Sewell MINI of Plano Wins Elite Customer Service Award

29 Apr, 2013

PLANO, Texas, April 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ ? ;Sewell MINI of Plano has been awarded the prestigious Excellence in Sales distinction for the first time by BMW of North America, LLC. Out of 472 North American MINI and BMW dealership applications, only seven national Excellence in Sales honors were presented this year. Sewell MINI of Plano was the only MINI dealership in the country to be awarded this honor.

Sewell MINI of Plano, part of Sewell Automotive Companies, received its Excellence in Sales award in the Number One In Customer Satisfaction category. This category is evaluated specifically on the customer experience provided at the dealership, a point of pride for Sewell MINI of Plano.

?We are truly honored to be awarded the Excellence in Sales distinction, especially in the Customer Satisfaction category,? said Klint Guerry, General Manager of Sewell MINI of Plano. ?Customer service comes first for us and we stop at nothing to provide a world-class, one-of-a-kind experience for our guests.?

BMW of North America, LLC awarded the Number One In Customer Satisfaction distinction to Sewell MINI of Plano after analyzing each dealership?s process for taking care of customers. Sewell MINI of Plano?s exceptional car wash facility, customer lounge amenities (which includes an arcade), speed at which vehicles are serviced in the body shop, and the added convenience of complimentary loan cars earned top honors. Sales performance and scores from customer satisfaction surveys were also taken into consideration.

About Sewell Automotive Companies
Established in 1911, Sewell has been obsessed with service from the very beginning. This obsession with service continues today and has resulted in Sewell becoming the most awarded Texas-based dealership group for service excellence. Sewell has 14 locations in Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine, Houston, Plano, and San Antonio, employing over 1,900 associates, with close to $1.6 billion in annual sales. Today, Sewell represents a growing number of marquis automotive brands including Audi, Buick, Cadillac, GMC, Infiniti, Lexus, Maserati, MINI and Subaru. For more information, visit Sewell.com.

CONTACT:
Stephen Tolerico
+1-214-902-2230
Stolerico@sewell.com

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SOURCE Sewell

Source: http://latinbusinesstoday.com/2013/04/sewell-mini-of-plano-wins-elite-customer-service-award/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sewell-mini-of-plano-wins-elite-customer-service-award

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Banks Have Become ?Too Big To Fail? Again. Uh-Oh.

Are big banks like Citigroup getting "too big to fail" again? And what can be done?

Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

There are two competing narratives about recent financial-reform efforts and the dangers that very large banks now pose around the world. One narrative is wrong; the other is scary.

At the center of the first narrative, preferred by financial-sector executives, is the view that all necessary reforms have already been adopted (or soon will be). Banks have less debt relative to their equity levels than they had in 2007. New rules limiting the scope of bank activities are in place in the United States, and soon will become law in the United Kingdom?and continental Europe could follow suit. Proponents of this view also claim that the megabanks are managing risk better than they did before the global financial crisis erupted in 2008.

In the second narrative, the world?s largest banks remain too big to manage and have strong incentives to engage in precisely the kind of excessive risk-taking that can bring down economies. Last year?s ?London Whale? trading losses at JPMorgan Chase are a case in point. And, according to this narrative?s advocates, almost all big banks display symptoms of chronic mismanagement.

While the debate over megabanks sometimes sounds technical, in fact it is quite simple. Ask this question: If a humongous financial institution gets into trouble, is this a big deal for economic growth, unemployment, and the like? Or, more bluntly, could Citigroup or a similar-size European firm get into trouble and stumble again toward failure without attracting some form of government and central bank support (whether transparent or somewhat disguised)?

The U.S. took a step in the right direction with Title II of the Dodd-Frank reform legislation in 2010, which strengthened the resolution powers of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.? And the FDIC has developed some plausible plans specifically for dealing with domestic financial firms. (I serve on the FDIC?s Systemic Resolution Advisory Committee; all views stated here are my own.)

