dominican Republic def. Guatemala 25-7, 25-3, 25-13
Aug. 23: Dominican Republic def. Mexico 25-20, 21-25, 25-16, 27-25
Pool C
Aug. 21: United States def. Trinidad & Tobago 25-10, 25-10, 25-8
Aug. 22: Cuba def. Trinidad & Tobago 25-13, 25-8, 25-14
Aug. 23: United States def. Cuba 19-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-16
Classification 9
Aug. 24: Guatemala def. Antigua & Barbuda 25-8, 25-8, 25-13
Aug. 24: Mexico def. Cuba 25-15, 25-19, 21-25, 14-25, 15-12
Aug. 24: USA def. Nicaragua 25-10, 25-6, 25-7
Classification 7/8
Aug. 25: Guatemala def. Trinidad & Tobago 25-7, 25-16, 25-7
Aug. 25: Dominican Republic def. USA 22-25, 13-25, 25-21, 25-22, 15-10
Aug. 25: Mexico def. Costa Rica 25-16, 25-19, 25-19
Final Classification
Aug. 26: Cuba def. Nicaragua 25-4, 25-8, 25-10
Aug. 26: USA def. Costa Rica 25-18, 25-14, 25-22
Aug. 26: Dominican Republic vs. Mexico, 7 p.m. (gold)


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NBA center Jason Collins says he has gotten "incredible" support since revealing in Sports Illustrated that he is gay and thus becoming the first openly gay male athlete in one of the major team sports in this country. As that support includes congratulations from a current and former president and some of the biggest stars in his sport, perhaps that's even an understatement.
What Mr. Collins has done is significant, of course, and he deserves all the good will and public support he can get. Pro basketball, baseball, football and hockey seem to be the last bastions of the "don't ask, don't tell" approach to the sexuality of their employees, if not outright hostility toward gays. The consequences of his coming out are not entirely clear, as the 34-year-old journeyman player is not signed for a team next season.
In this era of more enlightened attitudes toward homosexuality and fast-growing acceptance of gays and lesbians as friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers and even role models — not to mention the spreading legalization of same-sex marriage, an unthinkable development a generation ago — the reluctance of big-time male pro-athletes to join the 21st century has been striking. Was this the result of prejudice in the locker room, the stands, the owners' boxes, or all three?
As with any barrier-breaking, it takes one brave person to step forward, and Mr. Collins might seem an unlikely candidate, given his relative obscurity and age. This is not quite like a young, talent-laden Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier. For one thing, there are probably dozens of gay athletes already competing on these fields and courts — just not openly. For another, the Dodgers and Robinson were on the leading edge of social change and the civil rights movement of their time.
In contrast, this week's announcement seems badly overdue — like apologizing for Japanese internment camps five decades after the fact. Tennis star Martina Navratilova beat Mr. Collins to the punch — by 32 years. She came out as a lesbian in 1981 and received no tweets of support (or even that era's non-digital equivalent) from the White House.
It's not hard to speculate on the factors that have helped cause sports to lag behind so much of the rest of society. Surely, it starts with the way these sports tout manliness and aggression. Star players are "monsters" or "beasts," while those who fail are seen as "soft" or feminine or mocked with anti-gay slurs. In football and baseball, there's a particularly strong evangelical influence. And in such highly competitive endeavors, some players are naturally reluctant to buck the tide (or give management a reason to cut them). Then there are the endorsement deals and public images to worry about (although that doesn't seem to stop many pro athletes from using drugs, driving drunk, getting into fights or engaging in generally boorish behavior).
The gay barrier of men's pro sports was much evident here in Baltimore as Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo spoke out in support of same-sex marriage in Maryland. His choice to talk about equal rights for gay Americans as the team made its Super Bowl run was widely viewed as novel if not heroic. Although the Ravens stood by him (including refusing Del. Emmett C. Burns Jr.'s efforts to silence him at one point), the team's decision to release him several weeks ago prompted speculation over whether his outspokenness was too discomforting for the NFL franchise, a suggestion the Ravens denied.
Still, as much as Mr. Collins deserves the praise from President Barack Obama and others — and may yet have to endure some harassment at certain NBA venues before all is said and done — it's not clear how noteworthy his announcement may prove to be. In a matter of months, if not weeks, other players are likely to step forward; such is the pace of change and such is the likelihood that others will be inspired by Mr. Collins' choice.
Perhaps pro sports will prove to be the last major barrier to public acceptance of gays. What an irony that the military, which has produced so many sports cliches — from the aerial attack of football to the arm-cannons of baseball — would prove itself more progressive than those who are essentially in the entertainment industry.
The day can't come too soon when allegations that NFL scouts are asking college players about their sexual orientation are part of the distant past instead of something that came up during a recent pre-draft football combine. A high-five to Mr. Collins, but a boo to any sports franchise, league or fan base that does not accept equality.


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another sunday linkfest on a thursday. what IS the world coming to?! =/
Baffling 400,000-Year-Old Clue to Human Origins – denisovans in SPAIN 400,000 years ago! cool. – see also 400 thousand year old human mtDNA from Sima de los Huesos from dienekes. – and see also Hominin DNA baffles experts.
Snakes outpacing other vertebrates in race to evolve – "The first two full snake genomes to be sequenced – belonging to the Burmese python and the king cobra – show that they have one of the fastest rates of genetic evolution among vertebrates."
Earliest Stone-Tipped Projectiles from the Ethiopian Rift Date to >279,000 Years Ago – "Projectile weapons (i.e. those delivered from a distance) enhanced prehistoric hunting efficiency by enabling higher impact delivery and hunting of a broader range of animals while reducing confrontations with dangerous prey species. Projectiles therefore provided a significant advantage over thrusting spears…. Direct evidence for such projectiles is thus far unknown from >80,000 years ago. Data from velocity-dependent microfracture features, diagnostic damage patterns, and artifact shape reported here indicate that pointed stone artifacts from Ethiopia were used as projectile weapons (in the form of hafted javelin tips) as early as >279,000 years ago." – see also Oldest Javelins Predate Modern Humans, Raise Questions on Evolution – h/t naturalismo! – and see also Stone tipped spears used 500,000 years ago – thrusting ones, tho.
Discovery of partial skeleton suggests ruggedly built, tree-climbing human ancestor – "Massive arm bones provide insight into how 'robust' P. boisei species, found by Leakey, adapted in Africa."
Iberian Neolithic farmer DNA – "'The Neolithic Portalón individual is genetically most similar to southern Europeans, similar to a Scandinavian Neolithic farmer and the Tyrolean Iceman. In contrast, the Neolithic Portalón individual displays little affinity to two Mesolithic samples from the near-by area, La Brana, demonstrating a distinct change in population history between 7,000 and 4,000 years ago for the northern Iberian Peninsula.'" – @dienekes'.
