Saturday, December 31, 2011

tarakadams commented on Tiffany Noth ~ Founder's group 'New Mexico Bloggers'

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Common Brain Mechanisms Underlie Supernatural Perceptions (preview)

Features | Mind & Brain Cover Image: January 2012 Scientific American MagazineSee Inside

Belief in the paranormal arises from the same brain mechanisms that shape most human thought

Image: Eric Reichbaum/Getty Images

In Brief

  1. Most of us report that we believe in supernatural powers such as clairvoyance and telepathy and in the existence of ghosts.
  2. The widespread reports of paranormal experiences very likely derive from many of the same mechanisms that help us make decisions in daily life.
  3. Research suggests that a highly active right-brain hemisphere may cause someone to be particularly susceptible to improbable beliefs.

You may have never personally caught sight of Jesus Christ?s face in a potato chip, but you have likely succumbed to an equally improbable belief at some point in your life. Many people claim that ghosts exist or that their dreams can predict the future. Some individuals even think they have seen the face of the Virgin Mary in a grilled cheese sandwich and Mother Teresa in a cinnamon bun.


Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=8a4d93f37623488b2acddde3d56cd507

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Disputed Voting Turns Church, a Kremlin Ally, Into Its Critic

Published: Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, December 30, 2011 at 12:10 a.m.

Always a reliable pillar of support for the government of Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin and his United Russia Party, the powerful Orthodox Church has been noticeably ? to some, shockingly ? critical of the elections. Arguably the only major national institution outside the state, the church could potentially play a significant role as the current political and social crisis unfolds.

Patriarch Kirill is by no means the only religious critic of the government since the elections, and certainly not the toughest. ?People of the most varied convictions are now gathering on the square, but they are united by one thing, their unwillingness to live like this any longer,? Archpriest Aleksei Uminsky, a popular Moscow priest who hosts a television program about Orthodoxy, said at a public gathering last week. ?The same thing is happening right now in the church.?

In addition to urging the church to invite serious discussion about Russian society, Father Uminsky called attention to injustices within the church ranks. He cited the case of a priest who died of a heart attack while fighting to preserve church property from Kremlin-backed development plans. ?There was no reaction? from any church leaders in that case and other disturbing episodes, he noted, ?but something is brewing inside.?

Another prominent Moscow priest, the Rev. Andrei Zuevsky, posted a sermon on his Facebook page last weekend that sharply criticized the existing order, and was quickly circulated on blogs.

?As a result of the particular way in which power is set up in our society today, this arrogant attitude toward the people has become the abnormal norm,? Father Zuevsky said. ?Those in power are not only haughty, they refuse anyone but themselves the right to decide what is good and what is bad.?

The criticism has grown so heated that Patriarch Kirill, keenly aware of the church?s continuing dependence on the state, has felt compelled to warn priests to watch their Internet tongues, saying, ?Careless and sometimes intentionally provocative statements by priests cast a shadow on all of God?s church.?

Yet the patriarch, known for mixing tradition with enough modernity to keep himself and his church relevant, condemned neither the Internet nor the right to criticism voiced by priests, monks, nuns and even bishops now blogging and posting on Facebook. Every new parish in Moscow, he has said, should keep in step with the times, accessible to young people and with a home page.

Those comments, at a diocesan assembly on Friday, followed both the statement last week in which Patriarch Kirill upheld the right to protest and sermons on Dec. 17 and 18 in which he urged the government to heed popular anger.

At the same time, alluding to the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution and the Communists? near-destruction of the church, he warned of the dangers of revolution in Russia and of the Internet in manipulating the masses, and stressed that all Russians must work on personal transformation in order for society to change. ?We no longer have the right to be divided,? he said, calling for a broad civic dialogue. ?The blood that was shed in the 20th century does not give us that right.?

Particularly striking since the elections have been statements by priests, including those of Father Uminsky, published by Pravmir, a Russian Orthodox news Web site. Patriarch Kirill ? while lauding official steps, like President Dmitri A. Medvedev?s recent appointments of hard-liners to high government positions, or his promises of change ? went out of his way to praise Pravmir?s coverage of the church and society.

The Rev. Dmitri Sverdlov, a young priest who used to work in finance, drew a broad audience and the admiration of secular liberals often cynical about the church with his account of volunteering as an election observer at a Moscow polling place and seeing ballot stuffing in favor of United Russia.

The diocesan assembly has since forbidden priests to act without authorization as election observers, and has warned that it is ?extremely dangerous? for clerics to violate the overall church rule against participating in election campaigns.

Yet Pravmir and the recent involvement of the church in the discussions about the elections have surprised secular Russians. Dmitri Gubin, a journalist and avowed atheist who had said the silence of the church hierarchy was leading him to regard the Russian Orthodox Church as a branch of the state, said he was ?dumbfounded.?

?For the first time in Russia, I got a clear religious view on a secular problem,? he wrote in Ogonyok, a newsmagazine.

Andrei Zubov, a historian who has studied Russian church-state relations, said the Russian Orthodox Church today had modeled itself on the Kremlin ? ?The church is building approximately the same kind of authoritarian system as has been built by today?s regime? ? and yet was gaining legitimacy as the Kremlin lost ground.

This, he contended, enables Patriarch Kirill to appear as a voice of moderation, a position most likely encouraged by the authorities.

?His declarations are taking on more and more the tonality of a high moderator, who can, he thinks, still calm down the situation, which is headed otherwise to a complete split of society from the regime, and, correspondingly, towards profound political crisis,? Mr. Zubov said.

Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, chairman of the Moscow patriarchate?s department on church and society relations, has said recently that he was meeting regularly with representatives of various political parties, including the Communist Party.

Father Chaplin, a controversial figure who hews publicly to government policy yet also frequents a Moscow club known for indie music and alcohol-fueled debates, said there were now Orthodox believers among the Communists, who are No. 2 among the officially sanctioned political parties in Russia, after United Russia.

For now, the church is avoiding unsanctioned political parties. ?So far, the radical opposition has not come to us with proposals to facilitate a dialogue with the authorities,? Father Chaplin said in an interview. ?A dialogue is needed of course.?

The patriarch and Father Chaplin have stressed that the Russian divide is not just between the Kremlin and those in the streets, arguing that dialogue must include everyone: the elite, workers and peasants, liberals and conservatives, officers and soldiers, and the creative intelligentsia.