But a great myth lurks at the heart of the financial industry?s argument that all is well. The FDIC?s resolution powers will not work for large, complex cross-border financial enterprises.? The reason is simple: U.S. law can create a resolution authority that works only within national boundaries. Addressing potential failure at a firm like Citigroup would require a cross-border agreement between governments and all responsible agencies.

On the fringes of the International Monetary Fund?s just-completed spring meetings in Washington, D.C., I had the opportunity to talk with senior officials and their advisers from various countries, including from Europe. I asked all of them the same question: When will we have a binding framework for cross-border resolution?

The answers typically ranged from ?not in our lifetimes? to ?never.? Again, the reason is simple: Countries do not want to compromise their sovereignty or tie their hands in any way. Governments want the ability to decide how best to protect their countries? perceived national interests when a crisis strikes. No one is willing to sign a treaty or otherwise pre-commit in a binding way (least of all a majority of the U.S. Senate, which must ratify such a treaty).

As Bill Dudley, the president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, put it recently, using the delicate language of central bankers, ?The impediments to an orderly cross-border resolution still need to be fully identified and dismantled. This is necessary to eliminate the so-called ?too big to fail? problem.?

Translation: Orderly resolution of global megabanks is an illusion. As long as we allow cross-border banks at or close to their current scale, our political leaders will be unable to tolerate their failure. And, because these large financial institutions are by any meaningful definition ?too big to fail,? they can borrow more cheaply than would otherwise be the case. Worse, they have both motive and opportunity to grow even larger.

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=c7c8e866de85235e0215e5cd1987442c

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Fire destroys Danish museum, artifacts saved

Museum officials say a fire is blazing through The Museum of Danish Resistance in Copenhagen, destroying large parts of the building.

They said Sunday that no one has been injured in the fire and firefighters and staff that rushed to the scene managed to save the majority of artifacts.

The fire started in the museum cafe early Sunday and quickly spread to the exhibition hall. The cause is not yet known.

The museum exhibits objects related to the Danish resistance to the German occupation during World War II.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fire-destroys-danish-museum-artifacts-saved-101522727.html

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Crystal Fighters: You & I

What happens when you combine a Bob Dylan-style groove with George Harrison-style animatronics? A poignant story of love and devotion as told by Crystal Fighters.

Directed by Elliot Sellers, You & I is off the London-based band's forthcoming album, Cave Rave, which drops on May 28th. The bird used in the video is real, though it was totally dead when the production crew found it?on Craigslist. [iTunes, Amazon]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/crystal-fighters-you-i-484641066

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Activision CEO Kotick among top-paid CEOs in U.S

(Reuters) - Videogame publisher Activision Blizzard Inc's Chief Executive Robert Kotick received a total compensation of $64.9 million last year, making him one of the top paid CEOs in the United States.

Kotick's 2012 total compensation includes about $56 million in stock awards, while there were no stock awards for 2011. His base salary doubled to $2 million, according to regulatory filings on Friday. (http://r.reuters.com/bew67t)

The $56 million in stock awards will be paid over five years and is contingent upon meeting certain goals for company performance.

Kotick, 50, also a board member of Coca-Cola Co, was paid $8.33 million in 2011 by Santa Monica-based Activision.

The company's revenue and net income, however, rose only in single digits for 2012, slower than the growth rate it saw in 2011.

Activision's Kotick makes more than three times the $21 million pay package received by Goldman Sachs Group Inc's CEO Lloyd Blankfein in 2012, and it is 50 percent higher than Walt Disney Co CEO Robert Iger's $40.2 million compensation in 2012.

Kotick has been a director and CEO of Activision Inc since February 1991, and in July 2008, he became CEO of Activision Blizzard in connection with the combination of Activision and Vivendi Games.

(This story was corrected to show that $56 million will be paid over five years and is contingent upon company performance)

(Reporting by Thyagaraju Adinarayan in Bangalore; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Maureen Bavdek)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/activision-ceo-kotick-among-top-paid-ceos-u-200813305.html

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Sully and Denise Confront Infowars Mope (Balloon Juice)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

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Obesity may influence heart function through sex hormones

Apr. 27, 2013 ? New research suggests that changes in sex hormones as seen in obesity may have possible effects on the heart. The study by researchers from Belgium, presented at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Copenhagen, Denmark, suggests effects on heart function in healthy men with artificially raised estrogen levels and artificially lowered testosterone levels to mimic an obese state.

