Democrats encounter bumps on the road to Charlotte

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) ? When Democrats from around the country gather next week in Charlotte to nominate President Barack Obama for a second term, some may not feel completely at home despite the Southern hospitality.

While the party was eager last year to pick a convention city that would help it expand its foothold in the New South, the selection of Charlotte has been a source of consternation among key constituencies and uncertainty among Democratic strategists.

Gay rights activists, for example, plan to protest for same-sex marriage in a state where North Carolina voters easily passed a constitutional amendment banning it. Members of another key Democratic group, organized labor, intend to picket, too, in part because union leaders are unhappy Democrats picked a state long viewed as hostile to them.

Even North Carolina Democrats have found the state to be cooler lately, with Republicans winning control of the state legislature in 2010 and considered favorites to capture the governor's mansion this year.

And if Democrats were hoping that North Carolina would provide a narrative to support the president's case that the economy is on the rebound, they must be disappointed.

The state has an unemployment rate of 9.6 percent ? one of the highest in the country. The Charlotte metro rate is even higher at 10 percent, making it more difficult to portray the city of 750,000 as on the cusp of recovery after its once-soaring banking industry tumbled.

"The plan was that Charlotte would allow them to give the message that the banks went down, but Charlotte is coming back, just like the country," said Eric Heberlig, a political science professor at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Heading into next week, he added, "it's harder to use Charlotte as the place for the national economic turnaround, driven by Obama economic policies."

Democrats remain hopeful that the convention will help launch Obama to a repeat of his upset victories in North Carolina and neighboring Virginia in 2008. Polls show Obama and Republican Mitt Romney are running neck and neck in the Tar Heel state, where Democrats still have a comfortable edge in voter registration and voters have demonstrated a progressive streak.

"There are a lot of things in his favor," said state Rep. Mickey Michaux of Durham, a Democratic convention delegate, citing Obama's work to rescue the auto industry and lead military efforts to kill 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. He said North Carolina voters understand that Obama has been hamstrung by Republican obstructionists in Congress to improve the economy and that the president still "holds out our hope for what people want to see."

Two years ago, Democrats had good reason to have North Carolina on their minds.

After all, North Carolina voters had handed Obama a narrow victory over Republican John McCain in 2008, the first for a Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter in 1976. Obama's win was partly due to a strong showing in urban centers such as Charlotte.

But now, as nearly 6,000 Democratic delegates and tens of thousands of others head to North Carolina's largest city, they may appreciate why one political analyst called North Carolina "an ambivalent state."

And some of the national party's main constituencies have not been shy about their displeasure with the more conservative politics of the host state.

Last May's passage of the gay marriage ban, which was backed by evangelist and North Carolina icon Billy Graham among others, provided a dose of reality to liberal activists, revealing a gap between Obama and more socially conservative North Carolina voters. The day after the referendum, the president voiced his support for gay marriage.

The selection of Charlotte remains a sore point with unions, which gave $8.3 million toward the 2008 convention in Denver that nominated Obama. This time, many unions are refusing to financially support the convention because of North Carolina's ban on collective bargaining for teachers and other public workers, which contributes to the state's lowest-in-the-nation rate for organized workers.

The state's political picture also doesn't reflect the North Carolina of 2008, when Democrats retained their near-lock on legislative and executive branches, thanks in part to Obama's coattails.

Two years later, economic concerns helped Republicans win control of the state Legislature for the first time in 140 years.

Things didn't get any better for state Democrats this year. Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue decided against an uphill re-election fight, leaving the party scrambling to find a candidate. Then the executive director of the state party quit amid sexual harassment allegations, and the national party was unable to nudge aside state party Chairman David Parker, who had approved a settlement with the alleged victim, a party employee who alleged he was fired for speaking up.

But Democratic strategists say none of these issues will matter once the convention begins and the party starts delivering its message to voters.

"Those things may be headaches and may be bothersome but in the great scheme of things don't matter," said Gary Pearce, a longtime Democratic consultant in North Carolina who worked with former four-term Gov. Jim Hunt and ex-U.S. Sen. John Edwards. "They made a strategic decision early on that we want to go to North Carolina to send a signal that we are challenging Romney in what should be his home turf."

Obama won the state in 2008 by more than 14,000 votes. But his success that year also camouflaged a statewide political climate that for decades has been inherently conservative at its base, but marked by a progressive element that grew out of the state's prestigious university system and focused upon improving education.

During the civil rights era, North Carolina largely avoided the violence and official defiance of segregation that occurred in neighboring states. Political leaders sought to attract new business by promising to keep the peace. However, state voters repeatedly returned Republican Sen. Jesse Helms to Washington over three decades, even with his racially tinged campaigns.

While liberal voters in cities such as Charlotte or Chapel Hill can be expected to turn out for Obama, many registered Democrats in smaller towns such as Greenville and Goldsboro felt the national party left them behind years ago.

"There's a loyalty to the Democratic Party," said Kareem Crayton, a University of North Carolina law professor who studies issues of politics and race, "but that loyalty doesn't necessarily extend to the national party."

For now, North Carolina has the markings of a battleground state for its 15 electoral votes.

The TV airwaves have lit up with advertisements from both campaigns and super PACs in North Carolina, where at least $56 million worth of commercials have run so far. Both sides are investing heavily in voter-outreach and volunteer efforts.

"The Democrats in '08 did an exceptional job of registering voters and getting voters to the polls and the Republicans did a poor job," said Republican state Senate leader Phil Berger, but "I suspect that what you're going to see this time is both parties doing a good job of getting voters (out)."

The Republicans' 20 or so "victory" campaign offices still fall short of the 40 Obama for America locations in North Carolina. The 2008 campaign never left the state, as Obama for America kept volunteers organized to push his agenda and support allies in local elections.

Obama's "grassroots organization is connected to communities across the state in ways Romney's campaign just cannot match," said Cameron French, Obama's North Carolina campaign press secretary.

And yet the increasing number of independent voters in North Carolina ? 1.6 million today compared to 1.3 million at this time in 2008 ? adds to the uncertainty over November's outcome.

