Sunday, December 23, 2012

Obama condemns deadly violence in Kenya

HONOLULU (AP) ? President Barack Obama is condemning violence in Kenya that left at least 39 people dead in renewed fighting between farming and herding communities that have a history of violent animosity.

The White House says in a statement that Obama urges the Kenyan government and police, along with leaders from the Orma and Pokomo communities, to end a deadly cycle of conflict.

At least 39 people were killed early Friday when farmers from the Pokomo tribe raided an Orma village of cattle herders in southeastern Kenya. The violence appears to be driven by competition for water, pasture and other resources in the Tana River Delta.

The Obama administration is calling on all sides to intensify peace efforts in the region and says those responsible for the attack should be held accountable.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-condemns-deadly-violence-kenya-211914525--politics.html

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Retro Fitness Ranks Among Franchise Elite in Entrepreneur's ...

Low-Cost, High Quality Fitness Concept Flexes Franchise Muscle as it Claims Third-Straight Appearance on Esteemed Franchise 500? List

December 21, 2012 // Franchising.com // COLTS NECK, N.J. ? Retro Fitness, a low-cost, high value concept that gives members an unbelievable, high-energy workout experience, announced today that the growing fitness franchise has ranked No. 270 in Entrepreneur magazine?s 34th Annual Franchise 500? list, the world?s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. The Franchise 500? recognizes Retro Fitness for the brand?s exceptional performance in areas including financial strength and stability, growth rate and system size.

?This ranking is a testament to the incredible franchise system we have in-place at Retro Fitness,? said Eric Casaburi, founder and CEO of Retro Fitness. ?We have consistently ranked among the nation?s leading franchises for the past three years, truly showing our viability as an attractive franchise opportunity and of the Retro Fitness brand. Our company continues to grow through the strength of our franchisee and corporate team, and we are poised for even more expansion and success in 2013.?

The rankings for Entrepreneur magazine?s Franchise 500? list are determined using an exclusive formula that takes into account objective and quantifiable factors, analyzed by an independent CPA. The most important factors include financial strength, stability, growth rate and size of the system. All franchises are given a cumulative score, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500? in ranking order.

Over its 34 years in existence, the Franchise 500? has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for entrepreneurs.

?We?re delighted to share the positive strides the companies in this year?s listing are making and showcase them as representations of business strength,? says Amy Cosper, VP and editor in chief of Entrepreneur. ?The Franchise 500? are a major force contributing to the franchise upswing. Their ability to successfully satisfy customers, continually add units, create jobs and grow overall keeps them ahead of the rest and worthy of distinction.?

The Retro Fitness franchise model continually attracts high-quality, single- and multi-unit investors who have a strong business acumen. Since inception of the low-cost, high-value brand, the national fitness franchise has grown to more than 120 gyms open or in development in 10 states. With more than 300,000 members, Retro Fitness surpasses the national fitness club average by more than 120 percent, generating revenues greater than $77 million.

Complete results of Entrepreneur magazine?s Franchise 500? list, including company profiles, can be found at http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500/index.html.

For more information about Retro Fitness, visit the company?s Entrepreneur profile at http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/retrofitnessllc/329019-0.html or company site at www.retrofranchising.com.

About Retro Fitness

Founded in 2004 by entrepreneur Eric Casaburi, Retro Fitness has evolved from a regional Northeast gym concept into a national fitness system with more than 120 gyms open or in development in 10 states. Expansion plans call for 150 gyms in the next three years and growth into new major markets such as Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington D.C.. Each Retro Fitness location is equipped with a full-service fitness center including 60-100 pieces of equipment supplied by leading manufacturers such as Life Fitness and Iron Grip. In 2012, Retro Fitness saw its third-consecutive placement on the Entrepreneur ?Franchise 500? annual ranking. The company has also been recognized as one of the ?Top Fastest-Growing Franchises? and ?Top New Franchises? by the publication. For more information, please visit www.retrofitness.net, and to learn more about franchise opportunities visit www.retrofranchising.com.

Media Contact:

Megan Wallace
Fishman PR & Marketing
847-945-1300 ext. 242
mwallace@fishmanpr.com

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Source: http://www.franchising.com/news/20121221_retro_fitness_ranks_among_franchise_elite_in_entre.html

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Liver mitochondria improve, increase after chronic alcohol feeding in mice

Dec. 20, 2012 ? Scientists at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have found evidence that liver mitochondria in mice adapt to become better metabolizers of alcohol and increase in number after chronic exposure, which may raise the potential for free radical damage associated with aging and cancer over time.

The liver is a vital organ, playing a major role in metabolism and detoxification in the body. Overconsumption of alcohol has long been tied to liver diseases such as fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis, but how the substance damages the organ is not fully understood. USC research published in the Dec. 7, 2012, issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, suggests that mitochondria play an important role in the liver's response to the metabolic stress caused by alcohol intake. If scientists observe the same results in human mitochondria, it could help pinpoint targets for therapy.

"The liver has to adapt quickly to various toxins and drugs to meet the demands we place on the body," said Derick Han, Ph.D., assistant professor of research medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and first author of the study. "We've found that mitochondrial plasticity -- the mitochondria's ability to change -- is probably central to the liver's response to alcohol intake. This gives us a better understanding of how the liver works and how it adapts to stress."

Mitochondria are cellular organelles that generate most of the cell's energy; they have been implicated in certain neurological disorders and have been tied to aging. The metabolism of oxygen by the mitochondria normally generates reactive oxygen species, or free radicals, which in excess can be highly damaging to cells.

"In the short term, it looks like mitochondria adapt to metabolize alcohol better, but as they increase in number and use more oxygen to help metabolize that alcohol, it could be harmful to the body," Han said.

Han and his team of scientists fed alcohol to mice over four weeks, isolated the liver mitochondria and measured levels of respiration and changes in the mitochondrial structure. They found significant increases in oxygen consumption by mice fed the alcohol in comparison to control mitochondria as early as one week after feeding. Changes were greater and more extensive with higher alcohol intake.

USC co-authors include Maria Ybanez, Heather Johnson, Jeniece McDonald, Lusine Mesropyan, Harsh Sancheti, Lily Dara and Enrique Cadenas. The study's senior investigators include Hidekazu Tsukamoto, director of the Southern California Research Center for Alcoholic Liver and Pancreatic Diseases (ALPD) and Cirrhosis, and Neil Kaplowitz, director of the USC Research Center for Liver Diseases. The study was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (grants AA016911, AA14428, and AA011999).