Estradiol, an estrogen, is primarily known as a female hormone but it also circulates at very low levels in men. Testosterone is converted to estradiol by the enzyme aromatase, the activity of which might be increased in obesity leading to raised estradiol and reduced testosterone.

To determine whether obesity might alter heart function via changes in sex hormones, Drs Maarten De Smet and colleagues at Ghent University in Belgium recruited 20 healthy men aged 20-40 and used an aromatase inhibitor and an estrogen patch to artificially alter the hormone levels to mimic sex hormone concentrations in obesity (high estradiol and low testosterone) vs contrast by an aromatase inhibitor (low estradiol, high testosterone). Prof Dr T De Backer, Cardiologist, assessed the heart function before and seven days after the intervention using ultrasonographic imaging with strain analysis, which measures the deformation of the heart between the resting and contracted states.

The men with obesity-related changes in sex hormones exhibited altered heart function. At baseline the global circumferential strain was -17.1% +/-3.9, which decreased significantly to -14% +/-2.5 (p=0.01). The contrasting group did not show any difference.

By artificially altering sex hormones in a small number of healthy men, Drs De Smet and colleagues have shown that an altered sex hormone profile as seen in obesity might be relevant for heart function. Adequately powered clinical trials with sufficient duration may establish the role of sex hormones in the heart function of obese men.

Maarten De Smet, Masters student in Medicine at Ghent University, Belgium, and first author said:

"Obesity is a major contributor to heart disease. By giving an aromatase inhibitor and estrogen to healthy men we mimicked the effect of sex hormones in obesity alone, in isolation from the rest of the obese metabolic state.

"In order to pump blood around the body the heart must fill with blood and then contract, pushing the blood out. We found that after increasing the estrogen levels and decreasing the testosterone levels in men for one week the deformation of the left heart chamber was significantly altered.

"Because the contributing factors to obesity, as well as the underlying biology, are so complicated it's a real challenge to tease apart one single aspect, so we think this study is of particular interest. As these results are from a small number of healthy men over one week, we hope to investigate sex hormone changes and the heart in the obese in the long term."

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/WqFSu6CkU-U/130428144857.htm

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Startup Common Application Wants To Make Startup Job Applications More Efficient

Startups still have a hard time finding the right applicants for their jobs. During our Disrupt NY 2013 hackathon, Codecademy engineer Bob Ren wrote a little web app that takes the Common Application for college admission as its inspiration. Just like high school students can use the Common Application to apply to multiple colleges simultaneously, Startup Common Application will take your application and then submit it to multiple startups. Large companies typically have a huge pipeline with job prospects, but startups “naturally suffer from not having the big pipelines that big companies have,” Ren told me – and for a small startup, it’s even harder to find the right applicants. Currently, startups either rely on email, Job Score or Resumator, but the system is still very inefficient, especially for the applicants. You often spend hours getting your applications ready and submitted, but a system like Startup Common Application could just automate all of this for you (and you don’t even have to pretend that you really personalized the system). Common Startup Application runs on top of Heroku and Ren is working on a number of scripts that will take his users’ data and then auto-submit it to more startups. In the spirit of the Hackathon, Ren coded until 6 a.m. and then slept an hour before getting ready for his demo this afternoon. Obviously, this is still a hack, so Ren will surely have to work on the design a bit more, but he’s definitely tackling an interesting problem. Given that he can automate much of it, what he really needs right now, of course, is support for as many startups as possible, but there are some pretty obvious ways he could monetize this service if he decides to continue working on it.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Kh3Q2IQrBRg/

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Charge your devices without an outlet with a Folding USB Solar Cell

I love to be away from the world at times. Whether I am at the beach, up in the mountains, or just hanging outside, I always have my phone with me. The thought of being ‘green’ and being able to keep my devices charged when I am out on the go made me take interest [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/04/27/charge-your-devices-without-an-outlet-with-a-folding-usb-solar-cell/

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Inside this unpleasant situation, a structured settlement buyer can place you in the favorable position of creating a slightly higher budget and avoiding financial loss. Through the pragmatic opinion, companies who pay cash at their structured settlement are highly beneficial, since provide toward the annuitants the support they've complete therapy for their own and also won't need to expect years to take delivery of them.

