Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Better Bitter Tasters Bust Bacteria

60-Second Science

Those who can better detect bitter flavors may also be better equipped to fight off upper respiratory tract bacterial infections. Mary Harris reports.

More 60-Second Science

'Tis the season when bacterial sinus infections run rampant. But some people are better able to ward off that malady. And they can be identified by their taste buds. Because those of us who can better detect bitter flavors may also be better equipped to fight off upper respiratory tract infections. The finding is in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. [Robert J. Lee et al, T2R38 taste receptor polymorphisms underlie susceptibility to upper respiratory infection]

It turns out that those bitter taste receptors aren?t just in our mouths. They?re also in our noses. Being better able to sense bitterness may be a first line of defense against bacteria. That?s because those bacteria actually taste bitter to us. So when taste receptors in our airways sense a bitter flavor they roll out the defenses. Cilia lining our sinuses beat faster, to sweep away germs. And bacteria-killing nitric oxide gets released into our nasal cavities. Better bitter sensing means a bigger response.

It?s one reason researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center are trying to come up with a universal taste test?a standardized measurement of how well we sense flavors. Because one key to living healthier could be on the tip of your tongue.

?Mary Harris

[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]


Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=ec62c52513c20f41ad720b55e36dceae

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Debt tool shows tax hike of $519 in five years

ANDOVER ? A debt analysis of a proposed five-year plan for town projects paints a grim picture for tax bills in 2017 and 2018, one that officials would like to see more data on.

Town administrators used a debt-analysis tool to show how town debt would be affected by a plan for large projects proposed by Town Manager Reginald ?Buzz? Stapczynski two weeks ago, which includes a new Town Yard, Ballardvale Fire Station and other large school construction projects. The results were presented to the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee and School Committee yesterday.

Assuming $67 million in major projects, the average annual tax bill in town (currently $7,967) would jump $519.07 by 2018. That also assumes residents would approve all projects by 2016 with debt exclusion override votes, raising taxes above Proposition 2 1/2 tax levy limits.

?This is a visual depiction of what all that debt looks like stacked up on top of each other,? assistant Town Manager Steve Bucuzzo said.

As it stands, assuming voters approve a $6 million appropriation to put the Bancroft Elementary School project back on budget early next year, the average tax bill would be up $181.25 in 2018 from that project alone. Current estimates are that the project is $5 million over budget.

The tool also accounted for $8 million in exempt debt for building a new Ballardvale Fire Station, $18 million for a new Town Yard, $10.4 million for additions and renovations at Andover High School and $5 million to build an early education center.

The level of debt ?is already jumping up quite a bit just with the Bancroft project itself,? Bucuzzo said. ?You start adding on other projects within the next couple years, and you need to be prepared to explain that to the taxpayers, how that?s going to impact their tax bills.?

Members of the boards characterized the situation as a worst-case scenario, suggesting that the projects could be timed differently.

?That?s not to say these are the exact plans to move the projects, or their timing,? Bucuzzo said. ?The topic of discussion for the three boards is the priorities, and setting the priorities of the projects and perhaps their timing.?

If the town approved all of the projects, the actual increase in taxes would depend on property values at the time, grants and reimbursements affecting the project?s final cost, and at what interest rates the town would borrow the money. All numbers assumed a 3-percent interest rate on borrowed money, according to Finance Director Donna Walsh.

The town also accounted for how Stapczynski?s present capital improvement plan requests over the next five years would impact the town?s budget. While the data reflected a combined $9.7 million in projects, the money needed to pay for those within the town?s regular tax revenues would make up nearly 3 percent of the town?s projected $166 million budget for that year.

Officials asked Stapczynski to modify the data to reflect annual revenue increases at 3 percent instead of 3.5 percent, the value used to put the table together, while also re-calculating the larger projects to show how they impacted tax bills cumulatively. The boards are scheduled to meet a third time sometime in January to go over the new data.

Source: http://www.eagletribune.com/local/x2120617153/Debt-tool-shows-tax-hike-of-519-in-five-years

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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

House Ways and Means chair says he's cancer-free

A Michigan congressman who chairs a tax committee says doctors have declared him cancer-free following chemotherapy treatments.

U.S. Rep. Dave Camp announced last summer that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. On Tuesday, the Midland Republican said in a statement that he is free of cancer.

The 59-year-old chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee says he's "extremely thankful for the excellent treatment." He says he'll have routine medical checks in the months ahead.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system. Camp says he had large B-cell lymphoma. B-cells are a type of white blood cell that helps fight infections.

He has served in Congress since 1991.

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/12/18/3147591/house-ways-and-means-chair-says.html

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Senior al Qaeda man reported arrested in Algeria

LONDON (Reuters) - The number two in the militant Islamist organisation Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has been arrested in northern Algeria, an Algerian news website reported on Monday.

The website of Tout Sur l'Algerie (TSA), an electronic daily, quoted security sources as saying that Salah Gasmi had been arrested on Sunday in front of a restaurant in the town of Cheurfa, about 90 miles (150 km) southeast of Algiers.

It was not possible to confirm the report immediately.

AQIM is a pan-Maghreb jihadist organisation that has taken responsibility for a number of attacks, particularly in Algeria. It has sent fighters to Iraq and vowed to attack Western targets, according to the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations website.

TSA said that Salah Gasmi was a communications specialist considered to be the mastermind behind a series of suicide attacks in Algeria in 2007.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/senior-al-qaeda-man-reported-arrested-algeria-053201379.html

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Sandy Hook: Police say shooter forced his way into school

Police said Saturday they had found "very good evidence" they hoped would answer questions about the motives of the gunman, described as brilliant but remote, who forced his way into the Sandy Hook school, killing 26 children and adults in one of the world's worst mass shootings.

