New digs for local schools - Chanhassen Villager: Schools

Students, teachers and administrators are anticipating some big changes and new beginnings at the start of the 2012-13 school year.

However, some schools will face larger transformations than others.

Jonathan Montessori in Chaska moved into its new permanent home at the former St. Andrew West Lutheran Church building on Aug. 20 and held orientation for new children on Aug. 28. The move was prompted by the growth of the World Learner School, which the Montessori helped start in 1995.

Jonathan Montessori is private and serves students from 2-1/2 to 6-1/2 years of age, while World Learner School is a tuition-free charter school that serves students from 6-1/ 2 to 14.

The two schools shared space under one roof on Hundertmark Road just west of Highway 41, but a relocation was necessary for the Montessori to achieve its goals and gain the exposure it desired for the program, said Randi Shapiro, executive director.

?Our new building means having a permanent home for Jonathan Montessori,? she said. ?Our own personality as a school can really flourish and we can begin education much earlier in the community. We are also more accessible now being on the main level.?

Shapiro said the new building is located on 6.5 acres, ?allowing a deeper connection to the natural world.? The building has several windows which allows for observation and exploration. This is important to the school?s philosophy because it wants to inspire children to be good stewards of the earth.

The school is looking forward to working on the second phase of its move. This phase includes adding two classrooms and a courtyard so it can begin its toddler program in fall of 2013, and developing a natural playscape next summer.

?We are looking forward to being together as a school community with more than twice the space we had before,? she said.

Moving from warehouse

Southwest Christian High School has been getting its newly constructed 63,000-square-foot facility ready in recent weeks for its first day of school on Sept. 4. The new campus is located in Chaska, just southeast of Highway 212 and Bavaria Road. The school was previously housed in a converted warehouse on Peavey Road.

According to Sue Beuning, director of admission, the new location will have a positive impact in several ways including state-of-the-art science labs, a music room designed for ?great acoustics,? a media center that offers a quiet study area and flexible meeting space, and a new gymnasium and outdoor fields to support on-site athletic practices and games.

?Bottom line, education is always about whether you have quality teachers. However, it is also true that if classrooms are cramped, too cold or too hot, which was often an issue at ?the warehouse,? or lacking in resources or technology, learning will suffer,? she said. ?The new campus provides lots of classroom space, natural light, and flex spaces for small groups or independent learning.?

Beuning believes students will become more engaged in their learning. The new environment sets a tone of excellence and the students know that hundreds of people ? donors and volunteers ? have given generously so their school is the best it can be, she said.

?Even though our location and building has changed, our foundation remains the same. Our board, staff, and community of families is absolutely committed to honoring God in all we do. Our earnest desire is that the graduates of Southwest Christian High School will be ?lights? in their university settings, workplaces, families, and communities,? she said.

New in District 112

District 112 is seeing some new schools opening and the relocation of others within the district.

La Academia Dual Language Immersion School is opening for the first time this year. The new immersion program is housed in the same building as the district?s Kindergarten Center in Chaska. Between the two entities there will be around 400 to 500 students in the building.

La Academia is starting with kindergarten and first grade sections. As those students progress the district plans to build the program through the fifth grade.

Cathy Gallagher, director of teaching and learning, said La Academia kindergarten and first grade teachers are excited to welcome the families and meet their new students.

?Spanish-English dual immersion is the perfect fit, we know it?s a demand in our community,? she said. ?This model allows us to enrich the language skills of both native English and native Spanish speakers. Learning languages at an early age has life-long benefits. ?

The district also is launching the Integrated Arts Academy, an alternative high school for grades 9-12, in September. The academy will serve district residents as well as open-enrolled students, according to the district?s website.

?We have a talented group of staff who are going to integrate all the graduation requirement into the visual, culinary and horticultural arts curriculum. This is going to be an exciting program and students will even be able to earn some college credit,? said Jackie Johnston, the academy?s principal and community education director.

Each of these curriculum requirements will be supported by partnerships with businesses and agencies connected to them. Free transportation will be available to all residents of District 112.

The Early Childhood and Family Learning Center has moved all of its programs to the ?Green House? wing of the Chaska High School building. The location was changed because the center wanted to house all of its early childhood and family education locations in one place.

Previously, the classes were offered in multiple locations such as the kindergarten center, Bluff Creek Elementary School and the District Education Center. The new location offers 10 classrooms plus teacher office space. About 75 staff will work out of the site and the community education office also has moved there.

?Working in partnership with special education allows the district to provide better aligned services to children before they?re in kindergarten. We look at this as the one-stop shop for everything pre-K,? Johnston said.

Source: http://www.chanvillager.com/news/schools/new-digs-for-local-schools/article_2668feda-d1a1-5a64-a808-9a73021b8e38.html

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Wisconsin Badgers among top 10 spenders in college football

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a Big Ten college in more ways than one: The school is among the top 10 spenders in all of college football. The Wisconsin Badgers spent more money on college football in 2010 than it did the year before, according to the latest U.S. Department of Education Equality in Athletics data compiled by the Memphis Business Journal. In 2010, UW spent $23.7 million on football, up from $22 million in 2009. In the Big Ten Conference, UW is outspent only by The Ohio?

Source: http://eastside.fox6now.com/news/sports-recreation/138522-wisconsin-badgers-among-top-10-spenders-college-football

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Falcao-led Atletico devour Chelsea in SuperCup

European champions Chelsea crashed to a 4-1 SuperCup defeat to Atletico Madrid here on Friday, with the Spanish side's Colombian hotshot Radamel Falcao the star of the show at the Stade Louis II stadium.

Falcao's first half hat-trick had Chelsea, featuring Atletico old boy Fernando Torres, reeling and Miranda's second half offering compounded the misery for Roberto di Matteo's men.

Di Matteo pulled no punches in his post-match assessment, telling ITV: "In the first half we were very poor and they were very sharp. We started very slow and sloppy and they penalised us.

"They were much better than us in the first half."

The tone of the encounter was set as early as the fourth minute when Falcao, known as El Tigre (the tiger), hit the crossbar in front of a crowd including Prince Albert of Monaco and England manager Roy Hodgson..

Three minutes later the red hot 26-year-old put the Europa League winners in front, latching onto Adrian Lopez's long ball to cheekily chip over Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.

On 19 minutes he was at it again, this time curling the ball in from 15 yards with his left foot into the far corner, the ball out of reach of Cech's outstretched hand.

That was Falcao's 41st goal from 53 appearances since joining Atletico from Porto, with goal number 42 coming on the stroke of half time.

On the counter attack from a corner at the far end Falcao, bought by Atletico from Porto for 40 million euros last year, rushed onto Arda Turan's square pass across the penalty area to slot home clinically.

This was Falcao's second hat-trick in as many matches having fired three past Athletic Bilbao on Monday in the Spanish league in a rematch of last season's Europa League final.

