Monday, December 24, 2012

Logitech UE 9000


Logitech's new line of UE headphones includes the powerful, comfortable, and wireless UE 9000. At $399.99 (direct), it's one of the pricier Bluetooth options we've tested, but it doesn't disappoint from a performance standpoint, offering distortion-free audio with deep bass response. It can also be used as a wired pair?a cable is included?and has a built-in remote for controlling iOS devices and handling phone calls. There aren't too many downsides to the UE 9000 other than its price?$400 is significantly more than some of the most comparable competition, like the Beats by Dr. Dre Wireless.

Design
The latest UE designs from Logitech all have a common thread?the color blue that graces the audio cable and the inside of the earcups, and generally futuristic styling, with glossy black-and-metallic color schemes and angular, jagged contours. The UE 9000 features all these things, as well as an exceedingly comfortable circumaural (over-the-ear) fit. Plush earcups are accompanied by a slightly-less plush underside of the headband, but overall the fit is comfortable and ideal for long listening sessions.

There's a Listen Through button on the left earcup?press it to mute music and hear the outside world. The right earcup houses Volume, Playback/Navigation, and Phone controls, as well as the Power Switch, which at least on our model, feels a little poorly designed?loosely fitting in its slide compartment. The Volume controls work independently of the controls on the sound source itself.Logitech UE 9000 inline

Although it is wireless, the UE 9000 can also be used as a wired pair?the 3.5mm cable also connects to the right earcup, along with the USB recharging cable. This would be a big plus even if you had to use the rechargeable headphones in active, powered-up mode in order use the cable, simply because not all sources you can connect cables to will support Bluetooth streaming. But Logitech took the convenience factor one step further here?you can use the UE 9000 as a wired pair with the power off, in passive mode, thus saving battery life. The overall power of the drivers drops off noticeably, but the UE 9000 can get so loud, this is hardly hindrance to enjoying them.

The included detachable cable has an inline microphone and remote for controlling Apple iOS devices and making phone calls. Call clarity is pretty par for the course?you'll be able to hear your call partners and they'll understand you just fine, but since we're dealing with cellular audio fidelity, don't expect to hear a pin drop.

Also included: a USB charging cable that detaches from a wall outlet charger (so you can charge direct from the power adapter or from your computer's USB port), a cleaning shammy cloth, and sturdy zip-up case that the headphones fold down flat into.

The pairing process with a typical mobile device, like the iPhone 4S, is simple and quick, and the headphones use a clever, cool-sounding audio alert, rather than blinking LEDs, to let you know the status of your connection.

Logitech doesn't specify what Bluetooth codecs and versions the UE 9000 supports, but it will work with any iPad, every iPhone since the 3GS, and most iPods that are still made. Battery life will vary with usage, but Logitech estimates a full charge will last roughly 10 hours for wireless listening, 20 hours for powered listening through the audio cable.

Performance
On deep bass tracks at top volumes?on both the source device (in this case, an iPhone 4S) and the headphones, the UE 9000 did not distort. Even at maximum volume, the Knife's "Silent Shout" and Thom Yorke's "Cymbal Rush," both tracks that provide challenging low frequency content in different sub-ranges, were delivered cleanly.

Occasionally, there is some system noise that sneaks into playback, usually between tracks, but at times I heard it during a song?it's a subtle crackling, whirring that can't come close to overpowering the music, and can barely be heard when there is no music playing, but in the interest of being thorough, it's not something I hear with every Bluetooth headphone pair I test.

In passive mode, with the power off, you can still use the UE 9000 with the included cable. The overall output is slightly less intense, but it still includes powerful low frequency response with no distortion, even at top volumes.

Classical tracks, like John Adams' "The Chairman Dances," receive a nice bit of low end boost, adding some body and resonance to the lower register strings and deeper percussion hits, but things never get muddy or too bass-heavy. At times, however, the lower strings can sound slightly unnatural?more amplified than acoustic. Though it's not super-accurate, this isn't necessarily an unpleasant phenomenon, and the low-end is nicely balanced by an edgy high-mid presence that lends itself well to the higher register strings, highlighting the rhythmic bowing in this piece. The high frequencies are not ignored, either, though we've definitely encountered pairs that boost the highs more?the woodblock hits on this track are audible, but stand out less than they might on a brighter pair.

On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," the kick drum loop is delivered with a healthy thump, but there's less emphasis on the treble-heavy attack of the kick than we're used to hearing on this track. Again, things don't ever sound muddy, but the low-end takes center stage over the highs. The high-mids are sufficiently tweaked, however, so that the vocals are delivered clearly over the rumble of the drum loop and bass synth hits.

If you're looking for a solid wireless Bluetooth stereo headphone pair, but $400 is more than you want to spend, the good news is you have a multitude of options?but they won't all be as powerful as the UE 9000. In the big-bass-for-less-money department, the aforementioned Beats by Dr. Dre Wireless has a more exaggerated sound signature and isn't as comfortable, but it costs significantly less. The Sennheiser MM 550-X costs $100 more than the UE 9000 and delivers excellent sound quality, but its ineffective noise cancellation and even higher price give us pause.

For far less, there are still plenty of quality Bluetooth headphone options, like the exercise-friendly Sennheiser MM 100 and the super-affordable Outdoor Technology DJ Slims. There are also solid in-ear wireless choices, like the Denon Globe Cruiser AH-W200. The Logitech UE 9000 is a powerful, comfortable, distortion-free wireless option, but even with its solid performance and wired versatility, the price feels a bit high. Despite this fact, the UE 9000 is unlikely to disappoint.

More Headphone Reviews:
??? Logitech UE 9000
??? Logitech UE 4000
??? Polk Audio UltraFocus 8000
??? RHA MA450i
??? Motorola S11-Flex HD
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/H9OzTM-IDhI/0,2817,2413381,00.asp

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3 jailed without bond in Indianapolis blast

This combo made from photos provided by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department shows from left, Mark Leonard, 43, his wife, Shirley Leonard, 43, and his brother, Bob Leonard, 54, all of Indianapolis, who were arrested Friday, Dec. 21, 2012 and charged with murder, arson and other counts in a Nov. 10 gas explosion that killed two people. Authorities say the explosion in the Richmond hill subdivision in Indianapolis was deliberately set up so the three could collect a big insurance payout. (AP Photo/Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department)

This combo made from photos provided by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department shows from left, Mark Leonard, 43, his wife, Shirley Leonard, 43, and his brother, Bob Leonard, 54, all of Indianapolis, who were arrested Friday, Dec. 21, 2012 and charged with murder, arson and other counts in a Nov. 10 gas explosion that killed two people. Authorities say the explosion in the Richmond hill subdivision in Indianapolis was deliberately set up so the three could collect a big insurance payout. (AP Photo/Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department)

A home in the Richmond Hills neighborhood that was damaged by an explosion on Nov. 10, 2012, is seen Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, in Indianapolis. The massive explosion sparked a huge fire and killed two people in Indianapolis. Prosecutors have charged a homeowner, her boyfriend and his brother with murder after causing the massive house explosion. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

A home in the Richmond Hills neighborhood that was damaged by an explosion on Nov. 10, 2012, is torn down Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, in Indianapolis. The massive explosion sparked a huge fire and killed two people in Indianapolis. Prosecutors have charged a homeowner, her boyfriend and his brother with murder after causing the massive house explosion. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

(AP) ? Three suspects charged with setting up a gas explosion that devastated an Indianapolis neighborhood and killed two people were ordered Monday to be held without bond.