How genetics are rewriting the history of the Caribbean – "The Spanish who arrived in the New World were de facto polygamists who killed or enslaved the local men and impregnated the women." – from razib.
Male and female brains wired differently, scans reveal – "Maps of neural circuitry show women's brains are suited to social skills and memory, men's perception and co-ordination…. Maps of neural circuitry showed that on average women's brains were highly connected across the left and right hemispheres, in contrast to men's brains, where the connections were typically stronger between the front and back regions." – see also Sex differences in the structural connectome of the human brain. – and see also Stop the Presses! from malcolm pollack. (^_^)
Promiscuity Is Pragmatic – "Why women and other female primates seek out multiple partners…. [T]here are two environmental contexts where women commonly choose multiple partners. The first is where women have more material support from their kin or economic independence from men more generally. This may explain why multiple mating is most common among small-scale matrilocal societies (in which women remain in their home village after marriage), such as the partible paternity societies of South America or the Mosuo of China. It may also explain why female infidelity has increased in Western societies as women have gained greater political and economic independence…. The second environmental context Scelza identified is where the sex ratio is female-biased (indicating a scarcity of men) or there is a high level of male unemployment (indicating a scarcity of men who can provide support)." – one for the gameboyz. (~_^)
The Associations Among Dark Personalities and Sexual Tactics Across Different Scenarios – h/t neuroskeptic!
Sharing is Caring? – from the awesome epigone.
Height prediction from common DNA variants – from steve hsu.
Parental olfactory experience influences behavior and neural structure in subsequent generations – epigenetic effects passed on between generations? there are those who are skeptical. (^_^) – see also Phobias may be memories passed down in genes from ancestors.
PISA, piece by piece – from steve sailer. see also steve's Graph of 2012 PISA scores for 65 countries/economies.
Our IQs Are Climbing, But We're Not Getting Smarter – re. woodley and armstrong paper.
Academic experts criticise Boris Johnson IQ claims – "Dr James Thompson, senior lecturer in psychology at University College London, said Boris had been 'inelegant' in his choice of words. Thompson, co-author of Cognitive Capitalism, said: 'What Boris Johnson has done is inelegantly describe things which in fact do seem to be true: intelligence, however you assess it, is predictive. It's predicative of income, life span and of occupational status. People are different and have different futures and intelligence seems to be an important part of that.' He said studies showed there seemed to be a correlation between 'being bright in youth and doing well in life later'. Asked if inequality was inevitable, he said: 'In one way that is true. There's two things, one is that some people are brighter than others and can do more complicated work and that more complicated work is generally more valued.' However, he added that how much people should be paid was a decision for society. Professor Richard Lynn, co-author of IQ and the Wealth of Nations, said that the association between IQ and income was 'only modest'. 'That is because some high IQ people go into jobs that don't have particularly high earnings like university professors, schoolteachers or social workers. Some professions attract very high IQ people but they don't have very high earnings,' he said. 'You could say that the IQ is only one determinant of high earnings, the others are ambition and motivation and the third one is luck.'" – h/t holtz!
The 7 tribes of intellect – from dr. james thompson.
Morality and the State – "In general, 'virtuous' states – those free of corruption, that do not cheat or steal from their citizens, and that are effective in enforcing laws that are perceived as just – are more effective at promoting the common weal than their opposites. Heraclitus' dictum that 'character is destiny' likely applies to states as well as individuals. I personally think that states are far more likely to be 'virtuous' in that sense if their powers are carefully circumscribed and limited."
Could absence of a father permanently rewire the brain? – from mr. mangan, esq.
Investigation reveals black market in China for research paper authoring – "The journal Science has uncovered, via investigation, a thriving black market in science paper authoring—people are paying to have their names added to papers that have been written to describe research efforts…. All in all, the investigative team contacted 27 agencies involved in helping researchers get their work published—only five of them refused an offer to pay for adding a name to a research paper."
Researchers find first evidence of primates regularly sleeping in caves – ring-tailed lemurs!
Ancestral Journeys – greg cochran reviews a book! – just like he
threatened promised!
Why biology belongs in the study of politics – h/t avi tuschman!
Does Nyborg's study make sense? – "One other thing bothers me. So please let me say it. Why must the Danes prove that they deserve to keep their country to themselves? Isn't that a basic right? They have only one land to call home…unlike the many 'refugees' who regularly visit their own homelands. Once the Danes lose majority status in their country, they'll be like the Copts of Egypt and other minorities in this world. They'll have to live by their wits, trying to balance off one potential enemy against another." – hear, hear! – from peter frost.
Migration Hurts the Homeland – "The migration that research shows is unambiguously beneficial is the kind in which young people travel to democracies like America for higher education and then go home. Not only do these young people bring back valuable skills directly learned in the classroom; they bring back political and social attitudes that they have assimilated from their classmates. Their skills raise the productivity of the unskilled majority, and their attitudes accelerate democratization…. Many on the left, for their part, don't like to recognize that we're taking away fairy godmothers. They prefer to believe that they're helping poor people flee difficult situations at home. But we might be feeding a vicious circle, in which home gets worse precisely because the fairy godmothers leave. Humanitarians become caught up trying to help individuals, and therefore miss the larger implications: There are poor people, and there are poor societies. An open door for the talented would help Facebook's bottom line, but not the bottom billion." – h/t michael story!
A very mild form of Sapir-Whorf – from elijah.
Are Alzheimer's and diabetes the same disease?
Are You A Workaholic? Blame Your Parents – "A new study from the University of Michigan finds that how we feel about work depends on how our parents feel about work." – especially your father, apparently. hmmmm.
Unearthed Peruvian tomb confirms that women ruled over brutal ancient culture – "Archaeologists digging in an ancient Peruvian tomb have unearthed a skeleton, confirming that a mysterious people known as the Moche were ruled by a succession of queens that presided over a brutal and ritualistic society." – h/t heartiste!
Did ancient Polynesians visit California? Maybe so. – "Scholars revive idea using linguistic ties, Indian headdress" – h/t charles mann!
Why did Vinland fail? – h/t jayman!