A team led by Kaplowitz is set to launch a four-year clinical trial in 2013 to study two potential new treatments for alcoholic hepatitis. Han hopes to collect data from that trial to further examine mitochondrial function in human livers exposed to alcohol.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Southern California - Health Sciences. The original article was written by Alison Trinidad.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. D. Han, M. D. Ybanez, H. S. Johnson, J. N. McDonald, L. Mesropyan, H. Sancheti, G. Martin, A. Martin, A. M. Lim, L. Dara, E. Cadenas, H. Tsukamoto, N. Kaplowitz. Dynamic Adaptation of Liver Mitochondria to Chronic Alcohol Feeding in Mice: Biogenesis, Remodeling, and Functional Alterations. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2012; 287 (50): 42165 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M112.377374

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/~3/YAC30c5QFVE/121221114112.htm

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Saturday, December 22, 2012

A Whisper Is A Stronger Social Signal Than A Public Shout

4852162426_62b5d4c8f7_zYesterday was a surprisingly interesting news day, given how close we are to celebrating the holidays. Facebook struck while the iron was hot and released a brand new standalone iOS app called “Poke”, leveraging a feature that has been around since the early days of the product, as well as a shot across the bow of Snapchat, who it reportedly attempted to acquire. At first glance, it’s a competitive move, and also a whimsical one. The idea of sending someone a message that self-destructs is kind of “cute”, in the way that passing notes in class was when you were younger. But make no mistake about it, Facebook’s Poke is meant as a means to strengthen its social graph, as well as to crib signals from your daily lives and activities to make itself a better company. I’m not saying that anything is wrong with that, but these are the obvious facts. Let’s discuss the idea of a social signal first, though. When you tweet something, and someone responds, that’s a signal that the person is interested in what you have to say. One could also infer that this person “likes” you, or has an affinity for you or what you just said. This could all be torn down as bullshit though, since we all know that sometimes we respond to people to simply get their attention. The Facebook Poke is an interesting historical feature, one that hasn’t really been documented. It was Mark Zuckerberg’s baby, as Facebook was and is, but not much is known about it, only assumed. During yesterday’s ferver about this new Poke app, a phrase was repeated by outlets over and over again, here’s one from CNN: The poke, which is still around but rarely used, is a minimalistic form of communication — the digital equivalent of a head nod or wink. I take issue with the notion that it’s “rarely used”, because we simply do not have data to back that statement or sentiment up, Facebook has never made it public. I would challenge that it’s not public data because it’s quite important. Whispering to someone is way more interesting than speaking to ten people in a crowd. Your closest friends When you’re at a bar and you look around at the people there, are you interested in what a group of fifteen people are talking about, or what the two folks in the

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/gq65_PZmHXs/

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Friday, December 21, 2012

People can't hear me on my Samsung Galaxy S3

When I send or receive a call, the person on the other side can't hear me.

Sometimes, the microphone goes mute during the call. But when I check if the phone is on mute, but it isn't. It happens randomly.

The microphone seems to be OK, and I think this is probably a software problem. Would upgrading the OS (from ICS to JB) fix this?

Source: http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/35834/people-cant-hear-me-on-my-samsung-galaxy-s3

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Canada retail sales jump more than forecast in October

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Source: http://money.ca.msn.com/investing/news/breaking-news/canada-retail-sales-jump-more-than-forecast-in-october

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Video: Sideshow: Sarah Palin's Groucho Marx connection

Stocks tumble as hopes for budget deal fade

??Stocks slumped nearly 1 percent on Friday, but closed off the worst levels of the session, after a Republican plan to avert the "fiscal cliff"fell apart, raising fears a deal will not be reached before the end of the year.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/hardball/50263091/

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Engineers seek ways to convert methane into useful chemicals

Dec. 20, 2012 ? Little more than a decade ago, the United States imported much of its natural gas. Today, the nation is tapping into its own natural gas reserves and producing enough to support most of its current needs for heating and power generation, and is beginning to export natural gas to other countries.

The trend is expected to continue, as new methods are developed to extract natural gas from vast unrecovered reserves embedded in shale. Natural gas can be used to generate electricity, and it burns cleaner than coal.

"With petroleum reserves in decline, natural gas production is destined to increase to help meet worldwide energy demands," said Matthew Neurock, a chemical engineering professor in the University of Virginia's School of Engineering and Applied Science. "But petroleum -- in addition to being used to make fuels -- is also used to make ethylene, propylene and other building blocks used in the production of a wide range of other chemicals. We need to develop innovative processes that can readily make these chemical intermediates from natural gas." The problem is, there currently are no cost-effective ways to do this. Methane, the principal component of natural gas, is rather inert and requires high temperatures to activate its strong chemical bonds; therefore the practical and successful conversion of methane to useful chemical intermediates has thus far eluded chemists and engineers.

Neurock is working with colleagues at Northwestern University to invent novel ways and catalytic materials to activate methane to produce ethylene. This week the collaborators published a paper in the online edition of the journal Nature Chemistry detailing the use of sulfur as a possible "soft" oxidant for catalytically converting methane into ethylene, a key "intermediate" for making chemicals, polymers, fuels and, ultimately, products such as films, surfactants, detergents, antifreeze, textiles and others.

"We show, through both theory -- using quantum mechanical calculations -- and laboratory experiments, that sulfur can be used together with novel sulfide catalysts to convert methane to ethylene, an important intermediate in the production of a wide range of materials," Neurock said.

Chemists and engineers have attempted to develop catalysts and catalytic processes that use oxygen to make ethylene, methanol and other intermediates, but have had little success as oxygen is too reactive and tends to over-oxidize methane to common carbon dioxide.

Neurock said that sulfur or other "softer" oxidants that have weaker affinities for hydrogen may be the answer, in that they can help to limit the over-reaction of methane to carbon disulfide. In the team's process, methane is reacted with sulfur over sulfide catalysts used in petroleum processes. Sulfur is used to remove hydrogen from the methane to form hydrocarbon fragments, which subsequently react together on the catalyst to form ethylene.

