CHICAGO (Reuters) - The FBI is still searching for one of two convicted bank robbers who escaped last week from a high-rise jail in downtown Chicago by lowering themselves on a makeshift rope nearly 20 stories to the street. Kenneth Conley, 38, and his cellmate, Joseph Jose Banks, 37, escaped from the Metropolitan Correctional Center early on the morning of December 18. The pair apparently broke a window in the cell they shared, squeezed through the opening and lowered themselves to the street. They then hailed a cab to make their getaway. ...
Dec. 30, 2012 ? A major in-depth study examining how teenagers in the UK are using the internet and other mobile devices says the benefits of using such technologies far outweigh any perceived risks.
The findings are based on a large-scale study of more than 1,000 randomly selected households in the UK, coupled with regular face-to-face interviews with more than 200 teenagers and their families between 2008 and 2011.
While the study reflects a high level of parental anxiety about the potential of social networking sites to distract their offspring, and shows that some parents despair at their children's tendency to multitask on mobile devices, the research by Oxford University's Department of Education concludes that there are substantial educational advantages in teenagers being able to access the internet at home.
Teenagers who do not have access to the internet in their home have a strong sense of being 'educationally disadvantaged', warns the study. At the time of the study, the researchers estimated that around 10 per cent of the teenagers were without online connectivity at home, with most of this group living in poorer households. While recent figures from the Office of National Statistics suggest this dropped to five per cent in 2012, the researchers say that still leaves around 300,000 children without internet access in their homes.
The researchers' interviews with teenagers reveal that they felt shut out of their peer group socially and also disadvantaged in their studies as so much of the college or school work set for them to do at home required online research or preparation. One teenager, whose parents had separated, explained that he would ring his father who had internet access and any requested materials were then mailed to him through the post.
Researcher Dr Rebecca Eynon commented: 'While it's difficult to state a precise figure for teenagers without access to the internet at home, the fact remains that in the UK, there is something like 300,000 young people who do not -- and that's a significant number. Behind the statistics, our qualitative research shows that these disconnected young people are clearly missing out both educationally and socially.'
In an interview with a researcher, one 14-year old boy said: 'We get coursework now in Year 9 to see what groups we're going to go in Year 10. And people with internet, they can get higher marks because they can like research on the internet?my friends are probably on it [MSN] all the day every day. And like they talk about it in school, what happened on MSN.'
Another teenager, aged 15, commented: 'It was bell gone and I have a lot of things that I could write and I was angry that I haven't got a computer because I might finish it at home when I've got lots of time to do it. But because when I'm at school I need to do it very fast.'
Strikingly, this study contradicts claims that others have made about the potential risks of such technologies adversely affecting the ability of teenagers to concentrate on serious study. The researchers, Dr Chris Davies and Dr Rebecca Eynon, found no evidence to support this claim. Furthermore, their study concludes that the internet has opened up far more opportunities for young people to do their learning at home.
Dr Davies said: 'Parental anxiety about how teenagers might use the very technologies that they have bought their own children at considerable expense is leading some to discourage their children from becoming confident users. The evidence, based on the survey and hundreds of interviews, shows that parents have tended to focus on the negative side -- especially the distracting effects of social networking sites -- without always seeing the positive use that their children often make of being online.'
Teenagers' experiences of the social networking site Facebook appear to be mixed, says the study. Although some regarded Facebook as an integral part of their social life, others were concerned about the number of arguments that had escalated due to others wading in as a result of comments and photographs being posted.
The age of teenagers using Facebook for the first time was found to go down over the three year period from around 16 years old in 2008 to 12 or 13 years old by 2011. Interviews reveal that even the very youngest teenagers who were not particularly interested felt under some peer pressure to join. But the study also suggests that the popularity of Facebook is waning, with teenagers now exploring other forms of social networking.
Dr Davies commented: 'There is no steady state of teenage technology use -- fashions and trends are constantly shifting, and things change very rapidly when they do change.'
The research was part funded by Becta, the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency, a non-departmental public body formed under the last Labour government. The study findings are contained in a new book entitled, Teenagers and Technology, due to be published by Routledge in January 2013.
Teenagers and Technology: http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415684583/
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WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama is urging Congress to reach a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, saying the nation "can't afford a politically self-inflicted wound to our economy."
Obama says in Saturday's radio and Internet address that he believes leaders in Congress may be able to reach an agreement that can pass both houses before taxes rise and spending cuts take effect at the end of the year.
He urges "Washington politics" to not get in the way of "America's progress."
In the Republican address, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt says "inaction shouldn't be an option" and the nation can avoid going over the fiscal cliff if Obama and the Democratic-controlled Senate work with Republicans to solve the problem.
Boxing is all about footwork and JDS has a lot better movement than Klitshko but he will have to train full boxing to beat a guy that trains only boxing.
__________________
People want to be led to the truth, only you can find the truth for yourself. Then it will be with you forever unalterable and infinitely expandable.
The October release of Microsoft?s (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows 8 operating system and Surface tablet was meant to inaugurate an ?epic year? for the company, one that would see a resurgence in the sales of PC devices. To further this goal, the software designer continued down the path pioneered by Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and expanded its chain of Microsoft-brand retail stores, a practice that the company will build upon in the upcoming year.
However, sales of the company?s Windows 8 flagship product, the Surface tablet, and customer foot traffic during the holiday season showed that the Apple-store model has not brought an Apple-store level of success.