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Needn't be afraid just by area unit each regulated by the state and federal level all sales of payments must be authorized by the courts. This certainly could be much more so to make sure that people do not are considered being exploited and lose the fortune that's alleged to facilitate them through with an extended timeframe. Soon after the hearing in cases where a settlement sale is approved the judge can grant the structured settlement buying company the okay to receive fixed make the funds into the account.

If you are you looking for more regarding structured settlement calculator review www.fairfieldfunding.com/

Source: http://www.nuhitz.com/blog/17031/structured-settlement-life-insurance/

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Affirmations for Self-Improvement | tmcelvany

This article talks about how ?the more we practice having thoughts or beliefs that benefit our well-being, the more naturally those thoughts and beliefs will play themselves out in our everyday life,? as long as these affirmations you repeat to yourself are ?congruent with reality, and aligned with your core values.?

This is a very corny article on the surface, but the message about mindfulness and the list of affirmations are great. Really try to give this article a chance and see what it has to offer for your own life.

Trisha McElvany

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Source: http://tmcelvany.wordpress.com/2013/04/27/affirmations-for-self-improvement/

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N. Korea says it will indict American citizen

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) ? North Korea said Saturday it will soon put a detained American on trial for allegedly trying to overthrow the government, further complicating already fraught relations between Pyongyang and Washington.

The indictment of Kenneth Bae comes in the middle of a lull after weeks of war threats and other provocative acts by North Korea against the U.S. and South Korea. It has expressed rage over U.N. sanctions over a February nuclear test and ongoing U.S.-South Korean military drills, though analysts say Pyongyang's motive is to get its Korean War foes to negotiate on its own terms.

"For North Korea, Bae is a bargaining chip in dealing with the U.S. The North will use him in a way that helps bring the U.S. to talks when the mood slowly turns toward dialogue," said Koh Yu-hwan, a professor of North Korean Studies at Seoul's Dongguk University.

Bae, identified in North Korean state media by his Korean name, Pae Jun Ho, is a tour operator of Korean descent who was arrested after arriving with a tour on Nov. 3 in Rason, a special economic zone bordering China and Russia.

He is the sixth American detained in North Korea since 2009. The other Americans were eventually deported or released after high-profile diplomatic interventions, including some involving former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

"The preliminary inquiry into crimes committed by American citizen Pae Jun Ho closed," the official Korean Central News Agency said in a brief report. "In the process of investigation he admitted that he committed crimes aimed to topple the DPRK with hostility toward it. His crimes were proved by evidence."

DPRK is the acronym for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Under North Korea's criminal code, terrorist acts include murdering, kidnapping and injuring the country's citizens can lead to a death sentence or life in jail.

North Korea and the United States fought the 1950-53 Korean War and still don't have diplomatic relations. The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the United States.

KCNA didn't say when Bae's trial will take place or what the charges were.

North Korea's state media and the U.S. government have made little information about Bae public.

But his friends, colleagues and South Korean activists specializing in North Korea affairs said Bae is a Christian missionary based in a Chinese border town who frequently made trips to North Korea to feed orphans there. It is not known whether he tried to evangelize while in North Korea.

Officially, North Korea guarantees freedom of religion. In practice, authorities crack down on Christians, who are seen as Western-influenced threats to the government. The distribution of Bibles and secret prayer services can mean banishment to a labor camp or execution, defectors from the country have said.

In 2009, American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were arrested and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for trespassing and unspecified hostile acts. They were freed later that year after former President Bill Clinton visited Pyongyang to negotiate their release.

Meanwhile, South Korea is pulling its citizens from a joint factory park in North Korea after Pyongyang rejected Seoul's demand for talks on the inter-Korean symbol of detente on Saturday. The park was shuttered earlier this month after the North pulled its workers out of it, objecting to views in South Korea that the complex is a source of badly needed hard currency for Pyongyang.