Theoretical and experimental results indicate that the conversion of methane and the selectivity to produce ethylene are controlled by how strong the sulfur bonds to the catalyst. Using these concepts, the team explored different metal sulfide catalysts to ultimately tune the metal-sulfur bond strength in order to control the conversion of methane to ethylene. Chemical companies consider methane a particularly attractive raw material because of the large reserves of natural gas in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

In 2007, Dow issued a "Methane Challenge," seeking revolutionary chemical processes to facilitate the conversion of methane to ethylene and other useful chemicals. The company received about 100 proposals from universities, institutes and companies around the world. In 2008, the company awarded major research grants to Cardiff University and Northwestern University to advance the quest. Neurock is a member of the Northwestern University team. He is using theoretical methods and high-performance computing to understand the processes that control catalysis and to guide the experimental research at Northwestern.

"The abundance of natural gas, along with the development of new methods to extract it from hidden reserves, offers unique opportunities for the development of catalytic processes that can convert methane to chemicals," Neurock said. "Our finding -- of using sulfur to catalyze the conversion of methane to ethylene -- shows initial promise for the development of new catalytic processes that can potentially take full advantage of these reserves. The research, however, is really just in its infancy."

Neurock's co-investigators on the Nature Chemistry paper are Qingjun Zhu, Staci Wegener, Chao Xie and Tobin Marks of Northwestern University, and U.Va. colleague Obioma Uche.?

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Virginia.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Qingjun Zhu, Staci L. Wegener, Chao Xie, Obioma Uche, Matthew Neurock, Tobin J. Marks. Sulfur as a selective ?soft? oxidant for catalytic methane conversion probed by experiment and theory. Nature Chemistry, 2012; DOI: 10.1038/nchem.1527

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/matter_energy/biochemistry/~3/YsbE_j3qIgs/121220153505.htm

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"Fiscal cliff" talks turn sour, Obama threatens veto

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Talks to avoid a U.S. fiscal crisis stalled on Wednesday as President Barack Obama accused opponents of holding a personal grudge against him while the top Republican negotiator called the president "irrational."

As a year-end deadline nears, Obama and House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner are locked in intense bargaining over a possible deal to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff of harsh tax hikes and automatic spending cuts that could badly damage an already weak economy.

Obama said he was puzzled over what was holding up the talks and told Boehner's Republicans to stop worrying about scoring "a point against the president" or forcing him into concessions "just for the heck of it."

"It is very hard for them to say yes to me," he told a news conference in the White House. "At some point, you know, they've got to take me out of it."

The rise in tensions threatens to unravel significant progress made over the last week.

Boehner and Obama have each offered substantial concessions that have made a deal look within reach. Obama has agreed to cuts in benefits for seniors, while Boehner has conceded to Obama's demand that taxes rise for the richest Americans.

However, the climate of goodwill has evaporated since Republicans announced plans on Tuesday to put an alternative tax plan to a vote in the House this week that would largely disregard the progress made so far in negotiations.

On Wednesday, Obama threatened to veto the Republican measure, known as "Plan B," if Congress approved it.

Boehner's office slammed Obama for opposing their plan, which would raise taxes on households making more than $1 million a year and is a concession from longstanding Republican opposition to increasing any tax rates.

"The White House's opposition to a backup plan ... is growing more bizarre and irrational by the day," Boehner said through his spokesman, Brendan Buck.

Boehner expressed confidence the House would pass the legislation on Thursday. He urged Obama to "get serious" about a balanced deficit reduction plan.

Wall Street is on edge over the fiscal cliff talks although investors still expect a deal. The S&P 500 stock index slipped 0.76 percent on Wednesday.

Business leaders have descended on Washington to lobby for a deal to avoid going over the cliff while putting public finances on a more sustainable path. Without an agreement to narrow deficits over the long run, the United States could eventually lose investors' trust, triggering a debt crisis.

An acrimonious presidential campaign that culminated in Obama's re-election on November 6 has added to the bad blood in Washington between Obama and congressional Republicans.

The two sides also clashed bitterly last year over the government's limit on borrowing - known as the debt ceiling - an episode that nearly led the nation to default on its debt.

On Wednesday, Obama said the fiscal cliff must not get bogged down with negotiations over the debt ceiling, an issue that must be dealt with again early next year.

But Boehner's offer to raise the debt ceiling enough for another year of borrowing is facing opposition from a large group of Republicans, a House Republican aide said.

LITMUS TEST

Any fiscal cliff agreement by Obama and the Republican leadership would need the support of their parties' rank and file in Congress, and Thursday's vote on Plan B will be a test of Boehner's ability to deliver votes on any eventual deal.

Boehner faces opposition from Republican Tea Party conservatives over his concession to raise tax rates. But in a sign some conservatives are coming around to Boehner's position, anti-tax activist Grover Norquist gave his blessing to the bill.

Other conservative groups, including the influential Club for Growth, are urging Republicans to vote against Plan B.

Obama and Boehner appear to have bridged their biggest ideological differences but remain hung up on the mix of tax hikes and spending cuts meant to narrow the budget gap.

"What separates us is probably a few hundred billion dollars," Obama said.

The White House wants taxes to rise on household incomes above $400,000 a year, a concession from Obama's opening proposal for a $250,000 income threshold.

If a deal is not reached soon, some $600 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts are set to begin next month.

Senior administration officials described negotiations as at a standstill and Obama warned he would ask everyone involved in the talks, "what it is that's holding it up?"

Still, the top Republican in the Senate said a resolution to the stalemate could come by the end of the week.

"There's still enough time for us to finish all of our work before this weekend, if we're all willing to stay late and work hard," said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell.

Many Democrats dislike the president's offer to reduce benefits to seniors, although some political allies of Obama have given signs they feel they could swallow this concession.

"I don't like these particular changes," said Democratic Representative Chris Van Hollen, a member of the House leadership from Maryland. But he added: "What people are seeing is the president willing to compromise in order to get things done."

(Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton, Thomas Ferraro and Vicki Allen; Kim Dixon and Richard Cowan; Writing by Jason Lange; Editing by Alistair Bell and Eric Beech)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-fiscal-cliff-talks-turn-sour-obama-threatens-001329144--business.html

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Shoppers from Mexico boost holiday sales for Texas retailers

by Angela Kocherga / KVUE.com

Bio | Email

kens5.com

Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:23 AM

CANUTILLO, Texas - Shoppers from Mexico are making the season bright for U.S. retailers this season.

The number of shoppers at malls on the border is growing as the number of shopping days dwindles.

"The prices are at least 50 percent off," said Dr. Alan Arrizo, of Chihuahua.

