Archaebacteria: The Third Domain of Life Missed by Biologists for Decades

These unusual bacteria are genealogically neither prokaryotes nor eukaryotes. This discovery means there are not two lines of descent of life but three: the archaebacteria, the true bacteria and the eukaryotes

By Carl R. Woese

Methanogens, anaerobic bacteria that generate methane from hydrogen and carbon dioxide, make up the largest group of archaebacteria identified so far. Four genera of methanogens that differ widely in size and morphology are seen here in scanning electron micrographs made by Alexander J. B. Zehnder of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Shown here is Methanosarcina. The cells are shown enlarged 2,500 diameters. The methanogens are found only in oxygen-free environments. Image: Scientific American

Editor's Note: Microbiologist Carl R. Woese, a recipient of the Crafoord Prize, Leeuwenhoek Medal, and a National Medal of Science, died December 30 at the age of 84. We are making this classic, definitive essay that outlines the evidence for archaebacteria as a domain of life (independent of eukaryotes and true bacteria) free online for the next 14 days. This story was originally published in the June 1981 issue of Scientific American.

Early natural philosophers held that life on the earth is fundamentally dichotomous: all living things are either animals or plants. When microorganisms were discovered, they were di?vided in the same way. The large and motile ones were considered to be ani?mals and the ones that appeared not to move, including the bacteria, were con?sidered to be plants. As understanding of the microscopic world advanced it became apparent that a simple twofold classification would not suffice, and so additional categories were introduced: fungi, protozoa and bacteria. Ultimate?ly, however, a new simplification took hold. It seemed that life might be dichot?omous after all, but at a deeper level, namely in the structure of the living cell. All cells appeared to belong to one or the other of two groups: the eukaryotes, which are cells with a well-formed nucleus, and the prokaryotes, which do not have such a nucleus. Multicellular plants and animals are eukaryotic and so are many unicellular organisms. The only prokaryotes are the bacteria (in?cluding the cyanobacteria, which were formerly called blue-green algae).

In the past few years my colleagues and I have been led to propose a funda?mental revision of this picture. Among the bacteria we have found a group of organisms that do not seem to belong to either of the basic categories. The or?ganisms we have been studying are pro?karyotic in the sense that they do not have a nucleus, and indeed outwardly they look much like ordinary bacteria. In their biochemistry, however, and in the structure of certain large molecules, they are as different from other prokary?otes as they are from eukaryotes. Phylo?genetically they are neither prokaryotes nor eukaryotes. They make up a new "primary kingdom," with a completely different status in the history and the natural order of life.

We have named these organisms ar?chaebacteria. The name reflects an untested conjecture about their evolution?ary status. The phylogenetic evidence suggests that the archaebacteria are at least as old as the other major groups. Moreover, some of the archaebacteria have a form of metabolism that seems particularly well suited to the conditions believed to have prevailed in the early history of life on the earth. Hence it seems possible that the newest group of organisms is actually the oldest.

The evolutionary record

The earth is four and a half billion years old, and on the basis of the macro?scopic fossil record it would appear to have been inhabited for less than a sev?enth of that time: the entire evolutionary progression from the most ancient ma?rine forms to man spans only 600 mil? lion years. The fossil imprints of unicellular organisms too small to be seen with the unaided eye tell a different sto?ry. Microfossils of bacteria in particular are plentiful in sediments of all ages; they have been found in the oldest intact sedimentary rocks known, 3.5-billion? year-old deposits in Australia. Over an enormous expanse of time, during which no higher forms existed, the bac?teria arose and radiated to form a wide variety of types inhabiting a great many ecological niches. This age of microorganisms is the most important period in evolutionary history not only because of its duration but also because of the na?ture of the evolutionary events that took place over those billions of years.

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Cost of Dying: Discovering a better way for final days - Contra Costa ...

Almost a year ago, we started a profoundly personal conversation about the sorry state of dying in America.

The discussion, inspired by my frail 88-year-old father's expensive hospital death, has taught me that too much drama and desperation consume our final days, lending them too little dignity.

Today, I want to build on our conversation and prescribe a cure -- a new way of considering end-of-life medicine -- in the final installment of our yearlong examination of the emotional and financial Cost of Dying.

It is not a drug or a device, a test or therapy. It is a different way of organizing our ending -- so that we live our last days better and pass more gently.

Powerful lessons have emerged from the stories of suffering and triumph we have shared -- not only through the reporting but from dozens and sometimes hundreds of emails and phone calls from readers. Together, we've met Bay Area people like Ray Brown, who showed how agonizing it can be when a loved one's end-of-life wishes are unknown. And doctors like Jessica Zitter, who insists it's the doctor's job to help families decide whether it's time to quit. We admired the resolve of Bill Newman, who wears his end-of-life wishes on a homemade "Do Not Resuscitate" badge, and marveled at caregivers like Susan Meyers who sacrificed her own well-being to allow her beloved husband, John, to die at home.

And we were privileged to share Gayla Caliva's own goodbye, as the retired

hospice nurse from San Jose chose to enjoy stargazing and spicy foods with friends instead of exhausting and painful dialysis.

The real miracle? Places as different as a community in Wisconsin and Oakland's Highland Hospital are showing the way to a death that is kinder and less expensive. Medicare has become the single biggest contributor to the country's long-term budget deficit, according to the Congressional Budget Office. And a quarter or more of Medicare costs are incurred in the last year of life.

"Everyone says they don't want to die in a hospital, with tubes in every orifice," said U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo. She saw the two paths of medicine when her parents died. She lost her 92-year-old mother after an angioplasty meant to improve her life instead led to intensive care and nine months of decline. Her father, in contrast, died after five days in hospice, his pain controlled.

If we want to improve end-of-life care, "there are ways to do it -- but we have to commit to it," she said.

Some of the solutions can start at home tonight, at the dinner table. Others are more formidable, requiring doctors, hospitals and federal health policy to change.

Our conversation has taught us that, yes, there is a cure for the cost of dying in America. It will reduce suffering and expense, and here's how we begin:

Cure 1: Take charge of our deaths by putting wishes in writing

While 82 percent of Californians say it is important to have end-of-life wishes in writing, only 23 percent of us have done so, according to a poll by the California HealthCare Foundation.

And that changes with you.

Newman, an 87-year-old double bypass survivor from Capitola, taught us it's our responsibility to participate in decisions about our care and to delegate someone to represent us. Not only does he wear a DNR badge, he posted the same message on his refrigerator and shared it with his doctor and 10 children. Like him, we have a responsibility to speak up, before our voices weaken and fail.

You -- not doctors, not nurses -- are the expert on your wishes about end-of-life care. First, tell your loved ones. Secondly, appoint someone to act as your bedside advocate. Many new online resources can help you get started, such as The Conversation Project, advance care planning videos by the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California, and advance care directive forms at www.mercurynews.com/cost-of-dying.

If you or your loved one is seriously ill, frail or very elderly, ask your doctor for a POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form. The bright pink form turns your treatment wishes into a medical order.

Cure 2: Involve entire communities in commitment to planning

Doctors who don't know our wishes can't honor them. That's why one entire Wisconsin community set out to make sure its residents' end-of-life decisions were as much a part of their personal medical records as their blood pressure medications and peanut allergies.