__

Associated Press reporter Sam Kim contributed from Seoul, South Korea.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nkorea-says-indict-american-citizen-031457146.html

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'Gayle On The Go' For Saturday April 27 | KTLA 5

KTLA5 reporter Gayle Anderson gives us a preview of some events taking place this weekend around Los Angeles.

Saturday @ 7 a.m.
11^th Annual Donate Life Run/Walk Family Festival
Cal State Fullerton
Intramural Field
800 North State College Boulevard
Fullerton
www.donateliferunwalk.org

?Enjoy the Saturday morning sun with a fun 5K walk-run and 1K fitness run organized by Donate Life. This is an opportunity to meet and greet the community and learn about organ and tissue donation program benefitting the One Legacy Foundation.

?Saturday @ 6:30 a.m.
17^th Annual Shelter?s Right Hand 5K Fitness Walk
Central Park?
Historic Uptown Whittier
www.sheltersrighthand.org

??

Get a ?Lose Five with Five? workout at the Shelter?s Right Hand 17^th Annual 5k Fitness Walk in historic Uptown Whittier?s Central Park. The exercise benefits the Women?s and Children?s Crisis Shelter.

?

Saturday @ 6 a.m.
AbilityFirst Stroll & Roll
Universal Studios Backlot
100 Universal City
Universal City
www.abilityfirststrollandroll.kintera.org?

?The AbilityFirst Stroll & Roll is a fundraiser to support programs for children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities. ?Join the fun and adventure and walking for 2-and-a-half miles on the Backlot of Universal Studios.

Saturday @ 9 a.m.
Health Kids Day
Torrance-South Bay YMCA
2900 West Sepulveda Boulevard
Torrance
310 325 5885

?

It?s ?Healthy Kids Day? at the Torrance ? South YMCA. It?s a day to inspire families to help kids stay physically and intellectually active throughout the summer.? Saturday at the Y will be filled with active play, educational activities, performances and prizes.

?
Free!
Saturday @ 10:30 a.m.
Santa Monica Mountains Science Fest Paramount Ranch
2903 Cornell Road
Agoura Hills
805 370 2301
www.nps.gov/samo/sciencefestical.htm?

This is for inquiring minds of all ages! Become a citizen scientist; learn how to track mountain lions, bobcats, and island foxes; get to know the local wildlife; and discover the mysteries of your neighborhood national parks, at the 4th annual Science Festival. This free event is sponsored by the National Park Service in partnership with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the Children?s Nature Institute, Santa Monica Mountains Fund, UCLA LaKretz Center for CA Conservation Science, and NatureBridge.

Saturday
Los Angeles Children?s Film Festival
Aero Theatre
1328 Montana Avenue
Santa Monica
www.americancinematheque.com

?

Looking for something fun to do with your kids? Want to share a movie with them but dread walking into most feature length movies? Look no further. The Los Angeles Children?s Film Festival offers animated and live action shorts and films from around the world for everyone ages 3-18.

?
Saturday @ 11a.m.
45th Anniversary Bug In Celebration

Heroes Bar & Grill
125 West Santa Fe Ave

Fullerton
714 738 4356

www.BugIn.com

?

It?s Volkswagen lovers weekend. Celebrate the 45^th anniversary of Bug-In with a get-together in Fullerton. Volkswagen owners? are preparing for some rubbing and racing Sunday on the drag strip at the Irwindale Event Center.

?Saturday @ 10a.m.
Gems of the Medici
The Bowers Museum
2002 North Main Street
Santa Ana
71 567 3600

www.bowers.org

??

Gems of the Medici highlights some of the oldest and most unique pieces of the Medici collections. The Medici Family was an Italian financial and political dynasty during the late 14^th century. They made their money in textiles.

Free!
Saturday @ 4 p.m.
Black Talkies on Parade Film Screening??
7^th Annual Leimert Park Village Book Fair
301 202 1647
www.ClaytonMuseum.org

??

