All signs were pointing to the fact the last season of "Dancing With the Stars" was Derek Hough?s final one. He?d not only competed in 10 seasons, won three mirror ball trophies and sustained a neck injury, but in a video package played during the finale, Hough sure acted like he was hanging up his sequins.
?It was my last,? Hough confirmed to The Clicker. ?I was planning on not coming back. It really felt like the end.?
So what changed his mind?
Hough decided he was simply too busy to quit. Yep, too busy.? Along with his sister, Julianne Hough, the fan favorite dancer is executive producing a series called ?Blackpool? for Starz which is set against the backdrop of the international competitive ballroom dancing scene.
The siblings will not only produce the series, but the pair will also act as head choreographers.
Hough?s always been too savvy to air any personal laundry (that may or may not be piling up) during his run on the show, preferring instead to keep the drama on the dance floor. Now, he?s eagerly looking forward to letting it explode in the fictional stories he?ll be helping to create. ?
?It?s a world I know very well,? he said of ?Blackpool?s? backdrop. ?It?ll be fictionalized -- not autobiographical. We?re meeting with the writers, and it?s starting to come together.?
The monumental task of developing and running a show triggered Hough?s choice to return to "Dancing With the Stars."
?I decided I?m better when I?m busy,? he said. ?My other projects will benefit from me doing another season of ?Dancing With the Stars.? My creative mind will be going. I tend to get things done more often and more quickly when I?m busy."
Fortunately, one thing Hough hasn?t had to add to his schedule is surgery for his neck injury. ?I spoke to the spinal guy (after last season) and he said unless it?s something that?s taking me completely out, let?s not start cutting into your neck,? Hough said. ?I am going to take more care of (myself). I?ll be more aware.?
There?s another big reason Hough signed up for another season of standing in front of Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli each week. ?I love being a part of this show. It was a last-minute decision, but it?s a decision that I?m very, very happy with -- even more so now because I have (?American Idol? alum) Kellie Pickler as a partner.?
Pickler is not only thrilled that Hough made the decision that he did, but she also agrees with it. ?When life gives you the opportunity to jump, you should jump,? she told The Clicker. ?The chances of your parachute opening are good.?
?Your mind is like a parachute,? Hough added. ?It works better when it?s open.?
Are you happy Hough decided to return? Tell us on our Facebook page.
Wayne State study shows airborne dust in urban areas impacts lead levels in childrenPublic release date: 27-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Julie O'Connor julie.oconnor@wayne.edu 313-577-8845 Wayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research
DETROIT A team of researchers led by Shawn P. McElmurry, Ph.D., P.E., assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering in Wayne State University's College of Engineering, has confirmed that seasonal fluctuations in blood lead levels found in children in urban areas throughout the United States and elsewhere in the northern hemisphere are the result of resuspended dust contaminated with lead.
The study, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology was based on nine years of data on more than 367,000 children in Detroit. The team of scientists stated the results support the critical need for controls for lead exposure in children.
"The study aimed to address a critical gap in understanding why child blood lead levels vary seasonally," said McElmurry. "What we have done is demonstrate that increased blood lead levels in the summer are connected to increased amounts of soil and dust contaminated with lead. This soil is resuspended into the air to a greater extent during the summer than during the winter, hence showing decreased lead levels in children during the winter months."
According to McElmurry, the results of this study place a greater importance on soil contaminated with lead and the need to come up with better remediation to improve children's health.
"Our findings suggest that more attention should be focused on the resuspension of soil contaminated with lead," said McElmurry. "Current efforts focused on lead-based paint have generally been ineffective in reducing the average child's exposure to lead, and our research team recommends primary attention be given to preventing lead exposure from lead-contaminated soil."
###
This study was part of an international collaboration that included Sammy Zahran, Colorado State University; Mark Laidlaw and Mark Taylor, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; and Gabriel Filippelli, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. The research was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars program.
The full report can be found at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es303854c.
Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Wayne State study shows airborne dust in urban areas impacts lead levels in childrenPublic release date: 27-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Julie O'Connor julie.oconnor@wayne.edu 313-577-8845 Wayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research
DETROIT A team of researchers led by Shawn P. McElmurry, Ph.D., P.E., assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering in Wayne State University's College of Engineering, has confirmed that seasonal fluctuations in blood lead levels found in children in urban areas throughout the United States and elsewhere in the northern hemisphere are the result of resuspended dust contaminated with lead.
The study, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology was based on nine years of data on more than 367,000 children in Detroit. The team of scientists stated the results support the critical need for controls for lead exposure in children.
"The study aimed to address a critical gap in understanding why child blood lead levels vary seasonally," said McElmurry. "What we have done is demonstrate that increased blood lead levels in the summer are connected to increased amounts of soil and dust contaminated with lead. This soil is resuspended into the air to a greater extent during the summer than during the winter, hence showing decreased lead levels in children during the winter months."
According to McElmurry, the results of this study place a greater importance on soil contaminated with lead and the need to come up with better remediation to improve children's health.
"Our findings suggest that more attention should be focused on the resuspension of soil contaminated with lead," said McElmurry. "Current efforts focused on lead-based paint have generally been ineffective in reducing the average child's exposure to lead, and our research team recommends primary attention be given to preventing lead exposure from lead-contaminated soil."
###
This study was part of an international collaboration that included Sammy Zahran, Colorado State University; Mark Laidlaw and Mark Taylor, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; and Gabriel Filippelli, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. The research was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars program.
The full report can be found at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es303854c.
Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Microsoft's Surface is continuing its global retail rollout, expanding its reach well beyond the western hemisphere. In late March the RT model of Redmond's in-house tablet effort will begin popping up in Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore and Taiwan, (though, not necessarily at the same time) adding to the pile of European nations where it's already launched. Meanwhile, the Surface Pro will finally be leaving the Americas and heading for Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the UK sometime in the coming months. Unfortunately Microsoft isn't getting any more specific about when its full-blown Windows 8 machine will appear in countries other than the US and Canada. All we can do now is await the promised follow up post on the Surface blog for more details about availability. If you're a fan of press materials (even those that don't provide a ton of information) you'll find some after the break.
The death of a major comic book character is one of those pop culture events that gives you a moment to sit back and really consider the big questions. Questions like: ?So, is this a shameless marketing ploy, or is it an actual good story that will nevertheless be pitched as a shameless marketing ploy?? And: ?How long until they bring him/her/it back to life?? Well, even cynical grouches ? who remember the good old days when it seemed like Barry Allen might actually stay dead ? might be a bit surprised by the news that DC is preparing to off one of their main characters. Which character you ask? Take a look ? SPOILERS FROM HERE:
Image Credit: DC Comics
As reported by the New York Post, the current Robin will bite the dust in the upcoming Batman Incorporated #8. The current Robin is Damian Wayne, the 10-year-old son of Bruce Wayne and femme fatale Talia Al-Ghul. Damian was brought back into the continuity by Grant Morrison, who has been shepherding the Bat-titles for the last several years. Morrison?s run is coming to an end this summer, with Batman Incorporated #12, and with Damien?s death, it?s clear that he?s pulling out all the stops for the endgame. He tells the Post, ?He saves the world. He does his job as Robin. He dies an absolute hero.?
Students of Bat-history will know that this is actually the second time a Robin has died in the line of duty. The second Robin, Jason Todd, bit the dust in the iconic ?Death in the Family? storyline in the last ?80s. (Fans were actually allowed to vote on whether he would live or die.) Todd was replaced by Tim Drake, who notably did not die before being replaced by Damian. So, lesson learned: Even-numbered Robins probably aren?t long for this world.
Follow Darren on Twitter: @DarrenFranich
Read More: DC is making a new ?Batman/Superman? comic book ? Check out art by Jae Lee! The most powerful person in the comic book industry?
On Sunday, Cuban President Raul Castro promised to step down at the end of his 5-year term in 2018. Analysts say he's seeking gradual change, without Cuba's old revolutionaries losing control.
By Sara Miller Llana,?Staff writer / February 25, 2013
Cuba's President Raul Castro participates in the closure session of the National Assembly in Havana, Cuba, Sunday. Castro accepted a new five-year term that will be, he said, his last as Cuba's president and also replaced his No. 2 with a younger Cuban who would be poised to rule if something were to befell Mr. Castro before his second term ends.
Franklin Reyes/AP
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Cuban President Raul Castro made the strongest statement yet that the island nation is preparing for a post-Castro era in announcing yesterday that he will step down in five years with plans to institute term limits.
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He also replaced his No. 2 with a younger Cuban who would be poised to rule if something were to befell Mr. Castro before his second term ends in five years ? the first time the nation would be led by someone who did not directly fight in the 1959 Cuban revolution.
Castro himself told lawmakers the nation was at a moment of ?historic transcendence.?
But while a monumental announcement internally, it does not necessarily imply that a vastly different Cuba awaits in 2018 ? one of capitalism and free elections, for example. And the generational transition underway faces several risks as Cuba inches forward with reforms to save its economy, says William LeoGrande, a Cuba expert at American University.
?One risk is that it fails, that resistance from... party bureaucrats prevents the government from carrying out reform,? he says. ?The other is that the reforms will work but they create both winners and losers, that they?ll intensify economic inequality and undermine the social safety network that Cuba has been so proud of.?
Raul Castro, who temporarily took over from his ailing brother Fidel Castro in 2006 and permanently two years later, has long been considered the more practical of the Castro brothers. In?just under?seven years he has already ushered in historic change, introducing a legalized real estate market, an end to travel restrictions, and more permissions for private businesses.
He had long said he was committed to generational change in top leadership but his words were never followed by action.The Castro brothers have preserved legitimacy in Cuba for several reasons, including free healthcare and education for all. But much of it came from the direct role that government officials played in the successful revolution that overthrew?a US-backed regime that was widely unpopular. ?
On Sunday, however, Castro hinted that a non-Cold War figure will soon lead the nation, replacing Jose Ramon Machado Ventura with Miguel Diaz-Canel, aged 52, as his number 2.
Term limits
On Sunday he said that he would like to establish two consecutive term limits with age limits for leaders, including presidents. In doing so, he would set the first example, in contrast to his brother, who held onto power for nearly 50 years.
Yet while it?s a direct break with the Fidel Castro government, it does so in the name of preserving the old system, which Raul Castro reiterated on Sunday. "I was not chosen to be president to restore capitalism to Cuba," he said. "I was elected to defend, maintain, and continue to perfect socialism, not destroy it."
?He is slowly but continuously rolling out his version of a new Cuba, which is half continuity with the past and half breaking with past,? says Ted Henken, president of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy.?That means that he is forging forward with change, but in a way that ?protects the top-down control and authoritarian nature of the regime,? Mr. Henken, also a professor at Baruch College at The City University of New York,?says. ?This is the first sign of a real of generational transfer. But it doesn?t mean at all that there will be a transition.?
That?s because the changes announced are not the result of grassroots work but a hand-picked succession in an authoritarian context. At any time, any member of the younger generation could be reined in for not aligning closely enough with the revolution, says Henken.? ?This is the older generation methodically and thoughtfully choosing people they can then trust with their revolution,??he?says.