At first glance, "you probably would have thought this was the same state," Crayton said. "It goes to show how much a slight shift (in) the politics can make a competitive state change."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-08-31-Convention-NC%20and%20the%20Nation/id-18fa6d13ba3d4cbdae7f1ea10a66e11e

Ramadan 2012 Michelle Jenneke News batman Colorado Shooting News joe paterno British Open

The Value Of Your iPhone Drops Every Second, So Try This

The value of your current iPhone is going down as I write this very sentence. And according to Gazelle, current iPhone models traditionally depreciate about 25 percent a couple weeks before the next generation iPhone is unveiled. And guess what? The new iPhone is about two weeks away. As Rafiki would say in the Lion King, "it is time." But what do you do?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/AEug9-GzhMk/

ncaa basketball oikos kentucky wildcats oakland school shooting nike nfl jerseys katie couric barista

Supreme Court to review class-action case

(Reuters) - The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider the constitutionality of a legal tactic that can make it harder for companies to defend against class-action lawsuits, in a case it will review in the term that starts on October 1.

At issue is whether a company can be forced to defend itself in a state court, rather than in federal court as it might prefer, when a plaintiff's lawyer has his client sign a binding "stipulation" limiting the size of the case.

The Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 lets companies move cases to federal court from state court provided that more than $5 million is at stake and they are not incorporated or based in the state where the case was filed.

In the case accepted for review, Standard Fire Insurance Co had been sued in a Miller County, Arkansas, state court over alleged underpayment of homeowner claims.

The Hartford, Connecticut-based insurer said the named plaintiff, Greg Knowles, whose house sustained hail damage, signed a stipulation limiting damages and binding potential class members, including people his lawyer did not yet represent.

A federal judge in Arkansas approved the stipulation, saying Knowles had shown to a "legal certainty" that damages for all class members would not exceed $5 million. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis later upheld that decision.

In its appeal, Standard Life said the lower courts ignored the Supreme Court's 2011 decision in Smith v. Bayer Corp, which said a named plaintiff seeking class-action status cannot without court approval bind others who could join that class.

A decision in the case is expected in the coming Supreme Court term, which ends next June.

The cases is Standard Fire Insurance Co v. Knowles, U.S. Supreme Court, No. 11-1450.

(Editing by Howard Goller and Vicki Allen)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/supreme-court-review-class-action-case-170258606.html

ufc145 chimpanzee chimpanzee the lucky one pittsburgh pirates mariners mets

$12,474, 2009 Ford Focus

ONE OWNER!! SIRIUS Satellite Radio and SYNC. Biggest Discounts Anywhere! SAVE THOUSANDS! Good lord we are doing it again! This superb 2009 Ford Focus is a lot of vehicle for not so much money! This Focus not only has plenty of pep, but also still manages to give you terrific fuel efficiency. This car is nicely equipped with features such as SIRIUS Satellite Radio and SYNC. American...and proud of it!!! .

Please give Darryl Thompson a call today to schedule a test drive or view our complete inventory at www.serpentinitallmadge.com - If you see something of interest please call me. Thank you.

Darryl "Rhino" Thompson
Sales Consultant
Cell Phone 330-472-9078

Source: http://ohio.backpage.com/AutosForSale/12474-2009-ford-focus/11019857

xavier joan crawford joan crawford john goodman kendall marshall whitney houston news sylvia plath

Florida Room Builders West Palm Beach - Bennetts Impact Windows ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]... Beach county area we are happy to offer recommendations and information on Florida Room Builders West Palm Beach and to answer any other questions you might have regarding windows, doors or home improvement.

Source: http://griffeexyluke.typepad.com/blog/2012/08/florida-room-builders-west-palm-beach-bennetts-impact-windows.html

macys stratfor bears vs packers after christmas sales 2011 best ipad apps chris paul gift card exchange

Turning chemistry inside-out: Self-assembling smart microscopic reagents to pioneer pourable electronics

ScienceDaily (Aug. 29, 2012) ? First place in an EU competitive call on "Unconventional Computing" was awarded to a collaborative proposal coordinated by Prof. John McCaskill from the RUB Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The project MICREAgents plans to build autonomous self-assembling electronic microreagents that are almost as small as cells. They will exchange chemical and electronic information to jointly direct complex chemical reactions and analyses in the solutions they are poured into. This is a form of embedded computation -- "to compute is to construct" -- in which, for example, the output is a particular catalyst or coating needed in the (input) local chemical environment.

The EU supports the project within the FP7 programme with 3.4 million Euros for three years. Four research groups at RUB will join forces with top teams across Europe, from Israel and New Zealand.

Self-assembling electronic agents

In order to create this programmable microscale electronic chemistry, MICREAgents (Microscopic Chemically Reactive Electronic Agents) will contain electronic circuits on 3D microchips, called lablets. The lablets have a diameter of less than 100 ?m and self-assemble in pairs or like dominos to enclose transient reaction compartments. They can selectively concentrate, process, and release chemicals into the surrounding solution, under local electronic control, in a similar way to which the genetic information in cells controls local chemical processes. The reversible pairwise association allows the lablets to transfer information from one to another.

Translating electronic signals into chemical processes

The lablet devices will integrate transistors, supercapacitors, energy transducers, sensors and actuators, and will translate electronic signals into constructive chemical processing as well as record the results of this processing. Instead of making chemical reactors to contain chemicals, the smart MICREAgents will be poured into chemical mixtures, to organize the chemistry from within. Ultimately, such microreactors, like cells in the bloodstream, will open up the possibility of controlling complex chemistry from the inside out.

Computation intertwined with construction

The self-assembling smart micro reactors can be programmed for molecular amplification and other chemical processing pathways that start from complex mixtures, concentrate and purify chemicals, perform reactions in programmed cascades, sense reaction completion, and transport and release products to defined locations. MICREAgents represent a novel form of computation intertwined with construction. By embracing self-assembly and evolution, they are a step towards a robust and evolvable realization of John von Neumann's universal construction machine vision. Although these nanoscale structures will soon be sufficiently complex to allow self-replication of their chemical and electronic information, they will not present a proliferative threat to the environment, because they depend for their function on the electronic circuit layer that is fabricated as part of their substrate.