Source: http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20111229/znyt03/112293019

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Prof's critique of state's role stirs up Iowans (CNN)

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The Lineup Card: 9 New Year`s Resolutions for Players, Managers, GMs, and Teams by Baseball Prospectus

December 29, 2011

by Baseball Prospectus

1) Ned Colletti
Convince the World He's a Stathead
Once upon a time, a general manager could blow 20 or 30 or 50 million dollars on a bad free agent contract and shrug his shoulders while saying, "Who could have known that Jason Schmidt's shoulder was a ticking time bomb from looking at a health report?" or "Who would have guessed Juan Pierre wasn't a home run hitter?" or "Who says Juan Uribe can't get on base?" But now, waves of young GMs armed with MBAs, propeller beanies, and dog-eared copies of Baseball Between the Numbers can tell you these things, and Ned Colletti knows he's losing his edge to the kids whose footsteps he hears when they get on the spreadsheets.

With the Dodgers up for sale, Colletti knows he's not long for his job, so his New Year's Resolution is to recast himself as one of those hip, young statheads as he seeks his next job. He already bought a subscription to Baseball Prospectus and a couple of Brad Pitt DVDs. He's handed out two-year deals to thirty-something infielders to lock in those low, low prices and found busted fly-ball pitchers who need a spacious park to resuscitate their flagging careers. He's planted stories about how the Dodgers have gone Moneyball because he knows how to look up Juan Rivera's lefty/righty splits on Baseball-Reference.com.

But there's still work to be done in 2012. Colletti must memorize the complex formula used to calculate on-base percentage. He must goad T.J. Simers into calling him "Google Boy" in print at least once, which will make Bill Plaschke so jealous that he'll probably do it twice. He must be interviewed by MLB Network with copies of Baseball Prospectus annuals visibly lining the shelves behind him. And he must buy a gorilla suit. ?Jay Jaffe

2) Bud Selig
Find New Owners for the Dodgers and Mets
All in all, 2011 was a pretty successful year for Major League Baseball. From Justin Verlander?s incredible season, to Derek Jeter?s 3000th hit, to that incredible final day of the season and the thrilling World Series, there was lots of good PR to go around. Of course, guaranteeing five more years of labor peace doesn?t hurt in that department either. The dark cloud that hangs over the league at the moment is the ownership situations in Los Angeles and New York. The McCourt divorce and Wilpon?s financial issues have left both teams as raging dumpster fires. This is why number one on Bud Selig?s New Year?s resolution list should be to find new owners for both teams as soon as possible. Both teams have had massive payroll constrictions due to the instability at the top of the organization. While this might be overlooked if it was going on in smaller markets, the fact that this is unfolding in two of baseball?s largest markets means they are situations that needs to be remedied sooner rather than later.

The Dodgers are in danger of having part of their fanbase siphoned off with all of the moves that the Angels have made this offseason. The public war over the team between the McCourt?s has been embarrassing to the employees and fans of the Dodgers, and it only promises to be dragged out even longer as Frank refuses to waive the white flag.

The Mets were already in a precarious situation because the Yankees are kind of popular in New York, not to mention their poor record the last three seasons. Their payroll is likely going to be reduced once again this season, and Sandy Alderson admitted that even with their lowered 2011 payroll, the organization suffered huge financial losses. Selig?s number one priority in 2012 should be to make sure the Mets and Dodgers find not just new owners, but ones with actual money?a concept which Selig has struggled with and is part of the reason the Dodgers are in this predicament in the first place. Hopefully this is a resolution that Selig has the resolve to stick with and doesn?t end up as the equivalent of someone not running on the treadmill after January. Without new owners, the Mets and Dodgers will continue their respective spirals down the standings and attendance lists, which in turn will hurt MLB financially each season until these situations are mercifully resolved. ?Sam Tydings

3) Albert Pujols
Back to Ash
Baseball?s new labor deal bans low-density maple bats but with an exception that nearly swallows the new rule. New major leaguers may not use the hard, brittle wood prone to shatter, but thanks to a grandfather clause, current players may continue to wield maple. Make us safe, but not just yet.

No player, at any level, wants anyone messing with the tools of his trade, but it might be helpful to kick-start the beginning of the end of the maple era if an established star who didn?t have to make the switch gave an old-fashioned ash bat a try, even if only during spring training. Make it a 2012 resolution. Think of the new marketing opportunities! How about the guy who carries the biggest stick in the game, Albert Pujols? Compared to all the other changes coming his way this spring?Disneyland, a new league, and a halo?it?s a small thing. And the newest Angel always can quietly go back. Just make it to March, and he?s bound to outlast my own resolutions. ?Jeff Euston

4) Bryce Harper
Embrace Humility
A simple New Year?s Resolution for the Washington Nationals phenom is to live up to the hype that he has created for himself. Not since ? well anyone? has a minor league ballplayer garnered so much attention and gained such iconic status as Bryce Harper has done in his one and only season in professional baseball. At the age of 16 he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, and the hype began, the spotlight was on, and the next "Nuke" LaLoosh was fueling his own hype machine. In a Single-A game at the age of 18, he blew a kiss to an opposing pitcher as he rounded the bases on one of his 23 homeruns split between Single-A, Double-A, and winter ball in 2011. As they say, all things come in threes, and the ?Harper Condition? is no different. The now 19-year old phenom got a Chocolate Lab puppy for Christmas and promptly introduced him to the world on Twitter (@BHarper3407), naming him ?SWAG?. Seriously? who does that? Where is Crash Davis when you need him? This teenager is simply getting too big for his britches, and a 2012 resolution for him is easy: ?Act like a minor leaguer until you make it to the show, and then once you prove you can hit higher than the .256 you hit in AA, you can strut.? Otherwise, you?re likely to get a major-league heater in the ear if you act like this in the bigs. ?Adam Tower

5) Juan Carlos Oviedo (the pitcher formerly known as Leo N??ez)
Embrace your identity and help authorities in the Dominican Republic?
On one of many summer nights at Kauffman Stadium as a teenager, I sat behind the Royals' bullpen and watched how Royals reliever Leo N??ez worked. He pervaded calmness, stability, and fragility. I nicknamed him "Baby Face", partly due to his demeanor and partly due to his boyish appearance. In 2008, the Royals shipped him to the Marlins for Mike Jacobs (who lasted one season in KC before getting released), but I continued to follow his career as a closer. The bombshell dropped this September ? Leo N??ez wasn't Leo N??ez. He is actually Juan Carlos Oviedo. So much for stability.

