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Onkyo TX-SR875 A/V Receiver
New! Improved! Whiter whites! Brighter brights! We've heard it all before -- no fewer than 10,000 times. But Onkyo's new TX-SR875 is an A/V receiver that really is new and improved. What's more, the PR guys could even make the whiter-and-brighter claim without being instantly struck by lightning and transported straight to hell. That's because this is one of the first of a new generation of receivers -- others will be arriving on a flood tide later this year -- to incorporate full 1080p processing and graphics/character-generation.
In simple terms, this means you can hook up your shiny new 1080p HDTV set with a single HDMI cable and still get great pictures from all sources, in all resolutions, with onscreen menus and graphics intact. At least, that's the idea.
Of course, the Onkyo TX-SR875 A/V receiver has lots more onboard, including seven-channel power, three-zone multiroom capabilities (with a dedicated set of speaker outputs for one powered remote room), and XM/Sirius satellite-radio and iPod expansion options.
SETUP The Onkyo boasts not just two, not just three, but four HDMI 1.3a inputs, which will be aces for the HDMI-rich among us. It also retains a full set of S-video jacks (though S-video seems to be going the way of the Elcaset) and, of course, component- and composite-video, so there's no shortage of hookups. The seven amplifier channels can be assigned in numerous ways, including to biamp the front speakers and to power a remote-zone room in stereo. You can even bridge two channel-pairs to supply still more watts to the main-front outputs. (I don't imagine that more than about 11 U.S. buyers will ever actually implement this, but props to Onkyo for incorporating it; I can't remember the last receiver that suported channel-bridging.)
I was content merely to hook up my 6.1-channel speakers in the usual way, and to connect my sources via HDMI or component video, before proceeding to calibration. The Onkyo includes Audyssey Labs' MultEQ XT, a microphone-driven auto-cal/EQ system that's among the most sophisticated available in mass-market gear.
And indeed, it worked quite well. The level results were stellar: within a half-decibel on all channels of what I'd have derived manually (using my handheld meter). The distance results were perfect, and the crossover results reasonable, though the Audyssey system set my main speakers to full-range despite their sub-50-Hz rolloff. (Manually adjusting settings is easy, and the SR875 offers a very flexible range of fully independent crossover frequencies.)


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Yesterday and today I spent my time at the Accountable Care Expo in Las Vegas. It was a small intimate event, but those that were there were some really smart people who knew a lot about healthcare and about accountable care organizations. It was quite the education for me. Plus, as with most learning, as I learned more about ACOs I realized how much more I still don't know.
During the conference I started to think about something I'd heard quoted quite a few times. At this conference they said, "3% of patients are consuming 60% of healthcare dollars." I've heard a lot of different numbers on this. I remember hearing that 10% of patients have 80% of healthcare costs. Regardless of the exact numbers, I've heard this enough to believe that a small number of patients drive a abnormally large portion of the healthcare costs in this country.
When you think about this, it becomes quite clear that these "expensive patients" are likely those with chronic conditions. That's the easy part. The harder part is that I've never seen anyone analyze the makeup of the 3-10% that are driving up healthcare costs. For example, what if 90% of those "expensive patients" are chronic patients over the age of 65. Solving this problem would be very different than if we found that 50% of expensive patients are diabetics under the age of 20.
How does this apply to health IT? First, health IT should be able to sort through all the big data in healthcare and answer the above questions. How is anyone going to solve the problems of these "expensive patients" if we don't really know the makeup of why they're so expensive?
Second, I believe that some health IT solutions can be implemented to help lower the costs of these chronic patients. I've seen a number of mHealth programs focused on diabetes that have done tremendous things to help diabetic patients live healthier lives. That's a big win for the patients and healthcare. We need more big wins like this and I think IT can facilitate these benefits.
Since this post has taken a slight diversion away from my regular topics, I wanted to look at another thought I had today about healthcare. This tweet I sent today summarizes the idea:
Could we solve the acute care cost issues by paying primary care docs more?2 birds with 1 stone. #ace12 #hitsm #hcsm
— EMR, EHR and HIT(@ehrandhit) November 16, 2012
All of the numbers I've seen indicate that hospitals are the most expensive part of healthcare today. Hospitals are just expensive to run. They have a lot of overhead. They work miracles regularly, but they come at a cost. While more could always be done, I feel safe saying that many hospitals have squeezed out as much cost savings they can out of the hospital. This means that in order to save money in healthcare we can't strip more cost savings out of hospitals. Instead, we need to work to keep patients from going to the hospital.
There are a lot of ways to solve this problem (I heard of one payer putting instacare clinics next to ERs to save money), but the one I hear most common is the need for primary care doctors to have a more active role in the patient care. If they had a more active role once a patient is discharged from the hospital, then fewer patients would be readmitted to the hospital.
How then can we structure a program for primary care doctors to be paid to keep their patients from being readmitted to the hospital? That's the million dollar question (literally). Everyone I know would happily pay a primary care doctor a half a million dollars in order to save millions of dollars in hospital bills. That extra money might also help us solve the primary care doctor shortage that I hear so many talk about.
I can't say I have all the solutions here, and I don't expect these things to change over night. Although, I think these will be important changes that will need to happen in healthcare to lower costs. Plus, I think IT will facilitate an important role in making these changes happen. Imagine something as simple as an HIE notifying a primary care doctor that their patient was admitted or discharged from the hospital. This would mean the doctor could go to work. Now we just need to find the right financial mechanism to be sure they act on that notification.
I'll be chewing on these ideas this weekend. I look forward to hearing other people's thoughts on these issues.

subset: commoncrawl


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What will your German Shepherd get this Christmas?
What will your German Shepherd get this Christmas? Christmas dog cookies? Christmas dog costumes or any other doggy toy?
With Christmas right around the corner, people have gone gaga over the costumes, cookies and gifts - all in red, white and green. Decorations are about to strung across the Christmas trees, mistletoe and mantles. I am sure that your dogs too will be showered with the Christmas spirit! But the holiday spirit is not going to swing to the fullest extent if Rusty doesn't get something as a Christmas gift. So what's there waiting for him this Christmas? While you cannot resist having the cakes, gingerbread cookies and minty candy canes on Christmas, Rusty cannot resist the fun of playing with a chew toy. If you have already planned to buy a chew toy he will be more than happy! But what's so special about it? You have bought him the chew toys many times before. Have you ever spared a thought about what may be swirling in his mind?
What about home made Christmas ham for your German Shepherd. Its the for fun; why not getting your German Shepherd involved in the Christmas fun? A few piece of hams with the fat removed out will be savored by Rusty. A piece of ham each day during the holiday time won't do any harm for sure. It is only when your German Shepherd is habitually fed ham in large amounts that his health will be jeopardized. So that's a great way you can strike your beloved German Shepherd with shrieking surprises this Christmas.
Anything more special for him?
I am sure you have planned to buy him a bed or a toy or a Christmas dog costume. That's not really enough. You can give him something more precious than these. Yes... your time. Spend more time with him. Its the holiday season and you will be away from your work. Take him on a long stroll, play fetch with him unleashed in a fenced area. Let him jump around; Let him chase the ball; Let him run unleashed. There's no better way than this that you can make this Christmas really special for Rusty. He misses you year long. He hates your work and your office. He wants to be with you and play around. Make this Christmas a memorable episode in Rusty's life. Give him your special touch, and he will be more than happy.


