Tuesday, April 30, 2013

'House of Cards,' Jerry Seinfeld top Webby Awards

NEW YORK (AP) ? Netflix's groundbreaking "House of Cards" may be the first digital series nominated for a best drama Emmy. But it will start with a Webby.

The Webby Awards are honoring "House of Cards" producers Kevin Spacey and Dana Brunetti with a Webby special achievement award. The political thriller, for which Netflix released all 13 episodes at once, proved that digital media can produce cable-quality drama. Netflix also won for best streaming media site.

The 17th annual Webbys, which celebrate Internet achievement, are to be officially announced Tuesday. Winners range from Justin Bieber (for the social media campaign for his fragrance launch) to The Onion (now with a record 19 total Webbys) to Nate Silver's Five Thirty-Eight blog for The New York Times.

Singled out for outstanding comedic performance is Jerry Seinfeld, whose 10-episode Web series "Comedian in Cars Getting Coffee" showcased the "Seinfeld" star hanging out with comedian friends.

Webby categories are split into a regular award, chosen by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, and a "people's choice" award. The Australian rail safety public service campaign Dumb Ways to Die, which went viral, is an unlikely awards leader with seven Webbys.

GIF file inventor Steve Wilhite also will be honored with a lifetime achievement award. While working at CompuServe in the 1980s, Wilhite created the compressed 8-bit GIF (or Graphics Interchange Format) that remains a popular tool for lo-fi viral sharing.

Another special achievement award will go to President Barack Obama's election campaign for its use of technology in last year's presidential election. Claire Boucher, the Canadian synth-pop singer who performs under the name Grimes, is the Webby's artist of the year.

Other winners include HBO Go (four awards, including best media streaming service), Lady Gaga (for best celebrity-fan social presence), Conan O'Brien (for best celebrity-fan website) and The New York Times (best news social presence). A complete list of the awards will be posted later Tuesday at: http://Winners.WebbyAwards.com.

The awards will be handed out in a ceremony May 22 hosted by Patton Oswalt. Acceptance speeches are famously limited to five words.

___

Online:

http://www.webbyawards.com/

___

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jake_coyle

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/house-cards-jerry-seinfeld-top-webby-awards-121221257.html

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Syrian TV: Bombing in Damascus kills 13 people

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) ? A powerful bomb rocked central Damascus on Tuesday, killing 13 people according to Syrian TV, and sowing fear and chaos in a busy commercial district of the capital for the second consecutive day.

The Syrian prime minister narrowly escaped an assassination attempt Monday after a car bomb struck near his convoy, a few kilometers (miles) away from Tuesday's blast.

The bombings appear to be part of an accelerated campaign by opposition forces seeking to topple President Bashar Assad to strike at his heavily protected seat of power.

"I heard a very loud bang and then the ceiling collapsed on top of me," said Zaher Nafeq, who owns a mobile phone shop in the Damascus Towers, a 28-floor office building. He was wounded in his hand and his mobile phone shop was badly damaged in the blast.

Syrian TV said Tuesday's explosion was caused by a "terrorist bombing" in the district of Marjeh, a commercial area in central Damascus. Assad's regime refers to opposition fighters as "terrorists."

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which the TV said also wounded 70 people. Car bombs and suicide attacks targeting the Damascus and other cities that remain under government control in the third year of the conflict have been claimed in the past by the al-Qaida affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra group, which is fighting in Syria alongside rebels trying to topple Assad.

Damascus residents said they heard a powerful explosion and saw thick, black smoke billowing from behind a group of buildings.

The target of the attack was not immediately clear, although the explosion took place outside the former Interior Ministry building that was also damaged in the blast.

Ambulances rushed to the scene and Syrian state TV aired footage of fire trucks in central Marjeh Square and firefighters trying to extinguish a blaze that engulfed several cars and buildings.

A man was seen lying on the ground in a pool of blood while another, apparently wounded, was seen being carried by civilians into a bus.

Inspecting the site of the bombing on Tuesday, Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar, who himself escaped a car bomb that targeted his convoy in December, told reporters the back-to-back attacks in the capital were in response to the "victories and achievements scored by the Syrian Arab Army on the ground against terrorism."

With the recent influx of more advanced weapons and other foreign aid, the rebels have made significant gains in the south, seizing military bases and towns in the strategically important region between Damascus and the border with Jordan, hoping to eventually storm the capital from the south.

In a government counter offensive that involved ground troops and air power, Assad's troops have reclaimed much of the strategic territory in the past weeks, fortifying the defenses of the capital.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 14 people were killed and 65 wounded in Tuesday's blast. The group, which relies on a network on activists based in Syria, often gives different casualty tolls from the figures released by the government. The discrepancy could not immediately be reconciled.

Local residents said they heard gunfire in the area of the attack immediately after the blast went off around 11:00 a.m., apparently meant to disperse people and open the way for ambulances. The residents spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals from authorities for speaking to reporters.

The explosion underlined the tenuous security in the Syrian capital, just a day after a remotely detonated improvised explosive devise struck Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi's convoy. The premier escaped the assassination attempt in the capital's western neighborhood of Mazzeh, and state TV said al-Haliqi was not hurt in the bombing.

But a government official said two people were killed and 11 wounded in the assassination attempt. The official spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give statements to reporters.

The Observatory said Monday's bombing killed at least five people, including two of al-Halqi's bodyguards and one of the drivers in his convoy.

The bombings laid bare the vulnerability of Assad's regime and highlighted an accelerating campaign targeting government officials, from mid-level civil servants to the highest echelons of the Syrian regime.

Syrian conflict began with largely peaceful anti-government protests in March 2011, but has since morphed into a civil war that has killed more than 70,000 people, according to the United Nations.

Also on Tuesday, Syrian troops battled opposition fighters near a military helicopter base in the northern province of Aleppo, killing 15 rebels in a single airstrike against their positions, according to Rami Abdul-Rahman, the Observatory's chief.

The rebels tried to storm the Mannagh base late Monday but the regime deployed fighter jets to the area, pounding rebel positions around the helicopter base, which is located near Syria's border with Turkey, said Rami Abdul-Rahman, the Observatory's chief.

Fighting was also raging Tuesday around other airports in the country, including the Damascus International Airport just south of the capital, Abdula-Rahman said.