A Marion County judge entered not guilty pleas for Monserrate Shirley, her boyfriend Mark Leonard, and his brother, Bob Leonard at their initial hearing. They are charged with murder, arson and other counts in the Nov. 10 blast.

Prosecutors allege the three, who appeared in court in orange jail jumpsuits and handcuffs, rigged the massive gas blast at Shirley's house so they could collect a big insurance payout.

Shirley, 47, was facing mounting financial woes, including $63,000 in credit card debt and bankruptcy proceedings, court documents say. And a friend of Mark Leonard's told investigators that Leonard said he had lost about $10,000 at a casino some three weeks before the explosion. A probable cause affidavit says Shirley filed for bankruptcy this year but stopped making her court-arranged payments. The home's original loan was for $116,000 and a second mortgage was taken out on the home for $65,000, the affidavit says.

Mark Leonard told the judge that he couldn't pay for an attorney because all his cash was inside Shirley's house when it blew up, leaving him with about $500 in a checking account.

"All my money, all of it, it's gone," he said. "I had money in the house and it's not there anymore."

The judge appointed public defenders for the Leonards.

Randall Cable, Shirley's attorney, didn't address the charges at the hearing Monday and didn't speak with reporters afterward.

The fiery blast destroyed five homes, including Shirley's, and damaged dozens of others in the Richmond Hill subdivision in the far south side of the city. The explosion killed Shirley's next-door neighbors, John Dion Longworth, a 34-year-old electronics expert, and his 36-year-old wife, second-grade teacher Jennifer Longworth.

Several of Shirley's neighbors and relatives of the Longworths were among about 25 members of the public who attended the hearing.

Pam Mosser of Muncie, a psychiatric nurse and Dion Longworth's aunt, said she attended the hearing after working a 16-hour shift at a hospital.

"Spending Christmas Eve making sure justice is done," Mosser said. "I can't imagine doing anything else."

Shirley and the Leonard brothers face two counts of murder as well as 33 counts of arson ? one count for each of the homes damaged so badly that officials have ordered their demolition.

Shirley and Mark Leonard, 43, also face two counts of conspiracy to commit arson, while Bob Leonard, 54, faces a single count. The conspiracy charges stem from a failed explosion that prosecutors claim the trio had attempted the weekend before the successful timed blast.

Investigators believe the suspects removed a gas fireplace valve and a gas line regulator in Shirley's house that subsequently filled up with gas. They have said a microwave, apparently set to start on a timer, sparked the explosion.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-12-24-Indianapolis%20House-Explosion/id-05883b58abca4f63960bbbb6cef5e474

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Short Sale Timeline - Antioch CA Homes for Sale ... - Rick Fuller Inc

Question: ?How long does it take to short sale a home? ?

Answer: ? ?Although it is?difficult?to determine the timeline of a short sale as you may not be fully aware of who the Investors are that make the?decisions,? is it a?Fannie Mae loan, or?Freddie?Mac loan, is there a mortgage insurance involved, and do you qualify for HAFA , etc? ?There are three very real phases every short sale goes through. ? ?Knowing these phases will help you to know where you are in the process and can give you an idea of when you may?receive?the highly anticipated approval. ??The three phases a short sale goes through are Submission, Valuation, ?and Approval.

Phase ?1 of 3: ? Submission

The Submission phase is when all documents are submitted?to the lender for review and a?Negotiator (this will be your main contact) is assigned. ?In order to process the short sale and validate the Sellers Hardship the Seller will need to provide the following documents. Before preparing these documents you may want to check if you are?eligible?for a HAFA short sale.

List of documents that may be needed

  • Hardship Letter
  • Financial Statements
  • HAFA Forms
  • Lender Specific Forms
  • Bank Statements
  • Tax returns
  • Pay Stubs
  • Pnl (if self employed)
  • SalesContract
  • Listing Agreement
  • HUD1 (itemized list from a Title Company detailing cost associated with the sale and the Lien Holders net proceeds)

Phase 2 of 3: ? Value

Lien Holders (especially the first Lien Holder involved in the short sale) will want to know the value of the property prior to approving the short sale. ?Lien Holders do not want to sell the property below market value. ?They will more likely approve a sale if the value of the sales contract and the Lien Holders?opinion?of value are similar. ?In my experience, banks will generally approve an offer if it is within 93%-100% of their?opinion?of the value. ? ?Check the value of your home.

The Lien Holders will likely complete any or perhaps all of the below to determine value:

  • Appraisal (Completed by a Licensed?Appraiser?however not the same appraisal you would use for financing the property)
  • B.P.O. (Broker Price?Opinion?often completed by a local Real Estate Agent)
  • A.V.M. (Automated?Valuation?Model an online?opinion?of value)

Phase 3 of 3: ? Approval

Your almost there? ? This is the phase where the Servicer obtains approval from their Investors. ? The Listing Agent (Sellers Agent) may also need to obtain an approval from other Lien Holders (Tax Lien Holders, 2nd mortgages, 3rd mortgage, private liens, etc?) ? Once all?Lien Holders?approve an approval letter is issued usually from each?Lien holder?providing approval.

A word of advise. ?Read the letters carefully, they may have changed some of the terms in the?original?offer and because it may have been months since it was written you may have forgotten some of the terms.

The real name for a short sale is short pay as one or maybe all of the lenders involved?end up short of the amount owed upon the sale of the home. ? It is rarely a quick sale as it can?often take months to short sale a home however follow the three phases outlined above and you?will have a better understanding of the timeline of a short sale. ? More information about what is a short sale.

For more information about the $3,000 Relocation Assistance (if you qualify for HAFA).?Contact us for a free HAFA brochure?or visit our office at 5079 Lone Tree Way Antioch, Ca 94531

?

?

Source: http://rickfullerinc.com/short-sale-timeline/

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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Legal Insurrection Video of the Year (Reader Poll) - Le?gal In?sur?rec ...

It?s getting towards that time of the year when we start selecting the Best Of.

2012 was the first year in which we started focusing on videos, thanks in large part to Anne joining us in June.? A couple of our videos changed the national dialogue, if only for a moment.

Hopefully original video production will increase dramatically next year. That?s part of the plan.

I have selected several videos, some original to LI some taken from elsewhere but edited to highlight certain important newsworthy content.? Many, but not all, concerned Elizabeth Warren. (added) These are videos run at LI and which were created by LI. This is not an all-around Video of the Year type award.

They are all available on the LI YouTube channel.

Please vote below. You can make up to three choices.

