State police looking into Dyer traffic stop

A state trooper who found marijuana and a gun in a car driven by Arkansas State running back Michael Dyer offered to call his coach even though he worried about "NCAA crap" and other fallout, according to video of a traffic stop released Monday.

Arkansas State Police released the 58-minute video and said it had completed an internal investigation into the March 10 stop. It released no details about the investigation, saying it involved personnel matters almost certainly tied to the actions of Trooper Royce Denney.

Dyer was ticketed for going 96 mph in a 70 mph zone, though audio and video from the stop indicate that either Dyer or another unidentified female were in possession of marijuana and a gun. Denney can be heard on the video talking at length with Dyer about how he should handle the incident.

"What if I talk to (coach) Gus Malzahn, or however you say his name?" Denney asks at one point. "I really don't want to tell him about this because of the NCAA crap. I know there's a lot of stuff that goes on behind closed doors between coaches and players. I'm still in a predicament, even if I talk to coach."

Denney also asks Dyer: "What about the weed?" and whether the running back thought it would be "all out of your system" in a month. He berates Dyer for having a gun, saying "You don't need it. If you think it makes you look cool, you're stupid."

"It pisses me off that someone of your stature and your ability does this kind of stupid (expletive)," Denney adds.

The trooper also asked Dyer if the running back wanted him to hold on to the gun, and Dyer says yes.

"I didn't say keep it," Denney responds. "Maybe we can get together some other time, and you can have it back after me and coach talk. You understand? ... I'm going to let coach make the decision for me. Or, for you. If he wants me to keep it, I'll keep it. If he wants me to get it delivered to him, I'll get it delivered to him or whatever."

It was unclear whether the trooper contacted Malzahn or Arkansas State about the traffic stop. The Associated Press requested comment from Malzahn at midday Monday. State police spokesman Bill Sadler said Denney is not currently conducting patrols.

Malzahn coached Dyer at Auburn, and recruited the running back to Arkansas State after he was hired to coach the Red Wolves. He dismissed the running back from the team over the weekend, citing an unspecified violation of team rules.

Dyer, the offensive MVP as a freshman in Auburn's victory over Oregon in the 2011 national championship game, transferred to Arkansas State in January after he was suspended indefinitely by Auburn coach Gene Chizik for violating unspecified team rules before the Chick-fil-A Bowl. He was the first Tigers tailback to rush for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons, including a 1,093-yard performance as a freshman that broke Bo Jackson's school record of 892 yards set in 1982. Dyer rushed for 1,242 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

Following his transfer to the Red Wolves, Dyer appealed to the NCAA to play this season rather than sit out as required. After he was denied, Dyer said at a July 20 news conference that he was happy at Arkansas State and looking forward to helping his new teammates.

Malzahn, who was Dyer's offensive coordinator at Auburn, stood next to Dyer at the news conference and professed his excitement for Dyer's future with the Red Wolves. That excitement turned to resignation Sunday evening when Arkansas State released a statement saying Dyer had been dismissed.

"I am truly disappointed that it didn't work out here at ASU for Mike," Malzahn said in the statement. "I wish Mike nothing but the best in the future."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/state-police-looking-dyer-traffic-stop-201845791--spt.html

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Sports & Recreation: The Fantasy Sports Brain - blog*spot

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Cassidy: Google science fair answers and raises questions

Here's what a successful scientist looks like: Sabera Talukder is standing in an elegantly lighted hall at Google (GOOG), surrounded by peers from around the world, explaining how she designed a low-cost system to clean drinking water in developing countries.

One other thing: Talukder is a 16-year-old Los Gatos High School student.

"I had done it to really help people," Talukder says of her year-long project inspired by a trip to Bangladesh that led to her Pani ("water" in Bengali) Purification system. Talukder was one of 15 finalists last week in the Google Science Fair. The room was filled with answers to difficult questions: how to increase yields for subsistence farmers; how to help the hearing impaired enjoy music; how to tackle meth addiction; and on and on -- brilliant schemes by even more brilliant high school students from Swaziland, Ukraine, India, Malta, Spain, Canada, and the United States.

But I'd come in search of the answer to a different question: How do we get more kids more interested in science, technology, engineering and math? It's a question that has caused hand-wringing for years. The United States, the worry goes, is falling behind in training students to work the jobs of tomorrow -- and today for that matter.

No doubt there is more than one answer and

I'll explore some possibilities in this and future columns.

Certainly companies like Google, which will benefit from a better prepared workforce, have a role to play and its new science fair, like those hosted by Intel (INTC), Synopsis and others, is a good step. Sure a kid could be motivated to participate by the fair's substantial prizes. Among them are $50,000 and $25,000 scholarships; a trip to the Galapagos archipelago aboard National Geographic's Endeavour; internships at Google's Zurich research site, the Fermi and CERN particle research labs and Lego's headquarters and factory in Denmark; a classroom set of Google Chromebooks for schools back home and mentoring from Scientific American magazine staffers. (National Geographic, CERN, Lego and Scientific American are the fair's co-sponsors.)

But when I asked Talukder what pushed her to submit her project, she didn't mention any of the contest's awards. Instead, she talked about a trip last summer to Bangladesh, where her father grew up, and how she seized on problems caused by poor water quality there. She talked about a father she met. His children were violently ill, presumably from drinking impure water. He'd heard about her interest in water. Could she test his family's supply? Could she tell him whether water was making his family sick?

Talukder told me she didn't need to test it. She already knew. "It's all practically the same," she says of areas of the country with bacteria and parasite-laden water. Instead, she vowed to come up with an affordable system to purify it.

"And if it doesn't fix it," she says she told herself, "then I'm going to go back and try and fix it again."

Talukder came up with a solar-powered system that relies on filters, UV light and activated charcoal. She plans to deploy a few in Bangladesh this winter and will offer her design for free on the Web in the spirit of open-source design. It's a terrific story, but Talukder knows that she had a lot going for her when it came to being encouraged to dig into science. Her father, an electrical engineer, and her mother, an architect, always encouraged her and her sister to seek their own answers to their own tough questions. She attends a top-notch school and lives in an affluent town.

"I am very fortunate to be living in Los Gatos," she says. "And so I think to not help people, with what I've been given, would just be a crime."

And so what about kids on the fringes, kids who might not be getting nudged toward science, technology, engineering and math? How do we reach them? It turns out Talukder has some ideas about that, too. She's in touch with teachers at her elementary and middle schools. She'd like a chance to tell them that science and math are cool, says her father, Shah Talukder. She'd like to tell them that the disciplines are a means to an end that can go far beyond academic achievement. That's one way that kids who aren't thinking about science and the good it can do can be inspired.

"Not just her," Shah Talukder says, "but all of these kids. If they go back to the community, go back to the schools and explain what they're doing. Kids listen to kids."

And in fact, that's one thing Google is banking on, says Vint Cerf, Google's chief Internet evangelist and one of the science fair judges. Cerf, who was a key player in developing the Internet, says the Web has the power to link these brilliant kids with other kids.

"We want other kids to know that their contemporaries can accomplish these things," he says.