By John Christoffersen,?Associated Press / December 15, 2012

A woman comforts a young girl during a vigil service for victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting Friday evening at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Newtown, Conn.

Andrew Gombert/AP

Enlarge

Police said Saturday they had found "very good evidence" they hoped would answer questions about the motives of the 20-year-old gunman, described as brilliant but remote, who forced his way into a U.S. school and killed 26 children and adults in one of the world's worst mass shootings.

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Witnesses said the gunman, Adam Lanza, didn't say a word as he shot children as young as 5 years old and later killed himself. The bodies of victims were still inside the school for some time Saturday morning, and authorities prepared to release their names later in the day.

Reaction was swift and emotional around the world, and many immediately thought of Dunblane ? a 1996 shooting in that small Scottish town which killed 16 small children and prompted a campaign that ultimately led to tighter gun controls.

Pressure to take similar action built on President Barack Obama, whose comments on the tragedy were one of the most outwardly emotional moments of his presidency.

"The majority of those who died were children ? beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old," Obama told a White House news briefing. He paused for several seconds to keep his composure and wiped an eye. Nearby, two aides cried and held hands.

Sandy Hook shooting: Stories of heroism, ways to help

In tight-knit Newtown, a picturesque New England community of 27,000 people, hundreds of people packed St. Rose of Lima church Friday night and stood outside in a vigil for the 28 dead ? 20 children and six adults at the school, the gunman's mother at home, and the gunman himself.

Just 10 days before Christmas Eve, people held hands, lit candles and sang "Silent Night."

"These 20 children were just beautiful, beautiful children," Monsignor Robert Weiss said. "These 20 children lit up this community better than all these Christmas lights we have?. There are a lot brighter stars up there tonight because of these kids."

"People in my neighborhood are feeling guilty about it being Christmas. They are taking down decorations," said Jeannie Pasacreta, a psychologist who was advising parents on how to talk to their children.

Connecticut state police Lt.?Paul?Vance?told reporters Saturday that investigators had found "very good evidence" and hoped it would answer questions about the gunman's motives.?Vance?would not elaborate.

U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms spokeswoman Ginger Colbrun said investigators had not yet found evidence after talking with state gun dealers and gun ranges that the gunman trained for the attack or was an active member of the recreational gun community.

Lanza is believed to have suffered from a personality disorder and lived with his mother, said a law enforcement official who was briefed on the investigation.

Lanza shot his mother, Nancy Lanza, drove to the school in her car and shot up two classrooms around 9:30 a.m. Friday, law enforcement officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/A4wQyh2jDpA/Sandy-Hook-Police-say-shooter-forced-his-way-into-school

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Japan votes in election seen returning LDP to power

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese voters streamed to polling stations on Sunday in an election expected to return the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to power after a three-year hiatus, giving ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a chance to push his hawkish security agenda and radical economic recipe.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. (2200 GMT) and will close at 8 p.m. (1100 GMT), when major TV broadcasters will issue exit polls forecasting results.

An LDP win would usher in a government committed to a tough stance in a territorial row with China, a pro-nuclear energy policy despite last year's Fukushima disaster and a potentially risky prescription for hyper-easy monetary policy and big fiscal spending to beat deflation and tame a strong yen.

Media surveys have forecast the LDP will win a big majority in parliament's powerful 480-seat lower house, just three years after a devastating defeat that ended more than 50 years of almost non-stop rule by the business-friendly party.

Together with a small ally, Abe's LDP could even gain the two-thirds majority needed to break through a policy deadlock that has plagued successive governments for years.

Senior executives of the two parties met to confirm they would form a coalition if they get a combined majority, Kyodo news agency reported.

Voters expressed disappointment with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which surged to power in 2009 promising to pay more heed to consumers than companies.

Many voters now feel the DPJ failed to meet its election pledges as it struggled to govern and cope with last year's huge earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, and then pushed through an unpopular sales tax increase with LDP help.

"Nothing has changed for the better," said Masaki Kondo, a 29-year old worker at a securities firm, who voted DPJ three years ago but said he was switching his support to Abe's party

The DPJ has been hit by defections and is likely to win fewer than 100 seats, less than a third of its tally in 2009.

But some voters also doubted whether a return to LDP rule was a true antidote to the many challenges that face Japan from regional tensions to economic malaise.

"The Democrats are out because they have been unable to implement their policy manifesto and are divided internally. But that doesn't mean I support the LDP," said Yosuke Matsumoto, 33, who owns a marketing firm. "Nothing will change under them."

Voter distaste for both major parties has spawned a clutch of new parties including the right-leaning Japan Restoration Party founded by popular Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto.

Hashimoto's supporters in Osaka said the country needed strong leadership at a time when it sees its dominance in the region challenged by China and South Korea.

"What we need is a shake-up," said 77-year old Nobuo Sano.

TALKING TOUGH

LDP leader Abe, 58, who quit as premier in 2007 after a year in office, has been talking tough in a row with China over uninhabited isles in the East China Sea, although some experts say he may temper his hard line with pragmatism once in office.

The soft-spoken grandson of a prime minister, who would become Japan's seventh premier in six years, Abe also wants to loosen the limits of a 1947 pacifist constitution on the military, so Japan can play a bigger global security role.

China's official Xinhua news agency said in an editorial Japan's winning party should formulate its foreign policy with a long-term perspective to repair ties with neighbors.

The news agency said it was a "troubling sign" that some parties in the election had promised to take a tough stand on territorial disputes and increase military spending.