POLL CLOSES MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, AT NOON (EASTERN)

Chicago Chick-fil-A Kiss-In Protesters ?Chalk? Homeless Street Preacher

Unaccountable ? Elizabeth Warren and the Cherokee

Nancy Reagan 1995: Ronnie turned that torch over to Newt

Elizabeth Warren ? I was the first nursing mother to take a Bar exam in New Jersey

National Dance for Obama Day in Manhattan 11-3-2012

Romney Ryan Wisconsin Rally

George Lakoff ? No One Got Rich On Their Own

Netroots security guards block access to Elizabeth Warren

Elizabeth Warren says has photos of Indian heritage but won?t show them

Elizabeth Warren runs when asked about being Woman of Color

POLL CLOSES MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, AT NOON (EASTERN)

You can pick up to three choices

+70

??

?

?

9 Comments

?

Source: http://legalinsurrection.com/2012/12/legal-insurrection-video-of-the-year-reader-poll/

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'Molecular levers' may make materials better

Dec. 23, 2012 ? In a forced game of molecular tug-of war, some strings of atoms can act like a lever, accelerating reactions 1000 times faster than other molecules. The discovery suggests that scientists could use these molecular levers to drive chemical and mechanical reactivity among atoms and ultimately engineer more efficient materials.

"We are interested in designing new, stress-responsive materials, so we are trying to develop reactions that are very slow normally but that can be accelerated efficiently by force," said Duke chemist Steve Craig, who headed the research.

In recent experiments, Craig and his team found that a molecule made with a polynorbornene backbone can act as a lever to open a ring embedded within the molecule 1000 times faster than a similar ring being tugged at on a polybutadiene scaffold. The results, which appear Dec. 23 in Nature Chemistry, suggest that a simple change in the backbone may affect the how fast mechanically assisted reactions occur.

Scientists are interested in this type of molecular tug-of-war because many materials break down after repeated cycles of tugging, stress and other forces. "If we can channel usually destructive forces into constructive pathways, we could trigger reactions that make the material stronger when and where it is most useful," Craig said. Researchers might then be able to extend the material's lifetime, which might in the long term have applications ranging from composites for airplane frames to biomedical implants.

In the experiment, Craig, who is a professor and chair of the chemistry department, and his team used the equivalent of microscopic tweezers to grab onto two parts of atomic chains and pulled them so that they would break open, or react, in certain spots. The team predicted that one molecule would react more efficiently than the other but was surprised to find that the force-induced rates differed by three orders of magnitude, an amount that suggests that the polynorbornene backbone can actually accelerate forced reactions the way a crowbar quickens pulling a nail from a wall.

Craig said changes to the molecular group undergoing the reaction may have a much smaller effect than changes to nearby, unreactive molecules like those on the backbone. It is also a good starting point to identify other molecular backbones that are easy to make and have the largest response to changes in nearby reactions, features Craig said might help in developing even better, more responsive materials.

The research was supported by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, the Army Research Office and National Science Foundation.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Duke University, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Hope M. Klukovich, Tatiana B. Kouznetsova, Zachary S. Kean, Jeremy M. Lenhardt, Stephen L. Craig. A backbone lever-arm effect enhances polymer mechanochemistry. Nature Chemistry, 2012; DOI: 10.1038/NCHEM.1540

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_technology/~3/iDYAB7mDjkE/121223152738.htm

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Debt BlogTips for Credit Card Debt Management

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Posted in Finance
December 22, 2012

Debt management is a course every American needs to take simply because so many Americans are clueless when it comes to credit and debt management. This is unfortunate because many people do permanent damage to their credit record by not knowing how important managing their credit is. Also, frequently people get in trouble with debt and don't know debt management tips, so they simply get further and further behind each month. This does not have to be the case and debt management is not difficult to do, as long as you have the desire to reduce your debt. Consider these debt management suggestions to get you out of debt quick.

Debt Management Tip #1 Make Your Payments on Time One of the most important things you can do to help your credit score is to make your payments on time. This is also a great way to avoid late charges which not only negatively impact your credit, but also negatively impacts your wallet. Debt management means making on time payments means your account will never be late, will not go into default and will not never have late fees associated with it. If you have problems making your payment on time imagine how much worse it will be when an additional $30 - $50 is tacked onto that payment.

Debt Management Tip #2 Work with Your Creditor Proper debt management requires working with your creditors. Many times creditors have debt management plans, as well as suspended payment options if you are having financial difficulty. Avoiding your creditors will make your credit problems worse and your debt management plan will not work. So talk with your creditor because frequently they can help you, or at least relieve the pressure for a little while.

Debt Management Tip #3 Pay of Credit Cards An important part of debt management is paying off your credit cards. If you do not pay off your credit cards then you will pay an unbelievable amount of money in finance charges. Make paying off your credit cards one of the first goals in your debt management program. You will realize a relief in your debt within a few months and realize that a debt management plan is important for everyone with debt.

About the author: Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.debt-center.info a blog focusing on theDebt resources and articles. This site provides detailed information on Debt. For more info visit his site: Debt

Author: Jay Moncliff

Source: http://www.caishi.net/204018-Tips-for-Credit-Card-Debt-Management.html

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Saturday, December 22, 2012

Changes in Leadership for Mama Vilma's Family Home | Mama ...

At the Annual Meeting of Mama Vilma?s family Home, held on December 19, 2012, Vice President, Eve Dirnback and Cheryl Bowen, Secretary Treasurer resigned from their offices and from the membership. In addition, Surendra and Carolyn Kumar resigned as members.

Eve and Cheryl have been with the organization since its inception in February 2011. Mama Vilma?s Family Home was intended to be a safe haven for women, children and families. Unfortunately, we did not learn until March 2012 that providing services to victims of domestic violence on the island was prohibitive. Several members attended the Domestic Violence seminar held at Fido?s, coming back to the group with this information. Since that time, the organization has been unable to define a focus. Shelly Huber, President of Mama Vilma?s Family Home stated at the Annual Meeting, ?This home will be built?we will find a way.?

?Cheryl told the group that she very much wanted to contribute in a positive way to the organization, but it is hard to be an integral part when the organization has done nothing except fundraising. In 2+ years, even with the generosity of the community, the organization has not raised enough funds to purchase, build or maintain a facility.

Eve, Cheryl and the Kumar?s wanted to have a vote to disband the organization and use the money raised in direct services to women, children and families in need right now. Surendra and Carolyn were hoping to donate to the San Pedro Library to provide after school support and tutoring. Donations to schools, building a pre-school and donating to other viable organizations on the island were additional ideas suggested by Cheryl and Carolyn.

There were six members present at the meeting and one additional member that arrived at the end of the meeting. Cheryl pointed out that with the exception of Shelly, the six members that actively participate are from North America. Carolyn questioned if there truly was a need on the island and if there is, why are the local men and women not participating? Shelly stated that she refused to make any decision without the ?others? present, referring to three local women that are non-participating members. She went on to state that, ?They will come, they will participate,? despite the fact that there has been no local participation at any meetings this entire year.

At the time of her resignation as Secretary/Treasurer, Cheryl informed the group that there is $23,966.44 in the Mama Vilma?s Family Home checking account and $31,469.58 in a six month CD scheduled to mature in May 2013. Total assets of the organization are $55,466.02. There has been NO financial impropriety and Shelly assured the other members that all of the money WILL be used to build a home to house abused women and children. All financial records and materials will be returned to Shelly for use by the new officers, once they are elected.