Think about it. Just maybe a kid armed with that knowledge will find a way to unleash his or her own scientific brilliance. A brilliance that without a friendly shove never would have been unleashed.

Contact Mike Cassidy at mcassidy@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5536. Follow him at Twitter.com/mikecassidy.

Source: http://www.siliconvalley.com/ci_21173834/cassidy-google-science-fair-answers-and-raises-questions?source=rss_viewed

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Zombies show up to counter Westboro Baptist Church protestors

Hundreds of protestors dressed as zombies turned out to support the troops (KIRO-TV.com)After reading this story, you may begin to see zombies in a whole new light. While they get a lot of criticism over their love of human flesh, it turns out that some zombies also go out of their way to support the troops.

The Westboro Baptist Church had recently announced that it would be holding one of its protests outside the Joint Base Lewis-McChord in DuPont, Washington. But last Friday, the controversial group was met with a far larger group of counter-protestors ? dressed as zombies.

The controversial, Kansas-based church did not explain exactly why it was protesting in DuPont, but they have held a number of similar protests outside of military funerals in objection to gay rights.

That's when Melissa Neace and three of her friends organized the Facebook event "Zombie'ing Westboro Baptist Church AWAY from Fort Lewis!"

"I have decided that the most violent free way to protest back is simple... a zombie apocalypse. So I ask EVERYONE who is able to attend that day, please come dressed in your finest zombie outfit," Neace wrote on the page.

The event page received such a positive response that the zombies outnumbered the protestors by a reported level of 300 to 8, the News Tribune reported.

"We wanted to turn something negative around, into something people could laugh at and poke fun at," Neace told the paper. "It was the easiest way to divert attention from something so hateful."

"I think that their message is very hateful, and Jesus was not a hateful person. He loved everybody," counter-protestor Ashley Winslow told KIRO-TV.

You can watch video of the protest and counter protest from KIRO, here.

Using zombie makeup to protest anti-military demonstrators (KIRO-TV.com)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/zombies-show-block-westboro-baptist-church-protestors-204613653.html

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Interview: How to Become a Stronger Event Planner

We recently spoke with Kim Sullivan, SVP, CMO of the Event Planners Association. Kim founded the Event Planners Association in 2005 as a way to help event planners and independent business owners in the entertainment industry. Described as a ?one-stop? shop, the EPA assists their members through their in-house insurance agency, law firm, marketing specialists, continuing education, networking, and safety programs. One of the most unique features of the EPA is the various industries that their members are a part of ? ranging from florists, D.J.?s and wedding planners, to inflatable operators, venue owners and corporate planners (among many more!) Today, over 4,000 members belong to the EPA (and counting!) and live and work all over the country. The EPA is currently adding chapters in Denver and Cleveland.

Kim sat down and chatted with us about the Event Planners Association, the importance of building relationships, marketing skills and current trends in event planning:

Sarah: Please tell me a little bit about your background as an event planner. Was it a career that you originally intended to pursue, or was it a career choice that just sort of happened (so to speak). In addition to event planning, have you had previous careers? If so, what were those careers, and how did they help you as an event planner?

Kim Sullivan: Event planning was not a career path I intended to venture down.? My background is in advertising and marketing.? After 20 years in that industry I took a job with an entertainment company which managed Christian musicians and authors and handled music production for events worldwide.? My collective experience left me with a desire to empower independent business owners in the event industry.? My goal is to help them gain the knowledge, skills and mindset needed to build the businesses of their dreams.

Sarah: What inspired you to create the Event Planners Association? Can you tell me a little bit about the history of the Association?

KS: The Event Planners Association was created in 2005 as a service association.? The goal was to offer much needed business services to independent business owners in the events and amusement industry.? Our in-house law firm and in-house insurance agency allowed us to provide members with the specialized contracts, liability waivers, rental agreements and other documents as well as the proper insurance they desperately needed.? Our close relationship with industry insurance carriers allows us to advocate on behalf of our members and enable us to get them what they need to be protected.? Internet marketing was the third component included with EPA membership.? Our online directory allowed members to be seen by potential clients.

The EPA quickly gained a following and has well over 4,000 members nationwide.? In the last couple of years we have had an overwhelming demand for education and networking.? Those elements are being developed now with chapters launching all over the country (soon throughout the world) and an amazing educational program in the works.

What started as a service association has evolved into a full-service support system for independent business owners involved in all aspects of the event industry.? The EPA is essentially a support system designed to empower business owners.? Our goal is to help business owners succeed!

Sarah: he Event Planners Association has chapters all over the country. Where are the different chapters located, and are there any new areas where you would like to open chapters?

KS: The Event Planners Association has launched four chapters since October 2011.? They are located in Southern California, Chicago, NYC and Washington, DC.? We are launching Cleveland and Denver next week and have Phoenix and Raleigh-Durham coming up behind those.? We have another 15 in various stages of development throughout the country and are inundated with calls and emails from event professionals around the world wanting to start or join chapters.? We interview potential leaders carefully to determine their qualifications for these leadership opportunities.

The EPA will continue to develop chapters throughout the world to provide event professionals the ability to connect and plan events worldwide.

Sarah: The Event Planners Association is known for having members in nearly every field in the event planning industry. Have any of your members planned particularly unique events, and if so, what were some of the challenges they faced? Furthermore, have you yourself planned any particularly unique/tricky events?

KS: Members of the Event Planners Association cover every aspect of the event industry, from planners of every kind to musicians, venues, caterers, promotional items, bakers, dj?s, florists, inflatable operators, tables/chairs/tent rentals and everything in-between!? EPA members plan every kind of event imaginable and have the Association and other members for reference when they get stuck with odd situations and challenges.

Sarah: One of the key factors for any successful event planner to have is great networking skills. Do you have any advice on how event planners can improve their networking skills, as well as how networking came to be one of the most important factors of the EPA?

KS: It truly takes a ?village? to execute an event and it is through the connections with others in the event industry that an event comes to fruition.? Event professionals essentially work in clusters, referring business back and forth among each other.? Business owners work with people they know, like and trust.? Good networking skills and opportunities are crucial to not only building this network, but expanding it.? An event planner must have a number of ?go-to? people they can trust to deliver on everything from venues to photographers, from florists to linens, etc.? We have seen amazing relationships develop from our networking events.

Our chapter events are designed to develop and nurture the relationships among event pros in a geographic location.? With chapters across the country, we are now seeing referrals taking place nationally as well.? The goal is to have event pros work together to build their business together.? There is certainly enough business to go around and we believe it is better to embrace and empower each other than to have an adversarial relationship.

To be an effective networker, a business owner must be willing to develop a sincere relationship with someone.? As I mentioned, we all work with people we know, like and trust.? We can provide amazing opportunities for those in our ?network circle? and vice versa.? It?s all about the relationship, performance and professionalism.? That old saying, ?you get out what you put in? definitely applies to developing a network/relationship.

Sarah: Continuing education is also another key factor in the success of any event planner. What sort of continuing education programs would you recommend to event planners, and why? Are there any continuing education programs that are specific to certain event planning industries (such as wedding planners) that you would also recommend?

