Scientists challenge current theories about natural habitats and species diversity

Dec. 30, 2012 ? How can a square meter of meadow contain tens of species of plants? And what factors determine the number of species that live in an ecosystem? Science journal has defined this as one of the 25 most important unresolved questions in science, both for its importance in understanding nature and due to the value of natural ecosystems for humankind. The value of goods and services provided by natural ecosystems is estimated to exceed the GDP of our planet.

For over 50 years, conventional ecological theories have predicted that the number of species that can coexist in a given area increases with the heterogeneity of the environmental conditions in the habitat. This premise was examined in a study conducted by research students Omri Allouche and Michael Kalyuzhny, guided by Prof. Ronen Kadmon from the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in collaboration with Prof. Gregorio Moreno-Rueda and Prof. Manuel Pizarro from Universidad de Granada.

The researchers claim that in a heterogeneous environment -- where there are many different types of habitats -- there are fewer resources and less suitable area available to each species, making them more vulnerable to local extinction. This leads to the hypothesis that excessive habitat heterogeneity may actually reduce the number of species.

This hypothesis was examined using mathematical models and empirical analyses of natural ecosystems. Its predictions were examined with a meta-analysis of tens of datasets of plant and animal species from various localities worldwide.

Both the theoretical results and the data analyses supported the researchers' hypothesis that habitat heterogeneity may increase the rate of species extinctions and therefore reduce the number of species that inhabit the ecosystem.

These findings are very important for the conservation of biodiversity, since the current practice is to conserve areas of maximal habitat heterogeneity and even to take measures to increase habitat heterogeneity. The study shows that this conventional approach may lead to negative results, especially in the case of landscapes of limited size, which is typical of nature reserves.

Ecosystems and the species they consist of are under increasing pressure of human activity. In these conditions, skillful and intelligent management of natural landscapes is vital. This study provides scientists and policy makers with important insights for the selection and management of areas for conservation.

The study, Area-heterogeneity tradeoff and the diversity of ecological communities, was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. It was funded by the Israel Science Foundation and by Israel's Ministry of Science and Technology.

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Journal Reference:

1. O. Allouche, M. Kalyuzhny, G. Moreno-Rueda, M. Pizarro, R. Kadmon. Area-heterogeneity tradeoff and the diversity of ecological communities. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2012; 109 (43): 17495 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1208652109

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/most_popular/~3/qQW6huT_mlg/121230143021.htm

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Time to Invest in Low Volatility ETFs? - Zacks.com

With 2012 nearing its end, investors are becoming very concerned about the fiscal cliff. ETFs of almost all segments of the market are witnessing modest sell-offs as investors remain concerned about the consequences of going over the ledge, pushing many to steer clear of risky investments and settle for safer havens instead.

If President Obama and Congress fail to work out a plan to prevent the country from falling off the dreaded fiscal cliff, which seems very likely at this point, then the U.S. economy may slip into yet another recession.

With markets expected to be volatile due to this uncertainty, investors who want to stay invested should avoid high volatile products and instead shift their asset base to low volatile products. These products have proved their effectiveness when markets tend to be facing a wall of worry (4 Low-Volatility ETFs to Hedge Your Portfolio).

Investors who invest in low volatility products at times of an uncertain market can make profits above their higher volatility peers. Low volatility ETFs tend to diminish risk and generate decent returns for investors, while higher beta stocks face more severe losses.

However, when markets tend to be bullish, investors generally opt for high beta stocks to attain above-average gains. At this time, high beta stocks beat the low volatility stocks which tend to underperform.

Low volatility ETFs generally include those stocks in their portfolio which have shown more stability in the past and have experienced the least in movement. In 2012, when markets stayed uncertain, low volatility ETFs managed to collect more than $3 billion. (Three Low Volatility ETFs for Stormy Markets).

Markets may turn out to be weak heading into 2013 and investing in a low volatility stock may prove to be a safe bet for investors. But instead of investing in a single low volatility stock, one can put in their money in multiple stocks wrapped in an ETF for even lower risk exposure.

For these investors, we have highlighted a handful of the low volatility ETF options that are currently available and which could provide great exposure to investors in this rocky market environment:

PowerShares S&P 500 Low Volatility (SPLV)

SPLV tracks the S&P 500 Low Volatility Index. The index is comprised of 100 stocks from the S&P 500 Index with the lowest realized volatility over the past 12 months (Four Easy Ways to Play Beta and Volatility with ETFs).

SPLV seems to be very popular among investors. Since its launch in May, the fund could manage to amass an asset base of nearly $3 billion. The fund invests its asset base in a basket of 100 stocks which exhibit low volatility.

The fund is not biased in its individual holdings, however, among sectors the fund is highly dependent on the performance of consumer staples and utility with total allocation of more than 55% in these two sectors. The fund charges a fee of 25 basis points annually and has returned 6.1% over a period of one year.

iShares MSCI USA Min Volatility (USMV)

Another fund which was launched in 2011 is iShares MSCI USA Min Volatility (USMV). Since its inception the fund garnered an asset base of $0.7 billion. This fund provides exposure to a larger basket of stocks than SPLV and is home to 125 securities in total.

Unlike SPLV, the fund?s exposure is not limited to consumer staples and utilities. Instead the fund assigns double-digit allocations to health care, consumer staples, financials and information technology sectors.

The fund also has an edge in expenses charging a fee of just 15 basis points annually while generating a 30-day SEC yield of 2.65% in the process. The fund delivered a return of 8.0% since inception (Inside the Two ETFs up More Than 140 YTD).

iShares MSCI All Country World Minimum Volatility Index Fund (ACWV)

ACWV shares its launch date with USMV with the difference that its exposure is not limited to U.S. equities but spread across world market, low volatility equities. Since its inception the fund could manage to build an asset base of $651.1 million and provides exposure to 278 low volatility stocks (Leveraged ETFs and Volatility: A Powerful Mix).

Although the ETF has been designed to provide exposure to low volatility stocks of many countries, the U.S. accounts for 50.6% of the asset base. Apart from this, Japan is the only country with a double-digit allocation.

Financials, consumer staples, health care and consumer discretionary get a double-digit allocation in the fund. The fund charges a fee of 35 basis points while delivering a return of 8.1% over the past year.

iShares MSCI Emerging Market Minimum Volatility Index (EEMV)

EEMV is the most popular ETF in the emerging market space providing exposure to low volatility stocks. Investors can tap the growth of the emerging markets by investing in a portfolio of 211 low volatility stocks.