In the north, rebels besieged military airport facilities, including Kweiras northeast of Aleppo city and the Nairab military base, adjacent to Aleppo's civilian airport, the country's second largest.

Activists in Syria, who are part of the Observatory's network of informants, also reported clashes around an air base in northern Idlib province and near air bases in the provincial capital of Dier el-Zour in the oil-rich province in Syria's east, along the border with Iraq.

The air power is Assad's greatest advantage in the civil war and the Syrian leader has exploited it to push back rebel advances and prevent the opposition from setting up a rival government in its northern stronghold.

In recent months, large parts of northern Syria near the border with Turkey have fallen to the rebels, including several neighborhoods of Aleppo.

But the rebels have repeatedly complained to their Western backers that their weapons are no match for Assad's airpower. They say they cannot effectively hold on to territory they capture as long as Assad's regime maintains control of the skies.

Earlier this month, a U.S. rights group accused the Syrian regime of committing war crimes with indiscriminate airstrikes that have killed more than 4,000 civilians since summer.

Human Rights Watch said Assad's air force has dropped "imprecise and inherently indiscriminate" munitions, including cluster bombs, on civilian areas, hitting hospitals, bakeries and residential buildings.

__

Associated Press Writers Barbara Surk and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-tv-bombing-damascus-kills-13-people-103723923.html

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NAIS Career Center: Business Management jobs, Abington jobs ...


Director of Finance and Operations ? Center School POSTED: Apr 29
Salary: Open Location: Abington, Pennsylvania
Employer: Center School Type: Full Time - Administration
Category: Business Management Required Education: 4 Year Degree

About Center School External/Pop Up Link

Founded in 1928, Valley Forge located in Wayne, Pennsylvania features an all male college-preparatory boarding school. Valley Forge provides students with an educational experience built on five cornerstones. A Valley Forge education is rooted in quality academic programs and supported by leadership responsibilities, character development, personal motivation, and strong athletic and extracurricular opportunities. Our mission is to educate cadets, within an academic and military environment to ... more info?External/Pop Up Link

View All Our Jobs


Director of Finance and Operations ? Center School

Center School, an independent day school for bright students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences, enrolls approximately 75 students in grades 1-8. The school offers a specialized program in reading while providing a strong foundation in all areas of the curriculum.? Believing in the worth of each child, the school nurtures intellect, individual strengths, self-confidence and independence.? Our goal is to return students to public or independent school classrooms with the skills and strategies to be successful.? Centerschoolpa.org.

The Director of Finance and Operations provides strategic leadership, analysis, and management of the school?s finances, establishing and implementing financial and capital strategies that ensure the long-term health of the school.

Reports to Head of School.

Liaison with Finance Committee and Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Board.? Separate and direct accountability to the Board of Trustees.

?

Responsibilities:

  • Create, administer, report, and monitor the school?s financial plan, operating and capital budgets, investment policies, funds management and other financial matters as needed to achieve the school?s mission.
  • Build and manage an effective and streamlined administrative/financial system.
  • All business office functions including budgeting and accounting, analysis, salary and payroll, contracts, student billing, human resource policies and training, benefit programs including medical and 403B administration.
  • Plan and execute risk management strategies, maintain appropriate corporate insurance policies, and interface with legal counsel.
  • Daily cash management.
  • Monitor and maintain a system of internal controls over school assets.
  • Direct and administer Financial Aid Program in coordination with the Head of School and the Admissions Director.
  • Coordinate all audit activities.? Prepare regular financial reports for the Board of Trustees.
  • Reporting in compliance with the State of Pennsylvania and other regulatory standards and requirements, as well as external legal activities of the school.
  • Manage the staff, operations, vendor and purchasing programs, projects, emergency planning and budgets of the facility, transportation, technology services and communications.?
  • Manage all rentals.
  • Interact with the community in ways that will support the outreach of the school and support its mission.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume and letters of reference to:

Sue Floyd, Chairman

Center School

2450 Hamilton Ave.

Abington, PA 19001

sfloyd@centerschoolpa.org


Qualifications:

  • BA/BS degree in related field. CPA preferred but not required.
  • Minimum of 5 years? experience in a financial management role.
  • Experience in financial analysis including budget to actual analysis.
  • Experience in managing financial processes and presenting financial information.
  • Proficiency in accounting software and a solid understanding of IT.
  • Demonstrates ability to confront difficult issues head-on in a professional manner, offer solutions, and ready to roll up their sleeves and contribute hands-on.
  • Identifies opportunities to bring others together to share information; encourages exchange of ideas.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to manage relationships.
  • Record of strong follow through and responsiveness while working in an environment subject to frequent interruptions.
  • Flexibility.
  • Strong interest in education.

?

Possibility of flexible schedule.


Center School

Abington PA

http://www.vfmac.edu "); febox .html('') .addClass('featured-employer-box') .appendTo($('body')) .css({ "height":fWin.height() - 50, "width":910, "background-color": "#eee", "-webkit-overflow-scrolling":"touch", "margin": 0 }) .overlay({ top: 20, closeOnClick:true, load: false, mask: { color: '#eeeeee', opacity: 0.8, loadSpeed: 200, }, left: "center" }); feframe = $('#featured-employer-frame'); }); $('body').delegate('.fe-popup','click',function(e) { var el = $(this); feframe.contents().find('body').html(""); feframe.attr('src',el.data('url')); // $.get(el.data('url'), function(data) { // febox.html(data); // }); febox.overlay().load(); }); })(jQuery);

Source: http://careers.nais.org/jobs/5367560/director-of-finance-and-operations-center-school

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Bidzy Launches As An E-Commerce Platform At Disrupt NY For Local Services Firms To Grab New Customers, One Last-Minute Bid At A Time

Bidzy logo horizontalBidzy, a new platform for connecting local services businesses with customers who need the service they offer in the next few hours, is launching at Disrupt NY 2013 today. Like the best ideas, Bidzy's premise is simple: allow the customer to specify exactly what they want and the amount they are willing to pay and then let the individual businesses decide if they're happy to take the job on.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/ykUJO0AmKcI/

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Leadership emerges spontaneously during games

Apr. 29, 2013 ? Video game and augmented-reality game players can spontaneously build virtual teams and leadership structures without special tools or guidance, according to researchers.