KS: Education for a beginner and continuing education for seasoned pros is a must.? It?s important to invest in yourself and your business with education which will broaden your knowledge and skill base.? Education can be the difference between the success or failure of an event professional?s business.

While there are no real standards for education in this industry, there are many great programs offered via major universities, community colleges and online.? Additionally, we are working with some of the most innovative professionals in the industry in creating continuing education programs that give business owners the knowledge and skills needed to build a business.

Sarah: In your opinion, what are some of the keys to success for event planners? For instance, how important is it for event planners to utilize marketing services? Or would you recommend that event planners learn how to market their services and events on their own?

KS: Aside from the obvious skills related to event management and creativity, at the end of the day, a business owner MUST learn to market themselves.? As an entrepreneur or as an employee, you are continually selling yourself, your services and your abilities.

As a marketing professional, I always suggest business owners develop business and marketing plans (if they haven?t already).? Our blog contains information to assist with this.? I think there are a few essentials to marketing an event business: know who you are and who you are not, know your target market and how to reach them, develop a good, clean website (there are template options available or a webmaster can be hired), develop a blog and consistently create interesting and informative content designed to make you an expert in your field, and network, network, network.? These are just the very basics of marketing.? Marketing education is an area we focus on as most people are not natural marketers and need guidance to compete in this arena.

Sarah: As a prominent member of the event planning industry, are there any event planning blogs/publications that you particularly enjoy or that you would recommend to our readers?

KS: Of course, I love our blog and newsletter (laughs), but I also think there are some good publications out there. Some that I like are Special Events Magazine, Bizbash, Event Solutions and Wedlock Magazine. Pinterest is fantastic for inspiration too.

I also think planners should be taking time to get inspiration from other places such as museums, window shopping expeditions, restaurants, etc. Read magazines outside of the event planning industry ? anything that is interesting to them; fashion, design, gardening, etc. A planner must nurture those creative juices!

Sarah: And finally, as a prominent member of the event planning industry, are there any current trends in event planning that you predict will be popular in the next year? For instance, macaroons have begun to surpass cupcakes in terms of quick and delicious sweets at events (although cupcakes are still quite popular). Are there any future trends such as these that you predict?

KS: We are seeing a variety of trends and yes, we agree that macaroons are quite popular.? We are still seeing candy buffets and cake pops gain in popularity. Destination events are popular as well. What?s interesting is that trends we see on the west or east coast tend to take a bit of time to make their way throughout the country, so what we may think has become pass? is just getting attention in another part of the country. This is an opportunity for event pros to take advantage of the trends.

Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us Kim! And for more information on the Event Planners Association, you can visit EventPlannersAssociation.com!

-Written by Sarah Osman. You can read more from Sarah on Twitter.

For inquiries, please contact us at editorial at eventplanning.com.

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Source: http://www.eventplanning.com/how-to-become-stronger-event-planner/

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Source: http://traders101.com/2012/07/28/stock-investing-key-points-you-need-to-know/

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Astros end 12-game skid

Associated Press Sports

updated 6:14 p.m. ET July 29, 2012

HOUSTON (AP) - For the first time in a while, the Houston Astros could enjoy a game.

The Astros ended their team-record losing streak at 12, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-5 Sunday behind three hits and three RBIs from Marwin Gonzalez.

"I'm glad it's over with, but those guys in there made it a lot better because of the way they played," Houston manager Brad Mills said.

Gonzalez, who ended an 0-for-16 streak, agreed with Mills.

"It was hard for us to win a game," Gonzalez said. "We finally got a game, and we all played hard. That's all we can do."

Hours after Houston traded third baseman Chris Johnson to Arizona - the Astros' fifth deal of the month - Jordan Schafer homered and drove in three runs.

Houston, a big league-worst 35-68, won for only the third time in 28 games.

The skid matched Kansas City and the Chicago Cubs for the longest in the major leagues this year. It broke the previous Astros' record of 11, set in 1995 and matched over the end of the 2009 season and start of 2010, STATS LLC said.

Lucas Harrell (8-7) allowed two runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings, his first victory in five starts since a six-hit shutout against San Diego on June 27.

Harrell, who improved to 6-1 at home this season, said he didn't feel great about the way he threw the ball, but he made big pitches when he needed to.

"There were a couple things that I did wrong," Harrell said. "I didn't feel like my body was in sync with my arm. I was missing sporadically."

Said Mills: "When we have played so well all year long at home and go through a rough homestand like this and then win, that is a big breath of fresh air to be able to do this."

James McDonald (10-5) walked a career-high seven in five innings, allowing five runs and six hits. He has lost consecutive decisions for the first time this season and has an 8.71 ERA in his last four starts.

"The last couple outings have been rough," McDonald said. "I think every year I've pitched, I've been in the same situation where you have to fight your way out of a couple of rough starts. I've got some work ahead of me."

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said McDonald worked hard, but his delivery and release point were inconsistent.

"This guy was lights-out," Hurdle said. "This is his second full season in the major leagues. This isn't really that weird in the context of what goes on - he's hit a wall. He was hard to hit, but then you're getting to a point where you're just trying to throw strikes and you're not painting locations like we've seen him do."

J.D. Martinez's sacrifice fly put Houston ahead in the third.

Garrett Jones hit a two-run homer in the fourth, a drive into the right-field upper deck. The Pirates have homered in a team-record 19 straight road games.

Schafer's two-run homer gave the Astros the lead for good in the bottom half. Martinez tripled in the fifth on a ball misplayed by Jones in right and then scored on Scott Moore's single. After catcher Michael McKenry made a diving tag at the plate on Moore on a ball in front of the plate, Schafer hit an RBI groundout for a 5-2 lead.

Moore singled in a run in the sixth off Kevin Correia. Neil Walker's RBI double off Fernardo Rodriguez cut the gap to 6-3 in the seventh before Gonzalez hit a three-run double down the left-field line with two outs.

Chuckie Fick threw a run-scoring wild pitch in the ninth, and Walker hit a sacrifice fly off Xavier Cedeno.

NOTES: After the game, Houston optioned IF Brian Bixler to Triple-A Oklahoma City and recalled INF Brett Wallace. ... Scott Moore started at third base in place of Johnson, and newly acquired Steve Pearce started at first base. Pearce was claimed off waivers from Baltimore on Saturday. ... Pittsburgh has 108 home runs this season, one more than last year. ... RHP Bud Norris, 5-8 with a 5.05 ERA this season, will start for the Astros on Monday at Milwaukee against RHP Marco Estrada, who is 0-4 with a 4.52 ERA. ... LHP Erik Bedard, 5-11 with a 4.32 ERA, is to start for Pittsburgh on Monday at the Chicago Cubs.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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A tall task for Phillies

DeMarco: Ruben Amaro had little choice but to sign Cole Hamels to an extension, but in the long run the deal could inhibit him putting enough pieces in place to help the Phillies win in the near future.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/48388555/ns/sports-baseball/

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AND FROM THE TV END ...

This from AP Television Writer David Bauder just now:

"An opening ceremony from the mother country with a Beatle, a queen and Mr. Bean proved irresistible for viewers in the United States, with a record-setting 40.7 million people watching NBC's first night of summer Olympics coverage. The Nielsen company said Saturday that London's opener was the most-watched opening ceremony of any summer or winter Olympics. It topped the previous mark of 39.8 million people who watched the 1996 Atlanta Olympics begin, and the 34.9 million who watched the colorful first night from Beijing four years ago."