EEMV manages an asset base of $787.2 million and charges a fee of 25 basis points annually, comparable to SPLV which is considered king of low volatility ETFs in the domestic space.

Among sector exposures, financials which is regarded as the most volatile sector in the developing markets is the top priority of the fund with an allocation of 26.3%. Apart from this, the fund has double-digit allocations in consumer staples and consumer discretionary.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>

Source: http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/89281/time-to-invest-in-low-volatility-etfs

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Slow Cooker Mulled Wine with Sweet'N Low | Diethood

Are you ready for tomorrow? Are you sure you?re ready for the crowd that is about to enter your home? Do you have everything? Gifts, food, dress, food? Drinks? Yeah, drinks! Ain?t no party without some spirits and wine, now, is there?

Allow me to help you out with that answer; No.

Moreover, allow me to help you out with the drinks part. How about we create a delicious hot beverage in the slow cooker? Mulled Wine is a great option! All we have to do is turn the slow cooker dial on low and forget about it until it is time to serve. Best part ? it?s low in sugar!

You can thank me for that after the holidays when you realize that I saved you a few calories and carbs.

As part of the DailyBuzz Food Tastemaker program I was selected to create a low-sugar beverage recipe with Sweet?N Low sweetener.

No problemo!

We love wine. Underline, Bold, Italicize, Caps ? LOVE.?Now you definitely know how much we love wine.

But this time of year, we like our wine a bit spiced. And warm. Don?t you? That is why it was a no-brainer for me when I was given this assignment.

Sweet?N Low has made life a bit easier for people like my dad that are either borderline diabetic or diabetic. Because of my dad, we usually go around about adding sugar to many of my recipes by using Sweet?N Low sweetener in place of sugar.?My dad loves his sweets and these hot drinks, but without the help of Sweet?N Low sweetener, he wouldn?t be able to enjoy them.

For more information about Sweet?N Low Sweetener, hop on over to their website where you will be able to find more great recipe ideas and special offers.

Now you can go rest easy knowing that for tomorrow you have a low-sugar option on that menu, which in turn will allow you to double up on that pie.

I would like to thank DailyBuzz Food and Sweet?N Low for this opportunity -?Cheers and Merry Christmas!

Disclaimer: I was provided with a Sweet?N Low Sweetener Gift Pack and ?a stipend as part of the Tastemakers program from DailyBuzz Food. The opinions expressed are my own.

ENJOY!

Slow Cooker Mulled Wine {Low Sugar}

Ingredients

• 1 bottle, 750mL, red wine (I use Merlot)
• zest of 1 orange
• 1 orange, peeled, segmented
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 small piece of ginger root (about 1-inch piece)
• 2 tablespoons Maker's Mark Brandy
• 10 packets Sweet'N Low sweetener

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker pot.
• Stir and cover.
• Cook on LOW for 4 hours or on HIGH for 2 hours.
• Ladle into mugs without the spices.
• When serving, take the lid off and leave the slow cooker on LOW or WARM.

2.2

http://diethood.com/2012/12/24/slow-cooker-mulled-wine-low-sugar/

Source: http://diethood.com/2012/12/24/slow-cooker-mulled-wine-low-sugar/

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Press Release: Home Staging Association Award Finalists and Top ...

Browse >
Home / / Home Staging Association Awar... 2012-12-23 21:30:00 (GMT) (Caymanmama.com - News Providers News)

/EINPresswire.com/ Kansas City, Missouri - December 20 , 2012 ? A Kansas City business woman, Helen Bartlett, Owner of Refined Interior Staging Solutions and a member of the Real Estate Staging Association the trade association professional real estate stagers and re-designers was named as one of RESA?s Top 10 Rising Star Home Stagers of the Year North America.

Helen Bartlett will go on to compete for the overall title of RESA?s Rising Star Home Stager of the Year North America.

Helen Bartlett operates Refined Interior Staging Solutions and has been a professional real estate stager since 2011. Bartlett services the metro Kansas City area in both Kansas and Missouri.
In support of our ever-growing industry, we are pleased to announce that Real Estate Staging Association? (RESA?) is recognizing leaders within the staging industry for their outstanding contributions and personal accomplishments in 15 total categories.

?To be considered and recognized through RESA as a Top 10 Rising Star Home Stager of the Year North America is a great honor. Recognition within your industry and by your peers for your work inspires me to uphold RESA?s high standards for our industry in representing myself professionally, ethically and creatively in home staging and redesign? said, Helen Bartlett?We would like to thank everyone for their participation in the awards process, without the support of our membership we would not be able to recognize so may well deserving people in our industry. All of the finalists in all categories can be seen at www.HomeStagingIndustryAwards.com . All of the winners will be announced at the annual Home Staging Industry Awards convention and banquet January 31 to February 2, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City, just outside of legendary San Francisco? said, Shell Brodnax, President/CEO Real Estate Staging Association.
About The Real Estate Staging Association?

The Real Estate Staging Association? (RESA?) is the trade association for professional real estate stagers and redesigners For more information on the real estate staging and the convention visit www.RESAConvention.com , for more information about the awards please visit www.HomeStagingIndustryAwards.com For more information about real estate staging, or to find a professional stager or redesigner call 800-201-8687 and speak with Shell Brodnax, or visit the RESA? Web site at www.RealEstateStagingAssociation.com

Refined Interior Staging Solutions is a home staging and redesign company offering services for homeowners staging to sell or staging to stay. Our goal is simple?.We create stylish, warm and welcoming houses that capture a buyer?s attention the moment they are introduced to a property. We focus on buyer demographics, specific features, highlights and focal points of a house, buyer?s lifestyle needs, and the artful and strategic placement of furniture and accessories all of which translate to a powerful marketing tool when selling a house.

You can contact Helen Bartlett at info@refinedinterior.com or check out her website at www.refinedinterior.com or reach by phone at (913) 206-5616.

###

CaymanMama.com - Press Release Distribution Service

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Source: http://www.caymanmama.com/2012/12/23/Home-Staging-Association-Award-Finalists-and-Top-10-Lists-Announced_2012122313732.html

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Eric Chua : Life, Business and Real Estate in Singapore ? Here Are ...

So, you are finally ready to try Website marketing for yourself. Isn?t that an exciting idea? At the same time, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the volume of information you must analyze and process to begin. However, you have come to the right place for internet marketing advice. Some of the tips you need to get organized to be a successful marketer on the Internet are listed below.