The doctor was browsing at the Outlet Shoppes at El Paso with his wife and two young daughters, Alejandra and Fernanda. Fernanda even carried a few dollars in a small Mickey Mouse purse.

The family stopped on their way home from a trip to Disneyland to do some Christmas shopping near El Paso.

Arrizo expected the family to spend about $2,000 on Christmas shopping in Texas before heading home.

The selection and big savings attract Christmas shoppers from Mexico.

?We pay for meals," said Hilda Moreno. "We pay for everything and we spend less than Mexico. Can you believe it??

She planned to increase her savings by using store coupons.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas estimates Mexicans spend more than $4.5 billion annually on food, clothing, auto parts and other retail items in the border cities, primarily El Paso, McAllen, Brownsville and Laredo.

In Laredo, shoppers from Mexico account for as much as 45 percent of retails sales.

Shoppers from Mexico spend an estimated $2 billion in Arizona, with at least half of that cash spent in Pima County.

This time of year, by law, many employers in Mexico must give year-end bonuses or ?aguinaldo,? which families usually spend on Christmas presents.

Texas cities that are not on the border also benefit, according to a study by Texas State University - San Marcos. The researchers surveyed Mexican shoppers at two outlet malls in Central Texas.

"Holiday shoppers from Mexico visiting outlet stores here spent roughly twice as much as their American counterparts visiting from outside the San Antonio and Austin areas," according to the study titled "Mexican National Cross-Border Shopping: Exploration of Retail Tourism."

The study was published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services.?

Major retailers in Houston have long promoted shopping trips during the holiday season. Some packages include airfare, hotel accommodations at or near major malls like The Galleria.

On the border, many shoppers drive to their favorite malls to take advantage of bargains.

Mari Mercado, of Juarez, used coupons to buy several trendy sweatshirts, including one lined with faux fur.

?If you spend $100, they give you a $25 discount, ?Mercado said.

Her friend Sandra Holguin drove about five hours from the town of Delicias to take advantage of the bargains.

?In Chihuahua it?s very expensive, almost triple what it is here," she said.

As Christmas carols played over the outlet mall speakers, the two women stuffed their van with bags of gifts like Santa Claus loading his sleigh.

?It?s worth it,? said Mercado before getting in the car to head home to Mexico. ??

Source: http://www.kens5.com/news/Shoppers-from-Mexico-boost-holiday-sales-for-Texas-retailers-184100631.html

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Frontier Communications Begins Offering Consumers 100% Green Energy Supply

Customers Can Save Money When Purchasing Electricity and?Natural?Gas

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Frontier Communications Corporation?(NASDAQ: FTR),?the largest provider of communications services focused on rural America,?today announced the?availability?of?a?cost-effective, clean energy?supply through FTR?Energy?Services. Customers will receive the same electricity and the same service?on the same bill?from their trusted local provider, but FTR Energy Services will provide green energy at affordable rates and 5 percent cash back on energy supply.

?FTR Energy?Services?builds on?Frontier Communications??strong?local?relationships?with?customers. Communities, customers, Frontier employees?and?shareholders?will?benefit from this?service. It is a great?addition to our?robust?home and?small business?offerings?

?Clean, renewable and affordable energy is something?all?customers want. This opportunity offers?consumers choice, affordable plans?and the ability to?help the environment?by knowing their energy?supply is?100 percent green,??said?Ann Burr, President, New Product Trials and Integration for Frontier.

Participating utilities by state (E= electric; G=gas) are:

a. ?

New York

i.

Central Hudson (E&G)

ii. National Grid (E&G)
iii. NYSEG (E&G)
iv. Orange & Rockland (E&G)
v. Rochester Gas & Electric (E)
vi. National Fuel Gas (G)
b.

Ohio

i. Dayton Power & Light (E)
ii. Columbus Southern Power (E)
iii. OHIO Power (E)
iv. Cleveland Electric (E)
v. Ohio Edison (E)
vi. Toledo Edison (E)
vii. Columbia Gas (G)
viii. Vectren (G)
ix. Dominion East (G)
c.

Indiana

i. NIPSCO (G)

Any consumer ? not just Frontier customers -- may sign up for?either?fixed or variable rate energy plans. Since energy is a commodity?with supply rates?that?fluctuate depending on weather and market conditions, it is important?customers select?a plan?that suits them. They can make their choice?using either?an easy online tool or by speaking to a trained?FTR Energy Services customer?representative who?will?help them through the process.

?FTR Energy?Services?builds on?Frontier Communications??strong?local?relationships?with?customers. Communities, customers, Frontier employees?and?shareholders?will?benefit from this?service. It is a great?addition to our?robust?home and?small business?offerings,? said?Burr. The switch to Frontier Energy Services from?a customer?s current energy supplier is simple and easy. All customer bills will still come from their current local energy utility.

FTR Energy?Services?is a?wholly-owned subsidiary of Crius Energy,?a?pioneer?in?telecom and energy?relationships?and?the first to?recognize?the?consumer advantages achievable through broadband?and energy company partnerships.

For more information?on FTR Energy Services, please visit?www.ftrenergyservices.com?or call 888-807-1644.

About FTR Energy Services

FTR Energy Services is a provider of affordable, green retail energy. The company will initially provide 100 percent green electricity to customers in New York and Ohio, and clean-burning natural gas to customers in Indiana, with plans to expand its service locations. FTR Energy Services LLC is a subsidiary of Crius Energy LLC. FTR Energy Services was created through a strategic marketing relationship with Frontier Communications (NASDAQ: FTR). FTR Energy Services uses the FTR name under a license agreement with Frontier Communications. Through this landmark launch, Frontier Communications demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and innovation as one of the first telecommunications providers to offer green energy options to customers along with Internet, entertainment and phone services. More information is available at www.ftrenergyservices.com

About Frontier Communications

Frontier Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: FTR) is an S&P 500 company and is included in the FORTUNE 500 list of America's largest corporations. Frontier offers broadband, voice, satellite video, wireless Internet data access, data security solutions, bundled offerings and specialized bundles for residential customers, small businesses and home offices and advanced communications for medium and large businesses in 27 states. Frontier's approximately 15,300 employees are based entirely in the United States. More information is available at www.frontier.com.

Source: http://feeds.businesswire.com/click.phdo?i=9f8e12ac0e98881e3cb09ba95ddaf526

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Relationship Management: Be transparent and sincere ? Sharon's ...