Since Oviedo agreed to cooperate with a false documentation investigation in the Dominican Republic, he won't be prosecuted on a fake identity charge. He wants to play for the Marlins again, but he needs to acquire a U.S. visa, for which he has been denied previously.

If Oviedo resolves to embrace his identity, help authorities curtail illegal documentation, and create awareness for an ongoing problem in the Dominican Republic, he might be able to find his way back to the States. He changed his name and age to be able to sign a professional contract, which is immoral. He deceived his employers, but he did so in order to escape poverty. Acknowledging the mistake and being open about it is certainly better than hiding it.

If he pays his debt, Oviedo should get a second chance, either with the Marlins or a new team. His team changed its name, too. He'd fit right in. ?Clark Goble

6) Mike Matheny
Work on Communicating with Bullpen Coach Derek Lilliquist
Tony La Russa endured his most embarrassing moment in 33 years as a big league manager when a failure to communicate with bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist allegedly cost his Cardinals in Game Five of the World Series. The Redbirds rebounded, of course, but as first-year skipper Mike Matheny looks to fill La Russa's shoes, he ought to learn a valuable lesson from his predecessor's mishap.

Jason Motte, Marc Rzepczynski, and Lance Lynn?the three pitchers involved in the snafu?will likely be on Matheny's Opening Day roster, and Lilliquist will still be down in the bullpen answering the phone. ?The three names certainly don't sound the same, but if Lilliquist can't tell them apart, Matheny, who ushers in a new generation of managers that were still playing in the 2000s, might as well revamp the process.

It's hard to picture La Russa or Charlie Manuel sending a text message, but Matheny and Lilliquist?both in their 40s?could probably pull it off. Smoke signals? Carrier pigeons? Adding "messenger" to Skip Schumaker's responsibilities as a utility man? Anything to avoid, well, this. ?Daniel Rathman

7) Dave Dombrowski
Don?t Trade Away Top Prospects
Here?s a 2012 New Year?s resolution for you Dave Dombrowski and your Detroit Tigers: don?t trade your prospects for a player that you traded away as a prospect. DD made a mistake on 10/29/07 when he sent a young Jair Jurrjens to Atlanta along with another prospect at the time (Gorkys Hernandez) for National League shortstop Edgar Renteria. The new Tigers shortstop would hit only .270 in 2008?his only season in Detroit?coming off of a 2007 season for the Braves in which he hit .332. Hernandez would never pan out, but Jurrjens has become a mainstay in the Atlanta rotation, winning 47 games in four seasons, including two seasons of 13 wins and one of 14 wins. Now he is on the trading block if for no other reason than that the Braves have younger pitching to take the place of the 25-year old former Tigers prospect. As tempting as it is to pull the trigger and fix the mistake, Dombrowski and the Tigers should resolve to not trade any of their top 10 prospects to bring Jurrjens back to the Motor City. Instead, they should look to give Atlanta exactly what they got for Jurrjens in 2007; they should look to send Ryan Raburn and a Single-A first-baseman to Atlanta. The ?ol ?eye for an eye? seems like as good a resolution as any. Is it Opening Day yet? ?Adam Tower

8) Bobby Abreu
Be More Considerate by Swinging at More Pitches
Abreu has offered at between 32-to-34 percent of pitches seen since 2009, making him one of the most economical batters when it comes to swinging. Yet, think about the crippling self-doubt Abreu causes in strike-throwing pitchers. Imagine throwing a perfectly hitable strike, only to see Abreu look down his nose at the pitch. Even Abreu?s own teammates think he comes off as an elitist. Abreu wants to change and will try to atone for his sins by swinging more often in 2012. ?R.J. Anderson

9) Dayton Moore
Stop signing Yuniesky Betancourt
This one will have to wait for 2013. ?Ben Lindbergh

Source: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=15746

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Where In the World is Lindsay Celebrating New Year's Eve?

LindsayLohan1230.jpg
While all the stars are in Las Vegas, will Lindsay Lohan be ringing in 2012 in Dubai? It was reported earlier this week that Lindsay would be partying it up in Dubai to celebrate the new year, but now sources are saying this is definitely not true!

The false claims, made by an overseas party planning company, have Lindsay outraged, according to a source. Lindsay?s rep had this to say to the media: ?Lindsay is not going to Dubai, nor had she ever considered doing so. She will be spending New Year's Eve in Los Angeles with a few close friends and family." Lindsay is said to be very unhappy that her name was being used to promote a New Year's Eve party cruise on the Queen Elizabeth 2, and her legal team is taking care of the issue with a cease and desist letter. Party girl press like this is not what the starlet needs after so many legal problems lately, so it?s understandable that Lindsay would be so upset.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/InTouchWeekly/~3/8zY8O7Lkf84/lindsay_lohan_3.php

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The iPad that saved Christmas

LASD

NBC San Diego

It was a merry Christmas after all for a San Diego County family that had their holiday gifts stolen last week.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies have recovered more than 40 presents belonging to the family after arresting their neighbor Sunday in a separate burglary case.

Sheriff's Lt. James Royal says a Westlake Village man reported his iPad stolen by a burglar on Sunday, then traced the device to a nearby location.

After investigating, Royal says deputies arrested 20-year-old Patrick Krewson and recovered the iPad, then proceeded to search Krewson's apartment in Vista.

Royal says deputies found two flat screen TVs, a laptop and Christmas gifts stolen from a family's nearby apartment on Thursday.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

More stories from NBC San Diego:

Source: http://digitallife.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/28/9772550-the-ipad-that-saved-christmas

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Doolittle Home is Very Pleased to Announce That Our Retirement Community has Earned a Perfect, Deficiency-Free Survey Result from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH)

Doolittle Home is Very Pleased to Announce That Our Retirement Community has Earned a Perfect, Deficiency-Free Survey Result from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH)

FOXBORO, MA, December 30, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Doolittle Home, located in Foxboro, MA, is very pleased to announce that our Retirement Community has earned a perfect, deficiency-free survey from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). The deficiency -free rating is a result of the State's rigorous 3 day examination which ended on October 13th, 2011 and is one of the top indicators of excellence for long term care facilities.

They evaluated our facility for quality, safety, administration effectiveness, cleanliness, nursing care, activity programs, protection of resident rights, and food services. During the last three years, the department found only 17 out of 431 nursing facilities deficiency-free.

