Android users of generation "Hey Look at Me!" can now add another tool to their arsenal of lifestyle sharing. The Livestream for Producers Android application received an update on Monday that introduces "single touch" sign up and logins through Facebook, a new app icon and some unnamed bug fixes. However, the most noteworthy addition here is the ability to run live ad-free videos over 3G and 4G data connections. Requiring Android 2.2 or higher, this free media streaming app might be an ideal companion for folks looking to incriminate co-workers at this year's Halloween costume party -- all in good fun of course. Just be sure to remember who signs your paycheck before you decide to take a broadcast live.
Elevated formaldehyde levels found in day care centersPublic release date: 25-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Sarah Yang scyang@berkeley.edu 510-643-7741 University of California - Berkeley
Berkeley A new, comprehensive survey of day care centers by University of California, Berkeley, researchers found that, overall, the environmental quality in child care settings was similar to other indoor environments, but that levels of formaldehyde and several other contaminants exceeded state health guidelines. Cleaning- and sanitizing-related chemicals were also present in the air, and sometimes at higher levels, than in comparable studies on homes.
The study, funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), is the first detailed analysis of environmental contaminants and exposures for California day care centers. It covered 40 early childhood education facilities in Alameda and Monterey counties. Researchers found that 35 of the centers, or 87.5 percent, had levels of formaldehyde greater than 9 micrograms per cubic meters over eight hours, which is above California's guideline for safe exposure.
Formaldehyde, a known respiratory irritant and a listed carcinogen under California's Proposition 65, "The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986," is commonly found in the glues used in pressboard furniture and laminated wood. It is also in many paint, clothing and cosmetic products, and is emitted from combustion sources such as wood burning and gas stoves.
"Children are more vulnerable to the health effects of environmental contaminants, and many small children spend as much as 10 hours per day, five days a week, in child care centers," said study lead author Asa Bradman, associate director of the UC Berkeley Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH). "We wanted to establish the baseline levels of environmental exposures in these early child care settings, and to provide information that could be used for any necessary policy changes."
The 40 centers in the study were located in a mix of urban, rural and agricultural areas, and served a total of 1,764 children. The researchers collected air and floor dust samples when the children were present and tested for a broad array of chemicals. Particles in the air were also measured, including ultrafine particles, which are extremely small and can be inhaled deeply into lungs.
The California Air Resources Board has been developing and implementing regulatory programs to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds from consumer products used in homes and institutions. In 2008, under its Toxic Air Contaminants Program, the board implemented new rules to reduce formaldehyde emissions from building materials and furniture made from pressed wood, the biggest source of formaldehyde in indoor air.
Although furnishings and building materials that emit formaldehyde can still be sold in California until the regulation is fully implemented, there are many new pressed wood products on the market that emit little or no formaldehyde. These low emitting products are labeled as CARB Phase 2 (P2). Composite woods products labeled as Ultra Low Emitting Formaldehyde (ULEF) or No Added Formaldehyde (NAF) have the lowest emissions profiles.
Formaldehyde can also form when chemicals from cleaners and sanitizers, such as d-limonene, react with ozone and other compounds in the air. D-limonene is extracted from citrus peels to give cleansers, perfumes and other products a lemon-orange scent.
Ensuring proper ventilation can help reduce contaminant levels, the study authors said.
"These findings show that cleaning and sanitizing products impact air quality in child care settings," said Victoria Leonard, a scientist at UC San Francisco's Institute for Health and Aging who is leading a program to promote healthier product choices in child care, and who was not involved in data analysis for this study. "Given that many young children have asthma or other respiratory problems, this study offers strong evidence to select safer cleaning products that have less volatile chemicals."
In some centers, levels of ultrafine particles increased by up to a thousandfold when cooking appliances were turned on. However, while ultrafine particles have been associated with serious health impacts, their health effects are not well understood, and there are no guidelines for safe levels. And since formaldehyde can also be emitted from gas stoves, the study authors advised using a range hood and fan when cooking to reduce particle and formaldehyde levels.
The researchers also detected other chemicals, including phthalates (found in plastics), flame retardants, pesticides and perfluorinated compounds (found in Teflon and stain resistant carpets).
"For most of those chemicals, however, there has not been adequate toxicity testing, so we cannot evaluate the health risks," said Bradman.
"This study reinforces the need for child care providers to remain alert to environmental concerns," said Hester Paul, director of the EcoHealthy Child Care program for the Children's Environmental Health Network in Washington, D.C.
"It is important to identify areas where improvement is needed, and this study has done that," added Paul, who is not affiliated with this study. "Fortunately, many local, state and non-profit agencies are working to give child care providers the tools they need to address environmental concerns."
###
Other study authors are Fraser Gaspar, Rosemary Castorina, Elodie Tong-Lin and Thomas McKone at UC Berkeley's School of Public Health, and Randy Maddalena at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Elevated formaldehyde levels found in day care centersPublic release date: 25-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Sarah Yang scyang@berkeley.edu 510-643-7741 University of California - Berkeley
Berkeley A new, comprehensive survey of day care centers by University of California, Berkeley, researchers found that, overall, the environmental quality in child care settings was similar to other indoor environments, but that levels of formaldehyde and several other contaminants exceeded state health guidelines. Cleaning- and sanitizing-related chemicals were also present in the air, and sometimes at higher levels, than in comparable studies on homes.