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New York cop found guilty of plotting to kidnap, kill and eat young women
NEW YORK -- Defense lawyers say all Internet users should worry that their online words can end up in federal court after a jury concluded that a New York police officer's plans to kidnap, kill and eat young women he knew were more than Internet chatter.
At the end of one of the most unusual federal trials ever, a jury agreed Tuesday with the government that 28-year-old Gilberto Valle wasn't just fantasizing when he conversed online with others he had never met about killing and cooking his wife and others in a cannibalism plot.
"Yes, they should be cautioned," Valle defense lawyer Robert Baum said outside court of people everywhere. "It sets a dangerous precedent."
The larger principle at stake in the trial was that "people can be prosecuted for their thoughts," Baum said, pausing before adding: "And convicted, which is even sadder to think about."
Baum had just exited federal court in Manhattan, where Valle and others at the defense table dropped their heads as the guilty verdicts were announced by a jury that had deliberated for portions of four days.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement: "Today, a unanimous jury found that Gilberto Valle's detailed and specific plans to abduct women for the purpose of committing grotesque crimes were very real and that he was guilty as charged. The Internet is a forum for the free exchange of ideas, but it does not confer immunity for plotting crimes and taking steps to carry out those crimes."
Marcellus McRae, a former federal prosecutor in Los Angeles now in private practice, said it was a stretch by the defense to claim Valle was prosecuted for his thoughts because the jurors were required to find that he took one or more concrete steps to carry out the conspiracy.
"It's not just a thought crime. It's a thought-and-action crime and conviction," he said.
Valle defense attorney Julia Gatto declined to talk about the sentencing scheduled for June 19, saying the defense team was focused only on trying to reverse the conviction on charges of kidnapping conspiracy and illegally accessing a national crime database. She said she will appeal within a month to U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe to throw out the jury verdict or to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Although Valle could face up to life in prison, he is likely to get a much lower sentence.
Gatto, who said she cried with Valle after the verdict was announced, called it a "dangerous prosecution when we start opening our minds and prosecuting what's in our brains and not what's in the real world."
The jury, though, rejected the same "thought prosecution" argument she made throughout the trial.
Jurors left the courthouse without comment. Most did not immediately respond to emails and phone messages or declined to discuss the case.
Valle's mother, Elizabeth, shook her head. "I'm in shock and want to be left alone," she said.
Prosecutors said Valle plotted in lusty, lip-smacking detail to abduct, torture and cannibalize six women he knew, including his wife. While none of the women were ever harmed -- and only his wife discovered his schemes -- prosecutors said he took concrete steps to carry out his plot.
They said the New York City police officer looked up potential targets on a restricted law enforcement database; searched the Internet for how to knock someone out with chloroform and where to get torture devices and other tools; and showed up on a woman's block after striking an agreement to kidnap her for $5,000 for a New Jersey man who wanted to rape and kill her. That man was also arrested and is awaiting trial.
In one of the numerous online conversations shown to the jury, Valle told a man he met in a fetish chat room, "I want her to experience being cooked alive. She'll be trussed up like a turkey. ... She'll be terrified, screaming and crying."
In another exchange, Valle suggested a woman he knew would be easy prey because she lived alone. The men discussed cooking her, basted in olive oil, over an open fire and using her severed head as a centerpiece for a sit-down meal.
"I'm dying to eat some girl meat," Valle mused in yet another exchange.
During the trial, Valle's wife tearfully testified that she fled the couple's home with her baby and contacted the FBI after putting Internet tracking software on his computer and discovering what he was up to.
Members of the jury recoiled upon seeing what appeared to be mostly staged Internet images from a sexual fetish site Valle visited. The images included photos of wide-eyed women with apples stuffed in their mouths like roasted pigs and a video of a chained, naked woman screaming as flames appeared to scorch her crotch.


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Tonight the D-Rays take the first step in what is sure to be a grueling 22-game span when they take the field against the first-place Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park. The Red Sox, may very well be the best team in baseball right now. With re-emergence of Curt Schilling, a healthy Josh Beckett and the discovery of Jonathon Papplebon in the bullpen, their pitching staff may be as good as ever. The offense is as solid as ever and ManRam, Manny Ramirez (.239-0-3) has not yet begun to hit. The good news for the D-Rays is they will miss Josh Beckett this series. Tampa Bay was 6-13 against the Red Sox in 2005 (1-9 @ Fenway), and are 0-14-3 in their last 17 series in Fenway.
Probable Pitchers
Devil Rays Casey Fossum, LHP (0-0, 6.94)
Red Sox Matt Clement, RHP (1-1, 9.00)
Devil Rays Doug Waechter, RHP (0-0, 3.72)
Red Sox Curt Schilling, RHP (3-0, 1.64)
Devil Rays Scott Kazmir, LHP (1-1, 4.82)
Red Sox Tim Wakefield, RHP (1-2, 4.34)


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Have you been searching for a dealership with a proven commitment to excellence in terms of their vehicles, customer service, and facility? If you have then you've come to the right place, because Courtesy Acura has it all. Serving drivers in Louisville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Charleston, and beyond, we have everything you're looking for and more. Stop in and see our entire lineup of new and pre-owned Acura models, including a variety of vehicle specials and other great deals.
New vehicle pricing includes all offers and incentives. Tax, Title and Tags not included in vehicle prices shown and must be paid by the purchaser. While great effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, errors do occur so please verify information with a customer service rep. This is easily done by calling us at (859) 272-8900 or by visiting us at the dealership.
**With approved credit. Terms may vary. Monthly payments are only estimates derived from the vehicle price with a 72 month term, 4.9% interest and 20% downpayment.
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After months of waiting and wondering, Pretty Little Liars's spooky spinoff Ravenswood (Tuesday at 9/8c on ABC Family) is finally here. In the ominous opener (which follows the bananas PLL Halloween episode), Tyler Blackburn's character Caleb Rivers decides to stick around the little town — which is about 90 minutes away from our beloved Rosewood — and finds that there are forces even more messed up than "A" in the new locale. Needless to say, we're hooked already.
TV Guide Magazine: What was your reaction when you were told Caleb was getting a spinoff?
Tyler Blackburn: At first I was just flattered by the idea. I was like, "thank you for even thinking about me!" Then I heard about the story and that the show was green-lighted, and it went from there.
TV Guide Magazine: How different is this from working on PLL?
Blackburn: There are some new muscles being worked. And there are new [mystical] elements that make Caleb go from being very logical to "What the hell is going on?!"
TV Guide Magazine: Do you believe in ghosts?
Blackburn: I've had some experiences. It's one of those things where, as time passes, it becomes a little less real, like, "Did I really see that? Did that really happen?" But I am a believer.
TV Guide Magazine: How was it saying goodbye to the gang at PLL?
Blackburn: I cried, for sure. That show changed my life, and I'm close friends with the cast and crew. It wasn't easy.
TV Guide Magazine: With Caleb out of the PLL picture for now, who would you want Hanna (Ashley Benson) to be with next?
Blackburn: Um...Emily. [Laughs] They're such good friends and they're both hot. I'm gonna leave it at that. She can't be with another guy. Caleb is the only guy for her!
What do you think? Can Ravenswood keep up the PLL heat? And should Caleb be with someone else now that he's left town?
Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!