Still, a new generation is likely to be more open to change, particularly?economic reform?but also administrative and political reform. ?They are going to be pragmatic, maybe more pragmatic than some of the older generation,? says Mr. LeoGrande. ?They have a better sense of some of the problems the country faces because they?ve grown up with them.?
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the original "Star Wars" trilogy, was briefly hospitalized due to her bipolar disorder, the actress' spokeswoman said on Tuesday after video emerged of Fisher giving an unusual stage performance. The video came from a show Fisher gave aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean last week, according to celebrity website TMZ, which posted the clip. The clip shows Fisher, 56, singing "Skylark" and "Bridge Over Troubled Waters," at times appearing to struggle to remember the lyrics. ...
Feb. 25, 2013 ? People become more politically liberal immediately after practising a spiritual exercise such as meditation, researchers at the University of Toronto have found.
"There's great overlap between religious beliefs and political orientations," says one of the study authors, Jordan Peterson of U of T's Department of Psychology. "We found that religious individuals tend to be more conservative and spiritual people tend to be more liberal. Inducing a spiritual experience through a guided meditation exercise led both liberals and conservatives to endorse more liberal political attitudes."
"While religiousness is characterized by devotion to a specific tradition, set of principles, or code of conduct, spirituality is associated with the direct experience of self-transcendence and the feeling that we're all connected," says lead author Jacob Hirsh of U of T's Rotman School of Management.
In three studies, the researchers -- Hirsh, Peterson and Megan Walberg, examined their participants' political views in relation to their religiousness and spirituality. In the first study, they asked 590 American participants whether they identified as Democrat or Republican. In the second study, they measured 703 participants' political orientations and support for the major American and Canadian political parties. The researchers confirmed that religiousness was associated with political conservatism, while spirituality was associated with political liberalism. These associations were in turn due to the common values underlying these orientations: conservatism and religiousness both emphasize the importance of tradition, while liberalism and spirituality both emphasize the importance of equality and social harmony.
In the third study, the researchers recruited 317 participants from the U.S. and asked half to complete a spiritual exercise consisting of a guided meditation video. Those who watched the video were asked to close their eyes and breathe deeply, imagining themselves in a natural setting and feeling connected to the environment. They were then asked about their political orientation and to rate how spiritual they felt. The researchers reported that, compared to those in the control group, participants who meditated felt significantly higher levels of spirituality and expressed more liberal political attitudes, including a reduced support for "tough on crime" policies and a preference for liberal political candidates.
"Spiritual experiences seem to make people feel more of a connection with others," says Hirsh. "The boundaries we normally maintain between ourselves and the world tend to dissolve during spiritual experiences. These feelings of self-transcendence make it easier to recognize that we are all part of the same system, promoting an inclusive and egalitarian mindset."
The researchers hope that these findings can not only advance our understanding of spirituality, but also help future political dialogue.
"The conservative part of religious belief has played an important role in holding cultures together and establishing common rules. The spiritual part, on the other hand, helps cultures renew themselves by adapting to changing circumstances," says Peterson. "Both right and left are necessary; it's not that either is correct, it's that the dialogue between them produces the best chance we have at getting the balance right. If people could understand that both sides have an important role to play in society, some of the unnecessary tension might be eliminated."
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Journal Reference:
J. B. Hirsh, M. D. Walberg, J. B. Peterson. Spiritual Liberals and Religious Conservatives. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2012; 4 (1): 14 DOI: 10.1177/1948550612444138
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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Online business card printer Moo.com has moved onto the high street with the launch of a shop in London?s Shoreditch.
Visitors to the store, at Boxpark, can touch and feel their cards, comparing paper stocks, as well as designing them there, customizing them with embossing if required. The shop also enables customers to create-online and collect in-store.
Richard Moross, chief executive and founder of Moo, said it was the touch and feel factor that had prompted the retailer onto the high street. ?Personal branding and beautiful design is so important to our customers that we wanted them to be able to actually touch and experience it. The Moo Shop is the perfect way for them to interact with our products and experience first-hand what they online.?
He said the move was part of Moo?s ?constant? innovation. At a retailer always ?looking for new ways to excite our customers,? he said, ?this mix of online and offline is the perfect combination.?
The store will also add value with events for small businesses, creative professionals, entrepreneurs and freelancers featuring a range of speakers on subjects from design to funding.
The first such session, to be streamed live to Moo?s community, will be with Emma Jones of Enterprise Nation on March 6. ?It?s an honour to be invited to speak at Moo?s first ever retail experience,? said Jones. ?The concept of the Moo shop and its commitment to creating a fun, interactive environment is totally in keeping with the Moo philosophy and wholeheartedly supported by Enterprise Nation.?
A list of upcoming events can be found on the Moo.com?site.?The business card printer was founded in 2006 in 2009 expanded to the US. It printed 90m business cards last year, in a market that it says is growing by 20% a year.
Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria reacts during a news conference outside of the team's spring training facility before an exhibition spring training baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, in Jupiter, Fla. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria reacts during a news conference outside of the team's spring training facility before an exhibition spring training baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, in Jupiter, Fla. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, center, talks during a news conference outside of the team's spring training facility before an exhibition spring training baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, in Jupiter, Fla. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
JUPITER, Fla. (AP) ? A cluster of media stood outside the Miami Marlins clubhouse, awaiting the arrival of owner Jeffrey Loria, when outfielder Bryan Petersen walked past.
"Somebody getting married?" Petersen said.
It was more like somebody trying to salvage a relationship. Loria's three-day public relations campaign to patch things up with angry fans brought him to spring training Tuesday for an interview session that included several testy exchanges before the owner cut it short.