Our 20-page proprietary analysis of Apple?s stock is ready. Click here to get your Cheat Sheet report now.
What are Microsoft?s plans for its retail locations?
Microsoft?s plans to expand its network of retail stores mirrors the company?s broader transformation; with the release of the Surface, the company took another step beyond its software design beginnings to further incorporate hardware design into its business. Just as Microsoft has taken note of the success of Apple?s retail stores, which have the most profitable floor space of any top company in the United States, the company has also taken note of the iPhone maker?s success with vertical integration.
To contact the reporter on this story: staff.writers@wallstcheatsheet.com To contact the editor responsible for this story: editors@wallstcheatsheet.com
The iPhones far too beautiful to go in a case like that.
6.billybuttpounderposted on57 min ago11
But the iphone HAS to be in a case due to it being constructed so poorly. Finish rubs off, scratches easily, glass shatters, and the frame bends. Premium build quality indeed LOL.
8.stealthdposted on9 min ago00
None of that has anything to do with poor construction. Anodized aluminum scratches, same thing happened months ago with an HTC phone that had black anodized aluminum. Glass isn't indestructible, it's the same gorilla glass in the iPhone as every other smartphone, and it's all luck whether or not it shatters.
2.Droid_X_Dougposted on2 hours ago10
I would go for an Otterbox Commuter case instead.
3.darkkjediiposted on2 hours ago10
Aren't those pretty thick tho?
4.Berzerk000posted on1 hour ago10
Honestly, case thickness doesn't bother me too much. As long as I know my device is protected, I'll take the added dimensions. It's satisfying to drop your phone, and know it's perfectly fine just by the sound of the low *thud* when it hits.
5.amiaqposted on1 hour ago01
It's a Justin Bieber of smartphone! It won't look though regardless what it's wearing.
7.meccausa02posted on38 min ago00
I have one of these cases for my Samsung Galaxy.. Love it.
Apple drops Galaxy S III Mini from patent lawsuit (30?Dec?2012?0:06) Apple has agreed to drop Samsung's recent Galaxy S III Mini from its ongoing patent-infringement lawsuit against the company.
The tech giant will withdraw the smartphone from the case as ....
Pinterest sued (29?Dec?2012?23:57) Pinterest, the popular virtual pinboard, has received its first lawsuit.
Theodore F. Schroeder of Ocean City, N.J., has sued the site this week, claiming misappropriation, unjust enrichment ....
McAfee: 'Anonymous' attacks will decline into the future (29?Dec?2012?23:46) Security firm McAfee Labs has released their annual "Threat Predictions" report this week, giving some insight into the malware world into 2013.
Perhaps most interestingly from the report ....
Fujitsu: Windows 8 demand sucks (29?Dec?2012?22:17) Fujitsu has joined in the group of companies claiming Windows 8 demand frankly, sucks.
President Masami Yamamoto said consumer demand for the new operating system has been "weak" and its ....
Apple must pay $165,000 to Chinese writers (29?Dec?2012?22:05) A Chinese court has ruled Apple must pay a tiny penalty to eight writers.
The writers, along with two companies, had accused Apple of allowing their work to be made available for distribution ....
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Farm-state lawmakers have agreed to a one-year extension of the expiring U.S. farm bill that, if enacted, would head off a possible doubling of retail milk prices to $7.OO or more a gallon in 2013.
The compromise measure resulted from bipartisan discussions in the House of Representatives' Agriculture Committee and talks with colleagues in the U.S. Senate, Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, the House panel's chairman, said in a statement Sunday.
"It is not perfect - no compromise ever is - but it is my sincere hope that it will pass the House and Senate and be signed by the President by January 1," Lucas, a Republican, said.
It was not immediately clear whether House and Senate leaders would bring the measure to a vote soon enough to avoid putting the so-called "dairy cliff" milk price spike into action.
Separately, lawmakers are working on a last-ditch effort to avert the similarly timed "fiscal cliff," when the biggest tax increases ever to hit Americans are set to start, paired with significant federal spending cuts
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in an interview with CNN taped Friday and aired on Sunday, urged Congress to come up with such a solution, if only an extension of the old law that expired nearly three months ago, lest milk prices start rising after January 1, 2013.
Absent a new bill or an extension of current law, milk prices would revert to rules set in 1949, the last "permanent" farm legislation in the United States. Government price supports would kick in, based on production costs 64 years ago, plus inflation. The potential retail milk price has been estimated at $6.00 to $8.00 a gallon versus current levels near $3.50.
Lucas said in the statement that time had run out in Congress' current session to enact a new five-year farm bill, as farm-state lawmakers and the dairy lobby had hoped.
Vilsack told CNN that soaring milk prices - if it comes to that - would ripple throughout all commodities "if this thing goes on for an extended period of time."
The price of milk will not double on January 1, if Congress fails to act. Instead, prices would rise gradually as supplies are removed from normal markets and land instead in U.S. Department of Agriculture storage facilities.
With supplies more scarce in normal marketing channels, some milk distributors and dairy product manufacturers could have turned to imported supplies.
The Department of Agriculture is reviewing a range of options for administering programs should a permanent law become legally effective on January 1, a spokesman said on Friday.
The Senate passed its new five-year farm bill in June, and the House Agriculture Committee followed with a version in July.
But the House bill, with large cuts in food-stamp funding for lower-income Americans, has never been brought to a vote by the full House. The Senate and House have for months remained far apart on the issues of food stamps and crop subsidies.
