Friday, November 30, 2012

This Video Truly Shows the Overwhelming Size of the Universe

Every time I look at the sky in a remote location, far away from cities' light pollution, I marvel at the immensity of the Universe. But this video truly shows how much bigger the Universe is, how impossibly huge. Just watch and look at all those dots turn into galaxies until you reach your destination. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/4Rza3vrxm18/this-video-truly-shows-the-overwhelming-size-of-the-universe

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Biden hits up Costco: 'I?m looking for pies'

Vice President Joe Biden talks with Costco employees in the bakery section of the store while shopping at Costco??Best office "Secret Santa" ever? Vice President Joe Biden made a surprise shopping blitz through the brand-new Washington, D.C., Costco store on Thursday, emerging with a 32-inch Panasonic flat-screen TV, some kids' books, a big apple pie and Duraflame logs. He then brought his loot back to the White House compound.

"I'm looking for pies," Biden told Costco employee Ivey Stewart, who led him through the wilderness of the big-box store's opening-day frenzy.

Biden, who was welcomed by Costco CEO Craig Jelinek and co-founder Jim Sinegal, flashed his membership card (yes, the vice president has his own membership card).?"In all honesty, I didn't have my own card. Jill wouldn't let me have one," he said. "I went to get my wife's card, and she said, 'No, No, get your own card.'"

The vice president stopped frequently to hug fellow shoppers and pose for photos, according to the print pool report from Lesley Clark of McClatchy Newspapers.

Biden enjoyed a couple of samples (one from the bakery section, where a crowd welcomed him with applause) and spent what Clark described as "considerable time" eyeing watches, including a $1,200 model. He put in a call to daughter Ashley to, he said, "get some guidance."

Shoppers snapped photos of the vice president as he took a spin through the store, including the frozen food section. However, he declined entreaties to check out the tires. "Hey man, I don't need tires," he told the Costco employees in that department. "I don't drive anymore." Some shoppers from Biden's home state of Delaware got especially big hugs and handshakes.

(On Twitter, the jokes came fast and furious: Was the bright-grinned Biden buying an industrial-size pack of Crest Whitestrips? Was he treating Congressman Paul Ryan to the $1.50 hot-dog-and-a-soda meal while Mitt Romney prepared for lunch with President Barack Obama at the White House?) He told reporters the kids' books were bound for a Delaware charity started by his wife, Jill Biden. His criteria? "Things I know my grandkids like."

Before leaving, Biden placed a call on the cellphone of Stewart, his store guide. Clark reported that his comments could not be heard, but Stewart burst into tears and got her own Biden hug.

Vice President Joe Biden pushes his shopping cart at Costco in Washington, D.C. (Susan Walsh/AP)Biden thanked the press for "shopping with me" and quipped: "I know you won't tell anybody what I bought for Christmas."

Turning to politics, Biden urged Congress to extend Bush-era tax cuts that chiefly benefit the middle class. "Consumer confidence is growing," he said. "The last thing we need to do is dash that.

"It's important Congress acts now, right now," he added.

Did the vice president have to submit to the Costco receipt-checker? Sadly, the print pool reporter was too far away to be sure, but the store's membership policies presumably apply even to the man who's one heartbeat away from the presidency.

From a White House official who requested anonymity (because that's apparently the world we live in now) gave this explanation about Biden's Costco membership:

"The Bidens have been Costco members in the past. The Vice President?and Dr. Biden's Costco memberships were re-activated yesterday; they?paid the $55 membership re-activation fee to receive their new cards.?The Vice President received his own card which he is carrying today?while shopping at Costco."

So, the watch? A White House official who requested anonymity later told Clark that Biden had indeed bought a watch that will be a gift, but not the $1,200 timepiece.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/biden-hits-d-c-costco-grabs-tv-logs-161157734--politics.html

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Academy welcomes Energy Bill and will continue to support UK's ...



29 November 2012

Academy welcomes Energy Bill and will continue to support UK's energy future

The Royal Academy of Engineering welcomes the publication of today's Energy Bill. There is an urgent need for clarity and stability in the UK's energy policy to enable companies to invest with confidence in new generation technology.

The Academy is pleased that energy policy has moved up the political agenda and looks forward to helping government develop a truly integrated energy policy that brings together electricity transport, heat, and the power of a future smart grid to solve the trilemma of energy security, affordability and sustainability. In its 2010 report Generating the Future: UK energy systems fit for 2050, the Academy drew attention to the challenges of developing an integrated energy system. Since then we have studied in greater depth the effects of electric vehicles (Electric Vehicles: charged with potential, 2010) and the even more difficult challenge of decarbonising domestic heating (Heat: degrees of comfort? 2012).

Today's statements seem to take on board what the Academy has been arguing for some time: that energy is a vital and valuable resource and that the engineering and financial challenges are unprecedented and immense. Much more effort will need to go into reducing energy wastage as well as into new generating and grid assets.

Sir John Parker GBE FREng, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, says:

"Energy is at the heart of society and underpins economic growth. Without a secure and affordable supply of energy for the long term, our industries will not be globally competitive. The UK stands at a crossroads; we need massive investment in our energy system over the coming years to replace ageing infrastructure and create a modern, clean secure energy system."

ends

Notes for editors

  1. Founded in 1976, The Royal Academy of Engineering promotes the engineering and technological welfare of the country. Our fellowship - comprising the UK's most eminent engineers - provides the leadership and expertise for our activities, which focus on the relationships between engineering, technology, and the quality of life. As a national academy, we provide independent and impartial advice to Government; work to secure the next generation of engineers; and provide a voice for Britain's engineering community.

For more information please contact:

Jane Sutton at The Royal Academy of Engineering Tel. 020 7766 0636; email: Jane Sutton

RSS Feed icon?RSS Feed

Source: http://www.raeng.org.uk/news/releases/shownews.htm?NewsID=810

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Kane County Chronicle | Miller: Batavia to have disc golf course by ...

It?s fair to say that Batavia is a sports-minded town. From the Battlin? Bulldogs to the multitude of sports options for all ages, there?s no shortage of recreational opportunities in Batavia. A growing sport soon will be coming to the area to give people an additional source of fun.

Disc golf has been around for decades and recently has seen a rise in popularity. Disc golf courses have popped up throughout the suburbs and are seeing resounding success. Because of the growing popularity of the sport, there is a large demand for additional courses, according to the Professional Disc Golf Association.

In fall 2011, the Batavia Park District?s intern, Elizabeth Carsi, was asked to put together a proposal for a disc golf course as her final project. As a resident of Batavia, Carsi was excited about the opportunity.

