Simple Travel Advice To Make Life Easier

Whether you are traveling by boat, train, plane or car, there are lots of things to think about when you are taking a trip. Get out your notepad and get ready to write these tips down, because we're about to tell you how you can take a great trip without the headaches.

Be flexible with your travel schedule. There is a lot of money that can be saved by you leaving a couple days earlier or by using a different airport when you leave. Search out the cheapest options and make them a part of your trip so that you can both enjoy going and coming back from a trip with some money leftover.

Preparing a road trip entertainment kit for children can help make sure your family vacation is a dream instead of a nightmare. There is no better way to see the country than a road trip. However, it is essential that your children stay entertained in order to combat the boredom of a long car ride. Pack travel versions of popular games, cards, and older children may enjoy a journal in which to document their experiences.

When embarking on an airplane journey with babies or toddlers, consider choosing flight times that correspond with their normal nap times. Though they may be fussy while adjusting to the new sleeping environment, their body will naturally be needing sleep at that time and the motion of flight will eventually contribute to them falling asleep. This will lessen the stress of keeping them entertained in a cramped airplane cabin.

When you arrive in a new hotel room, let the hot water run in the shower for a little while. Even the nicest of hotels can be somewhat dirty. Letting the hot water run will help kill spores that the regular cleaning might have missed. You aren't paying for the water bill in the room anyway.

If your flight is long and includes a meal, then be sure to ask for a kosher meal, because you will most likely be served first. Although you might get glances from your neighbors, you won't have to wait for the entire plane to be served to start enjoying your food.

To make sure you have room for souvenirs you purchase on a trip, pack an empty duffle bag. The duffle bag can be folded up and stored with the rest of your items. When you're ready to leave, open up the duffle bag and use it to carry home everything you bought on your trip.

Jet lag is a common side effect of traveling across time zones. There is no way to completely avoid it. But, if you keep yourself hydrated, it may help, since some of jet lag's side effects are related to being dehydrated. If you will avoid alcohol, tea, coffee and caffeinated beverages and drink a lot of water during your flight, that should help.

A traveler should try to learn some of the language spoken at his or her destination if there is sufficient time to do so. Fluency in any language is difficult to achieve, but any dedicated traveler can get familiar with some useful phrases. Learning a bit of the lingo will enhance the traveler's experience or even prove helpful in case of unexpected difficulties.

Don't be afraid to eat outside while traveling on vacation. Grab a sheet from the hotel; you can use it as a picnic blanket or a table cloth. Pick a location that you have been wanting to visit and get take-out from a local restaurant. Enjoy having a leisurely lunch or dinner in a beautiful place with your family.

When traveling by car in the winter, it is best to pack a safety kit. Make sure you have the essentials for a safe road trip. You should have a cell phone and charger, tow rope, jumper cables, ice scraper, first aid kit, sand or cat litter, which can be used to help with traction, flashlights, matches, blankets, emergency candles and a portable radio, in your safety kit.

If you would like a quiet flight, try to sit as close to the front of the plane as you can. This is wear the noise is not so loud. Avoid the restroom and galley areas, as this is where the most noise tends to be. If you desire leg room, the seats in front of emergency exits are the best.

Hopefully you have now made yourself and checklist or to-do list about traveling. The advice set forth here should serve you well in the future as you travel whether it be for business or for pleasure. Taking a trip should be fun and exciting and now it can be with this information.

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Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/simple-travel-advice-to-make-life-easier-309983

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The New Energy Future in Sierra Leone

Sierra Express Media - Sunday 30th December, 2012

The most daunting and critical challenges our nation faces today is the energy sector, which is the engine of economic growth for any modern society. The government of President Koroma, almost five ...

As guard-killer suspect still at large ? relatives escape death many eyemarked

Sierra Express Media - Sunday 30th December, 2012

Residents of the Freetown municipality were awakened by the euphoria last week when the still desperate and uncompromising relatives of the deceased guard in the August 2012 murder incident in which ...

President Koroma?s war on illegal street trading starts on 1 January 2013

Sierra Leone Telegraph - Saturday 29th December, 2012

If the latest press statement from State House Communications Unitreleased today is anything to go by, then the people of Freetown and tourists alike are in for a New Year's treat. The ...

Message from PV Management

Patriotic Vanguard - Saturday 29th December, 2012

Dear Readers, Compatriots and Friends, PV is taking a short break to energize ourselves for the upcoming new year (2013). We shall be back January 7, 2013. Meanwhile, enjoy yourselves, you deserve ...

Pepe Kalles Mama Leki Ndaya for Presidnet Ernest Koroma

Patriotic Vanguard - Saturday 29th December, 2012

This week?s Musician of the Week is again the great Congolese musician Pepe Kalle, also known as The Elephant. The clip we have selected is specially dedicated to President Ernest Koroma of ...

British National Awarded MBE for Outstanding Work in Sierra Leone

Patriotic Vanguard - Saturday 29th December, 2012

Miriam Mason ?Sesay, the Country Director of EducAid Sierra Leone and a UK national has been awarded an MBE for her exceptional services to education and to charitable work in Sierra Leone ...

Public Notice on Waste Management and Disposal

Sierra Express Media - Saturday 29th December, 2012

Following the re-election of His Excellency the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, specific issues have been identified as a national concern that need to be addressed immediately. These issues ...

Provided Youths are Prepared

Sierra Express Media - Saturday 29th December, 2012

His Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma has pronounced his commitment to provide job opportunities for youths. This commitment stood prominently in his recent ...

EducAid Sierra Leone Director ? awarded by Queen Elizabeth

Sierra Leone Telegraph - Saturday 29th December, 2012

Miriam Mason-Sesay, the Country Director of EducAid Sierra Leone and a UK national, has been awarded an MBE for her exceptional services to education and charitable work in Sierra Leone. For over a ...

Time for work and no time for politics ? part one

Sierra Express Media - Saturday 29th December, 2012

The popular nomination of Dr. Kelfala Mara as minister of financeis a vivid example.The resultsof good governanceof president Koroma?s first term in officeare showing with the country being ...

?We will do more in our Agenda for Prosperity?? President Koroma assures Local Councils

Sierra Express Media - Saturday 29th December, 2012

His Excellency Dr Ernest Bai Koroma has reiterated his commitment to continue to strengthen local councils all across the nation, irrespective of which political party controls them. He made this ...

Alim Kamara ? ?Reciting Live? Hip-hop event

Sierra Express Media - Saturday 29th December, 2012

On the night you canexpect an array of tracks from an artist described as conscious, sincere and rivet. His style has been compared to the likes ofrapmoguls Common, Nas and Talib Kweli. ...