? David Bauder ? Twitter http://twitter.com/dbauder

___

EDITOR'S NOTE ? "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item, and get even more AP updates from the Games here: http://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tv-end-223144027--oly.html

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Jesse Jackson Jr. in Mayo Clinic for depression

FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2011 file photo, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., D-Ill., is seen during the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington. When Jackson disappeared on a mysterious medical leave in June 2012, it took weeks for anyone in Washington to notice. Jackson has never lived up to the high expectations on the national stage. But none of that seems to matter in his district, where he?s brought home close to $1 billion in earmarks and other funding and won every election since 1995 in a landslide, despite nagging ethical questions over links to imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The dual roles could help explain why the Democrat has given so few details of his medical leave. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2011 file photo, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., D-Ill., is seen during the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington. When Jackson disappeared on a mysterious medical leave in June 2012, it took weeks for anyone in Washington to notice. Jackson has never lived up to the high expectations on the national stage. But none of that seems to matter in his district, where he?s brought home close to $1 billion in earmarks and other funding and won every election since 1995 in a landslide, despite nagging ethical questions over links to imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The dual roles could help explain why the Democrat has given so few details of his medical leave. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) ? Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., whose whereabouts haven't been disclosed since he quietly took a medical leave from Congress several weeks ago, is being treated for depression at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, according to a statement released by the hospital late Friday.

Jackson is undergoing an extensive inpatient evaluation for depression and for gastrointestinal issues, the hospital said, providing the first details about his medical condition. But the statement didn't disclose where the longtime Chicago congressman, the son of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, had previously been staying.

"Further information will be released as Congressman Jackson's evaluation proceeds," the statement said, adding that he and his family were "grateful for the outpouring of support and prayers that have been received throughout his care."

Phone messages left by The Associated Press for his spokesman weren't returned Friday. In 2004, Jackson underwent a procedure to help him lose weight that involves removing part of the stomach and rearranging the intestine.

The Democrat went on leave June 10, though his office didn't disclose it until weeks later and has been mum on details ever since. Initially, his office said Jackson was being treated for exhaustion. But his staff later said Jackson's condition was more serious and required inpatient medical treatment. They also said Jackson has been grappling with emotional issues.

Under mounting pressure from his colleagues and constituents, his office released a statement last month from his unnamed doctor saying Jackson was receiving intensive medical treatment at a residential treatment facility for "a mood disorder."

The timing of his medical leave has raised questions, in part because Jackson is facing an ethics investigation in the U.S. House connected to imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The House Ethics Committee is investigating allegations that Jackson was involved in discussions about raising money for Blagojevich's campaign in exchange for the then-governor appointing him to President Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat. Blagojevich is serving a 14-year prison sentence for corruption.

Jackson was not charged and has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

Jackson faces a Republican and independent candidate in November, though he's widely expected to win re-election. He first won office in a 1995 special election and has easily won each race since. His district includes parts of Chicago and some suburbs.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-07-27-Jackson-Leave%20of%20Absence/id-8c9c095060f2440d8069941069c5579d

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BUILD YOUR SELF ESTEEM, A STARTER GUIDE TO SELF ...

BUILD YOUR SELF ESTEEM, A STARTER GUIDE TO SELF IMPROVEMENT

So how do you stay calm, composed and maintain self esteem in a tough environment? Here are some tips you may to consider as a starter guide to self improvement.

Imagine yourself as a Dart Board. Everything and everyone else around you may become Dart Pins, at one point or another. These dart pins will destroy your self esteem and pull you down in ways you won?t even remember. Don?t let them destroy you, or get the best of you. So which dart pins should you avoid?

Dart Pin #1 : Negative Work Environment
Beware of ?dog eat dog? theory where everyone else is fighting just to get ahead. This is where non-appreciative people usually thrive. No one will appreciate your contributions even if you miss lunch and dinner, and stay up late. Most of the time you get to work too much without getting help from people concerned. Stay out of this, it will ruin your self esteem. Competition is at stake anywhere. Be healthy enough to compete, but in a healthy competition that is.

Dart Pin #2: Other People?s Behavior
Bulldozers, brown nosers, gossipmongers, whiners, backstabbers, snipers, people walking wounded, controllers, naggers, complainers, exploders, patronizers, sluffers? all these kinds of people will pose bad vibes for your self esteem, as well as to your self improvement scheme.

Dart Pin #3: Changing Environment
You can?t be a green bug on a brown field. Changes challenge our paradigms. It tests our flexibility, adaptability and alters the way we think. Changes will make life blog difficult for awhile, it may cause stress but it will help us find ways to improve our selves. Change will be there forever, we must be susceptible to it.

Dart Pin #4: Past Experience
It?s okay to cry and say ?ouch!? when we experience pain. But don?t let pain transform itself into fear. It might grab you by the tail and swing you around. Treat each failure and mistake as a lesson.

Dart Pin #5: Negative World View
Look at what you?re looking at. Don?t wrap yourself up with all the negativities of the world. In building self esteem, we must learn how to make the best out of worst situations.

Dart Pin #6: Determination Theory
The way you are and your behavioral traits is said to be a mixed end product of your inherited traits (genetics), your upbringing (psychic), and your environmental surroundings such as your spouse, the company, the economy or your circle of friends. You have your own identity. If your father is a failure, it doesn?t mean you have to be a failure too. Learn from other people?s experience, so you?ll never have to encounter the same mistakes.

Sometimes, you may want to wonder if some people are born leaders or positive thinkers. NO. Being positive, and staying positive is a choice. Building self esteem and drawing lines for self improvement is a choice, not a rule or a talent. God wouldn?t come down from heaven and tell you ? ?George, you may now have the permission to build self esteem and improve your self.?

In life blog, its hard to stay tough specially when things and people around you keep pulling you down. When we get to the battle field, we should choose the right luggage to bring and armors to use, and pick those that are bullet proof. Life?s options give us arrays of more options. Along the battle, we will get hit and bruised. And wearing a bullet proof armor ideally means ?self change?. The kind of change which comes from within. Voluntarily. Armor or Self Change changes 3 things: our attitude, our behavior and our way of thinking.

Building self esteem will eventually lead to self improvement if we start to become responsible for who we are, what we have and what we do. Its like a flame that should gradually spread like a brush fire from inside and out. When we develop self esteem, we take control of our mission, values and discipline. Self esteem brings about self improvement, true assessment, and determination. So how do you start putting up the building blocks of self esteem? Be positive. Be contented and happy. Be appreciative. Never miss an opportunity to compliment. A positive way of living will help you build self esteem, your starter guide to self improvement.

No related posts.

Source: http://blindarticles.com/build-your-self-esteem-a-starter-guide-to-self-improvement.html

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Play ? The Olympic Effort of Early Childhood | Best Practice in ...