Give something away. You could for instance let people download an e-book or watch a video related to the products or services they are interested in. For example, if you are a general contractor, you might have a good article of home repair tips for your customers to download. This tells customers that you care about what is important to them.

Title your products as ?limited? in advertising. A lot of people do their shopping online because their stores don?t offer the variety that they can find on the Internet. Your customers are looking for something meaningful and different from the regular old products that are easy to find and commonly bought. When the item is limited, people want to get it before it finishes.

TIP! It is important that you handle all customer service complaints on your own. Hiring others to deal with complaints can be tempting, but they?re always best handled internally.

Receiving and sustaining your customer?s trust is imperative. As you develop your marketing plan, you should only consider facts and statistics that are easily proven and valid. Use testimonials, expert endorsements, and results on your site to promote your products.

Nearly every cell phone company will permit you to have an additional dedicated work number on your phone. Get a number specifically for your business.

If you want to build trust and to sell products, you need to offer a warranty or some type of guarantee. This provides your company with credibility and your customers with confidence. When you give reassurance to your customers, they will be that much more likely to give you business.

TIP! Having a user-friendly 500 error page is a very helpful tool. When this page appears, some of the code has stopped working.

Email marketing is an important, beneficial tool. Your ideas should be well guarded. Try to use a service that saves all of your old emails so that you can keep dialogues with your customers. Think about making e-mail archive arrangements of your own, this is even more important if you have sensitive communication e-mails with customers or consultants.

To attract more customers to your site, create a game. Visitors like to play free online games, and usually this will draw a lot of people to your site where they hopefully keep coming back. Try to carefully and subtly incorporate advertising of your products within the game design. This gives you an opportunity to promote your products in a subtle way.

Assess the overall effectiveness of your online marketing efforts by using tech tools to measure the conversion of site visitors to paying customers. Most companies have add-ons and tools that will help you track all of your activity.

TIP! If you are interested in having a trusted site, write a FAQ. This gives quick answers to most questions pertaining to your site and business, while simplifying the process of your customers getting the help they are looking for.

Video marketing is an excellent way to get the word out about your business and really get noticed. Adding a video to your website or blog is the best way to attract and hold a customer?s interest in your product. An interesting title and a unique picture will grab the attention of potential clients and possibly produce sales.

Internet marketers that are successful show a sense of enthusiasm about their products and radiate positivity about their company. Enthusiasm of your product is essential to the success of your business. If you are believable, you will get them as excited as you are. Enthusiastic customers are likely to be paying customers.

When you are developing your website, fill it with content that is comprehensive and highly relevant. Your chief focus must be to instill knowledge in your customer base in a short period of time, so they know what they are purchasing. Don?t be wordy about your product descriptions. Get down to business and focus on what is absolutely necessary for the customer to know to make a gooe judgement call on whether or not they want to buy your product.

TIP! Use a variety of marketing techniques when you are first beginning to build your business to discover which methods work best for your company. You can impart information regarding promotions and services to your customers via phone, email and fax.

A smart tip for Website marketing is adjusting your content and delivering it in a way that your customers always feel they are controlling what happens. This is essential to today?s online world of unwanted opinions and spam. Always make it easy to allow customers to opt out of emails so that they don?t feel bombarded or stuck with no easy way out.

The advice above will give you some Web marketing confidence to get started today. There was quite a bit of information there, but you will now have the ability to begin your Internet marketing campaign correctly. Print out this article so you can refresh yourself, when necessary, about the proper steps to take.

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www.facebook.com/maynaseric

Source: http://www.maynaseric.com/here-are-your-answers-to-questions-about-online-marketing

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[NFL: New York Giants] - Giants Rewind: Falcons game

Giants Rewind: Falcons game

Posted: Tuesday, December 18th 8:51?PM

By: Giants Entertainment (www.giants.com)

... egame Show that takes place before each NY Giants football game on Fox 5. Sun., Dec. 23, 2012 1:00PM - 4:00PM EST In Week 16, ...

to add a comment. New users can Sign up for free.

Source: http://sportspyder.com/teams/new-york-giants/articles/8052083

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WATCH: Anne Hathaway & Samuel L. Jackson Have a "Sad Off"

It's the Christmas season, which means sharing cups of hot cocoa, donning Santa hats, and debating which is the most depressing movie in theaters. At least that's what it comes down to for Anne Hathaway and Samuel L. Jackson, who share some holiday cheer with a hilarious new Funny or Die sketch.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/anne-hathaway-samuel-l-jackson-have-funny-or-die-movie-sad/1-a-509839?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Aanne-hathaway-samuel-l-jackson-have-funny-or-die-movie-sad-509839

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Ana Ivanovic unleashes her New Year resolutions ? Tennis News ...

Ana Ivanovic unleashes her New Year resolutions ? Tennis News

Former world number one, Ana Ivanovic, might be struggling at the elite forum of tennis for quite some time but her willpower and consistency to strive for a better result hasn?t decline a bit. She is ranked 13^th in the world at the moment, with no title since her conquest at Bali, last year.

She had a topsy turvy season in 2012 but that didn?t force her out of equation in any of the big events; consistently making it to the latter stages of most of the tournaments. Her major breakthrough came at the US Open when she reached the quarter-final of the Grand Slam event for the first time ever since she conquered the field of Roland Garros French Open in 2008.

Ivanovic recently visited Milan to play in an exhibition event. In a spare time, she talked to the media reporters of the local website ilsussidiario.net. She pointed out some factors that are crucial for success in the future and her New Year resolutions as well.

The 25-year-old Serb stated, ?Consistency is a big factor. Last season I played a few great matches, but it was too infrequent. I need to be producing my best tennis on a more regular basis. Confidence is important too: sometimes you can get on a roll, and the wins just keep coming.?

Adding about her goals for the next season, Ivanovic said, ?For sure reaching the top 10 is a big goal of mine, and to actually finish in the top 8 so that I qualify for the WTA Championships. I prefer not to set specific goals for each tournament, because that adds pressure. Instead, I concentrate on improving each day, and if I keep improving, so will my results and ranking.?

It will be interesting to witness if the right-handed powerhouse can squeeze her way into the elite Top-10 category that is filled with immense talent and some new entrants at the moment. She is definitely one of the strongest contenders from the players ranked 11-20 to break into the list of best ten players of the world. Let?s hope the following season bring back the glory days for the Serb diva who is the heartthrob of many tennis followers on the globe.