Loria reiterated many of his previous comments regarding the 2012 payroll purge, saying it wasn't about money but about improving the farm system. Ten minutes into the news conference, he bristled when asked why fans should believe him.
"You've said that question in four different ways," Loria said. "My response to you is we have put together some championship-caliber players. We're going to field an excellent team in the next two or three years that you're going to be proud of."
Fans are upset that after only one season of big spending in a new ballpark built mostly with tax money, the Marlins have reverted to their tight budgets of the past. Loria was asked about trying to change the impression the ballpark project was "a con job."
"A con job? I'm not even going to answer that," Loria said.
Many project the Marlins to lose 100 games only a year after they were the talk of baseball and touted as playoff contenders. This year's payroll is expected to be less than $45 million, compared with $90 million in 2012.
Loria denied he reneged on any promise, noting the Marlins finished last in the NL East with their biggest payroll ever.
"I fulfilled my promise in the new ballpark last year," he said. "It didn't work. So what do you do? Go back again and lose more games? We needed to do something to beef up the organization."
A blockbuster trade in November sent to Toronto three of the Marlins' highest-paid players ? shortstop Jose Reyes and pitchers Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson. In exchange Miami acquired mostly prospects.
"We have some very exciting young players here," Loria said. "We need to bring them along and develop our own stars, or else we're going to be a last-place team forever."
As he stepped away from the TV cameras after 15 minutes, a PR aide said the owner would take more questions. Instead, Loria disappeared through a clubhouse door and didn't return.
At some point the team's play will have to speak for itself.
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Encouraged by Rwanda?s steady gains in curbing measles, donors are paying for a more expensive dual vaccine that will target rubella, too.
THE Maldivian government denied any deal to allow ex-president Mohamed Nasheed to end his refuge at the Indian embassy in the capital and resume election campaigning without fear of arrest.
Presidential spokesman Abbas Riaz said Nasheed walked out of the embassy on Saturday afternoon of his own will and there was no agreement with an Indian mediator who rushed to the Maldives last week to resolve a tense standoff.
"There is no deal, absolutely no deal with the Indians or anyone else," Riaz said on Sunday, in the government's first reaction to Nasheed leaving the embassy to resume his political work.
Nasheed, 45, sought refuge at the embassy on February 13, straining ties between regional power India and its small neighbour Maldives, after an arrest warrant was issued following his failure to attend court.
He says his trial is a "politically motivated" attempt to disqualify him from an election due on September 7, a charge denied by the government.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said Nasheed was meeting with visiting Western diplomats on Sunday and would start house-to-house campaigning from Monday.
"He is back on the campaign trail," said MDP spokesman Hamid Abdul Ghafoor.
"India arranged a deal to give political space for Nasheed to contest... but still there is a risk (of arrest). We don't trust this rogue regime."
The Maldivian government insists that it will not interfere with a judicial process.
India sent its special envoy, senior diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla, to mediate an end to the crisis after Nasheed took refuge in its high commission to avoid arrest.
WASHINGTON (AP) ? The White House has detailed the potential fallout in each state from budget cuts set to take effect at week's end, while congressional Republicans and Democrats keep up the sniping over who's to blame.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said on "Fox News Sunday" that there was little hope to dodge the cuts "unless the Republicans are willing to compromise and do a balanced approach."
No so fast, Republicans interjected.
"I think the American people are tired of the blame game," Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., said on CBS' "Face the Nation."
Yet just a moment before, she was blaming President Barack Obama for putting the country on the brink of massive spending cuts that were initially designed to be so unacceptable that Congress would strike a grand bargain to avoid them.
The $85 billion budget mechanism could affect everything from commercial flights to classrooms to meat inspections. With Friday's deadline nearing, few in the nation's capital were optimistic that a realistic alternative could be found.
And, yes, those cuts will hurt.
They would slash from domestic and defense spending alike, leading to furloughs for hundreds of thousands of government workers and contractors.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said the cuts would harm the readiness of U.S. fighting forces. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said travelers could see delayed flights. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said 70,000 fewer children from low-income families would have access to Head Start programs. And furloughed meat inspectors could leave plants idled.
White House officials pointed to Ohio ? home of House Speaker John Boehner ? as one state that would be hit hard: $25.1 million in education spending and another $22 million for students with disabilities. Some 2,500 children from low-income families would also be removed from Head Start programs.
Officials said their analysis showed Kentucky would lose $93,000 in federal funding for a domestic abuse program, meaning 400 fewer victims being served in Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's home state. Georgia, meanwhile, would face a $286,000 budget cut to its children's health programs, meaning almost 4,200 fewer children would receive vaccinations against measles and whooping cough.
The White House compiled its state-by-state reports from federal agencies and its own budget office. The numbers reflect the impact of the cuts this year. Unless Congress acts by Friday, $85 billion in cuts are set to take effect from March to September.
As to whether states could move money around to cover shortfalls, the White House said that depends on state budget structures and the specific programs. The White House did not have a list of which states or programs might have flexibility.
Republican leaders were not impressed by the state-by-state reports.
"The White House needs to spend less time explaining to the press how bad the sequester will be and more time actually working to stop it," said Michael Steel, a spokesman for Boehner.
___
Follow Philip Elliott on Twitter: https://twitter.com/philip_elliott
One of the big unanswered questions right now is what happens when we hit the March 1 deadline for automatic budget cuts? Will the cuts be "brutal" as the President has described them, or will we not notice right away?
The Pentagon gave one answer on Wednesday as officials outlined the plans to furlough over 700,000 civilian defense workers to deal with the estimated $46 billion in cuts the military will have to make the rest of this fiscal year.