Cheryl, Eve and the Kumar?s will continue to participate in needy causes here as each of them considers San Pedro to be their home. Surendra and Carolyn are deeply involved with the youth group and youth choir at the Roman Catholic Church, Eve is working with the San Pedro Drum Corp and Cheryl is exploring alternate academic opportunities for local high school students.

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Source: http://mamavilmasfamilyhome.com/?p=235

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Amour

Isabelle Huppert and Jean-Louis Trintignant in Amour. Isabelle Huppert and Jean-Louis Trintignant in Amour

Photo by Darius Khondji/Sony Pictures Classics.

Everyone you love is going to die. So will everyone you hate, everyone you?re indifferent about, everyone you?ve never met, and eventually (spoiler alert) you. No matter how long and happy a life we humans are vouchsafed by the gods, what waits for us at the end of the line is this starkly irreducible truth, which most of us spend our lives scrambling to avoid confronting even for a moment. In Amour, the Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke (Funny Games, The White Ribbon, Cach?) quietly but insistently fixes his gaze, and ours, on that impossible-to-bear truth for two straight hours. That may sound unpleasantly voyeuristic, even macabre, but this story of a devoted octogenarian couple confronting illness, mortality, and loss turns out to be a compassionate, rigorously unsentimental masterwork from a director who doesn?t normally truck in emotions like the one named in the title.

Anne Laurent (Emmanuelle Riva) and her husband Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant), a pair of retired music teachers, live in a roomy, tastefully furnished Parisian apartment full of books, paintings, and records. They?re the kind of cultivated upper-middle-class couple that goes to classical music concerts and, afterward, debates the finer points of the soloist?s vibrato. They have a middle-aged daughter, the well-meaning but self-absorbed Eva (the always amazing Isabelle Huppert), and an enviably contented domestic life, one in which affectionate flirtation (?Did I tell you you looked pretty tonight??) still plays a part. Then one morning, as they?re sitting at breakfast, Anne suddenly falls silent and stares off into space for several minutes, oblivious to the increasingly irritated voice of her husband, whose first reaction is to assume she must be either daydreaming or pulling some sort of prank. Though she quickly snaps back from this moment of distraction, it?s the first symptom of a stroke that will soon paralyze the right side of Anne?s body, putting her in a wheelchair for good. Upon her return from an unsuccessful attempt at surgery, Anne?s first request of Georges is that he never send her back to the hospital again. If she?s going to die of this illness?a proposition which, as they both soon come to realize, is not a matter of ?if? but ?when??she wants it to happen in the home they?ve always shared.

This decision plunges Anne and Georges into a relationship of physical and psychological interdependency that neither of them have any precedent for in the long life they?ve lived together. ?All this is still a bit new,? Georges awkwardly tells their daughter early on??all this? being, at first, the responsibility of assisting his still sharp-minded wife from wheelchair to bathroom to bed, and then later, the need to change her diaper, spoon-feed her soft foods and sing her familiar songs from childhood as she retreats into a shadow existence of confusion and pain. If all of that sounds too unremittingly bleak to bear, I?ll be straight with you: Amour is not the movie to see if you?re looking for even a residual trace of humanist uplift. But if you?ve ever had the experience of nursing a loved one through a final illness?or even if you just live in dread of having to do so someday?you may find the film?s clear-eyed candor about the end of life cathartically cleansing. Haneke never exploits Anne?s physical and mental disintegration for its horror-movie shock value?even when she?s at her most helpless, we see her as her husband does, as an individual with privacy, dignity, and for all we know a complex if incommunicable inner life. And while he?s as loving and patient as a spouse could possibly be, Georges is no martyred saint?in one of the movie?s most difficult scenes to watch, he gets so fed up with his bedridden wife?s refusal to accept any liquids (in essence, an attempt at slow suicide), that he slaps her across the face.

Even when it?s so painful you need to look away for a moment, Amour abounds in simple moments of intimacy, tenderness, and even joy. At a late stage of his wife?s decline, as Georges sits on the edge of Anne?s bed sharing a memory she seems at first only to half-understand, she places her still-working hand on one of his and with difficulty enunciates the words ?C??tait bien??it was nice. Immediately we understand: She?s referring not only to the story her husband is relating, but to the whole of their life together?a life whose richness Haneke alludes to only with the most minimal gestures. One morning at the breakfast table, she abruptly asks Georges to bring her an old photo album, then thumbs with dry-eyed bemusement through black-and-white pictures of their younger selves, observing, ?C?est long, une vie.?

There?s a reason those images of the Laurents in their younger days bring up a rush of memories for the audience as well: They are, after all, old snapshots of Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Louis Trintignant, both staples of European cinema for more than five decades (Riva made her debut in Alain Resnais? seminal 1959 art film Hiroshima Mon Amour and later worked with Jean-Pierre Melville and Krzysztof Kieslowski, while Trintignant starred in such classics as A Man and a Woman, The Conformist and My Night at Maud?s.) Though both actors disappear completely into their roles?in Riva?s case, to a degree that?s almost frightening, as if she?s physically vanishing before our eyes?what we know of their on-screen histories can?t help but inform the way we experience these two extraordinary performances (which are so intertwined they essentially constitute a single performance). Our sense of actors? mortality underscores that of the characters; if even legends like Riva and Trintignant can grow old and frail, we realize with a shock, the jig must be up for the rest of us too.

Haneke?s style, as usual, is formal, detached, and emotionally chilly. He tends to frame his shots at a distance from the painful events unfolding on-screen?his camera doesn?t editorialize, glorify, or judge; it simply shows us what is there to see. (The elegant, low-lit cinematography is by Darius Khondji.) With the exception of one scene at a crowded concert hall near the beginning, we never leave the Laurents? apartment, so that by the end, the flat?s spacious rooms have become as familiar as the contours of the actors? faces. In the past, I?ve often come out of Haneke?s movies resenting the way he seems to toy with his audiences, sadistically rubbing our faces in the grimmest aspects of human life: violence, torture, sexual humiliation, fear. But in the quietly devastating Amour, Haneke?s cool, dispassionate gaze feels, for the first time, something like love.

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=6ce95ca37f6209b4404fc8187e3692a7

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Health & Fitness Solutions: Self-Hypnosis Techniques - 3 That ...

By Mamie Nanez

It's important that you become familiar with the field of hypnosis - especially self-hypnosis - and one of the best ways to do so is to start by reading shorter reports like this one to begin your knowledge base. Delve into the subject wholeheartedly and you will find that it doesn't take long to get a well-rounded grasp of what hypnosis is all about. Hypnosis is not a difficult subject to comprehend as there's really nothing complicated about it. The same holds true for self-hypnosis.

Since we are all so different, you may find the need to use self-hypnosis many times. The important thing is not how many times you need to use a particular script for some particular goal. The only thing that counts is that you are triumphant with it and get to the target you had in the first place. There is no way to know how you will respond to self-hypnosis until you try it out. An additional point that is critical is that it takes many applications to get to the phase where your endeavours are really valuable. You will more than likely not have the greatest execution at the start and you will not be entirely at ease with the procedure.

For a self-hypnosis session to be effective, you have to choose a place that is quiet. Try to remove all distractions from the place before commencing a session.