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Evolution Hoax
Present-day Christians believe in the Holy Book known as the New Testament. Many sections of this book call people to believe in and worship God in a most sincere manner and recommend excellent moral principles. In that respect, much of the New Testament is compatible with the Qur'an. Therefore Muslims and Christians have a great many beliefs in common and believe in the same moral values. This is an important truth which represents the groundwork for the establishment of dialogue and cooperation between the two faiths.
However, God also reveals in the Qur'an that two fundamental teachings in the New Testament are erroneous.
The first of these is the belief that Jesus was crucified and was a kind of "sacrifice" for all mankind.
The second is the claim that Jesus is the "son of God." (God is surely beyond that. Far exalted is He above having a son.)
One interesting point is that the statements in the gospels regarding these two beliefs are actually contradictory.
The Four Gospels
The New Testament contains four separate "gospels" which describe the life and ministry of Jesus. The first three of these, the gospels according to Matthew, Mark and Luke are to a large extent parallel to one another. They are thus described as the "synoptic" gospels in the Christian tradition. (The word "synoptic" means "taking the same point of view, and describes the perspectives of the first three gospels.) Despite being the second gospel in the Old Testament, the earliest is the gospel according to Saint Mark. It is accepted that Matthew and Luke used the gospel according to Saint Mark as a source when writing their own gospels, making a few additions to it.
The fourth gospel is that of John, and this is very different to the line taken by the synoptic gospels. Some events described by John do not appear in the synoptic gospels, or are described in a contrary sense. Moreover, one event described by John is described totally differently from the way it appears in the synoptic gospels.
The Contradictory Descriptions of the Crucifixion
As we have already stated, it is revealed in the Qur'an that the person who was crucified was not Jesus but, by a miracle of God, someone resembling him was crucified and Jesus escaped the trap.
The gospels of the New Testament insist that it was Jesus who was crucified. However, their accounts of the crucifixion conflict with one another to an extent far greater than in any other subject.
There are enormous discrepancies on this subject, both among the synoptic gospels and that of John. The account which begins with the Last Supper of Jesus and the disciples and continues with his arrest and trial is the subject of considerable contradiction among the gospels. Let us now examine the major points of these contradictions:
It is clear that these discrepancies reveal an interesting picture.
That is because these events, which comprise the last day in the life of Jesus, from the Last Supper to the crucifixion, took place, according to the Christian tradition, before hundreds of witnesses. With the exception of the Last Supper, attended only by the disciples, they must all have taken place before large crowds. According to the gospels, the arrest of Jesus took place before hundreds of Romans and Jews. Again according to the gospels, the crucifixion happened in Jerusalem, before the eyes of the populace.
So why is it that there are such discrepancies between the accounts of these events that happened in front of so many eye-witnesses?
The answer is clear: The reason for these discrepancies in the accounts of the crucifixion is that the story is based on an error. It was not Jesus who was crucified. God saved this blessed prophet from the trap laid for him.
Jesus Did Not Die, but Is in the Presence of God
The Qur'an reveals that the unbelievers devised a plot to take Jesus' life. However, they have failed, for the Qur'an relates:
They [unbelievers] planned and God planned. But God is the best of planners. (Qur'an, 3:54)
As the verses reveal, they plotted and moved to kill Jesus. However, their plot failed and they ended up killing a look-alike. During this event, God raised Jesus up to His presence:
And [on account of] their saying, "We killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Messenger of God." They did not kill him and they did not crucify him, but it was made to seem so to them. Those who argue about him are in doubt about it. They have no real knowledge of it, just conjecture. But they certainly did not kill him. (Qur'an, 4:157)
The subsequent verse says the following about Jesus' ascension:
God raised him up to Himself. God is Almighty, All-Wise. (Qur'an, 4:158)
The reality revealed in the verse is clear. Those who attempted to kill Jesus did not succeed. The expression "but it was made to seem so to them" reveals this fact. God showed them a look-alike and raised Jesus up to His presence. Our Lord also reveals that those who made that claim had no knowledge of the truth.
Jesus was not killed.
The truth, clearly indicated in the Qur'an and the hadiths (sayings) of our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace), is that Jesus is still alive and will return to Earth in the End Times.


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Creating a World
Get help with running Ponyfinder or Pathfinder games.
3 posts • Page 1 of 1
Creating a World
I recently rediscovered Ponyfinder and am really wanting to either start up a game, or join in one. However I want to do something a little different in comparison to some other games. Normally one might use either the main setting for Ponyfinder, or convert it somewhat to a more MLP themed setting. What I am proposing is making our own world to put our Equine, and other, characters in. This isn't as hard as it sounds as there is a system in place for world making, one that I have played around with already. You can find the system in question here. Anyone interested in trying to set up a very custom campaign feel free to post.
Re: Creating a World
So, earth, with magic ponies, basically?
Re: Creating a World
Not nessecarily. It doesn't have to end up Earth shaped at all. It doesn't even need to have any humanoid races present either. Considering through this system you are deciding what races to populate the world with, you can make almost anything.
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Welcome to Civic Soma's Blog.
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The 1st "Tales From The Desert"
Things went pretty well for our first own indoor festival on 2.9.16. Have you been there? What an evening with our friends from "Rhynosaur" and the amazing opener "Boa Konzeptor". Special thanks to "Glowsun"! It was nice to have you with us. Same to all our helpers, working for free.
See you next time!
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PHOENIX - Ryan Howard looped a two-run single to right field in the 10th inning after Philadelphia scored twice in the ninth to tie it, lifting the Phillies to a 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.
Shut down by Brandon McCarthy for the first eight innings, the Phillies scored two runs in the ninth against fill-in Diamondbacks closer Heath Bell.
Jimmy Rollins singled with one out in the 10th off Matt Reynolds (0-1), and Chase Utley followed with his fourth hit, a double to the corner in right.
Hitless with nine strikeouts in his previous 18 at-bats, Howard followed with a floating single to right over Arizona's drawn-in infield.
Justin De Fratus (1-0) got the final out in the ninth inning for his second career victory and Jonathan Papelbon worked a one-hit 10th for his seventh save in as many chances.
Delmon Young had a run-scoring double off Bell in the ninth and Domonic Brown drove in the tying run with a single up the middle. The Phillies had 15 hits to salvage a series split after losing the first two games.
Gerardo Parra hit his second career leadoff homer and A.J. Pollock drove in another run for Arizona in the first against Kyle Kendrick.
McCarthy was solid in his previous outing, giving up three runs over 6 2-3 innings against the Dodgers, but didn't figure in the decision after the Diamondbacks pulled out a victory in the ninth inning.
Staked to an early 2-0 lead this time, he was sharp against Philadelphia, shaking off a pair of singles in the second inning by getting groundouts and stranding runners every time the Phillies got hits.
First baseman Eric Hinske gave McCarthy some help in the sixth with a diving stop on a hard-hit ball by Howard, and shortstop Didi Gregorius ended the seventh with a double play after coming up with a tough one-hopper.
McCarthy induced another double play after pinch-hitter Michael Young led off the eighth with a single, but was replaced by Bell in the ninth after throwing 88 pitches. McCarthy scattered seven singles and pitched eight scoreless innings for the first time since Sept. 3, 2011, against Seattle.
Bell, who had converted three straight saves since J.J. Putz went on the disabled list, gave up four hits and got two outs. Reynolds hadn't allowed a run in 22 straight outings, including a team record-matching 19 games this season, before the Phillies scored twice against him in the 10th.
Kendrick has been sharp since allowing five runs in his first start of the season. He has given up eight runs with 33 strikeouts in six outings since.
But the right-hander has had trouble with the Diamondbacks, going 0-2 with a 6.46 ERA in six career starts.
Kendrick was in trouble right away on Sunday, leaving a 1-2 pitch up in the zone that Parra hit out for his second career leadoff homer. Gregorius followed with a triple to the gap and Pollock added a run-scoring single to put Arizona up 2-0 after one inning.
Kendrick settled down after that and got some help in the third, when Brown nonchalantly reached over the wall in left to rob Eric Chavez of a homer.
Kendrick allowed two runs on six hits and struck out four in seven innings.
NOTES: McCarthy hasn't won since Aug. 31 against Boston while pitching for Oakland. ... Reynolds' 19 straight scoreless outings matched Joe Patterson's 2011 team record. ... Diamondbacks LHP Wade Miley, who starts Monday's series opener against Atlanta, has allowed two earned runs in 11 innings in two home starts this season. ... The Phillies have a day off before RHP Jonathan Pettibone (2-0) pitches against Cleveland LHP Scott Kazmir to open a two-game series Tuesday.