The study, funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), is the first detailed analysis of environmental contaminants and exposures for California day care centers. It covered 40 early childhood education facilities in Alameda and Monterey counties. Researchers found that 35 of the centers, or 87.5 percent, had levels of formaldehyde greater than 9 micrograms per cubic meters over eight hours, which is above California's guideline for safe exposure.
Formaldehyde, a known respiratory irritant and a listed carcinogen under California's Proposition 65, "The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986," is commonly found in the glues used in pressboard furniture and laminated wood. It is also in many paint, clothing and cosmetic products, and is emitted from combustion sources such as wood burning and gas stoves.
"Children are more vulnerable to the health effects of environmental contaminants, and many small children spend as much as 10 hours per day, five days a week, in child care centers," said study lead author Asa Bradman, associate director of the UC Berkeley Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH). "We wanted to establish the baseline levels of environmental exposures in these early child care settings, and to provide information that could be used for any necessary policy changes."
The 40 centers in the study were located in a mix of urban, rural and agricultural areas, and served a total of 1,764 children. The researchers collected air and floor dust samples when the children were present and tested for a broad array of chemicals. Particles in the air were also measured, including ultrafine particles, which are extremely small and can be inhaled deeply into lungs.
The California Air Resources Board has been developing and implementing regulatory programs to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds from consumer products used in homes and institutions. In 2008, under its Toxic Air Contaminants Program, the board implemented new rules to reduce formaldehyde emissions from building materials and furniture made from pressed wood, the biggest source of formaldehyde in indoor air.
Although furnishings and building materials that emit formaldehyde can still be sold in California until the regulation is fully implemented, there are many new pressed wood products on the market that emit little or no formaldehyde. These low emitting products are labeled as CARB Phase 2 (P2). Composite woods products labeled as Ultra Low Emitting Formaldehyde (ULEF) or No Added Formaldehyde (NAF) have the lowest emissions profiles.
Formaldehyde can also form when chemicals from cleaners and sanitizers, such as d-limonene, react with ozone and other compounds in the air. D-limonene is extracted from citrus peels to give cleansers, perfumes and other products a lemon-orange scent.
Ensuring proper ventilation can help reduce contaminant levels, the study authors said.
"These findings show that cleaning and sanitizing products impact air quality in child care settings," said Victoria Leonard, a scientist at UC San Francisco's Institute for Health and Aging who is leading a program to promote healthier product choices in child care, and who was not involved in data analysis for this study. "Given that many young children have asthma or other respiratory problems, this study offers strong evidence to select safer cleaning products that have less volatile chemicals."
In some centers, levels of ultrafine particles increased by up to a thousandfold when cooking appliances were turned on. However, while ultrafine particles have been associated with serious health impacts, their health effects are not well understood, and there are no guidelines for safe levels. And since formaldehyde can also be emitted from gas stoves, the study authors advised using a range hood and fan when cooking to reduce particle and formaldehyde levels.
The researchers also detected other chemicals, including phthalates (found in plastics), flame retardants, pesticides and perfluorinated compounds (found in Teflon and stain resistant carpets).
"For most of those chemicals, however, there has not been adequate toxicity testing, so we cannot evaluate the health risks," said Bradman.
"This study reinforces the need for child care providers to remain alert to environmental concerns," said Hester Paul, director of the EcoHealthy Child Care program for the Children's Environmental Health Network in Washington, D.C.
"It is important to identify areas where improvement is needed, and this study has done that," added Paul, who is not affiliated with this study. "Fortunately, many local, state and non-profit agencies are working to give child care providers the tools they need to address environmental concerns."
###
Other study authors are Fraser Gaspar, Rosemary Castorina, Elodie Tong-Lin and Thomas McKone at UC Berkeley's School of Public Health, and Randy Maddalena at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
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?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
(Reuters) - Chief Executives of more than 80 big U.S. corporations, including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Boeing, are getting together to pressure Congress to reduce the federal deficit with tax reform and spending cuts.
In a letter posted on the Wall Street Journal website late on Wednesday, the U.S. corporate chiefs said it is urgent and essential to put in place a plan to fix America's debt. The letter is due to be released on Thursday.
If Congress fails to reach a deficit reduction deal by the end of the year, it will automatically trigger big spending cuts and tax increases in 2013. This so-called "fiscal cliff" would hit the still-recovering U.S. economy hard.
The U.S. deficit in 2012 will top $1 trillion for a fourth straight year, pushing the national debt past $16 trillion. While the United States currently borrows at record low interest rates, investors worry this will change.
The CEOs' statement was organized by campaign called "Fix the Debt," which is urging Washington to set aside partisan differences to put the United States on a sustainable fiscal path.
"In order to develop a fiscal plan that can succeed both financially and politically, it must be bipartisan and reforms to all areas of the budget should be included," the CEOs said.