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Ana-Ivanovic-unleashes-her-New-Year-resolutions-Tennis-News-a209558

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5 Communication Habits That Lead To Divorce | World of Psychology

This guest article from YourTango was written by Deb Dutilh.

Studies show that a lack of communication is the number one reason couples break up or get divorced. Nagging is a major culprit ? relentless reminders, suggestions and advice on how, when and why we should do things.

But what are some of the other bad communication habits that erode away at couples?

1. Being Inauthentic.

How many times do you catch yourself saying ?yes? when you really mean ?no?? Do you say, ?I don?t know? for fear of being judged, dismissed or rejected? When we systematically accept things against our will, shut down to keep the peace and rationalize why that?s okay, we set ourselves up for resentment and anger down the line.

Covering up our feelings and not trusting our partner to be mature enough to manage their response to ?no? just won?t work. It?s better to say, ?No, I?m not available to discuss this right now. I need to unwind and think about it. I?ll be ready to talk about it in an hour.? Then keep your promise.

2. Incongruence.

Most of our communication is non-verbal, and when it?s out of sync with our words, we are sending mixed messages. No wonder couples argue, get frustrated and eventually tune each other out!

When we say one thing while rolling our eyes, tightening our lips and/or shrugging shoulders, we send another message, usually one of being dismissive, defensive and/or judgmental. One way to avoid this is to maintain eye contact. This ensures active listening and allows you to focus on what the other person is saying instead of considering what you are planning on saying next.

3. Win-lose attitude.

In the world of neuro-linguistic programming, we say that effective communication is when your message is not simply sent, but transmitted and received by the listener. When talking about uncomfortable subjects, it?s too easy to become judgmental, blaming and defensive ? tactics that all lead to communication breaking down.

Priding yourself on being a pit-bull, taking things personally, finger-pointing, finding fault, and needing to have the last word, well, it just doesn?t work. Instead, set your intention for how you want the conversation to go so both of you win and take some time to really think about all the different possibilities and outcomes. Creating a peace treaty together that sets up the guidelines for communication to ensure smooth, respectful and authentic communication is a great tool.

4. Interrupting, finishing sentences and forgetting to pause.

This is a bundle because when you have one you almost always have the other two as well. How many of us have forgotten what we learned in grammar school? Don?t interrupt and let the other person take time to formulate an answer. On this level, men and women communicate so differently.

Men often complain that they are still thinking about an answer when their partner starts badgering them for a quicker response or asks another question while they are still thinking about the last one. Take time to pause by counting to 30 before saying anything at all and don?t ask several questions at once. And while you?re at it, do as we do in France: Roll your tongue around your mouth seven times before you speak.

You might look like a cow chewing your cud but it forces you to slow down and really think about what you?re going to say. It might even get a smile in an otherwise tense situation, but at least your partner will feel respected and know that you?re patiently giving him to time to respond.

5. Focusing on the negative, and impoliteness.

Somewhere along the way, the idea of polite requests, please, thank you and other words of appreciation in everyday conversations have gone the way of the Smith-Corona typewriter. From the classic, ?Don?t leave the toilet seat up!? to ?How long does it take to empty the trash?? ? these commands are the quickest way to send a man to his man cave.

Instead, adopt this simple one-liner that will train any man to jump up and help. ?Honey, I feel like a queen when you see the trash can is full and take it out for me! Thank you so much for doing that!? There?s nothing wrong with a little over the top appreciation which always works and is the best way to foster open, loving authentic communication.

?

More divorce advice from YourTango Experts:

?

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Contributed by YourTango.com, an online magazine dedicated to love, life and relationships. From dating to marriage, parenting to empty-nest, relationship challenges to relationship success, YourTango is at the center of the conversations that are closest to our over 3 million readers' hearts. With daily contributions from our Experts, we have a little something for everyone looking to create healthier lives. We're excited to offer our contributions to the PsychCentral community, and invite you to visit us on YourTango.com.

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????Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 14 Dec 2012
????Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

APA Reference
Experts, Y. (2012). 5 Communication Habits That Could Lead to a Breakup. Psych Central. Retrieved on December 18, 2012, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/12/17/5-communication-habits-that-could-lead-to-a-breakup/

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Source: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/12/17/5-communication-habits-that-could-lead-to-a-breakup/

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RHA MA450i

You're not likely to find a sonic masterpiece in the $50 earphone realm, but one company is at least raising the bar significantly higher. At $49.95 (list), RHA's MA450i is the second offering from the manufacturer in the last year to exceed our expectations. Like its on-ear sibling, the RHA SA950i, the MA450i delivers deep bass frequencies at high volumes without any distortion?an uncommon feat in this price range. The MA450i also comes with a nice array of extra ear tips, an inline microphone, and controls for Apple iOS devices. Its audio performance can be a bit on the harsh side?high frequencies can sound overly boosted and bright, or even piercing at higher volumes. For the price, however, it delivers powerful audio that bass lovers on a budget should enjoy.

Design
Visually, RHA doesn't break any new boundaries with the MA450i's design, but its construction seems relatively sturdy for inexpensive earphones, and it has a simple black design with some metallic accents on the earpieces and inline remote. The cloth-covered cable is a nice visual touch, and should also be (slightly) less likely to tangle than a typical headphone cable.

A three-button Apple inline remote for iPods, iPads, and iPhones is included along the right earpiece's cable. It's simple to operate, and the built-in microphone's quality is not phenomenal, but your call partner will understand you just fine. To be fair, there are few microphone options for mobile phones that can overcome the audio clarity limitations of cellular service itself.

Also included with the MA450i: seven pairs of ear tips in various sizes. For this price range, that's well beyond the standard three or four pairs you're likely to receive.

Performance
At the $50 price level, RHA has again shown us that, while audio perfection is more or less impossible, that needn't mean things have to sound awful. First and foremost, the MA450i accomplishes a feat several pairs that cost hundreds more fail at?it does not distort on deep bass tracks.

Even at maximum volume (a very unsafe listening level, by the way), the MA450i cleanly delivers the Knife's "Silent Shout," a song with powerful, consistent sub-bass thuds. While there's no distortion, it's not because the MA450i shies away from deep bass response?it's easy to avoid sub-bass distortion if your drivers can't reproduce those frequencies. Instead, the MA450i delivers a robust low frequency response that should make bass lovers on a budget smile.