Source: http://www.sierraleonenews.net/index.php/sid/211669110/scat/8fcd2bb0346b8627

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Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 Hyun Black Edition Debuts in China

Car News, China ? By Earlsimx on December 30, 2012 at 8:24 am ? No Comments

Jeep has introduced the Grand Cherokee SRT8 Hyun Black Edition in China. This particular version is similar to the SRT-8 Vapor Edition meaning the only difference is in their names. Just like the name suggests, this Jeep comes in a piano black paint with a black grille, exhaust pipes and also the 20 inch five-spoke alloys are black with some alu not to mention the tinted bi-xenon headlights.

Under the hood, it features a 6.4 liter HEMI V8 engine that develops 461bhp and 624Nm of torque. It goes from naught to 60mph in 4.8 seconds all the way to attain a top speed of 160mph. The Grand Cherokee SRT8 Hyun Black Edition is priced at 1.19 million yuan or an equivalent of $ 190,000.

[Via Autohome]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GTspirit/~3/PMgLBRmMo74/

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Video: William and Kate spend holiday with the Middletons

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50296158/

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Time to Invest in Low Volatility ETFs? - Zacks.com

With 2012 nearing its end, investors are becoming very concerned about the fiscal cliff. ETFs of almost all segments of the market are witnessing modest sell-offs as investors remain concerned about the consequences of going over the ledge, pushing many to steer clear of risky investments and settle for safer havens instead.

If President Obama and Congress fail to work out a plan to prevent the country from falling off the dreaded fiscal cliff, which seems very likely at this point, then the U.S. economy may slip into yet another recession.

With markets expected to be volatile due to this uncertainty, investors who want to stay invested should avoid high volatile products and instead shift their asset base to low volatile products. These products have proved their effectiveness when markets tend to be facing a wall of worry (4 Low-Volatility ETFs to Hedge Your Portfolio).

Investors who invest in low volatility products at times of an uncertain market can make profits above their higher volatility peers. Low volatility ETFs tend to diminish risk and generate decent returns for investors, while higher beta stocks face more severe losses.

However, when markets tend to be bullish, investors generally opt for high beta stocks to attain above-average gains. At this time, high beta stocks beat the low volatility stocks which tend to underperform.

Low volatility ETFs generally include those stocks in their portfolio which have shown more stability in the past and have experienced the least in movement. In 2012, when markets stayed uncertain, low volatility ETFs managed to collect more than $3 billion. (Three Low Volatility ETFs for Stormy Markets).

Markets may turn out to be weak heading into 2013 and investing in a low volatility stock may prove to be a safe bet for investors. But instead of investing in a single low volatility stock, one can put in their money in multiple stocks wrapped in an ETF for even lower risk exposure.

For these investors, we have highlighted a handful of the low volatility ETF options that are currently available and which could provide great exposure to investors in this rocky market environment:

PowerShares S&P 500 Low Volatility (SPLV)

SPLV tracks the S&P 500 Low Volatility Index. The index is comprised of 100 stocks from the S&P 500 Index with the lowest realized volatility over the past 12 months (Four Easy Ways to Play Beta and Volatility with ETFs).

SPLV seems to be very popular among investors. Since its launch in May, the fund could manage to amass an asset base of nearly $3 billion. The fund invests its asset base in a basket of 100 stocks which exhibit low volatility.

The fund is not biased in its individual holdings, however, among sectors the fund is highly dependent on the performance of consumer staples and utility with total allocation of more than 55% in these two sectors. The fund charges a fee of 25 basis points annually and has returned 6.1% over a period of one year.

iShares MSCI USA Min Volatility (USMV)

Another fund which was launched in 2011 is iShares MSCI USA Min Volatility (USMV). Since its inception the fund garnered an asset base of $0.7 billion. This fund provides exposure to a larger basket of stocks than SPLV and is home to 125 securities in total.

Unlike SPLV, the fund?s exposure is not limited to consumer staples and utilities. Instead the fund assigns double-digit allocations to health care, consumer staples, financials and information technology sectors.

The fund also has an edge in expenses charging a fee of just 15 basis points annually while generating a 30-day SEC yield of 2.65% in the process. The fund delivered a return of 8.0% since inception (Inside the Two ETFs up More Than 140 YTD).

iShares MSCI All Country World Minimum Volatility Index Fund (ACWV)

ACWV shares its launch date with USMV with the difference that its exposure is not limited to U.S. equities but spread across world market, low volatility equities. Since its inception the fund could manage to build an asset base of $651.1 million and provides exposure to 278 low volatility stocks (Leveraged ETFs and Volatility: A Powerful Mix).

Although the ETF has been designed to provide exposure to low volatility stocks of many countries, the U.S. accounts for 50.6% of the asset base. Apart from this, Japan is the only country with a double-digit allocation.

Financials, consumer staples, health care and consumer discretionary get a double-digit allocation in the fund. The fund charges a fee of 35 basis points while delivering a return of 8.1% over the past year.

iShares MSCI Emerging Market Minimum Volatility Index (EEMV)

EEMV is the most popular ETF in the emerging market space providing exposure to low volatility stocks. Investors can tap the growth of the emerging markets by investing in a portfolio of 211 low volatility stocks.

EEMV manages an asset base of $787.2 million and charges a fee of 25 basis points annually, comparable to SPLV which is considered king of low volatility ETFs in the domestic space.

Among sector exposures, financials which is regarded as the most volatile sector in the developing markets is the top priority of the fund with an allocation of 26.3%. Apart from this, the fund has double-digit allocations in consumer staples and consumer discretionary.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>

Source: http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/89281/time-to-invest-in-low-volatility-etfs

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Injured coral have less 'sex'

No one thinks damaging coral is sexy, but researchers from the University at Buffalo just made it official. Turns out, coral sex is dampened after injury from storms and human activity.

Their study shows that while coral adapts to injury events by initially growing back rapidly, reproduction rates are suppressed up to four years after initial injury. This is particularly alarming since size, rather than age, dictates coral's health and maturity, explained study leader Howard Lasker.

1. Science news from NBCNews.com

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   2. Updated 118 minutes ago 12/26/2012 7:16:27 PM +00:00 How climate shifts sparked human evolution
   3. Injured coral have less 'sex'
   4. 23 scientists and innovators win medals

Many coral have asexual and sexual reproduction, the latter usually a wild sex party of sorts, where corals release sperm and eggs into the water at a precise time. Those sex gametes hook up with each other, from different individuals, to produce free-floating larvae called planulae.

Lasker and his team studied coral colonies in the Bahamas that were being harvested for use in skin care products. They found that even years after harvest spermaries (coral sperm colonies) and polyps, where coral stores eggs, were underproducing.