10,000-year-old settlement unearthed in SW Ireland
bonus: Fruit flies with better sex lives live longer – "Male fruit flies that perceived sexual pheromones of their female counterparts – without the opportunity to mate – experienced rapid decreases in fat stores, resistance to starvation and more stress. The sexually frustrated flies lived shorter lives." – bzz. =(
bonus bonus: The Boomer Bust – "Here we are in the baby boom cosmos. What have we wrought?" – by p.j. o'rourke – h/t charles murray!
bonus bonus bonus: The Year of the Hoax – from chuck @gucci little piggy.
bonus bonus bonus bonus: good news from australia! – Abbott's Govt to dump laws on hate speech.
bonus bonus bonus bonus bonus: Doris Lessing's Impatience With Political Correctness – "'Political correctness' had become, Lessing said, 'a kind of mildew blighting the whole world,' particularly academic and intellectual circles — a 'self-perpetuating machine for dulling thought.'"
bonus bonus bonus bonus bonus bonus: Moon gardens: NASA to sow 1st seeds of future habitat
bonus bonus bonus bonus bonus bonus bonus: Mafia 'fed rival to pigs while he was still alive' – how could i not link to this??
bonus bonus bonus bonus bonus bonus bonus bonus: Giant prehistoric toilet unearthed – poo!
(note: comments do not require an email. you are not a human!)


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About the Grounds
The United States Capitol Building is located in a 58-acre park originally landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1874. Today, the Grounds cover more than 270 acres. It was named an accredited arboretum in 2017.
Originally a wooded wilderness, the U.S. Capitol Grounds now provide a park-like setting for the nation's Capitol Building, offering a picturesque counterpoint to the building's formal architecture. The grounds immediately surrounding the U.S. Capitol are bordered by a stone wall and cover an area of 58.8 acres. It's boundaries are Independence Avenue on the south, Constitution Avenue on the north, First Street NE/SE on the east, and First Street NW/SW on the west.
Over 100 varieties of trees and bushes are planted around the U.S. Capitol, and thousands of flowers are used in seasonal displays. In contrast to the building's straight, neoclassical lines, most of the walkways in the grounds are curved. Benches along the paths offer pleasant spots for visitors to appreciate the building, its landscape and the surrounding areas, most notably the National Mall to the west.
The grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903), who planned the expansion and landscaping of the area that was performed from 1874 to 1892. Olmsted, who also designed New York's Central Park, is considered the greatest American landscape architect of his day. He was a pioneer in the development of public parks in America, and many of his designs were influenced by his studies of European parks, gardens and estates. In describing his plan for the Capitol Grounds, Olmsted noted that "the ground is in design part of the U.S. Capitol, but in all respects subsidiary to the central structure." Therefore, he was careful not to group trees or other landscape features in any way that would distract the viewer from the U.S. Capitol Building. The use of sculpture and other ornamentation has also been kept to a minimum.
Many of the trees on the Capitol Grounds have historic or memorial associations. A number commemorate members of Congress and other notable citizens, national organizations and special events. In addition, more than 30 states have made symbolic gifts of their state trees to the Capitol Grounds. Many of the trees on the grounds bear plaques that identify their species and their historic significance. The eastern part of the grounds contains the greatest number of historic and commemorative trees.
At the East Capitol Street entrance to the Capitol Plaza are two large rectangular stone fountains. The bottom levels now contain plantings, but at times in the past they have been used to catch the spillover from the fountains. At other times, both levels have held plantings. Six massive red granite lamp piers topped with light fixtures in wrought-iron cages and 16 smaller bronze light fixtures line the paved plaza. Seats are placed at intervals along the sidewalks. Three sets of benches are enclosed with wrought-iron railings and grilles; the roofed bench was originally a shelter for streetcar passengers.
The northern part of the grounds offers a shaded walk among trees, flowers and shrubbery. A small, hexagonal brick structure, named the Summerhouse, is found in the north-west corner of the grounds. This structure contains shaded benches, a central ornamental fountain and three public drinking fountains. In a small grotto on the eastern side of the Summerhouse, a stream of water flows and splashes over rocks to create a pleasing sound and cool the summer breezes.
The location of the U.S. Capitol Building was selected by the designer of the federal city, Pierre L'Enfant, and approved by President George Washington during a visit to the site in 1791. L'Enfant famously wrote that he thought the elevated position selected for the building was like "a pedestal waiting for a monument." That pedestal is today known as "Capitol Hill."
The land on which the U.S. Capitol stands was first occupied by the Manahoacs and the Monacans, who were subtribes of the Algonquin Indians. Early settlers reported that these tribes occasionally held councils not far from the foot of the hill. This land eventually became a part of Cerne Abbey Manor, and at the time of its acquisition by the federal government it was owned by Daniel Carroll of Duddington.
The "Residence Act" of 1790 provided that the federal government should be established in a permanent location by the year 1800. In early March 1791, the Commissioners of the City of Washington, who had been appointed by President George Washington, selected the French engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant to plan the new federal city. L'Enfant decided to locate the U.S. Capitol at the elevated east end of the Mall (on what was then called Jenkins' Hill); he described the site as "a pedestal waiting for a monument."
At this time the site of the U.S. Capitol was a relative wilderness partly overgrown with scrub oak. Oliver Wolcott, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, described the soil as an "exceedingly stiff clay, becoming dust in dry and mortar in rainy weather." A muddy creek with swampy borders flowed at the base of the hill, and an alder swamp bordered by tall woods occupied the place where the United States Botanic Garden now stands. The city's inhabitants, like L'Enfant and Washington, expected that the capital would grow to the east, leaving the Capitol Building and the White House essentially on its outskirts. For some years the land around the U.S.Capitol was regarded as a common, crossed by roads in several directions and intended to be left as an open area.
In 1825, a plan was devised for imposing order on the Capitol Grounds and it was carried out for almost 15 years. The plan divided the area into flat, rectangular grassy areas bordered by trees, flowerbeds and gravel walks. The growth of the trees, however, soon deprived the other plantings of nourishment, and the design became increasingly difficult to maintain in light of sporadic and small appropriations. John Foy, who had charge of the grounds during most of this period, was "superseded for political reasons," and the area was then maintained with little care or forethought. Many rapidly growing but short-lived trees were introduced and soon depleted the soil; a lack of proper pruning and thinning left the majority of the area's vegetation ill-grown, feeble or dead. Virtually all was removed by the early 1870s, either to make way for building operations during Thomas U. Walter's enlargement of the U.S. Capitol or as required by changes in grading to accommodate the new work on the building or the alterations to surrounding streets.
The mid-19th-century extension of the U.S. Capitol, in which the House and Senate wings and the new dome were added, required also that the Capitol Grounds be enlarged and, in 1874, Frederick Law Olmsted was commissioned to plan and oversee the project. As noted above, Olmsted was determined that the grounds should complement the building. In addition, he addressed an architectural problem that had persisted for some years: from the west the direction in which the city was clearly growing the earthen terraces at the building's base made it seem inadequately supported at the top of the hill. The solution, Olmsted believed, was to construct marble terraces on the north, west and south sides of the building, thereby causing it to "gain greatly in the supreme qualities of stability, endurance, and repose." He submitted his design for these features in 1875, and after extensive study it was approved.