With increasingly stringent regulations, achieving the deficiency-free rating is exceedingly difficult. These surveys, and the subsequent ratings, are a useful tool for prospective and current residents; their families and health care practitioners, to make informed choices about the quality of a long term care facility.

It takes an entire team effort to achieve this distinguished rating. DeAnna Willis, Executive Director with the continuous efforts of the entire staff, including activities, maintenance, housekeeping, dietary, and our professional medical staff, collaborate daily to provide extraordinary care, which is the hallmark of the Doolittle Experience.

In addition, according to the 2009-2010 survey of 430 long-term care facilities released by the Massachusetts Department of Health, Doolittle Home received the following outstanding ratings. Doolittle Home ranked #1 in the latest state satisfaction survey as 1-Highest ranking for personal care 2-Top recognition for food service 3-Top ranking for physical facility 4- Second highest rating Administration & Staff.

Doolittle Home, recognized as a not for profit home, is licensed for 32 residents, by MA Department of Public Health to serve the elderly. Please come and discover "The Doolittle Difference" level of care, including life, residency, and respite care. What began as a rest home, 96 years ago by Sarah Doolittle for Foxboro Straw Hat factory workers and their families, Doolittle Home has evolved into a bed and breakfast-like with a medical component home-providing top of the line care to Foxboro area residents.

"The staff always treats me as if I were the most important person here," quotes a Doolittle Home resident. "If I can't be at home, Doolittle Home is the next best place to be."

For a complimentary tour please contact DeAnna Willis at 508-543-2694.

Contact:
Allison Lux Nuovo,
Director of Marketing and Communications
Allison@doolittle-home.org
16 Bird Street
Foxboro, MA 02035
Phone 508-543-2694
New Blog: http://doolittlehomeforseniors.com
Virtual Tour: http://doolittlehome.org

Doolittle Home is a hidden gem retirement home specializing in a unique Life Care program. Our active, engaged and warm home combines priority, personalized care with predictable fees. Doolittle Home offers several other entry options, including respite and month-to-month residency care. Amenities include 3 delicious meals daily, snacks, activities, laundry and a 9 bed accredited nursing unit. Discover the Doolittle Difference.

---
Press release service and press release distribution provided by http://www.24-7pressrelease.com

Source: http://finance.boston.com/boston/news/read?GUID=20288650

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Rose Parade security beefed up as Occupy plans protest

Police beef up security for Occupy Rose Parade protests

Facing a protest by Occupy demonstrators, Pasadena police will bolster their already robust presence at this year?s Rose Parade.

Pasadena police and Tournament of Roses officials have been negotiating with Occupy forces for several weeks on a plan that they hope will prevent any disruptions to the Jan. 2 parade. Pasadena officials are allowing the Occupy group to march on the parade route after all the official floats have passed.

Protesters intend to march with large banners that decry wealth inequality in the United States and to unveil a few colorful "floats" of their own, including a giant people-powered octopus, said Pete Thottam, an Occupy spokesman. The octopus -- to be made out of recycled bags and stretch 40 feet from tentacle to tentacle -- is designed to represent the stranglehold that Wall Street has on the political process, he said.

PHOTOS: Rose Parade floats in the making

Planned speakers include Cindy Sheehan, an antiwar activist who lost her son in the Iraq war, local Occupy activists and possibly leftist documentarian Michael Moore.

Pasadena Police Lt. Phlunte Riddle declined to say how many of the city?s 235 sworn officers will work on Jan. 2, when the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game are expected to attract as many as 800,000 people to Pasadena. But the array of local police, county sheriffs and state and federal law enforcement agents will be larger than usual, she said.

?We have brought on some additional resources since learning that Occupy intends to demonstrate,? Riddle told the?Pasadena Sun. ?We use federal, state and local partners to make sure we have the appropriate resources on hand.?

Riddle declined to say which agencies would assist the city. In the past the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives?have had a presence, as have the National Guard and the California Highway Patrol. Every year the L.A. County Sheriff?s Department enters into an agreement with Pasadena to provide support. Riddle said plain-clothes and uniform officers will be on hand.

ALSO:

Venomous gila monster captured in San Diego

Police arrest suspect in shooting that left soldier paralyzed

12-year-old girl dies while dashing onto freeway to grab clothing

--Bill Kisliuk, Times Community News

Photo: Rick Jackson, right, president of the Tournament of Roses Assn., presents a Rose Parade flag to Tony White, director of the Los Angeles Unified School District's All-District Marching Band, in the parking lot of Dodgers Stadium last week. Credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

Source: http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/local/crime/~3/uM0XuoKyeMc/la-me-1228-rose-parade-20111228,0,3619317.story

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An App Helps Chicago Woman Find Stolen MacBook on Facebook

facebook An App Helps Chicago Woman Find Stolen MacBook on Facebook Facebook has helped people do a lot this year, from providing a vent to those frustrated with finals to providing a means to overthrow dictators to those frustrated with their governments. If all goes well, we might be able to add another crime solved to that growing list, too.

In Chicago last week, Theresa Unkrur?s house was burglarized. A thief or thieves made off with computers, an iPhone, and a PlayStation 3. One of those computers was a MacBook that belonged to Unkrur?s daughter, who was a little surprised to see a new photo uploaded onto her Facebook straight from her stolen laptop a few days later.

Unkrur?s daughter had an app similar to this one,?which uploads pictures taken with a MacBook directly to the user?s Facebook account. The picture is a clear shot of two men, potentially the thieves, sitting on a couch. If a positive identification can be made, the two men in the picture at the very least can point the way to the thieves, if they aren?t the perpetrators in the first place. And, thanks to a fingerprint left behind because of a botched attempt at stealing the family?s television, the Unkrurs should know for certain either way when that time comes.

This story seems like a case of unintended consequences, with the Facebook app in question serving an unexpectedly fortunate purpose. But, there is no shortage of apps coming out now that do serve this kind of security function, like this one, which uses the MacBook?s accelerometer to detect sudden motion, triggering the computer to snap a photo that will be sent to a designated email address, along with optional SMS alerts.

Here?s hoping the Unkrurs get their gear back, and that the same thing never happens to you.

Via the Chicago Tribune

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChipChick/~3/ScCw_VlDnb4/app-chicago-facebook-macbook.html

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Case Closed? Columbus Introduced Syphilis to Europe

News | Health

Syphilis was one of the first global diseases, and understanding where it came from and how it spread may help us combat diseases today


Image: Library of Congress

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, but when he returned from 'cross the seas, did he bring with him a new disease?

