Monday 29 April 2013

Officials: 2 dead in building collapse in France

(AP) ? An official says an explosion at a residential building and subsequent partial collapse of the edifice has left at least two people dead and injured nine others in France's Champagne country.

A local rescue official says more than 100 rescue workers, firefighters, and bomb and gas experts were deployed to the building in the subsidized housing complex that collapsed Sunday morning in the city of Reims, east of Paris.

Reims mayor Adeline Hazan told France's BFM television that "a very powerful explosion" had taken place but the cause was unclear. She said the bodies of the two people killed remained under the rubble.

The rescue official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter, said he couldn't immediately confirm whether an explosion had taken place.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-04-28-EU-France-Building-Collapse/id-a59fa22a72d246938281085b0dfc58ce

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Oil rises over $93 despite US growth letdown

BANGKOK (AP) ? Oil prices rose above $93 per barrel Monday amid hopes that the European Central Bank, meeting later this week, would act to shore up economic growth.

Benchmark crude for June delivery was up 38 cents to $93.38 a barrel at midafternoon Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 64 cents to close at $93 in New York on Friday after the U.S. government released economic growth figures that disappointed markets.

Growth accelerated to an annual rate of 2.5 percent from January through March from an anemic pace in the previous quarter. Markets were expecting growth of 3 percent or better.

The disappointing growth figure for the economy has reinforced expectations that Federal Reserve policymakers will stick with their easy money policies when they meet Wednesday in Washington. Analysts believe the European Central Bank will head in the same direction when it meets Thursday.

Michael Hewson of CMC Markets said in an email that "there is increasing speculation that the ECB could well cut interest rates this week."

Brent crude, which is used to price oil from the North Sea used by many U.S. refiners, dropped 7 cents to $103.09 on the ICE futures exchange in London.

In other energy futures trading on Nymex:

? Wholesale gasoline was down 1.7 cents at $2.811 a gallon.

? Heating oil fell 1.3 cents to $2.853 a gallon.

? Natural gas added 3.6 cents to $4.259.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/oil-rises-over-93-despite-us-growth-letdown-100400395.html

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PFT: 'Phins owner blames Sparano for dysfunction

Dee Millner, Sheldon RichardsonAP

After analyzing the?draft needs of all 32 teams, PFT will review how well each team addressed those needs. Up next: The New York Jets.

What they needed: Quarterback, pass rusher, wide receiver, tight end, safety, offensive line

Who they got:
Round 1 (9): Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
Round 1 (13): Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
Round 2 (39): Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Round 3 (72): Brian Winters, G, Kent State
Round 5 (141): Oday Aboushi, OL, Virginia
Round 6 (178): William Campbell, G, Michigan
Round 7 (215): Tommy Bohanon, FB, Wake Forest

Where they hit:?Nick Saban won?t like that I?m writing this, but Milliner fills the hole (on paper, anyway) opened by the trade of Darrelle Revis. Winters, Aboushi and Campbell definitely help an offensive line that badly needed younger bodies to increase the talent level and competition for jobs during offseason work. Bohanon fills the need for a player who could conceivably be called ?T-Bo? if and when the Jets finally say goodbye to Tim Tebow.

The mess the Jets have made at quarterback obscures it a bit, but it was worth the shot on?Smith at the 39th pick. He may not wind up being the long-term answer for the Jets, but acquiring him allows the Jets to move on from Mark Sanchez and that?s a win for the team right now. It?s easier to let Smith learn from the bench if David Garrard is the guy taking snaps than it would be if Sanchez were getting booed off the field every week, if only because it sells the idea that there are no quick fixes for a team that needs a total overhaul.

Where they missed: Where are the pass rushers? Richardson is a good player and Rex Ryan will put him to good use, but there?s still no one who scares you coming off the edge. Maybe Quinton Coples gets more time in that role with Richardson on board, but it wasn?t an area they addressed directly.

Where are the receivers? Another reason to resist starting Smith would be the total absence of new offensive weapons added over the three days of the draft. The Jets had their eyes on Tavon Austin, but no one else tempted them once he went to St. Louis and the receiver situation with the Jets is still an ugly one.?No safety either, as the Jets left several of their biggest needs unattended.

Impact rookies: Milliner will be expected to start from day one, which means he?s got to take as much time as he needs to be fully healthy after surgery to repair a torn labrum. He won?t be Revis, but the Jets will be strong at corner all the same if he?s ready for the NFL. Richardson is going to play a lot, although his exact role will be defined once the Jets start working as a team. Winters will probably challenge Stephen Peterman for a starting spot at guard. He and Aboushi can also play right tackle, where Austin Howard is hardly irreplaceable.

Long-term prospects: With Ryan?s future beyond this year up in the air, it?s hard to know what to make of the Smith pick. Is he going to have to learn two offenses in two seasons while playing under a coach who doesn?t want him? Or does picking a quarterback who most believe needs some time and the two defensive pieces in the first round signal a desire to stick with Ryan beyond this season? The other picks are guys who can work under any system, more or less, but the quarterback will certainly be impacted one way or another. And the quarterback will ultimately decide how things look in the long term for all involved.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/27/ross-blames-sparano-for-dolphins-dysfunction/related/

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Need some relationship advice - Empty Closets - A safe online ...

So I have known this girl for 7 weeks, I met her on facebook because she was one of my friends best friends. We started talking on status and the next thing I know we are both flirting with each other, we starting talking on messages and I asked her if she wanted to met with me so we could see each over for the first time.

It went really well and the other 5 dates as well, one date for every week but these last to weeks we haven't been able to meet up which I am finding upsetting and I think not seeing each other is starting to affect the relationship badly. She has started talking less, her answers are shorter, it is hard/impossible to keep a conversation going with her and I just get the feeling she isn't interested anymore.

I don't want to be over reacting but I am starting to think she doesn't want to be in a relationship with me anymore, I haven't lost interest in her at all but I do find it hard to get her to open up to me. I just don't know what to do, I want to meet up with her again but it would have to be next Saturday because of college. I am worried if I ask though that she will not want/able to come.

Can anyone please tell me what I should do! I know I am going to have to talk to her about it but I am seriously thinking that if I do she is going to break up with me Please help!!

Source: http://emptyclosets.com/forum/family-friends-relationships/92409-need-some-relationship-advice.html

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Thursday 25 April 2013

Argentina's 'Grandmothers' seek pope's assistance

VATICAN CITY (AP) ? Members of the Argentine human rights group "Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo" have asked Pope Francis for help finding still-missing children taken from political prisoners during the country's 1979-83 military dictatorship.

Estela de Carlotto, president of the group, met briefly with the Argentine pope after Wednesday's general audience in St. Peter's Square. She handed him a written request that he authorize the opening of archives from the Vatican and the Catholic Church in Argentina in hopes of finding clues about the whereabouts of the children.

The organization estimates that around 500 babies were taken from their mothers while they were detained by the military.

De Carlotto told reporters after the meeting that Francis had told her: "'You can count on me. You can count on us.'"

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/argentinas-grandmothers-seek-popes-assistance-202221892.html

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Wednesday 24 April 2013

Fahad Hassan: A Message to Americans: Let's Increase Teacher ...