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The University of Technology, Sydney, is taking MBA students to the cloud using software from NetSuite.
The UTS Business School plans to include NetSuite cloud ERP in postgraduate degree curricula in 2013 for students pursuing MBA and Master of Business in Operations and Supply Chain Management degrees. NetSuite said it will help design the program over the next four months.
"UTS is in the process of reinventing business education," said UTS Business School dean, Roy Green. "We're shifting away from the traditional approach of pushing students down specialist career paths, to creating graduates capable of boundary-crossing beyond specialisations – which is what's required of today's business leaders."
UTS' Anne Dwyer discusses IT projects and challenges
Green said the goal is to provide business students with practical IT skills.
"Our partnership with NetSuite is about producing work-ready graduates for a market rapidly embracing cloud computing," he said.
"Given cloud software automates many traditional professional functions, our graduates need to be lateral thinkers capable of adding value to organisations in new ways."
NetSuite has similar programs at more than 100 tertiary institutions around the world, but UTS Business School will be first in Australia. The company plans to involve other Australian and New Zealand universities this year, but selected UTS "on the strength of its application of theoretical concepts to real-world cases and situations," NetSuite said.
"As the demand for cloud-based business management solutions has rapidly accelerated, business students must be ready to hit the ground running with a practical understanding of cloud computing and how it is increasingly becoming an integral component of everyday business practices," said Mark Troselj, NetSuite managing director for APAC.
Deakin University recently announced a postgraduate program focused on big data. Meanwhile, the Australian Computer Society has announced a partnership with university deans to enhance ICT education.
Follow Adam Bender on Twitter: @WatchAdam
Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU, or take part in the Computerworld conversation on LinkedIn: Computerworld Australia


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This was published 8 years ago
Chocolate really is good for you
It's a vice many of us can't step away from - give up smoking, drinking or swearing and chocolate seems to be the go-to reward mechanism.
So it's a welcome finding that bars of chocolate may soon come stamped with health claims.
Dark chocolate has been given another accolade in the health stakes - this time receiving the backing of the European Food Safety Authority for its blood circulation-boosting capacities.
Thanks to cocoa flavanols, found in chocolate and cocoa, the sweet-toothed treat has been linked to low blood pressure, heart health and even brain function. Cocoa flavonols stimulate nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels.
On the back of the support, Barry Callebaut AG, one of the world's largest cocoa buyers, is now seeking European Commission approval to use the impressive health claim on its packaging.
The move comes after the Swiss food giant, which sells to Kraft and Nestlé, conducted a study involving 20 clinical trials over the past seven years. The company has developed a method for preserving up to 80 per cent of the flavonols which are commonly destroyed in mainstream cocoa processing.
It is also, tellingly, linked to rising cocoa costs and concomitant dwindling branded food sales, according to the Wall Street Journal. Health benefits are, of course, worth their weight in gold - and while the label would only apply to chocolates sold within Europe, it may have implications for products further afield, including Australia and the US.
A known anti-oxidant wonder food, dark chocolate already leads the pack when it comes to 'Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity Units' (ORACS).
According to the USDA, it contains 13,120 ORACs per 100 grams, where famous antioxidants, blueberries, have a mere 2,400.
But, before chocolate is promoted to one of your health supplements, beware - not all chocolates are created equal and cocoa, sugar, saturated and unsaturated fats and caffeine contents vary. The higher the cocoa content, it goes without saying, the better.
The EC has until early 2013 to make its decision.