The physician-led nonprofit Gundersen Lutheran Health System in La Crosse hired a facilitator whose sole job is to discuss advance planning with every patient -- even young, healthy people -- so that their wishes appear in electronic medical records easily transferred from facility to facility. This system, called "Respecting Choices," required an investment of time, money, training and organization. But the result? A stunning 96 percent of the community's adult residents who died during a seven-month period in 2010 had documented their wishes -- and end-of-life medical costs are low. "Respecting Choices'' has since been replicated in more than 60 organizations in the United States, as well as nationally in Australia and Singapore.

Oregon created a statewide electronic registry for POLST advance care directives in 2009. In 2011, the registry's second full year of operation, there were more than 200 instances when 911 medics racing to an emergency knew a person's medical wishes before they arrived.

Hospitals in California, like those in Wisconsin, could ensure that patient electronic records include an advance directive or POLST order, assuring rapid access to patients' end-of-life choices. Ultimately, a statewide registry, like Oregon's, could be created.

Cure 3: Encourage doctors to talk more frankly about choices

Doctors are adept at describing blood pressure, kidney function or cardiac output. But hospitals and medical schools need to do more to train doctors to answer questions about the effectiveness and necessity of treatment.

"It's scary for doctors to talk about," said Zitter of Oakland's Highland Hospital, who meets with families of ICU patients at least twice a day, often in tense circumstances. "It's much simpler to just keep treating the kidney problem, or the lung problem, without talking about it."

"But if people really understood the truth about their medical situation, they will make educated choices," she said. "They are less likely to get carried along this train ride of intensive care."

UC San Francisco and other schools are starting to train doctors how to break bad news and outline hard choices.

We can help, by asking critical questions: Is a cure still possible? What do you expect in the next few weeks or months? Is there treatment to prolong life? What kind of life will it be?

Cure 4: Pay doctors to help patients decide what's best for them

Doctors are paid to operate and prescribe drugs or radiation, but they aren't paid to talk to families.

Medicare and insurance companies need to reward doctors to guide families through essential medical decisions -- especially because these conversations can help us get the right care when it matters most, with big cost savings.

These are time-consuming dialogues. If another round of chemotherapy is attempted, what are the side effects? Will a feeding tube be temporary -- or permanent?

But the system discourages such engagement.

"Insurers, Medicare and Medi-Cal more readily pay for diagnosis and treatment than anything else that doctors do," said Dr. Ira Byock of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H.

Early legislation to reform the nation's health care system tried to pay doctors for these conversations. But remember "death panels"? That partisan label torpedoed the idea by conjuring up images of bureaucrats deciding which patients were worthy of care.

But the idea is back, as U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., plans to reintroduce HR1589, the "Personalize Your Care Act" in the new session.

Cure 5: Avoid costly care that won't prolong or improve life

Medicare stimulates the creation of new tools to combat death -- even where effectiveness is questioned. That's because its reimbursement rules virtually guarantee that drug and device manufacturers have a market for any product aimed at people older than 65. And who profits? U.S. drug companies and device-makers who ring up hundreds of billions of dollars in domestic sales annually and make up a powerful lobby.

Since Medicare was established in 1965, it has precluded consideration of cost in coverage decisions. Changing the law could fix that.

For example, Medicare covers the $80,000 to $100,000 cost of the lung cancer drug bevacizumab, despite uncertain benefits in patients older than 65. It also pays for a $100,000 heart pump -- the ventricular heart assist device -- even though three of four recipients die within two years.

A feeding tube helped sustain Fran Cole's beloved mother when Parkinson's disease took away her ability to swallow. But as the disease progressed, and her mother became unresponsive, the tube's forced feeding became a curse.

Medicare should restrict payment for certain aggressive interventions in some dying patients, said Dr. Muriel Gillick, a geriatrician at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates.

So, if the National Institutes of Health determines that comfort care is the best approach to advanced Alzheimer's disease, Medicare shouldn't pay for ICU, CPR, dialysis or other interventions, according to Gillick.

Doctors, too, should be better gatekeepers. Blind application of rapidly developing medical technologies "to any and every patient is not good practice of medicine," said Dr. Jeffrey Stoneberg of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland.

They have a responsibility to use treatments on patients who will best benefit from them, he said, and to withhold therapies when the risks outweigh the benefits.

Hospitals need to exert their influence, not to create a financial barrier to survival, but to discourage extraordinary expenditures with little human payoff. Daly City's Seton Medical Center averts unnecessary or ineffective care through its "Medically Ineffective Care" policy. If a family insists on such care, the hospital can discharge the patient.

Cure 6: Offer better comfort care to patients in their final days

A lot of hospitals claim to have comfort, or palliative, care for dying patients. But there's no standard; at some places, such care may consist of a chaplain or part-time nurse who makes rounds to people in pain. Sometimes, patients and their families may not even know it exists.

This is a cure that hospitals can pioneer. Each facility needs a team of palliative care doctors and nurses to help us live every minute as richly as possible. The chronically ill need simple measures to control pain, ease anxiety and manage emphysema or heart failure. Give the team its own budget and make sure patients know it is available.

"If you do not know that there are other options to usual aggressive medical care, then you will never be able to choose them," Stoneberg said.

Some hospitals are even moving palliative care into the emergency room, to catch the very frail elderly before they are put on the "tube 'em and move 'em" conveyor belt to the ICU. New York's Montefiore Medical Center and Atlanta's Emory University are leading this effort, and their examples could be replicated nationwide.

Comfort care can even be moved into the community, keeping people like Marilyn Cronin, who at 58 suffers from lung disease and liver failure, in her Soquel home instead of the hospital. The Palo Alto Medical Foundation is successfully testing that approach, with old-fashioned house calls.

Cure 7: Pay families to help at home instead of using hospitals

Medicare will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for us to stay in the hospital, but it's far less generous if we want to take care of our chronically ill loved ones at home. It does not pay for a live-in nurse, homemaker or home health aide. Your family or hired caregivers must provide months of bedside care. It pays for a nurse to visit only if you are receiving comfort care through hospice or have a "skilled nursing" need, such as changing bandages.

Federal policymakers need to expand home care benefits to ease the burden and expense on family caregivers and to support choices that are usually cheaper for taxpayers than hospital care. The National Alliance for Caregiving is appealing to Congress to boost funding for assistance, counseling, respite and other services for caregivers.

Dr. John Meyers, 84, spent his final months at home in San Mateo, only because of the careful financial planning and tireless efforts of his wife, Susan.

One of six Californians know her struggle, as they care for a sick or elderly family member.

"As a family, we had no idea how unprepared we were to go through the process," wrote reader Debbie Gary, who helped care for her mother at home.

Cure 8: Broaden use of comfort care through Medicare, insurance

Medicare's outdated policies limit our access to cost-effective and comforting end-of-life care like hospice -- and federal legislators must change that.

Hospice was still an experiment in the early 1980s, when the Reagan administration allowed it to be covered under Medicare. Now it has been proved to reduce both costs and suffering -- but the tough eligibility requirements haven't changed.

For instance, Medicare pays for the comfort care of hospice only if we quit seeking a cure. It's a diabolical either-or choice.