When I first came across Randy Turner?s article on why young professionals should not become teachers, I was pretty upset. Though I have no problem with Mr. Turner offering his opinion, nor do I disagree with him on a number of points, Mr. Turner?s analysis of the teaching profession is nevertheless incomplete. For those not entirely immersed in the education industry, I would like to add some context to his thoughts. As an education entrepreneur, I do not claim to understand every nuance of the classroom. I am not a teacher, but I believe I can offer some additional insight as another key participant in our educational conversations. I spend hours of my life on a daily basis visiting classrooms, Skyping with teachers, participating in educational panels, speaking at education conferences, and collaborating with educators at various levels from around the world. I continue to be amazed at the level of passion and dedication I see from our teachers, and the awesome discourse taking place in our society on education reform.

Mr. Turner mentions several key points of discussion, including common core standards, self-learning, student evaluations, merit-based pay and tenure, among others, but his thoughts on guiding young professionals away from teaching and the general lack of value our society places on teachers are what truly caught my attention.

He said, ?If I were 18 years old and deciding how I want to spend my adult years, the last thing I would want to become is a classroom teacher. Classroom teachers, especially those who are just out of college and entering the profession, are more stressed and less valued than at any previous time in our history.?

As someone whose entire life revolves around education, I can say with complete certainty that these points should come with some major disclaimers. First of all, I greatly value teachers. My family, fellow entrepreneurs, and our President all value teachers. There are easier ways for me to make money, but I choose to work in education for a reason. I?m passionate about the impact education can have on a person?s life. It?s reflected in the sacrifices my parents made when they emigrated from Bangladesh because of the value they placed on the American Education System. And it?s constantly a reference made by our president as recently as a few months ago at his State of the Union speech,

?Teachers matter. So instead of bashing them, or defending the status quo, let?s offer schools a deal. Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones. In return, grant schools flexibility: To teach with creativity and passion; to stop teaching to the test; and to replace teachers who just aren?t helping kids learn.?

Sure, there are folks out there who don?t understand the entire educational eco-system in our country, or are too lazy to effectively dive into the dynamics within a school, or those who may randomly think ?teachers suck and are the problem, not the solution.? But people who think like this are really no different than teachers who claim that they ?aren?t valued by anyone.? This blame game needs to stop and is something I do not advocate on any level.

While I agree that a major problem here in the U.S. is that we don?t put teachers on a high enough pedestal within our cultural paradigm, that doesn?t mean the majority of American?s don?t value teachers. There are many ways to value teachers. As an entrepreneur, I think about the problem at hand and how to effectively, creatively and efficiently solve that problem. Everything else is a distraction. Pointing fingers at one another, complaining about the system without recommendations on how to fix things, or expecting unreasonable outcomes simply stalls progress and are some of the biggest distractions in the education conversation. Teacher pay, for example, is an issue Mr. Turner brings up that needs more focused attention, not just general thoughts that get lost in the mix.

Teachers are underpaid in our society, but to not trust evaluations from administrators above them or to pick and choose which feedback to accept from students beneath them (as Mr. Turner mentioned he did) is not the way to get the pay problem solved. Let me be loud and clear: every teacher in this country should be paid a six-figure salary. We found $2 trillion to fight the Iraq War, I know we can find a way to increase the average teacher pay from $56,000 for 3.7 million teachers to $100,000 or greater. We have the money to make this happen and I believe most teachers deserve it. Those not worthy, qualified, or passionate should leave teaching and pursue other dreams. Teaching is no different than any other profession, and I would encourage those who love education, but choose not to teach, to help in other ways. Become an education entrepreneur, lobby Congress for more rights, help reform the Teachers Union to better align with outcomes, and get involved with your local school board. All of this is in our control.

And finally, with regards to the difficulty and stress associated with being a teacher, I fully empathize due to my own world-view as a struggling entrepreneur. I went years without a paycheck to help identify and improve teaching in this country with the aid of technology. I did this without any guarantee of funding, success or market adoption. But make no mistake ? it was entirely my choice to pursue this path in life.

Teachers have that same choice, and if young entrants in this field decide the profession is not for them, that is OKAY. People switch professions all the time, and it?s tough to understand what we?re meant to do sometimes without immersing ourselves in the task at hand. But to tell young graduates not to even try teaching ? as Mr. Turner does ? is something I?m completely against. It goes against everything I?ve ever been taught in my life by my parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors ? and I strongly disagree with Mr. Turner on this point. It simply isn?t the American way. The power structure in our country works from the ground up ? not the top down. President Obama showed us how powerful this can be in his first election campaign. He laid a grassroots path and showed us it can work. Let?s take that formula and find ways to bridge it into our everyday lives. Let?s bridge it to education reform, medical reform, immigration reform, and others. Let?s take back control and not simply give up or avoid professions just because they are hard. Let?s fight to give teachers the help, pay, respect and recognition they deserve ? and most importantly, have earned. We need more teachers entering the workforce ? not less.

Source: http://www.uspoliticalnewswire.com/blogs/fahad-hassan-a-message-to-americans-lets-increase-teacher-value/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fahad-hassan-a-message-to-americans-lets-increase-teacher-value

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Tuesday 23 April 2013

Fish was on the menu for early flying dinosaur

Apr. 22, 2013 ? University of Alberta-led research reveals that Microraptor, a small flying dinosaur was a complete hunter, able to swoop down and pickup fish as well as its previously known prey of birds and tree dwelling mammals.

U of A paleontology graduate student Scott Persons says new evidence of Microrpator's hunting ability came from fossilized remains in China. "We were very fortunate that this Microraptor was found in volcanic ash and its stomach content of fish was easily identified."

Prior to this, paleontologists believed microraptors which were about the size of a modern day hawk, lived in trees where they preyed exclusively on small birds and mammals about the size of squirrels.

"Now we know that Microraptor operated in varied terrain and had a varied diet," said Persons. "It took advantage of a variety of prey in the wet, forested environment that was China during the early Cretaceous period, 120 million years ago."

Further analysis of the fossil revealed that its teeth were adapted to catching slippery, wiggling prey like fish. Dinosaur researchers have established that most meat eaters had teeth with serrations on both sides which like a steak knife helped the predator saw through meat.

But the Microraptor's teeth are serrated on just one side and its teeth are angled forwards.

"Microraptor seems adapted to impale fish on its teeth. With reduced serrations the prey wouldn't tear itself apart while it struggled," said Persons. "Microraptor could simply raise its head back, the fish would slip off the teeth and be swallowed whole, no fuss no muss."

Persons likens the Microraptor's wing configuration to a bi-plane. "It had long feathers on its forearms, hind legs and tail," said Persons. "It was capable of short, controlled flights."