And it could have been a first half four-timer if the upright hadn't got in the way of his 35th minute header.

Chelsea, outshone and outplayed by their Spanish rivals before the break, tried to assert control on the game in the second half, but despite greater possession they fell further behind on the hour mark, with Miranda getting on the scoresheet from a setpiece, the ball deflected off the sliding Gary Cahill.

Defender Cahill got a 75th minute consolation goal for Chelsea, shooting low past Thibaut Courtois from close range from a corner taken by Frank Lampard.

Di Matteo, reflecting on this sobering night out in Monaco, added: "We've got a lot to learn, we've got to get a lot better - it's a shame we were not able to be as competitive in a European final.

"If we play like that I have my responsibility too. It was a bad defeat, but we'll bounce back."

And on Atletico's hat-trick hero Falcao di Matteo said: "We gave him too much space and time, you can't give him any space as he's so dangerous."

Chelsea were captained by Lampard in the absence of the suspended John Terry.

Terry was handed a three-match ban, reduced to two matches on appeal, when he was sent off for an off-the-ball clash with Alexis Sanchez in the Champions League semi-final second leg at Barcelona, which kept him out of the final against Bayern Munich.

Having won his appeal he will now be able to play from the start of Chelsea's title defence against Juventus next month.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/falcao-led-atletico-devour-not-super-chelsea-205048505--sow.html

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First Steps toward a Robotic Leg Suit for Paraplegics [Video]

See Inside

A multinational team has made progress in developing an exoskeleton?now being tested in monkeys?that might be used one day by the handicapped to walk again

By Gary Stix

Image: Duke University/Miguel Nicolelis

Miguel Nicolelis and his colleagues at Duke University and a number of other institutions worldwide are working feverishly on a robotic suit, an exoskeleton, intended to let a handicapped teenager walk onto the pitch at the 2014 World Cup Soccer to deliver the first ceremonial kick. Eventually this technology is intended for general use.

One preliminary test of the technology shows a monkey outfitted with the robotic suit moving one leg. For the animal to accomplish this task, signals from a computer that mimics the locomotion pattern of a rhesus monkey cause the robotic limb to move the animal's leg. This demonstration shows that this early prototype of the exoskeleton can exert enough force to carry the monkey. Soon, the researchers will block electrical signals from the animal's spinal cord to allow signals to be transmitted directly from electrodes implanted in the monkey's brain to a computer for processing and then to the exoskeleton to initiate ambulatory movements.

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Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=98db2e25907834a007ee6ed4dc775475

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Has Fortress Investment Become the Perfect Stock? | Avid Investor ...

Every investor would love to stumble upon the perfect stock. But will you ever really find a stock that provides everything you could possibly want?

One thing?s for sure: You?ll never discover truly great investments unless you actively look for them. Let?s discuss the ideal qualities of a perfect stock, then decide if Fortress Investment (NYSE: FIG??) fits the bill.

The quest for perfection
Stocks that look great based on one factor may prove horrible elsewhere, making due diligence a crucial part of your investing research. The best stocks excel in many different areas, including these important factors:

• Growth. Expanding businesses show healthy revenue growth. While past growth is no guarantee that revenue will keep rising, it?s certainly a better sign than a stagnant top line.
• Margins. Higher sales mean nothing if a company can?t produce profits from them. Strong margins ensure that company can turn revenue into profit.
• Balance sheet. At debt-laden companies, banks and bondholders compete with shareholders for management?s attention. Companies with strong balance sheets don?t have to worry about the distraction of debt.
• Money-making opportunities. Return on equity helps measure how well a company is finding opportunities to turn its resources into profitable business endeavors.
• Valuation. You can?t afford to pay too much for even the best companies. By using normalized figures, you can see how a stock?s simple earnings multiple fits into a longer-term context.
• Dividends. For tangible proof of profits, a check to shareholders every three months can?t be beat. Companies with solid dividends and strong commitments to increasing payouts treat shareholders well.

With those factors in mind, let?s take a closer look at Fortress Investment.

Factor	What We Want to See	Actual	Pass or Fail?
Growth	5-Year Annual Revenue Growth > 15%	(15%)	Fail
?	1-Year Revenue Growth > 12%	(17.9%)	Fail
Margins	Gross Margin > 35%	(2.3%)	Fail
?	Net Margin > 15%	(38.6%)	Fail
Balance Sheet	Debt to Equity < 50%	16.9%	Pass
?	Current Ratio > 1.3	2.61	Pass
Opportunities	Return on Equity > 15%	(58.4%)	Fail
Valuation	Normalized P/E < 20	NM	NM
Dividends	Current Yield > 2%	5.1%	Pass
?	5-Year Dividend Growth > 10%	(15.5%)	Fail
?	?	?	?
?	Total Score	?	3 out of 9

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Total score = number of passes.

Since we looked at Fortress Investment last year, the company hasn?t been able to improve on its three-point score. Weaker revenue offset the company?s decision to initiate a dividend earlier this year, but the stock has managed to gain about 10% in the past year.

The private equity industry has been a big moneymaker, but not so much for the investors who bought shares of private-equity companies when they went public. Both Fortress and Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX??) have performed abysmally since their respective 2007 IPOs, with many investors having noted just how perfect their timing was in coming to market just before the bottom fell out of the private-equity market.

Despite its stock?s terrible long-term returns, Fortress has had some recent successes. For instance, its investment in RailAmerica (NYSE: RA??) will produce a nice profit for the company, as private-equity rival and newly public Carlyle Group is joining with Bank of America (NYSE: BAC??) to help finance Genesee & Wyoming?s purchase of the regional railroad.

Fortress is also the majority owner of Nationstar Mortgage, which recently managed to pick up most of the assets of Residential Capital, the failed mortgage servicing unit of Ally Financial. Despite a run-in with Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-B??) , which tried to grab up the assets, Nationstar managed to hold onto the servicing rights. That pick-up should prove lucrative in the long run, although it comes with controversy over foreclosure practices.

However, it?s essential to remember that these successes helped Fortress?s fund clients, with only an indirect impact on Fortress itself and its shareholders. For Fortress to improve, it needs to see more investing successes like this, which would then boost interest in the company?s private-equity funds and start building assets and revenue back up. Until that happens, though, Fortress could languish for quite a while.

Keep searching
No stock is a sure thing, but some stocks are a lot closer to perfect than others. By looking for the perfect stock, you?ll go a long way toward improving your investing prowess and learning how to separate out the best investments from the rest.

Private equity has been a tough call for shareholders, but it?s even harder to understand the ins and outs of the banking industry. Get the help you need from the Fool?s premium report on Bank of America, which reveals everything you need to know about the too-big-to-fail bank. You?ll also get free updates for a year. Get your copy today.

Click here to add Fortress Investment to My Watchlist, which can find all of our Foolish analysis on it and all your other stocks.