There's another problem: Medicare won't pay for hospice unless we are diagnosed to die within six months. That often denies it to dementia patients, who tend to live longer than cancer or heart disease patients.

An experiment by the Aetna insurance company shows a better way. Its "Compassionate Care Enhanced Hospice" let members enroll in hospice while continuing treatment. It also accepted members with life expectancies of 12 months. The results: a decrease in costly emergency room and intensive care. In 2010, Aetna added the feature to most of its medical plans.

The new health care reform legislation includes plans for enhanced hospice with Medicare patients, but the projects haven't been funded.

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Ultimately, the cure is acknowledging that pointless suffering, not death, is the foe.

Our medical resources are squandered "when death is not seen as a natural part of life, but rather something that can be prevented or at least postponed as long as possible," said Stoneberg, the Alta Bates doctor.

After writing about my father's death, I've learned what I can't change: illness, aging and death. They are painfully and inevitably the human condition.

But our conversation has shown us how we can change: better informed decisions. Wiser use of technology. More judicious spending. Greater sensitivity. Less desperation.

These lessons could cure the conflict between "do everything" medicine and our desires for a peaceful passing, making it affordable enough, and humane enough, to ease the painfully high cost of dying.

Contact Lisa M. Krieger at 650-492-4098.

Workshops
Join Lisa M. Krieger for a discussion of advance care directives that empower you to appoint someone to make health care decisions for you when you can't. All three workshops run from 6 to 8 p.m.

Palo Alto: Jan. 7, Avenidas, 450 Bryant St. RSVP at 650-289-5400 or azacanti@avenidas.com. Parking free at the Bryant Street garage.

Lafayette: Jan. 8, library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Space limited, RSVP at www.surveymonkey.com/s/jan8directives. Livestreamed at www.mercurynews.com, www.insidebayarea.com and www.contracostatimes.com. Previous stories on this Website gave the wrong dates for this event and the Palo Alto event.

Walnut Creek: Jan. 14, Contra Costa Times, 2640 Shadelands Drive. On-site free parking. RSVP at www.surveymonkey.com/s/jan14directives.

About the series
This story is part of a series examining end-of-life issues inspired by the emotional and financial costs of the final days of reporter Lisa M. Krieger's father.
Online extra
For information on how to manage your end-of life-care and to see other Cost of Dying stories, go to www.mercurynews.com/cost of dying.

Source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_22278024/cost-dying-discovering-better-way-final-days?source=rss

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Home Crafts with Basic Office Supplies-spun2 | new cool guys ...

There is nothing more fun that getting together with the family and having a session of craft making. It teaches children to be creative and you can end up with some great things for your home. All you really need is basic office fitflop online supplies that you can buy at most supermarkets and you have the tools to create whatever your mind can conceive.

A good example of this is getting the children together to make Christmas decorations. All that is really needed in terms of office supplies is paper, a pair of scissors and a stapler. Get the children to cut the paper into little strips then draw their impressions of Christmas on them. From here you can take the strips and staple the ends together to make them into loops cheap nike nfl jerseys.

The trick is that you look the second one through the first before you staple it together. You can continue going until Fitflop Via best price you have a long enough chain of paper then just start a new one. You can even use this idea all year round to brighten up your children rooms. The paper you use can be simple white paper or even fancy coloured paper. Your local office supply store should stock all varieties of paper for you to choose from.

If decorations are not quite your thing why not try scrap booking? This is a great idea for getting your children to interact and create memories. Not only will you end up with a great photo album but your child can add to the book fitflops australia as they go along. They will be able to look back in years to come and see how many happy times they had with you.

The ideas for home crafts are literally endless and all you really need is the office supplies you can buy at most general stores. You could even take the whole thing a step higher and start creating home crafts to sell.

One good home craft that generally sells well is homemade picture frames. You will have to start out with a basic frame bought from the store but from here you can customize it in any way you like. From printing pictures and using decoupage to stick them onto the frames to making papier-mh?animals or people to give them a 3D effect, the ideas are as limited as your imagination.

If you feel that home crafts are something you would enjoy doing then take some time to browse the internet for some ideas. There are lots of sites that offer not only great ideas but also the blueprints to help you create your masterpiece.

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Next Minneapolis mayor will inherit challenges (Star Tribune)

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Bed & Breakfast Hotels In London - A Way To Inexpensive Stay

When you are visiting London, always stay at a Central London hotel to assist to you own solace. There are two causes for that. Firstly, the location will ensure that any part of the city is easily accessible to you. Secondly, there are several bed and breakfast hotels in the locality, which will provide you with inexpensive stay. The city is populated by all kinds of places to stay. There are luxury, heritage, budget, bed and breakfast hotels as well as visitor dwellings and holiday homes, catering to thousands of vacationers who pour in the city every day.

If you have plenty of pounds, you stay at a luxury hotel, laden with a lot of amenities, prepared to pamper with things you will not need most of the times. However, if you think you need a place to stay that takes care of your basic necessities without making a dent in your purse; you can stay at a bed and breakfast hotel. Such hotels will supply you with benchmark facilities sans the peak ups which come with luxury.

As said, central London is the best position in the city to stay. Put your anchors at a hotel in Central London, you will be able to save attractive much on your transport costs. Myriad means of transport are accessible here encompassing the well-networked London Mass Transit scheme. The nearest coach stop or the tube station will be at walking distance from a hotel, wherever you stay. Most hotels here are neighboured by the restaurants and bars, which will cater to your food and amusement requirements.

Several bed & breakfast hotels in London provide vacationers with clean places to stay, good breakfast and complimentary suit cases storage facility. They will furthermore supply amenities such as awaken up calls, metal and ironing board, baby cot, follower, etc. on request. If you are a bit very cautious about the alternative you make, you can also get amenities such as Wi-Fi and toiletries at the rates of a budget hotel. Numerous of these hotels provide the travellers with sightseeing permits for popular landmarks in the city as well as theatre tickets. It will certainly save you time as well as problem.

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Booking of a hotel room will save you from the problem of dashing round for an accommodation. Central London is a busy place and the second time vacationers understand that well, habitually getting reservation in a hotel. You will do well getting a leaf out of their book.

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Booking a bed & breakfast hotel in London online will save you a lot of amount on your stay.

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Fusion Energi Most Fuel Efficient US Sedan

Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid rated up to 108 MPGe city, making it America?s most fuel-efficient sedan

The 2013 Ford Fusion ? recently voted Green Car of the Year ? just got greener as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certified the new Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid at up to 108 MPGe, making it America?s most fuel-efficient sedan.

Fusion Energi is the Ford brand?s fifth electrified vehicle to launch in the past year and is expected to accelerate the company?s record hybrid sales pace, including its highest monthly hybrid sales month ever in November. Ford is seeing demand for fuel economy across its lineup as the brand ranks No. 1 in fuel economy customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and now beats Toyota for leading efficiency in every segment where both compete.

The EPA also certified Fusion Energi to deliver up to 92 MPGe highway and a combined 100 MPGe ? figures that could potentially help save customers an estimated $6,850 in fuel costs compared with an average new car over the course of five years.

?The Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid is the exclamation point for Ford?s transformed lineup of fuel-efficiency leaders that now beats Toyota across the board,? said Raj Nair, group vice president, Global Product Development.