RUB collaborators

For the project, Prof. Dr. John S. McCaskill (Microsystems Chemistry and Biological Information Technology) collaborates with Prof. Dr. G?nter von Kiedrowski (Bioorganic Chemistry), Prof. Dr. J?rgen Oehm (Analog Integrated Circuits) and Dr. Pierre Mayr (Integrated Digital Circuits). McCaskill's and von Kiedrowski's labs at RUB have already joined forces in previous European Projects forging a path towards artificial cells. The ECCell project, for example, that finished in February this year, has laid the foundation for an electronic chemical cell. There, the electronics and microfluidics were exterior to the chemistry: in MICREAgents this is being turned inside out.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Ruhr-Universitaet-Bochum, via AlphaGalileo.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/matter_energy/electronics/~3/xo4tlyviZKg/120829064703.htm

nfl scores gene hackman pineda john edwards heart condition mena suvari joyful noise one life to live

Get off the fence | Abby Daily

There are no chickens in this KFC.

The Kamloops Fencing Club has been around since 1999 and is looking for new members this year.

?The people who are attracted to fencing are usually not typical sports-minded people,? said Damon Hebner, club member and former head coach.

?They?re not normally on soccer teams. We get a much higher percentage of people who just fence, as opposed to people who do many sports.?

The KFC provides the necessary equipment ? including masks, jackets and blades.

New blood will likely start with a foil, a light-weight training weapon, before graduating to an ?p?e, the real deal, used in Olympic combat.

Fencers duel on a 2X14 piste ? combat area ? and gain points by striking their opponent.

Kamloops? fencing headquarters is at the McArthur Island Youth Centre.

With three 10- to 12-week seasons, the KFC runs year-round.

It costs about $ 70 per season to register.

Registration is done through the city?s parks and recreation department.

Hebner has given way to new co-head coaches Alexandra Golt and Sean Bigham, both longtime members.

Golt would like to see more members compete provincially and nationally.

?If the individual is tournament-minded, there are a whole whack of them they can go to,? Hebner said.

Vernon, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House, Prince George, Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary are home to fencing tournaments.

There are at least three beginner tournaments held in the Tournament Capital each year.

The KFC hosts Fencing for Food nights, during which free lessons are offered in exchange for food donated to the Kamloops Food Bank.

As far as Hebner is concerned, en garde is a position more Kamloopsians need to experience.

?We really try and make it family-friendly and keep the cost down,? he said.

?

Source: http://abbydaily.com/sports/get-off-the-fence/

sparkle sacagawea new hope baptist church associated press foster friess new orleans hornets ghost rider spirit of vengeance

The Writing Bomb: 10 Creative Writing Ideas for Teens

For the last few years I've taught a creative writing course for a home school co-op and I've had a great time. Unfortunately,?I couldn't do it this year, so I sent a course syllabus to the co-op president to give to the students that were signed up. So, of course I had to share it with all of you as well.

If you have a teen who likes to write, or if you home school your children, or you just want to give your little writer some creative writing assignments, I have a 10-week mini course that will make writing fun for any kid between the ages of 10-17 (depending on level of maturity).

When your kid(s) finish with this course, I have a whole lotta more! In fact, I'm publishing a 36-week creative writing course for teens by early to mid 2013. So follow this blog for updates.

Writers: If you are a writer, and you'd like to contribute an "exercises" to the course, I'd love to hear from you. I think parents and teachers and the young writers of the world would love to receive writing tips from successful writers like you. So, if you leave a comment (i.e. writing exercise suggestion), be sure to include at least one writing credit, and I'll include your name/title in the course. NOTE: I will publish this, so you'll have to be okay with releasing your idea to Nexgate Press. But as I said, we will include your name/book title with the exercise.

Parents/Teachers: Feel free to copy and past. See instructions at the bottom of this post.

Creative Writing Exercises for Junior and Senior High Students.
By Jeff Bennington
Author of The Indie Author's Guide to the Universe.

Welcome to The Writing Bomb's Creative Writing Course for Junior & Senior High Students.?

Week 1.?Write a short story?(1-2 pages) from the perspective of your favorite animal: bird, dog, horse, skunk, etc. Let the animal in you describe what it is like living among humans, in the chicken coop, or in the dog house. What are your hopes and dreams? What are you looking for in a mate? How do you feel about rainy days, baths, and treats? What do you expect from your puppies, cubs, or kittens? Write a draft, have your parent grade it, and then rewrite/polish it.

Week 2.?Write a documentary?(1-2 pages)?about the most exciting thing that happened somewhere in the world in the last week. Don't know what happened in the world? Type in a Google search of... "What?happened?in the world the week of Sept. 1, 2012?" - or whatever the date is. Again, write the paper, have a parent grade it, then polish it. This is something you will always have to do (edit, revise, and revise again).

Week 3.?Write a?persuasive?paper?(1-2 pages) in favor of anything you are passionate about. All persuasive papers need an Introduction that states the main point, introduces the content to come, and includes a thesis statement (a sentence declaring the point you are trying to make).?

The Body of the paper must include at least three additional paragraphs. Each paragraph must support one of three basic supporting ideas, and have at least three sentences to prove your point or support the idea in that paragraph.?

Finally, you'll need a summary paragraph that summarizes the points listed above, and re-emphasizes the thesis statement. All in all ,there must be five paragraphs, with no less than three sentences in each paragraph. Seniors should have more content? especially since they will have to write a paper like this on the SAT in 30 minutes. PARENTS: This may be tough for junior highers and freshman but it is a good introduction nonetheless. Be patient with the younger ones.

Week 4.?Write a descriptive paper?(1full page) that describes your dream car, another one that describes your dream house (1full page), and another that describes the dream job (1 full page) that you will have to support those dreams (be realistic here? do not say you will be an ultra-rich rock star, unless you are working toward that today).