This is the first evidence of a flying raptor, a member of the Dromaeosaur family of dinosaurs to successfully prey on fish.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Alberta, 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. Lida Xing, W. Scott Persons, Phil R. Bell, Xing Xu, Jianping Zhang, Tetsuto Miyashita, Fengping Wang, Philip J. Currie. Piscivory in the Feathered Dinosaur Microraptor. Evolution, 2013; DOI: 10.1111/evo.12119

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_science/~3/hLxoXIA8_9k/130422154925.htm

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Sunday 21 April 2013

Jude Law PETA Letter Asks WTO To Uphold European Union Seal Fur Ban

  • Gisele B?ndchen

    Although she may be one of the <a href="http://www.askmen.com/celebs/women/models/15_gisele_bundchen.html" target="_hplink">most beautiful women in the world</a>, Gisele B?ndchen is much more than just a pretty face. Named the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/27/gisele-best-green-celebrity_n_1115242.html#s429728" target="_hplink">2011 Greenest International Celebrity of the Year</a>, B?ndchen devotes an extraordinary amount of her time and money to environmental causes. She has been a Goodwill Ambassador for the <a href="http://www.unep.org/" target="_hplink">United Nations Environment Program</a> since 2009, works with the <a href="http://vimeo.com/32243308" target="_hplink">Brazilian movement A Drop Of Water (Gota D'?gua)</a>, and is involved in her <a href="http://hqweb.unep.org/gwa/ambassadors/gisele/" target="_hplink">hometown's Clean Water Project</a>. And with the Amazon rainforest as one of her main passions, B?ndchen co-hosted the Rainforest Alliance annual gala in 2009. For more information on how <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20261937,00.html" target="_hplink">Mrs. B?ndchen-Brady</a> stays eco-friendly, <a href="http://blog.giselebundchen.com.br/en/" target="_hplink">check out her green blog</a>!

  • Video: Stunning Gisele Bundchen Helps the Environment

    Gisele Bundchen stays fashionable to represent at a UN environmental summit in New York.

  • Robert Redford

    Actor <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000602/" target="_hplink">Robert Redford</a> is a long time environmental advocate and a trustee of the Natural Resources Defense Council and founder of <a href="http://www.sundance.org/about/" target="_hplink">the Sundance Institute</a>. <br> A <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-redford/" target="_hplink">long time blogger for HuffPost, Redford</a> has written many pieces dissecting the impact of fracking on our planet, and the cozy relationship Big Oil has with the government. <br> In a June blog piece, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-redford/fossil-fuel-subsidies_b_1605146.html" target="_hplink">Redford wrote about energy subsidies</a> and the Rio+20 conference. "We should not be subsidizing the destruction of our planet," Redford affirmed. "Fossil fuels are literally cooking our planet, polluting our air and draining our wallets. Why should we continue to reward companies to do that?"

  • Top 10 Fun Facts About Robert Redford

    Learn 10 fun facts about actor Robert Redford. Redford played on the University of Colorado baseball team as a pitcher. He hates watching his own films. He was originally considered for the part of ?Michael Corleone? in ?The Godfather?. Redford founded the ?Sundance Film Festival?.

  • Adrian Grenier

    Adrian Grenier may share good looks and acting chops with his <a href="http://www.hbo.com/entourage/index.html" target="_hplink">Entourage alter-ego Vince</a>, but the similarities end when it comes to extracurricular activities. Unlike the hard-partying Vince, Grenier is an activist who uses his fame to better impact the world around him. He created <a href="http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/alter-eco/alter-eco.html" target="_hplink">a TV show called "Alter Eco"</a> for Discovery Channel's Planet Green, <a href="http://www.shft.com/" target="_hplink">the website SHFT.com</a>, which promotes sustainable living through various multimedia, and <a href="http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/natural-beauty-fashion/blogs/adrian-grenier-gets-eco-fashionable" target="_hplink">supports eco-friendly fashion</a>. In addition, <a href="http://oceana.org/en/about-us/people-partners/celebrity-supporters/adrian-grenier" target="_hplink">he is an Oceana ambassador</a> and works with <a href="http://www.charitywater.org/" target="_hplink">charity:water to bring safe drinking water to third world countries</a>. And did we mention that <a href="http://www.ecorazzi.com/2008/03/10/adrian-grenier-wins-blue-sky-award-for-environmental-activism/" target="_hplink">he won the Blue Sky award in 2008</a> for his environmental activism?

  • Entourage's Adrian Grenier Makes a Splash at Charity Event

    Adrian Grenier, model and activist Lauren Bush, actress Kristin Chenoweth and a ballroom of glamorous New Yorkers show up at a December 2009 ball to support charity: water, an organization created to help bring clean drinking water to communities around the world.

  • Meryl Streep

    While Streep is often considered one of the greatest screen sirens in history, her passion for environmental health is no act. In 1989, she created <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlighthealth/2002-10-18-streep-healthy-kids_x.htm" target="_hplink">Mothers and Others, after reading a Natural Resources Defense Council report</a> regarding pesticides in produce, according to USA Today. The group taught consumers about chemicals and toxins that have become commonplace for non-organic foods. <br> Although <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1594/is_4_12/ai_76020609/" target="_hplink">the organization shuttered in 2001</a>, Streep's <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlighthealth/2002-10-18-streep-healthy-kids_x.htm" target="_hplink">fight for environmental food awareness</a> continues today. She is involved with <a href="http://healthychild.org/about/" target="_hplink">Children's Health Environmental Coalition</a>, a group that aims to protect children from toxins in water and food sources.

  • Top 10 Fun Facts About Meryl Streep

    Learn 10 fun facts about actress Meryl Streep. While filming "Death Becomes Her," Meryl unintentionally scarred Goldie Hawn's cheek with a shovel. She inadvertently left her Academy Award for Kramer vs. Kramer" on the back of a toilet. Streep was raised in New Jersey and graduated from Vassar and the Yale School of Drama. As a teen, she was a cheerleader and homecoming queen.

  • Mark Ruffalo

    A longtime green advocate, things got personal for Mark Ruffalo when hydraulic fracturing or "hydrofracturing" began to disrupt his hometown in upstate New York's Sullivan County. Ruffalo educated himself on the complex practice and has been using his fame to call attention to this destructive method of natural gas extraction. The A-list activist, who founded <a href="http://www.waterdefense.org/" target="_hplink">Water Defense</a>, even landed himself on a U.S. terror watch list for organizing screenings of a documentary about natural gas drilling. <br> Ruffalo specifically <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alison-rose-levy/northeast-fracking_b_968907.html" target="_hplink">seeks to fight gas companies' positive spin</a> about the arguably destructive practice. In one memorable forum, he challenged their claim that the extraction method would bring much-needed work to low-income communities. "You don't put everyone else in jeopardy just because its going to bring jobs," he said on the local news, "you don't bring your daughter to the red light district because you're having hard times."

  • Actor Mark Ruffalo on Hydraulic Fracturing

    In an interview for All Terrain, actor Mark Ruffalo discusses his opposition to the natural gas extraction process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

  • Alec Baldwin

    Actor and activist <a href="http://www.alecbaldwin.com/" target="_hplink">Alec Baldwin</a>, know for his role on the sitcom "30 Rock" and for movies like "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318374/" target="_hplink">The Cooler</a>" and "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/" target="_hplink">The Departed</a>," is a a staunch advocate for clean energy. <br> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/02/alec-baldwin-nuclear-power-dirty-energy_n_946555.html" target="_hplink">Baldwin told HuffPost's Lynne Peeples</a>, "The biggest problem in the anti-nuclear movement is the constant big lie, and the constant assertion, metronomic assertion, in the industry, that nuclear is clean power." <br> He also tackled the oil industry, saying, "In fairness, the oil industry is ... a bunch of a very, very smart, very shrewd, very necessary, industrialists who did their part and did what was asked of them to get us to where we are now. Now it's time for them to step aside in terms of their primary role." <br> In April 2011, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alec-baldwin/the-big-lie-of-clean-nucl_b_844161.html" target="_hplink">Baldwin blogged for HuffPost about nuclear power</a>, writing, "Fukushima shows us that utility companies reap all of the benefits, while we assume all of the risks."

