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Wednesday, August 29, 2012
The Sun Made This 5.2-Million-Mile Tall Light Bulb [Video]
Monday, August 20, 2012
HBT: Astros (39-82) fire manager Mills, 2 coaches
Brad Mills was hired before the 2010 season by Drayton McLane, who is no longer the Astros? owner, and Ed Wade, who is no longer the Astros? GM. So he?s been a sitting duck under the new regime.
And a 39-82 record sure didn?t help matters.
Mills was let go on Saturday night following an ugly eight-run loss to Arizona, along with hitting coach Mike Barnett and first base coach Bobby Meacham.
Interims for those positions will be named Sunday.
Mills, a first-time manager, went 171-274 in just shy of three seasons with the ?Stros. His roster was sapped of talent over the past two summers as the organization began a frantic rebuild, but that brutal winning percentage means it will likely be a little while before he?s given another try as a major-league skipper.
The Astros are moving quickly to change the look and feel of the organization under new owner Jim Crane and new general manager Jeff Luhnow. They?ll move into the star-studded American League West next season, and recently submitted a more ?traditional? uniform redesign to the MLB offices for approval.
It?s a club under a complete renovation. A renovation that isn?t attracting many spectators.
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Friday, August 17, 2012
The case for shutting up: Wasted time at work
Bruce Ayres / Getty Images
Web surfing? Facebook? Online shopping? No. The water cooler, or its equivalent, kills the most time.
By Michelle V. Rafter, Today contributor
Technology may be revolutionizing the workplace, but old-fashioned distractions like meetings and chatting with co-workers are still considered the biggest office time-wasters.
That, at least, is the conclusion of a survey of office workers, released Thursday by TrackVia, a Denver-based software company.
Office chit-chat ranked as the No. 1 work distraction, the top choice of 14 percent of those surveyed, while meetings and computer problems followed close behind at 11 percent each.
Other time wasters mentioned by survey respondents:
- Surfing the web
- Dealing with office politics
- Addressing misunderstandings with co-workers
- Using social media
- Checking email
- Following company rules and procedures
It?s no surprise employees see going to meetings as a major obstacle to accomplishing their work-day goals, says productivity expert Laura Stack.
?A lot of people feel like they spend their entire day in meetings,? says Stack, a Denver-based speaker and author who leads 80 to 100 productivity training sessions a year.
In her experience with clients, however, employees waste far more time checking email, instant messages and social media like Facebook -- what she calls ?tech time? -- than dealing with computer problems or on other non-critical tasks. ?You could sit in your inbox all day and at the end of the day say, ?Where?d all my time go??? Stack says.
Holly Witt, a Portland, Ore., insurance account executive, says social media is her biggest time waster, especially Facebook.
?I keep telling myself to deactivate the account and I am almost there,? she says.
Slightly more than half of employees surveyed (51 percent) say they waste up to two hours a week on tasks that aren?t work related or don?t help them ?get real work done.? Approximately 11 percent say they waste 6 to 9 hours on nonessential tasks, and close to 4 percent said they waste 10 to 19 hours during the work week, according to the survey.
The survey of 300 workers, conducted this month by Amplitude Research, has a margin of error of about 6 percent.
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Thursday, August 16, 2012
Crossings into cross-cultural cross-dressing ? The Long and ...
Curious about or puzzled by that photograph of the Caucasian man dressed in a Nonya kebaya I posted the other day? I have a shocking revelation ? not only was that man seen in the kebaya, but also in a bright red saree, and in the company of yet another man spotted that same afternoon in a bright red dress ?
The same man in a bright red saree.
Seen in the company of another in a bright red dress.
Shocking as it would seem, residents of the housing estate in which the cross-dressed men were spotted in can rest assured that this isn?t the start of a transvestite invasion but an attempt at artistic expression ? expression that is part of a cross cultural multidisciplinary collaboration of artists from two countries, Singapore and Croatia. The men ? and several other performers had crossed-dressed for roles of their fellow artists for the recording of a multimedia segment of the performance which will be juxtaposed onto the live performance on stage.
Singapore performer Sharda Harrison dressed for Edvin Liveric?s role for the recording of the multimedia segment.
Najib Soiman.
Bani Haykal, Sound Artist.
Zac Valenta.
Chuang Xiu?Er, Sharda Harrison and Najib Soiman.
I was provided with the opportunity to photograph the recording of the multimedia segment, as well as a full dress rehearsal at The Necessary Stage last week. The theatre company is putting the performance, named Crossings, together with Croatian based TRAFIK. Crossings is being presented in collaboration with Esplanade ? Theatres on the Bay as part of The Studios and involves a series of cultural exchanges, workshops and improvisations. Crossings as described in the synopsis will explore fundamental questions that will make us confront who we are and how we can survive in today?s global village, investigating the coexistence, understanding and mixing of different cultures.
One of the opening scenes shot during the full dress rehearsal at The Necessary Stage on Saturday.
Sharda Harrison plays the role of the woman at the centre of a somewhat abusive love-hate relationship that she finds it hard to escape from.
The performance explores elements of violence in the male-female relationship.
While the performance seems like a confusion of scenes and characters that at times seem to have no connection with each other, there is a central theme that revolves around the male-female relationship in society and across cultures. There is also an attempt to examine somewhat taboo subjects such as domestic violence and non conventional sexual relationships that have perhaps become quite prevalent in our society, as well as the role of myths and traditions in the two societies which are being brought together in the performance ? all of which makes for a fascinating story. Crossings debuts this evening at the Esplanade and plays in Singapore until 19 August 2012. It will also tour the National Theatre of Rijeka in Croatia from 19 to 20 September 2012. More information can be found at The Necessary Stage and The Studios.
There are also characters that seemingly unconnected with the central theme of the story, introduce myths that influence the cultures of the two countries.
Najib Soiman gives a masterly performance.
Chuang Xiu?Er.
Edvin Liveric as a male stripper.
Zac Valenta and Sharda Harrison.
A light used during the rehearsal.
Sharda Harrison and Najib Soiman.
Another of Sharda Harrison and Najib Soiman.
Synopsis
A woman who is a victim of a social scandal proves her fidelity by passing a test. Yet, her society does not believe her. She is exiled by her husband who is dedicated to serving his people and so has to listen to their discernment to remain in power. Will she sacrifice for the larger good and suffer the unjust allegation to be with her husband or will she walk?
Based on Asian myths, Crossings take us on a journey of the transformation of the self ? how one deals with the seduction of being imprisoned and how freedom opens us to meaningless pain.
Crossings is a multidisciplinary collaboration between artists from Singapore and Croatia investigating the coexistence, understanding and mixing of different cultures.