Week 5.?Write a Poem?(1full page) that describes the fall season and the beauty of the leaves turning and falling to someone who has never seen fall colors in the trees. Do not take anything for granted! Include colors, smells, sounds, feel, etc. Write another poem (1full page) about the joys of fall: sitting around the fire, camping, raking and playing in the leaves, carving pumpkins, trick-or-treating, etc.

Week 6.?Write a short story?(2 pages) about a family sitting around the dinner table talking, or sitting around a camp fire. Include conflict, different personalities, different ways of speaking (dialog) that is unique to each character. Be sure to resolve any conflicts that you start. Be creative, but be realistic. This is not a science fiction or fantasy assignment - that comes next.

Week 7.?Write a full-on short story?in the genre of your choice: Science fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Inspiration, Action Adventure, Romance. This is your choice. Write the story that you'd like to read. BUT, keep it short. If you are a junior higher, write a three page story. If you are a?junior or senior, make this a 5- 6-page short story. Be creative. The sky's the limit. You have two (2) weeks. Use the first week to write a rough draft and then turn it in to your parent(s)/teacher. Let them read it and suggest changes, correct spelling, etc. Then go back and revise.?

Week 8.?Your short story is due?by the end of week 8.

Week 9.?Write a descriptive paper?(1-2 pages) about what it would be like to be a real hero. If you were a hero, what would your super power be? How would you use it? Who would benefit from that gift? Where could you live so that you could save the most people? What does it take for you to remain strong? What would you look like? Are you from another planet? Did grow up underground, or in another realm? And finally, what is the one thing that causes you to become powerless?

Week 10.?Write your own autobiography? starting from when you are young, going forward through your life, including college, career, victories, failures, marriage, children, family, occupation, illnesses, and ultimately (and I know this is morbid) your death and funeral. This is a perfect opportunity for you to explore your dreams and hopes for the future, and for your parents to get to know you better.

Parents and teachers: Pay attention to what your kids/students write. I have read a few papers over the years where a child has revealed critical "secrets". Listen to their words; they could be telling you something.?

PLEASE SHARE this post with anyone you think might be interested.

Directions:?All papers should be assigned early in the week and due by Friday unless otherwise noted. These papers can be hand written, single spaced (large cursive writers can add an extra half page), or typed as double spaced, 12-point font). Students should always write a rough draft and have a parent grade it mid-week with the final revision due on the last day of the week. Parents, should focus on spelling, grammar, structure, and less on content, relative to the?child's?age. I wouldn't look at these assignments as critical to a student's progress, unless they are at the junior/senior level. In general, these are simply creative?exercises?and tools for teaching basic writing and communicative skills.?Have fun! Jeff Bennington??is the best-selling author of Reunion, Twisted Vengeance, and The Indie Author's Guide to the Universe.??

Source: http://thewritingbomb.blogspot.com/2012/08/10-creative-writing-ideas-for-teens.html

Olympic Schedule Kyla Ross Ryan Lochte Montenegro Olympic Games Dana Vollmer phillies

U.N. nations condemn Syria; Russia, China seen isolated

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. member states on Friday overwhelmingly voted to condemn the Syrian government at a special session of the General Assembly that Western diplomats said highlighted the isolation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's supporters Russia and China.

The 193-nation assembly approved the Saudi-drafted resolution, which expressed "grave concern" at the escalation of violence in Syria and condemned the Security Council for its action, with 133 votes in favor, 12 against and 31 abstentions.

Dozens of other countries, including many Western states, co-sponsored the resolution.

As expected, Assad's staunch ally Russia was among the 12 countries that opposed the resolution in the assembly, where no country has a veto but all decisions are non-binding. Others that voted against it included China, Iran, North Korea, Belarus, Cuba and others nations that often criticize the West.

Some countries did not participate in the vote.

The resolution has the assembly "deploring the failure of the Security Council to agree on measures to ensure the compliance of Syrian authorities with its decisions."

It also calls for "an inclusive Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, pluralistic political system."

The United States and European powers blame Russia for the deadlock on the 15-nation council. Last month Russia and China joined forces in their third double veto on the Syrian crisis to strike down a resolution that would have called for an end to the violence and threatened Damascus with sanctions.

Many of the elements from the latest vetoed resolution were included in the text the assembly approved on Friday.

Russia blames the West for the Security Council deadlock, accusing it of encouraging and supporting Syrian rebels.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice welcomed the resolution's adoption.

"Despite the continued opposition of an increasingly isolated minority, the overwhelming majority of U.N. members clearly stands resolutely with the Syrian people as they seek to fulfill their legitimate aspirations," Rice said.

Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari, after the vote, complained that the meeting was "another piece of theater" organized by the Qatari president of the General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser, to pursue his country's agenda.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar support the rebels determined to oust Assad. Ja'fari repeated his country's accusations that both are supplying weapons to the opposition, adding that Friday's "resolution will have no impact whatsoever."

SPOTLIGHT ON RUSSIA AND CHINA

Several Western diplomats said an important reason for adopting a non-binding resolution at the General Assembly was to shame Russia and China for opposing tough action against Assad's government in the Security Council.

"This vote shines the spotlight on Russia and China and humiliates them in a way that they don't like," a U.N. diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

Russia, which has its only warm water naval base outside the former Soviet Union in Syria, is Assad's key supporter and principal arms supplier.

China, diplomats say, has been supporting Moscow in exchange for Russian pledges to back Beijing on issues like North Korea and Taiwan at the United Nations.

Britain's U.N. Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told reporters after the vote that a "colossal majority" supported the resolution, which had been revised to remove language explicitly backing Arab League calls for Assad to step down and urging states to implement sanctions against Damascus.

But the resolution still welcomes an Arab League decision calling for Assad to step aside, without giving details of that decision.

Those revisions secured the support of dozens of countries that might have opposed it otherwise, U.N. diplomats said.

Saudi Arabia's Ambassador Abdallah al-Mouallimi said "the number of votes in favor has exceeded all of our expectations."

French Ambassador Gerard Araud, president of the Security Council this month, also welcomed the adoption of the resolution, but said it was unfortunate the council has been unable to act the way that the assembly did.