Lucas said the year-long extension "provides certainty to our producers and critical disaster assistance to those affected by record drought conditions."
It would also mean another round of the direct subsidies to farmers that cost about $5 billion a year, and that both sides of debate had agreed earlier to eliminate.
(Additional reporting by Charles Abbott; Editing by Ros Krasny and Maureen Bavdek)
It's a common trope in cartoons, but in the real world, you just can't get a bottle to hold sound. And what kid hasn't tried? No verbal messages in a bottle for us, thanks to the laws of physics. At least, that used to be the case. The Re: Sound Bottle designed by Jun Fujiwara does exactly that. More »
This guest piece is by local real estate agent, Tony Gilbert, who originally wrote the article for his real estate website blog, The RealFX Group.? The interesting information highlights statistics currently seen in the Snoqualmie real estate market as it recovers from the housing market recession.? Although, Tony uses Snoqualmie Ridge real estate statistics for his article, the information might be useful for other Valley areas.
Currently own a smaller home at Snoqualmie Ridge and feeling a bit ?squeezed?? Thinking of buying a bigger house? Move-up home buyers have a great opportunity going into 2013 at Snoqualmie Ridge due to the VERY strong demand for homes priced at, or near $400,000, compared to the somewhat weaker demand for homes priced above $500,000.
To demonstrate the move-up opportunity compared to years past, let?s compare the number of sold homes on Snoqualmie Ridge in 2006 and 2012.
Notice the statistics have completely flip-flopped. Affordability and loan qualification standards are among several reasons for this ? but many home buyers are now uncomfortable buying a larger home as in years past, unless they truly need the space. In 2012, it?s clear that the majority of home buyers in Snoqualmie Ridge were looking for homes priced at, or below $500,000, and this will likely continue into 2013. We do expect to see continued improvement in higher price brackets, but the rate of increase will obviously be slower.
By Comparison, Lower Priced Homes Often Sell at a Premium
I had a conversation today with a friend of mine who is a resident of Snoqualmie Ridge. She indicated their family would like to move into a larger home sometime in 2013. They own a smaller home in excellent condition which presently fits into a $375K ? $400K price range. With demand being exceptionally strong in that price range, they are in a prime position to both sell their current home at a potential premium (compared to other price ranges), and ?move-up? by buying a pre-owned home of $500K or greater at a potential ?discount? by comparison, since the pace of the market is clearly slower in the higher price brackets.
More Affordable Home Inventory Needed
Home buyers are looking on Snoqualmie Ridge in impressive numbers ? and they?re especially attracted to more affordable new construction. But, this is partly due to thelack of affordable resale homes for sale on The Ridge in a comparable price range ? roughly between $400,000 ? $475,000. For several months, new home builders have been filling the demand in this price range ? and building activity is picking-up steam as I write this. However, when a pre-owned home comes up for sale under $450,000, if it?s priced according to recent market activity, there should be strong buyer interest.
Margins for Negotiation Will Decrease in 2013-2014
All buyers looking for homes over $500K will find more homes to choose from, and likely a wider margin for negotiation. However, as more move-up buyers return to the market in 2013 and beyond, homes in the upper price ranges will also likely begin to enjoy increasing values. Accordingly, the window of opportunity for buyers to get the elusive ?good deal? is definitely shrinking.
Anthony Gilbert REALTOR? is a Real Estate Agent with Windermere Real Estate, serving the communities of Issaquah, Sammamish, southern Bellevue, Snoqualmie, North Bend & Fall City.?? Have other questions for Tony regarding the local real estate market?? You can contact him HERE.
After Android success, NVIDIA now hopes its TegraZone app will make a splash on Windows RT
Having its Tegra 3 SoC chosen for two platform-defining tablets, the Google Nexus 7 and the?Microsoft Surface RT, has got to be one of the highlights of?NVIDIA?s year. However, the company is not content merely with design wins. This is evident from its?TegraZone?initiative, a one-stop shop for Tegra-optimized games and outright exclusives. Till now restricted to Android, the?TegraZone app is now available for the two-month-old Windows RT.
This should not come as a surprise to anyone, as back at the time of the Surface RT?s launch in October NVIDIA had announced that it would ?extend its popular TegraZone application to Windows RT to make it easy for gamers to identify the most compelling games for Tegra-powered Windows RT devices.?
Available now from the Windows Store, the Windows RT TegraZone app currently offers Tegra 3-optimized versions of Judge Dredd vs Zombies, Pinball FX 2, Reckless Racing Ultimate, Riptide GP, Soulcraft, Space Ark, Sprinkle and Vendetta Online. According to NVIDIA, the TegraZone versions of these games contain a number of enhancements over the ones available from the Windows, including realistic physics, dynamic lighting and particle effects.
?NVIDIA offers one of the largest developer relations teams in the world ? a dedicated support team of over 100 employees to help Windows RT and Android developers create games that take advantage of the ultra-efficient power of the quad-core Tegra 3 processor,? the company wrote in a blog post announcing the TegraZone Windows RT app.
?With over 6 million downloads for Android devices, TegraZone is primed to make a splash on Windows RT.?
Original Post?by Pulkit Chandna, Reposted Courtesy of Maximum PC ? Covering everything from hi-end gaming PCs to tablets,?peripherals?and?home?theater?rigs, Maximum PC?s?print?and Web editions stay one step ahead of the fast-changing world of everything computer and?computing?related. Whether its the latest on building your own?desktop?system, reviews of the?latest?laptops?and?accessories, orroundups?of the games and?software?that make your machine go, Maximum PC brings it to you with?news, reviews, and years of expertise. TechnoBuffalo is?thrilled to bring you the best of Maximum PC right here on our own pages to keep you immersed in all things digital.