?Growing up in Batavia, my friends and I had to travel to other towns to play disc golf,? Carsi said, ?When I became the park district intern in fall 2011, I spent my time developing a plan for the first Batavia disc golf course. I?ve always thought it would be a great addition to the park district, and I?m so excited to see this becoming a reality.?

After consulting with Midwest Disc Golf in Lombard, a potential site was chosen. A preliminary layout was established for an 18-hole course at West Main Community Park, and at the end of the semester, Carsi submitted her proposal to the Batavia Park Board.

Senior projects don?t always come to fruition, but bringing a new recreational opportunity to Batavia aligned perfectly with the mission of the Batavia Parks Foundation, and the Foundation board quickly became interested in turning the proposal into reality.

?The Batavia Parks Foundation was created to enhance and expand recreation in the community,? said Matt Ellmann, Foundation board member. ?A disc golf course will be a unique addition to the system and will help serve a new population of both teens and young adults.?

Disc golf is a sport that can be played by all ages and ability levels, which is part of the attraction of the sport. The cost, or lack thereof, is another contributing factor to its popularity. Disc golf courses rarely charge fees, there are no cart rental fees, and discs are inexpensive.

Kevin DiVerde, an avid disc golf player from Batavia, had the opportunity to walk the course this summer with his father, a member of the Foundation board. DiVerde has been playing disc golf for 10 years and has played more than 20 courses across six states, including Hawaii.

?Disc golf is a sport that is constantly challenging you, yet is enjoyable at nearly every skill level,? DiVerde said, ?I?m very happy with the location of the new course at West Main Community Park, and I?m excited to play the course once it?s complete. It?s a good use of the land, and the course should attract a wide variety of players.?

As with traditional golf courses, each disc golf course offers its own unique layout and obstacles. The course at West Main Community Park will offer a challenge for golfers that few other courses in the area provide.

This fall, park district staff and Foundation members worked with Midwest Disc Golf to begin staking the holes and preparing the course.

Parks crews mowed brush, trimmed low-hanging branches, filled holes and seeded bare areas. They also have begun digging and installing the ground holes for the disc baskets and tee markers. The work is on schedule, and all major infrastructure should be completed by the end of December.

The Batavia Park District and Batavia Parks Foundation will plan a dedication and grand-opening event for the spring. Be on the lookout for information in the spring park district brochure, due out in February 2013.

For information, visit www.bataviaparks.org or call 630-879-5235.

? Kari Miller is director of marketing and public relations for the Batavia Park District. Contact her at editorial@kcchronicle.com.

There are 15 hours, 8 minutes remaining to comment on this story.

Source: http://www.kcchronicle.com/2012/11/27/miller-batavia-to-have-disc-golf-course-by-spring/a5kbke/

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How to Install ClockworkMod Recovery on the Sony Xperia Pro MK16i

If just root access on your device isn?t enough for you, you may consider installing a custom recovery. While the recovery still uses root access, it lets you flash custom ROMs that are cooked by enthusiast Android developers for your Android device. If you?ve a Sony Xperia Pro MK16i and have rooted it using our guide, you can follow the following steps to get a custom recovery on it. So, let?s get the procedure started:

I. Before You Begin:

1. You must have rooted your device before doing this procedure. You can check out our guide on how to root the Xperia Pro MK16i.

2. The following procedure works on Windows based PCs only. Sorry, Linux and Mac users!

II. Downloading Required Files:

1. RecoverX (Download link?s given in the first post)

III. Installing ClockworkMod Recovery on the Sony Xperia Pro MK16i:

1. Place the RecoverX ZIP archive on your Desktop.

2. Extract files from the archive and place them on your Desktop.

3. Turn ON the USB debugging option on your device from Menu>>Settings>>Developer options>>USB debugging.

4. Connect your device to your PC using the USB cable.

5. Double-click on the RecoverX executable file that you extracted to your Desktop.

6. From the first screen of the tool, select your device.

7. On the second screen, choose the Recovery that you want to install. In this case, it?d be ClockworkMod Recovery.

8. Follow the instructions you see on your screen.

9. And you?re all done!

Great! The ClockworkMod Recovery?s now there on your device, waiting to be used to flash custom ROMs!

IV. Flash a Custom ROM (Optional):

1.?If you are ready to flash custom ROMs on your device, head to the How To Flash a Custom ROM on the Sony Xperia Pro MK16i?to learn how to do that.

If this procedure helped you please thank/donate to the original developers here.

If you need help with this procedure, please ask in the comments below or in the forum.

This is part of our Android How To?s. We have how to?s on rooting, loading ROMs, and tons of other tips and tricks for your specific device or for Android devices in general! For all of our Android How To?s, head?here.

Source: http://theunlockr.com/2012/11/28/how-to-install-clockworkmod-recovery-on-the-sony-xperia-pro-mk16i/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-install-clockworkmod-recovery-on-the-sony-xperia-pro-mk16i

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Really?: Breathing Exercises Can Relieve Asthma

Really?

Anahad O?Connor tackles health myths.

THE FACTS

Breathing exercises are among the most popular alternative therapies for asthmatics. But do they work?

According to a recent report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the answer depends on the technique. Some appear effective in reducing asthma severity, but there is little evidence to support others.

In the exhaustive, 219-page report, researchers examined 22 randomized studies of breathing techniques. Among the most common are hyperventilation-reduction techniques like the Buteyko method, which instructs asthmatics to breathe shallowly and slowly through the nose when short of breath. The report also looked at yoga breathing exercises and so-called inspiratory-muscle training, which involves exercises and devices that make inhaling more difficult in order to strengthen muscles.

The researchers found the most robust body of evidence supported hyperventilation-reduction breathing techniques, which achieved ?medium to large improvements in asthma symptoms and reductions in reliever medication use of approximately 1.5 to 2.5 puffs per day.?

Looking at inspiratory training approaches, the researchers could not find enough credible research to draw any firm conclusions. They did find some evidence for yoga exercises, which typically require deep breaths ? usually through the nose ? with extended exhalation. But most of the evidence came from studies in India, where yoga exercises are more intensive and frequent than in the United States.

Still, the authors said, ?Patients with asthma who are students of yoga and willing to undertake intensive training may find benefits of asthma-targeted practice with a trained yoga practitioner.?

THE BOTTOM LINE

Breathing exercises may help relieve asthma, though the efficacy varies.

Source: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/26/really-breathing-exercises-can-relieve-asthma/?partner=rss&emc=rss

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Local real estate broker keeps his employees fit through unique ...

Bill Gladstone begins his workout wearing a crisp white shirt, dress slacks and shiny leather shoes. A wireless earpiece keeps him connected to his cellphone.

Gladstone is a Lemoyne-based commercial real estate broker. Several of his employees stand nearby, watching the boss warm up.

Like many small-business owners, Gladstone continually wrestles with employee health care costs.