"The Security Council is blocked," he said. "I don't see how we could move forward on this issue."

Earlier U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the assembly that the brutality in Syria's biggest city, Aleppo, where forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and rebels continue to face off in bloody clashes, may be crimes against humanity.

"As we meet here, Aleppo ... is the epicenter of a vicious battle between the Syrian government and those who wish to replace it," Ban said.

"The acts of brutality that are being reported may constitute crimes against humanity or war crimes," Ban said. "Such acts must be investigated and the perpetrators held to account."

Both sides accuse the other of summary executions and mass killings in Aleppo.

Ban repeated that he intended to replace U.N.-Arab League mediator Kofi Annan, who announced on Thursday his intention to step down at the end of August. Annan said the Security Council deadlock was among the factors undermining his peace efforts.

(Reporting By Louis Charbonneau; Editing by Vicki Allen)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/aleppo-brutality-may-crimes-against-humanity-u-n-154112797.html

peyton manning broncos mexico city earthquake stand your ground law dancing with the stars season 14 david garrard bethenny frankel miguel cabrera

Detecting thyroid disease by computer

Public release date: 2-Aug-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Nallamuthu Rajkumar
rknpsna@gmail.com
Inderscience Publishers

Algorithm reveals cases of otherwise hidden thyroid dysfunction

Researchers in India have developed an improved expert system for the diagnosis of thyroid disease. They describe details of their approach to screening medical data in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Computational Science and Engineering.

Thyroid disease in which either too much thyroid hormone is produced (hyperthyroidism) or too little is made (hypothyroidism) are common health problems across the globe. An overactive thyroid can lead to increased perspiration, a raise pulse, tremors, anxiety, nervousness, and irritability, insomnia, thinning of the skin, fine brittle hair, and muscular weakness. Sluggish thyroid in contrast might cause constipation, cold intolerance, decreased sweating, a slow pulse, depression, dry skin and poor female fertility. Thyroid disease is often asymptomatic and is commonly undiagnosed. It is obviously less of a clinical problem if there are no symptoms but left untreated symptoms can ultimately become apparent causing various problems for patients with either an overactive or a sluggish thyroid.

Jaganathan Palanichamy and Rajkumar Nallamuthu of the PSNA College of Engineering and Technology, in Tamilnadu, India, have descried that thyroid can effectively be diagnosed through proper and careful interpretation of the thyroid data but the classification of a raw dataset from patient records can also allow undiagnosed thyroid problems to be discovered through computerized screening.

The screening algorithm developed by the PSNA team boosts the accuracy of earlier approaches, bringing the level to almost 93.5%, as opposed to earlier tests that had 92% confidence or less. That means that 15 more patients are given neither a false positive nor a false negative of every 1000 in the screened dataset. Over a healthcare network with millions of patients that can amount to significant numbers of people correctly identified with a thyroid problem based on patient records rather than having to carry out specific thyroid function blood tests. As such, the screening approach could also be used by doctors in a clinical setting to assess patients that present with a range of symptoms and so identify with precision whether a thyroid test and subsequent pharmaceutical intervention is required.

###

"An expert system for optimizing thyroid disease diagnosis" in Int. J. Computational Science and Engineering, 2012, 7, 232-238

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 2-Aug-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Nallamuthu Rajkumar
rknpsna@gmail.com
Inderscience Publishers

Algorithm reveals cases of otherwise hidden thyroid dysfunction

Researchers in India have developed an improved expert system for the diagnosis of thyroid disease. They describe details of their approach to screening medical data in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Computational Science and Engineering.

Thyroid disease in which either too much thyroid hormone is produced (hyperthyroidism) or too little is made (hypothyroidism) are common health problems across the globe. An overactive thyroid can lead to increased perspiration, a raise pulse, tremors, anxiety, nervousness, and irritability, insomnia, thinning of the skin, fine brittle hair, and muscular weakness. Sluggish thyroid in contrast might cause constipation, cold intolerance, decreased sweating, a slow pulse, depression, dry skin and poor female fertility. Thyroid disease is often asymptomatic and is commonly undiagnosed. It is obviously less of a clinical problem if there are no symptoms but left untreated symptoms can ultimately become apparent causing various problems for patients with either an overactive or a sluggish thyroid.

Jaganathan Palanichamy and Rajkumar Nallamuthu of the PSNA College of Engineering and Technology, in Tamilnadu, India, have descried that thyroid can effectively be diagnosed through proper and careful interpretation of the thyroid data but the classification of a raw dataset from patient records can also allow undiagnosed thyroid problems to be discovered through computerized screening.

The screening algorithm developed by the PSNA team boosts the accuracy of earlier approaches, bringing the level to almost 93.5%, as opposed to earlier tests that had 92% confidence or less. That means that 15 more patients are given neither a false positive nor a false negative of every 1000 in the screened dataset. Over a healthcare network with millions of patients that can amount to significant numbers of people correctly identified with a thyroid problem based on patient records rather than having to carry out specific thyroid function blood tests. As such, the screening approach could also be used by doctors in a clinical setting to assess patients that present with a range of symptoms and so identify with precision whether a thyroid test and subsequent pharmaceutical intervention is required.

###

"An expert system for optimizing thyroid disease diagnosis" in Int. J. Computational Science and Engineering, 2012, 7, 232-238

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/ip-dtd080212.php

cotto vs margarito cotto vs margarito miguel cotto cotto ncaa bowl games bowls herman cain

Arizona DUI Laws, Toughest in the Nation? | Criminal Defence Blawg

by DCantor on August 2, 2012

The State of Arizona is known to have some of the strongest DUI laws in the United States. Arizona has the same minimum threshold for intoxication as any other state but it?s the additional charges and punishments that are considered stiff in nature. You should never drink and drive but if you do, you should know what to expect regarding the application of the law.

1)????? Know your rights ? If you?ve been suspected of a DUI, be courteous to the officers but almost immediately you should request legal counsel. Remember, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.