The collective comprises:
Sharda Harrison [Performer]
Bani Haykal [Sound Artist]
Vincent Lim [Set Designer]
Edvin Liveric [Performer]
Loo Zihan [Multimedia Artist]
Josip Marsic [Composer]
Haresh Sharma [Script Editor]
Najib Soiman [Performer]
Alvin Tan [Director]
Zac Valenta [Performer]
The play will be performed in multiple languages, with English surtitles. Suitable for patrons aged 15 years and above.
Crossings will premiere at Esplanade?s The Studios Season from 16 ? 19 August before touring to the National Theatre of Rijeka [Croatia] from 19 ? 20 September 2012.
There will be a post-show discussion with the artists for 17 & 18 Aug, Fri & Sat, 8pm performance.
Crossings is presented by The Necessary Stage and TRAFIK in collaboration with Esplanade ? Theatres on the Bay as part of The Studios.
16-18 Aug, Thu-Sat, 8pm
18-19 Aug, Sat-Sun, 3pm
Esplanade Theatre Studio
(1hr 10 mins, no intermission)
Tickets: $25
Concessions for students: $10
Concessions for NSF and senior citizens: $16
Sharda Harrison on her role
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Source: http://thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/crossings-into-cross-cultural-cross-dressing/
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Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Belarus shot putter stripped of Olympic gold
LONDON (AP) ? Shot putter Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus became the first athlete to be stripped of a medal at the London Olympics after her gold was withdrawn Monday for doping.
Valerie Adams of New Zealand was awarded the gold and Evgeniia Kolodko of Russia was bumped up to silver. Fourth-place finisher Gong Lijiao of China was moved up to bronze.
The International Olympic Committee said Ostapchuk tested positive for the steroid metenolone. She won the shot put exactly a week earlier. The IOC said she was tested the day before her competition and again following the event. Both samples were positive.
"The (Olympic committee) of Belarus is ordered to return to the IOC, as soon as possible, the medal, diploma and medallist pin awarded to the athlete in relation to the above-noted event," the IOC said in a statement.
The announcement came hours after the flame was extinguished at the closing ceremony with athletes and officials heading out of London. A day earlier, IOC President Jacques Rogge had proclaimed the fight against doping a success.
The Belarus team had already sent home hammer thrower Ivan Tsikhan because of suspicions over a sample provided after his silver-medal performance at the 2004 Athens Games.
Besides Ostapchuk, only one athlete tested positive for a banned substance after competing. U.S. judo fighter Nick Delpopolo was cited for traces of marijuana in his urine sample.
He blamed "inadvertent consumption" of food baked with the substance. The IOC disqualified him from seventh place in the 73-kilogram class.
Seven more were caught in doping controls conducted since the official testing period for the games began July 16. One of the seven competed in London before her test result was known.
"I think that is a sign that the system works," Rogge said Sunday. "I am happy about the fact that we could catch athletes who cheated, both before the games and at the games."
The IOC had said this would be its most extensive Olympic anti-doping program. It took almost 6,000 urine and blood samples, including no-notice tests ahead of athletes competing.
Rogge cautioned that some samples are still being analyzed and "we might hear something tomorrow or the day after. Hopefully not, but you never know."
Syrian runner Ghfran Almouhamad tested positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine two days before her 400-meter hurdles heat. She placed eighth and was eliminated before the IOC disqualified her.
Until this latest turn of events, the London Games were set to end with medal standings in all 302 events unaltered by doping scandals.
Three Beijing events were tainted during the games, and two more medals were changed months later when a new test for the blood-booster CERA was introduced. The signature men's 1,500-meter gold medal was stripped from Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain.
Rogge reminded that the IOC will store all samples from London and can reanalyze them, revise results and reallocate medals until the statute of limitations expires in August 2020.
"When there is no new tests, we wait until the last moment; if there is a breakthrough new test, we'll test immediately," he said.
Indeed, the next Olympic doping scandal could be from the 2004 Athens Games instead. Next week the IOC could announce up to five new disciplinary cases based on retested samples.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/belarus-shot-putter-stripped-olympic-gold-105642575--oly.html
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HTC Rezound getting another update
There's another OTA package for the HTC Rezound out in the wilds of the Internet, and quite frankly nobody knows what's going on with it. We (and likely everyone else) have reached out to Verizon, who hasn't yet responded with news of anything new, so we have to roll with Internet wisdom on this one. Scary, I know.
We do know that the update has a new radio, new recovery, new kernel, and updates in the firmware itself. What we don't know is what the update brings new to the table, or what it might have fixed. Some users are less-than-happy with the ICS update from earlier in the month, so there very well could be some bug and stability fixes. There's also the global roaming capability that Verizon has promised for this summer, so maybe it's there along with the new radios -- there is a setting in the options for Preferred Network to be Global now.
We won't know for sure until Verizon posts the changes, or enough people get the update to verify the suspicions. That's where you come in -- if you've received the OTA (or flashed it manually via directions at XDA), sing out in the Rezound forums. Help get this one figured out!
Source: XDA-Developers; via Android Central forums
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/akuRCQP0nNo/story01.htm
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Monday, August 13, 2012
cupcake recipes | We sight trends!