It would be easy for the sound signature to become a muddy mess with so much deep low-end presence, but RHA keeps things articulate and defined by sculpting and boosting the high-mid and high frequencies significantly. Sometimes, however, the high frequency boosting can be a bit too intense. Some of the higher frequencies are so tweaked and boosted that the high-mids and highs?where much percussion, guitar work, and vocals live?can sound pinched, and even harsh. The boosting works in the MA450i's favor occasionally, as on Bill Callahan's "Drover," where the added treble gives his unique baritone vocal delivery a more defined edge to help it stand out from the heavy, insistent beat of the kick drum.

The high frequency boost works less well in other scenarios. On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," Frank Ocean's opening vocals sound overly sibilant, while the already treble-boosted attack of the kick drum loop can sound piercing at higher volumes. Basically, if a track already is mixed with lots of crisp treble edge, the MA450i can take things in an intensely bright direction, which can be unpleasant, particularly at high volumes.

On classical tracks like John Adams' "The Chairman Dances," the MA450i can sound a bit too bright?almost harsh?at times. The strings and higher-register wooden percussion have a treble edge that goes a few degrees beyond a nice crispness. The added low frequency response helps round things out a bit here, with the low register strings getting a nice bit of bass boost, along with the lower register percussion and drum hits, which are delivered with a pleasant thud that doesn't go overboard or sound unnatural.

In this price range, it's unrealistic to expect too much from your earphones. That the MA450i delivers deep bass at all is impressive. That is delivers it distortion-free is an even bigger deal. Yes, it can sound way too tweaked in the highs, but if you want real clarity and quality, you simply have to spend more.

One great way to get added value for spending the extra money is to invest in a pair with a removable?and thus replaceable?cable. The Shure SE215 provides solid audio performance and features a removable cable, so you can buy a replacement cable rather new earphones should the connection or cable fray or snap?a common issue. And, while its cable isn't removable, the AKG K 350 offers a more well-rounded audio performance than the MA450i for only about $20 more. If you feel that even $50 is too much to spend on earphones, there are other, less-expensive options, like the Apple EarPods?just don't expect more than what you're paying for.

More Headphone Reviews:
??? Polk Audio UltraFocus 8000
??? RHA MA450i
??? Motorola S11-Flex HD
??? Numark Electrowave
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/95FBb_MOVqQ/0,2817,2413112,00.asp

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Chairman's USO Tour Show Entertains Troops in Afghanistan

Chairman's USO Tour Show Entertains Troops in Afghanistan

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

BAGRAM, Afghanistan, Dec. 17, 2012 ? The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff greeted and praised troops at two U.S. bases in Afghanistan during his annual USO holiday tour show.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, along with his senior enlisted advisor, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, and their spouses visited Bagram Airfield here, followed by a visit to Kandahar Airfield the following day, entertaining troops with what the general called ?some extraordinarily talented people.?

?They're great Americans, and they're patriots,? Dempsey told troops at Bagram. ?And they really care about you. They've given up their holidays. I'm actually very privileged to be traveling with them, and bringing them here to you tonight.?

Battaglia, who spoke after the chairman and before the start of the entertainment portion of the show, had a similar message for service members at both bases.

?As our 18th chairman said, it is, indeed, a privilege and honor to spend part of Christmas and the holiday season with you all,? he said. ?We'd love to stay here with you through Christmas, through New Years, you know we would.?

The sergeant major said while it's unfortunate that most of the troops are unable to be home with their families for the holidays, they are certainly not alone.

?While you're not at home or not able to be home with your biological family to spend the holiday season, you're here, by God, with your uniformed military family to spend it,? Battaglia said. ?And it doesn't get much better than that, right??

Both senior leaders used different, but effective methods, to energize the crowds. Battaglia led service members in a raucous chant of ?U-S-A,? while Dempsey highlighted the troops? individual pride of their units and branches of service.

?Those folks that the chairman are going to introduce you to, in just a minute here, are from a country that you love, they're from a country that you protect, and from a country in which you live,? Battaglia said. ?It's the USA, and that would be the most motivating force right now. Those three letters -- all in unison.?

Dempsey introduced each USO celebrity to kick off both shows. Washington Nationals Major League Baseball players Ross Detwiler and Craig Stammen; Matt Hendricks from the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals; comedian Iliza Schlesinger, winner of NBC's Last Comic Standing; and country music singer Kellie Pickler and her band performed on behalf of the USO.

Additionally, the chairman recognized USO President Sloan D. Gibson, and Shane Hudella of ?Defending the Blue Line,? an organization that donates hockey equipment to military families.

Following both shows, Dempsey showcased his own talent, serenading the packed venues with his rendition of singer Bing Crosby's ?A White Christmas.?

?It is Christmas and I hope that you had a few moments to remember that and to forget about everything else in your life right now,? the chairman said.

Dempsey also praised the troops for their service to the nation.

?I hope you know how proud we are of what you do every day for the country,? he said. ?We're proud of your service. You're all volunteers -- that includes the civilians out there that have come over here to help support the men and women in uniform. And we're really proud of you.?
?

Source: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=118816

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Israel Kidnapped 173 Palestinians This Month

The Ahrar Center for Detainees Studies and Human Rights reported that Israeli soldiers kidnapped, since the beginning of this month until Tuesday December 18, 173 Palestinians in different parts of the occupied West Bank.

The center said that most of the arrests took place in Hebron district, in the southern part of the West Bank, as the soldiers kidnapped 45 Palestinians, in addition to 32 in Nablus, 24 in Bethlehem, 22 in Ramallah, 10 in Qalqilia, 9 in Tulkarem, 7 in Tubas and 4 in Jericho.

The Center further reported that Israeli soldiers have escalated their assaults and violations against nonviolent protests held in solidarity with hunger striking detainees in Israeli prisons, especially protests in solidarity with Ayman Sharawna and Samer Al-Eesawy.

It said that Israel is trying to silence and stop all protests that highlight the suffering of Palestinian political prisoners held by the occupation, and is ongoing with its escalation against the detainees and their families.

The Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association (Ad-Dameer) reported that by the beginning of this month, the number of Palestinians held by Israel arrived to 4656.

Ad-Dameer said that there are 178 detainees, including 7 elected members of parliament, are currently held under illegal Administrative Detention orders without charges, and that Israel is currently holding captive 11 women, 177 children, and 13 legislators.

There are 191 detainees who are from historic Palestine (the 1948 territory), and 439 from the Gaza Strip.

Also, there are 529 detainees serving life sentences, 456 detainees serving a sentence above 20 years, 23 who have been imprisoned for more than 25 years, 72 for more than 20 years, and 111 detainees who have been imprisoned before the first Oslo Agreement was signed in 1993.