If you?re encountered with biology syllabus assessment in that case he/she really needs to fully grasp the exact objectives to make sure that he/she are able to comprehend the objective. There are 3 well-known objectives concerning learning the field of biology which generally are to have practical knowledge with understanding, ability to actually deal with important information and resolve issues in conjunction with learning experimental skillsets as well as inspections.
The actual Biology Syllabus entails of scientific phenomena specifics hence these particular 3 important objectives are crucial for the main assessment procedure. A few other reasons for assessment are to be capable of making predictions, address issues, manipulate data and locate ideal sources to get knowledge acquisition.
Hobby Lobby, the popular arts and crafts chain, has thrown down the gauntlet to the Obama administration.
The company issued a statement Thursday saying it will refuse to offer access to the controversial ?morning-after? birth control pill as part of its health care coverage despite risking fines of up to $1.3 million dollars a day.?
Obamacare requires employers to offer such birth control options via their health care plans ? even for companies with religious objections. Hobby Lobby is owned by the same conservative Christian family that also owns publisher Mardel Incorporated. They are suing to block the part of the health care bill that requires employers to provide insurance coverage for the ?morning after pill? and other emergency contraceptive measures.
According to Newser.com:
The companies claim the mandate violates the religious beliefs of their owners. They say the morning-after pill is tantamount to abortion because it can prevent a fertilized egg from becoming implanted in a woman?s womb.
Also from Newser:
In ruling against the companies last month, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton said churches and other religious organizations have been granted constitutional protection from the birth-control provisions but that ?Hobby Lobby and Mardel are not religious organizations.?
That is why the family has opened a new lawsuit against the health care bill and the contraceptive provisions. A visit to their Facebook page shows well over 700,000 likes and nearly 17,000 people talking about them. We?re pretty sure those numbers will increase once word of this gets around about them standing up for religious freedom against the Obama health care bill.
Here's a great use for that scrap lumber sitting around your shop: Use it to build a rolling chest with a rustic feel.
By Matt Pierce
Rolling Chest Plans (PDF, 1MB, requires Adobe Reader)
what to do with. Looking for a way to put them to use, other than as kindling, I came up with this rolling chest covered with cast-off blocks. The box is built from ?-inch plywood and rides on industrial-duty casters (invisible, below?but they\'re there!) from a local hardware store. Pieces of fir, walnut, and oak are discreetly nailed to the surface to give the piece a rustic aesthetic.", credit: "Shawn Records", sourceid: null, sourcename: "", sourceurl: null, sourcelogo: "", thumbsrc: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/M2/rolling-chest-01-1212-smn.jpg", src: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/FB/rolling-chest-01-1212-lgn.jpg", srcwidth: 600, srcheight: 450 }, { id: "slide2", url: "how-to-build-your-own-rolling-chest-2", slidetype: "image", title: "Construct the Box", description: "You can build this relatively simple project with just a circular saw and drill driver, but it\'s even easier if you have a small table saw, a dado blade, and a pneumatic finish nailer. I also used two Kreg accessories to build the box: a circular saw guide and a pocket-screw jig.\n\n
\n\nBegin by ripping and crosscutting the sheet of plywood into the sizes shown in the downloadable plans. Label the pieces for the four sides of the box, making sure to mark which edge has the smooth factory finish; this edge forms the top perimeter of the box. Cut the four triangular blocks that will serve as the corner gussets; the wheels will be fastened to the gussets, which also help to strengthen the box. Also, bore the pocket-screw pilot holes into the panels.", credit: "Shawn Records", sourceid: null, sourcename: "", sourceurl: null, sourcelogo: "", thumbsrc: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/lG/rolling-chest-02-1212-smn.jpg", src: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/5k/rolling-chest-02-1212-lgn.jpg", srcwidth: 450, srcheight: 600 }, { id: "slide3", url: "how-to-build-your-own-rolling-chest-3", slidetype: "image", title: "Cut the Groove", description: "Using a router with a straight bit or a table saw with a dado blade (set the cutting depth to 3/8 inch), cut into all four panels the groove that will receive the bottom panel.", credit: "Shawn Records", sourceid: null, sourcename: "", sourceurl: null, sourcelogo: "", thumbsrc: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/2y/rolling-chest-03-1212-smn.jpg", src: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/0O/rolling-chest-03-1212-lgn.jpg", srcwidth: 600, srcheight: 450 }, { id: "slide4", url: "how-to-build-your-own-rolling-chest-4", slidetype: "image", title: "Assemble the Parts", description: "Assemble the parts, sliding the bottom into its groove.", credit: "Shawn Records", sourceid: null, sourcename: "", sourceurl: null, sourcelogo: "", thumbsrc: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/Cv/rolling-chest-04-1212-smn.jpg", src: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/ET/rolling-chest-04-1212-lgn.jpg", srcwidth: 600, srcheight: 450 }, { id: "slide5", url: "how-to-build-your-own-rolling-chest-5", slidetype: "image", title: "Complete the Assembly", description: "Complete the box assembly by driving the pocket screws into their pilot holes. Flip the box so that it\'s bottom side up, spread some