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

Source: http://cindyterebush.blogspot.com/2012/07/play-olympic-effort-of-early-childhood.html

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How to Get the Best NEC Code Book ~ Furniture Home Improvement

NEC Code Book is a very important book in the job of construction. Construction always attached with the electrical systems like put in the simple analogy on the inevitable need of the house about electricity. Electricity plays an important role in human needs because electricity is one of the most important sources of power then in making building or house, the engineer and architect should really aware with the standard of the electricity that has been set up by the governments. The governments set the standard of the electricity matter in the regulations in order to manage and regulate the electricity needs of the society. The electrical power is being divided in many portions for the society thus in order to make everyone get the electricity, governments should regulate the amount of the electricity that every households could consume. It would be riots and chaos if electricity matter is about being regulated by the governments. It is the job of the engineer and architects, as the parties whom build the building to comply with the regulation and on how to comply, it depends on the understanding about NEC Code Book.

Thus the importance of NEC Code Book for engineer and architects is undeniable. Then what you should do to get the best book? First thing first check the publisher which sells the books. Make sure that the publishers are credible enough to sell the books. If you want to come to the shop to buy it then it is okay or if you want to ship the books then it is also okay but make sure they have reliable background on shipping so when you order the book then there will be no problems about shipping and many more. The next thing that you should aware is the comprehensively of the books, make sure you get the most comprehensive books for your advantage.

The next thing that you have to consider is the price. If you want to make lower price then what you have to do is buy more than one or two books. This could be tricked into asking your colleagues to buy the books together so both of you could get the best books with more compromisable price. The importance of the NEC Code Book and Construction Book Express id extremely important thus you have obligation to buy it if you are working in the engineering or architecture fields. When you have the books, you will get better understanding about the regulations on construction and you would make more effective and better working by following the regulations perfectly. Not to mention, most of the clients choose the agents of construction who have better understanding about the concept of construction and the regulations that follow it.

Source: http://anangrydakotademocrat.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-to-get-best-nec-code-book.html

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DIY Institute: Green Building Series | Community Forklift

?

As you may know, Community Forklift is located in the Port Towns area, just outside NE DC near the historic Port of Bladensburg.? For centuries, this area has been an important center for commerce and industry.? In colonial times, before runoff filled the port with silt, tall ships would pull up to the docks and load up with barrels of tobacco.? Today, the area is crisscrossed by train tracks, and hundreds of suppliers and tradespeople operate out of industrial parks along the Kenilworth Avenue corridor.??

But the next chapter is being written in Port Towns history, as we receive national attention for the growing number of green businesses and activity here.? One block from Community Forklift, you?ll find ECO City Farms, an educational, not-for-profit enterprise designed to serve as a prototype for sustainable local farming.? They sum it up this way:? ?We grow great food, farms, and farmers.??

Check out this great series they are offering right now!? It is open to the public, and sounds really fun.

?

Want to build a new world and not afraid to get your hands dirty?? Have you ever wanted to implement your own green building project at home or in your community but couldn?t find practical hands-on experience?? ECO City Farms is excited to announce our new DIY Institute: Green Building Series, a program of hands-on courses in sustainability skills and strategies for local self-reliance.? Please check out our course offerings and do spread the word to your networks!? Come learn new skills with us in a dynamic farm learning environment with experienced instructors.

• Intro to Permaculture : (Fri, August 17th)
• Hoophouse Design/Build with PGCC : (Fri, September 7th)
  
• Greywater and Rainwater Capture : (Sat, September 15th)
• Greenroofs for small structures : (Sat, September 29th)
• Build an Earthen Oven : (Sat & Sun, October 20th & 21st)

Click Here to view full description and see registration information!

PLEASE SHARE WIDELY!

?
Adam Schwartz
Farm Manager, ECO City Farms
Port Towns, MD
301-275-2362

keywords: permaculture, green building, earthen oven, cob construction, natural building, greenroof, living roof, low impact development, greywater, rainwater harvest, hoophouse, greenhouse, sustainability, regenerative agriculture, watershed best-practices, living machine, constructed wetlands, biomimicry, re-skilling, transition towns

Posted on July 26, 2012 at 6:29 PM in Community Happenings, Events, News ??|??RSS feed |?? Respond ??|?? Trackback URL

Source: http://communityforkliftthriftstore.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/diy-institute-green-building-series/

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sandstone paving, stone cladding - Stone Cladding:Beautifying Your ...

Would you like to improve the appearance of your home? Try perth stone paving. This has countless distinct functions for garden landscaping. You could find these smooth-textured pavers in patios, sidewalks, driveways. Contractors and landscape design specialists use them frequently for garden walls, borders, and seats. Additionally, they set this all around private pools or use this to create steps, retain walls, or stepping-stones. Your homebuilder or artist may incorporate pavers of various styles, sizes, and tones to make a stylish paving design. Here is additional information concerning this option.

Sandstone Paving: Beautifying Gardens

Sandstone paving is popular in garden areas. These pavers can be piled over one another to make short walls all-around a garden or fountain. Your homebuilder ought to place mortar in between the pavers to help keep the construction from falling over. Sandstone pavers make good-looking borders trimming around patios, driveways, and gardens.

You may place sandstone pavers about private pools for a vivid and attractive surface area. The earth-toned colors of sandstone usually contrast perfectly with the pool colour. Your building contractors may use a sealer to guard the sandstone from deteriorating from saltwater or sunlight. They can even utilize sandstone pool coping along side the side of the pool for a consistent appearance. They could even use special non-slip coatings to the surface for security.

Homebuilders may install these pavers as steps leading to the entranceway, patio, deck, or porch for a resort-like feel. Setting up the stones in a mortar base can even them out and keep them long lasting. You may turn sandstone pavers on their sides to make a small retaining wall over the side of the steps.

You may use stone cladding for both the interior and exterior of your home to add inventive and decorative feature. You will discover this inside a home, near fireplaces and walls. On the exterior, home builders utilize stone cladding over the framing or affixed on outside walls- either siding or brick to offer a durable finish.

Here are popular types of stone cladding:

-Solid Stone

This is the most favorite kind of stone cladding. This is naturally hefty and difficult to move. Even though some people still construct homes entirely out of polished stone, it is more common to utilize this as an accent. These are great for chimneys, or a single wall.

-Faux Stone

Faux stone is a manufactured product that appears and feels like real stone. It is available in lots of tones, shapes and sizes. The only real distinction is its weight- it is lighter than authentic stone. Makers create faux stone from poured concrete and shape this into slate pieces or stones using moulds. As opposed to real stone, you don't need to seal this to prevent wetness from seeping within.

-Polyurethane Foam Panels

This sort of stone cladding features the appearance of real stone but none of its weight. They are really light and resistant to moisture. Also, they are easy to install and ship. You can set these over existing siding or interior walls, boosting the efficiency of your insulation.

With sand stone paving and cladding you could make your house more appealing and long lasting. Get top quality materials and employ specialists for proper installation.

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The Biggest Financial Hurdles Facing Gen Y - Business Insider

You've probably relied on your parents to manage your financial matters for years, and you may not know more than a few basic things about personal finance. Then you graduate from college, and suddenly you're responsible for all kinds of important financial decisions. If you want to manage your finances responsibly, you'll need to overcome the following challenges.