"Our estimate is $4-$5 billion of savings," said Defense Undersecretary David Hale.
"We feel we don't have any choice but to impose furloughs even though we would much prefer not to do it," Hale added.
But at the Pentagon briefing, and also at the White House briefing for reporters, there were skeptical questions as to whether such plans were overkill or not.
First, from the White House, with Press Secretary Jay Carney:
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Q??? Jay, on the sequester, you said repeatedly today and yesterday that these are real and urgent cuts that would take place quickly.? But The New York Times points out today that when the President was saying yesterday in his remarks that tens of thousands of parents will have to scramble to find childcare for their kids, that that?s not really going to happen on March 1st, is it?? I mean, how do you back up that tens of thousands of parents will be searching for childcare immediately?
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MR. CARNEY:? Well, look, whether these cuts -- whether that search begins on March 1st or in the near future, the impact on our economy, the impact on people?s lives is real.? Again, don?t take my word for it.? Macroeconomics Advisers, Moody's, the CBO all estimate massive job loss if the sequester is allowed to take effect.? That?s just a fact.
Q??? So what happens on March 1st?? What happens on March 2nd?? How quickly does this -- because when you say -- the President said that yesterday, too -- hundreds of thousands of jobs.? There's not going to be hundreds of thousands of job losses the first week, are there?
MR. CARNEY:? No, but there will be job losses, and that?s been clear.? Look, we have already --
Q??? But people want to quantify this because you're making -- you're scaring the public that this is going to happen, it's going to be horrible --
MR. CARNEY:? So these outside economic firms are scaring the public?? And the CBO is scaring the public?
Q??? I'm just saying, how do you back up that this is urgent and that hundreds of thousands of jobs are going to be lost?
?
Over at the Pentagon, reporters also zeroed in on questions about the level of funding that the military would be left with, and whether it would necessitate large furloughs.
?
Q: I have a broader question for you. Both the CBO [Congressional Budget Office] and the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments have said that a $45 billion cut would basically take the Defense Department back to 2007, 2006 levels, when you were fighting a huge war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Why can't the department absorb that kind of cut, rather than lay it all the -- and that experience all these purported draconian consequences? What's wrong with that picture? You seem to have a lot of money, if you look back at '07 and '06.
UNDER SEC. HALE: Well, first off, there's a timing issue. I mean, the $46 billion cut will occur five months into the year, when we have expended a lot of the -- particularly on the operating side, we've extended -- or we'll have expended roughly five-twelfths of the money, so we're going to have to take it in a seven-month period and without, frankly, you know, time to get ready.
But more generally, I'd say I?m always troubled, if we're trying to determine the adequacy of defense budgets based on real dollar levels in a particular year. I mean, I think that you need to look at the threats that we face, and they remain quite substantial, I guess complex set of security challenges is the word. And, therefore, I don't think returning to some arbitrary past number for defense makes sense.
...
Q: But there's no sense of, like, well, if this is going to happen and it's going to hurt so bad, let me give you some other options so that we all can get to this goal of, you know, deficit reduction that everyone seeks. So I'm just wondering, would that be a strategy for you guys to say, look, we're staring down the barrel here, let's do this instead, and we're cool with this, so let's do it (off mic)
UNDER SEC. HALE: Well, I mean, I think the president has made proposals; the Republicans have made proposals. I think the adjudication of those or the bargaining probably isn't -- I'm probably not the right guy to -- to be -- to be speaking to that, even though I'm intensely interested in the outcome.
?
As for how the sequester will impact the White House staff or the Congress, there aren't many details publicly available on that as yet.
On Capitol Hill, one chief of staff I spoke with yesterday said they are waiting to hear exactly how much the cuts would be for the Legislative Branch before deciding whether to institute furloughs, layoffs or pay cuts.
One lawmaker told me he has his office short on personnel right now, so he should be fine even if cuts are instituted.
Meanwhile, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) told a news conference in his home state Wednesday that he is returning $600,000 in funds from his office account to the Treasury, as he tries to spend less than what his office was budgeted for.
Asked about the $85 billion in automatic cuts, Paul said it was just a "pittance" from the federal budget.
President Barack Obama on Friday officially notified the US Congress that he had deployed ?approximately? 100 US troops to the western African nation of Niger.
In a perfunctory, six-sentence letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Senator Patrick Leahy, president pro-tem of the Senate, Obama said the final 40 troops had arrived on Wednesday to ?provide support for intelligence collection? and ?facilitate intelligence sharing with French forces conducting operations in Mali, and with other partners in the region.?
The only other justification for dispatching the military force, beyond the vague talk of intelligence gathering, was ?furtherance of US national security interests.? In the letter, Obama said he was notifying Congress pursuant to his powers as commander in chief and chief executive, and in accordance with the requirements of the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a law intended to bar the president from committing military forces without the consent of Congress.
The War Powers Resolution states that the president can send troops into action abroad only with the authorization of Congress or in case of ?a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.? It requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing forces and forbids them from remaining for more than 60 days without congressional sanction.
The reality behind Obama?s cynical and deceitful letter is the initiation of an open-ended and far-reaching US military intervention in northern Africa. The action announced Friday by Obama marks a major escalation of the drive by the United States and the other imperialist powers to recolonize the continent and gain direct control of its rich storehouse of strategic natural resources.
The use of drones underscores the criminal character of the operation in Niger. They will be used to terrorize the African population and summarily murder all those identified by the Pentagon and the CIA as opponents of Washington?s drive to conquer and subjugate the continent.