Work on the grounds began in 1874, concentrating first on the east side and then progressing to the west, north and south sides in 1875. First, the ground was reduced in elevation. Almost 300,000 cubic yards of earth and other material were eventually removed, and over 200 trees were transplanted. New sewer, gas and water systems were installed. The soil was then enriched with fertilizers to provide a suitable growth medium for new plantings. Paths and roadways were graded and their foundations were laid.
By 1876, gas and water service was completed for the entire grounds, and electrical lamp-lighting apparatuses had been installed. Stables and workshops had been removed from the northwest and southwest corners. A streetcar system north and south of the west grounds had been relocated farther from the Capitol, and ornamental shelters were in place at the north and south car-track termini. The granite and bronze lamp piers and ornamental bronze lamps for the east plaza area were completed.
Work accelerated in 1877. By this time, according to Olmsted's report, "altogether 7,837 plants and trees [had] been set out." However, not all had survived: hundreds were stolen or destroyed by vandals, and, as Olmsted explained, "a large number of cattle [had] been caught trespassing." Other work met with less difficulty. Foot-walks were laid with artificial stone, a mixture of cement and sand, and approaches were paved with concrete. An ornamental iron trellis had been installed on the northern east-side walk, and another was under way on the southern walk. An underground air duct for ventilating the Hall of the House was laid to a temporary opening in the west side of the hill.
The 1878 appointment of watchmen to patrol the grounds was quite effective in preventing further vandalism, allowing the lawns to be completed and much shrubbery to be added. Also in that year, the roads throughout the grounds were paved.
Most of the work required on the east side of the grounds was completed by 1879, and effort thus shifted largely to the west side. The Pennsylvania Avenue approach was virtually finished, and work on the Maryland Avenue approach had begun. The stone walls on the west side of the grounds were almost finished, and the red granite lamp piers were placed at the eastward entrance from Pennsylvania Avenue.
In the years 1880-82, many features of the grounds were completed. These included the walls and coping around the entire perimeter, the approaches and entrances, the tower for the House air shaft and the Summerhouse. Work on the terraces began in 1882, and most work from this point until 1892 was concentrated on these structures.
In 1885, Olmsted retired from superintendency of the terrace project; he continued to direct the work on the grounds until 1889. Landscaping work was performed to adapt the surrounding areas to the new construction, grading the ground and planting shrubs at the bases of the walls, as the progress of the masonry work allowed. Some trees and other types of vegetation were removed, either because they had decayed or as part of a careful thinning-out process.
In 1886, Olmsted recommended that the Senate side of the Capitol be supplied with fresh air through a duct and tower similar to those on the House side. This project was completed in 1889-90. In 1888, the wrought-iron lamp frames and railings were placed at the Maryland Avenue entrance, making it the last to be completed. In 1892, the streetcar track that had extended into grounds from Independence Avenue was removed.
In the last years of the 19th century, work on the grounds consisted chiefly of maintenance and repairs as needed. Trees, lawns and plantings were tended, pruned and thinned to allow their best growth. This work was quite successful: by 1894, the grounds were so deeply shaded by trees and shrubs that Architect of the Capitol Edward Clark recommended an all-night patrol by watchmen to ensure public safety. A hurricane in September 1896 damaged or destroyed a number of trees, requiring extensive removals in the following year. Also in 1897, electric lighting replaced gas lighting in the grounds.
Between 1910 and 1935, 61.4 acres north of Constitution Avenue was added to the grounds. Approximately 100 acres was added in subsequent years, bringing the total area to 274 acres. In 1981, the Architect of the Capitol developed the Master Plan for future development of the U.S. Capitol grounds and related areas.
Since 1983, increased security measures have been put into effect, including the installation of barriers at vehicular entrances. However, the area still functions in many ways as a public park, and visitors are welcome to use the walks to tour the grounds. Demonstrations and ceremonies are often held on the grounds. During the summer, holiday concerts are held by the National Symphony Orchestra and a series of evening concerts are offered by the bands of the armed forces free of charge on the West Front.


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Singularity (Xbox 360) review
"Singularity doesnt merely look and sound like BioShock. It doesnt merely copy a few of its most popular features. This is a game that actually feels like 2Ks famed shooter. Even the more creative weapons (such as the Time Manipulation Device) feel like they belong in the BioShock universe."
Freelance review by Louis Bedigian (July 21, 2010)
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When I woke up at 3 in the morning on Thursday, Sept. 8, I could hear the heavy rain against the house and steady cracks of thunder but didn't think too much of it. Hurricane Irene was a good two weeks behind us and there had been no shrill warnings on the Wednesday evening news. It was just a thunderstorm.
My wife was more curious, though. She went out to look at our street, which had in the last month become something of a seasonal stream, with flash flood waters rising above the curbs and sidewalks. On that Thursday morning, though, the stream had turned into a full-fledged river. It's outer edge lapped at the steps of the home of my neighbors across the street.
The news got me out of bed to see for myself. Fortunately, our house is a little uphill from the street, the first floor is about 6 feet above street level. That fact took a bit of the shock out of seeing the street in front of my home turning into a channel navigable by sea craft.
I spent the next half hour or so running a Shop Vac in the basement, getting about three full containers of water before the basement puddle was manageable.
My neighbors across the street, however, were not all so lucky. The creek behind their homes had risen above its concrete flood walls, overtaking backyards and sinking cars up to their bucket seats. Garages full of tools and lawnmowers were soaked. Whole basements of furniture and other stored items were drenched as sump pumps were completely overwhelmed.
In the morning, as I walked down the street, talked to my neighbors and looked at the damage – part of my street looked like the bottom of a recently drained pond – everyone said the same thing: They had absolutely no idea that the flood was coming.
In fact all of my neighbors have been in their homes for many years and had weathered previous floods. They had typically been ready, with cars moved to higher ground, backup generators plugged in and Shop Vacs in position. Two weeks ago, as news reports continued to promise that the East Coast was facing certain doom at the hand of Irene, we all over-prepared.
My neighbors were ready for water, wind and whatever else nature might throw at them (turned out to be a pretty large tree that came down on the block and knocked out our power for more than 24 hours). Two days after the Irene was gone, everything was back to normal.
That a flash flood in an early morning thunderstorm could take the whole neighborhood and region by surprise is a real mystery to me. Why were we capable of tracking Irene from the time of its inception off the west coast of Africa, yet we were not capable of predicting that last week's massive thunderstorm coupled with already high water levels would make things far worse than Irene had?