Financial Illiteracy
"The crying need for more financial literacy in Gen Yers cannot be overstated," says consumer finance expert Kevin Gallegos, vice president of Phoenix operations for Freedom Financial Network. "The good news is that managing finances is not an innate skill, but something that is learned like math, reading and writing."

Unfortunately, financial literacy is rarely taught in schools. Gallegos says that Gen Yers must take the initiative to educate themselves about topics such as budgeting and living within one's means, paying bills on time, managing credit and debt, making regular contributions to savings, tackling student loans, and planning for retirement. Following just one good online or print resource can provide the foundation to learn these basics, he says.

Repaying Student Loans
In an age where an undergraduate degree no longer seems to be good enough, student loans have become the biggest challenge facing many young people. "There's so much pressure to go to a good school and compete for limited jobs that a lot of students are taking out expensive loans to finance an education that won't pay for itself no matter how good a job they land after graduation," says attorney Shane Fischer of Winter Park, Fla. "If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have gone to an expensive private school and would have opted for the less prestigious public school."

According to FinAid.org, a student financial aid information website, more than half of graduate students borrow to finance their educations, and their average cumulative debt just from grad school is around $31,000. Almost all law students - 88.6% of them - borrow. These students incur an average of about $80,000 in debt. Students pursuing professional degrees fare similarly, with 86.2% borrowing and an average cumulative debt of more than $87,000. Undergraduate debt adds roughly another $10,000 to these students' debt loads.

SEE: Student Loans: Paying Off Your Debt Faster

Learning to Invest and Take Risks
The economy's performance over the last few years has had a major impact on Gen Yers who haven't been able to find jobs or who have watched their parents' investment returns disappear.

"Unfortunately, the economic downturn has caused many young adults to fear investing in the stock market," says Rachel Cruze, professional personal finance speaker and daughter of financial expert Dave Ramsey. "But you have to think longterm when investing in the stock market. The past few years have been rough, but over time the stock market has made money. If you begin investing early and often you'll be able to build wealth through your investments," she says.

Brian Ullmann, CFP and wealth manager at Ford Financial Group, an independent advisory firm in Fresno, Calif., also says that market turmoil has impacted 20-somethings' investment strategies.

"Our younger clients now have a much lower tolerance for risk and have more conservative portfolios. In fact, we have clients in their 20s who wish to have their portfolio positioned for someone twice their age," he says. "One of our concerns is that this new, more conservative positioning for Gen Y clients is a permanent change and one that could lead them to miss out on opportunities in the future."

SEE: What Is Your Risk Tolerance?

Overcoming Pressure to Follow a Worn-Out Path
"One of the biggest hurdles is overcoming societal pressures," says Matthew B. Brock, CFP, senior partner and owner of Divergent Planning in Bethesda, Md.

Brock says Generation Y is constantly being told that there is a right way to plan financially. This advice often comes from an older generation whose financial status doesn't show that their way is the right way.

"Young adults no longer want to keep up with the Joneses because the Joneses lost their jobs, lost their house and may never retire," Brock says.

Gen Yers' choices reflect their preference for freedom and experience over property ownership, he says.

"Most young adults are waiting longer to get married, waiting longer to move to the suburbs and waiting longer to have kids," says Brock.

Renting means they can leave a job and move to another city on a whim, save up and then take a few months off to travel, or quit a job to start a company. The American Dream does not always include buying a house, a nice car and earning a high salary. It means being free to do what makes you happy.

"Older generations need to recognize younger people may have a better idea of what happiness means than they ever did," he says.

The Bottom Line
To overcome the challenges they face, today's young adults need to educate themselves about personal finance, manage the student loan debt they've already incurred, avoid or minimize additional debt, learn basic investment skills, and not be afraid to choose their own paths. Also, as youth are so often advised, they need to practice patience.

"Remember that you're still young and be content with what you have," says Cruze. "Work hard so that you're able save up to make large purchases that you can afford without having to pay interest."

DON'T MISS: 23 Secrets to booking cheap flights >

This story was originally published by?Investopedia.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-biggest-financial-hurdles-facing-gen-y-2012-7

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How To Use Your Credit Card For Ultimate Financial Advantage ...

This post explains the importance of establishing good. credit, and how to use your credit card like a powerful tool for. ultimate financial leverage. It also reveals exactly what to. look for on a credit card application, and how to calculate that.

elusive monthly finance charge. Using a credit card wisely is an important step in building a. If you are trying to re-build your credit or. if you are young and just starting out, pay close attention the. next time you receive an special card release within the mail or online.

When you are trying to build a positive credit the past for. yourself, creating use of the right credit card creates sense. purchases and then creating your payments on time each month is a. simple, reliable method to build an outstanding credit report. WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON A CREDIT CARD APPLICATION.

If you receive a credit card application that appears to release a. low monthly interest rate, do not make a decision until you turn. it over and closely examine the Disclosure Box. find a more important measure of credit terms ? the Annual. Percentage Rate, or APR.

By federal law, the Disclosure Crate will. also tell you whether or not the card has what is called a grace. period ? a many days, usually 25, until your purchase. starts to accrue finance charges. If a card has a reasonable.

grace period and you pay off your balance at the end of each. billing cycle, you will not should pay finance charges. difficult to retrieve credit cards that release these grace periods,. so if the Disclosure Crate does not declare one then throw the. application within the trash and look for an improved offer.

If you do not have any credit the past at all, a credit card. company will not should release you a very high credit limit, but. that?s probably greatest when you are just starting out. want to be tempted to leave into serious debt with your very first. HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR MONTHLY FINANCE CHARGES.

Ideally you should pay off your balance each month to avoid. paying any finance charges, but when that isn?t likely it?s. important to have knowledge of the actual cost regarding the products you purchase. annual percentage rate, divided by 12 months, gives you the. periodic rate that should be applied to your outstanding balance.

You can estimate what your monthly finance charge. will be by multiplying the periodic rate times the outstanding. It shall sound complicated at first, but receiving the time. to learn this simple equation can make a large difference in how. you use your credit card.

When you are can look how many you actually provide on an item. that you do not pay off at the end regarding the month, it may help. you to resist the temptation to over-use your card. you should buy may be on sale at the time you buy it,. but whether you do not pay off your balance at the end regarding the month.

then those finance charges can dramatically increase the actual. amount you will end up paying. USE YOUR CREDIT CARD AS THE STRONG FINANCIAL TOOL. Credit cards are only one regarding the tools available to help you. build a positive credit history.

Creating on-time payments for. other forms of credit, for example rent and utilities, are also. Depending on your situation, within 1-2 years your. credit rating should be improved enough that you no detailed need to. use your card for new purchases to maintain your good credit.

Use these tools wisely, and they will help build your financial.

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Source: http://creditworker34.wordpress.com/2012/07/25/how-to-use-your-credit-card-for-ultimate-financial-advantage/

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Rihanna shows her curves in white swimsuit on a parasailing ...

Rihanna was spotted in a white one-piece bathing suit when she and some pals went parasailing off the coast of Cannes, France on July 24th, 2012.