2)????? Know the penalties ? Did you know that in Arizona, the charge for an Extreme DUI can be an enhanced DUI charge if there is a child under 15 years old present in the car at the time of arrest? The resulting penalties can be mandatory jail time, loss of driver?s license, community service, and much more. You can read up on Arizona Aggravated DUI Penalties from the State of Arizona website.

3)????? Burden of Proof ? One thing you should always remember is that the state has the burden of proof. They need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed a crime. Hiring a skilled Arizona DUI lawyer will help your cause. All along the process there are possibilities for a defense, maybe the arresting officer didn?t read you your rights, maybe the field sobriety test can be thrown out. There are many ways a lawyer can help leave reasonable doubt with a jury.

Amendments are made every year to the code regarding DUI laws. You need to be aware of those changes and if nothing else, you?re lawyer should be well versed in the law and also abreast of any changes that happen on an annual basis. Hiring a good lawyer and knowing the law can make the difference between you sitting in a jail cell or sitting at work.

Guest Post provided by Law Offices of David Michael Cantor, an AV rated firm by Martindale-Hubbell. It is important to mount a strong dui defense in Arizona.

No related posts.

Tagged as: Arizona DUI, Arizona DUI Defence, Criminal lawyers US blog, DUI laws Arizona, DUI lawyers Arizona

Source: http://www.criminaldefenceblawg.com/road-traffic-law/arizona-dui-laws-toughest-in-the-nation/

breitbart dead db cooper fafsa branson missouri davy jones dead monkees last train to clarksville

David Selznick Joins Kayne Anderson Real Estate Advisors as ...

Aug. 2, 2012

ARMONK, N.Y.?Kayne Anderson Real Estate Advisors (?KAREA?), the private equity real estate arm of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, which invests primarily in student housing, announced today the appointment of David Selznick as a managing director. Selznick is responsible for all portfolio financing activities and strategic initiatives with active involvement in structuring transactions and implementing value-add enhancements to portfolios.

Selznick, who began his career in 2003, has worked in real estate finance with Deutsche Bank, Bridger Commercial Funding, Capmark and Nat City Investments. Throughout his career Selznick has acquired, underwritten and/or securitized over $1 billion in commercial real estate transactions, bringing a broad perspective and great value to his current role at KAREA.

A Cleveland, OH native, Selznick earned his B.A. in Business Administration and joint J.D./M.S. in Real Estate Finance from the University of Florida. After several years in Chicago, he now resides in New York.

Related Posts:

Source: http://www.multihousingnews.com/newsinbrief/david-selznick-joins-kayne-anderson-real-estate-advisors-as-managing-director/1004059845.html

mario balotelli mario balotelli jenny mccarthy michael jackson espn3 kevin youkilis Tropical Storm Debby

Green Outdoor Commercial Lighting Solution: Portable Solar Powered LED Floodlighting by National Solar Technologies

National Solar Technologies(NST) Portable Solar Powered LED Floodlight system offers exceptional illumination without the high cost of operation. NST's solution offers illumination without the need for fossil fuel, routine maintenance or noisy generators.

Buffalo, New York (PRWEB) August 02, 2012

National Solar Technologies(NST), http://www.nationalsolaronline.com, announces the release of its new commercial grade Portable Solar Powered LED Floodlighting system. The unit is 100% solar powered using a high efficiency solar module that captures the suns energy to recharge the system during the day, and power the lighting system all night long. The product is engineered to operate the LED floodlight fixture dusk to dawn, even after days of overcast weather. The system incorporates sealed, non-spillable maintenance free batteries for power storage. The LED floodlight fixture is designed for up to 150,000 hours of operation. The main unit frame and power unit enclosure is welded aluminum, powder coated in a variey of color choices. For portability/mobility, the system light mast folds down to a height of ~5.5 ft(fully extended mast is ~9.5 ft). Never flat wheels make it easy for anyone to wheel the unit to the location that needs to be illuminated.

"The benefit of using solar energy for power production is that it allows for cost savings since there is not a need for the use of fossil fuel", says Paul Vargovich, Director of Business Development at National Solar Technologies. "We ensure that the best components are utilized in the system so there is longevity with system reliability and zero routine maintenance required. Our goal is to provide superior solutions that will help build long lasting relationships with our customers."

National Solar Technologies Portable Solar Powered Floodlighting system is ideal for site lighting or general temporary lighting requirements. The US Military has deployed numerous NST Portable Solar Powered Floodlight systems supplied for use in remote and austere environments in both Afghanistan and Iraq. According to a US Military supply officer in Afghanistan, "You have a great product and we want to buy more." There is currenty a push to expand the use of these systems throughout US Military Forward Operating Bases and Patrol Bases in Afghanistan.

The Portable Solar Powered LED Floodlight system is the best choice for temporary lighting or site lighting needs. Utilizing green solar energy and long life LEDs for illumination, NST's Portable Solar Powered LED Floodlighting solution is the environmentally clean alternative to generator powered lights. Whether its a small construction site, temporary parking lot, or remote location, National Solar Technologies offers a solution that will pay for itself in a short amount of time.

For additional information on our products please contact our sales dept. toll free at (800) 310-7413 or for local/international calls at (716) 683-2505. You can also send us an email inquiry to: sales(at)nationalsolaronline(dot)com

National Solar Technologies(NST), http://www.nationalsolaronline.com, established in 1997, is a privately held company located in suburban Buffalo, New York. Our headquarters encompasses 34,000 square feet of offices and manufacturing space. NST engineers and builds high quality solar electric power solutions and solar powered outdoor lighting solutions for both commercial and government markets. Thousands of NST systems are currenlty in use all over world.

Paul Vargovich
National Solar Technologies
800-310-7413 108
Email Information

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/green-outdoor-commercial-lighting-solution-portable-solar-powered-120932185.html

sarah palin today show dallas tornado video 1940 census instagram for android dallas news dallas fort worth dfw

Unnatural Selection: Muscles, Genes and Genetic Cheats

Features | Health

Can specific genes cause muscles to grow faster or stronger, and can genetic tampering give athletes an unnatural edge?