"On the science side of it, this really raises the question, 'Well, what's going on?'" Lasker told LiveScience. "This is a healthy-looking colony, those wounds [from harvesting] are long, long healed, so what's different about it? And that's something we're still puzzling over."

Christopher Page, Lasker's co-author and now a staff biologist at Mote Marine Laboratory, believes that in the face of a changing environment coral's ability to reallocate resources after injury events shows promising adaptability.

[ Colorful Creations: Incredible Photos of Coral ]

"Coral are more adaptable than we may have thought in the beginning, but that doesn't mean they'll persist despite changes," Page told LiveScience.

When energy is given to one resource ? in this case, quick regrowth after injury ? it's taken from another, Page explains. This leaves more persistent effects than were previously suspected ? in this case, long-term, slowed reproduction.

The findings have implications for future coral health. While researchers had previously thought coral rebounded heartily after injury events, such as those incurred from hurricanes and other storms as well as human activity such as boating, this study reveals that populations cannot rebuild as quickly as hoped. But the most effective way to protect coral continues to be the cessation of injury events altogether.

"When there's damage, that damage has a longer-term effect than we may have initially envisioned, but the more significant factor is that initial damage," said Lasker. Coral is a particularly sensitive creature, affected by a host of climate change-related events from increased water temperature to more frequent and severe storms. And now, research reveals that it is difficult to predict how these marine animals will react to injury, since changing variables will determine their health and growth.

To conserve and protect coral, explained Page, we must both avoid their continued injury, and examine our restoration approaches to consider long-term effects of damage as well as the significant adaptability of these organisms. If a multifaceted and focused approach to management is taken, coral, threatened worldwide, may just be able to revamp its sex life.

Many corals are hermaphroditic broadcast spawners, meaning they release packets of sperm and eggs into the water.

Warming waters signal the coral that it's time to start producing sex cells, then a precise combination of daylight and moonlight trigger the sudden, simultaneous release of eggs and sperm.

Follow LiveScience on Twitter @livescience. We're also on Facebook & Google+.

? 2012 LiveScience.com. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50297763/ns/technology_and_science-science/

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Scientists unravel secret of Rudolph's red nose

Dreaming of a white Christmas such as the one in this image? You may have to keep on dreaming. Statistics on snow cover from 14 major U.S. cities between 1960 and 2000 show the overall trend on the decline.

In the 1990s, these cities saw 47 white Christmases ? which translates to an inch or more of snow on the ground. During the 1960s, by comparison, the 14 major cities saw 72 snowy Christmases, according to Dale Kaiser, a meteorologist at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory who compiled the data. And between 2000 and 2008, only three of the cities on the list ? Detroit, Chicago and Boston ? showed an uptick in their downward trends.

While statistics from one day of the year are an imperfect gauge of a seasonal climate, Kaiser notes the decline in white Christmases hints at a trend of less snowy winters seen in many parts of the country. Click the "Next" button for nine more gifts of science for Christmas.

? By John Roach, msnbc.com contributor

Virgin birth not unique to Mary

Christmas, traditionally, is a giant birthday bash for Jesus Christ, who was said to be born to the Virgin Mary. The event is considered miraculous: Human biology requires sex for reproduction. But via a process known as parthenogenesis, eggs become embryos without male fertilization. It has been found to occur in about 70 species. Recent additions to the list include komodo dragons, the world's largest lizard; and an Atlantic blacktip shark, shown here.

The science behind the 'Star of Bethlehem'

Some biblical wise men figured that a rare celestial spectacle a little more than 2,000 years ago heralded the arrival of a king, and followed it to where he and his mother lay. But what was this "Star of Bethlehem"?

Astronomers have puzzled over the mystery for years. One idea holds the "star" was actually a rare alignment of planets, several of which occurred between 3 B.C. and 2 B.C. ? dates that some scholars think could correspond with the historical birth of Jesus. One such sequence involves the planet Jupiter, seen here, flitting back and forth across the star Regulus in Leo and then approaching Venus so that the two appeared as one.

Frankincense, tapped out

Balthasar, the wise man on the right in this nativity scene, brought the baby Jesus a gift of frankincense, according to the New Testament.

While the fragrant resin may have been abundant in biblical times, today the trees that produce it on the Arabian Peninsula and in the Horn of Africa are about tapped out, according to scientists. Tapped trees, the researchers found, produce fewer and less productive seeds than those left alone for at least four years. And since standing trees are also being cleared for farmland and munched by goats, those that remain standing are under duress. The researchers call for less intensive tapping to keep production sustainable.

Mistletoe: A kiss of death?

Suspended sprigs of mistletoe have kindled and rekindled many a holiday romance over the years, but the parasitic plant can be the kiss of death for trees.

Most mistletoe species make their own nutrients via photosynthesis, but grow on trees where they suck out water and minerals essential to their hosts' long-term survival. And once infected, a tree is stuck with mistletoe until death. The plant itself is spread by birds, which eat the seeds and poop them out on other tree limbs.

A shot of holiday brandy is healthy?

Add a shot of holiday brandy to the list of supposedly sinful consumables that give a healthy kick ? in moderation, of course. As studies on red wine, dark chocolate and coffee have previously shown, recent research on brandy found that a shot glass full of the distilled fermented fruit juice contains as much antioxidant potential as the daily recommended intake of vitamin C. The antioxidants, which are chemical compounds that help protect body cells form free radicals, come mainly from copper during the distilling process, according to researchers at Monash University in Australia. Team leader Gordon Troup, a physicist, is shown here holding a glass of the amber liquid.

How science built a 'better' Christmas tree

While Charlie Brown's scraggly Christmas tree had an undeniable charm, most shoppers in the spirit for a natural tree want something that sheds few needles, requires little trimming and is full of hardy branches on which to hang ornaments. Scientists have spent decades doing their best to appease the market. They've selectively bred trees with all the traits desired by those gathered around the hearth as well as things such as disease resistance and fast growth that cheer up accountants focused on the bottom line. The man in this photo is walking among scientifically improved trees on his farm in Maine.

How to track Santa

Around this time of year, millions of children around the world giddily anticipate the arrival of a jolly red-suited man, his reindeer and a sleigh spilling over with gifts. As they wait, they can track Santa's progress as he and his merry crew race around the globe on NORADSanta.org, a Web site maintained by the North American Aerospace Defense Command. While there, visitors can also watch preview videos, play games and listen to holiday music. One page even explains that Santa must function within his own "time-space continuum" in order to complete his deliveries, which could open the door to parent-child conversations about science. This image shows volunteers at Santa tracking HQ answering e-mails and phone calls from interested kids on Christmas Eve.

Falling apart over jigsaw puzzles?