Source: http://avidinvestorgroup.com/2012/08/has-fortress-investment-become-the-perfect-stock/

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New Personnel Can be a Safety Risk iWebdeveloper: Deep Linking ...

Asking new workers about their preceding safety education and operate encounter assists organizations ensure the workers know the fundamentals of workplace safety. Too several accidents occur simply because organizations assume that absolutely everyone knows the fundamentals. Businesses many times will find the worker did not know the fundamentals only immediately after an accident happens. Make certain every new worker knows their rights and responsibilities.

Workers need to know they have the right to participate in health and safety coaching and safety programs within the workplace. They also have the correct to know about hazards they might be exposed in the workplace. They have the proper to refuse unsafe perform and they have the responsibility to follow safety procedures and put on any private protective equipment that could be expected by the company and that is certainly required by law.

New personnel are far more susceptible to accidents than those who have experience in the business workplace. New workers may be classified numerous approaches. The most clear is any new employ; this could be permanent or temporary personnel and may include supervisors, with or with out expertise inside the organization or even the sector. Student workers, co-op placements or apprentices are also certainly new for the workplace. Less apparent are existing workers that are assigned new jobs. Contractors, subcontractors, and guests to your workplace all require to know the general safety guidelines of the workplace.

Orientation is more than just a tour of the workplace. It must cover emergency procedures, workplace safety rules everyone should adhere to at your workplace, general specifications for private protective equipment, very first help provisions, info about where the safety board is posted and any other vital health and safety facts. If achievable introduce new and young workers for the health and safety committee members or the well being and safety representative throughout orientation and show them where their names are posted.

Supervisors want to become in standard get in touch with with workers. With new personnel additional get in touch with will be needed. Communication must freely flow two methods in between the supervisor and also the worker. Queries on unsafe operating conditions really should be dealt with quickly. Supervisors ought to give instruction and guarantee safety regulations and rules are followed.

Offering a safe operating atmosphere and ensuring a secure begin when new personnel come to operate will guarantee the workers are totally capable of performing operate and in a safe manner. Safety legislation incorporates a common provision requiring employers to make sure their workers happen to be offered with suitable info, instruction and supervision to shield their well being and safety while they carry out their jobs. These regulations are to shield all new personnel for the workplace. These regulations are also set to guard the firm so long as documentation can be supplied if there is an accident.

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Source: http://iwebdeveloper.co.uk/2012/08/30/new-personnel-can-be-a-safety-risk/

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MyCyberLawyer's Blawg: Professionals Against Cyber-Slander ...

Please take the time to follow the link below and join my Group on LinkedIn.?

Professionals Against Cyber-Slander & Cyber-Bullying

This Group?was formed to connect and bolster those of us who want to enjoy the freedoms of speech afforded by the U.S. Constitution, but who also recognize that often uncontrolable damage is created by Online Defamation, Online Bullying and Online Harrassment at the hands of known or unknown users.

Our collective effort can be used to inform one another of certain tactics and strategies to combat this area of the law that is grossly underdeveloped and which is still too young to address much of the slander and libel that is published online.

Come here and tell your story, help others to deal with the online defamation or bullying of which they are a victim. Hopefully, we can help one another in tracking, stopping and pursuing these online polluters for the damage they create.

Announcement from Professionals Against Cyber-Slander & Cyber-Bullying

Please take the time to refer this Group to as many Professionals and Businesses, as you have time.

I believe that we are seeing a new tort develop in popularity. It's not that the tort of defamation is new, but that the tort of defamation via the Internet is aggressively growing, just as car accident tort claims grew with the invention of the motorized vehicle. Prior to the motorized vehicle, car accident lawsuits were limited to a few horse and buggy claims (do the research).

Just like the turn into the 20th Century increased the motorized vehicle accident claims for the tort of negligence, the turn into the 21st Century has brought about a way for EVERY person to easily express themselves, positively and negatively, thereby increasing instances for the tort of defamation to occur. Most of us remember when the only way to defame someone was to have it printed in the newspaper or to print leaflets and pass them around. In school, maybe some graffitti on the bathroom wall was viewed. That is all gone. The Internet and smartphones provide an unprescedented vehicle for the destruction of lives (literally in some cases death), businesses & careers, via the defamatory comments on the Internet.

What most people don't know: defamation is usually covered under a homeowner's insurance policy, just as car accidents are covered under car insurance policies. Thus, I predict, the rate at which these claims will grow in the courts will be drastic as the courts realize the validity of the actual damage to its victim and as the victims make claims against the antagonists' insurance policies.

This Group is interested in growth, your input, your ideas, education, your community outreach, and helping to stop or curb the proliferation of defamation and bullying on the Internet.

Please share this Group, it impacts everyone from Professionals to children. As Professionals, we have a unique position to influence our communities, enforcement and laws. Grab a shovel and help dig us out of this problem; be part of the solution.

Source: http://mycyberlawyer.blogspot.com/2012/08/professionals-against-cyber-slander.html

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Methane Making An Appearance In Pa. Water Supplies

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  Mike and Nancy Leighton live in Leroy Township, Pa. where residents have been dealing with flammable gas puddles and tainted well water.

  Becky Lettenberger/NPR

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  A local well pad in Bradford County has been leaking gas since mid-May, according to state regulators. Gas has been bubbling into this nearby creek since about the same time.

  Becky Lettenberger/NPR

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  The Morse well pad in Bradford County, which the State believes is responsible for the leaking methane. More than 3 million pounds of cement and steel are used in a typical natural gas well.

  Becky Lettenberger/NPR

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  It's thought that a leaky pipe that connects the surface to the deep underground gas reservoir is responsible for the methane escape. The gas has made its way into local streams, like this one.

  Becky Lettenberger/NPR

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  Gale and Ted Franklin were forced out of their home after flooding last September. They have been living out of their camp in Leroy Township, Pa., and methane has seeped into their water supply.

  Becky Lettenberger/NPR

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  Chesapeake Energy outfitted a shed behind the Franklins' house with a water filtration system when their well starting overflowing.

  Becky Lettenberger/NPR

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  The Franklins say Chesapeake Energy has been slow to respond. The company says recent tests indicate the methane is nearly gone from the area.

  Becky Lettenberger/NPR

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  Flammable methane continues to bubble up from the ground in 15-20 spots on the Leighton's property.

  Becky Lettenberger/NPR

Mike and Nancy Leighton's problems began on May 19, just as Mike was settling in to watch the Preakness Stakes. A neighbor in Leroy Township, Pa., called Mike and told him to check the water well located just outside his front door.

"And I said I'll be down in 15 minutes. I wanted to see the race," Leighton said. But as the horses were racing, Leighton's well was overflowing. Typically, there's between 80 to 100 feet of headspace between the top of the well and its water supply. But when Leighton went outside, the water was bubbling over the top.

Down the road, Ted and Gale Franklin's water well had gone dry. When water started coming out later that week, the liquid was "black as coal," according to Gale.