  • All Terrain: Alec Baldwin

  • Natalie Portman

    Portman, a vegetarian since childhood, turned full-on vegan after reading Jonathan Safran Foer's book "Eating Animals" last year (although she went back to being a vegetarian during her pregnancy) . <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/natalie-portman/jonathan-safran-foers-iea_b_334407.html" target="_hplink">She blogged on The Huffington Post</a>, "The human cost of factory farming -- both the compromised welfare of slaughterhouse workers and, even more, the environmental effects of the mass production of animals -- is staggering." <br> She traveled to Rwanda to film <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/natalie_portman.php" target="_hplink">a documentary about endangered gorillas</a>, she's designed her own <a href="http://www.ecorazzi.com/2007/12/25/razzi-snap-natalie-portman-announces-new-vegan-shoe-collection/" target="_hplink">vegan shoes</a>, and is now even sporting <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/07/natalie-portman-reveals-e_n_805946.html" target="_hplink">an eco-friendly engagement ring</a> from husband Benjamin Millepied. Portman's passion for the environment began at a young age - she can even be seem dancing in a very...<em>unique</em> <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/06/vintage_video_n.php" target="_hplink">environmental video as a World Patrol Kid</a>.

  • Natalie Portman Quits Vegan Diet

    Natalie Portman's pregnancy cravings take over as the star ditches her uber strict vegan diet for vegetarianism

  • Brad Pitt

    Although he is not the family <a href="http://www.un.org/works/goingon/refugees/angelina_story.html" target="_hplink">UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador</a>, Brad Pitt is one of Hollywood's leading green men. The award-winning actor supports many different facets of green activism, namely animal rights, sustainable living, and green building. Pitt co-founded the "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/31/brad-pitts-make-it-right-_n_699620.html" target="_hplink">Make It Right</a>" foundation, which rebuilds homes in Katrina-torn New Orleans using affordable eco-friendly technology. <br> He also hosted a <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/culture/brad-pitt-hosts-pbs-series-on-green-design.html" target="_hplink">PBS series</a> focused on green design in 2006, and, together with Angelina Jolie, <a href="http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/blogs/brad-pitt-angelina-jolie-donate-2m-to-african-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_hplink">donated $2 million to the African Wildlife Sanctuary</a>, says MNN.

  • Kanye and Rihanna Join Brad Pitt to Help the ?Make It Right? Foundation

    Rihanna, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg and Cheryl Crow join Brad Pitt to help the ?Make it Right? foundation raise vital funds for the completion of 150 environmentally friendly homes for victims of 2005?s Hurricane Katrina.

  • George Clooney

    When it comes to green activism, George Clooney doesn't mess around. "You don't want to be a spokesperson unless you are absolutely committed to a cause," <a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1668446,00.html" target="_hplink">the actor said in an interview</a> with TIME magazine. And according to his own logic, Clooney is a total environmental buff. MSN reported that after his role in Syriana, Clooney helped launch <a href="http://news.uk.msn.com/environment/green-living/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=150371643&page=5" target="_hplink">Oil Change</a>, a campaign to diminish America's oil dependence. He is also a major human rights activist, protesting in favor of aid for Sudan and Darfur, and even going so far as to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/16/george-clooney-arrested-dc-_n_1353441.html" target="_hplink">get arrested at a protest in March 2012</a>. Clooney drew <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinehoward/2012/03/16/george-clooney-arrested-protesting-darfur-sudan/" target="_hplink">a parallel between human rights issues and climate disasters</a> in 2010, when he asked <em>Today Show</em>'s Ann Curry "If you knew a tsunami, or Katrina or a Haiti earthquake was coming, what would you do to save people?" The rugged actor also tries to stay green in his everyday life. According to MSN, <a href="http://green.in.msn.com/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=3680004&page=4" target="_hplink">he drives two electric cars</a>, and was the cover photo for <a href="http://www.hollywood.com/news/Clooney_and_Roberts_Go_Green_for_Vanity_Fair/3488954" target="_hplink">Vanity Fair's first green issue.</a>

  • George Clooney Arrested

    Actor George Clooney has been arrested following a protest outside the Sudanese embassy in Washington DC.

  • Leonardo Dicaprio

    DiCaprio is a long-standing environmentalist, who sits on the boards of the Natural Resources Defense Council and Global Green USA. He has created <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/05/dicaprio200705" target="_hplink">the environmental documentary "The 11th Hour,"</a> where he said, "It's clear humans have had a devastating impact on our planet's ecological web of life. Because we've waited, because we've turned our backs on nature's warning signs, and because our political and corporate leaders have consistently ignored the overwhelming scientific evidence, the challenges we face are that much more difficult. We are in the environmental age whether we like it or not." <br> And just this winter, DiCaprio made headlines for surviving a plane scare in order to get to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/23/vladimir-putin-leonardo-d_n_787800.html" target="_hplink">a summit on saving the world's tigers</a>, donating $1 million to the World Wildlife Fund.

  • Top 10 Fun Facts About Leonardo DiCaprio

    Learn 10 fun facts about actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Originally, Leo's agent wanted him to change his name to Lenny Williams. He revealed he has OCD. He can speak some German. He was named Leonardo after kicking his mom in the womb, while she stared at Leonardo DaVinci's art. As a child, he was fired from the show 'Romper Room' for bad behavior.

  • Alicia Silverstone

    Once known as the archetypical valley girl Cher in the movie "Clueless," Alicia Silverstone now makes her name as the face of vegan beauty. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Kind-Diet-Simple-Feeling/dp/1605296449" target="_hplink">She wrote a diet book</a> called "The Kind Diet" <a href="http://www.thekindlife.com/about" target="_hplink">which she says</a> "is about living your healthiest and happiest life to the fullest, while taking care of mama Earth at the same time." She also regularly updates her blog, <a href="http://www.thekindlife.com/" target="_hplink">The Kind Life</a>, with vegan recipes, beauty tips, and other Earth-friendly finds from the celebrity fashionista. Silverstone recently <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/27/alicia-silverstone-pre-chewing_n_1458678.html" target="_hplink">created a cyber-windstorm for pre-chewing her son Bear Blu's food</a>. "It's natural," <a href="http://www.etonline.com/news/121146_Silverstone_Responds_to_Mouth_Feeding_Controversy/index.html" target="_hplink">she defended herself</a> to <em>Entertainment Tonight</em>.

  • Alicia Silverstone's Vegan Food Ideas

    Alicia Silverstone shares some of the simple, healthy, delicious meals from The Kind Diet.

  • Sting and Trudie Styler

    In 1989, Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler, formed the Rainforest Foundation Fund to preserve rainforests and protect indigenous populations within them. "Sting and I founded the Rainforest Fund after seeing with our own eyes the destruction of one of the world's most precious resources," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/24/elton-john-sting-james-taylor-revlon_n_1299749.html" target="_hplink">Styler was quoted as saying in a HuffPost article</a>. "If we all take action, we can help save the planet and prevent further harm to the rainforests and indigenous people who live there." <br> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/trudie-styler/why-sting-and-i-set-up-th_b_98252.html" target="_hplink">Styler blogged for HuffPost</a> that she and Sting founded the Rainforest Foundation Fund after flying over the Amazon and meeting people on the ground there. She said, at first, "Sting was criticized for daring to be a rock star who wanted to change the world." But she says their group has worked to successfully protect over 115,000 square kilometers of rainforest.

  • Biodynamic Wine with Trudie Styler

    Trudie Styler discusses biodynamic wine.