I can certainly appreciate the fact that divining the outcome of any weather event is tricky. I know that Irene predictions were far worse than what actually happened – except for Vermont, where massive floods took people by complete surprise. But I appreciate that. It's better to prepare for the worst than be caught unprepared when the worst happens.
I think the same sort of warning was missing last week. My neighborhood should not have retired for the night unaware that a storm could surge creeks in the area to the highest flood levels in at least a decade.
I guess it's just remarkable that no matter how sophisticated our weather reporting technology gets, it still can't reliably prepare us for everything.
Pete Mazzaccaro


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When your 16 year-old son has an opportunity to get paid to work (and hopefully not cause any damage), you encourage him. You tell him to say �Yes Ma�am,� �Yes Sir,� �No Ma�am� and �No Sir.�
When your 16 year-old son has an opportunity to get paid to work (and hopefully not cause any damage), you encourage him. You tell him to say �Yes Ma�am,� �Yes Sir,� �No Ma�am� and �No Sir.�
You tell him to do twice as much as anyone else and not to stop until either the job is finished or the person paying you tells you to stop.
At least that is what I said and what my Daddy said to me.
Early on this Saturday morning while driving my son to the location where they needed him to do a lot of grunt work, I asked him if he had money for lunch. He of course said that he didn�t. Neither did I.
So I decided to stop by an ATM that was on the way. I was enjoying the time with my son and we had left in plenty of time so as not to be late.
The ATM was a drive up model where you can just stay in your car and push the buttons and get your money.
When we drove up, I noticed a message on the ATM screen. It said, �Would you like more time?� There were two choices available, �Yes� or �No.�
I sat there and looked at it, without saying a word.
My son asked me why I was taking so long. I told him to lean over and look at the screen.
A machine that will give me time instead of money� I would like that.
Time is better than money.
I really wanted to push the �Yes� button and see what happened. Maybe God was offering me a deal. Anyway, I knew better. There were video cameras on me and I feared that it was from the person who used the machine before I drove up.
I pushed �No,� to start the process over again, but I felt really sick doing it. You can keep your money, just give me time.
Country Musician, Josh Turner puts it best in his song titled, �Time Is Love.�
As part of the song goes, �I only get so many minutes, Don�t wanna spend�em all on the clock, In the time that we spent talkin�, How many kisses have I lost?�
Time really is an opportunity to love and be loved.
Having taught college level mathematics courses for many years, I have had the opportunity to meet, teach and enjoy students from not only across the country, but all over the world.
Casey Kohlmeier was a student in one of my statistics classes about three years ago. Like many of my students, he had spent time in the military (Air Force) and decided to earn a college degree and go into a field that he would enjoy.
Casey wanted to go into law enforcement and he loved dogs.
He not only got to be a police officer, but got to work with dogs. Maybe that is why we hit it off. Casey�s partner was one of his best friends. His name was �Draco.� Draco was a German shepherd and true partner.
They were heroes in their hometown of Pontiac, Illinois.
Casey and Draco were known in their community for great service and incredible deeds. In 2009, Casey and Draco found a lost 2 year-old little girl in a cornfield. That was just typical for the man and dog tandem.
I met Casey in 2010 in an online classroom. They say taking online classes is �not personal.� It is. Casey was the type of student any instructor or parent would be proud to have. He took his studies seriously and was very gifted.
After having Casey in class we stayed in touch. It was nice to see the pictures of him, his beautiful friends and Draco. He had a wonderful sense of humor.
Casey placed first in his class of 127 trainees at basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. During his time in the Air Force, Casey was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Good Conduct Medal and was named Airman of the Year in 2005.
Casey and Draco were killed by a drunk driver while on duty parked in the median of an interstate in Illinois on October 30, 2013.
Casey Kohlmeier was 29; he had a wonderful girlfriend, family and large circle of friends who loved him dearly.
He once told me that I was the best instructor he ever had. You remember things like that.
However, I think that it is Casey and Draco who were the wonderful �instructors� when it came to life, friends and family.
�Time Is Love,� and if I could push that button and give the time to Casey, I would do it.
Cherish the time you have with your loved ones.
Find more stories at www.CranksMyTractor.com.


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A new drug helps men with advanced prostate cancer live longer, even after they have not been helped by other treatments, researchers reported Wednesday. The drug, called enzalutamide, is a pill that tackles prostate tumors from several different directions, interfering with molecular pathways that help them grow. It does not cause the nausea, hair loss and other side effects often associated with chemotherapy.
"This is extraordinarily significant," says Dr. Howard Scher of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, who led the study.
The results out Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine describe a study carried out on almost 1,200 patients in 15 countries. All had stopped responding to previous treatments, first with drugs that block the hormone testosterone, which can fuel prostate cancer, and then with more traditional cell-killing chemotherapy.
More from Robert Bazell: Alzheimer's treatment not the hoped-for miracle
The study found that men taking enzalutamide lived 37 percent longer on average. That is the good news.
The qualifications? The 37 percent comes from comparing men who lived on average 18.4 months on the drug to those who lived on average 13.6 months on placebo. The drug, made by a biotechnology company called Medivation is likely to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration within a few months and will cost about $6,000 a month.
Is the $6,000 monthly cost worth it for a survival benefit of slightly less than six months?
"If it is you, it certainly is," Scher says. He points out that, as in most cancer studies, the average survival rate can be deceiving. Some patients get no benefit at all, while others have lived for years on the drug.
This has become a familiar story in cancer research. New directed therapies that are hugely expensive prolong life by an average of a few months. Almost everyone in the field says our medical system cannot afford to pay to treat people with all these new discoveries.
But with this drug, as with many others, there is hope that it could be even more effective if it's just used in a smarter way.
Experiments already are under way to test the drug, in combination with another, earlier in the disease. In those tests, doctors are trying it in men soon after the cancer spreads out of the prostate to the lymph nodes and toward the bones where it becomes life-threatening. The hope is such treatment could bring a far more profound extension of survival. That will not reduce costs, but it would be even more exciting.
Don't miss these Health stories
More women opting for preventive mastectomy - but should they be?
Rates of women who are opting for preventive mastectomies, such as Angeline Jolie, have increased by an estimated 50 percent in recent years, experts say. But many doctors are puzzled because the operation doesn't carry a 100 percent guarantee, it's major surgery -- and women have other options, from a once-a-day pill to careful monitoring.
- Larry Page's damaged vocal cords: Treatment comes with trade-offs
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- More women opting for preventive mastectomy - but should they be?
But for now this latest development, despite the caveats, represents a huge advance against the second biggest cancer killer of men.