Adding to Fusion Energi?s value ? and the myriad ways it beats Toyota Prius plug-in ? are its innovative technologies that are designed to help win over both novice and pro hybrid owners.

SmartGauge with EcoGuide, for example, provides in-vehicle customizable displays, including instantaneous fuel economy readings and coaching functions to help drivers understand and optimize their fuel efficiency.

SYNC with MyFord Touch offers multiple ways ? including voice commands ? for customers to manage and control their phone, available navigation, entertainment and climate functions. Plug-in hybrids and all-electric models have additional options for monitoring information like battery state of charge.

EV+ combines the built-in GPS of Ford SYNC with proprietary software algorithms developed by Ford engineers to learn frequent destinations. As a result, vehicles give drivers more drive time in electric-only mode.

Fusion is designed with the driver?s sense of style in mind, delivering a midsize sedan that offers functional design elements that enhance its sleek exterior and promote fuel economy. A video explaining the origin of Fusion Energi can be found here.

With Fusion Energi and Fusion Hybrid, the all-new Fusion lineup brings the widest range of powertrain options to the U.S. midsize segment. Fusion also is available in gas-powered versions with a choice between a pair of fuel-efficient EcoBoost engines and a normally aspirated four-cylinder engine.

Fusing technologies

Many of the innovative technologies of Fusion Energi are shared across Ford?s electrified vehicle lineup and draw from the automaker?s portfolio of about 500 patents related specifically to hybrid technology:

??? ?MyFord Mobile: Enables access via smartphone or Web-based interface to perform key tasks, such as monitoring a vehicle?s state of charge and current range or locating charge stations and planning routes to find them
??? ?Eco cruise: Saves vehicle energy by relaxing acceleration compared to standard cruise control
??? ?EV mode button: Conveniently mounted on the console to the right of the shifter ? allows a driver to switch vehicle operation between three modes: all-electric, normal hybrid operation and conserve battery power for later use
??? ?Regenerative braking is capable of capturing and reusing more than 90 percent of the braking energy normally lost during the braking process
??? ?Hybrid transmission, designed by Ford engineers in-house, is capable of operating at high speeds and in a smooth, fuel-efficient manner at the same time
??? ?Advanced lithium-ion batteries used in Ford?s electrified vehicle lineup ? covered by an eight-year/100,000-mile component limited warranty ? are smaller and lighter than nickel-metal-hybrid batteries used in previous-generation hybrids
??? ?Charge port with LED light ring, conveniently located on the driver?s side and near the front of the car, it features a light ring that illuminates to indicate charge status

SOURCE Ford Motor Company

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Source: http://www.lotpro.com/blog/2012/12/29/fusion-energi-most-fuel-efficient-us-sedan/

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At least 15 killed in sect attack in north Nigeria

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) ? Gunmen suspected to belong to a radical Islamist sect attacked a village in northeast Nigeria, tying up men, women and children before slitting their throats, killing at least 15 in the troubled region's latest attack, witnesses said Saturday.

The assault happened early Friday morning in the village of Musari on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the city where the sect known as Boko Haram first launched its guerrilla campaign of shootings and car bombings against Nigeria's weak central government. The gunmen shouted religious slogans and later ordered those there to be gathered up into a group, said Mshelia Inusa, a primary school teacher in the village.

"We heard some people chanting, 'God is great, God is great' amid sounds of banging on doors of houses at about 1 a.m.," the teacher said. "A voice was heard ordering people to be slaughtered and also voices of children were heard screaming."

Inusa said he and others later saw corpses with their hands tied behind their backs and their throats cut.

Later Friday morning, an ambulance arrived at the State Specialists Hospital in Maiduguri, accompanied by a group of military vehicles, a security guard said. Agitated soldiers ordered people away, but the guard said he counted at least 15 bodies being brought into the facility's morgue.

The guard spoke on condition of anonymity out of fears of angering either the military or the sect.

Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, a military spokesman, later issued a statement saying only five people had been killed in the village during the attack. However, military and police officials routinely downplay casualty figures because they are under increasing pressure from their superiors to minimize the perceived effects of the ongoing attacks by Boko Haram.

Boko Haram, which speaks to journalists through conference calls at times of its choosing, could not be immediately reached for comment Saturday. However, the attack mirrored other assaults carried out by the group as it expands its operations outside of cities in the northeast into rural towns and villages, where the security presence remains light and contact with the outside world remains difficult as the sect has destroyed a number of mobile phone towers recently.

The sect, whose name means "Western education is sacrilege" in the Hausa language of Nigeria's Muslim north, wants the nation to enact strict Shariah law and release its imprisoned members. Despite a heavy military and police presence, the sect's adherents have continued to launch frequent attacks.

More than 780 people have been killed in Boko Haram attacks so far this year, according to an Associated Press count, making 2012 the worst year of violence attributed to the group. Boko Haram also has loose connections with al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and Somalia's al-Shabab, according to Western military officials and diplomats.

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen also attacked another village Friday in Adamawa state on its border with neighboring Cameroon. Witnesses said that attack focused on the town of Maiha, where gunmen also shouted praises to God while setting fire to government buildings, a school and a prison. At least 35 prisoners were released from the prison in the attack, though 11 had been recaptured, police spokesman Mohammed Ibrahim said Saturday.

Ibrahim said a civilian and a police officer were killed during the fighting.

And violence continued around the central Nigerian city of Jos, where ethnic, religious and political rivalries have caused mass killings in recent years. Authorities said at least seven had been killed in recent days around Christian villages in the rural plateau. Police said they were investigating the attacks.

___

Associated Press writers Ibrahim Abdul in Yola, Nigeria, and Ahmed Saka in Jos, Nigeria, contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/least-15-killed-sect-attack-north-nigeria-125528008.html

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Celebrity bad science: Dried placenta pills and oxygen shots

By Kate Kelland

LONDON | Fri Dec 28, 2012 4:10am EST

LONDON (Reuters) - Pop guru Simon Cowell carries pocket-sized inhalable oxygen shots, America's "Mad Men" actress January Jones favors dried placenta pills, and British soap star Patsy Palmer rubs coffee granules into her skin.

Celebrities rarely shy away from public peddling of dubious ideas about health and science, and 2012 was no exception.

In its annual list of the year's worst abuses against science, the Sense About Science (SAS) campaign also named former U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney for spreading misinformation about windows on planes, and Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps for false justifications for peeing in the pool.

To help set the record straight, SAS, a charity dedicated to helping people make sense of science and evidence, invited qualified scientists to respond to some of the wilder pseudo-scientific claims put about by the rich and famous.

It suggested Romney, who wondered aloud in September why aircraft crews don't just open the windows when there's a fire on board, should listen to aeronautical engineer Jakob Whitfield:

"Unfortunately, Mitt, opening a window at height wouldn't do much good," the scientist said. "In fact, if you could open a window whilst in flight, the air would rush out...because air moves from the high pressure cabin to the lower pressure outside, probably causing further injury and damage."

January Jones's dried placenta pills, which the actress admitted in March she consumed after giving birth, win no favor with Catherine Collins, principal dietician at St George's Hospital in London.

"Nutritionally, there's nothing to be gained from eating your placenta - raw, cooked, or dried," Collins said. "Apart from iron, which can be easily found in other dietary choices or supplements, your placenta will provide toxins and other unsavory substances it had successfully prevented from reaching your baby in utero."