About Us|Newsletter August 12, 2012 Follow us on: Home SlideshowPictures ImageCollection Quizzes Diseases & Conditions Symptom Checker Health & Living Medications MedTerms Dictionary Pet Health Slideshow Pictures All Slideshows Newest Slideshows Pet Health Slideshows Featured Slideshow Sexual Health Surprising Health Benefits of Sex View Slideshow?? Image Collection (categories) Allergic Skin Disorders Bacterial Skin Diseases Bites and Infestations Diseases of Pigment Fungal Skin Disease Medical Anatomy and Illustrations Noncancerous, Precancerous & Cancerous Tumors Oral Health Conditions Papules, Scales, Plaques and Eruptions Scalp, Hair and Nails Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Vascular, Lymphatic and Systemic Conditions Viral Skin Disease Additional Skin Conditions Featured Image Picture of Psoriasis A reddish, scaly rash often located over the surfaces of the elbows, knees, scalp, and around or in the ears, navel, genitals or buttocks? View Image Gallery?? 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Medications Supplements and Vitamins home > health & living center > exercise & fitness a-z list > exercise index > exercise article ArticleRelated DiseasesImages & Quizzes smallermediumlarger 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next Exercise & Fitness Tips Exercise and Fitness Tips to Improve Your Health 7 Most Effective Exercises Pictures Take the Exercise and Fitness Quiz! How to Build a Better Butt Slideshow Get answers to your questions about exercise, and tips for getting the most from your workouts. By Richard Weil, MEd, CDE WebMD cupcake recipes Loss Clinic Exercise Physiologist Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Why Use the Body Mass Index (BMI)? Aerobic Exercise and Muscle Gains from cupcake recipeslifting? Should I Hold Off on cupcake recipes Training Until I Lose cupcake recipes? How Much Exercise Should I Do? I Don?t Have Time to Exercise. I Hate Exercise. Where Do I Start if I Have Never Exercised? What Should My Heart Rate be During Exercise? My cupcake recipes Has Hit a Plateau. What Do I Do? What?s the Bottom Line to cupcake recipes Loss? What if I Have a Medical Condition? What is Interval Training? Fat-Burning Mode vs. Cardio Mode at the Gym? What is Basal Metabolic Rate? Are you getting started with an exercise program? Hoping to improve your existing routines or find new workout options? Did you know that a complete plan consists of three basic elements: aerobic fitness, muscle strength/endurance and flexibility? How do you assess your current fitness level before you begin? How do you know how much exercise you should do, or whether you should see a doctor before you start? Our Healthy Living channel provides in-depth answers to these questions, along with guidelines to help you develop a fitness program that?s right for you. With these exercise and fitness tips, you can learn to gauge how hard and how often you should exercise, and get yourself started on the road to better fitness today. High Blood Pressure and Exercise Medical Author: Dwight Makoff, MDand Melissa Conrad St?ppler, MD Medical Editor: Leslie J. Schoenfield, MD, PhD A sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factorfor heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease. For example, people who are less active and less physically fit have a 30%-50% greater frequency (incidence) of hypertension (high blood pressure) than their more active peers. Furthermore, clinical trialshave shown that physical activity may reduce blood pressure in hypertensiveand normotensive(having normal blood pressure) individuals, independent of changes in weight. Medications have proven to be effective in lowering blood pressure and protecting against the risk of cardiovascular and kidney(renal) diseases. However, because of the side effectsand cost of medications, many individuals would prefer to undertake lifestyle modifications to help improve blood pressure as a first-line treatment. In numerous clinical studies, it has been well documented that aerobic exerciseis a suitable treatment and can even play a roll in the prevention of hypertension. (Aerobic exercise is vigorous and sustained exercise, such as jogging, swimming, and cycling.) Even without changes in body weight, those individuals who participate in aerobic exercise regularly tend to have reductions in resting blood pressure. The blood-pressure reduction does not seem to depend on the frequency or intensity of aerobic exercise or on the type of exercise. That is, the studies have indicated that all forms of exercise seem to be effective in reducing blood pressure. Aerobic exercise appears to have a slightly greater effect on blood pressure in hypertensive individuals than in individuals without hypertension. Read more about the benefits of exercise ? Q. Why do you use the BMI, and is it useful for weight lifters? The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple way for men and women to estimate body fat based on their height and weight. From the BMI, it is possible to determine your healthy weight range. One of the limitations of BMI is that it can overpredict overweight or obesity in people who are lean and muscular. For instance, someone who is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds, with 12% body fat, would be considered obese based on BMI standards. Obviously, someone with 12% body fat is not obese. The scientists who developed the BMI guidelines readily admit to this limitation. But their rationale is that most Americans are not lean and muscular and so for most people, the BMI is an accurate assessment of body fat and increased health risk. It is important to know that people who are classified as overweight or obese can still be healthy as long as they are fit. In one well-known study, fit people with BMIs that classified them as overweight or obese were healthier and lived longer than unfit people who were at normal weight. The BMI, for the majority of Americans, is the most up-to-date and scientifically sound method available for determining healthy weight. Q. Does aerobic exercise interfere with muscle gains from weightlifting? If you?re training for an endurance event like a marathon, when you might run 60 miles or more per week, you?ll almost always see a decrease in your muscle mass. For most of us, who do more moderate amounts of physical activity, there will be minimal, if any, loss in muscle mass ? so there?s nothing to worry about. If you do plan on lots of aerobic exercise and are concerned about losing muscle, try starting with 20-30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise (at 50% to 70% of your maximum heart rate) two to three days per week, and see how it goes. 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Source: http://www.sighttrends.com/2012/08/12/cupcake-recipes/
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Have you been struggling to Lose weight Fast? Have you been frustrated your efforts to lose weight permanently and naturally? There are easy weight loss approaches to burn fat fast and the Secrets to lose weight fast will be made known to you today.
You will find the secrets to lose weight fast hidden in a simple mathematical formula: Burn more calories than you eat. That means you should be able to create a calorie deficit of 500 calories per day through a combination of eating fewer calories and increasing physical activity. In 7 days, you would have created a calorie deficit of 3,500 calories which is equivalent to a fat loss of about 1-2 pounds of fat.
According to this formula, if you want to lose weight faster, you must eat less and exercise more. You can burn 1,050 to 1,200 calories with one hour of exercise per day and be able to lose 3 -5 pounds the first week.
If you follow this plan and with the right food you can lose 2 pounds from eating the right food and 1 pound from exercise each week, and even more if you have more fat to lose, because the more fat you have to lose, the faster it will burn off. To even fasten it further, you have to reduce salt and starch consumption.
You should go on a diet that minimizes carbohydrates, healthy whole grains should be reduced, eliminate animal fats and diary foods.
You should eat mainly fruits, veggies, egg whites, soy products, sea fish, skinless poultry breasts, shellfish, nonfat dairy foods, and 95% lean meat.
Learn to drink plenty of water, eat plenty of protein foods and closely monitoring your food intake.
In summary,
o Eat plenty of low-calorie vegetables to help you feel full. o Stay away from any tempting food o Drink plenty of water so you do not confuse hunger with thirst. o Do minor household chores to keep you busy and sweating. o Eat only from a small plate while seated. o Eat small meals up to 6 times daily and do not skip breakfast.
Do about 7 hours or more per week of cardio exercise. Cardio will help to burn more calories, so it is ideal for fast weight loss, but afterwards you need to include a few hours a week of strength training. To burn the more fat, try to break a sweat after your warm-up and keep sweating for the entire hour.
Do a morning and evening workout, and if you do not have time to do two a day, increase the intensity of your current workout.
Easy weight loss. The secret to lose weight fast is not in any fad diets or diet pills. Stay away from them and live the healthy life you desire free from diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, etc.