This page can be viewed in
English

Source: http://www.imemc.org/article/64764

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PFT: Brees throws 4TDs as Saints blow out Bucs

Getty Images

Benching a quarterback who rarely turned the ball over and usually won was a tough call.

And at times during the 49ers? 41-34 win over the Patriots, it looked like it was going to backfire.

But for all the discussion about the transition from veteran Alex Smith to Colin Kaepernick under center, the man taking snaps almost doesn?t matter with the way the 49ers play defense.

The league?s top-ranked defense bludgeoned the league?s top-ranked offense for the first 35 minutes or so, making the Patriots look like they were the ones on the road in adverse conditions. They pressured Tom Brady. They forced turnovers. They made Wes Welker disappear.

That?s not defense. That?s magic.

The Patriots entered the game averaging 36.3 points and 425.7 yards per game, and they showed why while erasing a four-touchdown deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter.

But the 49ers showed some resilience, taking that shot and answering, stopping Tom Brady at a point where it almost seemed fated to become another chapter in his legacy.

The shots they were doling out all night had a cumulative toll on the Patriots, who looked gassed at the end. The 49ers improved to 10-3-1 and clinched a playoff berth, and they proved they can come up with a stop, which will be helpful when they?re playing people not named Tom Brady.

Here are five more things we learned during Sunday Night Football:

1. Kaepernick does some amazing things. That?s why 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh made the change.

But he might also do things that shorten the season.

Like many young quarterbacks, he will lock onto his first read, and he will throw interceptions. That?s fine, when he?s playing with a lead. But at some point in the next month (actually next week), he?ll see defenses which make him pay for it more than occasionally.

And Frank Gore?s not always going to be there to pick up his fumbled snaps and carry them for touchdowns. He needs to play a cleaner game if the 49ers want to make good this potential.

Kaepernick can make big plays, but there were some troubling signs in the midst of the win.

2. Take away the simple fact the 49ers changed quarterbacks in mid-stream.?They are a nightmare to prepare for because of the way they?re constantly changing personnel.

From the modified pistol formation they which caters to Kaepernick?s skills to empty backfields to traditional two-tight end, one-back sets, they present a constant challenge.

It?s hard to match up when you don?t know where people are going to be, and having tight ends as varied as Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker makes it that much harder.

3. Devin McCourty looks completely at home playing safety.

If the Patriots had a few more players in their secondary as good at their jobs, they would be much better off. Since converting from cornerback, he?s made plays, and they badly needed someone in the middle of the defense who could.

4. You know what else the Patriots could use? A running back with better hands.

Stevan Ridley is talented enough, but you wonder how many more chances he?ll get when turns it over twice in a significant game.

There?s a reason the Patriots have been a home for wayward veterans like Kevin Faulk and others over the years. Trust is important to coach Bill Belichick, and Ridley just burned a good share of his tonight.

5. At different points in the last few weeks, the Packers and 49ers have taken turns looking like they might be the best team in the league.

But both teams have a quiet problem that could loom large in the postseason, with kickers they can?t trust enough.

The Packers keep propping up Mason Crosby, but it?s telling some of the kicks the 49ers don?t let David Akers try any more.

He?s been shaky on all but the short ones all year, and you can easily see it changing play-calling in a close game.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/16/saints-blow-out-the-bucs/related

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China intellectuals urge party leaders to disclose wealth

BEIJING (Reuters) - About 65 Chinese academics, lawyers and human rights activists have signed an open letter demanding that top members of the ruling Communist Party reveal their financial assets, saying it is the most fundamental way to solve corruption.

The letter will be presented to parliament when it meets for its annual session in March, according to the Communist Party-run Global Times newspaper.

Petitions to China's parliament are usually ignored. But the public denunciation of corruption underscores the top challenge facing new party chief Xi Jinping, who has himself warned that if corruption were allowed to run wild, the party risked major unrest and the collapse of its rule.

The letter calls on the 205 newly named members of the party's Central Committee to divulge their personal wealth. The call follows a stream of scandals involving party members.

"This is the first step in fighting corruption", Hu Jia, a prominent rights activist who signed the letter, told Reuters by telephone.

"These 205 are the highest-level officials in China," said Hu, whose movements are restricted because of his rights activities and who was being confronted aggressively by police as he spoke to Reuters after venturing out of his home.

"They are the ones with the greatest risk of being involved in corruption. So we are calling on them to take the lead," Hu said.

A new Central Committee was named at the party's once-a-decade leadership handover last month. Xi took over as party chief and will become president at the National People's Congress, or parliament, in March.

The letter has drawn more than 1,000 signatures of support from members of the public, and more will be collected up until it is sent to parliament, the Global Times reported.

The year's biggest corruption scandal, involving former high-flying politician Bo Xilai, overshadowed the run-up to the leadership transition.

Bo was expelled from the party and faces possible charges of corruption and abuse of power, while his wife was jailed for involvement in the murder of a British businessman.

The incident was followed by several reports by the foreign media on the wealth of some top leaders, including Xi and Premier Wen Jiabao, that have embarrassed and angered the party.

NEW ATMOSPHERE

Other signatories of the letter saw the leadership transition as an opportunity to make a push against graft.

"It's a good chance to create a new atmosphere," said Hu Xingdou, a professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology.

"China is vigorously fighting corruption, and to fight corruption the most important thing is to establish a modern system, a system that makes officials' assets public."

Liu Xiaoyuan, a human rights lawyer and adviser to artist Ai Weiwei, China's best-known dissident, said the new leaders must set an example.

"Appeals for disclosing the assets of officials have already been going on for years and many people have high expectations of the new leadership," Liu said.

"This must start with the top echelon."

Liu acknowledged, however, that the letter might just be ignored.

"The National People's Congress has been discussing legislation on disclosing assets for more than 20 years but still, there is no outcome," he said.

Wang Quanjie, a professor at Yantai University, was more optimistic. As a former delegate to parliament, Wang had proposed numerous times that the parliament make officials reveal their assets, but to no avail.

But he said last month's congress had given him hope.

"I was genuinely inspired by the determination of the new leadership to combat graft," Wang said.

"I'm optimistic that the current situation shows new actions are imperative," he said. "Corruption has been very serious and if these problems remain unsolved, the Communist Party's leadership position will be jeopardized."