By Larry Greenemeier ?| July 31, 2012?|

PEAK PERFORMANCE: Olympic athletes competing in London this summer earned their place through countless hours of training and single-minded commitment to their sport. Yet their genetic makeup may be the greatest contributor to their success. Image: Courtesy of PeskyMonkey, via iStockphoto.com

Take a close look at the athletes competing in this year's Summer Olympic Games in London?their musculature will tell you a lot about how they achieved their elite status. Endless hours of training and commitment to their sport played a big role in building the bodies that got them to the world's premier athletic competition. Take an even closer look?this one requires microscopy?and you'll see something else, something embedded in the genetic blueprints of these young men and women that's just as important to their success.

In nearly all cases, these athletes have realized the full potential laid out by those genes. And that potential may be much greater to begin with than it was for the rest of us mortals. For instance, the genes in the cells that make up sprinter Tyson Gay's legs were encoded with special instructions to build up lots of fast-fiber muscles, giving his legs explosive power out of the starting blocks. In comparison, the maximum contraction velocity of marathoner Shalane Flanagan's leg muscles, as dictated by her genes, is much slower than Gay's yet optimized for the endurance required to run for hours at a time with little tiring. Such genetic fine-tuning also helps competitors in basketball, volleyball and synchronized swimming, although the impact might be much less because effective teamwork and officiating also influence success in those sports.

When the gun goes off for the 100-meter sprint, when swimmers Michael Phelps and Ian Thorpe hit the water, when Tom Daley leaps from his diving platform, we will be seeing the finest that the world's gene pool has to offer, even though scientists are still trying to figure out which genes those are. Unfortunately, history dictates that we may also see the finest in gene manipulation, as some athletes push for peak performance with the help of illegal substances that are becoming increasingly difficult to detect.

The skinny on muscles
The human body produces two types of skeletal muscle fibers?slow-twitch (type 1) and fast-twitch (type 2). The fast-twitch fibers contract many times faster and with more force than the slow-twitch ones do, but they also fatigue more quickly. Each of these muscle types can be further broken down into subcategories, depending on contractile speed, force and fatigue resistance. Type 2B fast-twitch fibers, for example, have a faster contraction time than type 2A.

Muscles can be converted from one subcategory to another but cannot be converted from one type to another. This means that endurance training can give type 2B muscle some of the fatigue-resistant characteristics of type 2A muscle and that weight training can give type 2A muscle some of strength characteristics of type 2B muscle. Endurance training, however, will not convert type 2 muscle to type 1 nor will strength training convert slow-twitch muscle to fast. Endurance athletes have a greater proportion of slow-twitch fibers, whereas sprinters and jumpers have more of the fast-twitch variety.

Just as we can alter our muscle mix only to a certain degree, muscle growth is also carefully regulated in the body. One difference between muscle composition and size, however, is that the latter can more easily be manipulated. Insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is both a gene and the protein it expresses that plays an important role during childhood growth and stimulates anabolic effects?such as muscle building?when those children become adults. IGF-1 controls muscle growth with help from the myostatin (MSTN) gene, which produces the myostatin protein.

More than a decade ago H. Lee Sweeney, a molecular physiologist at the University of Pennsylvania, led a team of researchers who used genetic manipulation to create the muscle-bound "Schwarzenegger mice". Mice injected with an extra copy of the IGF-1 gene added muscle and became as much as 30 percent stronger. Sweeney concluded that it is very likely that differences in a person's IGF-1 and MSTN protein levels determine his or her ability to put on muscle when exercising, although he admits this scenario has not been studied widely.

Slow-fiber muscle growth and endurance can likewise be controlled through gene manipulation. In August 2004 a team of researchers that included the Salk Institute for Biological Study's Ronald Evans reported that they altered a gene called PPAR-Delta to enhance its activity in mice, helping nurture fatigue-resistant slow-twitch muscles. These so-called "marathon mice" could run twice as far and for nearly twice as long as their unmodified counterparts.

This demonstrated ability to tinker with either fast- or slow-twitch muscle types begs the question: What would happen if one were to introduce genes for building both fast- and slow-twitch muscle in an athlete? "We've talked about doing it but have never done it," Sweeney says. "I assume you'd end up with a compromise that would be well suited to a sport like cycling, where you need a combination of endurance and power." Still, Sweeney adds, there has been little scientific reason (which translates into funding) to conduct such a study in mice, much less humans.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=90e49e3b164d3264d4ed3922f7e6f9b6

amanda bynes arrested f 18 jet crash in virginia beach john tortorella nicki minaj beez in the trap video food network good friday

Mango Health: A Mobile App For Rewarding People Who Stay On Track With Prescription Drugs

Adherence to prescription drugs and supplements is a problem that not only puts the long-term health of millions of patients at risk. It's a problem that may add an extra $100 to 300 billion in health care costs in the U.S. alone. Enter Mango Health, a startup that's adapting some of the triggers and rewards from the social gaming industry to the complex world of health care. The startup is bringing an app into beta today that helps patients stay on track with their prescription medications and supplements. Mango Health has raised nearly $1.5 million from a stellar cast of investors including First Round Capital, Baseline's Steve Anderson, Floodgate's Mike Maples,?Zynga CEO Mark Pincus and Square's chief operating officer Keith Rabois. "People have a really hard time staying true to their treatment programs," said co-founder Jason Oberfest, who is a?former vice president at Ngmoco, the mobile gaming network that Japan's DeNA acquired for up to $403 million in 2010. "The more we looked into it, we realized that many of the most common diseases that people have?are ones where the consequences of the diseases are the most deferred. So can we use what we've learned about gaming to actually change behavior?"

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/G-WlBHEo47c/

aziz ansari katherine jenkins peyton manning broncos mexico city earthquake stand your ground law dancing with the stars season 14 david garrard

Lily Pad Quilting: The 2012 Pets on Quilts Show is here!

Ribbit! Ribbit!? Padsworth here, and I'm your emcee for the show!


PLEASE READ all of the post today -- you want to be sure that you know the rules and know how to play!