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Sunday, August 12, 2012
Despite rocky region, Israeli tourism booming
In this picture taken on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012 , people enjoy the Mediterranean Sea in Tel Aviv, Israel. Israel is facing a possible showdown with Iran over its suspect nuclear program, worrying about neighboring Syria's bloody civil war spilling across the border and dealing with armed militants trying to infiltrate from Egypt's lawless Sinai Peninsula. But that doesn't seem to be deterring hundreds of thousands of tourists from flocking to Israel each month. Despite the region's turmoil, Israel is enjoying an unexpected tourism boom, and 2012 is shaping up to be a record year. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
In this picture taken on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012 , people enjoy the Mediterranean Sea in Tel Aviv, Israel. Israel is facing a possible showdown with Iran over its suspect nuclear program, worrying about neighboring Syria's bloody civil war spilling across the border and dealing with armed militants trying to infiltrate from Egypt's lawless Sinai Peninsula. But that doesn't seem to be deterring hundreds of thousands of tourists from flocking to Israel each month. Despite the region's turmoil, Israel is enjoying an unexpected tourism boom, and 2012 is shaping up to be a record year. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
In this picture taken on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012 , a woman pose for a photograph in a spot overlooking the Mediterranean from Jaffa , a mixed Jewish and Arab part of Tel Aviv, Israel. Israel is facing a possible showdown with Iran over its suspect nuclear program, worrying about neighboring Syria's bloody civil war spilling across the border and dealing with armed militants trying to infiltrate from Egypt's lawless Sinai Peninsula. But that doesn't seem to be deterring hundreds of thousands of tourists from flocking to Israel each month. Despite the region's turmoil, Israel is enjoying an unexpected tourism boom, and 2012 is shaping up to be a record year. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
In this picture taken on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012 , tourists from Portugal listen to their guide in Jaffa , a mixed Jewish and Arab part of Tel Aviv, Israel. Israel is facing a possible showdown with Iran over its suspect nuclear program, worrying about neighboring Syria's bloody civil war spilling across the border and dealing with armed militants trying to infiltrate from Egypt's lawless Sinai Peninsula. But that doesn't seem to be deterring hundreds of thousands of tourists from flocking to Israel each month. Despite the region's turmoil, Israel is enjoying an unexpected tourism boom, and 2012 is shaping up to be a record year. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
In this picture taken on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012 , Christian pilgrims from India attend a mass the St. Peter's church in Jaffa , a mixed Jewish and Arab part of Tel Aviv, Israel. Israel is facing a possible showdown with Iran over its suspect nuclear program, worrying about neighboring Syria's bloody civil war spilling across the border and dealing with armed militants trying to infiltrate from Egypt's lawless Sinai Peninsula. But that doesn't seem to be deterring hundreds of thousands of tourists from flocking to Israel each month. Despite the region's turmoil, Israel is enjoying an unexpected tourism boom, and 2012 is shaping up to be a record year. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
JERUSALEM (AP) ? It's priming for a risky showdown with Iran over its suspected nuclear program, concerned about neighboring Syria's bloody civil war spilling across the border and dealing with terrorists attempting to infiltrate from Egypt's lawless Sinai Peninsula.
But that doesn't seem to be deterring hundreds of thousands of tourists from flocking to Israel each month. Despite the region's turmoil, Israel is enjoying an unexpected tourism boom, and 2012 is shaping up to be a record year.
Nearly 300,000 tourists arrived in July, a record for the month and an 8 percent increase over the previous July, according to the Tourism Ministry. The trend is nothing new: The ministry says each month of 2012 so far has set an all-time record for that month.
"It's a period where, on the face of it, we should be struggling with an economic downturn and the Arab Spring around us," said Uri Steinberg, head of the America department at the Tourism Ministry, "but it hasn't worked out that way."
He said Israel initially hoped that tourists fearful of traveling to Egypt would choose Israel instead. But more often than not, he said, tourists planned Israel-Egypt combo tours and then put off the whole trip because of the unrest in Egypt.
Israel has more than made up the difference with American and eastern European travelers, who are arriving to the Holy Land in record numbers.
Just a decade ago, Israel was overwhelmed with suicide bombings and shooting attacks on buses and restaurants that killed more than 1,000 Israelis and devastated incoming tourism. With the recent years of calm, a post-9/11 sense that Israel is no longer disproportionately dangerous and an aggressive worldwide campaign to promote Israeli tourism, the tables have turned.
Steinberg said Israel has also become a destination for specialized tourism. These include Jewish and Christian faith-based travelers to the Holy Land, bird watchers, opera fans and marathon buffs.
Gay travel has also provided a boost. Tel Aviv was recently crowned by readers of the travel website GayCities and American Airlines customers as "Best Gay City of 2011," ahead of New York, Toronto and London.
Young American Jews taking part in organized trips, such as Birthright Israel, are increasingly spreading the word back home to older, wealthier relatives.
"Faith-based travel, though, is our bread and butter," said Steinberg. "There are 85 million Americans who identify as Evangelical, and they all want to visit."
The numbers point to an economic rebound in the United States, he said.
Nearly 70,000 July tourists were from the United States, a nine percent increase over the previous July.
The second largest source, with just under 30,000, was Russia. In the past two years, Israel dropped its visa requirements for tourists from Russia and Ukraine. In the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, dozens of large billboards promoting Israel as a tourist destination can be seen flanking downtown streets.
Naturally, the holy city of Jerusalem is a top draw, attracting 80 percent of all those who visit Israel, according to the Tourism Ministry.
Not everything is rosy, though. Tourism operators complain of a severe shortage of hotel rooms and affordable accommodations. In Jerusalem, for instance, rates in upscale hotels start at $450 a night, and quality budget rooming options are limited.
Mark Feldman, CEO of ZionTours, the largest American-owned travel agency in Israel, said Israel caters to high-end visitors and modest pilgrims but offers little in between.
"Tourists are being overcharged for hotel accommodation," he said. "I'd say Israel is a happening place to get away to. I wouldn't market it as good value for your money, though."
The fear of violence is never too far away either.
"The biggest concern here is whether Israel is going to go to war with Iran, but that is the only concern by and large," Feldman said.
The Tourism Ministry says it has no control over that. But in a partial attempt to rectify the price of travel, on Thursday it announced a $20 million investment to renovate and expand six hotels across the country. The initiative will add 146 hotel rooms.
The ministry said projects approved in 2012 are expected to add 1,123 hotel rooms overall, with $190 million in investments.
"Increasing the number of hotels promotes competition and reduces the cost of vacation packages for many Israelis and foreign tourists whose numbers are increasing and therefore we need to make the necessary preparations in order to accommodate them," Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov said in a statement.
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Saturday, August 11, 2012
Steel mill polluted town as Romney firm profited
Paul Skoko stands outside his rust-stained house in Georgetown, S.C., in this photograph taken on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. He was one of a group of local residents who brought a pollution suit against GS Industries, operator of a nearby steel mill, back in 1998 when the company was owned by the company Mitt Romney co-founded, Bain Capital. (AP Photo/Bruce Smith).