Prostate cancer kills kills more than 28,000 U.S. men a year. Many cases are treated with radiation or surgery before the cancer starts to spread.
Follow Robert Bazell on Facebook and on Twitter @RobertBazellNBC
Study: Stopping prostate cancer screening could result in more deaths
The way red meat is cooked can affect your cancer risk
© 2013 NBCNews.com Reprints


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The younger generation is a technology-driven generation that lives immersed in a digital world where life is more convenient, more educational and more engaging. The television has become but a mere vehicle to more fascinating technology devices, such as iPods, cell phones, computers, and video games. Among the most popular are video games — often seen as the enemy to physical activity. This is the technology generation, better known as the gamer generation, and more than 90 million are a part of it — already bigger than our previous generation of Baby Boomers. And the users aren't just children. The average gamer is over 30 years old.
It's no wonder that more clubs are combining the use of video games and related technologies with traditional exercise to promote a more fun and active experience. This phenomenon is called active gaming. Active gaming is taking the sedentary stereotype away from video games and turning the user into a human joystick. Participants of all ages all over the country are becoming aware of this new alternative to exercise, especially the teens and tweens who are stranded between day care and traditional fitness activities at the typical health club. The best part is, it's working. Active gaming is attracting participants, but it is also motivating them to come back for more.
An active gaming experience can be easily implemented in any fitness facility or school. Here are five things to consider before doing so.
1. Space. To do active gaming right, a club operator must dedicate a specific room or space for this "club within a club." The room must be 800 to 2,500 square feet to allow for 15 to 50 members, or users, to interact and participate in the active gaming experience safely. This committed space allows for both open play and more structured activities and programs to take place, which makes the active gaming experience more dynamic and beneficial for the participants and the owner. A dedicated room also offers the potential to generate a great deal of revenue by "renting" out the room for events and parties. If designed correctly and if the appropriate programming is implemented, these gaming environments can yield high returns with increases in both revenues and member retention.
2. Room Design. When designing an active gaming club, plan for proper space allocation with the selected products. Make sure the room complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The design must also minimize the exposure of the gaming systems and required wiring systems. To attract and retain members, you also must design the room with the appropriate lights, graphics and colors that evoke a fun gaming experience.
3. Equipment. A variety of active gaming products are on the market. Make sure to identify equipment that has been commercialized, reducing the likelihood of wear-and-tear, leading to nonfunctional products or frequent problems. A majority of the hardware does not come complete with LCD screens, video game consoles and the needed games. Make sure the system has everything needed to complete each activity. Additionally, make sure the product is suitable for your facility's needs.
4. Programming. An important element in any active gaming club is programming. Implementing the appropriate programming adds tremendous value to the active gaming experience. Programming not only provides members with a variety of options when gaming, but it also is a key component in retaining them. The programming format is a new addition to the industry. It is not available with every purchase of active gaming equipment.
5. Marketing Programs. Because video games have become so popular, creating gaming competitions and offering gaming teams provide members with a social environment and a friendly, competitive atmosphere. To properly implement marketing programs, it is important to understand gaming and the generation of users. Allowing members to develop ideas and programs and listening to their ideas are great marketing strategies. Evaluating and implementing these components will affect the success of the active gaming you offer.
Active gaming is not a fad. Video games are not going away. In fact, Douglas Lowenstein, president of the Entertainment Software Association , has said, "The video game industry is entering a new era, an era where technology and creativity will fuse to produce some of the most stunning entertainment of the 21st century. Decades from now, cultural historians will look back at this time and say it is when the definition of entertainment changed forever."
If this is true, active gaming is only becoming more and more entertaining as intriguing features and graphics continue to be created and released. Video games are desirable and more fun than traditional exercise. Are you going to continue to force traditional physical activities at this technology-driven generation and hope it will somehow become more engaging than these appealing games that create a more positive and accepting attitude toward exercise? We are all advocates of fitness but it is time you choose which team you are playing on. If you can't beat them, why not join them?
Lisa Hansen is the co-director of the XRKade active gaming research lab at the University of South Florida (USF). Hansen coordinates and oversees all research projects in the USF XRKade research lab. Hansen is a doctoral candidate at USF in early childhood education with a cognate in physical education. She received her undergraduate degree and master's degree in health and physical education and health promotion, respectively, from Virginia Tech. Hansen can be reached at [email protected].


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Robin Buckson / AP
The president's first four years at the White House in pictures.
Just 11 weeks removed from a sweeping re-election victory, President Barack Obama has hit the ground running with an ambitious second-term agenda that includes tackling the mounting national debt, immigration and gun control.
But the window in which the president has any hopes of meeting his aggressive goals has already begun to close.
Confronting the fading effectiveness of a second-term presidency, dogged opposition from Republicans in Congress and unexpected hurdles that will inevitably arise over the next four years, Obama must act with a sense of urgency on his plans, particularly amid the fiscal cliff negotiations.
"Second-term presidents generally get eight months or so ... where there's a honeymoon to push an agenda," said James Thurber, the director of Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University. "He doesn't even have a month."
Newly armed with "Organizing for Action" – the remnants of the president's campaign structure, converted to a nonprofit for advocacy purposes – Obama has suggested he will indeed act quickly on his top priorities.
NBC News presidential historian Michael Beschloss points out that the US needs a president who is also going to suggest things that are not raised by an event of national magnitude, and that was something we saw a lot of in Obama's speech Monday.
But the next few months might well test the limits of the political capital that the president won in November, which saw Obama score a decisive victory over Republican opponent Mitt Romney and Democrats add seats in the House and the Senate.
If this past December's lame duck Congress – in which Obama won higher tax rates for the wealthy, but only after a bitter fight with Republicans – offers any lessons, it's that the GOP is equally committed to pursuing its own priorities, making compromise just as elusive as before.
The fiscal cliff fight will extend into this spring, when the government hits a series of major deadlines to keep the government funded and prevent a default on the national debt. That bare-knuckled fight could make or break Obama's hopes of accomplishing much else on his agenda.
"I don't believe that he can wait until the last minute to deal with the debt ceiling and sequestration," said Martin Frost, a former Democratic congressman from Texas. "That's got to be worked out during February."
That fight would threaten to consume much of the political oxygen in Washington in any normal year. And Obama's ability to pivot toward his other major priorities, gun violence and immigration, may well hinge upon how quickly and cleanly he can dispense with this spring's spending fight.
TODAY's Lester Holt reports from Washington D.C. on how the struggles and victories of President Obama's first term have set the stage for opportunities of the second.