A popular post-presents pastime is the jigsaw puzzle, but what seems like a nice way to keep the holiday spirit together often fragments the peace. Why? Because, according to researchers at the University of Bath, different people approach the puzzle with conflicting strategies. For example, some puzzlers are border-obsessive while others scour the table for matches to a component of the picture on the lid. And those with different strategies tend to compete with each other: hiding sections, hoarding piles of pieces and even pocketing jigsaw pieces all in bid to "win" by placing the final puzzle piece.

The findings are part of a larger program to understand successful collaboration and develop software that will help people collaborate more effectively.

Christmas is for the birds

Every year around the holidays, thousands of people across the Americas step outside armed with binoculars and checklists. The volunteers in this army dutifully count the number and types of birds they see. The results of the annual Christmas Bird Count contribute to what scientists consider one of the best databases available on the distribution and population of many species of birds. It has helped scientists show, for example, that the population of the northern pintail duck, shown here, has dropped 77 percent since 1967.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50290451/ns/technology_and_science-science/

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Authorities: Storm blamed for man's death in Texas

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? Freezing rain and sleet made for a sloppy Christmas morning trek in parts of the nation's midsection on Tuesday, while residents along the Gulf Coast braced for thunderstorms, high winds and tornadoes.

Winds toppled a tree onto a pickup truck in the Houston area, killing the driver. Icy roads already were blamed for a 21-vehicle pileup in Oklahoma, where authorities warned would-be travelers to stay home. Fog blanketed highways, including arteries in the Atlanta area where motorists slowed as a precaution. In New Mexico, drivers across the eastern plains had to fight through snow, ice and low visibility.

At least two tornadoes were reported in Texas, though only one building was damaged, according to the National Weather Service. More than 180 flights nationwide were canceled by midday, according to the flight tracker FlightAware.com. More than half were canceled by American Airlines and its regional affiliate, American Eagle.

American is headquartered and has its biggest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Meanwhile, a blizzard watch was posted for parts of Indiana and western Kentucky for storms expected to unfold Tuesday amid predictions of up to 4 to 7 inches of snow in coming hours. Much of Oklahoma and Arkansas braced under a winter storm warning of an early mix of rain and sleet forecast to eventually turn to snow.

Some mountainous areas of Arkansas' Ozark Mountains could get up to 10 inches of snow, which would make travel "very hazardous or impossible" in the northern tier of the state from near whiteout conditions, the National Weather Service said.

Elsewhere, areas of east Texas and Louisiana braced for possible thunderstorms as forecasters eyed a developing storm front expected to spread across the Gulf Coast to the Florida Panhandle.

The holiday may conjure visions of snow and ice, but twisters this time of year are not unheard of. Ten storm systems in the last 50 years have spawned at least one Christmastime tornado with winds of 113 mph or more in the South, said Chris Vaccaro, a National Weather Service spokesman in Washington, via email.

The most lethal were the storms of Dec. 24-26, 1982, when 29 tornadoes in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi killed three people and injured 32; and those of Dec. 24-25, 1964, when two people were killed and about 30 people injured by 14 tornadoes in seven states.

Quarter-sized hail reported early Tuesday in western Louisiana was expected to be just the start of a severe weather threat on the Gulf Coast, said meteorologist Mike Efferson at the weather service office in Slidell, La. Tornado watches were in effect across southeastern Texas and southern Louisiana.

Storms along the Gulf Coast could bring winds up to 70 mph, heavy rain, more large hail and dangerous lightning in Louisiana and Mississippi, Efferson said. Furthermore, warm, moist air colliding with a cold front could produce dangerous straight-line winds.

The storm was moving quickly as it headed into northeast Louisiana and Mississippi into the late afternoon and early evening, said Bill Adams at the weather service's Shreveport, La., office.

In Mississippi, Gov. Phil Bryant urged residents to have a plan for any severe weather.

"It only takes a few minutes, and it will help everyone have a safe Christmas," Bryant said.

In Alabama, the director of the Emergency Management Agency, Art Faulkner, said he has briefed both local officials and Gov. Robert Bentley on plans for dealing with a possible outbreak of storms.

No day is good for severe weather, but Faulkner said Christmas adds extra challenges because people are visiting unfamiliar areas and often thinking more of snow than possible twisters.

In California, after a brief reprieve across the northern half of the state on Monday, wet weather was expected to make another appearance on Christmas Day. Flooding and snarled holiday traffic were expected in Southern California.

___

AP Business Writer Daniel Wagner in Washington and Associated Press Writer Ramit Plushnick-Masti in Houston contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/authorities-storm-blamed-mans-death-texas-185028448.html

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RS, GTT to Ensure Safety on LNG Carriers in ... - LNG World News

?

RS considered the possibility of application of membrane cargo containment systems, developed by GTT, on Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (LNG carriers) in the ice conditions of Russian Arctic.

As a result of joint research, it was concluded that the membrane cargo containment system can be used on LNG carriers with ice category Arc7, including ships with possibility of moving in stern-first mode.

An analysis of calculating method of the dynamic interaction between LNG carriers and iceberg was also done as part of collaborative research. It was concluded that the proposed method can be the basis for the adoption of technical solutions in the design of such gas carriers.

Currently, cooperation between RS and GTT extends to ensure the safety and efficiency of LNG carriers exploitation in freezing seas.

LNG World News Staff, December 25, 2012

Source: http://www.lngworldnews.com/rs-gtt-to-ensure-safety-on-lng-carriers-in-russian-arctic/

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LG's 2013 Google TVs can be controlled like Siri and?Wii

23 hrs.

Gary Merson , HD Guru

In 2012 LG began selling Google HDTV with just two models. For 2013 LG?s Google TV lineup updates and expands with two series (GA 7900 and GA 6400) consisting of seven models in five screen sizes.? Major new features include a second generation Magic Qwerty remote, the ability to voice search programs and a near borderless screen.

The GA 7900 series (pictured) includes 47 and 55-inch?edge lit LED LCD screen sizes. The Google graphic user interface?permits Internet browsing as well as access to movie services from Netflix and Amazon Instant, apps and premium TV video-on-demand such as HBO GO (provided you have the corresponding subscriptions).

The GUI can be navigated by voice, or tilting the LG Magic Remote control (like a Wii controller). The remote?s built-in microphone allows you?Siri-like control. Say ?go to ABC? and the LG Google TV will change channels. Or speak a search term like ?romantic comedy? and the LG Google TV will provide an on-screen list of programs available in that genre. In addition, LG?s PrimeTime Quick Guide permits browsing of more than 100,000 movies and Tv programs.

Other features in the include the ?Home Dashboard? which offers folders LG calls ?cards? to display apps and other content. For example, the ?My Interest? card can display customized weather and news information.