New skeletal evidence suggests Columbus and his crew not only introduced the Old World to the New World, but brought back syphilis as well, researchers say.

Syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum bacteria, and is usually curable nowadays with antibiotics. Untreated, it can damage the heart, brain, eyes and bones; it can also be fatal.

The first known epidemic of syphilis occurred during the Renaissance in 1495. Initially its plague broke out among the army of Charles the VIII after the French king invaded Naples. It then proceeded to devastate Europe, said researcher George Armelagos, a skeletal biologist at Emory University in Atlanta.

"Syphilis has been around for 500 years," said researcher Molly Zuckerman at Mississippi State University. "People started debating where it came from shortly afterward, and they haven't stopped since. It was one of the first global diseases, and understanding where it came from and how it spread may help us combat diseases today."

Stigmatized disease

The fact that syphilis is a stigmatized sexually transmitted disease has added to the controversy over its origins. People often seem to want to blame some other country for it, said researcher Kristin Harper, an evolutionary biologist at Emory. [Top 10 Stigmatized Health Disorders]

Armelagos originally doubted the so-called Columbian theory for syphilis when he first heard about it decades ago. "I laughed at the idea that a small group of sailors brought back this disease that caused this major European epidemic," he recalled. Critics of the Columbian theory have proposed that syphilis had always bedeviled the Old World but simply had not been set apart from other rotting diseases such as leprosy until 1500 or so.

However, upon further investigation, Armelagos and his colleagues got a shock ? all of the available evidence they found supported the Columbian theory, findings they published in 1988. "It was a paradigm shift," Armelagos says. Then in 2008, genetic analysis by Armelagos and his collaborators of syphilis's family of bacteria lent further support to the theory.

Still, there have been reports of 50 skeletons from Europe dating back from before Columbus set sail that apparently showed the lesions of chronic syphilis. These seemed to be evidence that syphilis originated in the Old World and that Columbus was not to blame.

Armelagos and his colleagues took a closer look at all the data from these prior reports. They found most of the skeletal material didn't actually meet at least one of the standard diagnostic criteria for chronic syphilis, such as pitting on the skull, known as caries sicca, and pitting and swelling of the long bones.

"There's no really good evidence of a syphilis case before 1492 in Europe," Armelagos told LiveScience.

In the seafood?

The 16 reports that did meet the criteria for syphilis came from coastal regions where seafood was a large part of the diet. This seafood contains "old carbon" from deep, upwelling ocean waters. As such, they might fall prey to the so-called "marine reservoir effect" that can throw off radiocarbon dating of a skeleton by hundreds or even thousands of years. To adjust for this effect, the researchers figured out the amount of seafood these individuals ate when alive. Since our bodies constantly break down and rebuild our bones, measurements of bone-collagen protein can provide a record of diet.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=f900e57bf7eb6a96d21eafb63afbd343

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

NBA's return draws big TV ratings on Christmas

NEW YORK?NBA fans seem more excited about basketball's return than bitter about the lockout based on television ratings for the league's delayed openers.

The five Christmas games Sunday averaged 6.2 million viewers based on fast national ratings, up from 6 million last year.

The Bulls-Lakers matchup was the third most-watched regular-season game ever on ABC, behind only last year's highly anticipated Heat-Lakers showdown and another meeting between Miami and LA in 2004.

Chris Paul's Clippers debut in the nightcap against the Warriors earned a 2.2 rating, up 69 percent over last year's Portland-Golden State telecast in the same slot.

It was ESPN's highest-rated Christmas prime-time game. The day's first contest, Celtics-Knicks on TNT, was the most viewed Christmas game ever on cable. The 4.0 rating was up 48 percent from last year's Bulls-Knicks game on ESPN.

The first night game on ESPN?Magic-Thunder?drew a 1.8, up 29 percent from last year's Denver-Oklahoma City matchup. The afternoon's finals rematch on ABC, the Heat's rout of the Mavericks, earned a 4.9, up 7 percent from Boston-Orlando last year.

Ratings represent the percentage of all homes with televisions tuned to a program.

Source: http://www.ldnews.com/ci_19621219?source=rss_viewed

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Spire Hack Brings Siri to Jailbroken iOS 5 Devices

These Siri hacks are getting serious. The latest one, called Spire, is the work of two veteran hackers, and, unlike previous Siri ports, it's technically legal -- though legal certainly doesn't mean the same thing as "endorsed by Apple."

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/6Mq5gfzr5pg/

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Africa: Guy Makki, a Gaullist, a man of action in the Arabian World and continent (All Africa)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/au/stories/business/179309307?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Shipping Containers BecomeSolar-Powered Internet Hubs in Rural Africa


Computer Aid International/Video screen capture

Every now and then when we post on how solar power is bringing the internet to rural Africa, or enabling the charging of mobile phones in poor communities, I'll hear concerns from naysayers who wonder what these technologies might mean for traditional social structures in these remote areas.

Let's leave aside the morally questionable issue of internet-connected critics worrying about access to the internet for others for a moment, and look at the core question?does internet connectivity threaten rural communities? Actually, if UK-based charity Computer Aid is anything to go by, the reverse is true.


Computer Aid International/Video screen capture

From helping farmers to market their crops and communicate with veterinarians, to helping nursing students keep up to date with the latest research, access to the internet is providing rural Africans with the resources they need to keep their communities viable and slow the push of urbanization. Having seen how access to the internet had help support farmers, students and community institutions in the Zambian village of Macha, Computer Aid is now looking at how to bring that access to other communities that do not have the infrastructural benefits that Macha enjoys. (Macha was the location of a research station and Christian mission that facilitated the building of satellite internet.)


Computer Aid International/Video screen capture

The solution is what has become known as the ZumbaBox?a shipping container with satellite-enabled wi-fi and solar panels on the roof, which houses one PC and a number of "virtual desktops" that villagers can use to study, communicate and stay connected to news and cultural events.

Below is a BBC report on what looks like an awesome project, and Business Green has an excellent write up of the use of ZumbaBoxes across Africa. Oh, and if anyone is out there communicating from a ZumbaBox, be sure to drop a note in the comments and tell is how you like it.


Computer Aid International/Video screen capture


Computer Aid International/Video screen capture

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/treehuggersite/~3/5nQqDHMZz0E/solar-powered-internet-hubs-shipping-containers-support-rural-african-communities.html

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Cause of death unclear for Minn. shooting suspect (AP)

DULUTH, Minn. ? An autopsy on a man who died in custody while charged with opening fire in a northern Minnesota courthouse found the cause and manner of his death to be "undetermined," pending additional laboratory tests.