Gary Moss, a pharmaceutical scientist, patiently points out to Palmer that while caffeine may have an effect on cellulite, rubbing coffee granules into the skin is unlikely to work, since the caffeine can't escape the granules to penetrate the skin.

Phelps's claim that it's fine to pee in the pool because "chlorine kills it" is put straight by biochemist Stuart Jones, who reminds him that "urine is essentially sterile so there isn't actually anything to kill in the first place".

And for Cowell, Kay Mitchell a scientist at the Centre for Altitude Space and Extreme Environment Medicine warns that very high levels of oxygen can in fact be toxic - particularly in the lungs, where oxygen levels are highest.

"Celebrity comments travel far and fast, so it's important that they talk sense," said Sense About Science's managing director Tracey Brown. "The implausible and frankly dangerous claims about how to avoid cancer, improve skin or lose weight are becoming ever more ridiculous. And unfortunately they have a much higher profile than the research and evidence."

To encourage more vigilance among celebrity pseudo-scientists in the future, SAS provided a checklist of "misleading science claims" it suggests should be avoided:

* "Immune boosting" - you can't and you don't need to

* "Detox" - your liver does this

* "Superfood" - there is no such thing, just foods that are high in some nutrients

* "Oxygenating" - your lungs do this

* "Cleansing" - you shouldn't be trying to cleanse anything other than your skin or hair.

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/scienceNews/~3/Agj_B_qMeKw/us-science-celebrities-idUSBRE8BR00220121228

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Drink Recipe: Hibiscus Ginger Punch Recipes from The Kitchn | The ...

Most punch recipes cater to a single crowd: drinkers or non-drinkers. This one is delicious either way. Whether you fizz it up with champagne or mineral water, hibiscus ginger punch will put a colorful sparkle in your celebrations.

When I started dreaming of a festive punch, I initially considered cranberry or pomegranate but, frankly, I was a bit tired of these ingredients, which appear in every other beverage this time of year. Instead, I turned to a holiday tradition from Jamaica, where a drink called "sorrel" is made from hibiscus blossoms. Throughout the world, dried hibiscus or roselle is steeped in water to make crimson-colored tisanes, juices, and punches, and in Jamaica especially the hibiscus is combined with ginger for a tart and pleasantly spicy beverage.

To make this punch, I mixed a rich hibiscus and ginger base with ginger ale and then either champagne, sparkling white wine, or sparkling mineral water. For the non-alcoholic version I recommend using a true mineral water (like Perrier) rather than other carbonated waters. Its subtle mineral flavor and more delicate bubbles are a sophisticated substitute for the alcohol. But use any fizzy water that works for you.

On the subject of substitutions, what if you can't find dried hibiscus blossoms (also known as "flor de jamaica" in Latin American markets)? Try making a strong brew with hibiscus tea bags; Celestial Seasonings and The Republic of Tea are two widely available brands.

Hibiscus Ginger Punch

Serves about 12

4 1/2 cups water
1 cup dried hibiscus blossoms
2-inch piece of ginger, thinly sliced
1 cup sugar
4 cups chilled ginger ale
2 750-mL bottles chilled champagne, sparkling white wine, or sparkling mineral water
Optional: ice, garnishes of mint, lemon or lime slices

Combine water, hibiscus blossoms, and ginger in a pot. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in sugar. Let cool, strain, and chill. (If you like, save some of the plumped-up hibiscus blossoms for garnish.)

To make punch, stir hibiscus juice with ginger ale and champagne or mineral water. Garnish if desired and serve immediately.

Related: Recipe: Hibiscus-Earl Grey Iced Tea

(Images: Emily Ho)

Source: http://www.thekitchn.com/drink-recipe-hibiscus-ginger-punch-recipes-from-the-kitchn-181852

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LeBeau intends on returning to Steelers in 2013

FILE - In this Dec. 23, 2012, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau talks to his defense during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Pittsburgh. The 75-year-old LeBeau has every intention of returning in 2013 for what would be a 55th consecutive season in the NFL. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 23, 2012, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau talks to his defense during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Pittsburgh. The 75-year-old LeBeau has every intention of returning in 2013 for what would be a 55th consecutive season in the NFL. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) ? Armed with a promise from his beloved defensive coordinator that he wouldn't retire without first informing his players, Ryan Clark threatened to avoid Dick LeBeau.

"I didn't want to hear it, so I've told him, 'If you try to leave, well, you didn't see me and tell me, so you can't,'" said Clark, the Steelers' free safety. "'That would make you not to be a man of your word, and I know you as such.'"

Clark needn't worry. The 75-year-old LeBeau has every intention of returning in 2013 for what would be a 55th consecutive season in the NFL.

LeBeau opened his first meeting of the week with his defense by telling players he'll come back for a 10th season as Pittsburgh's defensive coordinator.

LeBeau, a Hall of Famer, publicly will only say his status is in the hands of head coach Mike Tomlin. But with the defense ranked No. 1 in the NFL for the second consecutive season and fifth time in nine years, there's little reason to think Tomlin would make a change.

"Let's just say I really like Pittsburgh and I really like working for the Steelers," LeBeau said after practice Thursday. "Coach Tomlin will tell you if he wants me back or not. It will be up to Mike."

Asked as a follow-up if he would come back if asked, LeBeau smiled and said, "I love Pittsburgh."

The city has come to love LeBeau, too, after he orchestrated a defense that has ranked in the top five of the league in 10 of his 11 seasons as defensive coordinator. LeBeau also held the job in 1995-96 under former head coach Bill Cowher.

Not even the famed Steel Curtain defenses of the 1970's ? statistically, at least ? can match what LeBeau's units have accomplished. Only two Steelers teams during their run of four Super Bowl titles in six years under Chuck Noll were No. 1 in total defense.

Since LeBeau returned for his second stint with the franchise in 2004, the Steelers have been to three Super Bowls ? winning two ? and have had the No. 1 defense five times.

"We know he's the best in the game," veteran linebacker Larry Foote said. "I think everybody else around the league knows it. A lot of times in the games it turns into a chess match, and he wins his share."

Known as the architect of the so-called "zone blitz," LeBeau's teams have been known for the confusion they cause and for their pressure on opposing quarterbacks. His record against rookie starting quarterbacks over the past nine years is 14-2.

His resume after more than a half-century in the league earns the respect of players ? but it's his calm and fatherly demeanor that endears those who play for LeBeau to him.

They openly campaigned for LeBeau to get into the Hall of Fame for his 14-year career with the Detroit Lions that included 62 interceptions. LeBeau wept when, on New Year's Day 2006, his players en masse showed up for a game against Detroit wearing his throwback No. 44 Lions jersey.

"One of the joys of coming to work as a Pittsburgh Steeler free safety is getting to see Coach Lebeau every year," Clark said.

LeBeau, who was head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals from 2000-02, doesn't look like a man who will be 76 when next season opens.

"He's like a grandfather ? but I don't want to say grandfather because he doesn't really act like a typical grandfather," Foote said. "He's a man of a lot of jokes and wisdom and he encourages everybody.

"He can get around, especially when all his buddies come in. He's always screaming, always running around, doing push-ups."