He plunged into fitness a few years ago. Now he?s a devotee of a routine offered at Synchrony ChiroCare in East Pennsboro Township.

He hopes his employees buy into it as well ? so much that he pays their monthly fees and allows them to go during work time.

In his mind, even 10 minutes a week is better than nothing.

Gladstone?s first exercises take place on a power plate. The machine resembles a treadmill, but has a round platform that vibrates 40 times per second while Gladstone?s feet remain stationary.

?Some people call this the microwave of exercise,? says Michael Bennese, the chiropractor who owns Synchrony ChiroCare and who designed Gladstone?s workout.

The power plate concept was invented 40 years ago by Russian scientists trying to enable astronauts to stay fit and avoid bone loss while in outer space.

According to Bennese, each vibration causes the muscles to contract and relax. At 40 times per second, this results in an intense workout involving many muscles, including the core.

Gladstone does a handful of sets, each one lasting about 10 seconds. One involves keeping his shoulders back and chest out as he presses his upper back against a post while the power plate vibrates.

During another, called the bird dog, he supports himself on one hand and one knee, with the opposite limbs outstretched, as the machine vibrates.

Growing popularity?

Power plate equipment has become popular in gyms in recent years and has been touted by celebrities including Madonna.

According to Bennese, who is certified in biomechanics, many professional athletes do training that involves the power plate.

But he says nonathletes, including older people, can benefit from a power plate-centered routine that takes as little as 15 minutes per week.

The intense vibrations, he says, cause a high percentage of the available muscles to become involved.

The benefits of a brief routine can include the ability to engage in physical activities longer before fatigue sets in.

For people who are older, it can improve the ability to walk or stand for long periods without getting a sore back, do yard work, or pick up a grandchild, Bennese says.

Gladstone, whose clothes are unrumpled and who hasn?t broken a sweat, moves on to his next exercises.

These involve four exercises on two machines. With each exercise, he presses or pulls as hard as he can for five seconds. An electronic screen shows how much force he generates, and compares it to previous workouts.

The overall routine is called ?BStrong4Life,? which claims to improve strength, posture and overall health in less then 30 minutes per week.

Gladstone?s routine involves other exercises, as well as chiropractic treatment.

He doesn?t ask his employees to do the same routine. Theirs is more basic, taking only about 10 minutes.

Providing health benefits

?Gladstone, 63, says providing good health benefits has always been a high priority.

But rising health insurance premiums have forced him to shop for new coverage each year and shift costs to employees in the form of deductibles and co-pays, he says.

All the while, he has tried to invest in employees? wellness, hoping he will benefit in the form of lower health care bills and higher productivity. He says he also hopes to help his employees improve their overall well-being and ability to enjoy their nonworking hours.

Gladstone has long paid toward gym memberships, giving employees up to $500 per year toward gym expenses if they go at least twice per week.

The economic downturn forced him to withdraw the gym membership perk for a few years, but he has restored it.

To that end, he decided to also offer Bennese?s program. It?s voluntary; four of his five employees opted to participate.

In Gladstone?s case, he?s convinced the training has enhanced a fitness routine he launched several years ago.

Focusing on posture?

For many years, Gladstone?s life involved long work hours and little physical activity.

Finally, he began working out at a gym and discovered he felt better.

Then Gladstone, who says he typically rises by 4 a.m. and works into the evening, wanted a way for he and his wife to spend more time together.

They chose ballroom dancing, which gave another boost to his fitness routine.

However, dance instructors continually told him to stand up straight, a position he found he could no longer maintain.

That led him to Bennese, the chiropractor, who took images of Gladstone?s spine and found it had become curved in a way that caused Gladstone?s head to hang too far forward.

Bennese conducted a basic exam in which he examined the alignment of the head over the rib cage, the rib cage over the pelvis and the hips over the feet.

If any of those relationships are out of whack, muscles get overstressed, leading to pain and other physical problems, he says.

?If that is happening, the body is coping by using excessive muscle contractions to hold that body part up,? he says.

Standing straighter?

After several months, Gladstone says he feels stronger and better and stands straighter.

?You don?t want to be hunched over as you get older. It?s bad for business. It?s bad for your health,? he says.

His employees, who have been doing their routines for more than a month, don?t claim dramatic changes, although they say they?ve noticed benefits.

Mostly, they say it has been helpful to learn about the importance of posture and become aware of deficiencies in their postures and how to improve it.

?It?s cool to see how you increase each week,? says Leah Wentz, 29, referring to the exercises that involve mustering as much force as possible for 5 to 10 seconds.

Chuck Bender, 29, says he?s ?new to fitness,? and began a running routine a few months ago.

He says he?s noticed some increased definition in his muscles and will consider moving to a more involved routine.

Katie Warrell, 29, Gladstone?s daughter, goes to the gym regularly, where she runs and does aerobics and a strength routine.

She says she has learned from Bennese?s program.

?It definitely made me more attuned to my posture at work and at home,? she says.

Gladstone can only hope they?ll stick with this routine ? or any routine that leads to improved health and well-being.

He says he has achieved one goal.

?When I take an interest in them, they take an interest in their work,? he says.?

Source: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/11/wellness.html

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2012 may be in the top 10 hottest years ever, U.N. says

DOHA, Qatar (AP) ? Despite early cooling from La Nina, 2012 is on track to become one of the top 10 hottest years on record, with the U.S. experiencing extreme warmth and Arctic Sea ice shrinking to its lowest extent, the U.N. weather agency said Wednesday.

In a statement released at international climate talks in Qatar, the World Meteorological Organization said the "alarming rate" of the Arctic melt highlights the far-reaching changes caused by global warming.

"Climate change is taking place before our eyes and will continue to do so as a result of the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which have risen constantly and again reached new records," WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud said.

Delegates from nearly 200 countries are meeting in the Qatari capital of Doha to discuss ways of slowing climate change, including by cutting emissions of greenhouse gases that scientists say are warming the planet, melting ice caps, raising sea levels, and changing rainfall patterns with impacts on floods and droughts.

Discord between rich and poor countries on who should do what has kept the two-decade-old U.N. talks from delivering on that goal, and global emissions are still going up.

The WMO said global temperatures rose after initial cooling caused by the La Nina weather oscillation, with major heat waves in the U.S. and Europe. Average temperatures in January-October were the highest on record in the continental U.S., and the ninth highest worldwide.

Before that, a cold spell had much of the Eurasian continent in an icy grip between late January and mid-February, when temperatures in eastern Russia plunged to -50 degrees C (-58 F).

Cyclone activity was normal globally, but above average in the Atlantic, where 10 storms reached hurricane strength, including Sandy, which wreaked havoc across the Caribbean and the U.S. east coast.