Following on from my previous post (Relationship Management: Communicate, communicate, communicate),? based on the Compendium of Good Practice in Relationship Management in Higher and Further Education, written by myself and Lou McGill, this post will focus on culture change. We?ve already stated the importance of communication, which is the glue that binds the various stakeholders together.? In this post, we?ll be taking a look at the institution?s and management?s role in relationship management with regard to culture change.

?The project, as a change management initiative, has contributed to the University [of Southampton's] understanding of its institutional context. Opening up our data silos is more political and cultural than technical, and these domains are starting to change. There is little concrete evidence of the fruits of the change yet, but the change process has begun? We have been able to make extensive preparation for change, and there is commitment within the University to continue with it.? (Moore, I. and Paull, A. (2012). JISC Relationship Management Programme - Impact Analysis: Strands 2 and 3. (Not publicly available)

Taking an institution-wide approach to relationship management presents opportunities to identify where existing cultural approaches and practices may be ineffective. Sometimes the introduction of a new software system can highlight areas where cultural change needs to occur. It can show where current procedures inhibit agility, or where collaboration and innovation initiatives are not working. Introducing new software often acts as a catalyst for change in policies, practice and culture, whilst improving access to data can encourage the organisational culture to be more innovative and transparent. Changing an organisation?s culture is not without its problems:

?For context we would note that the staff and student population of an average university is equivalent to that of a small town (and the largest universities to small cities). Planning for change on this scale is not easy.? (Moore, I. and Paull, A. (2012). JISC Relationship Management Programme - Impact Analysis: Strands 2 and 3. (Not publicly available)

Cultural change comes with a myriad of challenges and is probably one of the hardest aspects of relationship management to address. For example:

  • staff may view changes in processes and the introduction of new software systems as threatening to their working practices; eg at Loughborough University, some staff who considered their own processes to be fit for purpose were concerned about proposed changes
  • concerns around budget reductions
  • resulting staff turnover

Champions can help drive change. At the University of Nottingham, for example, senior management is encouraged to champion good practice for placements, with the placement co-ordinator acting as the central conduit for relationships and communication. Senior management buy-in or sponsorship can help to raise the importance of relationship management within the institution, but it must be sincere, otherwise an institution?s organisational structure will remain a barrier no matter what improvements are suggested:

?The process of change needs to be managed with care to ensure that all stakeholder are positively engaged, especially those who have the power to implement the change (primary stakeholders), and those who have influence over opinion within the organization. Hence it is essential to carry out a full stakeholder analysis. As with any change management, when it comes to implementing the change it is important to identify champions in each of the stakeholder groups, coupled with clear and regular communication.? (Davis, H., Howard, Y., and Prince, R. (2012). Ninjas and Dragons. University of Southampton)

Consultation with a wide range of departments and stakeholders can also help to identify new champions. For example, new enthusiasts at the University of Nottingham were instrumental in spreading the word about placements and sources of expertise. As a result, existing good practice (for example from the School of Veterinary Medicine) has now been incorporated into the placements process and at least five academic schools in the University have expressed interest in using ePortfolios to support placements or work-based activity.

The co-creation aspects of the service design approach can help to improve staff buy-in, because it empowers staff to take ownership of any process improvements with a good chance of long-term impact. Taking this approach and talking to people on their own terms may also win over ?difficult? institutional characters, thereby enabling ?change by stealth?. Sometimes, it is necessary to establish new organisational structures to facilitate change and create new staff roles to reflect changing priorities. Communication is vital for promoting an understanding of what people are doing and why.

Change must be managed carefully to ensure that all stakeholders are engaged, especially those who have power or influence in the institution. For example, rather than imposing wholesale change across the whole institution, the University of Nottingham has taken a ?hub and spoke? approach in which new developments are conceived centrally and delivered locally. The primary focus is on the spokes, rather than the hub, which start to establish change across the institution. Similarly, encouraging staff to make bite-sized changes that do not take them away from day-to-day operations can reduce resentment to any new methods of working.

Changing the mindset of staff can have a huge impact, even if significant changes to processes are still to be made. For example, instead of just providing advice and guidance to students thinking of leaving, staff at the University of Derby now pro-actively reach out to students who wish to withdraw. This helps the student, who may not be able to articulate their reasons for withdrawal and who may just need additional support. It also provides the institution with useful feedback for making further improvements.

How to approach culture change

  • Establish champions to drive through changes
  • Senior management buy-in or sponsorship must be sincere
  • Talk to people on their own terms
  • Communicate, communicate, communicate
  • Use co-creation to encourage staff to take ownership of process improvements
  • Aim for small-scale rather than large-scale changes

Further information

?

Tags: buy-in, champions, communication, cultural change, organisational change, process change, service design

Source: http://blogs.cetis.ac.uk/accessibility/2012/12/18/relationship-management-be-transparent-and-sincere/

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Ecuador volcano blasts more hot rock from crater

he Tungurahua volcano emits an an ash-filled plume as seen from Huambalo, Ecuador, Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. The country's National Geophysics Institute says that a constant plume of gas and ash is rising about half a mile (1 kilometer) above the crater, with ash falling on nearby communities. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

he Tungurahua volcano emits an an ash-filled plume as seen from Huambalo, Ecuador, Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. The country's National Geophysics Institute says that a constant plume of gas and ash is rising about half a mile (1 kilometer) above the crater, with ash falling on nearby communities. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

An ash-filled plume rises from the Tungurahua volcano as seen from Huambalo, Ecuador, Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. The country's National Geophysics Institute says that a constant plume of gas and ash is rising about half a mile (1 kilometer) above the crater, with ash falling on nearby communities. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Church steeples are silhouetted against the active Tungurahua volcano, seen from Huambalo, Ecuador, Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. The country's National Geophysics Institute says that a constant plume of gas and ash is rising about half a mile (1 kilometer) above the crater, with ash falling on nearby communities. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

(AP) ? The Tungurahua volcano in central Ecuador keeps spewing gas, ash and red-hot rock, forcing hundreds to evacuate from their homes.

The country's Geophysical Institute says incandescent rock shot from the crater of the 16,479-foot (5,023-meter) high mountain fell about half a mile (a kilometer) down its flanks. Explosions early Wednesday rattled windows 9 miles (14 kilometers) away, while rain-borne ash has been falling to the southwest of the crater.

Regional emergency director Lourdes Mayorga says that about 100 families are staying in shelters away from the danger zone, though they return during the day to work their fields. She says there will be forced evacuations if the volcanic activity intensifies.