The LDP, which promoted atomic energy during its decades-long reign, is expected to be friendly to nuclear utilities, although deep public safety concerns remain a barrier to business-as-usual for the industry.

A mother of two voting in Tokyo said she could not support the LDP because of its stand on nuclear energy. "I have children and I have to think about their future," said the 43-year old woman who declined to give her name.

She said she was voting for the Tomorrow Party of Japan, which aims to shut nuclear reactors in 10 years, much earlier than the current government's goal of the 2030s.

High on the list of voter concerns is the economy, which is in its fourth recession since 2000 amid slowing global growth, a strong yen and the territorial row with China.

"A strong economic policy is what I expect from the LDP," said 40-year old Tetsuo Ueda, who runs a bar in Tokyo. He said his business has suffered in the past three years.

Abe has called for "unlimited" monetary easing and big spending on public works to rescue the economy. But such policies, a centerpiece of the LDP's platform for decades, have been criticized by many as wasteful pork-barrel politics.

Many economists say that prescription for "Abenomics" could create temporary growth and enable the government to go ahead with a planned initial sales tax rise in 2014 to help curb a public debt now twice the size of gross domestic product.

But it looks unlikely to cure deeper ills or bring sustainable growth, and risks triggering a market backlash if investors decide Japan has lost control of its finances.

Japan's economy has been stuck in the doldrums for decades, its population ageing fast and big corporate brands faltering, making "Japan Inc" a synonym for decline.

Consumer electronics firms such as Sony Corp are struggling with competition from foreign rivals and burdened by a strong yen, which makes their products cost more overseas.

"I'm really worried about the economy. I hope the LDP will work on that first," said Masao Ibuki, a 90-year old pensioner who voted for the LDP in Tokyo.

Lawyers were expected to file suits as early as Monday complaining the election is unconstitutional after court rulings that the difference in the "weight" of votes was too great between densely populated urban areas and sparsely populated rural areas.

Judges were unlikely to rule the election invalid, experts said, but the controversy could further erode trust in politics.

(Additional reporting by Chikafumi Hodo, Yoko Kubota, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Leika Kihara and Mari Saito in TOKYO, Yoshiyuki Osada in OSAKA and Sui-Lee Wee in BEIJING; Editing by Michael Perry and Robert Birsel)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/japan-votes-election-seen-returning-ldp-power-000943156.html

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Monday, December 17, 2012

Moments of silence around NFL for shooting victims

Members of the Minnesota Vikings hold hands during a moment of silence in honor of those killed Friday in shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., before the start of an NFL football game between the St. Louis Rams and the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in St. Louis. A gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Friday and opened fire, killing 20 children and six adults. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Members of the Minnesota Vikings hold hands during a moment of silence in honor of those killed Friday in shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., before the start of an NFL football game between the St. Louis Rams and the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in St. Louis. A gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Friday and opened fire, killing 20 children and six adults. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

New York Giants helmets with a decal honoring the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting rest on the turf before the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Atlanta. A gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Friday and opened fire, killing 26 people, including 20 children. (AP Photo/Rich Addicks)

Makayla Ferfecki, of Kentucky, holds a sign honoring the victims of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., before the first half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Atlanta. A gunman walked into the school Friday and opened fire, killing 26 people, including 20 children. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) bows his head during a moment of silence for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Indianapolis Colts guard Mike McGlynn (75) bows his head during a moment of silence for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Houston. A gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Friday and opened fire, killing 26 people, including 20 children. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Two players who wear No. 26 joined hands with the coaches of the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings in tribute to the victims of the school massacre in Newtown, Conn., and New York Giants' players wore decals with the initials of Sandy Hook Elementary School.

There were moments of silence before all NFL games Sunday. The ceremony in St. Louis included Rams coach Jeff Fisher and Vikings coach Leslie Frazier, along with Rams running back Daryl Richardson and Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield.

The players were selected because their number represents the total slain at the elementary school on Friday.

Dozens of children wearing uniform jerseys held hands with players in a circle extending from the 30-yard lines at the Edward Jones Dome, centered on the Rams logo at midfield. Richardson, Winfield and the coaches formed an inner circle.

In Atlanta, Giants' players wore decals with the acronym "SHES" on the backs of their helmets.

"As a parent you drop your kids off at school many times. It's hard to put into words what that community and those families must feel like. We obviously kept them in our prayers," Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said after his team's home game against Jacksonville. Philbin's 21-year-old son Michael fell into a Wisconsin river and drowned in January.

Flags were at half-staff at M&T Bank Stadium when the Baltimore Ravens hosted the Denver Broncos in one of the eight early games.

With the Maryland National Guard standing on the opposite end of the field from the flag bearers, the scoreboards went black as the public address announcer asked the crowd to observe "silent reflection" in the wake of Friday's "horrific tragedy."

Just before the national anthem was sung by Gatlin Brothers at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, there was a moment of silence, which included the huge video screen hanging over the field going black. Also, the ribbon boards and other electronic signs were turned off.

In New Orleans, the Superdome fell silent for nearly 30 seconds before the Saints hosted Tampa Bay. People around the stadium removed their hats, bowed their heads and remained still until the public address announcer introduced the national anthem singer, "American Idol" contestant Skylar Laine.

In Houston, video screens went black as the moment was observed before the Texas hosted the Indianapolis Colts.

In Chicago, Green Bay wide receiver Donald Driver retweeted the names of the victims.

A moment of silence was held in Toronto before Buffalo's game against Seattle at the Rogers Centre. Players stood quietly with their heads down on their sideline while fans stood.

The Bills did continue their pregame habit of playing U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday," which they've played before every home game this season. The song is in reference to British troops shooting and killing unarmed protesters in Derry, Northern Ireland in January 1972.