LG also includes the OnLive app preinstalled which turns the TV into a gaming platform without a separate console. This app offers hundreds of video games available instantly from the Internet cloud.

Have a question for the HD Guru? Send an?email.

More?from HD Guru:

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/lg-2013-google-tv-line-can-be-controlled-siri-wii-1C7657752

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Top Ten Book Promotion Activities | Writing and Publishing News

Would you like to know my 10 top book promotion recommendations? Here they are:

1: Start Promoting Your Book even Before it?s a Book
Build promotion into your book by involving other people, writing about popular issues, adding elements to attract more readers, etc.

Talk about your book everywhere you go and start building your huge mailing list.

2: Public Speaking
At local civic organizations
Through your affiliations (church, club, etc.)
At appropriate conferences

3: Build a Useful/Meaningful Website
Showcase you book
Install a buy button/merchant account
Offer resources related to your book topic

4: Connect With Your Audience
Use your massive mail/email list
Launch a newsletter
Start blogging regularly
Be guest blogger

5: Get Book Reviews
Solicit reviews in appropriate publications, at blogsites, at review sites and at your Amazon page.

6: Do Book Signings/Demonstrations/Performances
Arrange for signings at bookstores and other venues?be creative
Give demonstrations related to the theme/genre of your book
Perform?do poetry readings, act out a chapter in novel, etc.

7: Promote Through Social Media
Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, etc.

8: Write Articles and Submit Stories
Magazines, newsletters, websites

9: Hook-Up
Join related organizations and participate
Subscribe to numerous newsletters and read them.

10: Spy on Other Authors
Find out how they are promoting their books?
Where are they speaking?
Where are their articles appearing?

For details for pursuing each of these activities and more, be sure to order your copy of Promote Your Book today. It?s available at Amazon.com as well as most any other online and downtown bookstore. It?s also on Kindle, Nook, etc. To help you get over the fear or aversion to public speaking, read Talk Up Your Book. Or order both books here: http://www.matilijapress.com Both books by Patricia Fry

This entry was posted on Friday, December 21st, 2012 at 5:02 am and is filed under Book Promotion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog/?p=2443

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Margaret Thatcher in UK hospital after operation

FILE- Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, gestures to members of the media following her return home from hospital suffering from a broken arm, in central London, in this file photos dated Monday June 29, 2009. 87-year old Thatcher is recuperating at an unnamed hospital, Friday Dec. 21, 2012, after an operation to remove a bladder growth, which was "completely satisfactory", according to adviser Tim Bell, who did not give further details. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

FILE- Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, gestures to members of the media following her return home from hospital suffering from a broken arm, in central London, in this file photos dated Monday June 29, 2009. 87-year old Thatcher is recuperating at an unnamed hospital, Friday Dec. 21, 2012, after an operation to remove a bladder growth, which was "completely satisfactory", according to adviser Tim Bell, who did not give further details. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

LONDON (AP) ? Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is recuperating at a hospital after an operation to remove a bladder growth, a friend said Friday.

The 87-year-old Thatcher went to see her doctor after experiencing some discomfort and subsequently had the growth removed, according to longtime adviser Tim Bell.

The operation was "completely satisfactory," Bell said. He said he couldn't go into detail as to the nature of the growth and declined to name the hospital, saying he did not want it to be inundated with calls.

Thatcher, Britain's first female prime minister, has been in fragile health since she suffered a series of small strokes more than a decade ago. Although she has occasionally appeared at private functions, she has not made public statements for some time.

Thatcher was not well enough to join Britain's queen for a lunch with former and serving prime ministers earlier this year, and two years ago she missed an 85th birthday party thrown for her by Prime Minister David Cameron at his official residence at No. 10 Downing Street. But in October she was well enough to mark her birthday with a lunch out in London with her son Mark and his wife.

Thatcher's declining health was a focus of Oscar-winning biopic "The Iron Lady," which premiered last year.

Thatcher served as prime minister from May 1979 until her resignation in November 1990. She was the first leader to win three consecutive elections, dominating British politics throughout the 1980s.

She was a firm supporter of her American ideological peer, President Ronald Reagan, but is a divisive figure in Britain, where the fruits of her legacy are still debated.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-12-21-Britain-Thatcher/id-22f4f4639ab14009966e9c0b68dc72b2

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Girl Talk: Motherhood & The Tragedy At Sandy Hook Elementary

I am not a mother. This fact has kept me from expressing my heartbreak over the shootings in Sandy Hook. In the aftermath of this horrifying event, I?ve watched countless friends ? mothers, all of them ? post wrenching status updates on Facebook. I?ve read them, feeling oddly ashamed inside. These moms talked of compassion for those poor little children, of the need to step up to the plate as adults, of the fear they have for the future, of roiling anger toward the government, and of utter helplessness. They posted pictures of the beautiful young faces lost to this insane tragedy. They urged others to take a stand, and to hold their own children close.

The same thoughts streamed through my head. Tears welled in my eyes, too. I texted my siblings and begged them to hug and kiss their little ones for me.

But something was silencing the part of me that wanted to join these moms in their outrage. I felt it wasn?t my place. How could I know, after all, what kind of fear these parents were expressing? How could I possibly relate to their protective instincts? I am not a mother.

But I desperately want to be one. I?m 36 years old. My husband and I met 14 years ago, and our route to marriage was a circuitous one. Once we got to that state, though, just over two years ago, we could not wait to start a family. We had both been ready for a long time. We were practically crib shopping. The months went by, and nothing happened. We soon realized that we were not going to be instant parents, just because we wanted to be. It was ? and still is ? a tough pill to swallow. Our struggles with infertility have taken the usual tolls: stress, jealousy, fear, anxiety. Every month that passes with our dream unfulfilled, we try to keep a positive attitude as female friends? bellies grow and we slowly get ever so slightly older.

My husband has the beautiful ability to see our future, and it includes children and a happy home. I don?t have quite the same steady view. Sometimes I can?t picture our children at all. Those are the worst moments. And the scariest. But other days I can see them clearly. I see us going to the library, eating pancakes, and playing outside together. If I let myself, I can believe the truth, which is that I identify as a mom. My body is aching to carry a child, to nourish her and love her as she grows into who she is going to be. I dream of putting her in cozy outfits and tickling her tiny toes. I imagine reading Beatrix Potter to her and letting her turn the pages.

I want these dreams to come true with every fiber of my being, but I have to wait.

So in the meantime I sweep my nephews into my arms and cover their sweet heads with an endless supply of kisses. I pick up my nieces and hug them with arms that don?t want to let go. I marvel at their perfect skin and their effortless ability to live in the moment. I?m struck by their innocence, by the innocence of every child in this world. They are sacred, strong, and vulnerable.