The pop star was seen up in the air with one of female friends over the ocean while her other girls were awaiting for their friends? return in the boat below. Rihanna seemed to be very excited and comfortable on the parasailing adventure. She soared high above the water, making faces and swinging her legs in the air. The ?Talk That Talk? songstress continued sailing through the sky in a yellow parachute in a smiley face when she spotted the paparazzi.

Enjoy hot pictures of Rihanna on her vacation at the French Riviera.

Rihanna shows off her flawless figure in a white swimsuit on the boat on July 24th, 2012.

The ?Umbrella? songstress looks very excited as she parasails high above the Mediterranean, flying footloose and fancy free with a friend.

The beauty seems to get full of fun when she gets high. She shows off her perfect legs and smiley face in the blue sky.

Rihanna gives the middle finger and continues sailing through the sky with a smiley face when she spots the paparazzi.

Rihanna embarked on a holiday cruise around the Mediterranean last week and spent her in Saint-Tropez earlier over the weekend. She became her own tourist attraction as she walked around the coastal town in a tiny bikini top and white skirt. The Bajan beauty got full of fun during the time on the French Riviera. Rihanna was seen to venture into Saint-Tropez to shop, dive into the Mediterranean and happily snapped pictures with her long time friends. Some other stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Busta Rhymes, Swizz Beatz, and even Rihanna's ex Chris Brown are all vacationing in France at the same time.

Showing off her perfect form, the Bajan babe accessories her holiday ensemble with an arm bangle and a pair of toe-strap high-heel sandals with a Prada purse.

Related links:

Rihanna Sexy Bikini 2012: Singer Flaunts Hot Body in Cutaway Silver Swimsuit (Pictures)

Rihanna Rocks a Tom Ford Crocodile Applique Gown at the Met Gala 2012

Source: http://swimwear.ezinemark.com/rihanna-shows-her-curves-in-white-swimsuit-on-a-parasailing-adventure-77384f633bc0.html

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Increasing dopamine in frontal cortex decreases impulsive tendency, UCSF-Gallo scientists find

Public release date: 25-Jul-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jennifer OBrien
jennifer.obrien@ucsf.edu
415-502-6397
University of California - San Francisco

Raising levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the frontal cortex of the brain significantly decreased impulsivity in healthy adults, in a study conducted by researchers at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco.

"Impulsivity is a risk factor for addiction to many substances, and it has been suggested that people with lower dopamine levels in the frontal cortex tend to be more impulsive," said lead author Andrew Kayser, PhD, an investigator at Gallo and an assistant professor of neurology at UCSF. "We wanted to see if we could decrease impulsivity by raising dopamine, and it seems as if we can."

The study was published on July 4 in the Journal of Neuroscience.

In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, 23 adult research participants were given either tolcapone, a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that inhibits a dopamine-degrading enzyme, or a placebo. The researchers then gave the participants a task that measured impulsivity, asking them to make a hypothetical choice between receiving a smaller amount of money immediately ("smaller sooner") or a larger amount at a later time ("larger later"). Each participant was tested twice, once with tolcapone and once with placebo.

Participants especially those who were more impulsive at baseline were more likely to choose the less impulsive "larger later" option after taking tolcapone than they were after taking the placebo.

Magnetic resonance imaging conducted while the participants were taking the test confirmed that regions of the frontal cortex associated with decision-making were more active in the presence of tolcapone than in the presence of placebo.

"To our knowledge, this is the first study to use tolcapone to look for an effect on impulsivity," said Kayser.

The study was not designed to investigate the reasons that reduced dopamine is linked with impulsivity. However, explained Kayser, scientists believe that impulsivity is associated with an imbalance in dopamine between the frontal cortex, which governs executive functions such as cognitive control and self-regulation, and the striatum, which is thought to be involved in the planning and modification of more habitual behaviors.

"Most, if not all, drugs of abuse, such as cocaine and amphetamine, directly or indirectly involve the dopamine system," said Kayser. "They tend to increase dopamine in the striatum, which in turn may reward impulsive behavior. In a very simplistic fashion, the striatum is saying 'go,' and the frontal cortex is saying 'stop.' If you take cocaine, you're increasing the 'go' signal, and the 'stop' signal is not adequate to counteract it."

Kayser and his research team plan a follow-up study of the effects of tolcapone on drinking behavior. "Once we determine whether drinkers can safely tolerate this medication, we will see if it has any effect on how much they drink while they're taking it," said Kayser.

Tolcapone is approved as a medication for Parkinson's disease, in which a chronic deficit of dopamine inhibits movement.

###

Co-authors of the paper are Daicia C. Allen, BS, Ana Navarro-Cebrian, PhD, Jennifer M. Mitchell, PhD and senior author Howard L. Fields, MD, PhD, of the Gallo Center and UCSF.

The study was supported by funds from the Wheeler Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, the U.S. Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, the Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Foundation/The Foundation for Alcohol Research and the State of California.

The UCSF-affiliated Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center is one of the world's preeminent academic centers for the study of the biological basis of alcohol and substance use disorders. Gallo Center discoveries of potential molecular targets for the development of therapeutic medications are extended through preclinical and proof-of-concept clinical studies.

UCSF is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care.

Follow UCSF

UCSF.edu | Facebook.com/ucsf | Twitter.com/ucsf | YouTube.com/ucsf

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

Public release date: 25-Jul-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jennifer OBrien
jennifer.obrien@ucsf.edu
415-502-6397
University of California - San Francisco

Raising levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the frontal cortex of the brain significantly decreased impulsivity in healthy adults, in a study conducted by researchers at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco.

"Impulsivity is a risk factor for addiction to many substances, and it has been suggested that people with lower dopamine levels in the frontal cortex tend to be more impulsive," said lead author Andrew Kayser, PhD, an investigator at Gallo and an assistant professor of neurology at UCSF. "We wanted to see if we could decrease impulsivity by raising dopamine, and it seems as if we can."

The study was published on July 4 in the Journal of Neuroscience.

In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, 23 adult research participants were given either tolcapone, a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that inhibits a dopamine-degrading enzyme, or a placebo. The researchers then gave the participants a task that measured impulsivity, asking them to make a hypothetical choice between receiving a smaller amount of money immediately ("smaller sooner") or a larger amount at a later time ("larger later"). Each participant was tested twice, once with tolcapone and once with placebo.

Participants especially those who were more impulsive at baseline were more likely to choose the less impulsive "larger later" option after taking tolcapone than they were after taking the placebo.

Magnetic resonance imaging conducted while the participants were taking the test confirmed that regions of the frontal cortex associated with decision-making were more active in the presence of tolcapone than in the presence of placebo.

"To our knowledge, this is the first study to use tolcapone to look for an effect on impulsivity," said Kayser.

The study was not designed to investigate the reasons that reduced dopamine is linked with impulsivity. However, explained Kayser, scientists believe that impulsivity is associated with an imbalance in dopamine between the frontal cortex, which governs executive functions such as cognitive control and self-regulation, and the striatum, which is thought to be involved in the planning and modification of more habitual behaviors.