___

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

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-12-16-Connecticut%20Shootings-NFL/id-432537ad925e46019ea76bcad3eda868

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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Destructivist Epistemology? ? Back Towards the Locus

MonkeysI am leery about the elision, in some quarters, of scepticism with Liberal politics. To be sure, I endorse people approaching their politics, whatever they might be, from a sceptical perspective. What is troubling is when ideology masquerades as something more objective. Rebecca Watson, a progressive commentator, gave a speech at a popular conference named Skepticon that smeared the field of evolutionary psychology. A gentleman named Edward Clint has taken it upon himself to thoroughly refute Ms. Watson?s errors and simplifications.

There is a great deal of legitimate criticism to be made of evolutionary psychology and its practionitioners, and still more to be made of the opportunistic media hacks who leap upon research that can be sensationalised. What make Watson such an obscurantist on the subject, then, is not the fact that she criticised the field but the manner in which she criticised it. She numerous errors of fact and logic, and several of them are revealing.

Watson name-dropped Stephen Jay Gould, who was disdainful of the claims of evolutionary psychologists. Ideologues of all stripes have particular scholars they will trot out to bolster the factual presumptions underpinning their ideas, and we must be careful that we reference people because we have reason to believe they are correct and not because we think their views agreeable. Liberals reference Stephen Jay Gould to dismiss inconveniently deterministic biological and psychological theories. Yet Professor Gould?s critiques were more respected in the popular press than academic circles. Indeed, it appears that he misunderstood and even misrepresented research he disliked. We can bring up arguments if we find them compelling but should take care not to invoke scientists like saints.

People like to laugh at academics, which is why the Sokal hoax is so renowned. It is hard to engage experts on their level, whether or not their ideas are sound, so we enjoy seeing them fall upon their bottoms. Sadly, though, scientific researchers are rarely mistaken in amusing ways, and, thus, there is a danger that the lulz that are had at their expense are on dubious premises. Watson, f0r example, described the success of neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran in writing a bogus paper on the supposed male preference for blondes. ?He got it published,? she laughs. Clint observes, however, that it was not published in a psychological or even biological journal but a medical one, and a medical journal that explicitly welcomes ?novel, radical new ideas and speculations?which would be rejected by most conventional journals.? I don?t see why evolutionary psychologists should take the blame for this any more than Bloomsbury should take responsibility for Barry Trotter.

Some of Watson?s comments are, it seems, not merely wrong but defamatory. She speaks of a book by researchers who interviewed women as to what drives them to have sex. It does sound like the kind of thing that could be very, very bad but Watson?s treatment of it seems disgraceful. She claims the researchers ?bravely went and interviewed a thousand white, middle-class women?. The eye-rolling implication is that they were narrow-minded and incompetent at best and downright bigoted at worst. Her audience gave an appreciative chuckle. Well, I have the book open before me and it clearly states that ?the women identified?as American Indian, Asian, black, white (non-Hispanic), and Latino?. Almost half of them earned below $50,000. Unless Watson knows something that does not appear to be written she has propagated a lousy and libellous mistruth.

Watson, it seems, was not regarding politics from a sceptical perspective but science through the blinkers of ideology. Considering how broad and dense its fields are this can offer no more than a slanted, narrow viewpoint. It is a lesson to would-be sceptics of every shade that no one political view monopolises rationality, and that the fact that something appeals to your heart does not mean it should be accepted by your head.

Source: http://bensix.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/destructivist-epistemology/

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bullfinch subscription: Scuba Diving ? A Mesmerizing and ...

Let?s embark on a journey together throwing some light on the diverse aspects of such a wonderful sport and how it lets people have the time of their lives.

To begin with, scuba diving has one become one of the greatest frisky sports all around the world and can even be taken as a profession. It is one of the sophisticated forms of underwater diving where a diver is loaded with a scuba gear so that he can breathe underwater. You can come across numerous sports across the globe that you may find thrilling and enriched with adventure but if we talk about this fantastic sport, nothing can prove to be as awe-inspiring and exploratory than the sport of scuba diving. It is really incomparable than any other sport. When you take a plunge into the blue waters of an ocean, what you see is really out of the ordinary. It is about swimming underwater and able to stay in the water with the help of different paraphernalia such as dive computer, fins, scuba masks, gauge meters, breathing regulators and weights.

Why scuba diving is gaining its immense popularity?

It is the intriguing marine life, the gorgeous coral reefs and the incredible underwater experience that cannot be described with mere words. It is such a pleasurable activity that will make you change the views in life due to the fact what you see beneath your feet has a never-ending effect on how you relate to the virtual world that exists in real life. Just like other diving forms, this type of diving allows the diver explore the underwater world that is created by the Almighty. We should express our gratitude to the Lord that has bestowed an opportunity to us so let ourselves merged with the diverse kinds of flora and fauna. It simply feels irresistible when you have a close encounter with the creatures of different kind which you have not seen before. However, there are a few myths that are associated with this fabulous sport. They are the following:

?It is a sport exclusively for those who are opulent

?Sharks can attack you

?It is a risky sport

?You have to be physically fit to dive

?It is not environment friendly

The above mentioned myths are certainly not true as one can have an ultimate diving experience with scuba diving.

Health Benefits of Scuba Diving:

There are great benefits that are associated with this sport. It works your entire body. When you are swimming underwater, every single arm and leg muscle are in constant motion. Your muscles also work harder as the water resistance is greater than air resistance. It diminishes blood pressure and averts strokes and heart attacks. The fact cannot be disclaimed that diving in the deep blue sea is indeed a great way to improve one?s respiratory system.