(Additional reporting by Beijing bureau; Editing by Sui-Lee Wee and Robert Birsel)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/china-intellectuals-urge-party-leaders-disclose-wealth-112755621.html

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Pheromone helps mice remember where to find a mate

Dec. 13, 2012 ? Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found that male mice produce a pheromone that provokes females and competitor males to remember a preference for the place where the pheromone was previously encountered.

Some animals, such as moths, use a sensitive tracking system to trace airborne sex pheromones to the source, while others, such as snakes, follow trails of pheromones left on the ground. A team from the University's Institute of Integrative Biology has discovered that mice use a different system to locate mates and competitors by remembering exactly where they have encountered a male sex pheromone called darcin.

Instinctively attracted

Darcin is a small protein in the urine scent marks of male mice. Although not detected from a distance, females that explore scent-marked areas are instinctively attracted to spend time near this pheromone when they come into contact with it.

The research, published in the journal Science, shows that the pheromone stimulates very rapid learning of spatial cues associated with its location, so that females remember a preference for this location when they return to the area.

Males use the same mechanism to remember the location of rival male scents, making contact with darcin when they detect a male's scent that is not their own. The ability to remember and rapidly relocate sites scent marked by other males will help them to drive off rivals and to counter-mark with their own scent.

Dr Sarah Roberts, from the University's Institute of Integrative Biology, said: "We have shown that a male sex pheromone in mice makes females and competitor males remember exactly where they encountered the pheromone and show a preference for this site for up to two weeks afterwards. Given the opportunity, they will find that same place again, even if they encountered the scent only once and the scent is no longer there."

Spatial map of attractive males

Professor Jane Hurst, who leads the University's Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group, explains: "This attraction to the place they remember is just as strong as attraction to the scent itself. Darcin, therefore, induces mice to learn a spatial map of the location of attractive males and their scents, to which they can easily return. This avoids the difficulty of having to detect specific scents from a distance and trace them to their source.

"Pheromones are used for sexual attraction and for advertising an animal's location in many species, particularly among mammals. It will be interesting to discover whether such highly potent associative learning is induced by pheromones in other species and to understand the brain mechanisms involved."

The research is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

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Story Source:

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

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

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Journal Reference:

1. S. A. Roberts, A. J. Davidson, L. McLean, R. J. Beynon, J. L. Hurst. Pheromonal Induction of Spatial Learning in Mice. Science, 2012; 338 (6113): 1462 DOI: 10.1126/science.1225638

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/F_Bqmfok-Y0/121213142305.htm

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How to write a kick-ass cover letter | Arbitrage Magazine | Business ...

Tailor your skills, experience and education to fit the precise needs of an open job

First published in?jobpostings magazine
careers. education. ideas. all of it.

Image courtesy of JobPostings.ca

Were there a quick and easy way to formulate an effective cover letter, then writing cover letters would be, uh, quick and easy. Unfortunately, they?re not?and crafting a sizzling cover letter is both an art and a craft. Employers will be able to smell a mass-produced cover-letter from miles away, so you want to tailor your skills, experience and education to fit the precise needs of an open job. Here?s how.

1. Read the details (and instructions) of the job you?re applying for.?Got cover-letter writer?s block? Scan the job posting itself. More times than not, it?ll list the skills and experience required for the job. Tweak your cover letter accordingly. Also, for the love of Jah, follow the instructions closely.

2. Get personal.?What?s going to make you stand out from the crowd aside from, well, your own idiosyncrasies? Be professional, but don?t be afraid to share personal experiences, personal tendencies, or even your personal likes and dislikes. Just keep things, er, above the belt, mmkay?

3. Focus on your skills you bring to the job?both hard and soft.?Because education and experience mean squat if you don?t have the skills to back ?em up. Technical skills are ever-important, but don?t forget your people skills, too.

4. Focus on deliverables.?In other words, show, don?t tell. It?s great that you?re a Photoshop whiz, but on your cover letter, explain a time you delivered those skills successfully. Still, don?t be arrogant; be firm and confident in tone.

5. Keep things concise.?Because a cover letter isn?t an academic essay, a news article, or a rant. It?s?a cover letter. So keep things focused, persuasive and concise?even consider, for example, listing why you?re the best candidate (i.e. ?Five reasons you should give me a call?).

?????????????-

ARB Team
Arbitrage Magazine
Business News with BITE.

Liked this article? Hated it? Comment below and share your opinions with other ARB readers!

Source: http://www.arbitragemagazine.com/general/write-kick-ass-cover-letter/

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Gold - It's Time | ZeroHedge

Authored by Lee Quaintance and Paul Brodsky of QBAMCO,

Gold bugs can?t understand how the public can be so unaware, how highly intelligent policy makers can be so immoral, and how the mainstream media can be so incurious. We can?t understand why more men and women in the investment business haven?t joined some of the more successful ones that have come around to precious metals and have taken substantial positions in them for their funds and personal accounts. The list of high profile independent-minded investors that have come out of the proverbial closet is impressive and growing: Kyle Bass, John Paulson, David Einhorn, George Soros, Bill Gross and Paul Singer, to name only a few.

Conventional financial asset selection guidelines for professional investors are becoming increasingly uneconomic and problematic. Current macroeconomic conditions leave little doubt as to why. A zero-bound rate structure across developed economies, heavy monetary policy intervention, guaranteed negative real returns of benchmark financial assets and cash, impossible discount cash flow models,cacophonous (and economically meaningless) fiscal political wrangling diverting attention from legitimate budget arithmetic ($800 billion over ten years when we?re running $1 trillion-plus annual deficits?), dubious short and intermediate-term prospects in already-emerged emerging economies, and non-trending financial markets, all suggest something has changed.

Regardless of whether one is investing personally or as a fiduciary, conventional financial asset allocation models and procedures are obviously failing and the reason is simple: the currencies in which financial assets are denominated are gravely flawed ? levered beyond reconciliation and incapable of generating positive real returns for assets denominated in them, or ongoing consumer and business confidence while the leverage is being transferred from banks to central banks, and from central banks to government balance sheets. The political/policy dimension is boxed. We think prudence demands stepping away from conventional financial asset allocation models.

Here is what matters...

Qbamco - It's Time

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Your rating: None Average: 4.8 (22 votes)

Source: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-12-12/gold-its-time

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Jane Krakowski: Santa Made My Son Scream

"We went and saw Santa for the first time last weekend," the actress told PEOPLE. "We have the classic screaming by the Santa Claus photo. I love it."