The corporate chiefs said the fiscal plan must include "comprehensive and pro-growth tax reform, which broadens the base, lowers rates, raises revenues and reduces the deficit."
Also, as part of the plan, the group urged the government to reform and improve the efficiency of healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
The CEO group said the recommendations of the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles Commission provides an effective framework for a fiscal plan. The commission's proposal has several options including trimming tax rates for all income groups.
Simpson-Bowles also calls for slashing many popular tax deductions and adding them back only selectively.
(Reporting by Sakthi Prasad; Editing by Hans-Juergen Peters)
People who exercise later in life may better protect their brain from age-related changes than those who do not, a study suggests.
Researchers found that people over 70 who took regular exercise showed less brain shrinkage over a three-year period than those who did little exercise.
Psychologists and Neuroimaging experts, based at the University of Edinburgh, did not find there to be any benefit to brain health for older people from participation in social or mentally stimulating activities.
Greater brain shrinkage is linked to problems with memory and thinking and the researchers say their findings suggest that exercise is potentially one important pathway to maintaining a healthy brain both in terms of size and reducing damage.
The researchers also examined the brain's white matter ? the wiring that transmits messages round the brain. They found that people over 70 who were more physically active had fewer 'damaged' areas ? visible as abnormal areas on scanning ? in the white matter than those who did little exercise.
Additionally, the researchers from the University of Edinburgh found that the over-70s taking regular exercise had more grey matter ? the parts of the brain with nerve cell bodies.
The Edinburgh team used MRI scans to measure the volume of brain tissue and the volume and health of the brain's white matter in almost 700 people.
They studied levels of physical activity which ranged from moving only for necessary housework to more strenuous forms of exercise such as keep-fit or taking part in competitive sports.
Scientists also recorded whether or not the participants ? all aged over 70 ? took part in mentally stimulating activities such reading and participating in social groups.
Dr Alan Gow of the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology who led the research, said: "Our results suggest that to maintain brain health, physical activity may be more beneficial than choosing more sedentary activities. We are excited by the next stages of this research as we seek to understand more about what might underlie the effect, but in the meantime, increasing physical activity ? even a short walk each day ? can only be encouraged."
Professor James Goodwin, Head of Research at Age UK who fund the Disconnected Mind research project, said: "This research is exciting as it provides vital clues as to what impacts the way our brain ages and how we could tackle mental decline. If we can establish definitively that exercise provides protection against mental decline, it could open the door to exercise programmes tailored to the needs of people as they age.
"We already know that exercise is important in reducing our risk of some illnesses that come with ageing, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. This research reemphasises that it really is never too late to benefit from exercise, so whether it's a brisk walk to the shops, gardening or competing in a fun run it is crucial that, those of us who can, get active as we grow older."
###
The study is published today in Neurology, the journal of The American Academy of Neurology
University of Edinburgh: http://www.ed.ac.uk
Thanks to University of Edinburgh for this article.
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The Aspen locals that owned Stapleton Sports ski shop decided it was time to celebrate the things that make skiing and snowboarding different and instead of combining both sports into one shop with all the gear packed together and a staff that knew a little about each. They decided to open a separate shop right next store under the same ownership that caters specifically to snowboarders.
What does this mean to the family or group of friends visiting Aspen for their ski vacation? It means that every member of the family or group can work with a staff trained specifically to fit their needs, whether it be about which skis or snowboard to rent, or which mountain or runs are best for them, they know they are talking to an employee who knows the sport, the tools, and the terrain specific to their skiing or snowboarding needs.
This also allows the ski shop and snowboard shop owners to create a space specific to the culture and feel of the sport. Celebrating the culture of each and allowing the environment to be specific to the community the shop represents. Also no need trying to sort throught the gear that is not appropriate for your sport, in Up you will only find gear built for snowboarders and in Stapleton you will only find gear built for skiers, we want to make it simple for you!
The additional space also allows for each shop to carry the latest and greatest skis and snowboards for visitors to rent or buy while they are in Aspen. With all this space they can carry a huge collection of the top ski and snowboard brands available today.
Since both shops are owned by the same group of locals you can rent your skis and rent your snowboards from the same web site, using one simple form and also receiving a discount for ordering online. But when you get to Aspen you will find that the two separate shops do indeed cater to the specific needs, wants and style of Skiers and snowboarders. Check out their ski and snowboard online rental form, it could not be easier to get your gear set up and ready so all you have to do is stop by and grab it and go. Make it easy on your next ski vacation and allow the guys at Stapleton Ski Shop and Up Snowboards take care of all you ski and board rental needs, then you can grab all you gear from one convenient location one block from the gondola on Aspen Mountain!
PRETORIA - South Africa and Congo signed a deal Tuesday for the joint exploration of hydrocarbons in Congo, the two countries said.
The deal was signed by each country's state-controlled oil company, Cohydro in Congo and PetroSA in South Africa, according to a statement from the foreign affairs ministers of both countries.
The chief executive of PetroSA, Nosizwe Nokwe, said the deal is the first step in a cooperation on oil exploration. The CEO said each company will assess opportunities and then decide if they make economic sense to go forward. The two haven't allotted specific amounts of money to achieve this, nor has a time frame been agreed for the cooperation. PetroSA will start by selling oil to Congo because it can buy in bulk and get a better price to sell it on to Congo, she said.