About the Author

Diving Locker is based in Vancouver and offers scuba diving courses to the diving enthusiasts with the help of friendly and qualified instructors. It offers snorkeling equipment, prescription dive and snorkeling masks, new and used SCUBA gear, etc.

Source: http://www.sports-casting.com/2012/12/03/Scuba-Diving-A-Mesmerizing-and-Recreational-Sport-for-Diving-Lovers/

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Source: http://bullfinch-subscription.blogspot.com/2012/12/scuba-diving-mesmerizing-and.html

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Video: PFT Live: What's next for the Jets?

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Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/21134540/vp/50059607#50059607

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Saturday, December 1, 2012

Oblon Signs Five Year Deal with Copyright Clearance Center for Its ...

Yesterday the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC), a not-for-profit organization and leading provider of licensing solutions, announced that one of the top patent firms in the United States has signed a five year licensing deal, taking advantage of CCC?s Annual Copyright License. The firm is Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P., which year after year is the top firm in terms of the number of cases filed and handled at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

?Law firms thrive on the exchange of information,? said Miles McNamee, Vice President, Licensing and Business Development, CCC. ?The Annual Copyright License gives Oblon Spivak employees the freedom and flexibility to share content with each other.?

?We think this is a win-win situation for Oblon and CCC,? said Brad Lytle, Managing Partner, Oblon Spivak. ?This license allows us to go about our business and focus our efforts on protecting the intellectual property of our clients.?

But why is Oblon taking a copyright license, that is the real question?

The answer to why a patent law firm would be taking a blanket copyright license may well be found in the old saying about a penny of prevention being worth a pound of cure. ?Law firms have been coming under fire recently for alleged copyright violations relating to the materials they submit to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. ?Dennis Crouch over at PatentlyO has followed this development as the lawsuits have been unfolding. ?See, for example, Copyright Lawsuits Against Patent Firms Continue and Law Firms Sued for Submitting Prior Art to the USPTO.

The law requires certain information, including copyrighted information, to be turned over to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. ?Failure to turn over the information constitutes a breach of the duty of candor as defined/required by 37 C.F.R. 1.56.

If copyright owners can successfully sue when one undertakes an action that is required by law that would create a perverse conundrum. ?If patent firms need a copyright license to do what Rule 1.56 mandates, that means that the copying and filing of copyrighted articles, for example, would not be considered fair use. ?That would mean that absent the permission of the copyright owner the patent firm could not provide relevant and copyrighted prior art to the USPTO. ?But what if the copyright owner refused a license? Are we really going to allow copyright owners to prevent an applicant from satisfying Rule 1.56? If that is the case then Congress needs to step in and either expressly say this is a fair use or they need to step in and say that material prior art that is not filed with the Patent Office because of an intransigent copyright owner cannot be the basis of finding inequitable conduct (i.e., a breach of Rule 1.56 that would render the patent unenforceable).

The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the right to grant exclusive rights to content creators in the form of a copyright. ?The Constitution does not mandate that Congress exercise this right, although it would seem bizarre not to have copyrights or patents given that the Founding Fathers and Framers of the Constitution wanted to offer these intellectual property rights to flame the creative genius in America. ?But it is entirely correct to say that?Copyrights exist because Congress says they exist. ?That being the case it strikes me as clearly wrong for copyright owners to sue patent law firms for doing what the law requires.

I have always been of the opinion that exercising a right that you have been duly granted cannot create negative legal consequences. ?How can doing something you have a right to do be problematic? ?That is why I am critical of various theories of antitrust liability. Similarly, doing something that one is legally required to do cannot create liability. ?It is asinine to suggest otherwise, particularly when the federal government grants the copyright in the first place and the federal government requires disclosure of copyrighted information that is known to be relevant to a patent application.

In any event, Oblon has not been sued, and that this announcement may well have nothing to do with the ridiculous copyright infringement lawsuits circulating the industry. ?Other than knowing that Oblon has not been sued I know nothing more than what was in the press release issued by CCC. ?Nevertheless, one of the biggest patent law firms in the nation taking a copyright license does seem to be rather coincidental in light of ongoing industry activity. ?Is this about preventing threatened litigation? Is it about inoculation prior to even receiving a threat? Does it have nothing to do with the copyright litigations against patent firms? Impossible to know really, but when a firm like Oblon is willing to spend money on something one has to wonder. There is obviously a reason, so the industry should take notice. Oblon is not just spreading the wealth and paying CCC for nothing. ?There is some perceived benefit of some kind involved.

Could blanket copyright licenses be the way of the future for patent law firms? Do patent law firms really need to obtain special copyright permission of copyright owners before they comply with the law on behalf of their clients? Time will tell.

To be or not to be, that is the question, or something like that, right? Do you stand and fight or do you just take a license when you know that standing and fighting will likely cost more than taking a license? This might as well be a Hobson?s choice. ?As attorneys we are not all that familiar with such decisions impacting us, but unfortunately many clients do face this very question. ?Indeed, some choose to fight and some choose to settle. ?Neither is the wrong choice and each comes with consequences.

Source: http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2012/11/30/oblon-signs-five-year-deal-with-copyright-clearance-center-for-its-annual-copyright-license/id=30715/

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Friday, November 30, 2012

Action research----A must in Education: Action Research Progress ...