Since then, both families have been dealing with methane-contaminated water supplies, as well as dozens of mysterious, flammable gas puddles bubbling up on their properties.

Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection blames a nearby fracking operation. They say methane gas has leaked out of the well, which is operated by Chesapeake Energy, and into the Leightons' and Franklins' water supplies.

The danger goes beyond contaminated water. In a letter to both families detailing test results and preliminary findings, state regulators wrote "there is a physical danger of fire or explosion due to the migration of natural gas water wells." Chesapeake has installed ventilation systems at the two water wells, but the letter warns, "it is not possible to completely eliminate the hazards of having natural gas in your water supply by simply venting your well."

Nancy Leighton said the letter made her "a little nervous," pointing out both families heat their homes with wood stoves and plan to do so this winter, regardless of whether or not the gas leaks have gone away. "What are we going to do? We don't have any other options," Gail Franklin says.

A Methane Gas Express Elevator

So how did this happen?

The whole thing gets a bit confusing, because over and over again, you hear the drilling industry say fracking hasn't been linked to water contamination. Yet, here's a case where the state says, yes, a nearby natural gas well is to blame.

Here's why they're both right.

To frack a well, drillers crack up shale rock with explosives, then flush gas out of the ground with millions of gallons of fluid. For a long time, the fear has been that the chemicals are shot deep underground, then they and the gas find a way to seep back up a mile through the rock and the water supply.

That hasn't been conclusively documented, but what has been proven is something much more basic, and closer to the surface. It's not the technique of fracking ? it's the pipe the gas uses to go from point A to point B that can be a problem.

Penn State University geologist David Yoxtheimer has been studying this, issue, which is called methane migration. He explained when a well is leaky, it becomes a methane gas express elevator. "Gas wants to migrate up," he said. "It's lighter. It's less dense. It finds itself trapped in these shallower, more porous formations. And during the drilling process, you can go down through these shallow formations, and as you're drilling through, suddenly you've created a conduit for those gasses to escape."

A shoddy cement job is usually what's to blame. Gas wells are lined by a series of steel pipes surrounded by cement. And if the cement pour is rushed or poorly-done, methane is going to get out of the well and into the ground. That's what state regulators say happened in 2009 in the same northeast Pennsylvania county where the Leightons and Franklins are currently dealing with stray gas.

'We Want Things Fixed'

Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection fined Chesapeake Energy $900,000 for contaminating 16 families' water supplies. The company disputed the state's conclusion, but agreed to the fine ? the largest environmental penalty in Pennsylvania history.

Since then, Pennsylvania regulators put much tougher drilling standards in place, in order to minimize methane leaks.

They mandated higher-quality cement and pipes in gas wells, among other changes. Chesapeake spokesman Michael Kehs said the company has improved its standards. He says the problem affecting the Leightons and Franklins is an "isolated incident," adding, "in this particular case there was a unique problem with a particular piece of equipment that was highly unusual."

Chesapeake is paying for water filtration devices at both families' homes, and in a statement said the malfunction that created the leak "has been identified and corrected. The surface expressions of methane have dramatically abated and are almost gone."

But Mike Leighton, who still has bubbling puddles in his yard, said he's fed up. "The newspapers keep minimizing the damage here, but it's here," said Leighton, pointing out bubbling gas puddles on his property. "And people think we're radicals, but we're not. We're just upset about the condition of our property, and we want things fixed.

"I want my real estate back to where it was before," he says. "And right now, it ain't worth dirt."

Amy Emmert, a policy advisor with the American Petroleum Institute, maintains the leaky wells are few and far between. "A typical natural gas well is constructed with 3 million pounds of steel and cement," she said.

Still, it only takes one small hole, or one faulty piece of equipment, or one weak chunk of cement, to create problems on the surface.

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This story is part of the StateImpact Pennsylvania project. StateImpact is a collaboration between NPR and member stations examining the effect of state policy on people's lives.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2012/08/28/160128351/methane-making-an-appearance-in-pa-water-supplies?ft=1&f=1007

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What Is This, Ranch Dressing?

Emily Yoffe

Photograph by Teresa Castracane.

Emily Yoffe, aka Dear Prudence, is on Washingtonpost.com weekly to chat live with readers. Emily is currently on vacation, but unpublished questions from a previous chat are below. (Sign up here?to get Dear Prudence delivered to your inbox each week. Read Prudie?s?Slate columns?here. Send questions to Prudence at prudence@slate.com.)

Emily Yoffe: Good afternoon, everyone. I look forward to your questions.

Q. Clean Food Army!: My daughter Bella has a great playgroup that meets once a week after school. We were REALLY lucky to get into this group. The girls come from some of the wealthiest families at the school, and since our family is more working class, we love that Bella is able to see how the other side lives and maybe even look for something to aspire to one day. So far Bella has had so much fun with all the girls. But last week I got a nasty email from one of the mothers. I sent some homemade cookies and store-bought veggies and dip for the snack last week, and apparently this was not up to snuff! The mothers said that my vegetables were clearly not homegrown and organic and that they could taste the pesticides and preservatives on them. They asked if I knew that ranch dip is high in cholesterol and saturated fat which leads to heart disease. I was in tears reading this email. Their assumption that I had no idea how to feed my daughter was so insulting. I emailed them back saying that I was unsure what particular brands of veggies, dip, and baking items to buy, and received another email suggesting I start a garden. Prudie, we live in an apartment complex. I am unsure how to respond. I really, really want my daughter to be happy and have friends with the right values and aspirations. But I have no idea how to make these women happy. I went to the farmers market an hour away last weekend to look for some appropriate items to send for next week, but the market was so expensive. I don't want my daughter to get kicked out of this playgroup, especially now that she's so happy. How can I handle these clean-food moms?

A: These moms should register themselves with the FDA?just think, they have a bionic ability to detect chemicals at parts per billion! If you want to have your daughter hang out with friends with the right values, you should consider finding another playgroup. You simply want your daughter to get along with nice friends, so please stop injecting your own social anxiety into what should be a carefree time. The other mothers have demonstrated that their values include insults and superiority. Ignore their jibes and skip the farmers market?carrots are carrots. And if your vegetables aren't good enough for them, their group isn't good enough for you.

Q. No Sex, No More Relationship: My girlfriend and I are about to start our junior and sophomore years at college, respectively. She's a wonderful girl, full of life, funny, and very intelligent. We've even discussed the possibility of getting married in a year and a half or so when I'll be close to graduating. The problem is that my girlfriend skipped a couple of grades in school and graduated high school pretty young, so she won't be 18 for another three months. She's still a virgin, while I'm a bit more experienced. Being celibate since last fall hasn't been easy for me, but I love my girlfriend so it's worth it. The thing is she's starting to get really frustrated at still being a virgin even after being in a steady relationship for a year. She really wants to have sex, but since she's still a minor and I'm not, I'm afraid I could get in trouble for statutory rape. She said if I don't show her I both love and trust her by sleeping with her, she might leave me and find a boyfriend that will meet all of her needs. I can't imagine life without her, and I really don't want to let her go so easily. I'm really sure neither she nor her parents would ever report me for statutory rape, but it's still a risk I would rather not take. Should I give in to save our relationship, or should I just keep trying to convince her that after all the time and effort we put into our relationship, waiting three more months isn't such a big deal and hope she doesn't leave me?