Players in a game that mixed real and online worlds organized and operated in teams that resembled a military organization with only rudimentary online tools available and almost no military background, said Tamara Peyton, doctoral student in information sciences and technology, Penn State.

"The fact that they formed teams and interacted as well as they did may mean that game designers should resist over-designing the leadership structures," said Peyton. "If you don't design the leadership structures well, you shouldn't design them at all and, instead, let the players figure it out."

Peyton, who worked with Alyson Young, graduate student in information systems, and Wayne Lutters, associate professor of information systems, both at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, said that the players quickly adopted a leadership structure that resembled the U.S. military's leadership hierarchy.

"One of the surprising things is that although the people in the game were not related in any way to the military, many of the teams organized along military lines, from designations to filing situation reports," said Peyton.

The researchers, who presented their findings at the 2013 Annual Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Paris today (April 29), examined 54,000 posts of 2,500 players who took part in the I Love Bees game. Microsoft released the game in 2004 as part of a viral marketing campaign to promote the release of the company's Halo 2 video game. The object of the I Love Bees game was to decode messages from a beekeeper's website that was supposedly hacked by aliens. The coded messages revealed geographic coordinates of real pay telephones situated throughout the United States. Players then waited at those payphones for calls that contained more clues.

Because the game did not have a leadership infrastructure, players established their own websites and online forums on other websites to discuss structure, strategy and tactics.

A group of gamers from Washington, D.C., one of the most successful groups in the game, established an organization with a general and groups of lieutenants and privates. The numbers of members in each rank were roughly proportional to the amount of soldiers who fill out ranks in the U.S. military, Peyton said.

The players assigned their own ranks, rather than have ranks dictated to them. The general oversaw the strategy, while lieutenants mostly handled specific tactics for accomplishing the strategy. The privates carried out orders from the lieutenants.

As the game progressed, members researched military terminology and frequently used terms, such as armies, platoons and companies, in their message board posts. Peyton said that the increased militarization after 9/11 may have influenced this choice in terminology.

"The concept of militarization is more of a part of the collective imagination now, post 9/11," Peyton said.

Peyton said the study also shows the power of games to inspire people to work.

"These people did all of this work with no tangible reward, no promise of a free game, or anything," said Peyton. "The strict line between work and leisure is disappearing."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Penn State, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/computers_math/information_technology/~3/n8n3etHbO7s/130429102413.htm

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Monday, April 29, 2013

Pat Healy submits Jim Miller at UFC 159, but Bruce Buffer almost announces wrong winner

Jim Miller is 5-foot-8, fights at 155 lbs., and has a bushy red beard. Pat Healy is 5-foot-9, fights at 155 lbs., and sported a trimmed red beard at UFC 159. Can you blame UFC announcer Bruce Buffer for mixing them up?

Healy, who returned to the UFC after spending much of his career in Strikeforce, put Miller to sleep with a rear naked choke in the third round of their thrilling bout. As the two stood on either side of referee Herb Dean to have the fight result announced, Buffer announced the winner by submission was Jim Mill-Pat Healy!

Healy smiled and corrected Buffer, who rarely makes such errors. It was a lighthearted moment that Healy laughed about after a thrilling bout.

Miller started out landing leg kicks and used ground and pound to beat up Healy in the first round. Near the end of the round, Healy was saved by the bell as Miller's ground and pound was close to ending the bout before the horn sounded.

[Also: Two bizarre endings mar UFC 159 prelims]

It was in the third that Healy turned the bout around. Healy weakened Miller with striking, then took him down and took his back. He sunk in the rear naked choke, and Miller's arms went limp. The fight was stopped at 4:02 in the third because Miller was out.

Miller wanted to use the bout to convince UFC president Dana White that he was ready for a title shot. Instead, it was Healy who stood out. In his post-fight interview with UFC commentator, he warned other UFC lightweights to watch out because he was "putting them on blast."

Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
? New Cardinals DB Tyrann Mathieu continues to raise red flags
? Toronto Raptors reportedly mulling offer to Phil Jackson
? Owner Jeffrey Loria further alienates Marlins, fans with lineup mandate
? Packers announce long-term contract extension for Aaron Rodgers

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/pat-healy-submits-jim-miller-ufc-159-bruce-030349579.html

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T-Mobile's 'No Contract' Ads Under Fire - Business Insider

) U.S. wireless carrier

.

T-Mobile is touting the ?no contract? feature of the new plans, but Ferguson, says that T-Mobile customers who purchase a smartphone under the carrier?s 24-month repayment plan must maintain a service plan with the company for the balance of the period, or pay the outstanding price of the phone if they cancel service before the repayment period expires. He says those terms make the plans little different from early termination fees charged by other carriers, the?Seattle Times?noted.

In fact, Ferguson notes that the bill for the outstanding balance of purchased equipment can be higher than the early termination fees charged by rival carriers. He called T-Mobile?s ?no contract? ads ?quite deceptive? and filed an action in King County Superior Court to force the company to alter its advertising to highlight the charges.

While the charge was detailed in T-Mobile?s terms of service, they were not explained in the company?s advertising. The?plans debuted in March.

T-Mobile released a statement indicating that it would comply with the Ferguson?s order. However it noted that it considered its advertising ?truthful and appropriate? and did not concede any wrongdoing in its settlement with the AG?s office.

Customers who purchased equipment under the plans before April 25 can receive cancel their plans without incurring the charge.

In March, T-Mobile?received clearance for its merger?with?MetroPCS?(NYSE:PCS) from the Federal Communications Commission.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/t-mobiles-no-contract-ads-under-fire-2013-4

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FBI removes boat used by Boston bombing suspect to storage

By Karen Brooks

(Reuters) - Investigators have removed from its Watertown, Massachusetts, backyard the now-famous boat used as a hiding spot by one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, and have taken it to an evidence storage facility, the FBI said on Saturday.

The boat was the scene of high drama when Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, a 19-year-old ethnic Chechen charged with the April 15 bombing that killed three people and wounded 264, was captured by authorities on April 19 after a tense day of searching in the Boston area.

The owner of the boat called police after he lifted the tarp of the boat stored in his backyard and saw blood. Police found a wounded Tsarnaev inside the boat.