Recent oil finds in eastern Africa have spurred more exploration across the continent as countries seek to become more energy independent.
Copyright (c) 2012 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.
Justin Bieber Delivers Smiles for Superfan Fighting Cancer
Breaking News
Mission accomplished for one of Justin Bieber's biggest fans -- a little girl who is fighting cancer, got a private meeting with JB after a huge social media campaign that included a call to TMZ Live.
4-year-old Hailey Roser was all smiles during the 5 minute pow wow backstage with the Biebs before his concert in Milwaukee tonight.
Hailey's parents started the "Healing Hailey" campaign on Twitter and Facebook after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor in August -- and a few weeks ago one of the campaign's followers called in to TMZ Live to spread the word.
We joked with the caller, saying ... "we know some people" -- and then informed Justin's manager Scooter Braun about the "Healing Hailey" movement.
Hailey's been undergoing chemotherapy and had to get clearance from doctor's today to attend the concert. After meeting Justin, she tweeted a message to her followers ... "Dreams come true #believe"
George McGovern, known for his ultra-liberal stance on issues of his day, passed away on Sunday, October 21st, at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at age 90.
Active in promoting liberal programs almost from the first, McGovern was convinced that government could be used as an instrument to improve society, especially in providing food for the poor in America and around the world. He saw the American government and the United Nations as tools to promote sustenance for them. He helped create the United Nations? World Food Program which distributed U.S. food ?surpluses? to needy people abroad, and issued the McGovern Report,?which set up nutritional guidelines for Americans.?
He served as U.S. Ambassador to the UN agencies for Food and Agriculture, and was appointed the first UN Global Ambassador on World Hunger in 2001.?
But he is primarily remembered for losing his bid as the Democrat party?s presidential candidate in 1972 to President Richard Nixon in one of the worst political defeats in American history. McGovern lost the popular vote 38% to 61%, and the Electoral College vote 17-520. He even lost his own state, winning only Massachusetts and the District of Columbia in the race.
As a member of the House, starting in 1956, he favored government intervention in the free market, supporting his agricultural constituency in South Dakota with policies that kept commodity prices high while giving farmers subsidies and price supports, setting up grain storage programs and putting tariffs on imported beef. He pushed for federal aid to small business owners, federal aid to education, and expanded medical coverage under Social Security. He voted for the federal food stamp law and took positions favored by the liberal Americans for Democratic Action (ADA)?34 times during his tenure in the House and against them just 3 times.
Upon being elected Senator from South Dakota in 1962, he endorsed similar positions but began to make waves with his increasingly insistent opposition to the gathering momentum of the Vietnam War.
He tried to reduce military spending almost every year during the 1960s, voting against various weapons programs, including missile and anti-missile systems. He continued to support policies deemed favorable by the ADA, scoring a 92 on his votes through 1967.?
Although his protestations against the war largely fell on deaf ears, his speeches would likely surprise libertarians and anti-war activists today. For instance, in 1963, in a speech on the Senate floor, McGovern said:
The current dilemma in Vietnam is a clear demonstration of the limitations of military power ... [Current U.S. involvement] is a policy of moral debacle and political defeat ... The trap we have fallen into there will haunt us in every corner of this revolutionary world if we do not properly appraise its lessons.
However, he voted for the Gulf of Tonkin resolution,?which passed the House unanimously and the Senate with just two opposing votes, giving President Lyndon Johnson essentially ?carte blanche? in pressing the war without constitutional approval. It passed congressional powers to the executive branch, and McGovern said later it is the one vote he most regretted as the war escalated.?
So vehement was his opposition to the war that McGovern, in May of 1970, secured a second mortgage on his home to pay for a 30-minute panel discussion on NBC on his McGovern-Hatfield Amendment?that would have ended the war by December 31, 1970. Although the amendment failed, his speech supporting it is remarkable in light of the expansion of military adventurism in the present day:
Every senator in this chamber is partly responsible for sending 50,000 young Americans to an early grave. This chamber reeks of blood. Every Senator here is partly responsible for that human wreckage at Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval [hospitals] and all across our land ? young men without legs, or arms, or genitals, or faces or hopes.
There are not very many of these blasted and broken boys who think this war is a glorious adventure. Do not talk to them about bugging out, or national honor or courage. It does not take any courage at all for a congressman, or a senator, or a president to wrap himself in the flag and say we are staying in Vietnam, because it is not our blood that is being shed. But we are responsible for those young men and their lives and their hopes. And if we do not end this damnable war those young men will someday curse us for our pitiful willingness to let the Executive carry the burden that the Constitution places on us. [Emphasis added.]
So before we vote, let us ponder the admonition of Edmund Burke, the great parliamentarian of an earlier day: "A conscientious man would be cautious how he dealt in blood."
Following the loss of his seat in 1980, McGovern remained active in politics, even considering another run at the presidency in 1984. He maintained close ties to the far-left radical Institute for Policy Studies (IPS)?and founded Americans for Common Sense as a liberal alternative to the Moral Majority and other ?Christian right? groups.?