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Malaysia Uniform Ready Made
Duo Express is a uniform and t-shirt supplier company. Our main office is located in Petaling Jaya (PJ), Selangor, Malaysia.We specialized in ready-made & custom made corporate/office uniform, factory uniform, medical uniform, spa uniform, resort uniform, F&B uniform, chef uniform, warehousing uniform, housekeeping uniform, Labcoat, scrub suit, scrub pant ,workers jacket, security vest, roundneck t-shirt, collar T-Shirt, raglan, F1 Uniform, children uniform, school uniform, tertiary uniform, hat, cap, bandana, jacket, blazer, windbreaker, apron and etc.
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By Shermakaye Bass
Green Right Now
Some of today's younger greensters may not realize it, but on April 22, Earth Day is officially two generations old. That's older than many who are organizing and promoting the holiday's global events this year — events that are expected to draw more than one billion participants world-wide, including a mass gathering on the National Mall on Sunday, April 25.
The purpose of the Washington, D.C. , demonstration, marking Earth Day's 40th Anniversary, is to push Congress to pass a 21st century climate bill — which is bringing the holiday full circle, returning it with razor-sharp focus to what spawned the first celebration in 1970: a cry for long-term political change on American environmental policy.
That first Earth Day started at the end of a violent and disjointed decade, with a call from progressive legislator Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson (1916 to 2005). Most people agree that Earth Day grew out of Nelson's observation of an oil spill on the beaches of Santa Barbara in the summer of '69. As archival material from Nelson's 25-year-plus political career puts it, the senator saw college students staging Vietnam-related teach-ins and thought: Why not do that with environmental issues? Why not create awareness and eco-education platforms, backed by a grassroots community?
When the first Earth Day rolled around several months later, thousands of colleges and schools participated. In fact, an estimated 20 million Americans demonstrated in some form, whether among throngs of thousands in New York or Philadelphia or in some individual way, making it by many accounts the largest demonstration in U.S. history.
As Nelson marveled after the fact, Earth Day "organized itself. …" The senator, who twice served as Wisconsin's governor, had the innate savvy to make the Earth Day contingent a big tent, encouraging people to acknowledge the fledgling holiday "in any way they want."
That first Earth Day spawned a decade of ground-breaking policy change, including formation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in December, 1970; and passage of the Clean Air (1970) Clean Water Act (1972) and the Endangered Species Act (1973). (Yes, these were the Nixon years, a period of environmental advancements.)
Forty years later, activists and climate experts believe Americans are at a similar cross-roads. As pro-environment legislators and President Barack Obama strive to tighten environmental regulation and others try to thwart it, Earth Day organizers are promoting the holiday as a clarion call: a demand for policy change and political action.
They want a strong 21st century climate/energy bill that reduces greenhouse gas emissions to slow climate change and reduce demand for energy. They want it soon, from Congress, where the U.S. Senate is considering a controversial climate bill that seems in danger of pleasing neither environmentalists or climate change opponents.
Pushing for Climate Action…
Passage of a strong bill that would seriously curb carbon emissions, remains the hope of environmentalists, youth groups and many others who want climate change addressed. They see it is imperative that our country quit talking and sand-bagging and enact a comprehensive bill that will include ways to solve climate change, be that a cap-and-trade system, carbon taxing or other measures.
Climate activists point to rising carbon in the air, which scientists say is triggering chain reactions that will bring catastrophic consequences — the floods, drought, desertification and damage to water systems and oceans we've all heard discussed.
People like Earth Day co-founder and one-time national director Denis Hayes, along with many other veteran activists, believe that this particular president and Congress need to act now on climate change, despite a large degree of polarity in American society.
They hope this Sunday's demonstration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., brings a groundswell for change that goes well beyond recent years' commemorations of the revered secular holiday (the most celebrated, according to multiple sources, in the world).
Traditionally, the event has been unifying and symbolic, an effective awareness campaign marked by local fairs and festivals. But this year's intensity and intent are different.
Earth Day, 2010 won't be just a quick feel-good moment of turning off the porch lights, unplugging coffeepots or forgoing the lawn sprinkler for a day. It's a full-on push for legislation, action, say organizers.
As Hayes, director and CEO of the Seattle-based Bullitt Foundation , wrote on April 15 in a Yale University magazine, the environmental movement of the past few years (decades, even) has tiptoed around big-money interests and dirty-fuel purveyors, diluting the substantive non-partisan alliance that marked the movement in the early 1970's.
This year's Earth Day, then, is pretty much like no other.
As Hayes puts it in the Yale Environment 360, the 2010 holiday coincides with the most serious Congressional climate-bill debate in years. The debate involves several options, including Hayes' preferred path, the Cantwell-Collins bill (introduced to the Senate in December, 2009), as well as the better-known Kerry-Lieberman-Graham bill, now before the Senate (more detail below).
Not to dismiss the many global events occurring on April 22, but Sunday's gathering on the National Mall is epic in its implications and its power to effect change.
Hayes and others who founded the movement say this election year, this era, is a game-changer — not just for the country at large, but for its elected officials.
"…The only way that Congress will act intelligently and boldly on this issue is if we give it no choice," Hayes writes. "A large block of Americans must make the climate disruption issue an initial voting screen. If a candidate is okay on climate, then we will look at the rest of her record. To move this issue forward, our voices must be as loud as those hollering for the right to carry a Colt into Starbucks or for saving Granny from death panels. …"
….Effective Climate Action
Along with others who support genuine (as opposed to token) reform and no-holds-barred legislation, Hayes believes the best path is the Cantwell-Collins plan.
"Most experts I know agree, in private, that the Cantwell-Collins bill in the Senate is the best climate legislation that has yet been proposed. In fact, it is the only option under consideration that would make a meaningful dent in greenhouse gas emissions in the near term. It places an absolute cap on carbon where it enters the economy; auctions 100 percent of carbon permits; and returns the revenues to the public on a pro rata basis. Moreover, it's just 40 pages long, while the competing bills contain another thousand pages of loopholes, special interest exceptions, and bad baggage.
"But the so-called eco-pragmatists have one powerful argument against it. They say it can't be passed. A prominent green leader told me, 'To pass any climate bill at all, we have to appease coal-state Democrats, shovel as much money as necessary to pro-nuclear Republicans, and buy off the electric utilities.' That is an apt description of the Kerry-Lieberman-Graham bill now making the rounds in the Senate."
Continues Hayes in the 360 article:
"This sentiment has been broadly, if reluctantly, embraced by most of the large, mainstream national environmental groups working on climate as well as by the Obama Administration. … But it appalls virtually every environmentalist who lives outside the Beltway. The environmental movement has spent more than a billion dollars trying to pass a cap-and-trade bill, and it is feeling some desperation. The people who contributed all that money expect some results. The pressure to pass something — almost anything — that arguably puts some sort of cap on carbon is intense."
Hayes concludes that many in the environmental movement are tired of spending money, hope, faith and energy on broken promises, and watered-down legislation that tries to make everyone happy — but ends up disenfranchising almost everybody.
". … Every draft of the climate bill is weaker than its predecessor," he writes. "Every draft does a poorer job of putting a reasonable price on carbon. Every draft is larded with more taxpayers dollars for socialized, centralized nuclear power and for "clean coal." Every draft carries more sweeteners for the utility industry, the automobile industry, the coal and oil industries, and the industrial farmers and foresters.. Politicians who try to ignore climate disruption — and that's a whole lot of them — need to start losing their jobs next November," Hayes declares in the opinion piece. "Instead of weakening the bill, we need to change the politics," he says.
Like his mentor Sen. Nelson probably would have, Hayes (who became Earth Day's national director in 1990 and took the holiday to global proportions) sees that Earth Day 2010 represents a completely different socio-political environment than existed during that first one in 1970.
Why Earth Day Circa 1970 Worked
Back then, Earth Day was able to unite political opposites and reconcile ideological polarities in the face of one, singular issue: cleaning up the mess that humans had made and passing legislation that would safeguard the environment, and people, for generations to come. Believe it or not, in 1970, members of conservative and liberal camps, rural lifelong naturalists and ivory-tower activists, union movements and corporate CEO's, Native Americans and bonafide cowboys, if you will, all rallied behind Earth Day.
As Bill Christofferson Nelson's biographer writes in the progressive Uppity Wisconsin blog's fascinating history of Earth Day: "That was the genius of Earth Day – tapping the wellspring of environmental concern that was bubbling just below the surface of the national consciousness."
"When it happened, "It was truly an astonishing grassroots explosion," Nelson later said. "The people cared and Earth Day became the first opportunity they ever had to … send a big message to the politicians – a message to tell them to wake up and do something. It worked because of the spontaneous, enthusiastic reception at the grassroots. Nothing like it had ever happened before. While our organizing on college campuses was very well done, the thousands of events in our schools and communities were self-generated at the local level."
"…Earth Day worked because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. We had neither the time nor the resources to organize twenty million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated. That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself," Nelson said
Eventually Nelson achieved the highest honor an American civilian can receive. In 1995, he was awarded in the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton. Among his many legislative achievements during an18-year tenure as U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, Mr. Nelson helped pass the following:
- The 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail Preserve
- Stronger government regulations and controls of mining, including strip mining.
- Fuel-efficiency standards for American automobiles
- Bans on the use of the poison DDT and the defoliant 245T, a.k.a. Agent Orange.
Granted, Sen. Nelson's accomplishments took place over more than a decade, but the major federal bills he helped push through – – The Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts — were passed over three short years.
Earth Day organizers remind us that Nelson's legacy is not just an indication of what can be done in relatively short order; it is proof positive that comprehensive change can happen quickly. Given that most international scientists now agree our globe is undergoing dramatic climate change (as Hayes describes it in his Yale Opinion, "we're cooking the planet"), Earth Day's 40th anniversary, and the mass demonstration planned for Sunday, April 25, can't come a moment too soon.
We know from the past that such grassroots movements can be their own tipping point, pushing change far beyond anyone's crystal ball could conjure. We also know that, 40 years after the first Earth Day, the world is facing an urgent issue that wasn't even on the radar back then.
The lesson? Change is possible.
- More information about The Climate Rally this Sunday, April 25, at the National Mall can be found on our site and at the Earth Day Network website.
Copyright © 2010 Green Right Now | Distributed by GRN Network
More Earth Day coverage:
- Earth Week 2010: Be part of the solution
- Be part of the solution: Save water at home
- Be part of the solution: Chipping away at coal
- Forty years after it began, Earth Day again at a crossroads
- How to celebrate Earth Day at home with kids
- Gore's Earth Day plea: Call your Senator!