Action Research Project: Results Now

Progress Report

Troy Spivey

Lamar University

Abstract or Executive Summary

The action research study was conducted at Garrison High School, a small rural district in Texas with a high number of economically disadvantage students.? The school introduced a plan 2 years ago which was directed at reaching the needs of the ?at risk? population.? The school has experienced great results since the new innovations have been created.? According to the PEIMS report, the school has experienced a steady decrease in African American math scores over the last 3 years.? This category alone has prevented the district from receiving an Exemplary status according to the state ratings.? The school currently uses an online data accumulation program called DMAC.? The computer software uses disaggregated data to provide teachers and administrators access to individualized student reports.? The purpose of the research project is to compare results from regular scheduled benchmarks to the overall results of the standardized test.??? The study confirmed that results from regularly scheduled benchmarks were directly related to the performance scores on the standardized test.? The study lead to faculty and staff placing more emphasis on the relative data gathered from results of the benchmarks. The study includes data which proves that students whom struggle on benchmarks intern struggle with objectives on the standardized test.? This information proves that benchmarks are correctly aligned objectives and staff will work to brainstorm ways to improve performance.? The research study includes results from a student survey and an interview with an instructional teacher and current curriculum director.? The results from the surveys and interviews were evaluated and a meeting was scheduled. The administration devised a system in which struggling students attended tutorials on a weekly basis. The innovative plan for improvement was a collaborative plan between administrators, students, and teachers.? The objective of the staff and administration was to improve student understanding over the course of the year. The administration now uses the benchmarks to better evaluate the understanding of students. The administration provided training using the online program DMAC so that all staff consistently had readily accessible information. The staff now must conduct research studies on their own to determine the level of understanding from students.???????????

Introduction / Background (Section One)?

Results Now is an action research study that was conducted at Garrison High School in Garrison Texas.? The school enrolls 209 students in the high school and serves over 43% categorized as economically disadvantaged.? The study showed that according to a recent AIES report 34% of the students at Garrison High School are considered ?at risk? learners.? The school is composed of a diverse population but consist of 68% White and 18% African American.? The school is also composed of 10% Hispanic, 1% Asian/Pacific, .7% Native American, and 1.7% other.? The school experienced a significant let down 3 years ago in relation to the performance of the economically disadvantage students.? The High School Campus found itself on the verge of being labeled Academically Unacceptable according to Title I NCLB law.? The low performance scores resulted in the school using a collaborative approach to meet the needs of these students.? The school created a SBDM Committee to research ways to better accommodate these students needs.? In review of the AEIS report it is evident that the school system actively met the needs of the economically disadvantaged population.? The scores of all students meeting the standards have improved from 73% in 2010 to 90% in 2011.? The impact shows that a clear vision and the implementation of goals can lead to positive results.

The issue concerning the students at Garrison High School in 2011 revolves around the African American population.? The target area of discussion will be the exit level TAKS scores of mathematics.? According to the AIES report African American scores have dropped consistently over the last 3 years.? The report suggests that African American scores have dropped from 91% in 2009 to 85% in 2010.? The scores for African American students again dropped in 2011 and were reported at 81% meeting the standards.? The school is aware of these low performance scores but has recently experienced a change in administration.? The current administration has not taken the time to conduct data driven studies to brainstorm ways for improvement.? It will be very important to create a collaborative approach to reaching out to these students to increase achievement in the near future.? The school again found itself near the Academically Unacceptable rating due to the falling scores of the African American population in mathematics.? The school will need to again find ways to reach out to the struggling population of students.

The action research project that was conducted was geared toward improving African American scores, as well as all low performance students.? The study targeted students performance on the exit level mathematics section of the standardize test.? The project determined if student understanding was monitored properly throughout the year.? The study proved to be a very important source of information and data studies are now being conducted in all subject areas.?????????

The action research project benefited many stakeholders throughout the implementation year.? The person?s experiencing benefits will include: students, staff, and the school system.? The action research project monitored the results from the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years in the subject of mathematics. The study proved that students performance on regularly scheduled benchmarks and standardized test scores were directly related.? The information was broken down, using DMAC, by objective performance which provided teachers direct feedback from the information.? The study will show that there is a direct comparison of results between benchmarks and standardized testing.? The study proved that benchmarks are correctly aligned with TEKS and directly reflect knowledge and understanding.? The study added to the knowledge that more emphasis should be placed on benchmarking results. In 2012 the school conducted 3 benchmarks in the first semester and plans on conducting 2 benchmarks in the 2nd semester. Using the action research plan we will evaluated the results from the benchmarks in the first semester and create a list of students for tutorials.? Tutorials will then be held 2 times a week for 6 weeks prior to the mandated testing day.? Students should benefit greatly from the extra instruction time and teachers will be able to increase the rigor of the advanced students.? The results from the benchmarks in the 2nd semester should show vast improvements from the first semester, proving that this method of instruction is improving student achievement. The school is currently in the process of evaluating all results of benchmarks from the first semester and creating a list of students for tutorials. ??????????

Economically Disadvantaged-

is a term used by government institutions in for example allocating free school meals to "a student who is a member of a household that meets the income eligibility guidelines for free or reduced-price meals

violence in schools, deteriorating family structure, substance abuse, alarming media images, and gang activity put teens at risk. Teenagers who have trouble coping with the stresses of life are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, engage in criminal activity, are sexually promiscuous, and attempt suicide.

(Public Education Information Management System) is a government-run database that gives Texas public school districts and regional education service centers the reports needed to properly oversee education

Highest possible rating for a public school based on standardized test scores according to Texas Education Agency

Academically Unacceptable Status-

Lowest possible rating for a public school based on standardized test scores according to Texas Education Agency

(Data Management for Assessment and Curriculum) is a component of the Region 7 Education Service Center that exists to supply Texas educators with the tools and services necessary to develop and improve the quality of education provided to students.

Data broken down based on ethnicity, gender, or socio economic status which provides individualized reports related to certain groups.

a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or "standard", manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions, conditions for administering, scoring procedures, and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner.

is developed specifically from the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) to be an accurate predictor of performance on the STAAR or TAKS.