  • Daryl Hannah

    Actress <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000435/" target="_hplink">Daryl Hannah</a>, known for films such as "Blade Runner" and "Splash," has lent her name to several environmental causes. <br> In 2009, she travelled to West Virginia and was arrested while protesting mountaintop removal coal mining. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daryl-hannah/why-i-was-arrested-in-coa_b_224531.html" target="_hplink">She wrote for HuffPost</a>, "I was honored to be joining an inspiringly brave group of concerned Americans." <br> More recently, she was <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/30/daryl-hannah-arrested-keystone-protest_n_942072.html" target="_hplink">one of over 1,200 people arrested</a> in August in front of the White House as part of a Keystone XL pipeline protest.

  • Daryl Hannah Arrested For Environmental Protest

    Actress Daryl Hannah?s arrest sparks conversation about a planned oil pipeline in Canada.

  • Pierce Brosnan

    This <a href="http://www.unicef.ie/Content.aspx?PageDetailId=24&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1" target="_hplink">UNICEF ambassador</a> is known in Hollywood for his Earth-friendly ways. While Brosnan stays environmentally aware on a daily basis by <a href="http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities-news-in-pics/19-05-2009/51565/general/" target="_hplink">driving a hybrid car</a>, according to Hello! Magazine, he has advocated for sustainable government legislation as well as publicized himself as a major supporter of environmental charities. <br> He's <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1549375,00.html" target="_hplink">protested natural gas facilities</a> near his Malibu home, and according to Treehugger.com, spoken in public forums <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/culture/pierce-brosnan-at-epa-markey-waxman-markey.html" target="_hplink">in support of the EPA and green legislation</a>. In 1997 he was given an Environmental Leadership Award by Mikhail Gorbachev, and in 2008 Brosnan and his wife Keely Shaye Smith were inducted into the <a href="http://www.ecorazzi.com/2008/10/30/pierce-brosnan-to-be-inducted-into-environmental-hall-of-fame/" target="_hplink">Environmental Hall of Fame</a>.

  • Top 10 Fun Facts About Pierce Brosnan

    Learn 10 fun facts about actor Pierce Brosnan. He once worked in the circus as a professional fire-eater. He is claustrophobic. Pierce is an avid supporter of same-sex marriage and gay adoption. Pierce was nicknamed 'Colonel Chunky' by the cast of 'Mamma Mia!'.

  • Woody Harrelson

    Actor <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000437/" target="_hplink">Woody Harrelson</a> has reportedly been <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/23/woody-harrelsons-vegan-ac_n_295765.html" target="_hplink">a vegan for nearly 25 years</a>. In fact, for the 2009 film "Zombieland," Harrelson ate a special vegan Twinkie instead of the real thing. <br> Harrelson has also <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070927/people-woody-harrelson/" target="_hplink">called for greater activism against oil</a>. Speaking at a media and technology conference in Amsterdam in 2007, Harrelson said, "Certainly (oil companies) just want to get as much out of the ground and make as much money as possible before they transition into anything else. So I still think it's time for some strong activism, especially as it relates to our dependency on oil."

  • Woody Harrelson Talks Rampart Transformation

    The veteran actor opens up about being a jerk and dropping weight to play a corrupt LAPD cop. Costars Robin Wright and Ben Foster also weigh in.

  • Glenn Close

    According to the Mother Nature Network, <a href="http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/stories/ecollywood-glenn-close-dwayne-the-rock-johnson-eric-stoltz-lucy-lawle" target="_hplink">Glenn Close is a major puppy activist</a>. She works with not one, but two organizations devoted to helping her canine companions. Close and husband David Shaw founded <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/24/www.fetchdog.com" target="_hplink">Fetchdog.com</a>, an online shopping site for doggie treats which donates a portion of the sales to dog related charities. In addition, <a href="http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Puppies-Behind-Bars-Helps-the-Disabled/3" target="_hplink">Oprah.com reported that Close is also a staunch supporter</a> of <a href="http://www.puppiesbehindbars.org/about.asp" target="_hplink">Puppies Behind Bars</a>, a program that helps service dogs and prisoners have a symbiotic, educational relationship. Close also supports non-canine causes. In 2009, <a href="http://www.ammado.com/nonprofit/45792/articles/10064" target="_hplink">the ocean conservation group Oceana</a> honored her at their annual Sea Change Summer party, noting the actress's <a href="http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/stories/ecollywood-hanging-with-celebs-at-the-oceana-fundraiser" target="_hplink">dedication to ocean conservation</a>.

  • One Mind For Research Interview With Glenn Close

    Glenn Close discusses the impact of Stigma on those with Mental Health disorders.

  • Colin Firth

    Who would've thought Mr. Darcy could be a shopkeeper? Colin Firth has set up various eco-themed shops in Britain. He opened two fair trade cafes called Progreso (<a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/new-fears-for-portobello-as-sam-cams-favourite-butchers-join-the-casualty-list-6424931.html" target="_hplink">at least one of which closed in 2010</a>), and <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/colin-firths-eco-store.html" target="_hplink">an ecological store called Eco in Chiswick</a>, offering ethical, fair trade goods, as well as expert energy efficiency advice for homeowners. As <a href="http://www.oxfam.org/en/about/ambassadors/colin-firth" target="_hplink">an Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign supporter</a>, Colin Firth raises awareness on behalf of Ethopian coffee growers, and lobbies for fair trade in the coffee markets. <a href="http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article2856825.ece" target="_hplink">According to <em>The Times</em>, Firth said</a> that "rather than being a luvvie with a lofty opinion preaching to people, I prefer to do things, to get involved, put my money where my mouth is and learn along the way."

  • The Life and Career of Colin Firth

    No lady can resist this Academy Award Winning Brit?s sensitivity and charm. Join WatchMojo as we take a look at the career of Colin Firth.

  • Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/20/jude-law-peta-letter-seals_n_3124108.html

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    Saturday 20 April 2013

    Do cigarette companies use tax hikes in strategy?

    By Andrew M. Seaman

    New York (Reuters Health) - Large cigarette companies can keep their products affordable for young people and the poor by shifting the burden of rising excise taxes from cheaper brands to more expensive cigarettes, according to a new study from the UK.

    The analysis of cigarette makers' behavior over a decade in that country found the companies may also often hide price hikes on expensive brands by timing them to coincide with the tax increases.

    "They're playing a clever game with prices. They're making large profits with their expensive brands, and they're keeping their cheap brands very cheap to keep young people in the market," said Anna Gilmore, the study's lead author from the University of Bath and the UK Center for Tobacco Control Studies.

    Typically countries impose taxes on tobacco products as a way to curb their use - especially by making them too expensive for young people and the poor. But Gilmore and her fellow researchers write in the journal Addiction that no one had studied how the UK tobacco industry responded to these taxes.

    For example, did the companies absorb the taxes without passing the additional cost to customers? Did they pass the costs along to some customers but not others? Or did they raise prices on top of the new taxes to increase revenue?

    The answer was all three, depending on which sector of the cigarette market one examines.

    Using consumer and market research from 1999 through 2009, Gilmore and her colleagues found that the UK cigarette industry put its products into four categories: premium, mid-priced, economy and ultra-low priced.

    UK tobacco firms started selling ultra-low priced cigarettes in 2006, when the companies bought the brands from supermarkets. The category's price to consumers has remained virtually unchanged since then, but their share of the market has doubled, according to the researchers.