carpenter\'s glue in the corners, and press the gussets into place. Let the glue cure.", credit: "Shawn Records", sourceid: null, sourcename: "", sourceurl: null, sourcelogo: "", thumbsrc: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/gW/rolling-chest-05-1212-smn.jpg", src: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/z5/rolling-chest-05-1212-lgn.jpg", srcwidth: 450, srcheight: 600 }, { id: "slide6", url: "how-to-build-your-own-rolling-chest-6", slidetype: "image", title: "Cladding the Box", description: "Gather your best pieces of scrap wood and arrange them on your work bench in dimensions approximating each side of the box. Use scraps that vary in color, shape, and texture?the greater the variation, the more visually striking the cladding will be. Don\'t belabor the initial arrangements; you\'re going to have to make adjustments where the parts overlap at the corners; the sides may overlap the end pieces or vice versa. \n\n
\n\nTo refine the fit of the scraps, clean them up one at a time on the miter and table saws. Starting at the top edge and working down, nail the blocks in place with a pneumatic finish nailer. Work your way around the box, attaching the pieces with an appropriate size nail. I used ?-inch and 1?-inch; choose your nail lengths carefully so that none penetrates the inside of the box. If a nail does jut through the surface of the interior, clip off the tip with diagonal pliers and tap the stub into the plywood.\n\n
\n\nAfter the box is clad, remove sharp edges and splinters with a rubber block and 120-grit sandpaper.", credit: "Shawn Records", sourceid: null, sourcename: "", sourceurl: null, sourcelogo: "", thumbsrc: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/ER/rolling-chest-06-1212-smn.jpg", src: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/aI/rolling-chest-06-1212-lgn.jpg", srcwidth: 600, srcheight: 450 }, { id: "slide7", url: "how-to-build-your-own-rolling-chest-7", slidetype: "image", title: "Finishing Touches", description: "Drill a hole for a caster stud through each corner gusset at the bottom of the box. Hold a Teenut on the inside of the box, then tap it down, turn the caster stud into it, and tighten, pulling the sharp end of the Teenut into the box bottom. If you use a caster that requires a wrench to sock down, be careful not to overtighten. Firm resistance indicates that the Teenut is properly seated and the caster is fully tightened.", credit: "Shawn Records", sourceid: null, sourcename: "", sourceurl: null, sourcelogo: "", thumbsrc: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/Q6/rolling-chest-07-1212-smn.jpg", src: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/wp/rolling-chest-07-1212-lgn.jpg", srcwidth: 600, srcheight: 450 }, { id: "slide8", url: "how-to-build-your-own-rolling-chest-8", slidetype: "image", title: "Coat the Box", description: "I completed the project with a coat of boiled linseed oil, a natural finish that works as well today as it did a century ago. Wipe on one coat, let it dry, and then apply a second coat. As the box ages, the finish will mellow to a warm amber-brown color.\n\n
\n\nRemember to treat any rag soaked with finish as a fire hazard. Hang it over a line to let it dry or soak it in a bucket of water; don\'t just throw it into the trash can, where fumes may collect and lead to spontaneous combustion.\n\n
\n\nAfter the somewhat nutty odor of the linseed oil has dissipated, take the box inside and you\'re ready to roll.", credit: "Shawn Records", sourceid: null, sourcename: "", sourceurl: null, sourcelogo: "", thumbsrc: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/DV/rolling-chest-08-1212-smn.jpg", src: "/cm/popularmechanics/images/UM/rolling-chest-08-1212-lgn.jpg", srcwidth: 600, srcheight: 450 } ] };
Like most woodworkers, I've got more scraps in my shop than I know what to do with. Looking for a way to put them to use, other than as kindling, I came up with this rolling chest covered with cast-off blocks. The box is built from ?-inch plywood and rides on industrial-duty casters (invisible, below?but they're there!) from a local hardware store. Pieces of fir, walnut, and oak are discreetly nailed to the surface to give the piece a rustic aesthetic. Return to Slideshow
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A homeless woman was in critical condition in a Los Angeles hospital after a man doused her with liquid accelerant and set her on fire as she slept on a bus bench, police said on Thursday. Officers arrested Dennis Petillo, 24, in connection with the early morning attack, and he has been booked in jail on suspicion of attempted murder, police said. The woman, whose name has not been released, was being treated at a local hospital with burns all over her body, said Los Angeles police Lieutenant Damian Gutierrez. ...
Among overweight adults, participation in an intensive lifestyle intervention (that included counseling sessions and targets to reduce caloric intake and increase physical activity) was associated with a greater likelihood of partial remission of type 2 diabetes; however, the absolute remission rates were modest, according to a study in the December 19 issue of JAMA.
?Diabetes traditionally has been considered a progressive, incurable condition wherein the best case scenario after diagnosis is tight metabolic and risk factor management to forestall vascular and neuropathic complications,? according to background information in the article. Some bariatric surgery studies have suggested that many diabetes cases among obese patients can be resolved. ?Patients diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes frequently ask their physicians whether their condition is reversible, and some physicians may provide hopeful advice that lifestyle change can normalize glucose levels,? the authors write. ?However, the rate of remission of type 2 diabetes that may be achieved using non-surgical approaches has not been reported.?