The Academic Excellence Indicator System pulls together a wide range of information on the performance of students in each school and district in Texas every year. This information is put into the annual AEIS reports, which are available each year in the fall.

Title I funds are targeted to high-poverty schools and districts and used to provide educational services to students who are educationally disadvantaged or at risk of failing to meet state standards. No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 supports standards-based education reform based on the premise that setting high standards and establishing measurable goals can improve individual outcomes in education. The Act requires states to develop assessments in basic skills. a SBDM committee makes decisions. SBDM committees make important decisions regarding their particular campus' needs. These decisions can apply to anything ranging from a simple funding request for new team uniforms to more complex requests such as the hiring of more faculty members.

TAKS-

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), which are the state standards for what students should know and be able to do Literature Review (Section Two)

In evaluating the results from the action research project there were several pieces of literature that expressed concerns about issue revolving around the public school system.?? The literature supported and maintained the importance of having a properly trained staff to implement the improvement process.? Literature also suggests the importance of evaluating data in order to impact the best possible decisions.? Below will be a review of literature used in the action research study that greatly influences outcomes.??

Rooney, J. (2008). What do We Believe? Joanne Rooney

According to Rooney 2008, we too must tear ourselves away from the paper, e-mail, phone calls, and meeting that jam our days to participate in meaningful professional development, lest we, too, keep relying on information learned for and in a different era.? The literature suggests that it is important for staff to take time to become properly trained to deal with the diversity of the student population.? Student?s needs are like a revolving door and become more diverse and demanding on a day to day basis.? Rooney 2008 also suggests that it is important to communicate the vision of the program or district with all stakeholders.? All stakeholders must know and understand their role in the improvement process.? The common goal of a project will help lead to success.?

Jennings, J. & Rentner, D. (2006). Ten Big Effects of the No Child Left Behind Act on Public Schools?

According to the Jennings and Rentner 2006 schools are paying much more attention to the alignment of curriculum and instruction and are analyzing test score data much more closely.? The most common improvements are greater alignment of curriculum and instruction with standards and assessments, more use of test data to modify instruction, use of research to inform decisions about improvement strategies, improvement in the quality and quantity of professional development for teachers, and the provision of more intensive instruction to low-achieving students.? In establishing the action research project the intern learned more than ever the importance of data analysis.? Staff properly trained in collecting and analyzing data will have an upper hand in establishing the direct needs of students. ?Decisions made based on collected data will have a direct impact on students needs.

The Education Trust (2004). The ABCs of AYP The Education Trust?

According to the Education Trust 2004 title I is a voluntary program that provides more than 12 billion per year to participating states that help educate low-income children.? States which receive Title I funding agree to commit themselves to the goal of bringing all student to proficiency in language arts and math by 2014.? According to the literature schools must communicate the vision and goals for improvement with parents.? The state begins by setting academic standards in deciding what all students should know and be able to do.? According to NCLB students need to learn many things to be successful but language arts and math are the building blocks for all further learning.? The text was very informative while conducting the current research project in describing AYP?s and Title I expectations.? The action research project was centered on the subject of mathematics due to the emphasis placed on this subject by state mandates.

Hess, F., & Gift, T. (2008). The Turnaround Fredrick M Hess and Thomas Gift??

According to Hess and Gift NCLB revolves around the notion that turnarounds constitute a new better way to solve problems facing America?s schools in gaining immense popularity among reformers of all stripes.? Unlike most reform efforts, which focus on incremental improvement, turnarounds seek to take school from bad to great within a short period.? ?Turnarounds offer the opportunity to take familiar educational institutions and improve them through coaching, mentoring, capacity building, best practices, and other existing tools.?? The information provided in the text was very beneficial in establishing the action research project.? The idea to provide tutorials for struggling students stemmed from the idea of coaching/mentoring students.? The idea of offering training for teachers also came from the idea of capacity building expressed in the article.? Hess and Gift also expressed the idea that staging a successful turnaround entails setting high expectations and then begin flexible with regard to how principals, teachers, and staff go about meeting them.? The expectations for the action research project were clearly outlined and understood by staff members.? The first step to improvement will always revolve around the communication process.?

Texas Education Agency, (2012), Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) The Texas Education Agency website was very beneficial in establishing the basis for the action research project.? A researcher can collect information concerning any district in the state.? They can search and compare results based on performance records.? The website provides information regarding state mandates and also provides insight about changes to come in the Texas Education System. The Data Management for Assessment and Curriculum website was very beneficial in collecting????? information regarding previous benchmarks and testing results.? The information is broken down based on demographics which prove to be very informative when evaluating and comparing results.?? The information breaks down the information in an individualized report by subject.? The program requires a username and password in order for the school to participate.? The program is an awesome tool for schools wanting collect and analyze data on a regular basis.?? Action Research Design (Section Three)

Target Population: Struggling students enrolled in 11th grade mathematics which participate in the exit level mathematics portion of the TAKS test.

Target Size: 64 Students (Total Class Size)

Target Reached 28 Students (Needed Additional Resources)?