A: Check out the age of consent in your state. If she can consent, and does, and her parents are not crazy, your fears are unfounded about prosecution. However, please put aside thoughts of marriage. She's still a teenager and you two haven't had sex. She's threatening to find another boyfriend because you won't deflower her. You two are way too young and immature to be talking about the rest of your lives. And if she won't respect your unease about waiting a few more months until she's legally an adult, then maybe you two just aren't meant for each other.

Q. The Other Child: I'm a bit uncomfortable even asking this question but here we go. I met the man I am currently engaged to over two years ago and we have been great together. Our children are all adults. (He has two and I have one.) I liked the idea that our children were grown but we were still young enough to enjoy life without the issues that come with younger children (I'm 44, he is 40). The problem is he still wants to "father" the son of his former girlfriend. He dated this lady for almost eight years and it was tumultuous at best. Her son is now 14 and he still wants to be dad to her son. The son is a nice boy and pretty low impact but I still have problems with the continued relationship. My fianc? still converses with the ex-GF, but, knowing I don't really like it, he does not tell me when he speaks to her. His actions when he picks up her son for father/son time implies he would like us to act like a happy family together. I just don't feel it. I get along great with his children and I try very hard not to give his ex's son any impression that I don't really care for the association. I pep talk myself the entire time during his visits but it bothers me. What is the best way to be OK with this situation? The fianc? says this relationship with the child is important to him because he made a promise that he would be his father when the child asked years ago.

A: Your fianc? was involved with a woman for eight years so he was the de facto stepfather to her son for most of his young life. Instead of disappearing, your fianc? wants to honor his connection and commitment to this boy by continuing to be a fatherly presence. How admirable! I would think you would find your boyfriend's relationship to this teenager one of the reasons you love your fianc?. But here you are, making your boyfriend sneak around when he talks to the mother of his "son" because he knows it upsets you. In essence you are planning to marry a man with a 14-year-old boy. If you wish the kid would just go away, then you have to realize you're the one who needs to take a hike. I don't care if you're "not feeling it." Fake it, and get to know this kid or break off the engagement.

Q. Family: I live with, and care for (cook, clean, drive) my nearly 90-year-old grandfather. He spends a few hours a week with his girlfriend, who joins us for lunch occasionally, plays cards with him, and generally seems to enjoy his (and my) company. It's good for both of them to have companionship around their own age (I can't relate that well to him, I'm more than 60 years younger than he is), and all three of us get along really well. My problem is that recently, and unexpectedly, the girlfriend asked me to refer to her as "Grandma." I think I understand why. She lives in a retirement home, and her kids and grandkids don't visit her, whereas I am one of the first people to show up at the home if she's having a bad day. I genuinely like this woman, and I am glad she's a part of my grandfather's life (even if I am grossed out by what I know of their sex life), but her request makes me uncomfortable. Since her request, I've found it tougher to talk to her. I do talk to her, but for some reason, it no longer feels the same. I also haven't called her "Grandma" yet, even though she introduces me to other people as her grandson. Is there a way to politely, and without upsetting her, explain that while she is absolutely a wonderful person in my grandfather's life, and mine, I don't think I can go along with this?

A: How lucky for these two old people that you are in their lives. (And I understand your own distaste, but I'm charmed to hear that your 90-year-old grandfather is still getting it on!) I agree that his girlfriend has made an awkward request, but it's a simple thing for you to do to make an old woman happy. I have a suggestion for a compromise: I bet it would be easier if instead of calling her "Grandma" you called her "Grandma Mildred." And when she introduces you as her grandson, just smile and go along. As the letter about the 14-year-old boy shows, family feeling doesn't require shared DNA.

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=3c81f8d214710f7a8e00671576710e26

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Source: http://articlebro.com/2012/travel-leisure/luxury-hotels/

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Apple may have won, but software patents are still evil ? Tech ...

The implications of Apple?s recent billion-dollar victory over Samsung in a patent-infringement case go beyond the specifics of this particular battle ? the reality is the war over software and design patents is bad not just for individual companies but arguably for society as a whole.

In one of the biggest court decisions in recent memory for a technology giant, Samsung on Friday lost a billion-dollar patent-infringement case launched by Apple over the design and functionality of the mobile-handset maker?s smartphones. We?ve written about the implications of this ruling for both companies, and where the case stands to go from here, but when you step back from the specifics of this decision itself, it becomes increasingly obvious that we are all losers in this kind of case ? because software and design patents are inherently bad, not just for the technology industry but arguably for society as a whole. Apple?s win may satisfy its fans, and Samsung may be able to recover from the ruling, but that doesn?t make it right.

As my colleague Jeff Roberts has reported, this case was launched by Apple against Samsung last year, based on what Apple said was Samsung?s wilful infringement of software-related ?utility? patents and four design-related patents it holds for the iPhone and iPad. According to Apple, the company?s smartphones ? including the Nexus S, Epic 4G and Galaxy S 4G ? copied elements of the design and functionality of Apple?s iPhone models, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab copied design and functional aspects of the iPad. In its statement of claim, which contained drawings that jurors relied on to decide the case, Apple said:

?Rather than innovate and develop its own technology and a unique Samsung style for its smart phone products and computer tablets, Samsung chose to copy Apple?s technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products.?

Did Apple really suffer because of another phone?s shape?

From a legal point of view, there appear to be a number of questionable factors involved in the jurors? decision in this case, at least according to Groklaw, including a debate over whether the jury actually understood the specifics of what they were being asked to do, and whether they ignored certain aspects of the case in their desire to penalize Samsung. That could lead to the case being successfully appealed, but even if it isn?t, or if the appeal fails, the Apple-Samsung decision adds even more weight to the argument that software and design patents are evil and that the entire patent process is badly flawed ? if not broken.

As part of the case, Apple obviously argued that it suffered irreparable harm from Samsung?s alleged copying of its design and functionality. But has it really suffered competitively? It?s hard to see how, considering the company is the world?s most valuable publicly-traded entity, with a market value of over $600 billion, and its mobile products are the market leaders in almost every category. How much more successful could it possibly be? And now, the legal ruling gives it even greater power to beat up on Google and Android ? is that really a win for the technology industry or for society as a whole? It?s difficult to see how (and let?s not forget that Apple doesn?t need software patents to protect it from knock-offs ? it has trademarks, trade dress and a series of other legal tools that will do that too).