Paul Skoko stands outside his rust-stained house in Georgetown, S.C., in this photograph taken on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. He was one of a group of local residents who brought a pollution suit against GS Industries, operator of a nearby steel mill, back in 1998 when the company was owned by the company Mitt Romney co-founded, Bain Capital. (AP Photo/Bruce Smith).
The steel mill in Georgetown, S.C., is seen in this photograph taken on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. Local residents brought a pollution suit against GS Industries, then operator of the milll, back in 1998 when the company was owned by the company Mitt Romney co-founded, Bain Capital. (AP Photo/Bruce Smith).
Paul Skoko stands outside his rust-stained house in Georgetown, S.C., in this photograph taken on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. He was one of a group of local residents who brought a pollution suit against GS Industries, operator of a nearby steel mill, back in 1998 when the company was owned by the company Mitt Romney co-founded, Bain Capital. (AP Photo/Bruce Smith).
GEORGETOWN, S.C. (AP) ? The rusty stains on Shirley Carter's home are a permanent reminder of her fight with the local steel mill, just down U.S. Highway 17 near the boat docks. No matter how many cans of industrial-strength acid she went through, the red tint on her property never seemed to go away.
In 1998, Carter and her neighbors sued Georgetown Steel, then owned by the company Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney co-founded, Bain Capital. They sought millions in cleanup costs and accused the mill's owners of leaving their historic Southern neighborhood looking like it had been hit by a "chemical bomb."
State officials determined the mill was largely to blame for the pollution. As the lawsuit dragged on for years, the steel mill filed for bankruptcy and the plant ultimately settled with the residents.
In the end, Bain walked away with more than $30 million in profits. Carter got $800.
"That wasn't even enough to paint the house," said Carter, who is a Romney supporter this election.
As a presidential candidate, Romney has pledged to roll back environmental regulations as a way to spur growth. Under President Barack Obama, he recently quipped, "a regulator would have shut down the Wright Brothers for their 'dust pollution.'"
But the story of Georgetown Steel shows how Romney's company thrived under conditions that largely allowed the emissions to continue for years, leaving locals to clean up the mess after Bain left town.
Asked to comment on the Bain legacy in Georgetown, the Romney campaign instead criticized Obama on unemployment and green energy projects. A Bain spokeswoman did not directly address the impact of the plant's emissions but instead said the firm "undertook an ambitious plan" to turn around GS Industries and invested millions of dollars into the company.
The Georgetown saga surfaced in the mid-1990s, when South Carolina environmental officials received complaints from a local resident asking why his boat kept turning red-orange. The phenomenon was more than a nuisance, like ash from a fire, as dust aggressively stained not only nearby boats but cars and homes as well.
The Georgetown residents' complaints came a few years after Bain Capital purchased the Georgetown mill and its sister plant in Kansas City, Mo., as part of a $24.5 million buyout deal. The parent company was later called GS Industries and became one of the largest producers of wire rods.
Bain Capital, a private-equity firm Romney co-founded in 1984, had an impressive track record by then. It would eventually buy dozens of troubled companies and help make them profitable, a skill Romney has trumpeted on the campaign trail as making him more suited to lead the country than Obama.
But amid Bain's profitable ownership of GS Industries, the plant's production had created unsightly byproducts. By the late 1990s, the red dust was so was so ubiquitous that those who lived in rustic, two-story homes near Georgetown's waterfront took to calling it "The Stuff" ? a mineral called goethite that's used to make steel.
"Everybody talked about the red dust, The Stuff," said Marilyn Burkhardt, who owned a seven-room bed and breakfast with her husband before leaving town in 2000.
"My husband scrubbed the house probably every other week with a pressure hose," Burkhardt said. It was often difficult for guests to eat breakfast on the deck. "We had to work like crazy. And for what? Just to keep the outsides of our houses clean."
South Carolina regulators placed monitoring sensors around town and compared air-quality results with similar sites in the state capital, Columbia, and in Alabama. In turn, officials wanted to see improvements at the mill and at times cited the plant during Bain's ownership for environmental violations, records show.
They also asked that the mill's emissions "be minimized" and that management review its steel-making process to reduce staining. Indeed, the plant paved its dirt roadways, installed a truck wash and sealed gaps in its buildings to prevent The Stuff from leaking out.
The state report, made available to The Associated Press through a public-records request, said the mill was largely responsible for goethite emissions. Yet the staining continued.
So Georgetown neighbors took the mill to court, with the case growing into a class-action lawsuit covering those who lived within a few miles of the steel mill. At one point, the plaintiffs sought millions of dollars in at least three civil cases, civil filings show.
The federal government has declared goethite a hazardous substance for workers exposed to large quantities each day. It's generally not toxic like arsenic and it doesn't cause cancer like benzene, two pollutants that are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
In 1999, just as the mill's lawyers asked a local judge to force the plaintiffs to turn over more documents, Romney announced he was leaving Bain to organize the Salt Lake City Olympics. Romney's federal presidential financial disclosures report that he had no active role in Bain after 1999. Several Romney associates recently told the AP that Romney made no managerial decisions after that date, but they also said he kept his formal CEO position and continued to meet with Bain partners. And an AP analysis of regulatory documents between 1999 and 2001 also showed Romney kept up an active role in overseeing Bain-related investments.
Romney stood to benefit financially from his company's investments. And his departure from Bain also came as the balance sheets at GS Industries began to look bleak. Despite Bain's reputation for turning around troubled companies like Staples and Domino's Pizza, the Georgetown plant was in trouble.
In February 2001, the company filed for bankruptcy protection with more than $500 million in debt. Romney has blamed cheap steel from China for the plant's demise, telling Fox News in December that he remembered a few dozen steel mills also foundered.
But as soon as the bankruptcy documents were filed, company lawyers told the Georgetown neighbors that the settlement was on hold. To see any money, they'd have to get in line behind everyone else ? including Bain, with its majority ownership share. The steel mill offered to settle the case for $870,000.
By September 2003, as GS Industries was emerging from bankruptcy and after Bain sold the company, a local judge ordered that Georgetown homeowners in the lawsuit receive their money. After attorney's fees, that came to about $113,000, split dozens of ways.
And it certainly wasn't enough to repair the damage, some residents said.
"I had the house cleaned and pressure-washed all the time," said Paul Skoko, who was among those who sued. "Within two years, it needed to be done again. That's when I said, 'That's it. I'm not doing this anymore. It simply costs too much."
Skoko opted to let his house turn a hue of burnt orange-red.