Sandy wasn't the strongest cyclone, though. That was typhoon Sanba, which struck the Philippines, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula, "dumping torrential rain and triggering floods and landslides that affected thousands of people and caused millions in U.S. dollars in damage," the WMO said.

Droughts impacted the U.S., Russia, parts of China and northern Brazil. Nigeria saw exceptional floods, while southern China saw its heaviest rainfall in three decades.

But of all the weather events in 2012, the most ominous to climate scientists was the loss of ice cover on the North Pole. In September, scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Colorado said Arctic Sea ice measured 1.32 million square miles (3.41 million sq. kilometers) ? which is 18 percent less than the previous record low, set in 2007. Records go back to 1979 based on satellite tracking.

The scientists said their computer models predict the Arctic could become essentially free of ice in the summer by 2050, but added that current trends show ice melting faster than the computers are predicting.

___

Follow Karl Ritter on www.twitter.com/karl_ritter

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/un-agency-2012-warmer-normal-despite-la-nina-113850303.html

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Measles vaccine given with a microneedle patch could boost immunization programs

ScienceDaily (Nov. 27, 2012) ? Measles vaccine given with painless and easy-to-administer microneedle patches can immunize against measles at least as well as vaccine given with conventional hypodermic needles, according to research done by the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In the study, the researchers developed a technique to dry and stabilize the measles vaccine -- which depends on a live attenuated virus -- and showed that it remained effective for at least 30 days after being placed onto the microneedles. They also demonstrated that the dried vaccine was quickly released in the skin and able to prompt a potent immune response in an animal model.

The microneedle technique could provide a new tool for international immunization programs against measles, which killed nearly 140,000 children in 2010. The research was reported online October 5 in the journal Vaccine, and will appear in a special issue of the journal. The research was supported by the Georgia Research Alliance -- and indirectly by the Division of Viral Diseases and Animal Resources Branch of the CDC, and by the National Institutes of Health through its support of efforts to develop a microneedle-based influenza vaccine.

"We showed in this study that measles vaccine delivered using a microneedle patch produced an immune response that is indistinguishable from the response produced when the vaccine is delivered subcutaneously," said Chris Edens, the study's first author and a graduate student in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University.

Measles immunization programs now use conventional hypodermic needles to deliver the vaccine. Large global immunization programs therefore require significant logistical support because the vaccine must be kept refrigerated, large numbers of needles and syringes must be shipped, and the ten-dose vaccine vials must be reconstituted with sterile water before use.

Because it requires a hypodermic needle injection, measles immunization programs must be carried out by trained medical personnel. Finally, used needles and syringes must be properly disposed of to prevent potential disease transmission or reuse.

Use of microneedle patches could eliminate the need to transport needles, syringes and sterile water, reducing logistical demands. Vaccination could be done by personnel with less medical training, who would simply apply the patches to the skin and remove them after several minutes, making possible door-to-door campaigns similar to those used in polio vaccination. Single-use patches could also reduce the waste of vaccine that occurs when all ten doses in a vial cannot be used.

"A major advantage would be the ease of delivery," said Mark Prausnitz, a professor in the Georgia Tech School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and one of the inventors of the microneedle patch. "Microneedles would allow us to move away from central locations staffed by health care personnel to the use of minimally-trained personnel who would go out to homes to administer the vaccine."

Many countries in the Western Hemisphere have eliminated endemic transmission of the disease, though travelers often serve as sources for imported cases. However, measles remains the leading cause of vaccine-preventable death among children elsewhere in the world, prompting interest in alternative vaccination techniques.

"Measles is extremely infectious, and we need an immunization coverage rate of around 95 percent to interrupt its transmission," said Dr. Paul Rota, Measles Laboratory Team Lead of CDC's Division of Viral Diseases and one of the study's co-authors. "Microneedles represent a real potential game-changer in developing strategies to get high global coverage for a measles vaccine."

In their study, the CDC-Georgia Tech team first faced the challenge of converting a liquid vaccine to a formulation that could be readily applied to stainless steel microneedles and dried for packaging. The work was made more difficult by the fact that the vaccine contains an attenuated live virus whose integrity had to be maintained.

The researchers began by studying materials that could be combined with the vaccine to improve its stability in dry form. Ultimately, they obtained the best results by adding a sugar known as trehalose to the liquid vaccine. That formulation was applied to the microneedles -- which were about 750 microns long -- by dipping them into the solution and allowing the liquid to dry. The vaccine dose on the microneedles was controlled by the number of times the microneedles were dipped into the solution.

Cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) used in the study were divided into seven groups of five animals each for the testing. The comparison showed that vaccination with the microneedle technique produced an immune response that was statistically indistinguishable from that produced by vaccination with the hypodermic needles.

"The two major accomplishments of this study are that the vaccine can be stabilized on microneedles, and that it could dissolve in the skin to provide a good immune response," Rota said.

To advance the microneedle technique, the researchers are now working to improve the stability of the dry vaccine with the goal of eliminating the need for refrigeration. They are also studying the use of polymer-based microneedles that would fully dissolve in the skin, removing the need to dispose of potentially infectious waste.

Ultimately, a microneedle-based measles vaccine will need to be evaluated for safety and efficacy in a non-human primate model and in several clinical trials before it can be used routinely in humans.

Microneedles are also being studied for administration of vaccines against influenza, polio, rotavirus, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B. The microneedle measles vaccine would likely find its first use in the developing world as part of measles elimination campaigns, and would probably not replace the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine used in the United States.

"This represents a different direction for us, which is campaign-mode global health vaccination," said Prausnitz. "I see the greatest impact of the measles patch being in developing-country vaccination programs where the logistical advantages of this simple-to-use technology will have the most public health benefit."

In addition to those already mentioned, the research team included Marcus L. Collins and Jessica Ayers, both from the CDC.

This research is supported by the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) with indirect support from the Division of Viral Diseases and Animal Resources Branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH, CDC or GRA.

Mark Prausnitz is an inventor on patents and has a significant financial interest in a company that is developing microneedle-based products. This potential conflict of interest has been disclosed and is being managed by Georgia Tech and Emory University.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Georgia Institute of Technology Research News.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Chris Edens, Marcus L. Collins, Jessica Ayers, Paul A. Rota, Mark R. Prausnitz. Measles vaccination using a microneedle patch. Vaccine, 2012; DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.09.062

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/aoWeoi6hAUU/121127130252.htm

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Social Class at Christian Colleges (part 1) ? The Pietist Schoolman

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

Since I arrived at Bethel in 2003, the phrases ?anti-racism? and ?racial reconciliation? have been prominent in campus discourse. Bethel leaders had identified a ?ministry of reconciliation? (in the context of ?sensitivity to the differences among people? and among peoples?) as an integral component of Christian higher education as early as 1968?s James Report on college objectives, and efforts to make the Bethel student body and faculty more racially diverse had been underway since the 1970s. But some ugly incidents in the 2000s seemed to suggest that Bethel still had a long way to go.