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/opQ4u4yje-s/

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This Skateboarding Video Isn't Real

You've never seen a skateboarding video with angles like this. As skateboarder Danny Brady goes in for his trick, you'll see a slow motion, almost bullet-timed view of him. But. It's not real. As incredibly detailed as it is, it's all fake. You won't believe it. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/LNJHuRDXVuQ/this-skateboarding-video-isnt-real

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Samsung Galaxy Camera Review: Android Franken-Camera, You Are Absurd and Almost Wonderful

"Android camera." It doesn't even sound like a real thing. That's why the Samsung Galaxy Camera could easily have been a nonsense concept—two desirable things hurled together in hopes that the result will be a revolutionary hybrid, and not a catastrophe. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/QVDBtmMvapY/samsung-galaxy-camera-review-android-franken+camera-you-are-absurd-and-almost-wonderful

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Military cracks down on alcohol abuse, binging

By Bill Briggs, NBC News contributor

Officials within the U.S. military are actively targeting over-boozing troops at home and abroad, but addiction specialists and service members say binge drinking remains as rampant as ever inside the armed services.

Among the new initiatives to stem the problem: The Marines, starting next year, will give random breathalyzer tests?to Corps members; the?Air Force and Army curbed some overnight liquor sales?for U.S. military personnel in Germany; and American service members in Japan were barred from leaving their residences after consuming more than one adult beverage.

The restrictions seem to have been independently created by brass within each branch ? for example, the new rules for service members in Japan follow the October sexual assault of an Okinawa woman allegedly carried out by two U.S. sailors. Still, the fresh regulations arise three months after a study commissioned by the Department of Defense found that binge drinking by active-duty troops now constitutes "a public health crisis," noting as well that drunken soldiers were cited as a problem as far back as the Revolutionary War.

"But we can do better," said Dr. Charles P. O?Brien, chairman of the panel that authored the report and director of the Center for Studies of Addiction at the University of Pennsylvania. "We have a lot of research, a lot of medication, and a lot of techniques that have been developed over the years. We don?t have to be stuck in the old ways of handling things.

---

"We found, though, that in the whole Army, there?s?only one doctor who's trained in addiction medicine. This is a specialty where we need more people and they're not there. So, most people are not getting treated with evidence-based medicine," O'Brien told NBC News. The study was issued by the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Medicine.

Worse, O'Brien said he has learned ? from emails he received in recent days from active-duty personnel ? that one of the study's most simple suggestions has not been implemented: that the military's health system, TRICARE, alter its rules and allow substance-abusing service members to be treated with anti-addiction medications like?Suboxone. ?

"We met a general who is on Suboxone but they (military doctors) are not letting other people have it," O'Brien said. "It's ridiculous ... When we briefed (military leaders in September), they expressed interest in following our recommendations. But, so far, I don't have any concrete evidence that anything has happened."?

NBC News asked the Department of Defense to list which, if any, of the panel's?recommendations have been installed to date.?

"The Department of Defense appreciates the hard work of the Institute of Medicine in assessing substance abuse programs and policies in the Military?Health System," Cynthia O. Smith, a DoD spokeswoman, responded in an email. "We are in the process of analyzing their findings and?recommendations, but most importantly, we want to do the right thing for the?Service member. If there are areas in need of improvement, then we will work to improve those areas. The health and well-being of our Service members is paramount."

Click here for more military-related coverage from NBC News.

The agency has a stated policy to?"prevent and eliminate drug and alcohol abuse?and dependence from the Department of Defense." The U.S. military, therefore, screens for problem drinking, provides treatment for those identified with alcohol or drug problems, and is working to "change attitudes toward binge drinking," Smith said, adding that "such abuse and dependence are?incompatible with readiness, the maintenance of high standards of?performance, and military discipline."

Indeed, in its analysis of boozing on military bases, the Institute of Medicine found that 47 percent of active-duty personnel engaged in binge drinking during 2008 (the most recent year for which data was available), and the authors concluded the use of alcohol and other drugs are "currently at unacceptably high levels," making it "detrimental to readiness and total force fitness."?

Military members like Marine Sgt. Thomas Brennan, who joined in 2004 and who later served in Iraq and Afghanistan, describe drinking as a staple of life in uniform. He knows of several recent drunken-driving arrests involving his Marine buddies or his former unit members, he said. ?

"With the amount of recreational drinking that goes on, it?s like peer pressure times 10," said Brennan, 27. "Everybody?s drinking. The Marine Corps is a brotherhood. You want to be part of that brotherhood, and your brothers are doing it. Nobody forces you to do it but the inclination to do it is pretty strong.?

In a New York Times blog published in October, Brennan wrote that the "golden rule" among Marine officers and non-commissioned officers seems to be: "If you?re going to partake, do so behind closed doors and keep your mouth shut about it. I have heard many leaders tell under-age Marines that if they were going to drink that they should keep their doors locked and be smart about it. Only when they were caught were they told not to do it."

?I couldn?t tell you how many times I?ve heard that over the years," Brennan told NBC News on Monday. "I wasn?t perfect either. I let it go on.?

The September study on alcohol abuse within the military also chastised the armed services for allowing "ready access to relatively inexpensive alcohol on military bases."?

At?Camp Lejeune, where Brennan was stationed, convenience stores contain large refrigerators stocked with domestic and imported beers, sold tax free. A six-pack of Stroh's, for example, costs about $4, he said.

On base, Marines also can purchase "Military Special" liquors, a cut-rate brand of liquor, including vodka and whiskey, that goes for about $6.50 per liter. At AR15.com, a firearms website popular with military members, one?commenter?described Military Special booze as: "No good for sipping, but for shots it works;" another said: "I am not sure I would clean battery terminals with that crap."?

One combat-related factor exacerbating the overindulgence of alcohol is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In September, the Institute of Medicine reported that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans diagnosed with PTSD have alcohol-abuse rates that are twice as high as those found among civilian young adult males.

Brennan was diagnosed with PTSD and said that self-medicating with alcohol caused him to suffer a "short-lived drinking problem" after he returned from Iraq. ?

"You?re already depressed because of the PTSD. Alcohol?s a depressant. A lot of guys with PTSD just got angry (when they drank) and did dumb stuff, like fighting," Brennan said in a phone interview. "We had one guy throw his refrigerator off the third deck one night when he was drinking. But I don?t know if that was PTSD, or just him being a crazy drunk."

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/11/15826007-military-cracks-down-on-alcohol-abuse-amid-age-old-binging-habit?lite

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Electronic pulltabs slow to pull in cash for Vikings stadium (Star Tribune)

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