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Online:
Links to documents at http://apne.ws/NRjdLb
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Contact the Washington investigative team at DCInvestigations(at)ap.org
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Dwight Howard to Lakers in 4-team, 12-player deal
FILE - This Jan. 31, 2011 file photo shows Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard, center, dunking over Memphis Grizzlies teammates Darrell Arthur, left, and Rudy Gay, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tenn. Howard's departure from Orlando is nearly complete. The All-Star center could be a member of the Los Angeles Lakers as soon as Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, pending NBA approval of a four-team, eight-player trade also involving Denver and Philadelphia. (AP Photo/ Mark Weber, File)
FILE - This Jan. 31, 2011 file photo shows Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard, center, dunking over Memphis Grizzlies teammates Darrell Arthur, left, and Rudy Gay, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tenn. Howard's departure from Orlando is nearly complete. The All-Star center could be a member of the Los Angeles Lakers as soon as Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, pending NBA approval of a four-team, eight-player trade also involving Denver and Philadelphia. (AP Photo/ Mark Weber, File)
FILE - This April 18, 2011 file photo shows Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard is shown during a news conference, with his three NBA defensive player of the year awards, after he was presented with the 2010-11 award in Orlando, Fla. Howard's departure from Orlando is nearly complete. The All-Star center could be a member of the Los Angeles Lakers as soon as Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, pending NBA approval of a four-team, eight-player trade also involving Denver and Philadelphia. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
FILE - This Dec. 11, 2011 file photo shows Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum during the Lakers' media day in El Segundo, Calif. Dwight Howard could be a member of the Los Angeles Lakers as soon as Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, pending NBA approval of a four-team, eight-player trade also involving Denver and Philadelphia. Philadelphia would get All-Star center Andrew Bynum from Los Angeles and Jason Richardson from Orlando, while Denver would get 76ers All-Star Andre Iguodala. Orlando would receive Arron Afflalo and Al Harrington from Denver, Nikola Vucevic and Moe Harkless from Philadelphia, and lottery protected first-round picks from each of the three teams. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo, File)
FILE - This Dec. 14, 2011 file photo shows Philadelphia 76ers' Andre Iguodala posed during the teams media day in Philadelphia. Dwight Howard could be a member of the Los Angeles Lakers as soon as Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, pending NBA approval of a four-team, eight-player trade also involving Denver and Philadelphia. Philadelphia would get All-Star center Andrew Bynum from Los Angeles and Jason Richardson from Orlando, while Denver would get 76ers All-Star Andre Iguodala. Orlando would receive Arron Afflalo and Al Harrington from Denver, Nikola Vucevic and Moe Harkless from Philadelphia, and lottery protected first-round picks from each of the three teams. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek, File)
FILE - This Dec. 15, 2011 file photo shows Denver Nuggets' Al Harrington during media day in Denver, Dec. 15, 2011. Dwight Howard could be a member of the Los Angeles Lakers as soon as Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, pending NBA approval of a four-team, eight-player trade also involving Denver and Philadelphia. Philadelphia would get All-Star center Andrew Bynum from Los Angeles and Jason Richardson from Orlando, while Denver would get 76ers All-Star Andre Iguodala. Orlando would receive Arron Afflalo and Al Harrington from Denver, Nikola Vucevic and Moe Harkless from Philadelphia, and lottery protected first-round picks from each of the three teams. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File))
LONDON (AP) ? Dwight Howard got his wish: He's out of Orlando.
The All-Star center was traded Friday to the Los Angeles Lakers, the last act of his long, drawn-out departure from the Magic. It took four teams, 12 players, five draft picks and countless rounds of talks with different clubs to get done, but it finally was completed Friday after the NBA reviewed and approved the deal.
So after an offseason where the Magic fired coach Stan Van Gundy and general manager Otis Smith, now they're truly beginning anew. Howard is gone as well, the second time the franchise has lost a big-man star to the Lakers.
In 1996, the Magic watched Shaquille O'Neal sign as a free agent with the Lakers. At least this time, when they lost someone with the "Superman" nickname, they got something back.
"Well, it looks like Superman has found a home," Lakers guard Kobe Bryant wrote on his Facebook page.
A lot of players found new homes, including Andrew Bynum, sent by the Lakers to the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers sent Andre Iguodala ? part of the U.S. Olympic team, set to play a semifinal game at the London Games on Friday ? to the Denver Nuggets.
"I know my best basketball is ahead of me," Iguodala wrote on Twitter.
Orlando got guard Arron Afflalo and forward Al Harrington from Denver, forward Moe Harkless and center Nikola Vucevic from Philadelphia, and forward Josh McRoberts and guard Christian Eyenga from the Lakers. The Lakers got Howard, guard Chris Duhon and forward Earl Clark from Orlando. The Magic also traded guard Jason Richardson to Philadelphia.
Orlando also gets five draft picks over five years.
"A primary goal for our basketball team is to achieve sustainability while maintaining a long-term vision. We feel this deal puts us in a position to begin building in that direction," Magic general manager Rob Hennigan said. "In addition to the six players joining our team, we will be in a position to maximize our salary cap flexibility in the near future, as well as utilize the multiple draft picks we have acquired going forward."
The Lakers pulled off the deal and somehow kept Pau Gasol in the process ? something many didn't expect when the Lakers first started getting mentioned in the Howard trade mix.
The trade was announced during the Spain-Russia semifinal matchup at the Olympics. Gasol scored 16 points, helping the Spanish team reach the gold medal game with a 67-59 win.
Afterward, that was secondary. He was still with the Lakers, and now has the game's most dominant big man alongside him.
"That's big news," Gasol said. "Huge. I've been involved in so many talks and so many rumors. I feel relieved. I'm anxious and excited to be back with our team."
The Magic said they were also getting a second-round draft pick from Denver next year, a first-round pick from either Denver or New York in 2014, a conditional first-round pick from Philadelphia and a conditional second-round pick from the Lakers in 2015, and a conditional first-round pick from the Lakers in 2017.
Howard averaged 20.6 points and 14.5 rebounds in 54 regular-season games for Orlando last season. In eight seasons with the Magic, he averaged 18.4 points and 13.0 rebounds.
And he would figure to make the Lakers even more of a title contender.
The Western Conference is loaded ? Oklahoma City is young, talented and likely to be driven after losing the NBA Finals to the Miami Heat, San Antonio was spectacular last season, the Los Angeles Clippers are rising, and the Nuggets could be much better with Iguodala.
But the Lakers have clearly loaded up to make a run at what would be Bryant's sixth title next season. Steve Nash was added from Phoenix to run the offense, and now they've got Howard to occupy the low post.