The boat was processed for evidence at the scene and then moved on Friday to an undisclosed FBI facility for storage, said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.

Tsarnaev's older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, is also a suspect but was killed by police on April 18.

Also on Friday, the FBI concluded their search at a landfill in New Bedford for evidence connected to the bombings, she said. Eimiller declined to say what evidence investigators hoped to find and whether they found anything.

"We were seeking evidence but we are not commenting on the nature of what was being sought or what was found," she said. "We can confirm that we were there Thursday, Friday and left yesterday."

The landfill is near the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, attended by the younger Tsarnaev.

Local media reported the FBI were trying to find the younger Tsarnaev's laptop.

(Reporting By Karen Brooks; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fbi-removes-boat-used-boston-bombing-suspect-storage-010513151.html

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FBI: Miss. man arrested in ricin letters case

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) ? A Mississippi man whose home and business were searched as part of an investigation into poisoned letters sent to the president and others has been arrested in the case, according to the FBI.

Everett Dutschke, 41, was arrested about 12:50 a.m. Saturday at his Tupelo home in connection with the letters, FBI spokeswoman Deborah Madden said. The letters, which tests showed were tainted with ricin, were sent April 8 to President Barack Obama, Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi and earlier to an 80-year-old Mississippi judge, Sadie Holland.

Madden said FBI special agents arrested Dutschke (pronounced DUHS'-kee) without incident. She said additional questions should be directed to the U.S. attorney's office. The office in Oxford did not immediately respond to messages Saturday.

Dutschke's attorney, Lori Nail Basham, said Saturday in a text message that "the authorities have confirmed Mr. Dutschke's arrest. We have no comment at this time." Basham also said via text that she didn't know what the charges against Dutschke were.

Basham said earlier this week that Dutschke was "cooperating fully" with investigators. Dutschke has insisted he had nothing to do with the letters.

Ryan Taylor, a spokesman for Wicker, said Saturday that "because the investigation is still ongoing, we're not able to comment."

Charges in the case were initially filed against an Elvis impersonator but then dropped. Attention then turned to Dutschke, who has ties to the former suspect, the judge and the senator. Earlier in the week, as investigators searched his primary residence in Tupelo, Dutschke told The Associated Press, "I don't know how much more of this I can take."

"I'm a patriotic American. I don't have any grudges against anybody. ... I did not send the letters," Dutschke said.

Charges initially were filed last week against Paul Kevin Curtis, 45, the Elvis impersonator, but then dropped after authorities said they had discovered new information. Curtis' lawyers say he was framed.

Curtis' attorney, Christi McCoy, said Saturday: "We are relieved but also saddened. This crime is nothing short of diabolical. I have seen a lot of meanness in the past two decades, but this stops me in my tracks. "

Dutschke and Curtis were acquainted. Curtis said they had talked about possibly publishing a book on an alleged conspiracy to sell body parts on a black market. But he said they later had a feud.

Judge Holland is a common link between the two men who have been investigated, and both know Wicker.

Holland was the presiding judge in a 2004 case in which Curtis was accused of assaulting a Tupelo attorney a year earlier. Holland sentenced him to six months in the county jail. He served only part of the sentence, according to his brother.

Holland's family has had political skirmishes with Dutschke. Her son, Steve Holland, a Democratic state representative, said he thinks his mother's only other encounter with Dutschke was at a rally in the town of Verona in 2007, when Dutschke ran as a Republican against Steve Holland

Holland said his mother confronted Dutschke after he made a derogatory speech about the Holland family. She demanded that he apologize, which Holland says he did.

On Saturday, Steve Holland said he can't say for certain that Dutschke is the person who sent the letter to his mother but added, "I feel confident the FBI knows what they are doing."

"We're ready for this long nightmare to be over," Holland told The Associated Press.

He said he's not sure why someone would target his mother. Holland said he believes Dutschke would have more reason to target him than his mother.

"Maybe he thinks the best way to get to me is to get to the love of my life, which is my mother," Holland said Saturday.

___

Associated Press writer Jack Elliott Jr. in Jackson, Miss., contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fbi-miss-man-arrested-suspicious-letters-case-151339370.html

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Fiery Afghan bus crash kills 45, Taliban blamed

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) ? A bus collided on Friday with the wreckage of a truck that had been attacked by Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan, killing 45 people aboard the bus in a fiery crash, officials said.

The battered oil tanker had been left in the middle of a narrow road near the border of Kandahar and Helmand provinces for several days after insurgents attacked it. Police considered the area too dangerous to enter, the officials said.

Before sunrise Friday, the bus smashed into the truck and burst into flames, said Abdul Razaq, the provincial police chief of Kandahar.

As police, soldiers and ambulances rushed to the desolate area, where many of the victims were burned beyond recognition, one survivor, Mohammad Habib, cried as he searched for his brother.

"I don't care about my belongings and money that were burned inside the bus, but please help me find my brother, dead or alive," he told AP Television News. "How will I face my mother without him?"

Forty-five people were killed and 10 injured, said Javeed Faisal, the spokesman for the governor of Kandahar province. He spoke to The Associated Press at Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar city, where many of the victims, including men, women and children, were being taken.

Razaq said it would be difficult to identify many of the bodies.

The bus began its journey in the capital of Helmand province and was to stop in Kandahar city, then travel north to Kabul, the Afghan capital, Razaq said.

Meanwhile, Afghan and coalition forces continued to conduct joint operations around Afghanistan.

They arrested about 10 insurgents on Thursday and Friday in four provinces of Afghanistan, including several Taliban fighters in Kandahar, the International Security Assistance Force said in a statement.

---

AP writers Thomas Wagner and Amir Shah in Kabul contributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fiery-afghan-bus-crash-kills-45-taliban-blamed-121520376.html

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Chemical weapons 101: Six facts about sarin and Syria?s stockpile

Word from the White House that Syria probably resorted to small-scale use of chemical weapons on at least two occasions this year draws new attention to the internationally-banned nerve agent sarin ? the weapon US intelligence officials now believe Syrian government forces used against rebel forces in the country?s civil war.

Perhaps the best-known recent use of sarin previously was in the 1995 Tokyo subway attack ? known in Japan as the Subway Sarin Incident ? in which members of a domestic cult-turned-terrorist group punctured bags of liquid sarin with sharpened umbrella tips in subway cars.