Saturday?s 7^th Annual Leimert Park Village Book Fair has a bonus. The Mame Clayton Museum?s ?Black Talkies On Parade? Film series is screening Saturday afternoon the documentary, LEIMERT PARK: THE STORY OF A VILLAGE IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES. The film explores the neighborhood, its people as well as its art, music, and poetry scenes. After the screening, the filmmakers will have a panel discussion about the film and the dynamic history and culture of Leimert Park.? ?

?

?Saturday @ 11 a.m.
Garden Tour
Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum
18127 South Alameda Street
Rancho Dominguez
310 603 0088
dominguezrancho.org

Saturday @ 9am
1^st Annual Craft Faire
American Legion Auxiliary
Hawthorne 314??
14124 South Prairie Avenue
Hawthorne
310 675 1313?

Support our veterans at the first annual craft faire at the American Legion Auxiliary in Hawthorne. Proceeds from the sale of ?homemade jams, brownies, clothing, handmade jewelry, and more benefit veterans programs.

?

Saturday @ 7 a.m.
Women?s Health Forum
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles
213 741 1151
www.kjlhradio.com/kjlh-womens-health-forum?

Healthy is the new wealthy at the 13^th Annual KJLH Women?s Health Forum. The free event offers free health screenings, exercise classes, breakout sessions, a holistic health wellness village, healthy food samples, free massages, prize giveaways and a vendor area. Oh! This is not just for women! Men can visit the ?Man Cave,? a 5,720 square foot environment JUST FOR MEN. The Man Cave will offer a variety of health screenings, such as prostrate screenings, STD screenings, HIV/AIDS testing, and BMI, diabetes, blood pressure, and lung function screenings.

?Saturday @ 9:50am
Day Out with Thomas
Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Fillmore & Western Railway?
Fillmore Central Park
250 Central Avenue
Fillmore
866 468 7630
www.ticketweb.com

?Spend the weekend with Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends at the world famous Fillmore and Western Railway Company, known as ?Home of the Movie Trains.? Take a ride with classic storybook engine.

?Saturday @ 7pm
Race to Heal Hunger
Eurocar Showroom
2920 Red Hill Avenue
Costa Mesa
Benefitting the Orange County Food Bank
714 897 6670 x 5314
www.ocfoodbank.org?

In an effort to raise much needed funds and to bring awareness to the growing issue of hunger in Orange County, there the Race to Heal Hunger at the Eurocar Showroom. The special evening includes delicious delectables, live entertainment, benefitting the Orange County Food Bank.

?Saturday @ 9am
The Flower Fields
5704 Paseo Del Norte
Carlsbad
760 431 0352
www.theflowerfields.com??

?And, time is running out to see the Flower Fields of Carlsbad is full bloom. These spectacular colors on the rolling hills of North San Diego County will only last through Mother?s Day weekend. The nearly fifty acres of Ranunculus flowers are in bloom will be gone until next spring.

?

Source: http://ktla.com/2013/04/27/gayle-on-the-go-for-saturday-april-27/

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Thanks to rare alpine bacteria, researchers identify one of alcohol's key gateways to the brain

Thanks to rare alpine bacteria, researchers identify one of alcohol's key gateways to the brain

Friday, April 26, 2013

Thanks to a rare bacteria that grows only on rocks in the Swiss Alps, researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and the Pasteur Institute in France have been the first to identify how alcohol might affect key brain proteins.

It's a major step on the road to eventually developing drugs that could disrupt the interaction between alcohol and the brain.

"Now that we've identified this key brain protein and understand its structure, it's possible to imagine developing a drug that could block the binding site," said Adron Harris, professor of biology and director of the Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction at The University of Texas at Austin.

Harris and his former postdoctoral fellow Rebecca Howard, now an assistant professor at Skidmore College, are co-authors on the paper that was recently published in Nature Communications. It describes the structure of the brain protein, called a ligand-gated ion channel, that is a key enabler of many of the primary physiological and behavioral effects of alcohol.