Keenly aware of where his defense ranks, LeBeau could have gone out with a team that has a chance of finishing the season No. 1 in the NFL in total defense, passing defense and rushing defense. Heading into the season finale Sunday against Cleveland (5-10), the Steelers are No. 2 in rushing defense and No. 1 in the other two categories.

But those stout numbers haven't translated into enough victories this season, with Pittsburgh (7-8) set to miss the playoffs for only the third time in LeBeau's 14 seasons on the staff. He was Cowher's defensive backfield coach from 1992-94.

Despite the gaudy overall rankings this season, LeBeau's Steelers weren't the "closers" they were in the past. Four times, Pittsburgh blew a fourth-quarter lead. The Steelers also uncharacteristically finished in the bottom half of the NFL in sacks and turnovers forced.

"The truth of the matter is we didn't get off to a really good start on defense this year," LeBeau said. "I don't think it was ever quite as bad as it was perceived to be, but we weren't playing the way we wanted to play. For, I'd say over a month and a half now, our third down numbers have been good. We got a little behind early in all phases, but these guys stayed together and played pretty doggone good defense and got us back to where we like to be, up near the top of the bunch."

As usual, LeBeau credits the players for the defense's success. That's just one reason why they share such adulation for him.

"He sets the tone," Foote said. "He's the reason. He always brings us guys together. He puts us in the right situation to make plays."

Notes: TE Heath Miller was named team MVP after a vote by the players. Miller, who has a team-high 71 receptions and is tied for the team lead with eight touchdowns, had surgery Thursday to repair multiple torn ligaments in his right knee. He is the first tight end to win the award. ... RT Mike Adams was named team rookie of the year and NT Casey Hampton was given the "Chief Award" for cooperation with the media.

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-12-27-Steelers-LeBeau/id-b8b968a3bce649628acee087812f5409

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10 Things to Know for Friday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about Friday:

1. WHO COMMANDED DESERT STORM

"Stormin' Norman" Schwarzkopf, who commanded the U.S.-led coalition that drove Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait in 1991, dies at 78.

2. WHERE THERE'S STILL NO SIGN OF COMPROMISE

Democrats and Republicans remain snarled across a partisan divide, showing no sign of reaching a deal to avoid year-end tax increases and spending cuts.

3. THEY'RE DITCHING THE STOCK MARKET

With distrust of Wall Street growing, ordinary Americans are selling off stocks for a fifth year in a row.

4. WHY HE WANTS TO PACK A GUN

English teacher Kevin Leatherbarrow favors carrying a weapon to school, saying "we're sitting ducks" in the event of an attack like the one that occurred in Newtown, Conn.

5. DEMANDING AN INVESTIGATION

Egypt's chief prosecutor orders a probe into allegations that opposition leaders committed treason by inciting supporters to overthrow President Morsi.

6. STORM REACHES NORTHEAST

A muted version of a winter storm that has killed more than a dozen people in its journey across the eastern half of the country hits New England.

7. WHAT COULD DISRUPT EAST COAST SHIPPING

If 14,500 longshoremen strike, ships that move much of American commerce would be unable to use most major ports on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico.

8. RIDING SHOTGUN, VIA TWITTER

Virtual ridealongs, a new approach to informing the public about what law enforcement officers do, are taking hold at police departments across the U.S. and Canada.

9. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE FALLS

It was driven down by fears of sharp tax increases and government spending cuts set to take effect next week.

10. BUSH SENIOR STILL IN HOSPITAL

A spokesman says former President George H.W. Bush remains in intensive care at a Houston hospital.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/10-things-know-friday-103047600.html

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Hype Boob Squeezing Breast Cancer - Business Insider

A study that suggests mechanical force could combat breast cancer is getting a lot of play around the web the last few days. It's also getting a lot of boob-squeezing spin.

Here's one example from the article we posted on the study:

Teenage boys have been waiting for this news for years.?

According to a new study, squeezing breasts can prevent cancer. Yes, really.

More specifically, the, ahem, fresh?research from UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found?that mechanical force can stop the rapid growth of cancer cells as well as guide them back to a normal, healthy growth pattern.

The original press release was much more measured about the findings. Here's how it starts:

Researchers at the UC Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have put the squeeze ? literally ? on malignant mammary cells to guide them back into a normal growth pattern.

The findings, presented Monday, Dec. 17 at the annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology in San Francisco, show for the first time that mechanical forces alone can revert and stop the out-of-control growth of cancer cells. This change happens even though the genetic mutations responsible for malignancy remain, setting up a nature-versus-nurture battle in determining a cell?s fate.

As you can see, not one mention of copping a feel. Here are some more reasons the headlines don't fit the research:

1. There were no boobs squeezed in the study. It was a cell culture experiment, not an experiment on boobs or on people with breast cancer. While a study that involves boob squeezing probably sounds fun to our male readers, that's not what this study was about.
2. The headlines all took the "boob squeezing is good," angle, though the researchers specifically state that: "Compression, in and of itself, is not likely to be a therapy."
3. The reports say "prevent breast cancer" when the study shows nothing of the sort ? it shows that under cell culture conditions, application of manual forces can change the breast cancer cells. Actual breast cancer is much, much more complicated than cells growing in a dish.?

Or, maybe I just don't want men going around grabbing boobs and claiming it's "for science."

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/why-i-hate-the-boob-squeezing-study-2012-12

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Hawaii lieutenant governor picked to fill Inouye's Senate seat

HONOLULU (AP) ? Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz on Wednesday was appointed the state's next U.S. senator, bucking the dying wishes of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye to win the support of Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

Schatz, a 40-year-old former nonprofit CEO who ran with Abercrombie for the state's top two offices in 2010, beat out U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and Esther Kiaaina, a deputy director in the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. The three candidates were selected by state Democrats earlier in the day.

The White House said Schatz would fly to Washington on Wednesday night aboard Air Force One, which was bringing President Barack Obama home early from his Christmas vacation as Congress considers what to do about the so-called fiscal cliff.

Four days after eulogizing Inouye in the courtyard of the Hawaii Capitol, Abercrombie said he had to consider more than just Inouye's wishes in filling his seat.

"Of course Sen. Inouye's views and his wishes were taken into account fully, but the charge of the central committee, and by extension then myself as governor, was to act in the best interests of the party ... the state and the nation," Abercrombie said.

"The law makes explicitly clear, as do the rules of the Democratic Party, that while everyone's voice is heard and everyone's view is taken into account, nonetheless, no one and nothing is preordained."

Under state law, the successor had to come from the same party as the prior incumbent.

Inouye, by far Hawaii's most influential politician and one of the most respected lawmakers in Washington after serving five decades in the Senate, died last week of respiratory complications at the age of 88. He sent Abercrombie a hand-signed letter dated the day he died, saying he would like Hanabusa to succeed him, calling it his "last wish."

"While we are very disappointed that it was not honored, it was the governor's decision to make," Jennifer Sabas, Inouye's chief of staff, said in a statement. "We wish Brian Schatz the best of luck."

Inouye would be "very happy" with the choice, Hawaii Democratic Party chairman Dante Carpenter said. Schatz has less experience than some older politicians in the Senate but he will be building seniority, which is "critical" to the state of Hawaii, he said.