    Overall, Gilmore and her colleagues found the tobacco companies tend to pass on the cigarette taxes to consumers on the most expensive cigarettes, but taxes on ultra-low priced cigarettes are not always passed to consumers.

    For example, the pre-tax price of a pack of ultra-low priced cigarettes dropped by 3 pence in the year after the companies took over the brands, while the price of a pack of premium, economy or mid-priced cigarettes increased between 2 pence and 4 pence from 2006 to 2007. One pence is equivalent to about 2 U.S. cents.

    The tobacco companies then made up for the initial price cut on ultra-low priced cigarettes during the next year by increasing their pre-tax price more than 4 pence, compared to increases for premium, mid-priced and economy cigarettes of about 1 pence to 3 pence.

    After that, the prices of ultra-low priced cigarettes remain virtually static while the other categories continued to rise.

    Gilmore told Reuters Health that the tobacco companies win by volume among ultra-low priced cigarette smokers, and by keeping the young and poor in the market - instead of letting the taxes price them out.

    "The idea is to keep those people in the market and one day they'll trade up to one of the more expensive brands," she said.

    The researchers also note a distinct difference between categories in the timing of cigarette price changes - for the more expensive brands, pre-tax price increases happened between November and May, which is when new tax rates would take effect. For the ultra-low priced brands, the prices dropped during that period and rose again between May and December.

    The researchers conclude that governments should monitor cigarette prices by type - premium, mid-priced, economy and ultra-low priced - and consider the industry's pricing strategies when setting taxes.

    Gilmore told Reuters Health that she suspects these findings are also applicable to other countries.

    But the UK's Tobacco Manufacturers' Association said tobacco pricing is a matter of competition, and that the new study's findings are based on a time of change in the industry.

    "This report is based on 2001-2009, when tobacco duties rose by inflation and combined with greater enforcement action led to a gradual, but very much welcome decline in smuggled products, stabilizing Government tax receipts," the Association said in a statement to Reuters Health.

    Moreover, the Association noted, tobacco taxes have increased significantly since 2010. That increase, the statement said, is leading smokers to get their products from other sources and ultimately costing the government money.

    SOURCE: http://bit.ly/10l1gBp Addiction, online April 16, 2013.

    (This story has been corrected to fix the dollar conversion in paragraph 10)

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cigarette-companies-tax-hikes-strategy-140530201.html

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    Avis aux m?dias : Le gouvernement du Canada annoncera un appui aux entreprises en d?marrage innovatrices ? Ottawa

    18 avr. 2013 10h00 HE

    OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - 18 avril 2013) - Royal Galipeau, d?put? f?d?ral d'Ottawa-Orl?ans, au nom de l'honorable Gary Goodyear, ministre d'?tat responsable de l'Agence f?d?rale de d?veloppement ?conomique pour le Sud de l'Ontario (FedDev Ontario), annoncera un financement visant ? soutenir les entreprises en d?marrage innovatrices dans la r?gion d'Ottawa.

    Le d?put? Galipeau prendra part ? une s?ance de photos et sera ? la disposition des m?dias pour r?pondre ? leurs questions apr?s l'annonce.

    Veuillez noter que tous les renseignements sont indiqu?s sous r?serve de modifications et qu'il s'agit de l'heure locale.

    DATE : Le vendredi 19 avril 2013
    HEURE : 9 h 30
    LIEU: Apption
    25, avenue Holland
    2e ?tage
    Ottawa (Ontario)
    K1Y 4R9

    Source: http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=1780343&sourceType=3

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    Key architect of Obamacare: This thing is headed for a train wreck (Michellemalkin)

    Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

    Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/299987936?client_source=feed&format=rss

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    Monday 15 April 2013

    Flanagan best US hope in Boston Marathon in years

    BOSTON (AP) ? Shalane Flanagan grew up in nearby Marblehead watching her father run the Boston Marathon.

    On Monday, the three-time Olympian will be on the course herself to give the U.S. its best hope for a victory in years.

    The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in the 10,000 meters, Flanagan will make her Boston debut. She finished second at the New York City Marathon in 2010, then won the Olympic trials last January. She finished 10th in London

    Flanagan says it's always been a dream of hers to run Boston. Her father had a personal best of 2 hours, 18 minutes, and her mother, Cheryl Treworgy, held the marathon record in 1971.

    No American man or woman has won the Boston race since Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach in 1985.

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/flanagan-best-us-hope-boston-marathon-years-200705587--spt.html

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    Friday 22 February 2013

    Doc groups issue list of overused tests, therapies

    (AP) ? Don't be afraid to question your doctor and ask, "Do I really need that?"

    That's the advice from leading medical groups who came up dozens of tests and treatments that physicians too often prescribe when they shouldn't.

    No worrisome stroke signs? Then don't screen a healthy person for a clogged neck artery, the family physicians say. It could lead to risky surgery for a blockage too small to matter.

    Don't routinely try heartburn medicine for infants with reflux, the pediatric hospitalists say. It hasn't been proven to work in babies, and could cause side effects.

    Don't try feeding tubes in people with advanced dementia, say the hospice providers. Helping them eat is a better option.

    These are examples of potentially needless care that not only can waste money and time, but sometimes can harm, says the warning being issued Thursday from medical specialty groups that represent more than 350,000 doctors.

    Too many people "think that more is better, that more treatment, more testing somehow results in better health care," said Dr. Glen Stream, former president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, which contributed to the list. "That really is not true."

    The recommendations are part of a coalition called Choosing Wisely, formed by the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation. Participating medical societies were asked to identify five tests or treatments that are commonly overused in their specialty. The list is aimed at doctors and includes references to published studies. Consumers Reports and other consumer groups are publicizing the information in more patient-friendly terms.

    Last year, the coalition listed 45 overused tests and treatments. It included some of the best known examples, such as too much imaging for back pain and repeating colonoscopies too frequently.

    This year's list adds 90 more overused kinds of care. Some are the result of doctors' habits, hard to overcome despite new evidence, Stream said. Others come about because patients demand care they think they need.

    Some other examples:

    ?Don't use opioid painkillers for migraines except as a last resort, say the neurologists. There are better, more migraine-specific drugs available without the addictive risk of narcotics. Plus, frequent use of opioids actually can worsen migraines, a concept known as rebound headache.

    ?Just because a pregnant woman misses her due date, don't race to induce labor if mom and baby are doing fine, say the obstetricians. Inducing before the cervix is ready often fails, leading to an unneeded C-section. "Just being due by the calendar doesn't mean your body says you're due," Stream notes.

    ?Don't automatically give a child a CT scan after a minor head injury, say the pediatricians. About half of children who go to the ER with head injuries get this radiation-heavy scan, and clinical observation first could help some who don't really need a CT avoid it.

    ?And don't leave an implanted heart-zapping defibrillator turned on when a patient is near death, say the hospice providers. This technology clearly saves lives by guarding against an irregular heartbeat. But if someone is dying of something else, or is in the terminal stages of heart disease, it can issue repeated painful shocks, to no avail. Yet fewer than 10 percent of hospices have formal policies on when to switch off the implants.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/bbd825583c8542898e6fa7d440b9febc/Article_2013-02-21-US-MED-Overused-Health-Care/id-56386809d3324c299598081654feea78

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    GOP opens 2013 with money advantage over Democrats

    WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Republican National Committee is starting 2013 with a financial advantage over its Democratic rivals.