The murders in Newtown, CT, shook me to my core. I wanted to tell someone, or everyone, that I was devastated and couldn?t bear to watch the news. But what do I know about what it feels like to have a child? What could I offer to parents who have lost theirs in such an epically horrific way?

I felt like I should just be quiet, and pray for the moms and dads who have been forced to walk that cruel and unnatural path.

I am not a mother. But I will be, someday, and I want to be part of this dialogue. How could we let something like this happen? What kind of world do we live in, when little children are the victims of senseless laws and overlooked illness? I want to help. And yet I feel helpless. I can?t hold a child of my own, and I can?t do anything to bring back those whose lives have been taken.

So I whisper to my baby who hasn?t arrived. I tell her she is important. She is beautiful just as she is. She is a good person, and she will always be loved. I tell her I?ll try to protect her. These are the only things a mother can do.

Source: http://www.thefrisky.com/2012-12-21/girl-talk-motherhood-the-tragedy-at-sandy-hook-elementary/

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Naples FL Real Estate Agents: John R. Wood Realtors Announces ...

To search for real estate in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero or Marco Island, Florida, click HERE.

John R. Wood Realtors ? The Symbol of Local Knowledge.

Don?t forget to Find Us on Facebook.

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John R. Wood Realtors welcomes Elise Herendeen to its Central Office as a Sales Associate. ?Herendeen holds an Associate?s Degree in Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology.? Prior to real estate, Herendeen worked in fashion design and retail in Miami.? In real estate since 2000, Herendeen is also a member of the Naples Area Board of REALTORS^? and the National Association of REALTORS^?.

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John R. Wood Realtors welcomes Alice Zaimes-Strong to its Central Office as a Sales Associate.?? Originally from Massachusetts, Zaimes-Strong holds an Associate?s Degree in Marketing from North Shore Community College and attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. Prior to real estate, Zaimes-Strong worked in Martial Arts Instruction.? She is also the recipient of the 2011 Rookie of the Year Awards and a member of the Million Dollar Club. She is a member of the Naples Chamber of Commerce, the Naples Area Board of REALTORS^? (NABOR) and the Marco Island Area Association of REALTORS^? (MIAAOR).

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John R. Wood Realtors welcomes Cathy Wright to its Bonita Springs Office as a Sales Associate. ?Previously from Richmond, VA, Wright holds an Associate?s Degree in Accounting from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. ?In real estate since 2005, Wright is a member of the Community Congregational Church and the Naples Area Board of REALTORS^? (NABOR).

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John R. Wood Realtors welcomes Matt Frese to its North Naples Office as a Sales Associate. ?Originally from Iowa, Frese attended Kirkwood Community College.? Prior to real estate, he worked in the convenience store operations industry. Frese is a member of the Naples Area Board of REALTORS^?, the Florida Association of REALTORS^? (FAR) and the National Association of REALTORS^? (NAR).

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John R. Wood Realtors welcomes Ruby Troiano to its North Naples Office as a Sales Associate.? Troiano holds an Associate?s Degree in Business Management from Trident College. Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Troiano has been in real estate since 2006 and is a member of the Naples Area Board of REALTORS^? (NABOR).

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To learn more about John R. Wood Realtors or to become an Agent, click HERE!

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Tags: become a realtor, Buying a Bonita Springs home, Buying a Naples home, Buying a Southwest Florida home, Buying an Estero home, FInd a realtor Bonita Springs, find a realtor estero fl, Find a Realtor in Naples Florida, how do I become a realtor, NABOR, Naples Florida, Naples Florida real estate, Naples real estate sales, Southwest Florida real estate sales

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 20th, 2012 at 3:32 pm and is filed under Become a realtor naples fl, Naples Florida Real Estate. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.johnrwood.com/blog/2012/12/naples-fl-real-estate-agents-john-r-wood-realtors-announces-new-personnel/

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NASA sees Cyclone Evan blown apart by wind shear

Public release date: 20-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rob Gutro
Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Cyclone Evan is no more than a remnant low pressure area in the South Pacific Ocean now. NOAA's GOES-15 satellite captured an image of the remnants from its fixed orbit in space on Dec. 20 that showed strong wind shear had basically blown the storm apart.

The last official bulletin by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center was issued on Dec. 19 at 2100 UTC (4 p.m. EST/U.S. or 12:56 a.m. Fiji local time on Dec. 20). At that time, Evan's maximum sustained winds were still near 35 knots (40 mph/64.8 kph) and it had transitioned into an extra-tropical storm. It was located 400 nautical miles south of Nadi, Fiji, near 24.3 south latitude and 178.5 east longitude. Evan was moving to the south-southeast at 4 knots (4.6 mph/7.4 kph). Evan has since become a remnant low pressure system.

NOAA's GOES-15 satellite captured an infrared image of Evan's remnants on Dec. 20 at 1500 UTC (10 a.m. EST) showed the remnants of former Tropical Cyclone Evan blown apart by very strong wind shear, northeast of New Zealand. The low pressure center appears northwest of the plume of clouds associated Evan's remnants. The image was created by NASA's GOES Project, located at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Northwesterly wind shear continued to be very strong, blowing between 40 and 50 knots (46 and 57.5 mph/74 and 92.6 kph) and cooler ocean waters were weakening Evan quickly.

Evan has now gone into the history books as one of the strongest cyclones to hit Fiji and American Samoa in recent memory.

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

Public release date: 20-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rob Gutro
Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Cyclone Evan is no more than a remnant low pressure area in the South Pacific Ocean now. NOAA's GOES-15 satellite captured an image of the remnants from its fixed orbit in space on Dec. 20 that showed strong wind shear had basically blown the storm apart.

The last official bulletin by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center was issued on Dec. 19 at 2100 UTC (4 p.m. EST/U.S. or 12:56 a.m. Fiji local time on Dec. 20). At that time, Evan's maximum sustained winds were still near 35 knots (40 mph/64.8 kph) and it had transitioned into an extra-tropical storm. It was located 400 nautical miles south of Nadi, Fiji, near 24.3 south latitude and 178.5 east longitude. Evan was moving to the south-southeast at 4 knots (4.6 mph/7.4 kph). Evan has since become a remnant low pressure system.

NOAA's GOES-15 satellite captured an infrared image of Evan's remnants on Dec. 20 at 1500 UTC (10 a.m. EST) showed the remnants of former Tropical Cyclone Evan blown apart by very strong wind shear, northeast of New Zealand. The low pressure center appears northwest of the plume of clouds associated Evan's remnants. The image was created by NASA's GOES Project, located at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Northwesterly wind shear continued to be very strong, blowing between 40 and 50 knots (46 and 57.5 mph/74 and 92.6 kph) and cooler ocean waters were weakening Evan quickly.