Defenders of the case, and of patent laws in general, would likely argue that it doesn?t matter how large or successful Apple is: the point is that Samsung did something wrong. But what exactly do we mean by this statement? Two of the design patents involved in the case describe the way in which the iPhone is rounded at the corners and flat on the top, and another refers to the way that icons appear on the screen. Among the utility patents involved are those related to the ?bounce back? or ?rubber band? feature in some of Apple?s apps ? in which the screen rebounds after the user pulls it in one direction or another ? and to the ?pinch to zoom? functionality used for images.

One designer said that the pinch-too-zoom gesture has become so ubiquitous for mobile devices and apps of all kinds that it is like claiming ownership over the idea of a circular steering wheel. Would we be better off if one company controlled the rights to the steering wheel and could charge huge sums to all manufacturers for using that design element? Probably not. But Apple could now do this with pinch-to-zoom, as well as other design and utility features, giving it an even bigger lock on the mobile device business than it already has ? despite the fact that there is evidence that similar gestures existed before Apple patented them.

Software patents are nuclear weapons, not protectors of innovation

Even if you accept that Apple did something unique and revolutionary with the zoom feature that deserves to be protected by the full force of the law, should it have the same rights to a series of icons that are lined up in a specific way on a mobile device? Or to the fact that its device has a rounded screen, or that a window which pops up on top of another window fades away automatically over time? Or the fact that one of its iPhone icons happens to look like a gear, and another looks like a pad of paper? These are the kinds of things software and design patents can refer to.

The fact that software patents can apply to such obvious-looking or even trivial applications of design and usability is why some have described them as evil, and ?a cancer? on the economy and society in general. Others have warned for several years about the coming of a software patent ?apocalypse? created by multibillion-dollar technology giants accumulating software patents. And in the end, these cases do little to promote any kind of useful innovation ? instead, they just tie up the courts and give some companies a nuclear arsenal they can use to attack competitors.

Even some judges ? such as the one who recently ended Apple?s patent lawsuit against Google-owned Motorola ? have questioned whether certain industries that already experience plenty of innovation (such as the mobile phone business) need to be protected by patents at all, including software and design patents. And research by Harvard?s Berkman Center for Internet and Society has shown that software patents have provided little or no net social benefit over the past decade, despite billions in lawsuits and various legal victories.

In the end, the important question isn?t whether Apple was right to sue Samsung, or whether the Korean manufacturer directly copied elements of Apple?s design for its phones ? the question should be what is gained by allowing companies to launch multibillion-dollar cases involving the shape of icons or the swiping motion that users employ to switch pages.

Post and thumbnail images courtesy of Flickr user Stefan

Source: http://gigaom.com/2012/08/27/apple-may-have-won-but-software-patents-are-still-evil/

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Pet Post Redux: How Many Pets Do You Think Live In Brooklyn ...

With the Brooklyn Heights Association?s annual Dog Show returning to Montague Street Sunday, Sept. 23?part of the BID?s Summer Space?it seems apropos to share info about how much New Yorkers prize their pets. Webbie Puppy Tales featured a ?New York Dog Spotting? post Sunday, with stats from the NYC Economic Development Corp.: As of February 2012, +/-1.1 million pets reside in the city (600,000 dogs, 500,000 cats), with an ownership rate of about one pet for every three households.

The corporation breaks down ownership by region: Downtown Brooklyn, which includes the Heights, is home to between 15,001 & 20,000 pets. The most-populated NYC nabes are the Upper West & East Sides (lining Central Park), Staten Island, Astoria and?for whatever reason?Williamsburg.

Meanwhile, BHA President Judy Stanton shares with BHB readers that the organization will offer registration information and details for the Brooklyn Heights Dog Show soon after Labor Day.

What is diabetes type 1.5? - Health Niche

In the year 2000, the World Health Organization WHO reckoned that 171 million people all over the world were suffering from diabetes. Experts predict that by the year 2030, there will be approximately 366 million people affected by the disease. Diabetes belongs to a group of metabolic diseases leading to a high and life-threatening blood sugar. Most popularly, the defect is divided into two subcategories: diabetes type one and diabetes type two. Whereas type one is caused by a failure to produce the hormone insulin and often occurs at an early age, type two results from an insulin resistance developing with age. However, there is also an in-between type which has been coined diabetes type 1.5 and which is also known as LADA, i.e. Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adults.

LADA: How come?

The in-between type is described as a condition in which diabetes type one develops in an adult age. That is due to the fact that the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells can occur at different rates. If it happens fast, it leads to symptoms at an early age (type one), if it happens slowly, it leads to problems at a later age (LADA). In order to test an emerging diabetes type one, and to avoid a misdiagnosis of type two which also happens at an adult age, it is necessary to conduct antibody tests. People suffering from LADA can show a positive reaction to the antibodies test, people suffering from type two are unlikely to do so. Laboratories own ELISA kits for scientific research in order to get the results.

Avoiding a misdiagnosis

It is estimated that 20 percent of the people officially suffering from diabetes type two actually suffer from type 1.5. In order to optimize the treatment of these people, which does not in every case require an insulin therapy but might also be managed through changes in nutrition and lifestyle, antibody tests should be conducted more than once as it may track the progression of the disease. How far medical research has developed can be seen in the huge amounts of antibody test applications offered at www.antibodies-online.com/.

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Source: http://www.health-niche.com/1447/what-is-diabetes-type-1-5/

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How (and why) you should enable two-step verification on your Dropbox account

3 hrs.

Rosa Golijan

After some security woes, the folks at Dropbox have finally made two-step verification available to their users. Here's what that means, why it's important?and how to use it.

Two-step (or two-factor) verification means that logging into an account?requires two proofs of identity ? typically a password and a temporary code sent to a cellphone or generated by an app.?This process keeps?your account safe even if your password is somehow compromised (or if the cellphone which receives the temporary codes is misplaced). Without both items, it's not possible to log into the account.

In order to enable two-step verification on your Dropbox account, you'll need to sign into the Dropbox website and open your account menu (by clicking on your name, in the upper-right corner). Once in there,?open the settings and click on the "security" tab. In the "account sign in" section, you'll find the option to turn on two-step verification.?You'll be asked to enter your Dropbox password and then get the option of receiving your temporary security codes via text message or by using a mobile app. You'll also be prompted to write down a?backup code, which you should keep somewhere safe?? so that you have it in case your phone ever disappears.

And that's it. After you've gone through these steps, you'll use your password and a temporary security code to log into Dropbox. And you'll rest easily, knowing that your account is far more secure.

Want more tech news?or interesting?links? You'll get plenty of both if you keep up with Rosa Golijan, the writer of this post, by following her on?Twitter, subscribing to her?Facebook?posts,?or circling her?on?Google+.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/how-why-you-should-enable-two-step-verification-your-dropbox-966413

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The Best Ways To Appreciate Scuba Diving For Entertainment And ...