Creating your own personal space to practice your self-hypnosis is a good thing to do. Your ideal scenario could be in a cool, low-lit room with candles and incense.

Once you have decided to use self-hypnosis, you need to make a commitment. Unless you are fully committed and have confidence it will not work for you. It is imperative that you have conviction and believe the necessary things that need to change will. Hopefully you already have a good idea of the impact that faith and conviction have for favourable results. The whole concept of hypnosis, whether it is done by a therapist or by ones self, is up for disbelief by many. There are folks that have been assisted with the use of hypnosis throughout time and in many instances.

Every script to write and design needs to be exquisite for each hypnosis session. Consider that you are trying to reach your unconscious mind directly. That means you have to bypass your ordinary consciousness that looks at the world in a critical manner. So you have to know exactly how to use the right words that will be the most effective. You can buy self-hypnosis tapes or even buy scripts from hypnotherapists. A licensed trained hypnotherapist should be where this material comes from. They are governed by hypnosis organizations that will make sure they are on the straight and narrow. Your local area, and certainly the Internet, will have people you can talk to. In conclusion, there are many other self-hypnosis tips that are available. You can learn them if you want. Just be sure you are getting quality information from the web. Building a website, and populating it with information, is very easy to do - this is why you need to be careful with the info that you find.



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Do you want to beat eczema? Self-hypnosis is a simple way to overcome it without any medications.

Source: http://health-fitness-sol.blogspot.com/2012/12/self-hypnosis-techniques-3-that-really.html

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Friday, December 21, 2012

'Les Miserables' Makes Anne Hathaway Cry

Golden Globe nominee tells MTV News that her connection to ill-fated Fantine brings her to tears.
By Josh Wigler, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Anne Hathaway in "Les Miserables"
Photo: Universal Pictures

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1699207/les-miserables-anne-hathaway-crying.jhtml

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'Easy does it' gets you further in electric vehicles

Dec. 20, 2012 ? Drivers of petrol and diesel cars are usually aware that driving at high speed, harsh acceleration and hard braking all contribute to lowering their fuel economy. Scientists can readily explain in terms of the thermodynamics of the internal combustion engine why driving such a car more smoothly and at gentler speeds will increase significantly the distance that might be travelled on a single tank of fuel. But, what about electric vehicles (EVs)?

A study published this month in the International Journal of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles from researchers at the University of Sunderland, UK, might provide an answer to that question. Mike Knowles, Helen Scott and David Baglee of the Institute for Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP) asked a number of drivers of different ages to take an EV around a standard route and monitored their driving style and energy consumption.

They found that efficiency could vary from 0.46 km to 1.89 km per percent of battery charge depending on driving style with the greatest efficiency. The team found that there are trends between age and efficiency and that these trends are dependent on the type of driving involved. The work might suggest for instance, that cautious older drivers may have a particularly economic driving style that could maximise the impact of energy regeneration during braking. The research is based on a small sample and the trends that emerge now warrant further investigation, the team says.

The number of EVs on the road is increasing rapidly. If current incentives for switching away from oil-derived fuels are maintained then growth will lead to 200 times the current number on the roads by 2030, the researchers say. However, for that or even greater growth the current driving range of EVs, which is about 150 km between charges, may need to increase to allow drivers to use such vehicles for long-distance journeys rather than short city-wide driving. The issue of the seven-hour re-charge cycle must also be addressed. In the meantime, education regarding efficiency and driving style is needed. Given an aging population in which the number of male drivers over the age of 70 is expected to double and the number of female drivers treble over the next 20 years

"If the social and economic benefits of EVs are to be fully realised then it is crucial that the reactions of their systems to different driving styles is understood so that driver training can be optimised alongside the ongoing development of the technology," the team concludes.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Inderscience, via AlphaGalileo.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Mike Knowles, Helen Scott and David Baglee. The effect of driving style on electric vehicle performance, economy and perception. Int. J. Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, 2012, 4, 228-247

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/matter_energy/electricity/~3/VHdLXYW2Rcw/121220101853.htm

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Neuroscience: The extraordinary ease of ordinal series

Dec. 20, 2012 ? Familiar categories whose members appear in orderly sequences are processed differently than others in the brain, according to new research published by David Eagleman in the open access journal Frontiers in Neuroscience on December 20th, 2012. The study suggests that ordinal sequences have a strong spatial quality and activate a region of the brain not thought to be directly involved in language acquisition and production. Also, sequences shown in the correct order stimulated less brain activity in comparison to sequences that were not in the correct order, implying that the brain could predict what was coming and needed less activity to understand it.

"When an event happens, the brain can use less energy in its response if it has already predicted that event," says Eagleman of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. "Fundamentally, its job is to make a good model of the world so that it can avoid being surprised. The better it predicts, the more energy it saves."

Previous research suggested that so-called ordinal categories have unique properties that are encoded differently from non-ordinal sequences.

In some forms of dementia, for example, memories for ordinal stimuli such as numbers are spared, while those for non-ordinal stimuli, such as the names of animals or fruits, are impaired. And in a neurological condition called synesthesia, sensory experiences such as colour are triggered by unrelated inputs, especially ordinal stimuli such as numbers, letters and months of the year.

Until now, however, little was known about the neural representation of ordinal sequences.

To investigate, David Eagleman and his team recruited 35 participants and used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure their brain activity while they performed an "oddball" task.

The participants were presented with lists of five words that appeared one after the other for half a second each. In one condition, ordinal words were shown in their correct order (e.g. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday). The second condition involved ordinal words presented in a scrambled order, and the third contained words belonging to non-ordinal categories.

Each participant completed 20 practice trials before being placed into the scanner to perform 120 more. During half of the trials, the fifth word in the sequence was replaced with an oddball stimulus, such as four days of the week followed by the word "banana," or four fruits followed by a number.

After completing each trial, the participants were simply required to indicate whether or not it contained an oddball stimulus, by pressing one of two buttons.

The researchers compared the brain scans obtained during the different trials, to determine which brain regions responded to ordinal words, and how the predictability of the word sequences affected the patterns of brain activity. Scrambled sequences (such as Sunday, Wednesday, Tuesday, Friday) elicited greater activity than did sequences in their correct order.

In other words, the more predictable a sequence of ordinal words was, the less brain activity it evoked. This, the researchers say, is direct evidence that long-term experience dampens neural activity. The brain pays little attention to stimuli that are familiar, but alarm bells start to ring when those that do not meet our expectations.

Further, the study revealed that the processing of ordinal words involves more activation of the right hemisphere than the left -- a surprise finding given that language is typically a left hemisphere phenomenon.

"We are just beginning experiments in which we teach people with synesthesia a new alphabet of arbitrary symbols -- what we call an 'alien' alphabet. Through the use of video games, we rigorously train them on this novel sequence. We predict that the arbitrary symbols will take on synesthetic colors, and that the representation of those symbols move from the left to the right hemisphere."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Frontiers, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Vani Pariyadath, Mark H. Plitt, Sara J. Churchill, David M. Eagleman. Why overlearned sequences are special: distinct neural networks for ordinal sequences. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2012; 6 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2012.00328

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/ZH0WfTQvTt0/121220080447.htm

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'Zero Dark Thirty' Torture Scene 'Grossly Inaccurate And Misleading,' Senators Say

Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) criticized Sony Pictures Entertainment for featuring "grossly inaccurate and misleading? torture scenes in the upcoming film ?Zero Dark Thirty."