Evan has now gone into the history books as one of the strongest cyclones to hit Fiji and American Samoa in recent memory.

###

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[ | 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/2012-12/nsfc-nsc122012.php

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Early Language Skills Help Kids Manage Anger

The ability to use words as a toddler may affect the way a child manages anger later in life, a new study suggests.

Children with good language skills at age 2 expressed less anger during frustrating situations at age 4 than did those 4-year-olds with less advanced language skills, according to the study's findings.

Children whose language skills developed quickly also expressed less anger at age 4.

While previous research suggested a link between language skills and the expression of anger in young children, few studies had followed children over time. [See Kids' Tantrums As Disorder Concern Doctors.]

The new study followed 120 children from 18 months old until they were 4. Children periodically underwent tests that assessed their language skills and their ability to cope with frustrating tasks. One task asked children to wait for eight minutes before opening a present while their mother finished work.

Two aspects of language appeared to help children rein in their anger. First, more-developed language skills allowed kids to ask for support from their parents during a frustrating situation ?(for instance, asking the mother whether she was finished with her work). Children also used language to occupy or distract themselves from becoming angry. (One child dealt with the waiting task by counting for a full minute.)

"Better language skills may help children verbalize rather than use emotions to convey needs and use their imaginations to occupy themselves while enduring a frustrating wait," said study researcher Pamela Cole, a professor of psychology at Pennsylvania State University..

The study appears today (Dec. 20) in the journal Child Development.

Pass it on:Toddlers with good language skills are better able to manage anger when they enter preschool.

Follow Rachael Rettner on Twitter @RachaelRettner, or MyHealthNewsDaily @MyHealth_MHND. We're also on Facebook & Google+.

Copyright 2012 MyHealthNewsDaily, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/early-language-skills-help-kids-manage-anger-142900433.html

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An Important Element In VoIP Communication Is The VoIP Sip ...

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By Brooke D. Connelly

Some individuals are not aware that you must also have the VoIP SIP phone in order for the VoIP system to work the best and function properly, which is all part of the latest technology to provide the communications needs for your business. In an effort to make it simpler to understand we will explore a little more closely at the operation of this technology. Session Initiation Protocol is the meaning of the term SIP that is necessary to use this technology.

This is a kind of signaling protocol executed by VoIP technology to establish communications within the Internet Protocol network for two parties. Voice, video, streaming multimedia, online gaming and instant messaging all require this as a mandatory part of any type of communication. Communications sessions and the features that can be compared to traditional phone operations like dialing a number, causing a phone to ring, hearing a ring tone or busy signal and even ending a call are all actually controlled by the SIP hosting. Hopefully that comparison makes it a little bit simpler to comprehend. This technology may seem quite simple, however the technology and characteristics are actually quite detailed and extremely powerful.

In order to use a VoIP communication system the users need a way to easily find the other party and allow the communication session to take place. TheSIP phone permits this process to take place and it is also capable of establishing communications with more than two participants.

The benefits that are elements of your VoIP service or VoIP cloud service should include the SIP provider which works with your high speed Internet connection as part of the platform for the services that you obtain. You can take advantage of the latest technology to move your business to the next level using the many features and benefits available for your business communications. There are many functions included such as conference calling, call management, voice mail, anonymous call rejection, blacklist, history for all calls, do not disturb and address books along with many more additional features that can help project a more professional image for your business.

Affordable communications options are accessible to serve small businesses as well as entrepreneurs with services to help them succeed in a competitive market. This type of service is especially appealing because of the wide selection of options and calling plans to save you money and fit your budget combined with the ease of use to manage and control all your communications needs. These unique and affordable solutions that are available to help your business should be used to your advantage.

You can discover more about one company that is the nation?s premier SIP provider at Crexendo SIP phone and try also to read this helpful link.

Source: http://ninjaseomethods.com/an-important-element-in-voip-communication-is-the-voip-sip-phone-to-make-sure-that-it-works-properly/

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Wade, James carry Heat past Timberwolves, 103-92

MIAMI (AP) ? The Miami Heat were outrebounded by 28, matching the second-largest margin in team history. They finished with only 24 boards, matching the second-lowest total in any game over the franchise's quarter-century of existence.

Somehow, none of that mattered.

Dwyane Wade scored 24 points, LeBron James added 22 points and 11 assists and the Heat survived a strangely one-sided night on the glass to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 103-92 on Tuesday night ? becoming the first team since 1994 to be outrebounded by such a wide margin and still win, according to STATS LLC.

"I don't know how many times I've seen that, where you get doubled up on the rebounding and still escape with the win," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "That's a tough team. They're unique. Relentless on the glass. There's not many teams like them."

The final rebounding margin: Minnesota 52, Miami 24.

Chris Bosh scored 15 points and Mario Chalmers added 12 for the Heat, who gave up 21 of the game's first 24 rebounds.

Andrei Kirilenko scored 22 for Minnesota, which played without guard Ricky Rubio, who's being eased back after recovering from knee surgery. The Timberwolves dropped their second straight. Kevin Love finished with 11 points and 18 rebounds, and Nikola Pekovic had a 18-point, 12-rebound effort for the Timberwolves.

"We were pretty active. What we take away from it is we've got to be more physical," Love said. "I'm not saying we're soft but we definitely need to be more physical. And we are in stretches."

James topped the 20-point mark for the 27th straight regular-season game and 43rd straight overall.

"We're getting better every night," James said.

A 24-9 run in the second half was the deciding blow for Miami, with James leading the way, getting 11 of those points and assisting on three other scores during the spurt. James had a pair of 3-pointers during the run, including one that put Miami up by 10 late in the third, and then he capped it with a three-point play after connecting on a running jumper with 10:26 left.

In eight minutes, what was a 63-62 deficit became an 86-72 Miami lead.

And when James took an alley-oop from Ray Allen for a dunk in transition with 7:36 left, the lead was 16 ? then Miami's largest ? and the reigning NBA MVP's streak of 20-point games was extended as well. On the next Miami possession, James found Shane Battier for a 3-pointer along the left wing. The lead was 97-78 with 7:09 left, and James walked back to the Heat bench pumping his right fist with satisfied emphasis.

"That's an unbelievable rebounding team," Wade said. "We made up for it with our energy."

That, and 14 blocks, tied for fourth-most in Heat history. Miami blocked 15 shots on three other occasions.

Wade ? generously listed at 6-foot-4 ? blocked a two-handed dunk try by the 6-10 Love at the rim to spark one second-quarter burst, and also registered a block against the 6-11 Pekovic later in the period.

Wade had a pair of spectacular plays at the rim in the second as well, and he set Chalmers up for a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in the half to send Miami into the break with a 52-49 edge.