All of the world, people have been enjoying the sport of scuba diving for many decades. Whether you enjoy swimming, snorkeling, or just being in the water, scuba diving is definitely a sport you need to try. If you can locate a certified dive shop in your area, more than likely there are certified scuba instructors that can help you out. Although you can read about this sport, you need to take lessons and actually do it. While you are getting your scuba lessons, you can learn from other divers who have been doing this for years in order to hone your skills. People that want to become certified trainers can also take additional courses that will help them achieve this goal. This article is written in a way that will present information and suggestions to help you stay safe while diving wherever you are in the world.

So let?s take a look at an area that historically give novice divers so much trouble: choosing diving weights properly. These divers will know that they have added too much weight once they get into the water and began to sink far faster than they imagined that they would. To compensate for those that are not able to choose the proper amount of weight, a device called a buoyancy compensator was made. This device is not encouraged for a variety of reasons. Dramatic depth changes while using the BC can provide many complications and problems because you are overweighted. For instance, your wetsuit, if you are wearing it, will actually become less buoyant the deeper that you dive. Being overweighted, along with a lack of buoyancy, and have a detrimental effect to the overall dive itself.

There are a lot of little tricks and tips that often times are learned with experience or from others who have more dives under their belt. It is very important to always maintain your diving gear; doing so will ensure that all of your dives are as safe as possible. For example, there are times when you are feeling like you do not have enough weight. If you find that you are moving an excessive amount, causing you to become tired and to breathe excess air, you may want to modify this situation. By doing this, your air will be reduced faster than you think. You should also check your buoyancy compensator to make sure there are no trapped air bubbles in it.

Although this rule is avoided, sometimes by veteran divers, it is always important to do scuba diving with a buddy. SCUBA divers will often call their diving partner their ?buddy?; they are basically a close friend. Basically, it is just common sense that you want to have someone with you when you?re going into the water. It is common sense to bring a buddy with you, regardless of how shallow or deep the water is going to be. Diving is simply much more safe because each diver will keep an eye out for the other. Having visual contact with your buddy while underwater is the general rule, something you should never ignore. If you stay as close as reasonably possible to the other diver, you can see and communicate with them. This is really serious because you never know what can happen, and your buddy may be able to save your life, or vice versa.

No matter how good you are diving, never become complacent about your abilities which may lead to a dangerous scenario. After you have been diving for some years, it can be easy to ?just know? or think you know, that something is all right. This type of thinking is very lackadaisical and could lead to serious complications. You can check something a thousand times and it is fine, but the next time you use it could be a failure or significant problem.

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Source: http://www.articledumpster.com/the-best-ways-to-appreciate-scuba-diving-for-entertainment-and-adventure/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-best-ways-to-appreciate-scuba-diving-for-entertainment-and-adventure

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Choose Personal Training Programs To Keep Fit And Fine ~ Better ...

Choose Personal Training Programs To Keep Fit And Fine

Summary: People who are determined to shed a few kilos to get into their desired shape can easily go for a personal training program. They can work out under professional fitness trainer at their home, without wasting time to get their turn in gym. Keywords: Personal training Taking up a personal training program is gaining popularity day by day as it saves the journey time to and from the gym. Beside this, people don?t need to wait for their turn to get proper assistance from gym instructor here. Fitness freaks can enjoy a complete work out at home under the guidance of personal trainer. Going through a personal training will help you shed the extra flab you have gained and stay into your desired shape for longer period. Your personal trainer will tell you how much you need to shed, how long it will take as well as what should be there on your diet. To be on diet for a long time demands your determination too. Else your fitness regime won?t pay you off! Your personal training program won?t bore you with strenuous workout schedule like that of gym. Personal trainers are extremely professional and they know how to keep you rejuvenated throughout the course. That?s why they alternate the activities time to time. Suppose they will advise you do some free-hand exercises in the morning for a week, but in the following week they will ask you to try Yoga. So when they are not available for you, their fitness mantra will be there to along you. There are affordable equipments like dumbbells, stability ball, balance disks, kettle bells, Bosu ball and medicine balls which can be used in personal training. Of course, the fitness trainer will guide you. The trainer will tell you what kind of exercise you actually deserve. They will show you the way to undergo cardiovascular training or strength training and conditioning. If they feel you need to go through weight training, abdominal and core conditioning training, they will assist you in every step. They can also arrange balance and flexible training, weight loss management, muscle building or kick box cardio to keep you fit all the way. If you have a long drawn dream of flaunting good biceps or having a six pack abdomen, just ask the trainer what you have to do for it. If your body is able to take the strain of some extra push ups or lifting, he will definitely help you in fulfilling your dream. In that case, your personal training will include some extra exercise to tone down and reshape your body in proper way. There is personal training program which also include Yoga and meditation. So it is not mandatory to sweat yourself out for fitness. Along with physical fitness, this kind of regime gives importance on stress-free life. Yoga and meditation will add to your peace of mind which is necessary for leading a healthy life. Apart from the indoor activities, personal training also includes few casual sports if it is required for bringing a bit of change. Your trainer can surprise you with such a week-end program. You don?t need to go far from your house to play a bit of soccer or badminton; you can enjoy it in your garden or in a nearby park for sure. The personal trainer will be a friend of yours. Instead of waiting for your turn to use the walker in gym you can easily go for a personal trainer to stay fit and healthy in a better way.

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Source: http://www.biohealthcoverage.com/2012/08/Keep-Fit-With-Personal-Traning.html

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Good diet, proper exercise help protect astronauts? bones

ScienceDaily (Aug. 24, 2012) ? Eating right and exercising hard in space helps protect International Space Station astronauts' bones, a finding that may help solve one of the key problems facing future explorers heading beyond low Earth orbit.

A new study, published in the September 2012 issue of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, looked at the mineral density of specific bones as well as the entire skeleton of astronauts who used a new, stronger "weight lifting" machine. Of course, weights don't really "weigh" anything on the space station but resistance machines allow astronauts to get the same kind of workout. The new Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED), installed in 2008, doubles the maximum simulated weight to as much as 600 pounds.

Researchers compared measurements from 2006 until 2008, when astronauts used a less capable workout machine. They found that astronauts using the advanced system came home with more lean muscle and less fat, and kept more of their whole body and regional bone mineral density. Those same astronauts also consumed sufficient calories and vitamin D, among other nutrients. These factors are known to support bone health and likely played a contributing role.

"After 51 years of human spaceflight, these data mark the first significant progress in protecting bone through diet and exercise," said Dr. Scott M. Smith, NASA nutritionist at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston and lead author of the publication.

Since the 1990s, resistance exercise has been thought to be a key method of protecting astronauts' bones. Normal, healthy bone constantly breaks down and renews itself, a process called remodeling. As long as these processes are in balance, bone mass and density stay the same. Earlier studies of Russian Mir space station residents found an increased rate of breakdown, but little change in the rate of regrowth, resulting in an overall loss in bone density.