At least 13 people died in the attack and some 1,000 were injured.

But sarin?s legacy is about to get an update and henceforth seems likely to be associated with Syria and its besieged president, Bashar al-Assad.

- Howard LaFranchi,?Staff writer

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks at the Pentagon in March. Hagel said that US intelligence has concluded 'with some degree of varying confidence,' that the Syrian government has used sarin gas as a weapon in its 2-year-old civil war. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP/File)

1. What is sarin?

Sarin is a nerve agent first developed by German researchers in the late 1930s. Up to 500 times more toxic than cyanide, it is a colorless and odorless liquid that causes severe muscle spasms, vision loss, and asphyxia, and which can kill within a minute of contact in extreme cases.

Sarin was classified as a ?weapon of mass destruction? and banned in the United Nations? Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993. Syria is one of six countries that have not signed the convention.

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Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/kzB60enq028/Chemical-weapons-101-Six-facts-about-sarin-and-Syria-s-stockpile

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Intermittent fasting may help those with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, study suggests

Apr. 26, 2013 ? Intermittent fasting is all the rage, but scientific evidence showing how such regimes affect human health is not always clear cut. Now a scientific review in the British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease published by SAGE, suggests that fasting diets may help those with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, alongside established weight loss claims.

Intermittent fasting -fasting on a given number of consecutive or alternate days -- has recently been hailed as a path to weight loss and improved cardiovascular risk. A team led by James Brown from Aston University has evaluated the various approaches to intermittent fasting in the scientific literature. They searched specifically for advantages and limitations in treating obesity and type 2 diabetes using fasting diets.

The basic format of intermittent fasting is to alternate days eating 'normally' with days when calorie consumption is restricted. This can either be done on alternative days, or where two days each week are classed as 'fasting days'. These types of intermittent fasting have been shown in trials to be as effective as or more effective than counting calories every day to lose weight. Evidence from clinical trials shows that fasting can limit inflammation, improve levels of sugars and fats in circulation, and reduce blood pressure. Our fasting bodies change how they select which fuel to burn, improving metabolism and reducing oxidative stress.

For people with obesity, only one drug (orlistat) is currently available in the UK, and gastric surgery is a relatively rare and expensive alternative. Dietary changes remain the most common intervention used for obese people. Fasting is known to help, but former treatments were based on intermittent starving. Today's intermittent fasting regimes are easier to stick to, and are proven to help remove excess pounds melt away.

Scientists have known since the 1940s that intermittent fasting helps us lose weight, and can cut the incidence of diabetes in lab animals. Recent studies have also confirmed that restricting calorie intake could possibly reverse type 2 diabetes in some people. Researchers measured improved pancreatic function and fewer of the fatty deposits associated with insulin resistance were present in fasting subjects.

A healthy heart

In animal models, scientists have shown that intermittent fasting has some cardiovascular benefits that appear similar to exercising, such as improving blood pressure and heart rate, and lowering cholesterol. Fasting also appears to aid those with ischemic heart disease. Fasting may even protect the heart by raising levels of adiponectin, a protein that has several important roles in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and vascular biology.

"Intermittent fasting might achieve much of the benefit seen with bariatric surgery, but without the costs, restriction on numbers and risks associated with surgery," according to lead author, James Brown. "Whether intermittent fasting can be used as a tool to prevent diabetes in those individuals at high risk or to prevent progression in those recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes remains a tantalising notion and we are currently in preparation for clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of this form of lifestyle intervention in various patient groups."

Intermittent fasting is an increasingly popular diet plan that hit the headlines in the run up to Christmas 2012 after the release of a book on the subject. Proponents claim that in addition to weight loss, the diet can lead to longer life, and protection against disease, particularly conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by SAGE Publications, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. James E. Brown, Michael Mosley and Sarah Aldred. Intermittent fasting: a dietary intervention for prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease? British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease, April 2013

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/nutrition/~3/D78Xbo49i8U/130426115456.htm

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Thursday, April 25, 2013

Drinking, Nightlife and Parties - Food & Drink - Orlando Weekly

4th Annual WinestockThis outdoor wine tasting around the lake lands you also with food and live music. 7-10 p.m. Friday; Cranes Roost Park, 274 Cranes Roost Blvd., Altamonte Springs; $30-$40; 407-571-8863; winestockuncorked.com.

Ape + Shake 'N Bass Presents: Sweat With DJ Sliink Live moombahton and bass music in the club. 10 p.m. Thursday; Roxy Nightclub, 740 Bennett Road; $10; 407-898-4004; roxyorlando.com.

Beer:30 Enjoy $2 off Orlando Brewing beers. 3-10 p.m. Tuesday; Orlando Brewing, 1301 Atlanta Ave.; free; 407-872-1117; orlandobrewing.com.

Beer Bomb Bus Tour Guided tour of area beer bars, including Hourglass Brewery, the Imperial in Sanford, Buster's Bistro and BART. 1 p.m. Sunday; BART, 1205 N. Mills Ave.; $25-$30; bartcade.com.

Cigar City Brewing Beer Dinner Enjoy a five-course meal paired with brews from the Tampa-based brewery. 7-9 p.m. Tuesday; Smokey Bones Barbeque, 3400 E. Colonial Drive; $35; 407-894-1511; smokeybones.com.

Crawfish Festival Grab a beer and enjoy some mudbugs. Call for details Sunday; World of Beer, 3402 Technological Drive, Suite 201; 321-235-9741; wobusa.com.

Cruising for a Brewzin Bike Pub Crawl Hop on your bicycle, grab drinks at a variety of bars and then enjoy a live concert by Room Full of Strangers. 6 p.m. Saturday; Lizzy McCormack?s, 55 N. Orange Ave.; free; orlandobikepolo.com.

DJ Bao OW's live music columnist spins your requests and other tunes. 10 p.m. Saturday; The Falcon, 819 E. Washington St.; free; 407-423-2788; thefalconbar.com.

Jack Daniel's BBQ Hill Party Whiskey tasting with the Jack Girls, barbecue dinners, raffle prizes and drink specials. 2-6 p.m. Sunday; Johnny?s Fillin? Station, 2631 S. Ferncreek Ave.; $20; 407-894-6900; johnnysfillinstation.com.