Bethel's "Cultural Council" in 1958

Bethel?s ?Cultural Council,? ca. 1958 ? Bethel University Digital Library

At the same time, I?ve long wondered if two other types of discrimination and inequality aren?t more prevalent, without receiving anything remotely like the attention given racism.

First, sexism. While it seems like the female-male ratio on the faculty is slowly coming into balance (e.g., three of our department?s six members are women, including the last two hires) and the dean of our College of Arts and Sciences, three other vice presidents, and our campus pastor are women, almost all of my female colleagues can also tell stories of being treated poorly by students ? of both sexes ? who view them as less deserving of respect than the men on faculty. Many of these colleagues have received comments on course evaluations suggesting that they are failing as wives and mothers by maintaining professional careers. Sadly, this kind of discrimination is often dressed up in biblical language and evangelical theology.

See the recent interview in Christianity Today with three Biola University professors whose research led them to conclude that women on the faculties of evangelical Christian universities like Biola and Bethel both perceive greater gender inequality and report higher job satisfaction than do their peers at secular universities. The authors explained the paradox partly by reference to a phenomenon they labeled ?benevolent sexism.? Then read reflections on this interview by my colleague Pamela Erwin, former chair of our Biblical and Theological Studies department and now an associate dean at Bethel.

While I?m glad to see more attention being given to the treatment of women and people of color on Christian college campuses, it also makes me realize how little I?ve heard us talk about a third potential inequality: that based on socioeconomic class.

This came to mind reading a recent piece in The Chronicle of Higher Education by historian Richard Greenwald, reflecting on those ? like himself ? who were the first in their families to attend college:

Richard GreenwaldToo often these days, we in higher education simply aren?t doing enough to support the efforts of students who are the first in their families to attend college. These students, many of whom are working class, get brushed aside by concerns about budgets and enrollments, the sheer busyness of a college, their own passivity, and our assumptions that all students share similar experiences and preparation.

Noting that more than a quarter of these students last no more than one year, and almost 90% fail to graduate within six, Greenwald observed several unique challenges facing lower-income students who are the first in their families to continue their education: lack of social capital; an overly instrumental and transactional view of education; long work hours; complicated home lives; and a sense of shame about their roots and/or a feeling that they are betraying their background.

Moreover, one of the great virtues of a liberal arts education ? that it lets students encounter new ideas and helps them to think more critically about old ones ? also

makes you vulnerable and rootless for a while, something that is not a common blue-collar trait. In working-class communities, vulnerabilities may be seen as a sign of weakness that is to be avoided or at least hidden. Many first-generation students don?t know how to process such things as criticism of work they have done, and they respond by joking about it, ignoring it, or taking it personally.

Benson Great Hall at Bethel University

Benson Great Hall ? Bethel University

I wouldn?t give up the disruptive effects of the liberal arts, but I have no doubt that Bethel ? a private university that charges rather high tuition and recently built a $30 million university commons featuring a lavish cafeteria, expensive grill, and coffee shop with on-staff baker ? could be an unsettling place for lower-income students for other reasons. We?re located on a wooded, lakeside campus far from the Twin Cities (and inaccessible by public transportation), which accords with the expectations of our suburban students who grew up spending weekends at wooded, lakeside cabins up north and who can simply drive their own car to Uptown Minneapolis or Grand Avenue in St. Paul if the ?Bethel bubble? is feeling too constricting. Subtly and not-so-subtly, I fear that we?re communicating that you need to be of (or act like you come from) a certain social background and level of prosperity to fit in at Bethel.

And I can see the ways in which lower-income students not only have to work long hours on top of what I ask them to devote to study, but are kept from participating in the kinds of enriching activities that we increasingly trumpet, particularly in the humanities. While there is no additional tuition for my upcoming travel course on World War I (one substantial benefit of Bethel?s ?J-term?), I?ve had several students regretfully inform me that they simply can?t afford the $3900 extra that each participant needs to spend in order to cover transportation to/within/from Europe, plus lodging, food, tours, museums, and other expenses. (In fact, it can be cheaper to spend a whole semester overseas, since some of our partner programs include all costs except airfare in the tuition.) And when, as department chair and academic advisor, I encourage more of our majors to pursue internships, I also have to recognize that few are paid. Those 150-200 hours represent hundreds, even thousands of dollars of potential income that some students can?t do without.

Still, it?s hard for me to know just how pervasive these problems are at a school like Bethel, or whether we do any better or worse than other private universities on this count.

Even at an institution that prizes close student-faculty relationships in which many of us choose to be fairly transparent about our faith, family, and other non-work aspects of our lives, not all students feel comfortable reciprocating. And much of what Greenwald identifies as resulting from a deficit in ?social capital? is easy to misread from the outside looking in:

Many don?t know how to debate without arguing, where the boundaries are in the classroom, and what behavior is appropriate. They may have poor time-management skills. Therefore they are perceived to be disrespectful, unfocused, and lazy when they really aren?t.

These, however, seem like problems that could face any private university; I don?t have any idea if they?re felt more, less, or equally keenly on Christian campuses than secular ones. I?d like to think that people who find their identity in Christ ? in whom, the apostle Paul taught, there is no difference based on race/ethnicity, class, and gender ? would do better than others on this count, but the surprising strength of racism and sexism (benevolent or otherwise) suggests that I should be less optimistic.

But it should be possible at least to gauge how welcoming evangelical colleges and universities are to students of lower income and/or working class backgrounds. More on that tomorrow?

In the meantime, I?d love to hear from readers (students, alumni, and employees of Christian colleges in particular): do you see racism, sexism, or classism prevailing at schools like Bethel? Are they more or less common in Christian higher education than other kinds of colleges and universities?

Source: http://pietistschoolman.com/2012/11/26/social-class-at-christian-colleges-part-1/

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Mitch Ditkoff: Flowers First, Business Second

The other day a sudden fit of gratitude, I bought a dozen roses and brought them home to my wife.

Usually, when I think of buying roses, I go through a predictable sequence of events. First, I surrender to a feeling of expansiveness that takes me over. Then I get curious and smell the flowers. Then I ask the shopkeeper how long she thinks the roses will last.

This is following by calculating the per stem price, doing the math and reaching the pitifully male conclusion that $46.95 is way too much too spend on something that won't last the week and is probably much less expensive somewhere else and it's obviously indulgent of me to be buying so many roses when I've got two kids to put through college and besides, beauty is within.