St. Louis County Sheriff Ross Litman tells the Duluth News Tribune (http://bit.ly/w2taof) those tests could take several weeks.

Nonetheless, Litman says foul play is not suspected in the death of 42-year-old Daniel Schlienz. Litman says the investigation is pointing toward a physiological or medical condition as the cause.

Litman says Schlienz requested medical attention on Christmas Day, but due to short staffing at the jail he was not given immediate medical care. He was treated for flu-like symptoms on Monday.

When his condition worsened, he was taken to a local hospital. He died Tuesday morning.

___

Information from: Duluth News Tribune, http://www.duluthsuperior.com

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/crime/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111228/ap_on_re_us/mn_courthouse_shooting_minnesota

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Galaxy S may get a Value Pack Upgrade instead of Android 4.0


?

It seems Samsung will stand by its original decision after all. However, there will be a slight change as Samsung is thinking of providing a Value Pack to Galaxy S users instead of a full-fledged Android 4.0 update.

Although the phone will stay at Android 2.3, the Value Pack will try to enhance some features like improved web browsing, multi-tasking, new widgets etc. to bring the experience as close as Ice Cream Sandwich.

Samsung earlier this month adopted a similar strategy for its Wave 525 and Wave 533 devices. Instead of offering bada 2.0 to both the devices, Samsung promised to provide a Value Pack upgrade which tries to offer the ?same bada 2.0 user experience and service as much as possible despite the hardware limitations.?

Source, Thanks, MianJ!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samsunghub/~3/mwdlxP_TWms/

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

IMF's Lagarde warns global economy threatened (Reuters)

PARIS (Reuters) ? The head of the International Monetary Fund said the world economy was in danger and urged Europeans to speak with one voice on a debt crisis that has rattled the global financial system.

In Nigeria last week, IMF Christine Lagarde said the IMF's 4 percent growth forecast for the world economy in 2012 could be revised downward, but gave no new figure.

"The world economy is in a dangerous situation," she told France's Journal du Dimanche in an interview published on Sunday.

The debt crisis, which continues into 2012 after a European Union summit on December 9 only temporarily calmed markets, "is a crisis of confidence in public debt and in the solidity of the financial system," she said.

European leaders drafted a new treaty for deeper economic integration in the euro zone, but it is not certain that the accord will stem the debt crisis, which began in Greece in 2009, and now threatens France and even economic powerhouse Germany.

"The December 9 summit wasn't detailed enough on financial terms and too complicated on fundamental principles," said Lagarde.

"It would be useful for Europeans to speak with a single voice and announce a simple and detailed timetable," she said. "Investors are waiting for it. Grand principles don't impress."

Part of the problem, she said, has been national calls for protectionism, making it "difficult to put in place international coalition strategies against it."

Lagarde added: "National parliaments grumble at using public money or the guarantee of their state to support other countries. Protectionism is in the debate, and everyone for themselves is winning ground."

She did not specify which countries she was referring to.

Emerging countries, which had been growth engines for the world economy before the crisis, have also been affected, said Lagarde, citing China, Brazil and Russia.

"These countries, which were the engines, will suffer from instability factors," she told the newspaper.

(Reporting by Alexandria Sage; Editing by Alistair Lyon)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111225/bs_nm/us_france_imf

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Cruise's 'Mission' accomplishes box-office win (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? Hollywood has picked up a little Christmas bonus.

Studios generally underestimated the size of their movie audiences over the weekend, and they're now revising the holiday revenues upward.

Leading the way is Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible ? Ghost Protocol," which pulled in $29.5 million for the weekend. That Monday figure is $3 million more than distributor Paramount estimated a day earlier.

For the four-day period Friday to Monday, Paramount estimates "Ghost Protocol" will have taken in $46.2 million to raise its domestic total to $78.6 million. That's on top of $140 million the film has taken in overseas, giving it a worldwide haul of $218.6 million.

Studios Monday also reported stronger results than they did a day earlier for Robert Downey Jr.'s "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," which was No. 2 at $20.3 million for the three-day weekend and $31.8 million for the four-day period; Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin" at No. 5 with $9.7 million over three days and $16.1 million for four days; and Matt Damon's "We Bought a Zoo" at No. 6 with $9.5 million over three days and $15.6 million for four days.

In a tight race for the No. 4 spot were David Fincher's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and the family sequel "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked."

"Dragon Tattoo" did $12.8 million over three days and $19.4 million for four days. "Chipwrecked" took in $12.7 million over three days and $20 million for four days.

A few films debuted on Christmas Day, among them Spielberg's World War I epic "War Horse," which took in $7.5 million Sunday. Through Monday, its estimated two-day total is $15 million.

Also debuting was Emile Hirsch's action thriller "The Darkest Hour," which earned $3 million Sunday and had a two-day total of $5.5 million through Monday.

Opening solidly in just six theaters was Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock's Sept. 11 drama "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," which took in $71,000 Sunday and $136,000 through Monday. The film expands to nationwide release in January.

Despite the upward revision on some movies' revenues, the Christmas weekend continued a box-office slide that has persisted since Thanksgiving. Overall revenues from Friday to Sunday totaled $128 million, down 10 percent from Christmas weekend last year, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com.

The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Monday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Hollywood.com are:

1. "Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol," Paramount, $46,210,000, 3,448 locations, $13,402 average, $78,645,000, two weeks.

2. "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," Warner Bros., $31,810,000, 3,448 locations, $9,226 average, $90,564,000, two weeks.

3. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked," Fox, $20,000,000, 3,734 locations, $5,356 average, $56,940,187, two weeks.

4. "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," Sony, $19,400,000, 2,914 locations, $6,658 average, $27,716,000, one week.

5. "The Adventures of Tintin," Paramount, $16,100,000, 3,087 locations, $5,215 average, $24,107,000, one week.

6. "We Bought a Zoo," Fox, $15,600,000, 3,117 locations, $5,005 average, $15,600,000, one week.

7. "War Horse" (opened Sunday), Disney, $15,025,000, 2,376 locations, $6,324 average, $15,025,000, one week.

8. "The Darkest Hour" (opened Sunday), Summit, $5,500,000, 2,324 locations, $2,367 average, $5,500,000, one week.

9. "New Year's Eve," Warner Bros., $4,950,000, 2,585 locations, $1,915 average, $34,287,000, three weeks.