  • Collected data showing the results from the scheduled benchmarks throughout the year during the 09-10 and the 10-11 school years for 11th grade math
  • Collected data showing the results from the standardized test for the 09-10 and the 10-11 school years for 11th grade math
  • Individualized the reports to show performance based on race, gender, and economic status
  • Evaluated and presented the relationship between the benchmarks and the results from the standardized test
  • Developed a system for tutorials to be offered to struggling students
ACTIVITIES TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES
  • Conducted a DMAC study in which data will be evaluated and charted
  • Conducted a survey of test takers to evaluate importance of benchmark test
  • Conducted an interview with the 11th grade math teacher
  • Conducted and interview with the Curriculum Director in which results will be discussed
  • Created a chart to itemize scores based on individualized performance

1.????? Standardized test results from 09-10 and 10-11

2.????? Benchmark results from 09-10 and 10-11

1.????? Categorize results based on gender, race, and economic status

2.????? Compare success or failure of benchmarks and standardized test

1.????? ?Evaluate properly aligned TEKS on benchmarks

1.????? Evaluate the seriousness of the test takers about the actual benchmark tests

1.????? Collected data using DMAC program containing benchmark and standardized test scores

2.????? Broke down data into race, gender, and economic status results

3.????? Formed a chart in which related data is compared

4.????? Surveyed actual test takers

5.????? Interviewed 11th grade math teacher

6.????? Interviewed Curriculum Director

7.????? Created a tutorial list for struggling students

  • Research collector
  • 11th Grade math instructor
  • Curriculum Director
  • High School Principal
MONITORING SUCCESS/ EVALUATION
  • From the results of the study the 11th Grade Math teacher better understood the significance of conducting benchmarks
  • The study revealed the results of benchmarks and standardized test scores were directly related and more emphasis will be placed on the benchmarks.
  • The study also revealed the results of benchmarks and standardized test scores were directly related proving that the curriculum is properly aligned

The data concerning the action research project was collected in several different ways.? The researcher believes that in order to receive appropriate relative data the information should be collected using multiple resources.? The first form of data collection came from using the online program DMAC.? The program breaks down information in regards to demographic results on benchmarks as well as state mandated testing.? The results collected from the study showed that the information was directly related meaning that students found struggling on benchmarks eventually struggled on the standardized test.? The data was broken down into individualized categories to determine which groups of students would need additional resources.? The action research project was directed at increasing the overall scores of African Americans but will serve the purpose of increasing the achievement of all students.? The second step to the data collection project was to evaluate the results from a student survey given to 11th grade test takers.? The survey was used as a gauge to monitor student?s actual feelings about benchmarks. The results of the study are listed:? 33% of the student population really participates, 67% of the student population answered that benchmark tests are meaningless.? The next step was to interview the current 11th grade math teacher.? During the interview there were several questions regarding the importance of benchmarks and what emphasis are placed upon them.? The DMAC data was presented to the teacher showing the comparable results from each study.? The information regarding the student surveys were also presented at the conclusion of the meeting.? The intern made the recommendation that the high school faculty collaborate new innovative ways to increase participation on benchmarks. The next step in the data collection process was to interview the curriculum director.? The information regarding the DMAC study and student surveys were presented to the curriculum director.? The director came to the conclusion that each teacher should be equipped with the knowledge to conduct their own data driven analysis studies.? The school is now currently conducted individualized data reports by subject area.? Once the data from all available resources was collected the intern developed an individualized performance chart showing areas of weakness.?

The information below will describe the research and progress related to the implementation of the action research project.? The charts below describe the total number of students tested and categorized the groups which struggle to achieve.? The charts include information from the 09-10 and 10-11 school years prior to implementation of the action research project.? The final chart upon completion of the project show the results since the implementation of the tutorial sessions for struggling students started.? The charts are imprinted below:?

?????

? Benchmarks 09-10 Exit Level Mathematics

??????? All Students =64??? Met Strd 29???? %Met Strd 45%


American Indian/Alaskan Native
Benchmarks 10-11 Exit Level Mathematics All Students= 49?????? Met Strd 29???? %Met Strd 59%

American Indian/Alaskan Native
Conclusions and Recommendations (Section Five) The action research will prove that once goals are set towards student weaknesses the achievement results will improve. ?The action research project is designed to research the comparison between regularly scheduled benchmarks and state mandated testing.? The action research project will prove there is a direct ?relationship between the benchmarks and standardized testing showing the school?s curriculum is properly aligned.? The intern will use several methods of data collection throughout the implementation process.? It was very beneficial to examine multiple resources before the implementation began.? Once the research was evaluated and itemized the project began to fall into place.?? The goal of the action research project is to increase the achievement of certain groups of students on benchmarks which would intern lead to better ?results on standardized tests.? The tutorials will provide a chance for these struggling students to be improve scores on standardized tests. Hopefully, the results from the previous year?s benchmarks will increase dramatically with the installation of tutorials.? I feel it will be very beneficial for the school to ?research other schools that have implemented tutorials as an event in the students scheduling.? ?I also feel as though it will be important for the school system to research ways in which benchmarks can become more meaningful for student performance.? After reviewing the results from the survey the intern learned that a large percentage of the student population puts forth not effort in regards to benchmarks. The school should collaboratively come up with ways in which more emphasis can be placed on benchmarks in the near future as they are a direct reflection of performance on the state mandated test. ?I feel as though the research project proved to be very beneficial for the school system.?? I would recommend that each teacher and school system actively conduct research projects to better understand the weaknesses of the student population.? The first step in finding a solution to a problem is being able to indentify that a problem exist.?

References (Final Section)

Rooney, J. (2008). What do We Believe?

Jennings, J. & Rentner, D. (2006). Ten Big Effects of the No Child Left Behind Act on Public Schools?

The Education Trust (2004). The ABCs of AYP The Education Trust

?Hess, F., & Gift, T. (2008). The Turnaround Fredrick M Hess and Thomas Gift

Texas Education Agency, (2012), Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) ??? Education Week (2012) Title I ??? Retrieved from? http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/title-i/

Source: http://reidspivey.blogspot.com/2012/11/action-research-progress-report.html

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Source: http://cantinepatrice8.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/action-research-a-must-in-education-action-research-progress.html

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