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On move again, DeJesus proud to join Rays
Veteran looking for first postseason action after second trade this week
ST. PETERSBURG -- David DeJesus is now a Ray.
Tampa Bay acquired the veteran outfielder on Friday from the Nationals for a player to be named or cash considerations. The Rays designated outfielder Jason Bourgeois for assignment to make room on their roster.
"We've had our eye on him for some time," said Andrew Friedman, the Rays' executive vice president of baseball operations. "We tried to acquire him when he was with Kansas City. He just does a lot of things we really appreciate and value, so we've tried to get him for a while. At one point, we thought we were pretty close before he had an injury. I think with what he does well, he'll fit in really well for us going down the stretch."
DeJesus has experienced a whirlwind week that began with him playing for the Cubs before the Nationals acquired him on Monday in a waiver deal for a player to be named.
"Unbelievable," DeJesus said. "Five days ago, I was in last place. … I'm excited to be a Ray now. It's an opportunity to play, come over here and help out and be in a pennant race. I've been on a lot of losing teams, so this is exciting for me.
"These guys play the game the right way. You know when you play against the Rays you've got to make sure every out is being accounted for, because they come after you. … Just go out there and play the game the right way, run the ball out hard, and that's the way I play, so I think it's a good fit."
DeJesus, 33, joined the Rays prior to Friday night's game against the Yankees and started in left field, batting seventh. His first hit with Tampa Bay was a double in the fourth.
"[DeJesus] is in left field [for the series opener], but I can see him in center or right," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "You can see him hitting seventh, you can see him hitting first, you can see him hitting second. He's going to be all over the place in the batting order. He's a very good offensive player. Great guy, too."
DeJesus made Maddon's decision look like the right one with two runners aboard in the top of the seventh, making a lunging catch before crashing into the wall to end the inning.
DeJesus is in the final year of a two-year contract worth $10 million, and he has a 2014 club option. Friedman was asked about taking on the contract.
"It's a real financial outlay," Friedman said. "He's a good player who makes us better. I think we're fortunate with the ownership group we have and their commitment and focus on doing everything we can to win games."
Contrary to reports about who the player to be named will be, Friedman said that decision has not yet been made. He did allow that the list of names from which the Nationals can choose includes fewer than five players. A decision must be made within six months of the deal, according to Friedman.
The Nats will be calling up right-hander Xavier Cedeno from Triple-A to fill DeJesus' roster spot. Washington claimed the 26-year-old off waivers in April after he began the season with the Astros. He has appeared in seven Major League games between the two clubs this season, holding a 9.39 ERA across 7 2/3 innings.
DeJesus is batting .247 with six home runs and 27 RBIs on the season.
Attempting to reach the postseason for the first time, DeJesus has spent time with the Royals, Athletics, Cubs and Nationals. In 1,242 career games entering Friday, he owns a .279 batting average, a .353 on-base percentage and a .417 slugging percentage, with 513 RBIs and 1,281 hits, including 254 doubles, 61 triples and 86 home runs. Since 2004, DeJesus' 60 triples are seventh most in the Majors.
This season, DeJesus has started 64 games in center field and three games in left. He owns a career .992 fielding percentage and has played in 651 games in center field and 320 in right field, compared to 295 in left.
Maddon was asked how DeJesus' arrival would affect the rest of his roster in regard to playing time.
"It's probably going to nick up Kelly [Johnson] a little more than anybody," Maddon said. "We'll see. ... I really have to be aware of keeping Kelly involved also. That's one of the nice problems when you get a lot of good guys. Then you have to keep a lot of good guys solvent and playing well."


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Last week we began a series of postings on funds that have consistently delivered alpha to its shareholders. Specifically, I listed a few of my favorite domestic stock funds picks. This week we turn our attention to foreign stock funds. Before we begin, however, a brief word is in order. Although this may be fairly basic to some of you, I think it's important to discuss the role that currency fluctuation plays on investing in foreign markets.
From June 2001 until mid-2008 the U.S. engaged in a weak dollar policy. Whenever the dollar is weak, exports tend to rise. This is because someone outside the U.S. can purchase our goods for less since a weak dollar makes their currency stronger. During this time, a great deal of foreign entities bought American real estate, businesses, etc. Lately, the dollar has been strengthening. According to many pundits, a strong dollar is one key in reviving our economy. I'll leave that debate for another time. The point is this. A stronger dollar makes it less attractive for a U.S. citizen to invest overseas. As a result, I would recommend a smaller allocation to foreign investments for the time being. Let's start with large 'developed nation' stock funds and conclude with emerging markets.
Foreign Developed
My two favorite picks here are Sextant International (SSIFX) and Tweedy Browne Global Value (TGBVX). According to Morningstar, the Sextant fund has a cash position of about 27% as of the end of May. This fund also has a great risk/return profile and a very low expense ratio of 0.88%. Moreover, management has been in place for nearly 17 years.
Another good choice is the Tweedy Browne value fund. TGBVX also has a good long-term track record and management has been in place for about 13 years. Tweedy's risk/return profile is also excellent, despite the fact that it has a higher expense ratio than the Sextant fund (1.40% to 0.88%). Tweedy's returns have kept it in the top quartile of its peer group for the past four-and-a-half years.
Emerging Markets
My two best recommendations here are Oppenheimer Developing Markets Y (ODVYX) and Virtus Emerging Markets Opportunities I (HIEMX). Oppenheimer's offering has a great risk/return profile, a low expense ratio of only 1.00%, and it has ranked in the top half of its Morningstar peer group since 2008. Management has been in place for just over five years.
The Virtus EM fund has an excellent risk/return profile, a slightly higher expense ratio (1.42%), and although HIEMX underperformed its peers in 2009, it has outperformed 95% of its peers in three of the past four years.
How about you? Care to share?
Thanks for reading and have a great week!