The senators sent a letter to the studio Wednesday, insisting Sony has "an obligation to state that the role of torture in the hunt for Usama Bin Laden is not based on the facts, but rather part of the film?s fictional narrative. ?

In the film by Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, a harsh interrogation -- including waterboarding of the suspect -- reveals key information that leads to finding Osama bin Laden. The senators have previously disputed the scene as inaccurate.

HuffPost's Michael McAuliff reported on December 13:

Feinstein stuck by that postion in a brief interview this week. "Based on what I know, I don't believe it is true," said Feinstein, whose committee is set to vote Thursday on a classified 6,000-page report detailing an investigation into U.S. detention and interrogation techniques.

Feinstein was careful to say that her opinion doesn't specifically stem from the report, but she was echoed by other lawmakers.

"It's wrong. It's wrong. I know for a fact, not because of this report -- my own knowledge -- that waterboarding, torture, does not lead to reliable information ... in any case -- not this specific case -- in any case," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee and a survivor of torture during his captivity during the Vietnam War.

"I would argue that it's not waterboarding that led to bin Laden's demise," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a member of the Armed Services Committee. "It was a lot of good intelligence-gathering from the Obama and Bush administrations, continuity of effort, holding people at Gitmo, putting the puzzle together over a long period of time -- not torture."

Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal have defended the scene, releasing a statement that no "single scene taken in isolation fairly capture the totality of efforts the film dramatizes."

"We encourage people to see the film before characterizing it," Bigelow and Boal said.

Read the full text of the letter below:

We write to express our deep disappointment with the movie Zero Dark Thirty. We believe the film is grossly inaccurate and misleading in its suggestion that torture resulted in information that led to the location of Usama bin Laden.

We understand that the film is fiction, but it opens with the words ?based on first-hand accounts of actual events? and there has been significant media coverage of the CIA?s cooperation with the screenwriters. As you know, the film graphically depicts CIA officers repeatedly torturing detainees and then credits these detainees with providing critical lead information on the courier that led to the Usama Bin Laden. Regardless of what message the filmmakers intended to convey, the movie clearly implies that the CIA?s coercive interrogation techniques were effective in eliciting important information related to a courier for Usama Bin Laden. We have reviewed CIA records and know that this is incorrect.

Zero Dark Thirty is factually inaccurate, and we believe that you have an obligation to state that the role of torture in the hunt for Usama Bin Laden is not based on the facts, but rather part of the film?s fictional narrative.

Pursuant to the Senate Intelligence Committee?s recently-adopted Study of the CIA?s Detention and Interrogation program, Committee staff reviewed more than 6 million pages of records from the Intelligence Community. Based on that review, Senators Feinstein and Levin released the following information on April 30, 2012, regarding the Usama Bin Laden operation:

? The CIA did not first learn about the existence of the Usama Bin Laden courier from CIA detainees subjected to coercive interrogation techniques. Nor did the CIA discover the courier's identity from detainees subjected to coercive techniques. No detainee reported on the courier?s full name or specific whereabouts, and no detainee identified the compound in which Usama Bin Laden was hidden. Instead, the CIA learned of the existence of the courier, his true name and location through means unrelated to the CIA detention and interrogation program.

? Information to support this operation was obtained from a wide variety of intelligence sources and methods. CIA officers and their colleagues throughout the Intelligence Community sifted through massive amounts of information, identified possible leads, tracked them down, and made considered judgments based on all of the available intelligence.

? The CIA detainee who provided the most significant information about the courier provided the information prior to being subjected to coercive interrogation techniques.

In addition to the information above, former CIA Director Leon Panetta wrote Senator McCain in May 2011, stating:

??no detainee in CIA custody revealed the facilitator/courier?s full true name or specific whereabouts. This information was discovered through other intelligence means.?

We are fans of many of your movies, and we understand the special role that movies play in our lives, but the fundamental problem is that people who see Zero Dark Thirty will believe that the events it portrays are facts. The film therefore has the potential to shape American public opinion in a disturbing and misleading manner. Recent public opinion polls suggest that a narrow majority of Americans believe that torture can be justified as an effective form of intelligence gathering. This is false. We know that cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of prisoners is an unreliable and highly ineffective means of gathering intelligence.

The use of torture should be banished from serious public discourse for these reasons alone, but more importantly, because it is a violation of the Geneva Conventions, because it is an affront to America?s national honor, and because it is wrong. The use of torture in the fight against terrorism did severe damage to America?s values and standing that cannot be justified or expunged. It remains a stain on our national conscience. We cannot afford to go back to these dark times, and with the release of Zero Dark Thirty, the filmmakers and your production studio are perpetuating the myth that torture is effective. You have a social and moral obligation to get the facts right.

Please consider correcting the impression that the CIA?s use of coercive interrogation techniques led to the operation against Usama Bin Laden. It did not.

Thank you for your assistance on this important matter.

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/19/zero-dark-thirty-torture_n_2333906.html

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AP Interview: Syria rebels fear chemical weapons

In this Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 photo, Gen. Salim Idris, who defected from the Syrian army in July, looks on during an interview in Antakya, Turkey. Syrian rebels are closely monitoring the regime's chemical weapons sites, but don't have the means to seize and secure them, their newly elected military commander told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)

In this Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 photo, Gen. Salim Idris, who defected from the Syrian army in July, looks on during an interview in Antakya, Turkey. Syrian rebels are closely monitoring the regime's chemical weapons sites, but don't have the means to seize and secure them, their newly elected military commander told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)

In this Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, photo, Gen. Salim Idris, who defected from the Syrian army in July, speaks during an interview in Antakya, Turkey. Syrian rebels are closely monitoring the regime's chemical weapons sites, but don't have the means to seize and secure them, their newly elected military commander told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)

(AP) ? The new Syrian rebel military commander said he is "very afraid" a cornered Syrian President Bashar Assad will unleash chemical weapons on his own people but the opposition does not have the means to seize and secure them.

Gen. Salim Idris, who defected from the Syrian army in July, told The Associated Press in an interview the rebels could defeat the regime within a month if supplied with anti-aircraft weapons. Without foreign military help, he estimated it could take up to three months.

Assad's troops are stretched thin and have lost ground in recent months, particularly in northwestern Syria, but have kept rebel fighters pinned down with massive air bombardments. Idris claimed that more than 120,000 armed men are fighting Assad's military, a figure difficult to confirm independently in the chaos of the civil war.

Idris said the rebels are trying to monitor the regime's chemical weapons sites.

Syria is said to have one of the world's largest chemical arsenals. Earlier this week, Syria's U.N. ambassador said the regime would not use such weapons under any circumstances. However, recent U.S. intelligence reports indicated the regime may be readying chemical weapons and could be desperate enough to use them.