History suggests that many presidents cannot hope to accomplish much in the last two years of their term, when the jockeying for the next presidential campaign begins. And with midterm elections looming in 2014, lawmakers will inevitably turn at some point from governing to politicking.
"There's kind of an arc of achievement in presidential administrations. Usually the first few months of a new administration is where most of the accomplishment takes place," said Ross Baker, a presidential historian at Rutgers University. "It's hard to imagine getting another piece of legislation of the magnitude of the Affordable Care Act in the second term."
And Obama's hopes of significant reforms to immigration and gun laws might well depend upon how well (or how poorly) the spending fight with Congress proceeds.
The president last week laid out a series of measures intended to curb gun violence, most significantly proposals to limit the size of ammunition magazines, ban assault weapons and require universal background checks on firearm purchases. That plan won little praise from Republicans, and Obama might have to lean upon any reservoir of goodwill he has left after the spending fight to reach his goals.
Obama is practically obligated to attempt immigration reform after soothing the Latino community during last year's election about his inability to follow through with a pledge to accomplish immigration reform in his first term. If re-elected, Obama told Hispanic voters, he would make immigration reform a priority in this second term.
Both proposals could engender significant Republican resistance, a phenomenon familiar to any observers of Obama's first four years in office.
Another significant – and unpredictable – variable that could ruin even the best-laid plans involves the unknown crises that will inevitably arise during Obama's second term.
The "Meet the Press" moderator looks ahead to Monday's inaugural address, predicting President Obama will discuss economic relief and how he'll tackle America's toughest issues in a divided political atmosphere that's still "toxic" for the White House.
A foreign policy crisis could always erupt and consume the president's attention. Uprisings in Egypt, Libya and Syria, for instance, proved to major developments during Obama's first four years in office.
If anything, the president's first term offered a cautionary tale of how difficult it can be to navigate the obstacles to success that can arise.
The president nearly saw his signature health reform law go down to defeat after the advent of the Tea Party movement, for instance.
And external events – a near-meltdown of the economy, mass shootings, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and other crises – consumed as much of the president's first term as anything else.
Just as foreign policy could prove to be a diversion from policy making, it's one of the few policy areas where a lame-duck president can leave a legacy.
For instance, Bill Clinton, in the waning days of his presidency, concentrated on achieving an elusive peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians.
"He's got a whole range of things on his plate right now," Frost said of Obama, "it just really depends on how he prioritizes things."


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Osama bin Laden just never came up.
"We had just come off of a presidential campaign, where, as you know, you and your colleagues had asked my boss every conceivable question," said Karen Hughes, a senior counselor to George W. Bush, who had been president for less than eight months on Sept. 11, 2001.
"I thought every question imaginable had been asked of him during the 18 months on the presidential campaign," she said. "No one ever asked him, that I remember, about al-Qaida. No one."
Hughes was one of many former and current political figures who agreed to relive the days after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 in interviews with the MSNBC-TV program "Hardball." Like everyone else, she recalled being frightened, angry and energized — sharing the "shock, disbelief, anger [and] grave, grave concern about what was going to happen next," as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., characterized the emotions of those days.
Hughes also remembers being anxious about the new team's capacity to respond.
"Here we were at war against al-Qaida, going into Afghanistan, and yet he'd never really been asked about all that," Hughes said. "... I remember just feeling so responsible. It was because, you know, we were still pretty new."
Word to the family: 'I'm OK'
Colin Powell, then the secretary of state, was in Peru for a summit of the Organization of American States when news of the attacks reached him.
There was so much to do. He dived into getting the latest intelligence and relaying it to his fellow OAS members, from whom he was able to win a unanimous statement of support.Video: An uncomfortably familiar sensation
But it wasn't until he was finally on his way back home from Peru that the enormity of the attacks sank in for Powell.
"I'm racing back to Washington. I have my own family — my wife is in McLean, Virginia, and my two daughters were in New York," he said.
"And it was only when my security people came up to me on the plane halfway home and said to me, 'We have got your daughters moved to a secure location,' that it dawned on me that there might have been something else happening in New York. That it was not just planes flying into the World Trade Center — there could have been a bigger plot that we didn't know about. And my security people had already thought of this and moved my daughters to another location."
Family, sooner or later, was on everyone's mind.
"I had the momentary clarity to call my family and say: 'I'm OK. You're going to see a lot of things, but I'm OK,'" said Condoleezza Rice, Powell's successor as secretary of state. She was Bush's national security adviser on Sept. 11, 2001.
Powell, a retired Army general and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told "Hardball" host Chris Matthews: "To look out my window at the State Department once I got back home, look across the river, I could still see the Pentagon smolder — a place that I spent many years of my life in. I knew every wing, every corridor of that building."
A senator watches helplessly
Like the rest of his colleagues in Congress, John McCain was hustled out the doors of the U.S. Capitol as the last plane, United Airlines Flight 93, flew toward its target, which authorities concluded was probably Washington.
"One of the things that might have been next was Flight 93 coming down to either hit the Capitol or the White House," he said. "Thank God for those brave young Americans who prevented it" by storming the cockpit and forcing the jet to crash in Pennsylvania.
"I couldn't get very far from the Capitol, so a staffer of mine has an apartment near here, and we went over to her apartment because there was just no way of getting off of Capitol Hill. Everything was stopped," McCain said. "I spent the day on the phone and in front of the television set, just like most Americans."
'I want a hamburger'
And what about the man at the top, the inexperienced new president whose intelligence and judgment had been widely questioned in the heat of the campaign just a few months before?
"[There were] a lot of things we were going to have to do — rescue efforts in New York, rescue efforts in the Pentagon, rebuilding international coalitions, making sure we knew who had done this to us and how do we go after them," Powell said. "But the president was calm; all my other colleagues were calm. There were no histrionics. Everybody knew that there was work to be done."
For Hughes, one special moment of bizarre normalcy crystallized her confidence in Bush.
"I remember once the Secret Service thought they had another threat and tried to get the president to leave," Hughes said. "And he insisted that he wasn't leaving. I'll never forget, he said: 'In fact, I'm hungry. I want a hamburger.'
"And I said, 'Well, you might as well have cheese.' He'd been trying to diet, and so I thought, well, if we're all going to die here in the next few minutes, you might as well have a hamburger with cheese on it."
By MSNBC.com's Alex Johnson with MSNBC-TV's Chris Matthews and Jeremy Bronson.
© 2013 msnbc.com Reprints


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Many believe that there is "proof" that hybrid human-aliens exist on Earth; while these "hybrids" point to something they've dubbed as "The Change" happening in 2011 that will create a new morass of UFO confusion in the scientific community. The hybrids are often quoted in interviews, or from myth created by fans or believers who "channel" thoughts and ideas. In fact, there's new efforts "to analyze UFO-and-abduction phenomenon's similarities to ancient myths and legends," says David M. Jacobs, editor of UFOs and Abductions: Challenging the Borders of Knowledge." Jacobs advises all people to "sort out the signal from the noise surrounding this complex and controversial subject."