"Most, if not all, drugs of abuse, such as cocaine and amphetamine, directly or indirectly involve the dopamine system," said Kayser. "They tend to increase dopamine in the striatum, which in turn may reward impulsive behavior. In a very simplistic fashion, the striatum is saying 'go,' and the frontal cortex is saying 'stop.' If you take cocaine, you're increasing the 'go' signal, and the 'stop' signal is not adequate to counteract it."

Kayser and his research team plan a follow-up study of the effects of tolcapone on drinking behavior. "Once we determine whether drinkers can safely tolerate this medication, we will see if it has any effect on how much they drink while they're taking it," said Kayser.

Tolcapone is approved as a medication for Parkinson's disease, in which a chronic deficit of dopamine inhibits movement.

###

Co-authors of the paper are Daicia C. Allen, BS, Ana Navarro-Cebrian, PhD, Jennifer M. Mitchell, PhD and senior author Howard L. Fields, MD, PhD, of the Gallo Center and UCSF.

The study was supported by funds from the Wheeler Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, the U.S. Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, the Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Foundation/The Foundation for Alcohol Research and the State of California.

The UCSF-affiliated Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center is one of the world's preeminent academic centers for the study of the biological basis of alcohol and substance use disorders. Gallo Center discoveries of potential molecular targets for the development of therapeutic medications are extended through preclinical and proof-of-concept clinical studies.

UCSF is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care.

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Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-07/uoc--idi072512.php

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On developing cross-cultural sensitivity, part 1 | starting over - Blogs

Working and building relationships cross-culturally is one of the most challenging and rewarding things a person can attempt in their lifetime.? The world becomes a much larger place when you are able to rediscover it through another?s eyes.?? Of course, the act of seeing an issue from two, often incompatible viewpoints can create discomfort and inner conflict as well, which is why so few people are willing to embark on this journey or finish it to the end. ?One of the best models for the ?process? of becoming culturally competent comes from Milton J. Bennett, PH.D, the director of the Intercultural Development Research Institute in Portland, Oregon.? To read about it in his own words, click here.?

The shortened version is this: most of us are, to some degree,?ethnocentric.? This means that we are blind to our own culture and see it as ?normal,? and judge all other cultures to the degree that they conform to it.? To work cross-culturally, one has to develop?ethno-relativism, or the ability to empathize with another culture and understand?if not always agree with?their values, beliefs and practices.? This isn?t the ?moral relativism? that robs us of our ability to speak prophetically against individual and social injustice, but it is the ability to suspend judgment and understand the issue from the other side?s point of view, often a hard enough task within one?s own culture.? Bennett lays out a six-step process leading from ethnocentrism to ethno-relativism, beginning with Denial, and passing through stages of Defense, Minimization, Acceptance, Adaptation, and ending with Integration.??

Denial?is simply the failure to notice cultural differences in the first place, or limit them to broad stereotypes.? My father?s family comes from a largely Norwegian-American community in northeastern Iowa.? They could readily tell you the difference between Norwegians and Swedes (even if I?m somewhat fuzzy on that one), but when it comes to understanding Hispanic, African-American or Asian cultures, they are generally at a loss.? This is simply because those communities didn?t exist in their small towns when they were children. ?You don?t feel wet if you never get out of the pool (though some of these same small towns have become strikingly diverse in recent years).

However, in an increasingly multicultural society, it becomes harder and harder to isolate oneself from other cultures, and once a person becomes aware that not everyone else sees the world quite the same way they do, the next stage is often?Defense.? This is racism?s most obvious manifestation.? Those who are in the defense stage are critical or hostile toward people from other cultures, viewing them as dirty, less intelligent, violent, and a threat to themselves or their community.? We?ve all heard the snide comments in the office or on the bus, from people who seem to know only the dark sides of Minnesota?s immigrant and refugee communities, and act as though this is the only side that matters.

Ironically, there is another way that defense manifests itself, and that is?Reversal. ?This is the person who is continually bashing their own culture and elevating the new culture?from the cool, globally-aware hipster who rails indignantly about the shortcomings of America, to the child of immigrants who devalues his parents? culture and tries to be like his American classmates.

Once this stage is past, however, prejudices become more subtle, and you enter the?Minimization?stage.? You start to enjoy the company of those from another culture, and even demonstrate some genuine curiosity.? However, deep inside, you still harbor an implicit belief that if they only got a taste of your way of life, they?d agree that it is the better way.? You speak eagerly to your Bhutanese friend about your boyfriend or girlfriend, and how you get to choose whomever you want to marry without interference from your parents.? You assume she?ll find this freedom refreshing.? Instead, she frowns.

?Well, that?s a terrible idea,? she says.? ?Your eyes are clouded by love and you can?t see each other?s flaws.? But your parents know you, and they can see clearly whether or not you are right for each other.?

?But?freedom to choose!?And romantic love! And??

??Remind me, how high is the divorce rate in America??

Not every culture values democracy when they see the instability and competition it can create.? Not every culture values individualism when they see how easily it turns to selfishness.? Never assume that your Somali friend is unsatisfied with her life of staying home and raising children, nor should she make assumptions about you if you choose to remain unmarried and pursue a career instead.?

Most people don?t mature beyond the minimization stage, in spite of our best intentions.? The tricky thing about minimization is that it doesn?t seem like racism or prejudice to us?we mean well, we want to help, but we rashly and falsely assume that everyone wants to be like us and just need to be aided along the path. ?

When I was young, I remember visiting Chicago O?Hare airport and seeing a Muslim woman in a full burqa departing from a plane.? I felt pity for her?I?would never dress that way, so surely her abusive husband was forcing her to wear that! ?However, as I spent more time listening to the voices of Muslim women, even spending a few months living in the Middle East, a more nuanced picture would emerge. ?Many Muslim women are more devoted to their faith than their husbands, and for them, the hijab is a powerful symbol of that devotion to God?not unlike my own choice to wear a cross necklace as a symbol of my own faith. ?And one can only endure young men hooting at you in the?souk so many times before several yards of black fabric and a mask start to sound like a worthwhile investment.

I don?t imagine that many of us working and volunteering among refugees are in Denial or Defense mode.? However, it is hard to move beyond Minimization without a hefty dose of self-awareness.? We all ought to do a careful personal inventory, and be honest with ourselves about our motives.? Do we rush in to our relationships eager to show our friends what they?ve been missing all these years, in hopes of remaking them in our image?? Or do we recognize that what we see as just, beautiful and normal is just as much a product of our own culture and context, and remain open to the lessons?and occasional critiques?offered by those from other cultures?

A final note:? Each and every one of us is ?ethnic.?? If you are a white, middle-class suburbanite, you may feel as if you are a blank nothing against which all other cultures seem colorful and interesting, but rest assured, you have a culture and a right to celebrate it.? I never appreciated what it meant to be Norwegian-American until I built relationships with other ?hyphenated Americans,? who helped me notice and name the values and traditions within my own unique heritage, and the impact it has had on the broader culture of the Upper Midwest.? In a weird way, celebrating our heritage can make us?less?ethnocentric?once we are able to embrace our heritage as unique and interesting, we have less need to think of it as ?normal.?

Stay tuned for Part II.

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Source: http://refugeeresettlementmn.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/on-developing-cross-cultural-sensitivity-part-1/

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