The regime "can and will" use chemical weapons unless the international community forces Assad to leave, Idris said. "We know exactly where they are and we are watching everything," Idris said. "But we don't have the capability to put them under our control."

The West has shown little desire to intervene militarily in Syria's conflict, but President Barack Obama has said the regime's use of chemical weapons against the rebels would be a "red line."

Earlier this week, the Syrian U.N. ambassador, Bashar Ja'afari, claimed extremist groups could use chemical weapons against Syrians and then blame the government.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Tuesday that the Obama administration holds the regime in Damascus responsible for securing the chemical weapons. She said that "any effort to abrogate that responsibility, any effort to shift that on to others is just (adding) further to the kind of garbage that we've seen from the regime."

Idris, a 55-year-old German-trained electronics professor, was chosen earlier this month as chief of staff by several hundred commanders of rebel units meeting in Turkey.

With the election of Idris and a 30-member military command center, Syria's opposition hopes to transform largely autonomous groups of fighters into a unified force. The reorganization came after Syria's political opposition won international recognition this month as the sole representative of the Syrian people.

The West has refused to supply Syria's opposition with weapons for fear they could fall into the hands of Islamic militants among the rebels, such as the al-Qaida-inspired Jabhat al-Nusra, which the U.S. designated a terrorist group last week.

Idris said al-Nusra chose not to be part of the rebel command.

He estimated that about a fifth of al-Nusra's fighters are foreigners, but said he believes they will leave Syria once the regime has been toppled. He said the Syrians in the group, which is believed to number several hundred fighters in all, could be brought back to a more mainstream Islam after the war.

"They are not terrorists," he said of al-Nusra.

Speaking in a hotel lobby in the southern Turkish town of Antakya near the Syrian border, Idris said the new military command represents the vast majority of these fighters, and that he has begun taking command inside Syria in recent days. The ex-general said he has set up five regional operations centers, staffing each with about 15 defected army officers.

He said he is frustrated at times with the lack of discipline among the rebels, the vast majority of them civilians without proper military training.

"We need a lot of patience," he said. "If we have a battle, some show up without invitation. They want to take part and shoot."

Idris said that on Tuesday, he spent much the day near the central city of Hama, observing a successful rebel attempt to capture five regime checkpoints.

Syria's conflict began with a popular uprising in March 2011, but quickly turned violent, with protesters taking up arms in response to a brutal regime crackdown. Activists say more than 40,000 Syrians have been killed and aid officials estimate some 3 million people have been displaced by the fighting.

Idris portrayed Assad as a powerless figurehead, saying decisions are made by his inner circle of fellow Alawites, followers of an offshoot of Shiite Islam and a minority in Syria. The opposition is dominated by majority Sunni Muslims.

The ruling elite won't surrender and is willing "to set everything on fire," warned Idris, who served in the military for 35 years, including as dean at the military's technical college in the city of Aleppo, now a major battleground.

U.S. officials have said the Syrian regime launched more than a half-dozen Scud missiles in recent days, the first time it has used such weapons in this conflict. Idris said he was aware of three launches, including two missiles that fell in Syria's eastern desert and a third on the outskirts of a town close to Aleppo.

Idris, citing information from rebel sympathizers within the regime, said Scud missiles are being trained at northwestern Syria, the area close to the Turkish border, and could be fired at any moment.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-12-19-Syria-Rebels/id-c60446e061694d9284e90bafe791f5f0

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How To Manage Credit Card Debts | Money Saving Tips | Saving ...

Credit cards get a terrible press, being widely blamed for getting people into debt, with experts warning that they should be avoided at all costs.
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Used in the right way, your flexible friend can help you to not just manage your money more efficiently, but in some cases earn some extra cash. However, once you have run up credit card debts they can be difficult to pay off, with the temptation to use the account for more and more purchases.

Below are some ideas about how to stay on top of your credit card debts?

1) Leave the card at home

Having the little voice of temptation in your purse or wallet makes it much easier to overspend. If you don?t carry the card, there is less chance that you will make unnecessary purchases. Of course there may be times when you need to use your card, but by not carrying it around, you will be making considered decisions rather than acting on the spur of the moment.

2) If you have no money in the bank, it?s OK to use your card as an emergency fund

However, this means using it to pay for urgent expenditure that you cannot afford and desperately need ? like a new boiler or getting your car through the MOT. It?s not there to buy a new pair of shoes.

3) Pay your bill on time

This may sound excruciatingly obvious but it is surprising how many people forget to pay their credit card bill. If you are late paying your bill you will have extra charges lumped onto your account and may also find your interest rate is hiked up by your lender (and yes, they have the right to do that ? it?s in the fine print).

4) If you have great credit, try and only use a card which offers a 0% interest rate

In the current economic climate these are only being offered to borrowers with a whiter than white record, so if you get declined, you are in good company. Just remember that even though there is no interest, you still have to pay the money back so it?s not free rein to go wild.

5) If you are lucky enough to qualify for either a 0% or reduced rate of interest, don?t breach the terms

This will cancel out the special rates immediately. And when the introductory period expires, look around for another lender offering a competitive deal and cut your current card up; rates often jump exorbitantly afterwards.

6) Explore reward or cash-back cards

Although you should keep spending on your card to a minimum, if you do have to use it and don?t have a 0% interest option, a reward or cash-back card may offer an alternative. Spending on a credit card is rarely a good idea, but if you have to do it, at least earn yourself some cash or benefits at the same time.

7) Remove the card from your purse or wallet

If you know you will struggle to be disciplined with yourself, lock the card away. Not carrying the card around might be enough to deter you from binging unnecessarily.

Credit card balances can be notoriously difficult to pay off, especially those with a high rate of interest. In some cases, the minimum payment may not even cover the interest being charged each month, meaning the outstanding balance will continue to grow, even if you aren?t using your card!

If you are struggling to pay off your credit cards, you may find help from a professional debt management firm, such as Baines and Ernst helps get you back on track.

When you have many different creditors, it can be a struggle to keep on top of what you owe and what you should be paying and if you don?t have enough money, trying to organise a reduced payment plan with many different companies can be overwhelming.

Baines and Ernst have been helping people with their debts since 1996 and have a team of specially trained advisors waiting at the end of a phone. If you decide a Baines and Ernst Debt Management Plan is the right solution for you, they will communicate with your creditors on your behalf, freeing you from the burden.

And one of the most attractive things about a Baines and Ernst Debt Management Plan is that you are not tied in to a contract, so if your finances improve you can pay off what you owe and become free of the shackles of debt.

Advertorial

Source: http://www.youcouldsave.co.uk/how-to-manage-credit-card-debts/

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Chicago Mayor Had ?Working Draft? of Closings

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Source: http://choicemedia.tv/2012/12/19/chicago-mayor-had-working-draft-of-closings/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chicago-mayor-had-working-draft-of-closings

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Destructive forest cockchafers: Gut microbes help beetles digest wood

Dec. 19, 2012 ? Apart from the common European cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha), the European forest cockchafer (Melolontha hippocastani) is the most common species of the Melolontha genus. These insects can damage huge areas of broadleaf trees and conifers in woodlands and on heaths. Cockchafers house microbes in their guts that help them to digest their woody food, such as lignocelluloses and xylans. Scientists of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, have now performed comprehensive RNA analyses and identified the microbiota of cockchafer larvae feeding on roots and of the adult beetles feeding on leaves.