This predatory drive is concealed behind the all-purpose pretext, as part of the ?war on terror,? of combating Al Qaeda-linked Islamist militias operating in Mali and other parts of the Sahara region.
The past two years have already seen the US-led war for regime-change in Libya, the US- and NATO-backed sectarian civil war in Syria, and last month?s US-backed French invasion of Niger?s neighbor to the west, Mali. The establishment of a US military base of operations in Niger now lays bare the real significance of the 2011 war against Libya, carried out under the pretense of protecting civilians and defending human rights, and the calculated decision to murder Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. All of the operations that have followed the Libyan atrocity were already in the works, as are the even more bloody predations to come.
The real aim behind the introduction of US troops into Niger is to assert American domination of northwest Africa, check French imperialist ambitions in the region, and counter the growing influence of China.
Obama?s claim in his letter to Congress that the Niger government had consented to the US deployment means little, since all of the bourgeois regimes in the region function as stooges of US imperialism and the former colonial powers of Europe.
While Obama did not refer to drones in his letter, unnamed Pentagon officials told media outlets on Friday that drone aircraft had already been sent to the impoverished country, with the ?first wave? including two Raptor surveillance drones. They said 250 to 300 military personnel, including remote pilots and security and maintenance crews, would eventually be deployed.
ABC News cited US officials as saying Washington had already begun flying Predator drones over Mali as part of US military support for the French invasion, which also includes airlifting French and allied African troops and refueling French military aircraft that have bombed cities and towns controlled by Islamist insurgents and Tuareg separatists.
In addition, as part of the Mali operation, US Special Forces have been sent to Niger, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Togo and Ghana.
The current deployment in Niger will reportedly be based in Niamey, the capital, but may be moved to the northern town of Agadez.
While Obama sought in his letter to Congress to give the impression that the deployment will be limited in time and scope and will involve only surveillance drones, what has been set in motion is an expanding operation that will inevitably involve the use of armed drones to extend the administration?s assassination program from Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia into northern Africa.
ABC News reported that US Africa Command had ?developed a plan a few weeks ago that proposed setting up a base in Niger to enable long-term surveillance operations in western Africa.? It cited a government official as saying it was ?possible that the new operations could morph into the separate concept proposed by African Command.?
The Washington Post quoted a US defense official, who said, ?I think it?s safe to say the number [of US troops] will probably grow.? It cited other officials who said the administration ?had not ruled out arming the Predators with missiles in the future.?
For weeks, the US press has carried reports of plans by the Obama administration to extend its drone assassination program into northern Africa. At the end of January it was reported that the US had secured an agreement with the government of Niger to establish a US military base in the country. The Guardian reported Friday that there are ?no constraints to military-to-military cooperation? within that agreement.
Earlier in January, following a hostage siege carried out by Al Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb at a gas facility in Algeria, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta implicitly threatened to use drone strikes against alleged terrorists in northern Africa. ?We have a responsibility to go after Al Qaeda wherever they are,? Panetta stated, adding that the US was ?going after? it in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia?all the scenes of continuous drone missile strikes?and would act to deny Al Qaeda a ?a base for operations in North Africa and Mali.?
The Wall Street Journal wrote of an ?open-ended? campaign against militants in north and west Africa, and a US State Department official warned that the offensive in Mali ?could take years? and was only ?the first phase.?
The Journal published a front-page article two weeks ago headlined ?Push to Extend US ?Kill List.?? The article reported discussions within the Obama administration over extending its drone assassination program to Algeria and other countries in the Sahara and northwest Africa.
The US military intervention in Niger contains the seeds of a far wider conflict. The nomadic Tuareg population, which has been waging intermittent struggles against the central government in Mali for decades, exists as well to the east in Niger. The introduction of US troops and drones has the potential of spreading the Tuareg revolt and sparking an ethnic-based transnational civil war.
And as diplomatic cables from US diplomats in Niamey disclosed by WikiLeaks have made clear, China?s economic activities in the region have been a focus of US concern. One such cable warned, ?China is building a major portfolio in Niger?s resource sectors and will probably replace France as Niger?s top foreign investor??
The US move into Niger will further inflame relations between the US and the world?s second largest economic power, already frayed as a result of US provocations carried out as part of Obama?s ?pivot to Asia.?
Hi everyone. This is the final week of the PlayStation Mobile New Year giveaway promotion. I hope you enjoyed all the games we?ve featured!
The final game is? OMG Zombies. Zombies are everywhere! The City of Redfield has been hit by an outbreak of exploding zombies, and you have to take back the town. Good luck and have fun!
Download it today from PS Store on PS Vita or PlayStation Certified Devices now. For more information about PlayStation Mobile, please visit http://eu.playstation.com/playstation-mobile
The UFC pulled a surprising move on Wednesday, but it had nothing to do with a fight no one expected. Instead, the UFC gave the pink slip to several fighters, including one former title contender with an impressive UFC record.
Jon Fitch Wagner Prado Mike Russow Jacob Volkmann Vladimir Matyushenko Che Mills Jay Hieron Terry Etim Paul Sass Jorge Santiago Mike Stumpf Simeon Thoresen C.J. Keith Motonobu Tezuka Josh Grispi Ulysses Gomez
Though Fitch fought and lost to Georges St-Pierre at UFC 87, he is 1-2-1 in his last four fights and has a reputation for putting on grinding, slower-paced fights. Jacob Volkmann and Mike Russow have the same reputation. Santiago went 0-2 in the UFC, left and won one fight, then lost again over the weekend. After putting together an impressive run in the UFC, Grispi lost four fights in a row in the UFC.