10. "The Descendants," Fox Searchlight, $3,425,000, 813 locations, $4,213 average, $33,716,552, six weeks.

11. "The Muppets," Disney, $3,355,000, 1,752 locations, $1,915 average, $76,911,000, five weeks.

12. "Hugo," Paramount, $3,300,000, 1,256 locations, $2,627 average, $44,927,000, five weeks.

13. "Arthur Christmas," Sony, $3,100,000, 1,804 locations, $1,718 average, $44,062,000, five weeks.

14. "The Sitter," Fox, $3,000,000, 1,786 locations, $1,680 average, $23,488,202, three weeks.

15. "Young Adult," Paramount, $2,775,000, 987 locations, $2,812 average, $8,184,000, three weeks.

16. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 1," Summit, $2,150,000, 1,603 locations, $1,341 average, $270,951,901, six weeks.

17. "The Artist," Weinstein Co., $1,402,000, 167 locations, $8,395 average, $2,900,430, five weeks.

18. "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," Focus, $1,210,160, 55 locations, $22,003 average, $2,311,670, three weeks.

19. "My Week with Marilyn," Weinstein Co., $888,000, 602 locations, $1,475 average, $7,307,196, five weeks.

20. "Puss in Boots," Paramount, $685,000, 389 locations, $1,761 average, $143,935,000, nine weeks.

___

Online:

http://www.hollywood.com

___

Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111226/ap_en_ot/us_box_office

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Monday, December 26, 2011

How Small Businesses Can Cope With Florida Workers' Comp Insurance Hikes

?In just a few days, workers' compensation insurance rates are set to increase in Florida by 8.9 percent. The insurance hike, which Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty approved in October, represents the second year in a row Florida has seen increases in workers' compensation insurance rates. While McCarty said the rate increase in Florida is necessary, this workers' comp insurance hike, coupled with a double digit unemployment rate in the state, could prove especially trying for small businesses in Florida.

"We had a roughly 8 percent increase last year and now our members are being asked to absorb another 8.9 percent increase," Bill Herrle, the National Federation of Independent Business Florida director, said. "That's a very substantial increase in the cost of labor over the course of two very difficult years for small employers."

Florida currently has a 10.0 percent unemployment rate, ranking in the top 10 for states with the highest levels of unemployment. While the workers' compensation insurance rates will be much lower than the levels they were in 2003 when Florida had the highest rates in the nation, Herrle claims the workers' comp insurance increase will have a hard-hitting impact on businesses trying to survive in the down economy.

"This increase might be justifiable in actuarial terms, but there's no doubt that it's going to dampen the demand for labor in a state where the labor market is already badly depressed," Herrle said.

With all of the changes coming up in the next year, small businesses don't have to suffer because of the rise in workers' comp insurance rates. Work Comp Specialists Agency, a Florida workers' comp insurance agency, can offer assistance to businesses that are looking?for ways to save on their bottom lines.

The insurance specialists working at Work Comp Specialists offer more than 70 years of combined experience, specializing only in workers' compensation for Florida. Led by Kevin Campbell, whose family has an 80 year history in sales, management, and insurance agency ownership, Work Comp Specialists offers locations in Panama City Beach, Tampa, and Gainesville, Florida. If you need to buy Florida work comp insurance but aren't sure of what kind of policy is right for your business, contact Work Comp Specialists for a quote today.

Source: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r5662851031&f=378

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defaultmovie: A lot of people may think student-athletes have it... | OCCUPY STUDENT DEBT http://t.co/jK8FsHJe #OccupyStudentDebt #ThisIsUsury

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Saturday, December 24, 2011

Cohoes church to serve free Christmas dinners

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Source: http://cohoes.wnyt.com/news/community-spirit/102444-cohoes-church-serve-free-christmas-dinners

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Snowbound Arizona student survived on two candy bars over 9 days

Arizona State University student Lauren Weinberg was found by the US Forest Service. She survived on melted snow and candy bars after her car got stuck on a remote Arizona road.

A college student stranded by heavy snow in her car for nine days on a barren Arizona road has been rescued after living on candy bars and melted snow, authorities said on Thursday.

Skip to next paragraph

Arizona State University student Lauren Weinberg, 23, was found Wednesday by two U.S. Forest Service employees patrolling on snowmobiles, Coconino County Sheriff's Office patrol Lieutenant Jim Coffey said.

Weinberg, who was found about 46 miles from the town of Winslow in northern Arizona, was reported missing after she was last seen in Phoenix on Dec. 11, the sheriff's office said.

IN PICTURES: Going Nowhere: Stranded by weather

Weinberg was driving her sedan on Dec. 12 with no specific destination in mind when her car got stuck in over 18 inches of snow, Coffey said.

She was taken by patrol car to Flagstaff Medical Center to make sure she wasn't suffering from frostbite and dehydration, before being released.

"I am so thankful to be alive and warm," Weinberg said in a statement released by the hospital. "Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers, because they worked. There were times I was afraid but mostly I had faith I would be found," she said.

Weinberg survived on two candy bars and a clear plastic bottle she filled with snow that melted in the sun, the sheriff's office said.

She had a cellphone with her but the battery had died.

(Editing by David Bailey)

IN PICTURES: Going Nowhere: Stranded by weather

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/3k3ZwAanrBM/Snowbound-Arizona-student-survived-on-two-candy-bars-over-9-days

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Windows 7 volume lowering issue UNLIKE most

Hi, I am posting this here because the Winamp forum likes to not respond to its users. THey respond to some, but not others. Very selective. As such I am not getting help for my problem, so I thought I'd peek my head in here.

This is the same problem many others have complained about:

Windows 7 adds the feature of individual volume sliders for every application you run.

Windows 7 then lowers the volume of winamp to about 20%.

For most people with this problem, the problem is that Control Panel->Sound->Communications has the checkbox "diminish volume of other applications when communications are detected".

Thing is - I never had that on in the first place. I turned it off months ago and have verified that it's definitely off.

I don't even use a microphone to communicate -- even my FB chat and gmail chat are disabled. But it doesn't matter because the communications setting is turned off.

And it STILL happens. Sometimes more than once a day. Always when I am asleep and not even using the computer or running any software I wasn't already running before.

I go to bed with the music at the right volume and wake up full of adrenaline thinking the power has gone out because the music is so quiet I can't hear it over the traffic outside.