Mac N Cheese Saved by the Bell Party Featuring a meet-and-greet with Dennis Haskins (Mr. Belding). 10 p.m. Wednesday; Independent Bar, 70 N. Orange Ave.; free; 407-839-0457; independentbar.net.

Source: http://orlandoweekly.com/dining/drinking-nightlife-and-parties-1.1478091

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Job Registry: Education Abroad jobs, College Park jobs, Maryland ...

Position Summary:

The Education Abroad (EA) Applications Coordinator plays a vital role in the successful functioning of a fast-paced, highly complex office by coordinating organizational processes and providing administrative support to more than 2,000 students who apply to study abroad with the University of Maryland each year. He/she updates the EA web-site and manages the EA electronic database and on-line enrollment system (Studio Abroad); he/she also trains other staff and faculty in the use of Studio Abroad and serves as a resource for users throughout the university community. The Applications Coordinator ensures that all program descriptions, policy statements, and student forms are accurate, consistent, and up-to-date. The Applications Coordinator compiles statistical reports and analyzes data regarding study abroad enrollments and applications. The position requires the ability to set priorities among competing demands, to recognize potential problems, and to find solutions through both timely consultation and independent action. The Applications Coordinator must he highly organized, self-motivated, and detail-oriented. The position reports to the Associate Director of EA.

The University of Maryland, College Park, actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.

Founded in 1856, University of Maryland, College Park is the flagship institution in the University System of Maryland. Our 1,250-acre College Park campus is just minutes away from Washington, D.C., and the nexus of the nation's legislative, executive, and judicial centers of power. This unique proximity to business and technology leaders, federal departments and agencies, and a myriad of research entities, embassies, think tanks, cultural centers, and non-profit organizations is simply unparalleled. Synergistic opportunities for our faculty and students abound and are virtually limitless in the nation's capital and surrounding areas. The University is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding and diverse faculty and staff that will enhance our stature of preeminence in our three missions of teaching, scholarship, and full engagement in our community, the state of Maryland, and in the world.

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Source: http://jobregistry.nafsa.org/jobs/5357748/applications-coordinator-education-abroad-university-of-maryland-college-park

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The Two Most Important Words Managers Should Say Regularly

"Thank you." It's such a simple thing to say, yet incredibly powerful, especially in the office. If you're a supervisor or in a similar leadership position, a show of appreciation for your team can be even more motivating and loyalty-building than money.

The Harvard Business Review quotes Mary Kay Ash, who put it this way: "There are two things people want more than sex and money: recognition and praise."

Saying thanks isn't mind-blowing advice, but I bet there are plenty of organizations where "thank you" could be said much more often. HBR offers these tips for showing appreciation more effectively:

  • Set aside time every week to acknowledge people?s good work.
  • Handwrite thank-you notes whenever you can. The personal touch matters in the digital age.
  • Punish in private; praise in public. Make the public praise timely and specific.
  • Remember to cc people?s supervisors. ?Don?t tell me. Tell my boss.?
  • Foster a culture of gratitude. It?s a game changer for sustainably better performance.

For more on the magic of these two words in the workplace, check out the article below.

The Two Most Important Words | Harvard Business Review

Photo by Paul Downey.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/u5zJnFcK-qc/the-two-most-important-words-managers-should-say-regula-478210233

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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

ECB poised to cut rates to help recession-hit euro zone

By Paul Carrel and Andreas Framke

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank is closer to lowering interest rates than at any time since it last cut them in July 2012 and is likely to shave a quarter-point off at its policy meeting next week.

Senior sources involved in the deliberations say momentum is building for action to help a euro zone economy which has slipped back into recession, a move that some policymakers wanted to take earlier this year.

Inflation sliding well below target gives the bank scope to act and a senior ECB official said even Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann, the most hawkish member of the 23-man Governing Council, had an open mind.

After the bank's last monetary policy meeting on April 4, ECB President Mario Draghi signaled that a cut could come soon when he said that the bank stood "ready to act" to boost the recession-hit euro zone economy.

"Now we are free," one senior ECB official said. "For the next meeting in Bratislava, I would look at rates, certainly."

The ECB's Governing Council meets in Bratislava next Thursday - one of two annual policy meetings outside Frankfurt. The 23-man body rarely moves rates when it meets off-base, but the bleak economic picture strengthens the case for action.

Any decision on whether to act in May will depend on the economic data. Benoit Coeure, a dovish member of the ECB's core group of policymakers, said on Monday the bank had not seen data pick up since its last rate decision.

The ECB expects a gradual recovery in the euro zone in the second half of this year, "subject to downside risks".

Figures indicating the economy's performance will be weaker than that scenario would strengthen the case for a rate cut.

"If they confirm (the scenario), does that mean we don't cut the rate? Not necessarily," the senior official said.

Policymakers believe a rate cut would have limited impact on the economy but would at least show they are supporting it. A decision to cut could well not be unanimously supported.

The case for easier policy was boosted by Tuesday's purchasing managers' indexes, which the ECB watches closely, which showed a sharp drop in German business activity in April.

That marked the fourth time the German Composite PMI has fallen below 50, into contractionary territory, since September 2008. On the previous three occasions, an ECB rate cut has followed immediately after publication of the final data, or the month after.

Germany's closely-watched Ifo business climate index tallied with the PMI on Wednesday, falling more than expected in April. An ECB survey also showed demand for corporate and household loans in the euro zone plummeted in the first three months of the year.

Any interest rate move is likely to focus on the ECB's main refinancing rate, with a cut in the deposit rate the ECB pays banks for holding their cash overnight far less likely.

The main refinancing rate already stands at a record low of 0.75 percent, though this is higher than the policy rates of the other major global central banks.

"The German slowdown, the very low inflation rates we have in Germany, the latest decline in the oil price - all these factors are weighing on inflation and should make even the Bundesbank a little less opposed to a rate cut," said Berenberg Bank economist Christian Schulz, though he expected the ECB to hold off for now.

LIQUIDITY GUIDANCE

Cutting the refinancing rate would help banks in the euro zone periphery that borrow sizeable amounts from the ECB, though the impact this would have on their lending activity is unclear.