Every one of the fighters is coming off of at least one loss. In the past, a fighter would worry about his job if he lost two fights in a row. However, MMA Junkie's John Morgan says the UFC is looking to trim its roster. With fighters coming over from Strikeforce, and the addition of the men's flyweight and women's bantamweight divisions, the UFC is going to have to make more tough decisions like this. Fighters have to win to keep their job.
Positive health indicators also associated with avocado consumption
IRVINE, Calif. (February 20, 2013) New analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) , a program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), indicates that consuming avocados may be associated with better diet quality and nutrient intake level, lower intake of added sugars, lower body weight, BMI and waist circumferences, higher "good cholesterol" levels and lower metabolic syndrome risk. These results were published in the January 2013 issue of Nutrition Journal.
Specifically, the survey data (NHANES 2001-2008, 17,567 U.S. adults ages 19 years and older) revealed that the 347 adults (50% female) who consumed avocados in any amount during a 24-hour dietary recording period had several significantly better nutrient intake levels and more positive health indicators than those who did not consume avocados. Among the avocado consumers, average daily consumption was about one half (70.1 +/- 5.4 g/day) of a medium sized avocado, somewhat higher in male avocado consumers (75.3 +/-6.3 g/day) than females (66.7 +/- 7.3 g/day).
Overall Diet Quality, Energy and Nutrient Intakes
According to the study, Avocado consumers more closely adhered to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans than those who did not eat avocados, as measured by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI).
Avocado consumers had significantly higher intakes of certain important nutrients including 36% more dietary fiber, 23% more vitamin E, 13% more magnesium, 16% more potassium and 48% more vitamin K than non-consumers.
Avocado consumers also had significantly higher intakes of "good" fats (18% more monounsaturated and 12% more polyunsaturated) and total fats (11% more) than non-consumers, although average caloric intake of both groups was the same.
Avocado consumers and non-consumers had similar intakes of sodium.
Physiological Health Measures
Avocado consumers had significantly lower BMI values than non-consumers.
Avocado consumers had significantly smaller waist circumference measures than non-consumers (an average of 4 cm smaller).
Avocado consumers weighed significantly less than non-consumers (an average of 7.5 pounds less).
Avocado consumers had significantly higher HDL ("good") cholesterol levels.
Metabolic Syndrome Risk
The study found that Avocado consumers had a 50% lower odds ratio for metabolic syndrome compared to non-consumers. Metabolic syndrome is a name given to a group of risk factors which, when they occur together, increase the risk for coronary artery disease, stroke and type-2 diabetes.
As with most analyses of NHANES data, research findings were based on cross-sectional data from a single 24-hour dietary recall (which may be inaccurate and biased due to misreporting and memory lapses) and cannot provide cause and effect evidence between avocado consumption and improvements in diet quality. "These findings suggest an interesting association between the consumption of avocados and better nutrient intakes and other positive outcomes," said study primary investigator Victor Fulgoni, PhD. "These observations were derived from population survey data, they provide important clues to better understanding the relationships between diet and health, and give direction to future research endeavors."
"To this end, the Hass Avocado Board is funding additional clinical studies to investigate the relationship between fresh avocado consumption and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, avocados' potential positive role in weight management and diabetes, and avocados' ability to enhance nutrient absorption," said Hass Avocado Board Executive Director Emiliano Escobedo.
###
For a free copy of the abstract or the full study visit: http://www.nutritionj.com/content/12/1/1
For additional information or free resources on avocado research, recipes, tips and photos visit the Hass Avocado Board web site at AvocadoCentral.com.
About the Hass Avocado Board
The Hass Avocado Board was established in 2002 to promote the consumption of Hass avocados in the United States. A 12-member board representing domestic producers and importers of Hass avocados directs HAB's promotion, research and information programs under supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. Hass avocados are grown in California and imported into the US from Mexico, Chile, Peru, Dominican Republic and New Zealand.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/about_nhanes.htm. Accessed on January 31, 2013.
Fulgoni VL, Dreher M and Davenport A. Avocado Consumption is Associated with Better Diet Quality and Nutrient Intake, and Lower Metabolic Syndrome Risk in US Adults: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2008. Nutrition Journal. 2013; 12:1 (2 January 2013)
United States Department of Agriculture. Healthy Eating Index. Available at: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/healthyeatingindex.htm. Accessed on January 30, 2013.
National Heart Blood and Lung Institute. What is Metabolic Syndrome? Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ms/. Accessed on January 30, 2013.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
New study indicates avocado consumption may be associated with better diet qualityPublic release date: 21-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Positive health indicators also associated with avocado consumption
IRVINE, Calif. (February 20, 2013) New analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) , a program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), indicates that consuming avocados may be associated with better diet quality and nutrient intake level, lower intake of added sugars, lower body weight, BMI and waist circumferences, higher "good cholesterol" levels and lower metabolic syndrome risk. These results were published in the January 2013 issue of Nutrition Journal.
Specifically, the survey data (NHANES 2001-2008, 17,567 U.S. adults ages 19 years and older) revealed that the 347 adults (50% female) who consumed avocados in any amount during a 24-hour dietary recording period had several significantly better nutrient intake levels and more positive health indicators than those who did not consume avocados. Among the avocado consumers, average daily consumption was about one half (70.1 +/- 5.4 g/day) of a medium sized avocado, somewhat higher in male avocado consumers (75.3 +/-6.3 g/day) than females (66.7 +/- 7.3 g/day).
Overall Diet Quality, Energy and Nutrient Intakes
According to the study, Avocado consumers more closely adhered to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans than those who did not eat avocados, as measured by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI).
Avocado consumers had significantly higher intakes of certain important nutrients including 36% more dietary fiber, 23% more vitamin E, 13% more magnesium, 16% more potassium and 48% more vitamin K than non-consumers.