In 1988, McGovern had his first brush with the real world ? mugged is a better word ? when he took his speaker fees generated while traveling the world on various lecture tours and purchased a 46-year lease on the 150-room Stratford Inn in Stratford, Connecticut. Within three years the inn went into bankruptcy and McGovern wrote a letter to the Wall Street Journal in June 1992 explaining why:
It's been 11 years since I left the U.S. Senate, after serving 24 years in high public office. After leaving a career in politics, I devoted much of my time to public lectures that took me into every state in the union and much of Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.
In 1988, I invested most of the earnings from this lecture circuit acquiring the leasehold on Connecticut's Stratford Inn. Hotels, inns and restaurants have always held a special fascination for me. The Stratford Inn promised the realization of a longtime dream to own a combination hotel, restaurant and public conference facility ? complete with an experienced manager and staff.?
In retrospect, I wish I had known more about the hazards and difficulties of such a business, especially during a recession of the kind that hit New England just as I was acquiring the inn's 43-year leasehold.?
I also wish that during the years I was in public office, I had had this firsthand experience about the difficulties business people face every day. That knowledge would have made me a better U.S. senator and a more understanding presidential contender?.
To create job opportunities we need entrepreneurs who will risk their capital against an expected payoff. Too often, however, public policy does not consider whether we are choking off those opportunities.
It was the choking of local, state and federal rules, regulations and mandates that forced his venture into bankruptcy. He explained:
My business associates and I ? lived with federal, state and local rules that were all passed with the objective of helping employees, protecting the environment, raising tax dollars for schools, protecting our customers from fire hazards, etc. While I never doubted the worthiness of any of these goals, the concept that most often eludes legislators is: Can we make consumers pay the higher prices for the increased operating costs that accompany public regulation and government reporting requirements with reams of red tape? It is a simple concern that is nonetheless often ignored by legislators.
For example, the papers today are filled with stories about businesses dropping health coverage for employees. We provided a substantial package for our staff at the Stratford Inn. However, were we operating today, those costs would exceed $150,000 a year for health care on top of salaries and other benefits. There would have been no reasonable way for us to absorb or pass on these costs.
The lesson learned in the free market came late to McGovern, too late to make an impact on his excessive confidence in the power of government to solve society?s problems. As Justice Felix Frankfurter said:
Wisdom too often never comes, and so one ought not to reject it merely because it comes late.
Photo:?In this photo from July 24, 2010, former U.S. senator George McGovern?speaks in Columbus, Neb.: AP Images
Myanmar President Thein Sein talks during a press conference at Presidential House in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. In a display of confidence and transparency, Myanmar's reformist president held his first press conference, breaking with the closed-mouth tradition of the previous military regime. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)
Myanmar President Thein Sein talks during a press conference at Presidential House in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. In a display of confidence and transparency, Myanmar's reformist president held his first press conference, breaking with the closed-mouth tradition of the previous military regime. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)
Myanmar President Thein Sein talks during a press conference at Presidential House in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. In a display of confidence and transparency, Myanmar's reformist president held his first press conference, breaking with the closed-mouth tradition of the previous military regime. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)
NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) ? Myanmar's reformist president held his first press conference for local media in a national milestone after years of secrecy and censorship by the former military regime.
Thein Sein didn't break any stunning news when he answered about 30 questions from local press and foreign correspondents on subjects ranging from fighting with ethnic rebels in the north to amending the country's military-fashioned constitution.
His mere appearance, however, told the story about his country's turn from secrecy and paranoia to relative openness. Sunday's news conference in the capital, Naypyitaw, ran 20 minutes past its scheduled 2-hour length.
The 67-year-old ex-general, who had been prime minister under the ruling junta, looked tense as he started answering questions but soon relaxed enough to reveal a little-known sense of humor.
Explaining why he was holding the pioneering press conference, he told of being interviewed many times during his recent visit to the United States and said he had the hardest time answering questions on the inquisitorial BBC program, "Hardtalk."
After surviving that experience, he said, he's no longer afraid of meeting with the media. But he added that he feared he would also be criticized by Myanmar's media if he didn't come out to talk at home after giving so many interviews abroad.
Thein Sein avoided revealing too much, speaking only in general terms even about critical matters such as the fighting in Kachin state, which reflects a deeper, long-running problem of how much autonomy to give the large ethnic minorities living in border regions.
In what many see as an example of the government's weakness compared to the still-influential military, his orders last year for the army to cease its fighting against the Kachin Independence Army were ignored.
"To get a cease-fire agreement is our government's goal," he said when asked about the matter. "It's the people's desire to get peace and we are doing our best for the people's desire."
He was also asked whether he plans to contest the 2015 election for a second presidential term. He replied that he has been thinking only of his current term.
Thein Sein was asked if he would give opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi a role in his government. His reforms lured her National League for Democracy party back into electoral politics, and it should be a major challenge to his party in the next polls.
Whether or not she takes a role in government depends on her, Thein Sein said.
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) ? An Afghan police officer and cook poisoned their colleagues at a checkpoint in an assault coordinated with insurgent fighters that left six dead in the country's south, officials said Saturday.