Tungurahua has been active for the past 13 years. An outburst in 2006 left four dead and two missing.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/b2f0ca3a594644ee9e50a8ec4ce2d6de/Article_2012-12-19-Ecuador-Volcano/id-47edebf64d6d4754acc572a4d3d0ded6

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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Rapper AP.9 Insinuates He?s Banging Ice-T?s Wife Coco! (VIDEO)

Rapper AP.9 Insinuates He’s Banging Ice-T’s Wife Coco! (VIDEO)

Ice-T and Coco picturesRapper AP.9 is stirring up controversy with “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” actor, Ice-T, hinting that there may be more to the story of his frisky photos with Coco. Rapper AP.9, who was seen in several Twitter pics with Coco looking a little too friendly, certainly doesn’t deny something went down and insists he’s ...

Rapper AP.9 Insinuates He’s Banging Ice-T’s Wife Coco! (VIDEO) Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2012/12/rapper-ap-9-insinuates-hes-banging-ice-ts-wife-coco-video/

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Hosted Telephony for Small Businesses | Mike Henry - Online ...

For many people starting their own small business, the costs of maintaining it can often be more expensive than initially thought. Bolt-ons with communication costs and unexpected fees with travel expenses mean that many business owners spend more than their allocated budget. With the aid of network solutions, businesses can overcome these challenges.

What makes business telephone systems so remarkable is the fact that since it operates on an IP network it can combine voice data, internet connection, and messaging services all into one form of communication, and consequently one monthly cost and the use of IP headsets.

Furthermore, whilst traditional telephone systems are operated onsite, business telephone systems can be operated in an offsite location, providing greater network management for small businesses and less expenditure on IT professionals and resources.

In addition to updating communication systems, many network management providers constantly monitor the efficiency of business telephony systems, and update them as required. This allows small business owners to spend less time and money on IT professionals and software, and the unexpected cost of upgrades and bolt-ons. With this monitoring, these communication technology businesses can also advise small businesses on ways they can increase the efficiency and productivity of their communications.

Space and geographical location are also key factors to take into consideration which are important benefits of a business telephone system as they help to improve space in addition to flexibility in terms of location. The data is transmitted in a very efficient manner through VoIP data packets and fibre optic wires that is much more effective than traditional telephone systems. The network is also much more resilient than prior methods of communication, which means that small businesses are less likely to be affected by outside conditions and consequences that might tamper with their inner network, for example construction or power cuts.

Catherine McCulloch is a London-based technology writer. Check out this website to view the latest on network solutions and more from Britannic Technologies.

Tags: Business Telephone Systems, Network management, Network solutions, Technology

Source: http://askmikehenry.com/hosted-telephony-for-small-businesses

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Apple sells over 2 million iPhone 5 handsets in China over launch weekend

Apple sells over 2 million iPhone 5 handsets in China over launch weekendApple has announced that it has sold over two million iPhone 5 handsets in China after just three days since its official launch. The iPhone 5 went on sale in China on Friday December 14 and by end of play on Sunday, Apple had sold over 2 million devices. The roll out doesn't stop in China either; more countries will get the iPhone 5 soon making a total of 100 countries by the end of this year.

?Customer response to iPhone 5 in China has been incredible, setting a new record with the best first weekend sales ever in China,? said Tim Cook, Apple?s CEO. ?China is a very important market for us and customers there cannot wait to get their hands on Apple products.?

The Chinese market is a massive area for Apple to gain huge market share. Apple currently has deals in place with two major Chinese mobile networks and they are China Unicom and China Telecom. To make the next step, a deal with China Mobile will need to be signed and that would open up the iPhone 5 to the largest mobile operator in China. China mobile currently has over 700 million subscribers but the stumbling block may be the technology that China Mobile uses.

Its LTE network is built on TD-SCDMA technologies, and TD-SCDMA is only used by China Mobile (China Telecom uses regular CDMA and China Unicom is on UMTS). The iPhone 5 does not currently support that particular flavour of LTE but we are reasonably sure that Apple could rectify that particular problem if the two companies could agree on a deal.

Source: Apple PR

iPhone 5 First Weekend Sales in China Top Two Million BEIJING?December 17, 2012?Apple? today announced it has sold over two million of its new iPhone? 5 in China, just three days after its launch on December 14. iPhone 5 will be available in more than 100 countries by the end of December, making it the fastest iPhone rollout ever.

?Customer response to iPhone 5 in China has been incredible, setting a new record with the best first weekend sales ever in China,? said Tim Cook, Apple?s CEO. ?China is a very important market for us and customers there cannot wait to get their hands on Apple products.?

iPhone 5 is the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, completely redesigned to feature a stunning new 4-inch Retina? display; an Apple-designed A6 chip for blazing fast performance; and ultrafast wireless technology*?all while delivering even better battery life.** iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, the world?s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features including: Shared Photo Streams, all-new Maps app, Passbook? organization and even more Siri? features and languages including Mandarin.

*Network speeds are dependent on carrier networks, check with your carrier for details. **Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.



Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/1PVOhPm0J_U/story01.htm

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Monday, December 17, 2012

Novel role for protein linked to obesity and development of type 2 diabetes identified

Dec. 17, 2012 ? Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have taken another step toward better understanding the metabolic functions of obesity and its connection to type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Philipp Scherer, Director of the Touchstone Center for Diabetes Research at UT Southwestern, led a group of researchers in a recent multicenter study published in Nature Medicine that successfully identified ways to manipulate the protein mitoNEET. This is the first time the protein has been effectively altered to expand fat tissue in a way that allows subjects -- in this case, mice -- to remain metabolically healthy.

MitoNEET is a key component of a cell's mitochondrion, which serves as the cell's energy powerhouse. When the levels of MitoNEET protein were elevated inside the fat cells of rodents, more fat was stored in the adipose tissue, thereby keeping toxic lipids away from other types of cells. This sequestration resulted in extremely obese yet metabolically healthy mice that displayed no signs of type 2 diabetes. In contrast, when MitoNEET levels were decreased, the mice became lean but unhealthy, and developed pre-diabetic conditions such as failure to metabolize glucose properly.

"The manipulation of mitochondrial activity in fat tissue is a very powerful approach to control how much excess energy we store in our bodies and where we store it. We have heretofore underestimated the importance of mitochondrial pathways in our fat cells and their influence on how we manage our weight," said Dr. Scherer, senior author of the three-year study and Professor of Internal Medicine and Cell Biology at UTSW.