"Unreal!" Bryant wrote.
The Nuggets believe Iguodala is a good fit.
"It's not often you get the opportunity to improve your team by adding an All-Star player like Andre Iguodala," Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri said. "He's an Olympian, a great defender and a great all-around player."
Howard entered last season as the subject of trade rumors, especially since he could have opted out of his deal at season's end and become a free agent. He decided that he would not exercise that option, then found himself in another firestorm in April when Van Gundy said Howard wanted him fired.
Howard denied it. Ultimately, it didn't matter. Van Gundy's gone, Smith is gone, and now so is Howard.
He went to Los Angeles for back surgery in April, when it was announced that he would miss both the rest of the Orlando season and the London Olympics.
Maybe it was fitting that the surgery was in Los Angeles.
It's been Howard's home base ever since, and now it's where he'll work.
"We'd like to thank Andrew for all he's done for the team and the organization," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "Andrew has been with us since we drafted him at 17 years old and over the last seven years we have watched him develop into an All-Star player who has helped the team win two NBA championships. He's a special talent with a bright future."
Howard had asked for a trade to Brooklyn. Despite several scenarios being discussed, Orlando failed to work out a deal with the Nets, but remained determined to move their disgruntled big man.
"I wish nothing but the best for Big Bynum," Bryant wrote. "I hope he follows what was a great season last year with an even better one next year. I know LA is excited about the deal and rightfully so. The Lakers landed a piece that will hopefully carry the franchise long after I'm gone. I have spoken to Dwight Howard already and we are locked and loaded to bring back the title."
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AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney contributed.
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Thursday, August 9, 2012
Redecorating Ideas We All Need To Understand | Contacts ...
Given the unstable condition of real estate market, creating home improvements signifies a fantastic option for many homeowners. Here are some ideas that you might like to employ in relation to beginning a significant remodeling project. The better you already know, the greater the decisions you possibly can make.
When planning a landscaping design undertaking, you must consider the fashion of your residence into mind. When you put in a garden or patio area it will appear like the rest of your house, it will be far better to look at rather than be described as a conflicting style.
Think about setting up a shower when your home doesn?t have a single. This will likely decrease how much h2o you utilize, particularly when you can find youngsters inside your family members, and showers tend to be more accessible than tubs. A bath that can take 5 minutes uses just one single-fourth water of a whole bath tub.
One particular home improvement that may be frequently overlooked is gutter and chimney upkeep. It is critical to examine these products routinely to view if you want to make fixes. Chimneys are very likely to fires if they are not washed at typical durations. Similarly, particles often clogs rain gutters and downspouts, which might cause water damage when it is not taken care of frequently.
If you are start a remodelling with your bathroom or kitchen, be sure to shut off this type of water provide to people bedrooms before commencing focus on any plumbing related or fixtures. There are actually very homeowners out there that have had to cope with expensive, disastrous floods simply because they neglected this relatively commonsense preventative measure.
Loss of normal water pressure may well effectively be simple to identify. Very first, ask your friends to ascertain if they may be experiencing the identical matter. In the event the neighborhood friends have no issues, then it is most likely interior to the house. Examine every single faucet?s drinking water stress to determine if the entire home is impacted. Sometimes, it might be simple things like an aerator that will require adjusting. If it?s a far more serious issue, you may need to phone a local plumber.
You possibly can make a big difference in the appearance of your door with a little color as well as a great thoroughly clean pleasant mat. The entry is definitely the very first impression that friends get of your property. Putting a nice herb and eye-catching pleasant pad from the door give visitors a positive first effect.
Make a written deal that has your financial budget within it and just how your cash will be spent. An effective deal needs to be very distinct about relation to transaction, along with the time period when the operate should certainly be completed.
Make certain any licensed contractor you are looking for is correctly insured. When they do harm to your house and do not have any insurance policy, you could need to have a the courtroom hearing simply to get money in relation to the maintenance. The best way to make sure that should your licensed contractor is correctly covered with insurance is to request his resistant.
Cupboards do not need to become replaced to give a cooking area a fresh, fresh look. Only a layer of fresh paint can make issues seem a whole lot diverse. Introducing a new finish off to the units is increasingly simple and there are plenty of to choose from. Go on a Build-it-yourself strategy and use the web to assist you to find the right tactics to avoid wasting funds.
Are there many drafts about your property? There are new items on the market that utilize atmosphere as heat retaining material. You study that correct?oxygen! Think of the oxygen in bubble wrap to have an idea of how it operates. The plastic pillows are pumped with oxygen, and the ones soft cushions get included in wall space and ceilings. It is an inexpensive method to re-protect your drafty residence.
When selecting contractors to perform any job at home, remember to keep correct and thorough data. In no way depend on your licensed contractor to accomplish this. Have a directory with all contracts and statements connected to the project you are doing. This enables the licensed contractor to pay attention to completing the process.
Home improvement jobs do not have to get hard. Now you hold the ideas and knowledge using this write-up, you have to be more confident within your expertise to produce a variation in your house. Now you have an excellent foundation of knowledge to contemplate ? equipped with this data, you will be now all set to begin on a program.
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Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Facebook launches real-money gambling in Britain
Facebook will allow users in Britain to wager real money on its service, opening its doors to gambling for the first time as revenue growth slows at the world's No. 1 social network.
On Tuesday, Gamesys, an independent gaming company, launched a version of online Bingo for Facebook users in Britain who are at least 18, and which the company said will pay winners real money. Gamesys also announced plans to offer virtual slots gambling on Facebook.
Facebook confirmed that it is partnering with Gamesys to allow gambling on its service.
"Real money gaming is a popular and well-regulated activity in the UK and we are allowing a partner to offer their games to adult users on the Facebook platform in a safe and controlled manner," Facebook said in a statement.
Facebook spokeswoman Linda Griffin said there are no current plans to offer gambling in any other countries or with any other partners besides Gamesys.
She declined to disclose what portion of the revenue Facebook would take from the gambling on the Gamesys games, but acknowledged that there was a revenue-sharing agreement between Facebook and Gamesys.
Facebook takes a 30 percent share of revenue for transactions on non-gambling games on its service, such as when users purchase virtual tractors and seeds in Zynga's popular Farmville game.
Facebook, which makes the majority of its money from online advertising, has seen its revenue growth slow sharply during the past year. In the second quarter, Facebook reported revenue growth of 32 percent, down sharply from more than 100 percent growth it delivered at the same time last year.
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Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48554443/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/
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U.S. children's cholesterol levels down significantly
Against the drumbeat of bad news on obesity and diabetes among children, researchers have uncovered a cause for cautious optimism: a steady and significant improvement in the cholesterol profiles of American kids over the last 20 years.