It was the latest in a string of attacks from inside the Afghan army and police that are threatening to undermine both the partnership with international troops ? which have been the target of many attacks ? and the morale of Afghan forces, who have suffered equally heavy casualties from such strikes.
The police officer and the cook worked with outside insurgents in the assault, which hit police manning a checkpoint in the Gereskh district of Helmand province, the governor's office said in a statement.
They poisoned two of the officers and then the militants attacked from outside, killing the remaining four officers, provincial spokesman Ahmad Zirak said. He did not say how the officers were poisoned. The police officer was captured as he fled, but the cook escaped and remains at large, Zirak added.
The insurgent gunmen escaped by motorcycle with weapons and ammunition, the governor's statement said.
A recent upsurge in the number of insider attacks on coalition troops by Afghan soldiers or police ? or insurgents disguised in their uniforms ? has further undermined public support for the war in the West. So far this year, at least 52 foreign troops ? about half of them Americans ? have been killed in insider attacks.
The Afghan government has not provided statistics on the number of its forces killed in insider attacks. However, U.S. military statistics obtained by The Associated Press show at least 53 members of the Afghan security forces had been killed by the end of August.
Meanwhile, a Taliban attack elsewhere in Helmand killed two district community council members, while Taliban-fired rocket-propelled grenades destroyed a warehouse full of food destined for the main U.S. base in Afghanistan.
Insurgents ambushed the council members while they were driving to a tribal meeting in the volatile Sangin district, the governor's office said in its statement, adding that the attackers escaped and police are pursuing them.
The attack against the council members is a reminder of the other worrying trend in insurgent tactics this year ? a shift toward more targeted killings of those affiliated with the government. The United Nations has recorded a sharp increase in such killings in the first six months of 2012 as compared with the same period of 2011.
In the warehouse attack, insurgents fired rocket-propelled grenades at a compound used by military contractor Supreme Group to store food and other supplies destined for Bagram Air Field, the main U.S. base in the country. A warehouse inside the compound caught fire in the assault and burned through the night.
"The local fire brigade attended the scene and brought the fire under control, but the warehouse itself and all contents were destroyed," Victoria Frost, a spokeswoman for Supreme Group in Dubai, wrote in an email. She said no one was injured and staff at the site did not have to evacuate.
The fire could still be seen burning Saturday morning, said Mohammad Asif, the deputy administrator for Bagram district, where the compound is located. He said the Supreme compound encompasses about five hectares (12 acres).
Frost said the fire was contained much earlier.
"As with any major fire, there are some areas still smoldering but there is no current danger to any of the staff or the other buildings within the compound," she said.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in an email that the fire at the Supreme Group compound destroyed a "large stock of food meant for U.S. troops."
Frost did not say how much material was destroyed though she did say it was "primarily food supplies," adding that the company was working to make up the loss with inventory from other warehouses.
____
Vogt reported from Kabul. Associated Press writer Rahim Faiez contributed to this report in Kabul.
Charles Fuller walks us through one of his shoulder and trap workouts. This workout was approx. 2 weeks before a competition. Charles still decides to lift heavy to keep his muscles full for his upcoming show.
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Norfolk State defeated Morgan State 47-14 last Saturday to win its first outright Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title.
Morgan State (5-5, 4-3 MEAC) opened the scoring in the first half with a 53 yard touchdown pass by Seth Higgins to take an early 7-0 lead.
Chris Walley responded for the Spartans courtesy of two touchdown passes of 60 and six yards to take a 14-7 lead with only 16 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Norfolk State (9-2, 7-1 MEAC) led at halftime 20-14.
The Spartans put the game out of reach with 17 consecutive points in the first five minutes of the second half.
Randy Maynes scored on a 53-yard touchdown run on the opening play of the third quarter, a field goal with under 11 minutes remaining, then a one-yard scamper by Walley following a fumble recovery by the Spartans at the Morgan State one-yard line.
The Bears had 11 penalties and committed four turnovers.
The win qualified Norfolk State for the Football Championship Subdivision Tournament and also their fifth straight win over Morgan State.
Higgins passed for 131 yards and a touchdown for the Bears.
Florida A&M Takes Care of NC Central
Florida A&M defeated North Carolina Central 31-10 last Saturday afternoon in Durham, N.C.
The Rattlers took an early 7-0 lead courtesy of a Lavante Page two-yard touchdown run.
FAMU (7-3, 5-2 MEAC) put the game out of reach with 21 straight points in the second quarter. Page scored a second touchdown from one-yard out and Damien Fleming threw two touchdown passes for one and 14 yards, respectively.
Florida A&M led 28-0 at halftime.
A field goal by Oleg Parent and a Michael Johnson three-yard touchdown run were the only points scored for the Eagles (2-8, 1-6 MEAC).
Fleming ended the day with 186 yards passing on 15 of 24 completions and two touchdowns.
Johnson led NC Central with 185 yards passing, one interception and one rushing touchdown.
South Carolina State Edges North Carolina A&T with Cue's 2 TDs
South Carolina State beat North Carolina A&T last 30-22 Saturday afternoon in Orangeburg, S.C.