The body stores fat in the white adipose tissue, and, ideally, individuals burn any excess calories through exercise and a healthy diet. The current research findings suggest that manipulating components of mitochondria in fat cells can be an effective way to funnel excess calories into "good" locations. This storage then thwarts their negative effect on other internal organs like the liver in which excess fat accumulation is toxic.

The obese mice in this study weighed 120 to 130 grams (4.23 to 4.58 ounces), whereas a normal adult mouse weighs 25 to 30 grams (.88 to 1.06 ounces). This difference is the equivalent of a 150-pound person increasing his or her weight to 700 pounds.

The researchers were careful to clarify that the findings were not meant to encourage obesity, even though the obese mice were considered metabolically healthy. The study instead provides a clearer understanding of the mitochondrion's importance to the metabolic dysfunction -- that is characteristic of obese patients and those with type 2 diabetes.

"These results taught us a great deal about how fat cells sense, store, and burn energy," said Dr. Christine Kusminski, a postdoctoral researcher in Internal Medicine who served as the study's first author. "By learning more about the underlying mechanisms, we hope to develop ways to target these pathways for future drug development."

The researchers now hope to translate these findings into a clinical setting. The staff of the Touchstone Center is devoted to the study of cells and tissues that either contribute to or are affected by diabetes and related diseases, including the physiology of adipose tissue.

Other UT Southwestern researchers involved in the study were Dr. William L. Holland, Instructor in Internal Medicine; Dr. Kai Sun, Assistant Instructor in Internal Medicine; Dr. Jiyoung Park, Assistant Instructor in Internal Medicine; and Stephen B. Spurgin, a medical student. Scientists from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the University of Utah School of Medicine, and Merck Research Laboratories also contributed.

The investigation was funded by support from the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and fellowships from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Department of Defense.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by UT Southwestern Medical Center.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Christine M Kusminski, William L Holland, Kai Sun, Jiyoung Park, Stephen B Spurgin, Ying Lin, G Roger Askew, Judith A Simcox, Don A McClain, Cai Li, Philipp E Scherer. MitoNEET-driven alterations in adipocyte mitochondrial activity reveal a crucial adaptive process that preserves insulin sensitivity in obesity. Nature Medicine, 2012; 18 (10): 1539 DOI: 10.1038/nm.2899

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/m38SpK1k1I0/121217140432.htm

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Sunday, December 16, 2012

biplobsharma70: scottcarreey: Courses for Boating | Sports n ...

scottcarreey: Courses for Boating | Sports n Recreation Info Center ...

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://monorduar.blogspot.com/2012/12/scottcarreey-courses-for-boating-sports.html

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Source: http://biplobsharma70.blogspot.com/2012/12/scottcarreey-courses-for-boating-sports.html

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Eat Vegetables And Fruits For An Extended, More healthy Daily life ...

Are you aware that diet and dietary inadequacies would be the major reason for most health problems? The very best 3 main reasons for dying within this country ? cardiovascular disease, cancer and stroke ? are mainly avoidable with diet and diet alone! For this reason so many people are seeking alternative health care today.

It is crucial that you consume correctly. Even though you might be a little kind of dietary supplementation, it is definitely a alternative for food. People require food. We can not manufacture our very own food. It might be wonderful when we could, however, we?re needed to really eat and process meals to obtain the appropriate nutrition essential for existence.

Most of us have been expected to follow a respectable diet or told to consume right, but we?re never told precisely what that?s. That may be construed in a different way for everybody person. It might mean do not eat fried meals for just one person as well as for another it might mean to consume a vegetarian type diet. Let us have a look at diet. You?re things to eat!

Diet may be the science from the relationship of meals and nutrition to health insurance and disease. It?s a very complex science including over 40 different nutrition. Diet is very important for each age bracket. It is crucial for potential to deal with disease and ale your body to heal and repair. Optimal diet can also be required for normal development, reproduction as well as for growth.

Nutrition fall under six groups: carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, minerals, and water.

Let us discuss vitamins. Vitamins are crucial for growth, protection and also the regulating energy in the human body. They ought to be provided by diet. An insufficiency inside a particular vitamin can ultimately increase the risk for expression of signs and symptoms. Vitamins perform specific roles in the human body and could be further split into two groups, body fat-soluble and water-soluble. The body fat-soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E and K. Body fat-soluble vit a was the very first vitamin recognized. Your body more readily soaks up this group when consumed with body fat or oils. These vitamins are saved in your body and do not need to always be consumed daily. Water-soluble group includes the Vitamin b, which encompass the whole B complex including B2, B2, B3, B6, B12, folate, pantothenic acidity and biotin in addition to ascorbic acid.

As very important because it is that you should consume appropriate meals, this may also be necessary that you should likewise invest in taking some type of vitamin supplementation. The meals that people eat today doesn?t have exactly the same mineral and vitamin content it did years back. There?s a stable and rapid depletion from the soil where crops are grown creating lack of minerals and vitamins. Like a matter fact to obtain the equivalent iron which was in a single cup of green spinach in 1945 you would need to eat 65 cups today! Also many crops cannot even absorb minerals in the soil because of chemical manure. One other issue today may be the genetic modification of meals. Genetically changed meals could have genes using their company plants or creatures they might even contain chemicals for example pesticide sprays.

There?s a business which has isolated the gene in seafood that safeguards them from cold and it has integrated that gene right into a tomato. A lot of you understand the remembered taco shells in the past simply because they were contaminated using the genetically changed corn named ?Starlink? that was modified to create its very own pesticide sprays. Over 70% from the corn crop continues to be genetically designed. This corn is lacking of b12 along with other compounds. Obviously supplementation ought to be incorporated inside your daily diets, but from the natural source.