All of this, of course, is my inner Woody Allen taking the low road in response to what is obviously a Johnny Depp moment.

So I dig deep and bring the roses home -- my entire living room taking shape around them. I become immediately aware of a trend even Republican pollsters could not deny -- there are definitely not enough flowers in the living room. Somehow, the recent appearance of roses has made the rest of the room painfully barren. Tabletops and shelves that only minutes ago were doing just fine, are now utterly flowerless.

So I do the only thing a man can do when faced with such a situation -- I return to the flower shop.

But the shop is closed. Closed? Impossible! I need flowers! So I get back into my car and speed my way to the other flower shop in town. It, too, is closed -- or, should I say, closing. The owner is shutting the door and giving me the "too-bad-you-didn't-get-here a few-minutes-ago" look.

But I will not be denied. And he knows it.

"What do you want?" he asks.

"Flowers," I reply.

He signals me to enter and I buy way more flowers than makes sense. A ridiculous amount.

Let's put it this way: if I was in the federal witness protection program, my sudden flower buying behavior would have made my government handlers very nervous.

Fast forward ten minutes to my wife in our kitchen.

She is looking at me as if I am totally insane -- me, the guy who, only yesterday was making an airtight case for a more modest household budget.

Yes, I am insane, but in a good way. Here's my philosophy: Flowers first. Business second. If money is tight, buy more flowers. The more flowers you buy, the more money will appear. And if not in this lifetime, then the next (or maybe the one after that).

OK. There you go -- my not very financially sound, flower-centric view of the universe. Not quite as newsworthy as credit default swaps, but a whole lot more dependable.

Mitch Ditkoff is the President of Idea Champions, an innovation consultancy based in Woodstock, NY -- yes, THAT Woodstock. NO he wasn't at the concert in 1968. He speaks to organizations everywhere about the art and science of creating a culture of innovation in the workplace. Bats left, throws left.

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Follow Mitch Ditkoff on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mitchditkoff

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mitch-ditkoff/buying-flowers_b_2174583.html

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Syrian Kurds seek to re-unite divided ranks

ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Rival Syrian Kurdish parties have agreed to re-unify their ranks and push for federalism in Syria after a previous pact that was not implemented, but the new deal has already been undermined by the reluctance of one faction to fall into line.

Syria's Kurds see the civil war ravaging their country as an opportunity to gain the rights they have long been denied under President Bashar al-Assad and his father before him, who deprived thousands of citizenship.

But they are divided over their role in the Syrian conflict and where they stand in relation to the Arab-dominated opposition, which some regard as inherently anti-Kurdish.

Under firm pressure from Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, representatives of two main camps: the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and the Kurdish National Council (KNC) met and renewed their commitment to a joint higher council.

"We agreed to adopt federalism as a working draft," said Aldar Khalil, a member of another council that presides over the PYD.

They also said they would create a joint security apparatus, control border checkpoints together and merge their military wings.

But an armed unit known as the Popular Protection Committess (YPG), which is affiliated with the PYD, issued a statement saying it would not unite with any other military force, according to media close to the group.

There is also discord regarding the new Syrian opposition coalition, which the PYD rejects as a proxy of Qatar and Turkey. The KNC, itself a coalition of more than a dozen smaller parties, has yet to decide whether to join the body.

The KNC is broadly accepted by the political mainstream, unlike the PYD, which is aligned with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a Turkish Kurd militant group listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.

Barzani already brought the two sides together in July, but the KNC repeatedly accused the PYD of flouting that accord, blaming the group for kidnapping one of its members and harassing rival activists.

A source close to the talks said he doubted the latest agreement would make much difference, citing suspicions of complicity between the PYD and Assad.

"Relations will be cordial for a week or two but then the same problems will resurface," he said on condition of anonymity. "The problem is there are two sides: one is with the regime and the other is against it".

At the recent meetings in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil, Barzani said he would not support the Syrian Kurds unless they stayed together.

(Reporting by Isabel Coles; Editing by Jon Hemming)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-kurds-seek-unite-divided-ranks-234147214.html

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Monday, November 26, 2012

"Fiscal cliff" talks stalled for now, but progress possible (reuters)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/266219715?client_source=feed&format=rss

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'Dirty Dozen' trumpeter sidelined by dog bite

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? Dirty Dozen Brass Band trumpeter Efrem Towns is recovering at home in New Orleans from a vicious attack by a dog in an Atlanta motel.

He missed performances in Colorado and New Orleans after the attack on Nov. 18, and tells The Times-Picayune (http://bit.ly/XOJoNr) that he doesn't know if he'll make the band's next scheduled gig on Dec. 28.

He and baritone sax player Roger Lewis say the dog surged from an open door after Towns knocked at Lewis' room.

Towns was transported to Grady Hospital, where he received 30 stitches in his groin.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band formed in 1977, and is credited with creating the contemporary, funk-infused brass band sound. It's been featured on albums with David Bowie, Elvis Costello and the Black Crowes.

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Information from: The Times-Picayune, http://www.nola.com

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dirty-dozen-trumpeter-sidelined-dog-bite-000200806.html

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Sunday, November 25, 2012

Microsoft's Greater China VP says Windows Phone 7.8 to launch in the 'coming weeks'

Microsoft's Greater China VP says Windows Phone 78 to launch in the 'coming weeks'

Sure, Microsoft has already delivered its new Windows Phone 8 OS to the masses, but the WP7.8 release details, on the other hand, have been extremely minimal since we learned about the upgrade earlier this year. Well, according to Microsoft's Greater China Vice President, Windows Phone 7.8 will be hitting the Chinese market in the coming weeks, adding that there's an honest belief both numerical versions (maybe more?) of Redmond's mobile OS could easily live alongside each other in this country. Still, in the "coming weeks" could mean anything, although rumors around the web suggest the 7.8 version could make its official debut as early as next month -- which goes perfectly on par with previous whispers of an eventual launch by the end of 2012. We'll have to wait and see.

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Internet Marketing Taking Center Stage for Online Businesses ...

Quality Web Hosting

Internet Marketing Taking Center Stage for Online Businesses

You cannot deny that internet has become part of many people?s lives and more and more people are using it from gathering information while others consider it as an online requirement so it make sense for business to use it as a marketing tool. The modern technology has definitely made changes in the way business owners promote their companies and products today. Setting up an online business website is not a hard task. All you need to do is to buy a good domain name and get a good web hosting and have a professional designer to build a fully interactive website for your online business. Now the hard task is the Internet marketing strategies. Search engine marketing is referred to as online marketing of products or services over the internet. It is the process of gaining traffic and visibility on various search engines. Some people consider the search engine marketing to gain traffic solely through paid ads. Marketing your business online should be a major part of the planned advertising and promotions. There is no denying of the power of links of online marketing. Search engines are using links as a way to determine how relevant and valuable your business site is and users use links to moving from one site to another. Building quality links from different relevant sites can go a long way in improving your rankings on the search engine and driving more targeted traffic.