"In the words of Sen. Dan Inouye ? invoked more than once ? seniority in the United States Congress is everything," Carpenter said.

Selecting Hanabusa, 61, would have required a special election in Hawaii's 1st Congressional District. Last time that happened, Hanabusa lost to Republican Charles Djou because of a winner-take-all format that split votes between Democrats.

Abercrombie said the possibility of a special election was a factor, as well as Hanabusa's "key position" on the House Armed Services Committee. The governor said she was on her way toward establishing a senior position on that panel, and it's important for Hawaii ? with its four-member delegation ? to establish seniority in both chambers.

Schatz will serve until an election is held in 2014. He said he will run for re-election to try to keep the Senate seat until 2016 ? the end of Inouye's original term ? and would run again for Senate in 2016 if given the chance.

"I can assure you this: I will give every fiber of my being to doing a good job for the state of Hawaii," Schatz said at a news conference. "We have a long and perhaps difficult road ahead of us, but we can succeed if we work together. I understand the magnitude of this obligation and this honor, and I won't let you down."

Hanabusa congratulated Schatz in a statement.

"Having served as chair of the Hawaii Senate Judiciary Committee when the succession law was passed, I fully respect the process and the governor's right to appoint a successor," she said.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had urged Abercrombie to name Inouye's successor before the end of the year. Schatz said he will be prepared to be sworn in on Thursday. That would make him Hawaii's senior senator heading into the new Congress, which begins Jan. 3.

Sen. Daniel Akaka is retiring at the end of this Congress, after 22 years in the Senate. Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono was elected in November to succeed him.

Schatz, 40, is a former state representative and a former chairman of the state Democratic Party. He also was a leader of President Barack Obama's campaign in Hawaii in 2008.

Even before winning the 2010 general election, Abercrombie expressed faith in Schatz, saying he would put him in charge of attracting more private and federal investment in Hawaii. Other responsibilities included leading the state's clean energy efforts and Asia-Pacific relations.

In making his case before the party's central committee earlier Wednesday, Schatz said that if he was appointed, he would strive to make serving in the Senate his life's work.

First in line to replace Schatz as lieutenant governor is Senate President Shan Tsutsui, who said he planned to discuss the prospect with his family before deciding.

___

Becky Bohrer can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bbohrerap .

___

Associated Press writer Audrey McAvoy contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hawaii-lieutenant-gov-picked-fill-senate-seat-000914007--election.html

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There Are Some Good Suggestions For Wealth Building

One can either spend less or earn more. Either way, the opportunities to build wealth don?t come every day. Sometimes the only thing a person can do to progress is to maintain the status quo, while looking for better opportunities. Wealth building takes time. The principles of success take time. In order to find the success that you?re looking for, you?re going to have to be patient.

If you work for someone else, increase your value to the company by taking on more responsibility and learning to do more; then ask for a raise. Be willing to work a second job if you have to in order to get out of debt and start putting money away. Majority of the people is ignorant about their current credit score. Improvement of the credit score is the baby steps to wealth building. During recession, even the most loyal borrowers could not maintain their credit ratings. Unfortunately, paying bills on time and staying out of debts are not the best ways. Intricate methods suggested by the free credit building seminars are highly effective in boosting the credit score. Wealth building is a time management exercise. If you?re spending a lot of time doing things that don?t bring you closer to your financial goals, look for ways to make better use of that free time.

If you own a business, look over your line of products and services and figure out how to sell more of the profitable items. Be willing to discontinue items that are not bringing in enough profit for the time, effort and cost to sell them. The secret to making more money is pretty simple if you put your attention on it. Would you like to share your suggestions about wealth building? We can have this topic through dedicated servers or buy domain name in domain shop. ?

Source: http://blog-finance-bankruptcy.mysurechoice.com/3726/there-are-some-good-suggestions-for-wealth-building/

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behave leonore: candida carnation: Biology Syllabus ? So What ...

If you?re encountered with biology syllabus assessment in that case he/she really needs to fully grasp the exact objectives to make sure that he/she are able to comprehend the objective. There are 3 well-known objectives concerning learning the field of biology which generally are to have practical knowledge with understanding, ability to actually deal with important information and resolve issues in conjunction with learning experimental skillsets as well as inspections.

The actual Biology Syllabus entails of scientific phenomena specifics hence these particular 3 important objectives are crucial for the main assessment procedure. A few other reasons for assessment are to be capable of making predictions, address issues, manipulate data and locate ideal sources to get knowledge acquisition.

19 December 2012 | Reference and Education

Source: http://www.apodimosstudents.com/reference-and-education/biology-syllabus-so-what-does-the-subject-focused-on/

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Source: http://behave-leonore.blogspot.com/2012/12/candida-carnation-biology-syllabus-so.html

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Self Improvement Tips For Improving Your Success - ProjectPB ...

It is always difficult to make any major changes in your life, especially if you are trying to make changes to the person who you are. There are many different things you need to consider. You can improve physically by eating a healthier diet and exercising. Self improvement can be achieved in many different ways. Use the advice in this article to help you make any type of personal change. Not only will this make you feel more positive about yourself, but others in your life will see how you?ve changed as well.

It is a lot easier to plan a personal development program when you are clear about what you want out of life. Choosing long-term goals will help you to gain the right perspective for finding success in life.

The number one rule when you?re trying to make your personal development a high priority is to learn to listen to your body. If your body feels you need to eat or drink, you should do it. By doing that, your body will perform better later on in the future. By shying away from problems, your body will likely do the same in the future.

TIP! Don?t solely focus on your outside looks; have a look at the person you are within. Top of the line clothing or model-looks does not always make you a better person.

Identify the biggest obstacle that is preventing you from succeeding. This is very hard for many people to do. However, identifying what our weaknesses are is one of the first things you have do in order to address and change it. If you get rid of the things that might stand in your way, you can find the way to clear your path.

Look for pieces of writing or prose that were created for motivation. Everyone?s idea of a positive piece of writing is different. It may be a religious bible, or alternatively a book of inspirational quotes. Having something tangible that you can return to when you need encouragement helps you to get in a better state of mind, which means you can handle life better.

Research positive habits that have helped others become successful. Begin with the basics, and practice them over and over until they become ingrained in your daily regimen. It can take up to three weeks to acquire a new habit, so it is important to keep trying.

TIP! You will miss an opportunity if you avoid making the right decision regarding personal development. Don?t fear making decisions even if you?re not that informed about them.

Regardless of what your needs are and how you decide to pursue them, there is one thing that is absolutely crucial. No matter what other steps you take, the one critical decision you must make is to be active in your life, not a bystander. You can always improve yourself as long as you have made the decision to live instead of simply observe.

Becoming healthier will help immensely during self improvement. When you feel good physically, you feel better mentally and emotionally too. When you radiate health you are feeling strong and mentally alert. You will spend less time on health issues and more time enjoying your life. Making healthy choices should be a top priority.

Personal development begins with becoming a leader. The best definition for leadership is ?influence?. Take a look at your leadership journey. What experiences have had the greatest impact on your life? What changes did those events bring forth in you? What attributes make you a good team player? Thinking deeply about these issues can bring awareness of the level of your leadership and team member skills.