    The RNC raised $6.9 million in January and ended the month with $7.1 million in cash ? along with no debt.

    The Democratic National Committee brought in $4.3 million in January and ended the month with $4.7 million in cash.

    But the DNC is carrying a large debt of $20.7 million, down slightly from the end of the year. Democrats racked up the debt while helping President Barack Obama hold onto the White House.

    Party committees filed monthly financial reports Wednesday with the Federal Election Commission.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-02-20-US-Political-Fundraising/id-59f72cf676d2432a9457f12260009900

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    Thursday 21 February 2013

    Kansas City restaurant fire rubble searched for missing woman

    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - Firefighters on Wednesday resumed searching the rubble of a popular Kansas City, Missouri, restaurant destroyed by a natural gas blast and fire that injured up to 16 people and left a female employee missing.

    Cadaver dogs explored the ruins of JJ's restaurant on the upscale Country Club Plaza shopping district overnight after the restaurant was engulfed by flames around 6 p.m. CST on Tuesday.

    "At this time we are still searching for one victim and that is a female employee of the restaurant," Kansas City Fire Chief Paul Berardi said at press conference shortly before dawn.

    Another employee reported missing late on Tuesday was found at an area hospital, he said.

    Berardi said nine injured people were taken to hospitals and six or seven more went to hospitals on their own. Hospitals reported three people critically injured.

    The restaurant and wine bar had several patrons inside at the time of the blast, Berardi said, along with employees. The explosion triggered a four-alarm fire that took 50 minutes to control.

    Missouri Gas Energy said in a statement that first indications showed that a contractor doing work in the area had struck a natural gas line, but that the investigation was ongoing.

    (Editing by Maureen Bavdek)

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/several-hurt-explosion-fire-kansas-city-missouri-witnesses-012047389.html

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    Wednesday 20 February 2013

    Bestselling self-help author Debbie Ford has died

    SAN DIEGO (AP) ? The bestselling author of self-help book "The Dark Side of the Light Chasers" has died in San Diego. Debbie Ford was 57.

    A family spokeswoman says Ford died Sunday in her home after a long battle with cancer.

    "The Dark Side of the Light Chasers" spawned a self-help enterprise for Ford. The 1998 book aimed to help readers overcome their darker side.

    Her sister, Arielle, said in a statement that the author wanted to help people break free from their emotional baggage and fear.

    Ford wrote eight more books, led workshops and hosted TV and radio shows related to that topic. She often shared her battle with drug addiction, divorce and other personal struggles in her work.

    She is also survived by her mother, son and brother.

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bestselling-self-help-author-debbie-ford-died-044007645.html

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    Friday 15 February 2013

    Preventing Childhood Obesity | Your Health Journal

    boypushupFrom Your Health Journal?..?A great local story from an ABC affiliate (wear-tv) about preventing childhood obesity. Sometimes, all the great things that go on at the national level are quite ineffective, but when organized at the local level, fighting childhood obesity can be quite effective. I have always found that planting the seed (fighting obesity) at the national level helps the flower grow (fighting obesity) at the local level. We know that childhood obesity is on the rise. The American Heart Association has reported that 25 million children in the US are overweight, which is one in three kids (one in seven are obese). The CDC has stated that the prevalence of childhood obesity has doubled in the last 20 years for children ages 5-11, and nearly tripled for teens ages 12-18. So, local pediatricians are stepping up to the plate and educating communities about healthy lifestyle. School menus are starting to get healthier, and the push for physical activity is growing. Please visit the ABC web site (link provided below) to read the complete article, as well as watching the newscast on the topic.?

    From the article?..

    It?s a growing problem across the country. The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention says childhood obesity has more than doubled in the past 30-years.

    ?Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States here in Escambia County one of the ways they are trying to battle that problem is starting here in the schools by changing the lunches.?

    Pediatrician Doctor Michelle Grier-Hall says obesity at a young age raises many health concerns not only physical but mental.

    Dr. Michelle Grier-Hall ?Heart disease and diabetes which we are seeing diabetes in our children not just in adults but we?re seeing diabetes in children who have obesity, so you have high blood pressure, cholesterol problems and this is not good of course the joint problems, back pains and other things you can see with obesity.?

    The Escambia County Health Department says there is no increase in the total percentage of students who are obese or overweight.

    This year data shows 63 % of the children measured are in the normal range for body mass index.

    But CDC numbers nation wide show children ages 6 to 11 years who are obese increased from 7 % in 1980 to 18 % in 2010.

    Adolescents ages 12 to 19 increased from 5 % to 18 %. Recently, schools have stepped in changing their lunch menus to healthier alternatives.

    And removing friers from the cafeteria. ?There are five components in our meal whole grain bread, milk, fruit, vegetable, meat or meat alternate.?

    Students say they appreciate the healthy change to their diets. And say the food isn?t so bad either.

    ?The quality of the food has gotten a lot better. We we?re pretty disappointed when it first started off and they were only going to do healthy food from now on and they got rid of the friers, but the fried chicken has got a lot better and the salads have gotten better.?

    To read the full article?..Click here

    Source: http://www.lensaunders.com/wp/?p=12790

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    Thursday 14 February 2013

    'A drop of ink on the luminous sky:' Wide Field Imager snaps cosmic gecko

    Feb. 11, 2013 ? This part of the constellation of Sagittarius (The Archer) is one of the richest star fields in the whole sky -- the Large Sagittarius Star Cloud. The huge number of stars that light up this region dramatically emphasise the blackness of dark clouds like Barnard 86, which appears at the centre of this new picture from the Wide Field Imager, an instrument mounted on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile.

    This object, a small, isolated dark nebula known as a Bok globule [1], was described as "a drop of ink on the luminous sky" by its discoverer Edward Emerson Barnard [2], an American astronomer who discovered and photographed numerous comets, dark nebulae, one of Jupiter's moons, and made many other contributions. An exceptional visual observer and keen astrophotographer, Barnard was the first to use long-exposure photography to explore dark nebulae.

    Through a small telescope Barnard 86 looks like a dearth of stars, or a window onto a patch of distant, clearer sky. However, this object is actually in the foreground of the star field -- a cold, dark, dense cloud made up of small dust grains that block starlight and make the region appear opaque. It is thought to have formed from the remnants of a molecular cloud that collapsed to form the nearby star cluster NGC 6520, seen just to the left of Barnard 86 in this image.

    NGC 6520 is an open star cluster that contains many hot stars that glow bright blue-white, a telltale sign of their youth. Open clusters usually contain a few thousand stars that all formed at the same time, giving them all the same age. Such clusters usually only live comparatively short lives, on the order of several hundred million years, before drifting apart.

    The incredible number of stars in this area of the sky muddles observations of this cluster, making it difficult to learn much about it. NGC 6520's age is thought to be around 150 million years, and both this star cluster and its dusty neighbour are thought to lie at a distance of around 6000 light-years from our Sun.

    The stars that appear to be within Barnard 86 in the image above are in fact in front of it, lying between us and the dark cloud. Although it is not certain whether this is still happening within Barnard 86, many dark nebulae are known to have new stars forming in their centres -- as seen in the famous Horsehead Nebula, the striking object Lupus 3 (eso1303) and to a lesser extent in another of Barnard's discoveries, the Pipe Nebula. However, the light from the youngest stars is blocked by the surrounding dusty regions, and they can only be seen in infrared or longer-wavelength light.