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Bulldozing German Development Aid
The Bedouins and farmers living in the Southern Hebron Hills are among the West Bank's poorest inhabitants. Their dwellings are usually nothing more than tin sheds, tents or caves. They have no running water and are not connected to the electricity grid.
In spite of that, they have recently had access to electricity for powering light bulbs and refrigerators. This is being made possible by small solar power plants and wind turbines erected for them by human rights activists – using German money. The Foreign Office freed up €600,000 for the project, in addition to funds from donations.
"The idea was to establish regenerative, decentralized energy in the villages, to enable people living there to access power, to bring them into the modern age at last and enable them to stay there," explains Tsafrir Cohen of Medico International.
The aid organization supports the project that was initiated by two Israeli activists and which supplies hundreds of Palestinians in the isolated villages of the West Bank with electricity.
No planning permission for Palestinians
But now the scheme is under threat from Israeli plans to clear away the solar panels and wind turbines. Jerusalem says they were built without permission. But it is not possible for Palestinians to obtain planning permission in what is known as Area C. Even 20 years after the start of the peace process, Israeli has not loosened its grip on the region.
As part of that process, the division of the occupied territories into three zones as set down in the 1995 Oslo II agreement was originally intended as an interim solution. Areas A and B, where Palestinians enjoy limited autonomy, include the densely populated areas of the West Bank.
Area C, however, extends over more than 60 percent of the occupied territories and comprises almost all of the region's arable and largely undeveloped land. More than 320,000 Jewish settlers live here, while Palestinian population has decreased to 150,000.
Displacement of Palestinians
Tsafrir Cohen says this is because Israel is trying to force Palestinians out of these areas. It is a strategy receiving inadvertent support from western donors, whose funds are channelled almost exclusively into Areas A and B, says Cohen.
"Foreign aid gives rise to an attractive infrastructure which in turn attracts people," Cohen explains. This infrastructure includes for example schools, nurseries, community centres and other important public facilities. "For many Palestinians, these are good reasons to move out of undersupplied Area C into the new centres," says Cohen.
However, tough restrictions have been imposed on those who want to stay in Area C despite all the obstacles put in their way by the occupation policy. They are subject to land-use plans dating from the British Mandate era in the 1940s. "New places have sprung up with no development plans. Other places also had no development plans back then. But the Israeli authorities simply refuse to allow anything that diverges from the existing plans from the 1940s," he says.
This means that if a Palestinian wants to build a house, or a local community wants to build a nursery or a health centre, Israel refuses to issue the necessary permits. The same applies of course to infrastructure projects such as wind turbines or solar power plants.
Israeli annexation of Area C?
So while the betterment of Palestinian areas is being systematically obstructed, there has been an increase in the number of Israeli settlements hooked up to the Israeli power and water grids, areas with an optimal infrastructure. The road system serving the settlers is also undergoing constant improvements. The Israeli transport minister is even considering a plan to establish a rail network linking up the settlements with key Israeli centres.
All this provides very clear evidence that Israel is planning to annex Area C, says Wafeeq Khaled Ibrahim Alnatour, a political observer from Ramallah. "The Israeli settlement project on Palestinian soil is progressing so rapidly that it is making the two-state solution based on 1967 borders impossible," he fears. His view is that Israel is quite obviously planning to force Palestinians into Areas A and B, in order to then be able to merge with Area C.
His fears are evidently shared by European Union diplomats. In January they compiled a report highlighting the increasing isolation of the Palestinians in Area C and their advancing displacement. They recommended that the EU invest more funds in the development of Palestinian projects in this zone, to counter the further marginalisation of the Palestinian population.
Alnatour is appealing to the German government to assert its authority within the EU to stop the displacement of Palestinians from the rural areas of the West Bank.
Concern in Berlin
In Germany, politicians are watching developments in the occupied territories with concern. A foreign ministry spokesman said German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle addressed the issue during his last visit to Israel and the Palestinian-controlled areas. The spokesman went on to say that the German government was in close agreement with its European partners on the matter.
Günter Gloser, Middle East expert of the Social Democrats, has also expressed his incomprehension of Israeli plans to tear down the solar plants and wind turbines. In an interview with German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle, he said it was unacceptable, "not just because these were built using German money. We know how difficult it is for the Palestinian population to access water and power. And in this respect, such a move would send out the wrong signal."
Israeli claims that the plants have been built without planning permission do not provide sufficient justification for the clearance plan, says Gloser. After all, he adds, in the Palestinian territories, Israeli settlements have been established that should also not be there. For his party, says Social Democrat Gloser, the two-state solution has always been the only way to resolve the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Gloser sees no other possibility at present.
Bettina Marx
© Deutsche Welle / Qantara.de 2012
Qantara.de editor: Lewis Gropp


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Sudanese government reaches settlement deal with USS Cole victims
Sudan's transitional government says it's reached a settlement with families of the victims of the 2000 attack on the USS Cole in Yemen, in a bid to have the African country taken off the U.S. terrorism list.
At the time of the bombing, which killed 17 sailors, Sudan was accused of providing support to al-Qaida, which claimed responsibility for the attack.
Sudan's interim authorities are desperate to have the country removed from the listing by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terror in order to receive loans from international finance institutions.
Sudan's justice ministry says the settlement was signed with the victims' families last Friday but gave no further details.


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LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are ready to crack each other up at the Golden Globe Awards.
The two multi-hyphenate talents offered a taste of their quick-witted banter on a conference call with reporters Wednesday, during which Fey promised, "We're going to sing the whole show."
Fey also joked that she would wear costumes from each of the nominated films. Poehler said she planned to "pub-crawl my way to the venue" and catch a "blackout nap" before the ceremony.
Both women are also nominees for actress in a TV comedy for starring in the shows they write and produce. Fey is up for "30 Rock," while Poehler got the nod for "Parks and Recreation."
The Golden Globes will be broadcast live Sunday on NBC.


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Beauty and Cosmetic industry - Market Research - trends
Mintel's beauty and personal care market research reports keep your brand looking good in an industry that's always freshening up. From cosmetics and grooming to toiletries and hygiene, our research and analysis gives you detailed intelligence on every market segment and unrivalled insights into the biggest trends of today and tomorrow. It's the only beauty and personal care regime you need to follow.
Online access
Previous editions
Multiple formats


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Board to consider scaling back hunting in state parks
One-third of parks and trails could be exempt
MADISON, Wis. — The state Natural Resources Board will hold a public meeting where officials will reconsider a measure that would open all Wisconsin parks and trails to hunting.
The meeting Tuesday in Madison comes after lawmakers and state agencies received nearly 2,000 emails and letters, the vast majority opposing the so-called Sporting Heritage Bill.
Some people said they wouldn't bring their families to state parks if hunters were around. Others were concerned about whether their pets might step into animal traps.
In response to the backlash, the state Department of Natural Resources has recommended scaling back the measure to exempt about one-third of parks and trails.
The Natural Resources Board will meet to consider the DNR recommendation and also take oral and written comments from the public.