Lewis Kindle helped North Carolina A&T (4-6, 3-4 MEAC) jump out to a 14-3 second quarter lead with two touchdown passes. However, a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown by Devonne Quattlebaum sparked a 27-point Bulldog comeback.
During the scoring run, Richard Cue threw two touchdown passes of 37 and 14 yards, and Blake Erickson kicked two field goals.
SC State (6-4, 5-2) led 17-14 at halftime.
Kindle led NC A&T with 215 yards passing, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Cue finished with 161 yards on 13 of 27 passing with two touchdowns and three interceptions for the Bulldogs.
South Carolina State is on pace to finish with a winning record since 2003 and have now won two straight games.
Bethune-Cookman rolls over Savannah State
Bethune-Cookman routed Savannah State 59-3 last Saturday afternoon in Daytona Beach, Fla.
David Blackwell accounted for all three Wildcat touchdowns in the first half with runs of 80, 37 and 59 yards.
Bethune-Cookman led 24-3 at halftime.
The Wildcats (7-3, 5-2 MEAC) scored the final 35 points of the game in the second half.
Isidore Jackson rushed for two touchdowns and Blackwell threw a touchdown pass in the third quarter, while Jamarr Robinson replaced Blackwell in the fourth quarter and also threw a touchdown pass and a seven-yard rushing touchdown with 1:35 remaining.
The Wildcats generated 625 yards of offense including 431 yards on the ground on 46 carries.
Blackwell passed for 147 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 203 yards on six carries with three touchdowns.
Savannah State (1-9, 1-6 MEAC) has lost six games in a row including the last four with a combined total of 173-18.
MTorrice writes "A beam of electrons can pick up and carry nanoparticles, according to a new study (abstract). The so-called electronic tweezers could help scientists in diverse tasks, such as building up new materials nanoparticle-by-nanoparticle, and measuring the forces between nanoparticles and living cells, the researchers say. In the past, scientists have manipulated microsized particles, including single cells, using a beam of laser light called optical tweezers. But the force required to trap a particle with optical tweezers increases as the particle gets smaller, making grappling with nanoparticles difficult. Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory developed an alternative to optical tweezers by modifying a transmission electron microscope, which produces images by passing a stream of electrons through a sample." Reader Sven-Erik adds news of a tractor beam generated with laser light that can pull microscopic particles over distances of 30 micrometers (abstract).
While it's easy to look at fighters as warriors who get in the cage to get to the highest pinnacle of the sport, it's also a job. Like everyone with a job, fighters have to put in hours at their office, do mundane tasks they wish they didn't have to do, and wish they were paid more.
But what are the best parts of being a full-time fighter? Hear from the fighters.
Let's say you had the physical gifts to be a UFC fighter. Is it still a job you would want? Speak up in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.
If Kanye West and Kim Kardashian thought that a trip to Rome would keep them away from the prying eye of the paparazzi, they thought wrong. (Thankfully, this time, the run-in didn?t end in a throwdown.) The lovebirds were spotted in Italy on Thursday (October 18) as they headed out on the town, with Kim dressed in a green peplum dress and Yeezy in black leather pants, a gray henley shirt and a black blazer. KimYe spent the night shopping at Gente and then dining at?Il Bolognese before arriving at Harry?s Bar in Via Veneto. Is the European vacay in honor of reality star Kim?s upcoming 32nd birthday ? or were the two hoping to crash Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel?s wedding somehow?
Cucumbertown, although it may not have the coolest name (see what I did there?), has a founding story that is very much a sign of the times. Let me explain: The startup was initially founded by Cherian Thomas, an Indian entrepreneur and former engineer at Zynga, and today has a team of four people. While one might assume that its employees all live near Thomas in Bangalore, in fact each of them live on different continents — and they’ve never met each other in person. And yet, in spite of the fact that Thomas had never been to Silicon Valley until last month, Cucumbertown is today announcing that it has raised a $300K seed round from a number of familiar names. The startup’s first round included angel investors like Naval Ravikant of AngelList, Paul Singh of 500 Startups, FarmVille co-creator Sizhao Zao Yang, founder of MightyText Maneesh Arora, early Google product guy Richard Chen and Sonique Player co-creator Tabreez Varjee. So, considering it has a remote staff and Thomas’ admission that it has few contacts in Silicon Valley or in the U.S. for that matter, how was the startup able to raise funding from these angels? The startup is one of the first companies to use AngelList Docs to source its angels, the investor crowdfunding service’s that allows both angels and entrepreneurs to avoid legal fees while filling out term sheets and all the necessary paperwork that comes with raising and closing an early-stage financing round. Not to overstate, but this could have big implications for international entrepreneurs and founders who don’t have an expansive rolodex of investors and contacts in the U.S. or Silicon Valley. That being said, what exactly is Cucumber, and what are they up to? Thomas tells us that the startup’s mission is to give amateur cooks and chefs an easy way to publish recipes in a simple, frictionless and easy-to-use interface. Cucumbertown aims to present culinary enthusiasts with an alternative to posting recipes and food-related content on WordPress, Tumblr, Blogger, and so on. The founder describes it as the Dribbble for cooks and recipes. Simply put, Cucumbertown aims to make it easy for anyone to write recipes and publish them in a community that contributes to recipes and posts by submitting pictures, adding tips, sharing the top content and rating their favorite submissions. Thomas said that he wants the platform to offer a frictionless entry-point
Institute of Commonwealth Studies and?OSPA (Overseas Service Pensioners' Association) Witness Seminar: Localisation of the Civil Service in colonial territories before and immediately after independence Event Programme
Thursday 25 October 2012 In the Senate Room, Senate House, South Block, Malet Street, London. WC1E 7HU
11.00-11.15 Registration, tea/coffee
11.15-11.30 Welcome and introduction by Professor Philip Murphy (ICwS)
11.30-1.00 Session One: Education and Training?? Chair: Dr Tamson Pietsch (Brunel University)
Eric Cunningham: (Education Officer, Gold Coast 1952 ? 62) Gold Coast localisation: a long history, and reflections on my own experience. Professor Michael Lee: (University of Manchester; Seconded to Uganda, and Makerere University College) The contribution of Makerere College to Localisation in East Africa. Peter Wood: (Tanzania 1957 ? 69; Oxford University 1969 ? 90, ODA and international consultant; Commonwealth Forestry Association (Vice-President) The role of the Commonwealth Forestry Institute, Oxford, in professional education and training.