    [1] Bok globules were first observed in the 1940s by astronomer Bart Bok. They are very cold, dark clouds of gas and dust that often have new stars forming at their centres. These globules are rich in dust that scatters and absorbs background light, so they are almost opaque to visible light.

    [2] This quotation comes from E. E. Barnard, Dark Regions in the Sky Suggesting an Obscuration of Light, Yerkes Observatory, Nov 15 1913.

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    The above story is reprinted from materials provided by European Southern Observatory - ESO.

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    Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FBUs8Ko5NX0/130213082424.htm

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    Wednesday 13 February 2013

    Security: Explosive breakthrough in research on molecular recognition

    Feb. 12, 2013 ? Ever wonder how sometimes people still get through security with explosives on their person? Research done in the University of Alberta's Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering has revealed a new way to better detect these molecules associated with explosive mixtures.

    A team of researchers including post-doctoral fellows Seonghwan Kim, Dongkyu Lee and Xuchen Liu, with research associate Charles Van Neste, visiting professor, Sangmin Jeon from the Pohang University of Science and Technology (South Korea), and Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering professor Thomas Thundat, has found a method of using receptor-free nanomechanical infrared spectroscopy to increase recognition of chemical molecules in explosive mixtures.

    Detecting trace amounts of explosives with mixed molecules presents a formidable challenge for sensors with chemical coatings. The nanomechanical infrared spectroscopy used by the Univesity of Alberta research team provides higher selectivity in molecular detection by measuring the photothermal effect of the absorbed molecules.

    Thundat, who holds the Canadian Excellence Research Chair in Oil Sands Molecular Engineering, says the spectroscopy looks at the physical nature of the molecule and "even if there are mixed molecules, we can detect specific molecules using this method."

    Seonghwan (Sam) Kim explained that conventional sensors based on coatings generally cannot detect specific molecules in complex mixtures if the concentration of interfering molecules is five times greater than the target molecules. The detection sensitivity and selectivity are drastically increased using the high-power infrared laser because the photothermal signal comes from the absorption of infrared photons and nonradiative decay processes. Using this method, a few trillionths of a gram of explosive molecules can now be detected in a complex mixture even if there is a higher concentration of other interfering molecules.

    The research team's findings are published in Scientific Reports by Nature Publishing Group on January 23, 2013.

    The research team's current work looks at detecting biomolecules and hydrocarbons in the oil industry and nerve gas stimulants (DMMP), which can be found in household radiators, gasoline, and fabric softeners, for example. The team also hopes to develop a hand-held device for chemical detection that could be utilized in fields such as security, health care and environmental protection.

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    The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Alberta. The original article was written by Nicole Basaraba.

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    Journal Reference:

    1. Seonghwan Kim, Dongkyu Lee, Xunchen Liu, Charles Van Neste, Sangmin Jeon, Thomas Thundat. Molecular recognition using receptor-free nanomechanical infrared spectroscopy based on a quantum cascade laser. Scientific Reports, 2013; 3 DOI: 10.1038/srep01111

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    Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ox1Gp-Et9W8/130212154623.htm

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    Lower autism risk with folic acid supplements in pregnancy

    Feb. 12, 2013 ? Women who took folic acid supplements in early pregnancy almost halved the risk of having a child with autism. Beginning to take folic acid supplements later in pregnancy did not reduce the risk. This is shown in new findings from the ABC Study and Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study published in the Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA).

    Women who took folic acid supplements from four weeks before conception to eight weeks into pregnancy had a 40 per cent lower risk of giving birth to children with childhood autism (classic autism). Use of folic acid supplements midway through pregnancy (week 22) had no effect.

    The findings only apply to a lower risk of childhood autism, the most severe form of autism. The results show no reduction in the risk of atypical or unspecific autism. The study also investigated the prevalence of Asperger syndrome, but the number of examined children was too low to give a reliable result.

    Food and other supplements did not reduce risk

    The researchers found no connection between childhood autism and intake of other supplements during pregnancy. They also found no correlation with maternal intake of folate through food.

    "It appears that the reduced risk of childhood autism only reflects folic acid supplements, not food or other supplements, and that the crucial time interval is from four weeks before conception to eight weeks into pregnancy," says Dr P?l Sur?n, primary author of the paper and researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

    Clear results that pave the way for further research

    The results show an association between the use of folic acid supplements in the mother during pregnancy and a reduced risk of childhood autism.

    "The study does not prove that folic acid supplements can prevent childhood autism. However, the findings are so apparent that they constitute a good argument to further examine possible causal mechanisms. It should also be ascertained whether folic acid is associated with a reduced risk of other brain disorders in children," says Sur?n.

    Emphasises the importance of folic acid supplements

    The results support the Norwegian Directorate of Health's recommendations for folic acid supplements during pregnancy and emphasise the importance of starting early -- preferably before conception.

    Method

    The ABC Study included participants in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) who were born in 2002-2008, and included a total of 85,176 children. The mothers had given detailed information about their diet and the use of supplements in early pregnancy. Children with autism diagnoses in MoBa were identified through questionnaires, referrals from parents and health personnel and through links to the Norwegian Patient Register. When the analyses were done, 270 children with autism diagnoses were identified in the study population. Of these children, 114 children had autism, 56 had Asperger syndrome and 100 had atypical or unspecified autism.

    The use of folic acid supplements in early pregnancy increased sharply from 2002 to 2008 among women who participated in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. 43 per cent of mothers took folic acid supplements in 2002, while the percentage had risen to 85 per cent in 2008. However, many women began later than is desirable; only half of women who took folic acid supplements had begun before conception.

    About the study

    The ABC study is conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in collaboration with Columbia University in New York and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in Bethesda, USA. The study received funding from NINDS. In addition, funds for research analysis were provided by the Norwegian Research Council. MoBa is managed by the NIPH.

    The Norwegian Directorate of Health recommends that women who are planning to become pregnant should take folic acid supplements from one month before conception and during the first three months of pregnancy. The recommendation is based on research showing that the use of folic acid supplements in early pregnancy protects the fetus from spina bifida and other neural tube defects.

    In recent years, researchers have begun to investigate whether folic acid supplements may also have other beneficial effects on the development of the brain and spinal cord in the fetus. A study from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study showed that mothers who took folic acid supplements early in pregnancy halved the risk of having children with severe language delay at three years-old. A study of autism spectrum disorders from California found a lower risk of autism among children of expectant mothers who had taken multivitamin supplements containing folic acid.

    Background Information:

    • Folic acid is a B vitamin that is essential for the construction and repair of DNA molecules, the genetic material which controls all body cells.
    • Folate is the naturally occurring form of folic acid and is found in leafy vegetables, peas, lentils, beans, eggs, yeast and liver.
    • For most pregnant women, folic acid supplements are required to reach the recommended levels of folate in the blood.
    • Some countries add folic acid to flour, so that the entire population receives a supplement, but this is not done in Norway.
    • Studies from other countries show that many pregnant women consume less dietary folate than is necessary to prevent neural tube defects.

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    The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

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    Journal Reference:

    1. Sur?n P, Roth C, Bresnahan M, et al. Association between maternal use of folic acid supplements and risk of autism in children. JAMA, 2013 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2012.155925

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    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/health_medicine/nutrition/~3/hKPV7C4GB_g/130212172209.htm

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