It was the fifth straight time the Heat have beaten the Timberwolves. The last time Minnesota beat Miami was Feb. 23, 2010 ? not all that long ago in real time but eons ago in Heat time, considering none of the five players in the starting lineup for that loss were even on last season's championship team, much less on the current roster.

Luke Ridnour scored 13 and JJ Barea added 10 for Minnesota.

"I like the way our guys battled," Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman said. "We just have to respond."

Minnesota's frontcourt of Kirilenko, Love and Pekovic knew it had a size advantage, but what it managed on the glass in the early going was ridiculous. Minnesota's rebounding edge was 13-2 after nine minutes ? Love already had seven ? and 18-3 after the first quarter.

The Timberwolves had 17 second-chance points in the first quarter alone, after coming into the night averaging 15 per game all season.

NOTES: Miami plays at Dallas on Thursday, which would be just the second road game for the Heat since Nov. 17. It's only a one-game trip, with the Heat back home to face Utah on Saturday and then host Oklahoma City in an NBA Finals rematch on Christmas Day. ... Adelman said before the game that there's no need to rush Rubio back into the lineup, and also lauded Spoelstra ? who he's known for years. ... Love had 10 rebounds by the midpoint of the second quarter. No Heat player finished with more than seven rebounds. ... Pekovic had nine offensive boards. Miami, as a team, had six.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wade-james-carry-heat-past-timberwolves-103-92-041404542--spt.html

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David Pakman, Westboro Baptist Church Spar Over Picketing Of School Shooting Funerals (VIDEO)

Radio and television host David Pakman offered the Westboro Baptist Church 30 uninterrupted minutes of air time on his program if the controversial group agreed to call off picketing the funerals of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings.

In a segment on Pakman's program, The David Pakman Show, that was published to YouTube Dec. 17, Margie Phelps-Roper, a spokesperson for the WBC, said that the group planned to picket the funerals of the children that died in the shooting.

"Wherever we can put these signs up, including those funerals, is what we'll do," Phelps-Roper said in the segment, referring to the signs with anti-gay slogans that the WBC is known for displaying at the funerals of U.S. soldiers and people with AIDS.

The group had also threatened to picket a vigil for the victims of the shooting on Sunday.

Watch the full video of the segment here.

The host offered airtime in exchange for dropping the pickets, telling Phelps-Roper that his "goal is to keep you and your signs away from the funerals of these kids in Connecticut."

Phelps-Roper would not respond to Pakman's offer other than to say that she would "float the proposal."

Pakman noted that he might regret his offer in the long run, and that his viewers might not agree with the compromise. The host said that he'd contacted the Westboro Baptist Church's public relations person and that the group was considering his proposal.

The controversial, quasi-religious group, which is known for its anti-gay politics, is currently the subject of two separate petitions on the White House's website. One demands an IRS investigation of the WBC, and another seeks to have it legally recognized as a hate group, thus stripping it of its tax-exempt status.

The Westboro Baptist Church is also currently the focus of a campaign by hacktivist group Anonymous, which hijacked Phelps-Roper's Twitter account, took down its website and posted personal data of WBC members on the Internet.

What do you think of David Pakman's offer? Let us know in the comments.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/18/david-pakman-westboro-baptist-church-spar-picketing-school-shooting-funerals_n_2317769.html

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Exploding star missing from formation of solar system

Dec. 16, 2012 ? A new study published by University of Chicago researchers challenges the notion that the force of an exploding star forced the formation of the solar system.

In this study, published online last month in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, authors Haolan Tang and Nicolas Dauphas found the radioactive isotope iron 60 -- the telltale sign of an exploding star -- low in abundance and well mixed in solar system material. As cosmochemists, they look for remnants of stellar explosions in meteorites to help determine the conditions under which the solar system formed.

Some remnants are radioactive isotopes: unstable, energetic atoms that decay over time. Scientists in the past decade have found high amounts of the radioactive isotope iron 60 in early solar system materials. "If you have iron 60 in high abundance in the solar system, that's a 'smoking gun' -- evidence for the presence of a supernova," said Dauphas, professor in geophysical sciences.

Iron 60 can only originate from a supernova, so scientists have tried to explain this apparent abundance by suggesting that a supernova occurred nearby, spreading the isotope through the explosion.

But Tang and Dauphas' results were different from previous work: They discovered that levels of iron 60 were uniform and low in early solar system material. They arrived at these conclusions by testing meteorite samples. To measure iron 60's abundance, they looked at the same materials that previous researchers had worked on, but used a different, more precise approach that yielded evidence of very low iron 60.

Previous methods kept the meteorite samples intact and did not remove impurities completely, which may have led to greater errors in measurement. Tang and Dauphas' approach, however, required that they "digest" their meteorite samples into solution before measurement, which allowed them to thoroughly remove the impurities.

This process ultimately produced results with much smaller errors. "Haolan has dedicated five years of very hard work to reach these conclusions, so we did not make those claims lightly. We've been extremely careful to reach a point where we're ready to go public on those measurements," Dauphas said.

To address whether iron 60 was widely distributed, Tang and Dauphas looked at another isotope of iron, iron 58. Supernovae produce both isotopes by the same processes, so they were able to trace the distribution of iron 60 by measuring the distribution of iron 58.

"The two isotopes act like inseparable twins: Once we knew where iron 58 was, we knew iron 60 couldn't be very far away," Dauphas explained.

They found little variation of iron 58 in their measurements of various meteorite samples, which confirmed their conclusion that iron 60 was uniformly distributed. To account for their unprecedented findings, Tang and Dauphas suggest that the low levels of iron 60 probably came from the long-term accumulation of iron 60 in the interstellar medium from the ashes of countless stars past, instead of a nearby cataclysmic event like a supernova.

If this is true, Dauphas said, there is then "no need to invoke any nearby star to make iron 60." However, it is more difficult to account for the high abundance of aluminum 26, which implies the presence of a nearby star.

Instead of explaining this abundance by supernova, Tang and Dauphas propose that a massive star (perhaps more than 20 times the mass of the sun) sheds its gaseous outer layers through winds, spreading aluminum 26 and contaminating the material that would eventually form the solar system, while iron 60 remained locked inside the massive star's interior. If the solar system formed from this material, this alternate scenario would account for the abundances of both isotopes.

"In the future, this study must be considered when people build their story about solar system origin and formation," Tang said.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Chicago. The original article was written by Chelsea Leu.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Haolan Tang, Nicolas Dauphas. Abundance, distribution, and origin of ⁶⁰Fe in the solar protoplanetary disk. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2012; 359-360: 248 DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2012.10.011

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/top_news/top_science/~3/plRwYZjQr60/121217091017.htm

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