In turn, other UFO abduction experts point to good reasons why they believe in UFOs and aliens here on Earth either involved in abductions or as hybrids. The experts outline the difference, for example, between the stimulus (puzzling sightings and encounters) and the stimulated (witnesses, investigators, theorists, skeptics and spiritual seekers) to reveal "a complex and shifting phenomenon that continues to challenge our understanding of reality," writes Jerome Clark, author of The UFO Encyclopedia.
Encounter with hybrid is "no big deal" at the Oregon Country Fair where "beings are beings"
Lou has hair that's silver and white. He's old but it's difficult to know how old: 60, 70, 80? He has a hard jaw, tendoned neck, deep chest; wearing no shirt but just a flowered shawl and jeans during the recent "Oregon Country Fair" in the deep and lush woods of Veneta, Oregon, located about 15 miles west of Eugene off Highway 101. The "Fair" as it's dubbed by locals over the past 42 years – since the Fair began in 1969 after it grew out of "Grateful Dead" visits each summer – attracts more than 50,000 each year during its three-day festival, July 8-10, and with all those retro-hippie and "Baby Boomer" folk are, says Lou, some hybrids.
In turn, this remarkable man who claims to be a 'hybrid,' said "the Country Fair gives us a chance to blend in with no worry." At the same time, fellow "Fair" goers remarked that "he (Lou) looks like his arms have been squeezed from tubes." Yes, Lou does indeed to be tall and straight, lithe and supple.
Lou and other "hybrids" revealed in new book about the myth and mystery of UFOs
During popular "UFO" discussions at the recent "Oregon Country Fair" – that features over 1,000 craftsmen and arts, along with 35 different stage venues for "social issue and science discussions," the debate over the whole spectrum of speculations on alien visitations, aliens living amongst us and abductions, seemed to center on a new book "The Myth and Mystery of UFOs," by Thomas E. Bullard who is a board member of the Center for UFO Studies and the Fund for UFO Research.
Bullard is also author of the groundbreaking UFO book about "hybrids," that he claims in "UFO Abductions: The Measure of a Mystery and The Sympathetic Ear: Investigators as Variables in UFO Abduction Reports," and in his new book about the "myth and mystery of UFOs," that hybrid research may be the reason for so many abductions.
But, it's now just Bullard who feel that with the advent of abduction, it introduces "new dangers from UFOs on a personal level," that leaves no one safe.
While Lou did not seem a danger to other "unusual" people at the recent Oregon Country Fair, Bullard notes that it's the "hunters" who are the danger and not so much the "results" of their experiments here on Earth. Still, Bullard writes that humans are not safe from alien contact and abduction; "not even at home in bed, as aliens claimed defenseless captives without so much as a please or thank-you. Many abductees compared themselves to guinea pigs."
The Change expected in 2011 with hybrids revealing themselves
"The aliens promised a transition to come, a time of bliss and peace called 'The Change' but undercurrents suggested that the reality would bring not equality and coexistence but a world with the human element replaced by the alien in a subtle takeover of the Earth without firing a shot," writes Bullard while referencing the other David M. Jacobs "The Threat."
In turn, Bullard's claims about "hybrids" and "abductions" and new "fears about alien contact in 2011," are supported in thousands of once secret documents that are now available at the following websites thanks to various governments freedom of the information act laws.
At the same time, Bullard points to persistent sightings of UFOs that on a day-to-day basis, commands the urgent attention of scientists, scholars and mainstream journalists. Bullard points to the government UFO files for answers that he says "lies in mysterious, frustrating and ever evolving phenomenon that refuses to go away and our collective efforts to understand it."
Top U.S. UFO organizations:
-- Fund for UFO Research (FUFOR) http://www.fufor.com
-- Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) http://www.cufos.org
World organizations that state proof of alien abductions, via testimonies and evidence on their country UFO web sites.
-- Canada (UFO BC) http://www.ufoc.ca
-- Sweden – Archives for UFO Research http:www.afu.info
-- UK – British UFO Research (*released in March per 8,500 once top secret UFO documents and tens of thousands of links to other UFO research, including the FBI's "Vault" online UFO files) http://www.bufora.org.uk.
-- Brazil (Revista Brasileira de Ufologia) http://www.ufo.com.br
-- Italy – Centro Italiano Studi Ufologicihttp: www.cisu.org
Also, there's three top websites for UFO abductions – that some countries report, are "at an all high number." The International Center for Abduction Research http://www.ufoabduction.com, and Intruders Foundationhttp://intrudersfoundation.org, and John Mack Institute http://www.johnmackinstiture.com
How aliens create hybrids
According to the vast research about abductions, they are "not deliberately cruel or sadistic, just businesslike and indifferent," writes Bullard in his new book about the "myth and mystery of UFOs."
"Their preoccupation with genetic materials to create hybrids explained the purpose of the examination, while a purpose behind the abduction project peeped out in hints that the aliens faced some threat to their survival and scavenged their salvation from human bodies," writes research, that includes the famed "Secret Life" by David M. Jacobs that was published by Simon & Schuster in 1992 and influenced a lot of believers, including the late TV News reporter Peter Jennings.
Jennings said he believed
It so happened that one of Jennings last major reports was the Feb. 24, 2005 "Peter Jennings Productions" aired a "two-hour prime time show about UFOs and abductions." It was titled "UFOs: Seeing is Believing." Jennings got a lot of trouble for "legitimate news" airing a UFO program, but he said in an interview that he wanted to "tell the story." Thus, one of the final projects for Jennings Productions was to go public about UFOs and the horror of abductions that started to make the news more in 2005 due to high terrorism alerts.
"More people were reporting strange people and strange things, and it wasn't always human," said one TV interview with police investigating "alien abductions." Just 40 days after telling the world -- about UFOs during that landmark two-hour broadcast that shocked America with the first real news of alien abductions -- ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings died at his home in New York City. ABC News reported that Jennings, a Canadian, was 67 when he passed without much preannouncement.
Although Jennings had been diagnosed with lung cancer in the Spring of 2005 -- from years of being a smoking reporter – he, while "struggling with later stages of lung cancer" still went on with the Feb. 24, 2005 two-hour prime time show about UFOs and the rash of "abductions" in America and across the world.
Jennings ended his report with "we just don't know."
Image source of a 26-year-old Jennings in a 1965 ABC handout photo: Wikipedia