Surprisingly, the guts of adult beetles house the same microbial species that were present in the larval midgut ? despite having metamorphosized from larva to beetle. These microbes include clostridia as well as other bacterial species that are as yet unknown. Moreover, only a small percentage of the microbes living in the gut originated from the roots or leaves the larvae or beetles were feeding on. These microbes seem to be characteristic bacterial symbionts with which the forest cockchafer has long been associated.

Metamorphosis is a fascinating process: A caterpillar or larva, feeding on roots below-ground or leaves above-ground (depending on the species), turns into a butterfly or a beetle after a stage of pupation and quiescence. The cylindrical bodies of larvae are quite unspectacular in comparison to the colorful and delicate butterflies. On top of that, it is usually the larvae that cause the most damage and threaten agricultural and silvicultural yields by feeding on plants. Among these herbivores is the European forest cockchafer (Melolontha hippocastani), a major pest of trees.

During the pupal stage, the insects stop feeding completely. A fundamental transformation starts, a radical internal conversion that changes every single larval organ. The tissue and organs of the larva are converted into the new organs of the butterfly or beetle. Yet the metamorphosis of some insect species is still not completely understood. What happens to the gut microbes that are needed for digesting plant tissues and therefore important for the insect's survival as soon as the larva is transformed? Are there any microbes present in the gut of the new beetle and if so, which?

PhD candidate Erika Arias-Cordero from Costa Rica addressed these questions. Thanks to modern and sensitive detection methods, she was able to get an overview of the microbial species present in the guts of larvae and adult beetles. In so-called culture-independent studies, more than 300 individual RNA sequence segments were identified that were assigned to the different taxa of known classes of microbes. Sequences of bacterial ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) were determined that could be distinguished from insect RNA (18S rRNA). "Using this method, we could be pretty sure we had identified all classes of microbes present in the gut. A typical microbiological approach, for which bacteria from the gut would have to be cultivated first, cannot guarantee this, because we do not know the culture media, especially for microbial species we do not know yet," says the scientist.

A total of nine different classes of bacteria were found in the cockchafer gut: ?-proteobacteria, ?-proteobacteria, ?-proteobacteria, actinobacteria, bacilli, clostridia, erysipelotrichi, negativicutes and sphingobacteria. Some are able to digest lignocelluloses and xylans, typical wood components. Interestingly, many classes of bacteria that were identified in the larval midgut were also found ? after metamorphosis ? in the gut of the adult cockchafer, even though the larval gut completely empties during the pupal stage. Moreover, Arias-Cordero found that the gut microbiome of the larvae overlaps only minimally with the microbiome of soil and root material. In other words, most microbes present in the larvae and beetles do not originate from the digested food. "This means that the forest cockchafer per se, that is, the larva hatching from the egg, e.g. via secretions passed from the mother, already has a basic set of bacterial symbionts which this insect species has co-evolved with over thousands of years," explains Wilhelm Boland, director at the institute.

This result confirms again the assumption that all higher organisms, such as plants, insects and animals (including humans), are equipped with microbial symbionts. Without these beneficial microbes, we could not live and survive; they must be classified as an integral part of our body.

Larvae and beetles, as well as soil, root and leaf samples, were collected in forests near Mannheim and Iffezheim. The Forstliche Versuchs- und Forschungsanstalt Baden-W?rttemberg (Forest Research Center) in Freiburg and the Fritz Lipmann Institute in Jena were also involved in this research project. [JWK/AO]

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Erika Arias-Cordero, Liyan Ping, Kathrin Reichwald, Horst Delb, Mathias Platzer, Wilhelm Boland. Comparative Evaluation of the Gut Microbiota Associated with the Below- and Above-Ground Life Stages (Larvae and Beetles) of the Forest Cockchafer, Melolontha hippocastani. PLoS ONE, 2012; 7 (12): e51557 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051557

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/JaoJu29PLtc/121219133427.htm

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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

sapiens siana: Daily Tips for Business: Solo Professionals ... - Benito ...

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Source: http://simpson6987.typepad.com/blog/2012/12/sapiens-siana-daily-tips-for-business-solo-professionals-benito.html

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Intelliskin Posture Apparel Review - Nikol Klein's Health & Fitness Tips

intelliskin sports bra

One of the reasons that my personal training clients come to me is to improve their posture. With my ballet background, they know that I have knowledge about proper posture. Let?s face it- when you?re not thinking about it, it is hard to constantly stand with shoulders back, chest up, etc. So we all eventually end up in a slump. Not to mention how our breasts can weigh us down as Women, forcing our shoulders to round forward. Enter Intelliskin Posture Cue? Sports Bra.

I was fortunate enough to be able to try both sports bras: the Zipper Empower PostureCue?? Sports Bra (pictured above) and the regular Empower Sports Bra. These sports bras are designed to improve your posture as you wear them by supporting you in the front and the back. The unique ?PostureCue? that this sports bra provides gently helps retrain and align your spine and shoulders.

intelliskin sports bra

Back view of the Zipper Empower PostureCue? Sports Bra

Sizing, Fit, and Feel- The Intelliskin Sports Bras are designed to fit snug, almost like second skin or Under Armour. They come in both black and white. I was between sizes and decided to go with the smaller size.? Immediately after putting it on, you will feel exactly what this product is all about. You will feel a more open chest, shoulders slightly pinched back (how we?re supposed to naturally stand). This product is extremely breathable and the mesh panels in the back not only ensure proper posture, but add to the breath-ability as well (pictured above). It looks great as well!

Function- These sports bras are great for everyone whether you are an athlete, a fitness enthusiast, or someone who simply suffers from shoulder and back pain. I have worn these sports bras for all types of activities like running, weight lifting, and even daily computer work. In all honesty, I didn?t want to take it off. My clients are always on the search for the perfect sports bra and, for me, I know that I have found it.

intelliskin instagram nikolklein

Empower Sports Bra in white & Eve shirt in Black/Silver

Recommendations- As a personal trainer, I know that all of my clients can benefit from the Intelliskin Empower Sports Bras. It is great for those who sit at a computer, athletes, and gym-goers. These products are even Chiropractor approved! I took my gear to my Chiropractor this week and he commented on the great design and support. Advice for those of you with sensitive skin- Make sure you hand wash your garment in cold water before putting it on?my sensitive skin started to itch after putting it on straight out of the packaging. Also, if you are a small frame with larger breasts, I might recommend going with the larger size as the compression could be a bit intense on the girls and the sizing chart on the website does not mention cup size.

On a side note: As a fitness expert I receive numerous products in the mail to sample and test every month but never have I received a product that I love this much. I am looking forward to offering this sports bra to my clients, family and friends! For more information about Intelliskin check out their website www.intelliskin.net.

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Source: http://nikolkleinblog.com/2012/12/09/intelliskin-posture-apparel-review/

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60 Must-Read Health and Fitness Blogs for 2012 | So You Want To ...

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Source: http://smiles00.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/60-must-read-health-and-fitness-blogs-for-2012/

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