The proportion of young people ages 6 to 19 with high total cholesterol dropped 28% between the two time periods sampled in the report, from 11.3% in 1988-94 down to 8.1% in 2007-10, the new study found.
At the same time, the average American teen's levels of "good" HDL cholesterol, "bad" LDL cholesterol and triglycerides ? dangerous fats that circulate in the bloodstream and slowly clog arteries ? improved too.
Scientists said they weren't sure what had led to the encouraging changes reported Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Assn.Use of cholesterol-lowering drugs remains rare among children, they noted. Their best guess is that some environmental factor ? perhaps lifestyle changes ? may be driving down cholesterol, and several surmised that the improvements were rooted in reduced rates of smoking and the success of campaigns to lower fat and cholesterol in the diet.
The findings "cannot be interpreted as anything but good news," said Dr. Rae-Ellen Kavey, a specialist in children and cholesterol at the University of Rochester in New York. Kavey acknowledged that she found some of the changes inexplicable, but said she did not question their significance, since improvements were seen in kids of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and even among children who were already obese.
Study lead author Dr. Brian K. Kit, a researcher with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics, said that the apparent good news was qualified by the finding that 1 in 10 American children still has cholesterol readings that raise his or her risk for developing heart disease.
Still, the findings may temper a tide of gloom over the prognosis for the nation's youths, whose obesity rate has tripled over the last three decades. A recent projection by the American Heart Assn.estimated that the increase would translate into a 16.6% rise in heart attacks by 2030.
The trends found in the latest study "may portend improved ? outcomes for the future," wrote Dr. Sarah D. de Ferranti, a specialist in heart disease prevention at Boston Children's Hospital, in an editorial accompanying the article.
Given the high rates of obesity and diabetes among children and their well-chronicled sedentary behavior, it is unlikely that children are adopting heart-healthy habits, De Ferranti added. More plausibly, she said, what has improved is the nutritional profile of foods that children are offered at school and home or that they can easily buy for themselves.
During the decades studied, a growing awareness of the dangers of a diet high in saturated fat led many parents to switch from whole milk to reduced-fat or fat-free milk, and food manufacturers reformulated many products to reduce their saturated fat content.
And starting in 2003, a public health campaign ultimately led to the removal of most trans-fatty acids ? which raise heart risk even more than saturated fats ? from packaged foods sold in the United States. From 2000 to 2009, the level of trans-fatty acids in the average middle-aged American's bloodstream had plummeted 58%, according to a February report in the Journal of the American Medical Assn.
But De Ferranti cautioned that the changes in foods on the American market could have a dark side: In reducing saturated fat and removing trans fats, many manufacturers have pumped up the sugar and carbohydrate content. That may help explain why obesity among children and adults continued to grow through much of the study period, even as cholesterol readings improved.
Though complex, cholesterol measures have become one of medicine's strongest predictors of a person's risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers have long linked obesity to rising levels of dangerous cholesterol and an increased likelihood of heart attacks and strokes.
The study underscores that cholesterol is "not completely driven by obesity," said Dr. Stephen R. Daniels, pediatrics chief at Children's Hospital Colorado. As researchers unravel which other factors most influence cholesterol profiles, children across all weight classes can learn how to protect themselves from developing cardiovascular disease, Daniels said.
melissa.healy@latimes.com
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Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Family portraits photographer | Having fun in the garden with the ...
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How To Write How Tos | Matthew Arnold Stern
Adding ?how to? to a title attracts people to blogs, articles, and books. People usually search the Web for solutions to problems or ways to do things better. So, how do you write a ?how to?? Here are some simple steps from my experience writing ?how tos? as a technical writer.
1. Pick a specific problem to solve.
Readers are looking to solve a specific problem, such as how to patch a hole in a wall or upgrade their computer to a new version of the operating system. Your ?how to? must also be specific. The shorter your article, the more specific your ?how to? must be.
A subject like ?How to Repair Your House? may be fine for a book or series of books. It is too broad for a short article. Even for a book, it would require readers to scour the index or wade through pages of procedures until they give up and look somewhere else. A better subject would be ?How to Repair Damage to Walls? or ?How to Patch Large Holes in Drywall.? Readers would be more likely to look there for a solution to their specific problem.
2. Tell readers everything they need to know before performing a task ? especially safety warnings.
Start your ?how to? with a list of everything readers need before performing the task. It could be a set of supplies and tools, or a level of experience, such as ?This task should be performed with someone with experience in carpentry.? Also include any warnings, such as ?Turn off the circuit breakers before removing drywall. If you accidentally cut wires in the wall, the shock can be fatal.?
3. Break down the task into simple steps.
Each step must describe a single action, such as ?Cut the drywall around the hole to the closest stud.? It is acceptable to include a related actions if it is part of the same stage of the process. For example, you can add to that step, ?Use a stud finder to locate the stud.?
4. Limit the number of steps.
Most technical writers swear by the ?seven plus or minus two rule? for determining the number of steps in a procedure. Limiting the number of steps makes it easier for readers to keep track of where they are in the procedure. It also makes the task seem less intimidating.
If a task requires more than nine steps, you need to break that task down into smaller tasks. For our drywall example, you may want to have one task for repairing the hole and another for applying texture and paint.
5. Include examples.
Examples can make a procedure more concrete for a reader. They also help readers make decisions about how to perform a task. For example, ?If the hole is smaller than 4 inches (10.16 centimeters) in diameter, you can cover it with a drywall patch.?
6. Include pictures that show the right amount of detail.
Pictures can either help a ?how to? or make it more confusing. The difference is in how clearly it provides information to the reader. A picture should show a specific step in the procedure and give enough detail to show what is happening, but not too much detail that a reader can?t see or focus on the right information.
Here?s an example from Popular Mechanics:
This picture gives a clear idea of what you are supposed to do in this step. You don?t even need to read the text. It also helps that this image is computer-generated. It enables the artist to show the task in a natural matter without the distracting shadows and texture that would appear in a photograph. The computer-generated image also works well when viewed on a screen or on paper.
7. Show the expected outcome.
?When you have completed the procedure the patch should blend into the wall with no visible seams or differences in texture. There should be no bend in the drywall when you put light pressure on it. Your repair is finished.?
A conclusion like this tells readers several things. First, what the completed project will look like. They can compare their results and see if they did the job right. If not, they can check back through the steps and correct their mistakes. Second, it tells readers that the procedure is done.
With this information, you now know how to write a ?how to.? Pick your subject and start writing!
Source: http://www.matthewarnoldstern.com/communication-in-general/how-to-write-how-tos.html
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