"It's not clear whether banks would use the full 25 basis points to lower their lending rates, or take it as profit and use that to build up their capital," said one expert familiar with the ECB's operations. "I think either would be positive."

Draghi said after the ECB's April 4 meeting it was essential that the "resilience of banks (be) strengthened where needed".

While a rate cut would show the ECB is ready to support the economy, the bank believes it would have only limited impact because its ultra-low interest rates are not reaching all euro zone economies evenly, with lenders in crisis-hit countries passing on higher funding costs to their customers.

Related to this, ECB policymakers are looking at their liquidity provision to banks. The ECB flooded banks with more than 1 trillion euros in two long-term refinancing operations (LTROs) in late 2011 and early 2012 to avert a credit crunch.

Banks have already repaid early more than a quarter of the funds - a development the ECB sees as positive as it shows they are ready to stand on their own feet.

Repayment of these LTROs has driven down excess liquidity in the euro zone - the level of cash beyond what banks need to cover their day-to-day operations - to some 330 billion euros from above 600 billion at the start of this year.

But in the event of another shock to the financial system it is unclear exactly what the ECB would do.

Draghi said on April 4 "our monetary policy stance will remain accommodative for as long as needed" and that banks would be provided with unlimited liquidity "for as long as necessary".

Though the ECB is unlikely to follow the U.S. Federal Reserve's example and give guidance on rates -- the Fed expects to keep them near zero until unemployment drops to 6.5 percent or so -- it could flesh out its commitment on providing liquidity to try to boost banks' confidence.

"Maybe we could be a little more specific on 'as long as needed'," the senior ECB official said.

(Additional reporting by John O'Donnell, editing by Mike Peacock)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-ecb-poised-cut-rates-help-recession-hit-083130459--business.html

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Charging Gadgets While You Bike Is About to Get a Lot Simpler

Ever gone for a long bike ride in unfamiliar territory? Probably used your phone's GPS to help navigate, right? Convenient. However, that also makes running out of juice more than just a small annoyance. Siva Cycle's Atom might just solve that, and a host of other battery issues for the tech-bound biker. More »
    


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/YQtF-gEDFok/charging-gadgets-while-you-ride-is-about-to-get-a-lot-simpler

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Use of anti-epileptic drug during pregnancy associated with increased risk of autism

Apr. 23, 2013 ? Maternal use of valproate (a drug used for the treatment of epilepsy and other neuropsychological disorders) during pregnancy was associated with a significantly increased risk of autism in offspring, according to a study in the April 24 issue of JAMA. The authors caution that these findings must be balanced against the treatment benefits for women who require valproate for epilepsy control.

"Anti-epileptic drug exposure during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk for congenital malformations and delayed cognitive development in the offspring, but little is known about the risk of other serious neuropsychiatric disorders," according to background information in the article.

Jakob Christensen, Ph.D., of Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark, and colleagues evaluated the association between maternal use of valproate during pregnancy and the risk of autism spectrum disorder and childhood autism in offspring. The population-based study included all children born alive in Denmark from 1996 to 2006. National registers were used to identify children exposed to valproate during pregnancy and diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (childhood autism [autistic disorder], Asperger syndrome, atypical autism, and other or unspecified pervasive developmental disorders). Data were analyzed and adjusted for potential confounders (factors that can influence outcomes) such as maternal age at conception, paternal age at conception, parental psychiatric history, gestational age, birth weight, sex, congenital malformations, and parity. Children were followed up from birth until the day of autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, death, emigration, or December 31, 2010, whichever came first.

The analysis included 655,615 children born from 1996 through 2006. The average age of the children at end of follow-up was 8.8 years. During the study period, 5,437 children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, including 2,067 with childhood autism. The researchers identified 2,644 children exposed to antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy, including 508 exposed to valproate. The authors found that use of valproate during pregnancy was associated with an absolute risk of 4.42 percent for autism spectrum disorder and an absolute risk of 2.50 percent for childhood autism.

"In this population-based cohort study, children of women who used valproate during pregnancy had a higher risk of autism spectrum disorder and childhood autism compared with children of women who did not use valproate. Their risks were also higher than those for children of women who were previous users of valproate but who stopped before their pregnancy," the researchers write.

"Because autism spectrum disorders are serious conditions with lifelong implications for affected children and their families, even a moderate increase in risk may have major health importance. Still, the absolute risk of autism spectrum disorder was less than 5 percent, which is important to take into account when counseling women about the use of valproate in pregnancy."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by The JAMA Network Journals.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Jakob Christensen et al. Anti-Epileptic Drug During Pregnancy Associated With Increased Risk of Autism. JAMA, April 23, 2013

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w-OeQJ8eV_c/130423161855.htm

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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Five Best Mind Mapping Tools

Mind mapping is a great way to brainstorm, make a plan, or turn ideas into the steps needed to make it real. Thankfully, there are great tools out there to help you build mind maps, organize them, and save them for later. Here's a look at five of the best, based on your nominations.

Earlier this week, we asked you which mind mapping tools you thought were the best. We tallied up your nominations, and now we're back to highlight the top five.

Mindjet (Windows/Mac/iOS)

Mindjet is more than just mind mapping software?it's a total suite of applications and tools designed to help you and the people you work with brainstorm, stay on top of projects, collaborate on tasks, and stay organized together. It's more like a complete project management and collaboration suite. It has an extremely powerful mindmapping and brainstorming tool however, designed from the ground up to help you organize your projects, assign different arms of your projects to different people, flesh out all of the individual to-dos and jobs required to make the whole project a success, and it works just as well if you're working with a hundred people, a dozen people, or just organizing your own to-dos. Plus, it integrates with web services and tools you already use, like Microsoft Office, Box,net, and more. Anyone familiar with the old tool MindManager will be happy to learn it's been rolled into Mindjet's individual apps. Most of Mindjet's users are companies willing to pay for it though: It's $15/mo per user for the individual plan, and $30/mo per user for the enterprise plan.