In the new study, astronauts who used the ARED device still had increased bone breakdown, but their bone renewal tended to increase, likely resulting in a better balance in whole bone mineral density.

"The increase in both bone breakdown and formation suggests that the bone is being remodeled, but a key question remains as to whether this remodeled bone is as strong as the bone before flight," said Dr. Jean Sibonga, NASA bone discipline lead at Johnson and coauthor of the study.

Bone density loss in astronauts on long-duration missions has been a major medical concern. In the past, astronauts have lost an average of 1 to 2 percent per month. By comparison, an elderly person, loses about 1 to 2 percent per year.

This study shows that, through proper exercise and nutrition, crew members on long journeys in space can return to Earth with much less loss of bone mineral density. But a key question remains as to whether the bones are as strong as when the astronaut launched into space. For these and other reasons, additional studies to evaluate bone strength before and after flight are currently under way.

Beyond bone strength, further study is needed to figure out the best possible combination of exercise and diet for long-duration crews. One experiment on the space station right now is looking at how different ratios of animal protein and potassium in the diet affect bone health. Another is looking at the benefits of lowering sodium intake. NASA food scientists have reformulated more than 80 space foods to reduce the sodium content.

"Although more research needs to be done in this regard, our study marks a significant milestone in our long search to find ways to help ensure crew health and performance on long-duration missions," said Smith. "These data will be critical in enabling us to send humans, once again, to destinations beyond low Earth orbit."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by NASA.

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Journal Reference:

1. Scott M Smith, Martina A Heer, Linda C Shackelford, Jean D Sibonga, Lori Ploutz-Snyder, Sara R Zwart. Benefits for bone from resistance exercise and nutrition in long-duration spaceflight: Evidence from biochemistry and densitometry. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2012; 27 (9): 1896 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.1647

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/6-Pvxv0r_a4/120824131928.htm

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White House race offers voters many clear choices

WASHINGTON (AP) ? November's presidential election offers Americans one of the starkest choices in years. On this, at least, President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney can agree.

Obama says voters will choose between "two fundamentally different visions of where we take America." To which his Republican rival counters: "If you want to know where his vision leads, open your eyes...It leads to lost jobs, lost homes, lost dreams."

Romney promises a countervision of "growth and jobs and economic vitality."

There are no shades of gray. Beyond the usual election-year distortions and exaggerations, a yawning issues gulf separates the two candidates.

Romney sharpened the distinctions by selecting Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate, a choice that cheered the GOP's conservative base.

The differences will be on display over the next two weeks as Romney, and then Obama, host their national party conventions.

The world views of the two tickets seem like mirror-images.

Obama sees government as the catalyst for economic growth, a safety net for the neediest, a protector against free-market excesses and a safeguard for the environment. That philosophy led to his stimulus and auto-bailout programs and his support for legislation tightening federal financial regulation. In the future, he wants more government spending on education, on highways and bridges and in promoting renewable energy.

In other words, Obama wants a government that is active on behalf of its citizens while Romney and Ryan believe it should get out of the way.

Borrowing a page from Ronald Reagan, Romney brands government the problem ? not part of the solution. He says overreaching government stifles growth, innovation and productivity. He would slash individual and corporate taxes, lighten federal regulations and trim budget deficits mostly through deep spending cuts.

Their positions hew closely to present day Democratic and Republican hyperpartisan orthodoxy.

"The old rule-of-thumb was that to win the nomination you first win your base and then move to the middle. Both Obama and Romney are being forced to play it closer to their bases than in the past," said presidential scholar Stephen Hess at the Brookings Institution think tank. By now, both candidates should have begun a migration to the center to attract crucial independent voters. "But that's not happening," Hess said.

And with a fifty-fifty polarized nation and a shrinking number of undecided voters, energizing their respective bases is of critical importance.

The candidates harbor many 180-degree differences:

? Romney opposes tax increases of any kind, although he says he would close some unspecified loopholes. He'd extend all Bush-era tax cuts and lower corporate and individual rates. Obama would raise taxes on households earning more than $250,000 a year and further raise taxes on those making more than $1 million.

? Obama supports abortion choice and gay marriage. "Mine will be a pro-life presidency," says the anti-abortion rights Romney, who also opposes gay marriage.

? Obama favors easing immigration restrictions and won't deport illegal immigrants brought here as children. Romney takes a tough stance against undocumented workers, even suggesting "self-deportation." However, he won't say whether he'd rescind Obama's decision on illegal immigrants who came as children.

? Romney would give oil and coal production more emphasis and approve the Keystone XL pipeline to bring oil from Canada to U.S. Gulf Coast ports. Obama says that, for now, the nation should tap "all of the above" energy sources while moving toward renewable and other "green" energy. He would strengthen regulation of global-warming-producing greenhouse gases and has so far blocked the Keystone pipeline. Romney says, "We don't know what is causing climate change."

? Obama has welcomed easy-money policies of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to stimulate lending and protect the nation's banking system. Romney says he'd ditch Bernanke when his term expires in 2014.

? Romney charges Obama isn't tough enough on China, too accommodating to Iran and an unreliable ally of Israel. He'd review steps Obama took on Israel and "do the opposite."

? Obama is forging ahead to implement his health care law now that the Supreme Court has upheld it. Romney would begin steps to repeal it on "Day One," even though it's modeled on the Massachusetts plan he championed as governor.

While the rivals point fingers at one another over who's out of touch with ordinary Americans, both campaigns agree the economy is the top issue.

Obama lately has sought to focus attention on tax inequity, Romney points to lame job growth on the president's watch.

Romney governed Massachusetts as a political moderate and reached across the aisle to majority-party Democrats. Some analysts suggest he may again govern from the middle if elected.

But so far Romney hasn't strayed much from conservative dogma, while Obama has abandoned serious efforts to cut deals with Republicans.

If Romney really is a moderate at heart, "he hasn't made it any easier for himself in the campaign so far," said William Galston, a top domestic policy adviser to then-President Bill Clinton.

GOP consultant Rich Galen suggests the sharp Obama-Romney divide reflects divisions across America but more immediately echoes the harsh, unforgiving partisan rhetoric in Congress.

"It's becoming much more like the British system where, no matter what the government does, the opposition hates it. It's never a good idea," Galen said. "I'm not sure it's the best possible course for our republic."

Romney survived a brutal GOP primary season only by repeatedly fending off charges by rivals from his own party that he was too moderate. And Obama moved closer to his Democratic base as the recovery slowed and as Republicans made his defeat a top priority.

Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute said Romney may have been permanently altered by the rings of fire he had to jump through to prove he was conservative enough to carry the GOP banner.

"If you take only the public statements and the promises that have been made, the choice is a stark one," Ornstein said, "starker than we've seen before."

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Follow Tom Raum on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tomraum.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-08-24-US-Presidential-Campaign-The-Choice/id-3c3721d5ebf54db8861c695989925c11

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