And no, I can't switch from DirectSound to WaveOut because I use both with different soundcards / different rooms.

(Nor would I want to take away winamp's separate-volume capabilities. Music is way louder than movies, and if you want to switch between the two without making your friends jump out of the couch, music needs to be lowered in volume when switching between.)

So what do *I* do?

As far as I can tell, even though I've been using it since the 1990s - Winamp can no longer meet my needs because of this. Really it's Windows 7's fault, but Winamp is the only app that's getting lowered to 20% all the time. No others are. Just winamp. Every. Night.

I am at wit's end here. I haven't owned a cd player for over 5 years because winamp has always met my needs. My needs expanded, i have 3 stereos in 3 rooms, and winamp controls them all.

Now my needs aren't being met (because of Windows 7, which is fixing many other things that were broken for me).

Is there a fix here?

I will happily provide more information. If someone would just respond...

Source: http://www.gearslutz.com/board/music-computers/680881-windows-7-volume-lowering-issue-unlike-most.html

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Friday, December 23, 2011

Brook Lopez to have surgery for broken right foot (AP)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ? The New Jersey Nets will be without center and leading scorer Brook Lopez for a couple of months because of a broken right foot.

Lopez, who did not miss a game in his first three seasons, was injured during an exhibition game against the Knicks on Wednesday and he will have surgery Friday.

The injury is a stress fracture to the slow-healing fifth metatarsal, the same kind of injury that New York Giants first-round draft pick Prince Amukamara suffered on Aug. 6 in training camp. He did not play in a game until Nov. 20.

"I had a long talk with Brook last night," coach Avery Johnson said. "He is not in great spirits but we tried to lift his spirits to let him know that, hey, this is a little bit of a setback but he could definitely have a big-time comeback. Hopefully, once we get through with the surgery and get back to rehabbing and he can heal up and we can get him back at some point this season."

Lopez, who averaged 20.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists last season as the Nets posted a 24-58 record, played in the second half with the injury.

Johan Petro is his backup, although the injury might force general manager Billy King to explore some trade options.

The Nets would not say how long Lopez will be sidelined but a medical expert said it would be from six to 12 weeks, but it has the potential of being longer, depending on the degree of the stress fracture.

Dr. Victor Khabie, the chief of the department of surgery and sports medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y., told The Associated Press the problem with injuries to the fifth metatarsal is that the blood supply to that area is poor, which prevents doctors from simply putting the foot in a cast.

"For that reason and especially with an athlete you want to get back as soon as possible, we end up doing surgery, which is inserting a metal screw intro the bone to compress the bone together," Khabie said. "The act of inserting the screw also stimulates blood flow to the area."

Khabie said that Lopez's size may increase his recovery time.

"Biomechanics are such that with a bigger guy, the more pressure you put on it, the bone has to be more solid," Khabie said. "It may not make a difference in the healing, but it needs to be more fully healed before you let a 7-footer start jumping up and down on it."

While he has not seen Lopez's X-rays, Khabie felt 12 weeks would be his best guess at a recovery.

"I think that would be early," he added. "If I saw him as a patient, I would say: `Listen, hopefully, we'll get you back in three months.' I would say that would be a very optimistic type of call. This could be season-ending, potentially, seeing how short the (NBA) season is."

The lockout-shortened season opens this weekend and the regular season concludes at the end of April. The trade deadline is mid-March, which is important to note.

The injury could hurt the Nets' chances of making a deal for Orlando All-Star center Dwight Howard. The Nets and Magic had some talks about a deal after the lockout ended and 23-year-old Lopez was said to be part of the package the Nets offered.

If he can't play, there probably is no deal.

.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111222/ap_on_sp_bk_ne/bkn_nets_lopez

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Quantum computing has applications in magnetic imaging, say Pitt researchers

Monday, December 19, 2011

Quantum computing -- considered the powerhouse of computational tasks -- may have applications in areas outside of pure electronics, according to a University of Pittsburgh researcher and his collaborators.

Working at the interface of quantum measurement and nanotechnology, Gurudev Dutt, assistant professor in Pitt's Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, and his colleagues report their findings in a paper published online Dec. 18 in Nature Nanotechnology. The paper documents important progress towards realizing a nanoscale magnetic imager comprising single electrons encased in a diamond crystal.

"Think of this like a typical medical procedure?a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)?but on single molecules or groups of molecules inside cells instead of the entire body. Traditional MRI techniques don't work well with such small volumes, so an instrument must be built to accommodate such high-precision work," says Dutt.

However, a significant challenge arose for researchers working on the problem of building such an instrument: How does one measure a magnetic field accurately using the resonance of the single electrons within the diamond crystal? Resonance is defined as an object's tendency to oscillate with higher energy at a particular frequency, and occurs naturally all around us: for example, with musical instruments, children on swings, and pendulum clocks. Dutt says that resonances are particularly powerful because they allow physicists to make sensitive measurements of quantities like force, mass, and electric and magnetic fields. "But they also restrict the maximum field that one can measure accurately."

In magnetic imaging, this means that physicists can only detect a narrow range of fields from molecules near the sensor's resonant frequency, making the imaging process more difficult.

"It can be done," says Dutt, "but it requires very sophisticated image processing and other techniques to understand what one is imaging. Essentially, one must use software to fix the limitations of hardware, and the scans take longer and are harder to interpret."

Dutt?working with postdoctoral researcher Ummal Momeen and PhD student Naufer Nusran (A&S'08 G), both in Pitt's Department of Physics and Astronomy?has used quantum computing methods to circumvent the hardware limitation to view the entire magnetic field. By extending the field, the Pitt researchers have improved the ratio between maximum detectable field strength and field precision by a factor of 10 compared to the standard technique used previously. This puts them one step closer toward a future nanoscale MRI instrument that could study properties of molecules, materials, and cells in a noninvasive way, displaying where atoms are located without destroying them; current methods employed for this kind of study inevitably destroy the samples.

"This would have an immediate impact on our understanding of these molecules, materials, or living cells and potentially allow us to create better technologies," says Dutt.

These are only the initial results, says Dutt, and he expects further improvements to be made with additional research: "Our work shows that quantum computing methods reach beyond pure electronic technologies and can solve problems that, earlier, seemed to be fundamental roadblocks to making progress with high-precision measurements."

###

University of Pittsburgh: http://www.pitt.edu

Thanks to University of Pittsburgh for this article.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/116135/Quantum_computing_has_applications_in_magnetic_imaging__say_Pitt_researchers

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