Harris said that for some time there has been suggestive evidence that these ion channels are important binding sites for alcohol. Researchers couldn't prove it, however, because they couldn't crystallize the brain protein well enough, and therefore couldn't use X-ray crystallography to determine the structure of the protein with and without alcohol present.

The advance came when Marc Delarue and his colleagues at the Pasteur Institute sequenced the genome of cyanobacteria Gloeobacter violaceus. They noted a protein sequence on the bacteria that is remarkably similar to the sequence of a group of ligand-gated ion channels in the human brain. They were able to crystallize this protein. Harris saw the results and immediately got in touch.

"This is something you never would have found with any sort of logical approach," he said. "You never would have guessed that this obscure bacterium would have something that looks like a brain protein in it. But the institute, because of Pasteur's fascination with bacteria, has this huge collection of obscure bacteria, and over the last few years they've been sequencing the genomes, keeping an eye out for interesting properties."

Harris and Howard asked their French colleagues to collaborate, got the cyanobacteria, changed one amino acid to make it sensitive to alcohol, and then crystallized both the original bacteria and the mutated one. They compared the two to see whether they could identify where the alcohol bound to the mutant. With further tests they confirmed that it was a meaningful site.

"Everything validated that the cavity in which the alcohol bound is important," said Harris. "It doesn't account for all the things that alcohol does, but it appears to be important for a lot of them, including some of the 'rewarding' effects and some of the negative, aversive effects."

Going forward, Harris and his lab plan to use mice to observe how changes to the key protein affect behavior when the mice consume alcohol.

They're also hoping to identify other important proteins from this family of ligand-gated ion channels. In the long term, he hopes to be involved in developing drugs that act on these proteins in ways that help people diminish or cease their drinking.

"So why do some people drink moderately and some excessively?" he said. "One reason lies in that the balance between the rewarding and the aversive effects, and that balance is different for different people, and it can change within an individual depending on their drinking patterns. Some of those effects are determined by the interactions of alcohol and these channels, so the hope is that we can alter the balance. Maybe we can diminish the reward or increase the aversive effects."

###

University of Texas at Austin: http://www.utexas.edu

Thanks to University of Texas at Austin for this article.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127966/Thanks_to_rare_alpine_bacteria__researchers_identify_one_of_alcohol_s_key_gateways_to_the_brain

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NYC picks Uber Tech app to e-hail yellow cabs (Providence Journal)

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Racing car with electric drive

Apr. 26, 2013 ? Drive technology has an electric future -- of this Fraunhofer research scientists are in no doubt. At the Sensor + Test measurement fair in Nuremberg from May 14 -16, they will use an electric racing car to present novel solutions for battery management and electronic sensor systems together with an industry partner. The scientists are following a new trend, as even FIA, the governing body for world motor sport, federation of the world's leading motoring organizations and organizer of Formula 1, is planning a racing series for electric vehicles.

From 0 to 100 in 3.6 seconds -- we're not talking about the rapid acceleration of a Porsche Carrera or Ferrari Scaglietti, but of EVE, a racing car with a very quiet engine. EVE is powered by two electric motors, one for each rear wheel. With a maximum output of 60 kilowatts, they get the e-racer going at 4500 rotations per minute. The sprinter can reach a top speed of 140 km/h, and has a range of 22 km thanks to two lithium polymer batteries, with a combined capacity of 8 kWh. Electrical engineering students from the e-racing team at the Hochschule Esslingen University of Applied Sciences designed the 300 kg car as a voluntary project alongside their studies, and they have already competed in it at the international Formula Student Electric (FSE) race in Italy. From May 14-16, the racing car will be on show at the Sensor + Test measurement fair in Nuremberg at the joint Fraunhofer trade show booth (Hall 12, Booth 537). Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen developed the entire electronic sensor system in close collaboration with Seuffer GmbH & Co.KG, an industry partner with whom the institute has been working for over 11 years. Seuffer GmbH & Co.KG is based in Calw in Baden-W?rttemberg, southern Germany, and sponsors the students of the E.Stall racing team.