With today?s technological and economic business structure, the concept of marketing your business should not be ignored.

Applying good ethics to the online world is a direct reflection of your online business. The ethics affects all the aspects of your online business. Creating a website is the first step for a business to take in their marketing online. Websites should be pleasing to the eyes, easy to navigate and can form a positive impression to the users. Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing are excellent techniques to use when marketing your business online. With the use of the seo strategies for business online, they increase the visibility in various search engines and create an array of opportunities available by no other means. The internet marketing allows access even for small business to have international and national exposure. Marketing your business online is the most valuable step you can take in order to increase your rank in this kind of economy nowadays. This kind of marketing is a vital tool that should be used by all companies to successfully grow their customers and profits.

The most important reason why various businesses consider internet as their marketing tool is because it is here to stay. In the next years, more and more people will get connected to the internet and it will become a bigger force and many people will look and find what they need on the internet. It has even changed the way people shopped. Moreover, the internet allows the entrepreneurs to reach more and more people for less money.

The modern technology has definitely made changes in the way business owners promote their companies and products today. Setting up an online business website is not a hard task. All you need to do is to buy a good domain name and get a good web hosting and have a professional designer to build a fully interactive website for your online business. Now the hard task is the Internet marketing strategies.

Source: http://internet-marketing-guide.org/internet-marketing-taking-center-stage-for-online-businesses/

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American Express Teams Up With Stores For Small Business Saturday

REDLANDS (CBSLA.com) ? Small business owners in Redlands and across America are hoping for a big turnout during Small Business Saturday.

?Redlands is completely built on the small businesses,? said Mike Eubanks, who owns a small kid?s shoe store. ?We?ll be open for Small Business Saturday and we?re expecting a lot of people to come on down.?

American Express came up with the idea three years ago to encourage people to buy from independent retailers during the holiday weekend.

The credit card company will reward shoppers who spend at least $25 using their American Express card at small businesses by refunding $25 back into their account.

Deborah Foland, who owns Devi?s clothing store on Main Street, said low prices and excellent customer service are the keys to competing with larger retailers.

?Nobody treats the customer the way we do,? said Foland, who opened the store 25 years ago.

Shop owners pointed out that the money spent in Redlands stays in the community.

?You see me at the grocery store, and at your kid?s plays, and I sponsor the teams?in Redlands, that?s where the money should stay,? Eubanks said.

Source: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/11/23/american-express-teams-up-with-stores-for-small-business-saturday/

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Boosting your child's inheritance by thousands

You need to take action while you?re still alive

Parents could boost the value of their children?s inheritance by thousands of pounds if they start to take action while they are still alive. Something as simple as using surplus pension income to pay into a pension for their children can make a significant difference to the value of the inheritance they leave behind.

Protecting a child?s inheritance

Funds held in capped drawdown can be very inefficient from a death benefit perspective. If the capital is to be paid to the children as a lump sum when they die, it will currently be subject to a 55 per cent tax charge. This means the children will receive only 45 per cent of the value of that fund when the parent dies. If a key aim of the parents is to protect their children?s inheritance, and they are not utilising their maximum available income, if appropriate it may make sense for them to use this surplus income for some proactive estate planning.

Passing on wealth tax-efficiently

There are many ways in which parents are able to pass on surplus income to help their children, such as paying off their debts or reducing their mortgage. However, a tax-efficient way of passing on wealth is by making a pension contribution for them. Any income tax suffered by the parent on the income they take is usually negated by the fact that contributions made on behalf of their child can be grossed up at the child?s highest marginal rate of tax.

Securing a child?s long-term financial future

Putting money into a pension means that the parent is securing the long-term financial future of their child, especially where a child?s earnings may limit the amount they can currently save personally for their future. As the money is not immediately available, this removes the risk of children ?frittering away? their inheritance. Instead they will have access to the money from the age of 55, when they could use it to pay off their mortgage and help fund their lifestyle in retirement.

Utilising surplus income from a parent?s pension

The following demonstrates how effective it can be from a tax and estate planning perspective to utilise surplus income from a parent?s pension to fund a child?s pension. In this example, the parent currently has a drawdown fund of ?300,000.

If the parent takes no action, and they die ten years from now, their drawdown fund could have grown to ?495,000[1]. This would leave an inheritance of ?222,750 for the child after 55 per cent tax has been paid.

If the parent instead starts to take ?10,000 a year from their drawdown fund to pay into their child?s pension, although the parent will suffer 20 per cent income tax, the child will receive 20 per cent tax relief (assuming both are basic rate tax payers)[2].

So if the parent dies ten years from now, their drawdown fund could now be worth ?361,000. This would leave a lump sum of ?162,450 for the child after 55 per cent tax has been paid. In addition, the contributions paid to the child?s personal pension could be worth ?135,700 after ten years, bringing the total value of the child?s inheritance at that point in time to (?162,450 + ?135,700 =) ?298,150.

This simple planning could therefore increase the value of the child?s inheritance by (?298,150 - ?222,750 =) ?75,400 after just ten years.

Depending on the age of the child when the parent dies, they may not be able to access their pension immediately. If the pension stays locked away for longer, then it has more time to grow. For example, leaving the pension fund untouched for a further ten years could see it grow to ?231,406.

Starting planning sooner rather than later

Parents fortunate enough to have accumulated substantial savings may like to consider the best way to pass some of those savings on to their children. Parents are likely to be more successful with estate planning if they start sooner rather than later, and pass on some of their intended inheritance while they are still alive, especially if they know they have savings that far exceed their foreseeable needs.

Avoiding any future retirement income problems

Utilising surplus pension income to fund a child?s pension can help boost the value of the inheritance parents pass on to their children. A pension still remains one of the most tax-efficient forms of saving and it will ensure the child is better positioned to avoid any future retirement income problems. Those in retirement know better than anyone how important it is to have adequate savings, so what better way for parents to provide for their children than to ensure their long-term security through opening a pension for them?

All figures relate to the 2012/13 tax year. Information is based on our current understanding of taxation legislation and regulations. A pension is a long-term investment, and the fund value may fluctuate and can go down. Your eventual income may depend upon the size of the fund at retirement, future interest rates and tax legislation. Pension drawdown is a complex product and is not suitable for everyone. The Financial Services Authority does not regulate estate planning, wills or trusts.

[1] Figures assume a growth rate of 6.5 per cent p.a.
[2] To use such planning, the contributions made by the parent (plus any contributions currently being made by the child/employers) in any tax year must not exceed the greater of ?3,600 or 100 per cent of the child?s earnings.