Edward W. Gregg, Ph.D., of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, and colleagues conducted a study to examine the association of an intensive lifestyle intervention with frequency of partial and complete remission of type 2 diabetes. The study consisted of an ancillary observational analysis of a 4-year randomized controlled trial (baseline visit, August 2001-April 2004; last follow-up, April 2008) comparing an intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) with a diabetes support and education control condition (DSE). The study included 4,503 U.S. adults with body mass index of 25 or higher and type 2 diabetes.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive the ILI, which included weekly group and individual counseling in the first 6 months followed by 3 sessions per month for the second 6 months and twice-monthly contact and regular refresher group series and campaigns in years 2 to 4 (n = 2,241); or the DSE, which was an offer of 3 group sessions per year on diet, physical activity, and social support (n = 2,262). The ILI aimed to reduce total caloric intake to 1,200 to 1,800 calories a day through reductions in total and saturated fat intake and by increasing physical activity levels to a goal of 175 minutes/week. Liquid meal replacements were provided to assist dietary goals.
Participants in the ILI group lost significantly more weight than DSE participants at year 1 (-8.6 percent vs. -0.7 percent) and at year 4 (-4.7 percent vs. -0.8 percent) and had greater increases in fitness at both year 1 (20.6 percent vs. 5.3 percent) and year 4 (4.9 percent vs. -1.5 percent).The researchers found that the prevalence of complete remission (i.e., glucose normalization without medication) was more common in the ILI group than in the DSE group across all years of the study. However, the absolute prevalence was low, ranging from 1.3 percent for ILI vs. 0.1 percent for DSE in year 1; to 0.7 percent for ILI vs. 0.2 percent for DSE in year 4.
Additional analyses indicated that ILI participants were significantly more likely to experience any remission (partial or complete), with a prevalence of 11.5 percent during the first year, decreasing to 7.3 percent during year 4, compared with 2.0 percent in the DSE group at both time points. Rates of any remission were notably higher (15 percent ? 21 percent) among persons with substantial weight loss or fitness change, shorter duration of extant diabetes, or a lower HbA1c level (a measure of blood glucose) at entry and those not using insulin.
?The ILI group was significantly more likely to have continuous, sustained remission, as 9.2 percent experienced at least a 2-year remission (vs. for DSE, 1.7 percent) at some point during follow-up, 6.4 percent had at least a 3-year remission (vs. DSE, 1.3 percent), and 3.5 percent had a continuous 4-year remission (vs. DSE, 0.5 percent). The results from the complete case analyses were similar,? the authors write.
?The increasing worldwide prevalence of type 2 diabetes, along with its wide-ranging complications, has led to hopes that the disease can be reversed or prevented. These analyses of more than 4,500 overweight adults with type 2 diabetes confirm that complete remission associated with an intensive life-style intervention, when defined by glucose normalization without need for drugs, is rare. However, partial remission, defined as a transition to pre-diabetic or normal glucose levels without drug treatment for a specific period, is an obtainable goal for some patients with type 2 diabetes.?
David E. Arterburn, M.D., M.P.H., of the Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, and Patrick J. O?Connor, M.D., M.A., M.P.H., of the HealthPartners Institute for Education and Research, Minneapolis, write in an accompanying editorial that ?evidence-based and cost-effective diabetes prevention strategies should be more broadly applied using the full range of available technologies and incentives.?
?But that is not enough. Research, education, and policy efforts need to be focused further upstream, toward primary prevention: reducing incident obesity in children, adolescents, and adults, especially among those with a family history of obesity or diabetes. Prevention of diabetes and obesity should be a rallying cry for all clinicians who care about the health of the nation.
The FCC approved new rules on Friday that will make it easier for companies to offer broadband Internet on airplanes. The FCC has authorized in-flight Internet on an ad hoc basis since 2001, but the new rules will provide a framework for licensing companies to provide it.
By Jeff Ward-Bailey,?Contributor / December 28, 2012
The FCC announced new rules on Friday that will make it easier for companies to provide in-flight broadband Internet. Here, a Lufthansa airplane comes in for an early-morning landing at Munich Airport.
Matthias Schrader/AP/File
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Lots of airlines offer Wi-Fi on their flights, but if you've ever tried to use it, you know the service can be ... less than ideal. Scarce bandwidth, frequent outages, and high-connection charges on lots of planes can make the prospect of connecting to in-flight networks a dicey proposition.
Skip to next paragraph Jeff Ward-Bailey
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Jeff began writing for the Monitor's Horizons blog in 2011, covering product news and rumors, innovations from companies like Apple and Google, and developments in tech policy.
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For some people, that's a plus: after all, a flight is one of the rare times when you can enjoy a novel or take a nap, untethered from the demands that come from being online. But if distracting yourself from a long flight with Facebook and YouTube sounds like more your cup of tea, you can thank the FCC: the Commission established rules on Friday that will make it easier for companies to offer Internet service on airplanes.
The new rules will streamline the process by which companies apply for permission to offer in-flight Internet, says FCC chairman Julius Genachowski. The approval process will be standardized, allowing the FCC to process license applications about 50 percent faster, and administrative burdens on companies seeking license will be reduced.
"This will enable providers to bring broadband to planes more efficiently, helping passengers connect with friends, family, or the office," Genachowski says in a statment.
The FCC has already authorized a number of companies to provide in-flight Internet service, but the process has been "ad hoc" up until now. In-flight broadband relies on a technology called Earth Stations Aboard Aircraft (ESAA), which carries two-way broadband signals between geo-stationary satellites and an antenna mounted on the aircraft. The new rules establish a framework for any company to use ESAA, provided that their systems don't interfere with aircraft communications and that they meet with approval from the FCC and the Federal Aviation Administration, which operates the country's air traffic control system.