Today is the day! I'm so excited that I already fell right off my lilypad! This is it! The Best Show on Earth -- the 2012 Pets on Quilts Show!




Today is the start of a whole lot of fun and fellowship -- quilters from all over the world are going to post in our great, big linky party, and all of you can hop and bop to see all of the wonderful pets, quilts, and new bloggy friends!


Our sponsors are ready --- Snoodles and I are ready --- I sure hope you are ready!!
I have my pencil and my notebook, and I'm comfy here on one of Snoodles' quilts:?

I want to keep track of the ones that I like the best -- even tho I can't vote . . . that wouldn't be right. But you can! Next week we'll ask you to vote for the viewers' choice awards, so you better write down the ones you love the best!

Snoodles' studio kitty, Moses, couldn't be bothered . . . he wanted to keep enjoying his nap:

Now, I'd like you to give a nice round of applause for our sponsors -- they make this clambake even more fun!


?The Fat Quarter Shop is providing a $100 gift certificate!


?The Quilted Kitty is providing three prizes: a fabric prize, a kitty tea set prize, and a $50 gift certificate!


The Raspberry Rabbits are providing a kit, wool, thread, and hangers for a prize!




Java House Quilts is providing a BOM pattern called "Cat-Acatemy" for a prize!


Martingale Publishing is providing a $25 gift certificate for a prize!




The Cotton Patch Quilt Shop is providing a $50 gift certificate for a prize!




IHAN is providing a gorgeous handbag from Bagamore Collections for a prize!


Abbi Mays Fabric Store is providing a $50 gift certificate for a prize!




Margaret Bucklew of Patterns to Quilt is providing a download of Quilty Clip Art for a prize!




Marcia's Crafty Sewing and Quilting is providing $30 gift certificates for three prizes!


Ronika Lee's Etsy shop is providing a plush kitty bed for a prize!


Inchworm Fabrics is providing Pieced Applique Weekend Projects for a prize!
Pop Doggie Etsy Shop is providing a magnet of the winner's choice, for a prize!




PupsEtc. Etsy Shop is providing a collection of doggy toys for a prize!




The Wooden Giraffe Etsy shop is providing an animal puzzle of choice, for a prize!




Diggity Dawg Etsy shop is providing pet placemats for two prizes!




Pat's Design Etsy shop is providing a key chain and a dog tag, for two prizes!




Heat Press Batting Together is providing rolls of fabric fuser for batting, for several prizes!


Ribbit! Ribbit! I need to rest! That's a lot of sponsors, and a lot of prizes! Thank you very much to all of our sponsors!


Now, here is how our Pet Show will work: You'll be posting your photos of pets on quilts, or pet-themed quilts on your blog, or on your Flickr page. Then you come to our linky party and link up directly to the post with the photo (or the Flickr photo) not just to your blog. We want to jump right over and see your entry --- don't want to have to search for it! (Grin)

UPDATE: Remember, from our previous post, that I said you only make one blog linky in the party --- you could have several photos on your blog for the show, but only one linky entry from each blogger.? Sometimes it's hard to translate frog-speak into people-speak! (Grin)

I can see where it may make problems for peeps who have different categories of quilts, tho. So, lets make this amendment to the rules:

You can have one linky entry to a blog, and two linky entries to Flickr photos. I'm hoping that will work for everyone, and we'll all have a good time!

You also need to make certain that you use good blog hop manners and include a link in your post, so that visitors can click and come right back to the Lilypad to see even more fun and cuteness! So be sure to place that "backlink" somewhere in your Pet Show post, or on your Flickr page, OK? We thank you!
If you don't have a Flickr page, email us at quiltnsrep at yahoo dot com and we will help out. Please bear with us and we'll get to it as soon as we can!

Our linky party will remain open for entries until August 9 --- that's a whole week for peeps to enter their quilts and their furbabies! At that point, the linkies will be closed, and voting will begin. We will leave the voting open through the weekend (through Sunday, the 12th) so that all of our friends can participate. Then, a couple of days later (probably the 14th or 15th) we will have our announcements of winners. Whooo hoooo!

Here are the categories for entries:

• dog on quilt/ dog themed quilt
• cat on quilt/ cat themed quilt
• other pet on quilt/ other pet themed quilt
• Best EQ pet theme quilt design
• Best Art quilt

I think it will be pretty easy to tell when you enter a quilt in most of the categories.....for the EQ and the Art quilt categories, please mention in your linky title or in your blog post, that you wish to be considered in one of these categories.? (For instance, you could include in your title (EQ) or (Art), or you could make sure that you write about it in your post.)
Our rules post is here if you have any other questions, or you can email Snoodles if your question is not answered there!?

Now, voting has not begun, but you CAN start leaving comments:

? ? ? 1. Leave a comment here and tell me that you have?

? ? ? ? ? joined our linky party.

? ? ? 2. If you are a follower, new or old, leave a comment

? ? ? ? ? to let me know.? Separate comment, OK?

These are your first two entries in the prize giveaways, so be sure to do this!
And if you are not sure that your email addy will show up, include it in your comment --- I sure wouldn't want you to miss out on a prize!!
Of course, we are hoping for lots of entries and lots of comments, so please bear with me . . . I might not get to answer all of them. (Kinda hard to get these froggy toes to work the keyboard, ya know!)?


When the linky party is closed, you'll be able to earn one more entry by visiting ALL of the contestants, and leaving them comment love. At that point you can leave a comment telling me that you did that.? (I'm a smart frog -- don't leave a comment saying you've visited all of them, before the linky party is even closed, OK? Heehee!)

Make sure that you leave comment "love" for the contestant, alright? No meanie comments in this linky party! (Grin)

Also, when the voting begins, you can leave your comment for that -- but we'll post details on that next week, OK?


Now, I think we have covered everything, but if you have a question, just holler! Ribbit!


Let's party!! (Linky party, that is!)

Source: http://lilypadquilting.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-2012-pets-on-quilts-show-is-here.html

indy 500 angelina jolie leg daytona jeff gordon artie lange nascar daytona 2012 kasey kahne