Source: http://www.watermarkfsltd.com/20121123/boosting-your-childs-inheritance-by-thousands/

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Saturday, November 24, 2012

Tips to Help You with Affirmations ? nataliakuna

Tips to Help You Implement Daily Practise with Affirmations

  • Create a whole lot of tactile affirmations. You can handwrite them. This gives them extra magical energy and imprints them with your positive energy though intention. Or you can always type them up (if you do, leave enough space to be able to cut them up into little strips). You can make your own, or use ones that are already out there. I recommend Louise Hay, the Queen and darling of affirmations!
  • Keep a list of affirmations handy. You could laminate it or decorate it any way you wish. This puts your creative energy and imprint into it. ?You can get as fun and creative or plain and boring as you like! I find it helpful to compartmentalize them into useful categories such as health, work, self-image etc.
  • Add more affirmations as you come across them.
  • Place affirmation cut outs into a special box. I have mine in an angel box which I treat as a sacred, enchanting object. This adds even more energy into it. I even ask the angels to guide me to the perfect affirmation for the day. Put your hand in, rummage around if you want, and ?randomly? draw one. Use it as your mantra for the day. Don?t like it? Try again! You can even grab a few.
  • Make it a morning ritual as part of your preparation for the day so you can start the day on a good foot and have it planted in your consciousness to be mindful of your thoughts.
  • Put affirmations on display in a prominent place where you will see them. Lean them on your bookshelf or dresser, stick them to the fridge, or take them to work. I like to place mine with my crystals or angel statues. Try also pulling a ?card? of the day if you have any kinds of oracle cards. They complement each other quite nicely as they are both tools for personal growth and development.
  • Use affirmations as a prompt for journaling.
  • To help you think of your own affirmations, try writing down key areas or words that you want to work on or implement in your life. For example: ?confidence?, ?positivity?, ?relaxing more?, ??health?. Now find a way to say it in a positive way as an affirmative statement in the present tense: ?I am oozing with confidence?. ?My health is perfect and always healing.? ?I notice a huge difference when I use positive words.? If you can only think of the issue you are working on in a negative way such as ?I?m always broke,? ?I never have enough money?, then work to replace it with a positive version such as ?I am abundant in truth and prosperous in every way. Financial wealth is here for me now.? Even if you don?t quite believe it, keep saying it and take the ?fake it till you make it? approach.

To read all about affirmations and challenging yourself to take up positive thinking, it?s all encapsulated on this page: http://www.nataliakuna.com/affirmations.html

Written by: Natalia Kuna? www.nataliakuna.com??? www.facebook.com/nataliakuna

Get?Natalia?s free intuitively-guided Newletter / Mini Magazine ?Awakening Spirit?: www.nataliakuna.com/newsletter

Intuitive Angel Card Reading Services: www.nataliakuna.com/services

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Source: http://nataliakuna.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/tips-to-help-you-with-affirmations/

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Book Review: Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Nov 21, 2012

When Chelsea gets bullied for speaking out against some violent teens, she decides to take a vow of silence. Kidzworld reviews a book about bullying at its worst - Speechless by Hannah Harrington.

The Hate Crime

Ever since she became best friends with Kristin, the school?s Queen Bee, Chelsea has been part of the popular crowd. Until the party that changes it all. She walked in on two guys kissing and couldn?t wait to announce this juicy bit of gossip the rest of the party. Noah is gay. But when she spills the beans, she doesn?t get the reaction she was hoping for. Immediately, two jocks take off after Noah and his boyfriend and beat Noah to pulp at the local corner store.

The Vow of Silence

Chelsea had no idea that her big mouth would result in a hate crime that would nearly cost a boy his life. So after she tells the police which guys were responsible for the attack, she takes a vow of silence. Unfortunately, Chelsea?s honesty with the police gets her in trouble with the popular crowd at school. Not only do they refuse to be her friend for ratting the jocks out, but they?re making her life a living nightmare - vandalizing her locker and car, calling her horrible names, and treating her like she is less than nothing.

The True Meaning of Friendship

Luckily, Chelsea meets Asha, a not-so-popular girl with a kind heart who doesn?t judge her even though she runs in the same circles as Noah. Asha introduces Chelsea to a whole new life - a new job, new friends, and a crush worthy of her affections. Even though she was bullied for an entire month, it may have been worth it to discover the true meaning of friendship.

The Bottom Line

If you?ve ever wondered what people who are bullied feel like, Speechless is the book you should read. It explores all of the horrors that so many people face on a daily basis and how nearly everyone, including teachers, simply turn a blind eye to it. It?s no wonder kids and teens are scared to speak out or stand up to anything. This is the type of book that should be read and discussed in classrooms so that kids - both bullies and victims - can see the horrible consequences of bullying. If Chelsea hadn?t had a friend to lean on, who knows what might have happened.

Have Your Say

Have you ever been bullied? Tell us about it in our comment section below!

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Source: http://www.kidzworld.com/article/27621-book-review-speechless-by-hannah-harrington

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Target partners with CNET to offer unbiased expert product reviews

Target partners with CNET to offer unbiased expert product reviews on top electronics



Target Corp.?announced a partnership?with CNET ??a consumer electronics and tech news ? to provide?you with CNET Editors? Picks for Target, in time for the holiday season. This is the first collaboration of its kind between a major retailer and a top industry expert, and is part of a larger, ongoing partnership between the two.
Beginning Sunday, you can shop the electronics department with more confidence and ease?thanks to?unbiased expert reviews that will appear with select electronics items both on-shelf? at Target stores and within the ?Expert Review? tab on Target.com.

CNET Editors? Picks for Target will feature 25 product reviews across Target?s electronics department. CNET editors rated products based on ease of use, style and value?- the three criteria most important to you. These product reviews will be clearly visible on-shelf with signage prominently featuring the CNET logo and qualifying criteria, such as ?Best first digital SLR? for the Nikon D3100.?You can use the QR code on the signs to access the full product review on?Target.com. CNET Editors? Picks for Target will also be promoted on the Target.com electronics? homepage where?you can access product reviews under the ?Expert Review? tab found on each product?s page.


As part of the partnership, you can visit Target.com to read CNET editors? reviews on more than 300 devices, and?find Target?s circular promotions featured within the CNET.com Marketplace section, updated weekly. Help and how-to videos featuring CNET editors Sharon Vaknin and Brian Cooley will provide tips and advice on getting started with the season?s must-have electronics and will be available in Target stores and at Target.com later this holiday season.

Will this make a difference to you when you are shopping for electronics this holiday season? Will you read the CNET reviews prior to making a purchase? Will your purchase be at Target?

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