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    What time to sleep at night is the best on health ? First of all, everyone should abide by the biological clock, about 3% of the world are people who sleep late, while 3% of people who are going to be...
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    1.Lettuce is rich in vitamin C, natural folate, iron, carbohydrate, calcium, phosphorus, protein, fat, carbohydrates, crude fiber, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and other ingredients. Often e...
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    1. diuretic effect The caffeine and aromatic substances in black tea combined effects, to increase in renal blood flow and improve the glomerular filtration rate, renal microvascular expansion, and i...
  • Laver to improve the role of memory loss
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  • 26 kinds of anti-aging food
    Diet can play a large anti aging role, the following described 26 kinds of anti-aging food: 1, Anti-aging food: Walnuts Recommended reason: Benefit the brain, the nutritional value of a pound of w...
  • Which of gynecological diseases may cause lumbago (waist pain, backache)
    Although lumbago is a symptom, but for women, may be the body of gynecological diseases. When the woman has lumbago, especially in the recurrent lumbago, we must carefully guard. 1. uterine malposi...
  • Exercise helps to grow taller, which sport can grow high?
    Exercise can directly promote the secretion of growth hormone, but also promote the movement sleep that night growth hormone secretion. Moderate exercise can also increase appetite, give you a healthy...
Tags: Vegetables And Fruits, Vegetables And Fruits healthy life
This entry was posted on Sunday, December 16th, 2012 and is filed under Health Tips, Nutrition. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.hhtip.com/eat-vegetables-and-fruits-for-an-extended-more-healthy-daily-life/

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Saturday, December 15, 2012

The Note's Must-Reads for Friday, December 14, 2012

The Note's Must-Reads are a round-up of today's political headlines and stories from ABC News and the top U.S. newspapers. Posted Monday through Friday right here at www.abcnews.com

Compiled by ABC News' Jayce Henderson and Carrie Halperin

FISCAL CLIFF: The Los Angeles Times' Lisa Mascaro and Melanie Mason: " Signs of drift in 'fiscal cliff' talks" President Obama called House Speaker John A. Boehner to the White House on Thursday night to try to break the deadlock in the year-end budget talks, but their third face-to-face session ended after nearly an hour with no sign of progress. Earlier in the day, a top Senate Democrat said increasing the Medicare eligibility age was off the table - an important stance to liberal Democrats. LINK

The Washington Post's Lori Montgomery and Paul Kane: " Obama, Boehner meet on 'fiscal cliff,' but no deal is reached" President Obama summoned House Speaker John A. Boehner to the White House on Thursday, but their talks over the looming "fiscal cliff" failed to break the impasse over taxes and clear the way for a deal to head off painful austerity measures set to hit in January.After the 50-minute session in the Oval Office, aides to both men described the meeting as a frank exchange and said the lines of communication remained open. But Boehner prepared to return to Ohio for the weekend, with no further negotiations on his schedule. LINK

The New York Times' Jonathan Weisman and Jackie Calmes: " With Gap Wide and Time Short, Obama and Boehner Meet" With time running short to work out a deal to avert a year-end fiscal crisis, President Obama called Speaker John A. Boehner to the White House on Thursday evening to try to move talks forward even as pessimism mounted that a broad deal could be struck that bridges the substantial gap between the parties on taxes and entitlements like Medicare. LINK

SUSAN RICE: The Hill's Julian Pecquet: " Susan Rice abandons bid to be the next secretary of State" Susan Rice on Thursday withdrew her name from consideration as President Obama's next secretary of State, allowing the White House to avoid a bitter confirmation battle with Senate Republicans. In a letter to Obama notifying the president of her decision, the ambassador to the United Nations said she wanted to spare the White House a heated battle with those who have criticized her over the administration's handling of the terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. LINK

The Washington Time's Dave Boyer: " Battered by Benghazi, Rice withdraws as State candidate" Embattled U.N. Ambassador Susan E. Rice withdrew her name Thursday from consideration to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton after months of criticism over her comments about the terrorist attack that killed four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, in September. Although the decision had been building for weeks, Mrs. Rice's request was a stunning setback for President Obama, who angrily defended her in a November news conference and challenged the Republican critics that "they should go after me" over the handling of the Benghazi attack. Mrs. Rice is a longtime senior adviser on foreign policy for the president and had been seen as a front-runner for Foggy Bottom in his second term. LINK

USA Today's Aamer Madhani: " Lawmakers react to Rice's withdrawal" After weeks of mounting criticism against U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, Sen. John McCain offered a measured response on Thursday to Rice's decision to remove herself from consideration to be the next secretary of State. "Sen. McCain thanks Ambassador Rice for her service to the country and wishes her well," said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers. "He will continue to seek all the facts about what happened before, during and after the attack on our consulate in Benghazi that killed four brave Americans." LINK

U.S. DEFENSE: The Wall Street Journal's Adam Entous: " U.S. to Deploy Defense Systems to Turkey" U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta intends to sign an order Friday for the deployment of two batteries of Patriot air-defense systems, along with up to 400 American troops who will man them, to Turkey as part of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization push to shore up Ankara's defenses against possible attacks from Syria, U.S. officials said. The deployment approved by Mr. Panetta would mark a sharp expansion of the Pentagon's role along Syria's borders and comes amid increasing U.S. concern that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, under pressure from rebels forces, could resort to using chemical weapons. The U.S. says Mr. Assad recently used Scud missiles as part of his offensive against rebels, alarming countries in the region. LINK

HEALTH CARE: ABC News' Shushannah Walshe: " Health Care Deadline Looms: How States Are Setting Up the Exchanges" All of the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare," doesn't go into effect until 2014, but states are required to set up their own health care exchanges or leave it to the federal government to step in by next year. The deadline for the governors' decisions is Friday.The health insurance exchanges are one of the key stipulations of the new health care law. They will offer consumers an Internet-based marketplace for purchasing private health insurance plans. LINK

ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT: Bloomberg's Mark Drajem: " Tougher Fracking Regulations Backed by 66%, Poll Shows" Support for regulation of hydraulic fracturing has increased in the past three months, a sign that the gas-drilling practice is facing greater public scrutiny. A Bloomberg National Poll found that 66 percent of Americans want more government oversight of the process, known as fracking, in which water, chemicals and sand are shot underground to free gas trapped in rock. That's an increase from 56 percent in a September poll. The poll found 18 percent favored less regulation, down from 29 percent three months ago. LINK

OTHER: Politico's David Rodgers: " Vilsack warns Congress on farm bill" In some of his strongest language to date, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack warned Congress Thursday that it must pick up the pace of farm bill talks and can't expect a fallback to prevent milk prices from spiking after New Year's when the current dairy provisions expire. Vilsack said it was "unlikely" there could be an extension of the current 2008 farm law, and House and Senate negotiators need to be meeting "24/7 until they get a resolution." LINK

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/notes-must-reads-friday-december-14-2012-081351992--abc-news-politics.html

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