Interestingly, the FCC's new rules don't mean that passengers will be able to use electronics throughout flights. The longstanding ban on using cell phones in-flight still stands, as does a ban on using laptops and other electronics during takeoff and landing. The government says those rules are in place because of concerns about interference with ground communications. But Genachowski also asked the FAA earlier this month to relax the rules on aircraft -- so perhaps you'll soon be able to stay connected from takeoff 'til landing.
The FCC notes that the new rules are being put in place with an eye toward "enhancing competition in an important sector of the mobile telecommunications market", as well as "promoting the widespread availability of Internet access to aircraft passengers." That means you'll likely have to rely on willpower soon, if you're interested in maintaining your flights as an oasis of "unplugged" time.
Are you excited about the idea of more connected flights? Or are you happy to pass the time in the air with a book? Let us know in the comments section below.
For more tech news, follow Jeff on?Twitter:?@jeffwardbailey.
LED lighting, covered outdoor patios & updating master bathrooms are 3 hot Home Improvement trends that we learned about at the Seattle Home Show. Read the full article: www.realestate.com Thanks to all the people we talked to at the home show and a special thanks to Malones Landscape and Ferguson photos and ideas.
Ford Motor Co. is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging the maker?s mileage claims for two new hybrid models are ?false and misleading.?
The maker has made fuel economy a major part of its advertising pitch for new products, notably including the 2013 C-Max Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid models. But its official ratings have come in for criticism, notably from such influential sources as Consumer Reports magazine.
But Ford is by no means alone. Korean siblings Kia and Hyundai recently had to roll back their own mileage numbers by as much as 6 mpg after conceding they fudged the official government testing process.
?In its advertising and marketing campaign for the vehicles, Ford claimed that the C-Max Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid achieved a class leading 47 Miles Per Gallon,? reads part of the lawsuit filed by California-based law firm McCuneWright. ?These materials helped Ford achieve record sales for the first two months of C-MAX Hybrid sales, outselling its rival, hybrid sales leader Toyota, but there was a problem. These ads were false.?
McCuneWright filed its lawsuit on behalf of Richard Pitkin of Roseville, Calif., who claims he is getting just 37 mpg from the C-Max Hybrid he purchased in October. According to the mileage numbers approved by the Environmental Protection Agency ? which regulates fuel economy testing ? the C-Max and Fusion Hybrid models both get 47 mpg in city and highway, as well as combined, cycles.
The lawsuit follows a report by Consumer Reports that also found the C-Max averaging just 37 mpg overall, while the Fusion Hybrid averaged 39 mpg.
In a blog post, the magazine said, ?These two vehicles have the largest discrepancy between our overall-mpg results and the estimates published by the EPA that we?ve seen among any current models.?
Ford has defended its mileage numbers and notes that the vehicles can be driven more aggressively in Sport mode, which will yield lower mileage.
?Early C-MAX Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid customers praise the vehicles and report a range of fuel economy figures, including some reports above 47 mpg,? Ford?s global marketing chief Jim Farley said earlier this month. ?This reinforces the fact that driving styles, driving conditions, and other factors can cause mileage to vary.?
The EPA reportedly is investigating Ford?s testing procedures to ensure they comply with federal standards.? A routine audit revealed that Hyundai and Kia had knowingly made procedural mistakes that resulted in a significant increase in reported mileage.
The Korean carmakers have had to reduce their rating by anywhere from one to six miles per gallon. They have also agreed to provide debit cards to owners of the affected vehicles to cover increased fuel costs.? Both are also facing numerous lawsuits stemming from the mileage flap.
A number of other makers have also faced backlash over allegedly excessive mileage claims ? especially with hybrid models. Consumer Reports says tests of two Toyota Prius models fell an average six to seven mpg short of EPA ratings.
Fuel economy can vary widely depending upon factors such as driver behavior, climate and even fuel quality.? And hybrids are ?going to be far more variable than a conventional vehicle,? according to Linc Wehrly, director of the EPA compliance division?s test center in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Part of the problem is the way the EPA test is conducted. It has a maximum speed of just 60 mph, far less than most motorists now drive on U.S. highways.
Both Toyota and Ford hybrids can operate in electric-only mode only up to 62 mph, so at speeds above that mileage may drop sharply even if vehicles like the C-Max or Prius provide accurate numbers under EPA guidelines.
The EPA has revised its testing procedures several times over the years, most recently in 2009. It plans to expand the audit that nabbed Hyundai and Kia but has not indicated whether a further revision of mileage testing procedures may be needed to give a better reflection of what consumers can expect in the real world.
JOHANNESBURG (AP) ? Former South African President Nelson Mandela was released Wednesday from the hospital after being treated for a lung infection and having gallstones removed, a government spokesman said.
The 94-year-old anti-apartheid icon will continue to receive medical care at home.
Mandela had been in the hospital since Dec. 8. In recent days, officials have said he was improving and in good spirits, but doctors have taken extraordinary care with his health because of his age.
Mandela was released Wednesday evening and will receive "home-based high care" at his residence in the Johannesburg neighborhood of Houghton until he fully recovers, said presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj.
"We thank the public and the media for the good wishes and for according Madiba and the family the necessary privacy," said Maharaj in a statement, using Mandela's clan name, a term of affection. The statement requested that Mandela's privacy continue to be respected "in order to allow for the best possible conditions for full recovery."