1.00-2.00 Sandwich Lunch
2.00-3.30 Session Two: Training for the Localisation of Public Administration Chair: Professor Philip Murphy (ICwS)
Wyn Reilly: (Tanganyika 1956-62; IDPM, University of Manchester. Involved in Public Administration and Training in numerous countries). The Administrative Training Centre, Mzumbe, Tanganyika and management training at IDPM, Manchester and overseas. Colin Fuller: (Kenya 1956-68; Kenya Institute of Administration, then IDPM, Manchester). Africanisation of the Civil Service in Kenya with special reference to the Administration. Chris Cochran: (Solomon Islands 1967-82; Public Service Office and then Commissioner for Labour) Localisation of the Public Service in the Solomon Islands 1960-82, either side of Independence in 1978.
3.30-4.00 Tea/coffee
4.00-5.30 Session Three: The Politics of Localisation Chair: Dr Georgina Sinclair (Open University)
John Ducker: (Aden 1960-67; then with World Bank in Africa and Central Asia). A Comparative Study across the colonies generally. Simon Gillett: (Served in Cameroons 1960; Bechuanaland/Botswana 1965-72). The political context of Localisation and Government Policies in the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Botswana. Michael Waters: (Western Pacific ?GEIC 1972-76; Hong Kong 1976-97, Civil Service Branch dealing with localisation and handover, and Deputy Political Advisor to the Governor). The security, political and nationality issues affecting Localisation in Hong Kong.
5.30-7.00 Drinks reception
To register and pay online for this event, please click here.
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Public release date: 25-Oct-2012
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Mission accomplished for one of Justin Bieber's biggest fans -- a little girl who is fighting cancer, got a private meeting with JB after a huge social media campaign that included a call to TMZ Live.
Cucumbertown, although it may not have the coolest name (see what I did there?), has a founding story that is very much a sign of the times. Let me explain: The startup was initially founded by Cherian Thomas, an Indian entrepreneur and former engineer at Zynga, and today has a team of four people. While one might assume that its employees all live near Thomas in Bangalore, in fact each of them live on different continents — and they’ve never met each other in person. And yet, in spite of the fact that Thomas had never been to Silicon Valley until last month, Cucumbertown is today announcing that it has raised a $300K seed round from a number of familiar names. The startup’s first round included angel investors like Naval Ravikant of AngelList, Paul Singh of 500 Startups, FarmVille co-creator Sizhao Zao Yang, founder of MightyText Maneesh Arora, early Google product guy Richard Chen and Sonique Player co-creator Tabreez Varjee. So, considering it has a remote staff and Thomas’ admission that it has few contacts in Silicon Valley or in the U.S. for that matter, how was the startup able to raise funding from these angels? The startup is one of the first companies to use AngelList Docs to source its angels, the investor crowdfunding service’s that allows both angels and entrepreneurs to avoid legal fees while filling out term sheets and all the necessary paperwork that comes with raising and closing an early-stage financing round. Not to overstate, but this could have big implications for international entrepreneurs and founders who don’t have an expansive rolodex of investors and contacts in the U.S. or Silicon Valley. That being said, what exactly is Cucumber, and what are they up to? Thomas tells us that the startup’s mission is to give amateur cooks and chefs an easy way to publish recipes in a simple, frictionless and easy-to-use interface. Cucumbertown aims to present culinary enthusiasts with an alternative to posting recipes and food-related content on WordPress, Tumblr, Blogger, and so on. The founder describes it as the Dribbble for cooks and recipes. Simply put, Cucumbertown aims to make it easy for anyone to write recipes and publish them in a community that contributes to recipes and posts by submitting pictures, adding tips, sharing the top content and rating their favorite submissions. Thomas said that he wants the platform to offer a frictionless entry-point