Avocado consumers also had significantly higher intakes of "good" fats (18% more monounsaturated and 12% more polyunsaturated) and total fats (11% more) than non-consumers, although average caloric intake of both groups was the same.
Avocado consumers and non-consumers had similar intakes of sodium.
Physiological Health Measures
Avocado consumers had significantly lower BMI values than non-consumers.
Avocado consumers had significantly smaller waist circumference measures than non-consumers (an average of 4 cm smaller).
Avocado consumers weighed significantly less than non-consumers (an average of 7.5 pounds less).
Avocado consumers had significantly higher HDL ("good") cholesterol levels.
Metabolic Syndrome Risk
The study found that Avocado consumers had a 50% lower odds ratio for metabolic syndrome compared to non-consumers. Metabolic syndrome is a name given to a group of risk factors which, when they occur together, increase the risk for coronary artery disease, stroke and type-2 diabetes.
As with most analyses of NHANES data, research findings were based on cross-sectional data from a single 24-hour dietary recall (which may be inaccurate and biased due to misreporting and memory lapses) and cannot provide cause and effect evidence between avocado consumption and improvements in diet quality. "These findings suggest an interesting association between the consumption of avocados and better nutrient intakes and other positive outcomes," said study primary investigator Victor Fulgoni, PhD. "These observations were derived from population survey data, they provide important clues to better understanding the relationships between diet and health, and give direction to future research endeavors."
"To this end, the Hass Avocado Board is funding additional clinical studies to investigate the relationship between fresh avocado consumption and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, avocados' potential positive role in weight management and diabetes, and avocados' ability to enhance nutrient absorption," said Hass Avocado Board Executive Director Emiliano Escobedo.
###
For a free copy of the abstract or the full study visit: http://www.nutritionj.com/content/12/1/1
For additional information or free resources on avocado research, recipes, tips and photos visit the Hass Avocado Board web site at AvocadoCentral.com.
About the Hass Avocado Board
The Hass Avocado Board was established in 2002 to promote the consumption of Hass avocados in the United States. A 12-member board representing domestic producers and importers of Hass avocados directs HAB's promotion, research and information programs under supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. Hass avocados are grown in California and imported into the US from Mexico, Chile, Peru, Dominican Republic and New Zealand.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/about_nhanes.htm. Accessed on January 31, 2013.
Fulgoni VL, Dreher M and Davenport A. Avocado Consumption is Associated with Better Diet Quality and Nutrient Intake, and Lower Metabolic Syndrome Risk in US Adults: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2008. Nutrition Journal. 2013; 12:1 (2 January 2013)
United States Department of Agriculture. Healthy Eating Index. Available at: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/healthyeatingindex.htm. Accessed on January 30, 2013.
National Heart Blood and Lung Institute. What is Metabolic Syndrome? Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ms/. Accessed on January 30, 2013.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Mini microscopes embedded into the brains of genetically engineered mice are providing researchers a window onto the inner workings of the mammalian mind.
The tool provides an unprecedentedly wide field of view on the mouse brain ? in one mouse, for example, the team recorded the firing of more than 1,000 individual neurons ? and it can record for weeks on end, allowing scientists to study how brain activity evolves over time.
?That kind of question, the time-lapse question, has not been previously examined in freely behaving mice,? Mark Schnitzer, an associate professor of biology and applied physics at Stanford University, told NBC News.
He and colleagues described the tool earlier this month in the journal Nature Neuroscience and have launched a startup company, Inscopix Inc., to market the mini microscopes to researchers who study neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer?s and other brain disorders.
Fluorescing neurons The mini microscopes are mounted into little circles removed from the mouse cranium. They wear them around like a hat, Schnitzer explained.
Neurons in the mice?s hippocampus, a region of the brain associated with spatial memory, are genetically engineered to express green fluorescence protein, especially in the presence of calcium. When a neuron fires, the cell naturally floods with calcium ions, and thus fluoresces more intensely.
The mini microscope is connected to a camera chip, which routes images of neurons fluorescing to a computer screen. The result is a near real-time video of the mouse?s brain activity as it runs around a small enclosure. Check it out in the video below.
To the untrained eye, the firing neurons appear chaotic and random, but the researchers discerned a clear pattern. Specific neurons fire in association with specific areas in the enclosure.
?The individual neurons seem to have preferences regarding the mouse?s location in space,? Schnitzer explained. ?This neuron might fire when the mouse is over here and that neuron might fire when the mouse is over there.?
Disease studies While this spatial mapping was known from previous studies, the ability to image many hundreds of neurons at once and for long enough to watch the brain evolve is novel, Schnitzer said. The tool may come in handy for researchers studying the evolution of diseases such as Alzheimer?s.
For example, the National Institutes of Health has supported the development of mouse models of human brain diseases, Schnitzer explained. Using the tool, researchers could compare the evolution of a healthy mouse with one known to have a model of Alzheimer?s.
This might, Schnitzer said, allow researchers to ?see maybe what early symptoms look like before it is even apparent at the behavioral level. And one could imagine providing therapeutics and seeing the effects of those down to the resolution of single cells.?
John Roach is a contributing writer for NBC News. To learn more about him, check out his website. For more of our Future of Technology series, watch the featured video below.
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Public release date: 27-Feb-2013
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Online business card printer Moo.com has moved onto the high street with the launch of a shop in London?s Shoreditch.
The UFC pulled a surprising move on Wednesday, but it had nothing to do with a fight no one expected. Instead, the UFC gave the pink slip to several fighters, including one former title contender with an impressive UFC record.