David Phetoe, a resident of the Johannesburg township of Soweto, reacted with joy when he heard that Mandela was no longer in a hospital.
"It's not always the case, when people offer great expectations, that those expectations are fulfilled," he said. "In this case, we say in the same tone, in the Christmas mood and in the Christmas season, let him stick around for a while!"
Mandela is revered around the world as a symbol of sacrifice and reconciliation, his legacy forged in the fight against apartheid, the system of white minority rule that imprisoned him for 27 years.
The Nobel laureate served one five-year term as president after South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994. Although the country today struggles with poverty and inequality, Mandela is widely credited with helping to avert race-driven chaos as South Africa emerged from apartheid.
South African President Jacob Zuma was among those who joined Mandela's wife, Graca Machel, and other family members in wishing a Merry Christmas to Mandela at his hospital bedside in Pretoria, the South African capital.
"I think he is an icon of hope and we are very excited" that Mandela is out of the hospital, said Sipho Sibiko, a Soweto resident. "I personally know that he is one of the people that inspired me. He inspires a lot of people and we are excited that he has been released. We wish him many more joyous years and good health."
Denver NC ? 12/27/12 Pro Step Marketing develops a marketing strategy to work with distressed sellers facing foreclosure for Jim Holder in the Schaumburg and Woodfield Area, IL real estate market. The results of this strategy is providing homeowners who are facing foreclosure options on how options like a short sale can assist them.
Holder, of the RE/MAX at Home, said the new strategy works and as leaders in their market they feel it is imperative to share with distressed homeowners that there are options other than the foreclosure route. ?One of the biggest challenges is getting the word out to let distressed homeowners know that there are options. ?Tricia Andreassen and the Pro Step Marketing team have created a marketing plan that allows us to reach those sellers effectively. Andreassen states that consumers today are looking for help on line, and that they are also reading newspapers and such. This website gives the homeowner a way to get real information and learn more.?
People who visit JimHolderShortSaleAgent.com to Help Avoid Foreclosure in Schaumburg and Woodfield Area, IL are provided with detailed information about how a short sale may be an option instead of a foreclosure. In addition there are tools such as free reports, checklist and qualifying forms to help the seller through this process. ?Many homeowners are hiding and not sharing that they are in trouble. They are embarrassed and want to get information on their own terms?, says Andreassen, founder of Pro Step Marketing. For more information, visit www.prostepmarketing.com or call 866-799-9888
BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) ? Angry protesters carrying clubs threw rocks at the French Embassy in Central African Republic on Wednesday, criticizing the former colonial power for failing to do more to stem a rapid rebel advance as fears grew that the insurgents aim to seize the capital.
The demonstrations began earlier in the day outside the U.S. Embassy before about 100 protesters then took to the French Embassy, carrying pieces of cardboard with messages that read: "No to war! No to France!"
"It's France who colonized us ? they should support us until the end. Unfortunately, they have done nothing. In this case, we are merely asking purely and simply that they leave our country," shouted one young demonstrator in front of the French mission in Bangui.
The protesters then began stopping cars to verify whether any foreign nationals were inside.
"These people have taken down the French flag from its pole and removed it," said Serge Mucetti, the French ambassador to Central African Republic. "They have carried out stone-throwing in the area of the embassy and have broken windows. This kind of behavior is unacceptable."
Air France confirmed Wednesday that its once-a-week flight to Bangui turned back because of protests at the French Embassy. The decision was made independently by Air France, and the French government did not make the request, said an airline spokeswoman, who spoke on condition of anonymity because company policy did not authorize her to speak on the record.
The French foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Many fear that Bangui, a city of about 600,000 people, could be the scene of a battle between government forces and the rebels. The fighters already have seized at least 10 towns, meeting little resistance from soldiers.
Rebel Col. Djouma Narkoyo said Wednesday that his forces have continued taking towns in recent days because government forces are attacking their positions. But, he insisted via phone: "Our intention is not to take Bangui. We still remain open to dialogue."
Bangui residents were skeptical of the insurgents' intentions.
"We are afraid by what we see happening in our country right now," said Leon Modomale, a civil servant in the capital. "It's as if the rebels are going to arrive in Bangui any moment now because there are too many contradictions in their language."
The rebel advance began earlier this month, with a push by the Union for the Democratic Forces for Unity, known by its French acronym of UFDR. The group signed an April 13, 2007, peace accord, which paved the way for the fighters to join the regular army, but the group's leaders say the deal was never properly implemented.
Central African Republic is a desperately poor, landlocked country that has suffered numerous rebellions since independence from France. Despite the nation's wealth of gold, diamonds, timber and uranium, the government remains perpetually cash-strapped.
U.S. special forces troops have deployed to Central African Republic among other countries in the region in the hunt for Joseph Kony, the fugitive rebel leader of the notorious Lord's Resistance Army.
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Associated Press Writer Lori Hinnant contributed to this report from Paris.
The October release of Microsoft?s (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows 8 operating system and Surface tablet was meant to inaugurate an ?epic year? for the company, one that would see a resurgence in the sales of PC devices. To further this goal, the software designer continued down the path pioneered by Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and expanded its chain of Microsoft-brand retail stores, a practice that the company will build upon in the upcoming year.
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Among overweight adults, participation in an intensive lifestyle intervention (that included counseling sessions and targets to reduce caloric intake and increase physical activity) was associated with a greater likelihood of partial remission of type 2 diabetes; however, the absolute remission rates were modest, according to a study in the December 19 issue of JAMA.