TIP! Begin your personal development program by focusing on the things that are most important to you. If you mimic some of the steps these individuals have taken, you just might find that some mistakes are easier to avoid.

Find out more abut sexual capitol and how you can develop it. This doesn?t mean people use sex explicitly to get what they want; it means using personal charm instead. Many people aren?t born with excellent social skills, but developing them can make achieving your other self improvement goals easier.

Stress can greatly interfere with your mood. When our minds are stressed, our mental and physical bodies are harmed. Take care of the stress you have in your mind by thinking clearly. Each day, take time to quiet your mind and relax. This refreshing time can improve your self-image and peace.

Exercise is for everybody. It is not reserved for those who wish to slim down. The physical reasons for exercising are numerous. When you exercise, your body produces a number of chemicals, such as endorphin, which improve your overall mood.

TIP! You can be unnecessarily stressed if you overact to situations. Find ways to deal with distressing situations, and take the time to think things through.

Always be on the look out for a challenge. New opportunities can be gained from trying new things. Additionally, you will understand your limits and improve your abilities. You may even want to achieve something that has never been done before. Don?t just copy what others have done, find something original.

Keep your limitations in mind and do not push too hard to reach your goals, especially when it comes to physical self-improvement. It is just as important to know when to stop as it is to try your hardest. Don?t neglect your body when your are striving to meet your goal. It is simply illogical to expect any real gain in personal development, if you aren?t looking after your body at the same time.

TIP! A positive attitude is key to personal growth. Living your life with a poor attitude will only attract more of the same to your life.

Pick up a book to find out more about personal development. A good personal development book can give you great advice and ideas that can change your life. Books on the topic of personal development can be poorly written. To avoid this, make sure you read books that have been reviewed well.

Our goal in this article was to help you to accomplish a start on your personal development plans. There are various ways you can improve yourself, and there always will be. Regardless of age or circumstance, we can all improve our own lives, and in doing so, impact those around us in a positive way.

Don?t worry so much. If you worry, you will just have a bad idea in your head and create more worries. When you want to worry, just think of the worst thing that can happen, and form a plan of action to counter it. You will then be prepared and able to move forward.

TIP! Do not boast about your accomplishments. Talk to people and find out more about their own achievements.

Blue widgets can be a great thing to learn. Spend some time reading up on the idea and you are more likely to generate successful results. Reading this article is the first step in a journey to master Personal Development that will last a lifetime.

Source: http://www.projectpb.net/blog/index.php/personal_development/self-improvement-tips-for-improving-your-success/

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VP says Chavez up, walking; doubts persist

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) ? Vice President Nicolas Maduro surprised Venezuelans with a Christmas Eve announcement that President Hugo Chavez is up and walking two weeks after cancer surgery in Cuba, but the news did little to ease uncertainty surrounding the leader's condition.

Sounding giddy, Maduro told state television Venezolana de Television that he had spoken by phone with Chavez for 20 minutes Monday night. It was the first time a top Venezuelan government official had confirmed talking personally with Chavez since the Dec. 11 operation, his fourth cancer surgery since 2011.

"He was in a good mood," Maduro said. "He was walking, he was exercising."

Chavez supporters reacted with relief, but the statement inspired more questions, given the sparse information the Venezuelan government has provided so far about the president's cancer. Chavez has kept secret various details about his illness, including the precise location of the tumors and the type of cancer. His long-term prognosis remains a mystery.

Dr. Michael Pishvaian, an oncologist at Georgetown University's Lombardi Cancer Center in Washington, said it was an encouraging sign that Chavez was walking, and it indicated he would be able to return to Venezuela relatively soon. But he said the long term outlook remained poor.

"It's definitely good news. It means that he is on the road to recover fully from the surgery," Pishvaian said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "The overall prognosis is still pretty poor. He likely has a terminal diagnosis with his cancer that has come back."

Pishvaian and other outside doctors have said that given the details Chavez has provided about his cancer, it is most likely a soft-tissue sarcoma.

Chavez first underwent surgery for an unspecified type of pelvic cancer in Cuba in June 2011 and went back this month after tests had found a return of malignant cells in the same area where tumors were previously removed.

Venezuelan officials said that, following the six-hour surgery two weeks ago, Chavez suffered internal bleeding that was stanched and a respiratory infection that was being treated.

Maduro's announcement came just hours after Information Minister Ernesto Villegas read a statement saying Chavez was showing "a slight improvement with a progressive trend."

Dr. Carlos Castro, director of the Colombian League against Cancer, an association that promotes cancer prevention, treatment and education, said Maduro's announcement was too vague to paint a clear picture of Chavez's condition.

"It's possible (that he is walking) because everything is possible," Castro told AP. "They probably had him sit in up in bed and take two steps."

"It's unclear what they mean by exercise. Was it four little steps?" he added. "I think he is still in critical condition."

Maduro's near-midnight announcement came just as Venezuelan families were gathering for traditional late Christmas Eve dinners and setting off the usual deafening fireworks that accompany the festivities. There was still little outward reaction on a quiet Christmas morning.

Danny Moreno, a software technician watching her 2-year-old son try out his new tricycle, was among the few people at a Caracas plaza who said she had heard Maduro's announcement. She said she saw a government Twitter message saying an announcement was coming and her mother rushed to turn on the TV.

"We all said, thank God, he's okay," she said, smiling.

Dr. Gustavo Medrano, a lung specialist at the Centro Medico hospital in Caracas, said if Chavez is talking, it suggests he is breathing on his own despite the respiratory infection and is not in intensive care. But Medrano said he remained skeptical about Maduro's comments and could deduce little from them about Chavez's prognosis for recovery.

"I have no idea because if it was such a serious, urgent, important operation, and that was 14 days ago, I don't think he could be walking and exercising after a surgery like that," Medrano said.

Over the weekend, Chavez's ally, Bolivian President Evo Morales, made a lightning visit to Cuba that only added to the uncertainty.

Journalists had been summoned to cover his arrival and departure in Havana, but hours later that invitation was canceled. No explanation was given, though it could have been due to confusion over Morales' itinerary as he apparently arrived later than initially scheduled.

Cuban state media published photos of President Raul Castro receiving Morales at the airport and said he came "to express his support" for Chavez, his close ally, but did not give further details. He left Sunday without making any public comments.

For the second day in a row Tuesday, Morales made no mention of his trip to Cuba during public events in Bolivia.

Yet more questions surround Chavez's political future, with the surgery coming two months after he won re-election to a six-year term.

If he is unable to continue in office, the Venezuelan Constitution calls for new elections to be held. Chavez has asked his followers to back Maduro, his hand-picked successor, in that event.

Venezuelan officials have said Chavez might not return in time for his Jan. 10 inauguration.

Opposition leaders have argued that the constitution does not allow the president's swearing-in to be postponed, and say new elections should be called if Chavez is unable to take the oath on time.

But government officials have said the constitution lets the Supreme Court administer the oath of office at any time if the National Assembly is unable to do it Jan. 10 as scheduled.

___

Associated Press writers Peter Orsi in Havana, Vivian Sequera in Caracas, Camilo Hernandez in Bogota, Colombia, and Paola Flores in La Paz, Bolivia, contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/vp-says-chavez-walking-doubts-persist-175119675.html

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