XMind (Windows/Mac/Linux)

XMind has been around for a good long time, and it even made the roundup the last time we looked at mind mapping apps. It hasn't lost its power though; it's still extremely flexible, works great on any desktop OS, and makes it easy to organize your ideas and thoughts in a variety of different styles, diagrams, and designs. You can use simple mind maps if you choose, or "fishbone" style flowcharts if you prefer. You can even add images and icons to differentiate parts of a project or specific ideas, add links and multimedia to each item, and more. If you're a project manager, you can even use XMind's built-in Gantt view to manage tasks in a way your colleagues may be familiar with. Best of all, XMind is completely free and open source. If you have some cash to spend, XMind Plus and XMind Pro offer some additional import/export and presentation features, along with some featured targeted at project managers and businesses who want to use XMind on the enterprise level. Plus will set you back $79 one-time, a subscription to Plus and all of its updates is $79/mo, and Pro is $99.


Coggle (Webapp)

Coggle is a completely free, simple to use mind mapping tool that's easy to get started with. Sign in with a Google account of your choice and you're off and away. Double-click on any item to edit it, and click the plus signs on either side to add branches to your mind map. Click and hold to drag them around the canvas to design your mind map any way you like. Coggle will automatically assign different colors to your branches, but clicking on a branch will bring up a color wheel so you can personalize it yourself. When you've finished a map, you can download it as a PDF or PNG, share it with others who can just view it or, if you allow it, edit your mind map. You even get auto-saving and revision history, so if you want to see what your mind map looked like before someone you invited started working with it, you can. Best of all? Coggle is completely and totally free.


Freemind (Windows/Mac/Linux)

Freemind is a free, GNU General Public Licensed mind mapping app built in Java, so it runs on just about anything you throw it at. It was the winner of our last poll, partially because of its flexibility, and because its features and performance are pretty consistent regardless of the operating system you use with it. It's a pretty powerful mind mapping tool too, offering complex diagrams and tons of branches, graphics and icons to differentiate notes and connect them, and the option to embed links and multimedia in your mind maps for quick reference. Freemind can export your map as HTML/XHTML, PDF, OpenDocument, SVG, or PNG. Compared to a lot of the newer tools it may look a little dated, but it's still powerful and useful, especially if it's function you're looking for, not form.


MindNode (Mac/iOS)

MindNode is an elegant mind mapping and brainstorming app for OS X and iOS. The iOS version is designed to work well on touch devices, specifically the iPad, and makes it easy to drag branches around, add new nodes, connect nodes, share documents with others, and more. The Mac app is similar, and supports sharing your mind map with others and exporting as PDF and as a Freemind project. MindNode can automatically hide branches that have nothing to do with the items you're working on, embed images and screenshots onto nodes, create links on nodes, and even automatically organize your branches for you if they get messy. It can also support linked mind maps. The UI is relatively clean and hides a lot of its features in order to keep things clean, but that doesn't mean it's not powerful. Many of you who nominated it pointed out it's one of the first mind mapping apps you've seen that really does things right on a tablet. MindNode is $20 for the Mac app, and $10 for the iPhone/iPad app.


Now that you've seen the top five, it's time to put them to an all out vote to determine the community favorite.

Honorable mentions this week go out to Scapple and MindMeister, both of which just missed the top five by one or two votes each. Those of you who nominated them praised them for their ease of use. We recently praised Scapple for bringing dead simple mind mapping to the Mac, and we've loved for MindMeister for years. It made the top five the last time we asked you, so it's still a great tool. Also, props go out to Pen and Paper (or whiteboards, if you prefer), which many of you said were your brainstorming tool of choice.

Still, the nominations were so close this time, we're willing to bet you have a favorite that may have been left out! If so, let's hear what it is and why you love it in the discussions below. Include a screenshot or a photo of the app in use if you can, just so we can see what's so great about it!

Have something to say about one of the contenders? Want to make the case for your personal favorite, even if it wasn't included in the list? Remember, the top five are based on your most popular nominations from the call for contenders thread from earlier in the week. Don't just complain about the top five, let us know what your preferred alternative is?and make your case for it?in the discussions below.

The Hive Five is based on reader nominations. As with most Hive Five posts, if your favorite was left out, it's not because we hate it?it's because it didn't get the nominations required in the call for contenders post to make the top five. We understand it's a bit of a popularity contest, but if you have a favorite, we want to hear about it. Have a suggestion for the Hive Five? Send us an email at tips+hivefive@lifehacker.com!

Title photo by Marco Antonio Torres.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/TPkU6twu74w/five-best-mind-mapping-tools-476534555

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Monday, April 22, 2013

Texas town without water after plant explosion

A Texas state trooper walks near a destroyed apartment buildling in West, Texas (Michael Ainsworth/Reuters)

WEST, Texas?City officials warned that hundreds of residents here could be without water for at least a week or more because pipes and other utility infrastructure were "severely damaged" in last Wednesday?s deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant.

"At this time, there is no access to water," Steve Vanek, a West City Council member and deputy mayor, said at an afternoon press briefing here.

He said the pipes for the city's water system ran near the site of the West Fertilizer Co., which was destroyed in the fire and subsequent explosion. He put the small number of residents in town who do have water on a "boil order," warning that officials aren't sure what environmental impact the explosion had on the city's water supply.

"We hope to know more later this week," he said.

The announcement came as investigators began taking 3-D photos of a large crater at the site of the destroyed fertilizer plant as part of their efforts to determine the cause of the blast, which killed 14 and injured more than 200.

Kelly Kistner, an assistant state fire marshal, likened the investigation at the site to an ?archaeological dig??saying that officials combing the site for clues are slowly going through the site ?layer by layer.?

?This is going to be a slow, methodical process,? Kistner told reporters at an afternoon briefing. He refused to put a timeline on when officials might be able to determine a cause for the fire and explosion, emphasizing again and again that the search for a cause would be ?slow and methodical.?

?We?re just trying to get the job done and get it done correctly,? Kistner said. ?We?re going to be here a long time.?

At the same time, city officials announced they would reopen a small part of the five-block perimeter that had been closed since last Wednesday, allowing residents with homes that had not been heavily damaged to return. But with no water and most homes still without power, it was unclear how many residents it would help.

Vanek appealed to residents to have patience as the city tries to rebuild and pledged that officials would work as quickly as possible to help the city rebuild and get back to normal.

?We are all in this together,? Vanek said. ?We are with you, and we will stand by you until the last nail is driven. This may be several months. It may be several years.?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/texas-town-could-without-water-more-week-deadly-213155860.html

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