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Researchers at the Moffitt Cancer Center have found a potential mechanism by which immune suppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells can prevent immune response from developing in cancer. This mechanism includes silencing the tumor suppressor gene retinoblastoma 1 or Rb1. Their data explains a new regulatory mechanism by which myeloid-derived suppressor cells are expanded in cancer.
Their study appeared in a recent issue of Nature Immunology.
According to the authors, two kinds of myeloid-derived suppressor cells - monocytic M-MDSCs and granulocytic PMN-MDSCs - regulate immune responses in cancer and other conditions. In experiments with tumor-bearing mice, they discovered that M-MDSCs acquire some of the physical characteristics of PMN-MDSCs. Acquisition of the PMN-MDSCs characteristics, they found, was "mediated" by the silencing of Rb1 by modifications in a histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC-2), an enzyme decoded by the HDAC2 gene.
"Our findings demonstrate the function of a newly discovered regulatory mechanism of myeloid cells in cancer," said study lead author Dmitry I. Gabrilovich, M.D., senior member of Moffitt's Immunology Program.
According to study first author Je-In Youn, Ph.D., a post-doctoral fellow in the Gabrilovich laboratory, Rb1 is among members of the retinoblastoma family of transcription regulators that integrate multiple cellular signals to control cell proliferation and differentiation. In their experiments, the researchers found that when Rb1 was deficient in tumor-bearing mice it indicated a direct role for Rb1 in regulating M-MDSC differentiation toward PMN-MDSCs.
Their data suggested that Rb1 silencing could be initiated by HDAC-2 which, said Youn, is known to be involved in modulating the repressive activity on promoters of certain genes involved in cell differentiation.
They proposed that, in tumors, a large portion of M-MDSCs acquire the ability to differentiate into PMN-MDSCs and that it "appears that, in cancer, M-MDSCs probably acquire the ability to differentiate into PMN-MDSCs" and "may represent an important pathways for the accumulation of these cells in contrast to normal monocytes."
"We demonstrated that HDAC-2 can directly interact with Rb1 promoter and participate in silencing Rb1 expression," said study co-author Vinit Kumar, Ph.D., also a post-doctoral fellow in the Gabrilovich laboratory. He added that "silencing Rb1 expression in monocytes and other myeloid progenitors may be critical to the accumulation of PMN-MDSCs."
"If the role of HDAC-2 in this process is confirmed, the finding may offer an opportunity for therapeutically targeting myeloid cells in cancer and possibly in other pathologic conditions," concluded the researchers.
Journal information: Nature Immunology


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Nice city breaks
Combine beach relaxation with city action on Nice city breaks. Our regular flights and a short travelling time mean you could be enjoying beautiful Nice in no time.
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Combine beach relaxation with city action on Nice city breaks. Our regular flights and a short travelling time mean you could be enjoying beautiful Nice in no time.
Nice may feel less glossy than neighbouring resorts like Monaco and Cannes, yet it's this quality that creates its inimitable charm. The bustling atmosphere around Place Massena radiates along the Promenade des Anglais, giving you a taste of the French Riviera and inviting you to explore more.
With its prime position on the glamorous Cote d'Azur, frequent flights and enviable year-round climate, you can understand why Nice is the ideal choice for a relaxing city break or beach holiday. Its sweeping panoramic promenade, turquoise waters and palm-lined boulevards paint a true picture – but beyond this Mediterranean-infused façade you'll soon discover a thriving culture. Shuttered buildings are crammed with flourishing museums, intriguing galleries wait to be discovered along the winding alleyways of the Old town and verdant parks are playgrounds for picnics.
Prenotare volo + hotel e risparmiare
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As the gateway to the French Riviera, Nice is the perfect city meets beach destination – with plenty to explore on its doorstep. Boasting a Mediterranean feel, with its piercing turquoise waters and palm-lined promenades – you won't believe that you're just a short flight from the UK. It's bursting with character and culture - from the sweeping Promenade des Anglais to the quaint Old Town with its famous food and flower markets.
Trovi un volo British Airways a un costo inferiore e le rifonderemo la differenza.
Vola con British Airways e potrai godere di un servizio pluripremiato e di tariffe con un ottimo rapporto qualità-prezzo.
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Google Gets It Right in Q2
Jul 20, 2012 11:25 AM PT
The quarter ending June 30, 2012, was a solid three-month period for Google, despite the global economic turmoil and despite the costs associated with the Motorola acquisition, which closed in May.
The company reported a 35 percent year-on-year increase in revenue to reach US$12.2 billion. Net income reached $2.79 billion, compared with $2.51 billion in the same period in 2011.
Nearly $1.25 billion of the total revenues were contributed by Motorola, noted Andreas Scherer, managing partner with Salto Partners.
That meant Google's organic revenue growth was about 21 percent, "which is still pretty impressive," he told the E-Commerce Times.
A Strong Product Strategy
The other second-quarter highlight for Google was the launch of the Nexus 7 tablet at its I/O conference. That was just one indication that Google's product direction is well lined up with its overall strategic vision for itself, Trip Chowdhry, managing director of equity research for Global Equities Research, told the E-Commerce Times.
"Look at the advancements they have made with mapping technology, for example. It is very exciting." Chowdhry said.
All in all, "Chrome is doing well, Android is doing well, there is uptick with Google Drive, and the company is pushing forward with its mobile monetization strategy on several fronts," he observed. "This can be seen throughout the earnings report."
Between now and the end of the year, "we will see accelerations in their revenues," predicted Chowdhry.
Ads Still Reign
Google, of course, built its financial platform -- and continues to build it -- on its ad network. For Q2, it reported that its aggregate paid clicks, which include clicks related to ads served on Google sites and the sites of its network members, increased approximately 42 percent over the second quarter of 2011 and increased approximately 1 percent over the first quarter of 2012.
Even though the company is heavily emphasizing its other products, it continues to make improvements to its ad networks at the same time, Andrew Thrasher, an investment analyst with the Financial Enhancement Group, told the E-Commerce Times.
For example, Google integrated its mobile advertising network Admob with AdWords, its sponsored links section, in June, he noted. "This allows advertisers more control over where their ads are displayed on a specific smartphone or tablet model or particular apps."
In many cases, it is difficult for competitors to catch up, Thrasher added.
"Microsoft appears to be unable to truly compete on the same level with Google," he said, "which we saw an example of when Microsoft took a $6.2 billion write-off due to aQuantive missing expectations to challenge Google's DoubleClick."
Also, Google's ability to have better control over mobile advertising will help it gain an edge over Facebook, which has yet to capitalize on mobile ads, Thrasher said.
The Challenges
Still, Google is clearly facing challenges on many fronts, said Salto Partners' Scherer.
Google will face some stiff competition in its core market from Microsoft's Bing and potentially Apple's Siri, he predicted. Yes, there was a 42 percent growth in aggregate paid clicks, leading to a significant increase in ad revenues, he acknowledged, but "the question is how sustainable these growth rates are."
Also, Google isn't gaining much social networking traction, Scherer pointed out.
"Google+ users have a tough time to find their buddies," he said. "Users spend substantially less time there as compared to Facebook users."
None of that outweighs Google's primary strengths, though, he added.
"Google's global PC search market continues to be at dominant levels, mainly at the expense of Yahoo," said Scherer. "Google has remained virtually monopolistic in the mobile search market, with an estimated market share of 97 percent. YouTube continues to be a great success story."