"Electromobility as a topic is becoming ever more important. The racing car serves as a showcase for us to demonstrate novel sensor solutions as well as battery and energy management concepts," says Klaus-Dieter Taschka, an engineer at Fraunhofer IIS. Besides wheels, brakes, damper unit, batteries and electric motors, EVE is equipped with numerous sensors. These include braking pressure, crash, temperature and acce- leration sensors as well as sensors that monitor the accelerator and brake pedals, speed, steering angle, wheel speed and power. These last six functions could all be performed by HallinOne? sensors developed by Fraunhofer IIS, 3D magnetic-field sensors that are already a standard feature in washing machines, where they are used to determine the position and orientation of the drum.

Electronic sensors determine charge state of the battery

The two electronic sensors attached at the sides of the batteries use 3D magnetic-field sensor technology developed by Fraunhofer IIS to measure the magnetic field generated by the flow of electrical current and thus to determine the battery's level of charge. What's special about this is that the contactless sensors measure both the current that flows from the battery to the engine and the current that flows back again when the vehicle brakes. The integrated sensor system is able to eliminate disturbances and foreign magnetic fields, thus guaranteeing very precise measurements. A further advantage is that the system is also able to measure other aspects of the battery such as its voltage and temperature. The data is collected and sent to the power control unit (PCU) and the battery management system (BMS), which controls the charging and discharging processes.

Intelligent battery management system extends battery life

Battery running times and battery life are limiting factors for all electric vehicles. The BMS developed by Fraunhofer IIS in Nuremberg tackles this problem by determining the impedance spectrum of all battery cells and constantly testing whether the cells are functioning properly. This allows cells' condition, current capacity and potential service life to be ascertained and running times to be predicted more accurately.

As individual battery cells age, they are able to store less and less energy. The challenge lies in optimizing cell utilization. "Until now, a battery system was able to provide only as much energy as was available in its weakest cell. The energy stored in other cells remained unused. Our BMS has an active cell balancing system that moves energy between stronger and weaker cells. This means that all cells share the load equally, allowing the maximum capacity of the battery as a whole to be utilized," explains Dr.-Ing. Peter Spies, group manager at Fraunhofer IIS in Nuremberg. Actively balancing out the cells during the charging and discharging process extends the battery's service life and range. "EVE's current BMS is a system developed in house by E.Stall, but our solution could take its place," says Spies.

Polarization camera detects cracks in bodywork

EVE's compact design is built on a tubular steel space frame housed within a carbon fiber body. Racing around the track puts a great deal of stress on the plastic fibers, and this can lead to tiny cracks developing in the material. Fraunhofer IIS in Erlangen has developed POLKA, a polarization camera that can detect such damage at an early stage by measuring stresses within unpainted surfaces of the carbon structure. This compact camera makes any scratches visible by registering properties of light that are imperceptible to the human eye: polarization. Material stresses in the plastic cause changes in polarization. POLKA is able to collect all the polarization information for each pixel in a single shot at speeds of up to 250 frames per second. Using real-time color coding, the dedicated software translates the information collected about the intensity, angle and degree of polarization into a visual display that is accessible to the human eye. The system will also be presented at the joint Fraunhofer booth.

"We are convinced that EVE's innovative technology will allow the vehicle to perform very well while demonstrating excellent environmental awareness," says Rolf Kleiner, group manager of the battery technology department at Seuffer. And the students of team E.Stall will soon have a chance to prove it: This year EVE will be in the lineup for the Formula Student race in Italy, Spain and Czechia.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/strange_science/~3/nY_vyXLiSSM/130426073718.htm

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Astronomers discover the Ed Begley Jr. of galaxies

An international team of researchers have spotted the most fuel-efficient galaxy yet, which converts nearly 100 percent of its hydrogen gas into stars.

By Eoin O'Carroll,?Staff / April 24, 2013

The tiny red spot in this image is one of the most efficient star-making galaxies ever observed, converting gas into stars at the maximum possible rate. Visible-light observations from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (inset) reveal that the starlight in this galaxy is extraordinarily compact, with most of the light emitted by a region just a fraction of the size of the Milky Way galaxy.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/STScI/IRAM

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Six billion or so light years from here, there's a galaxy that seems to take seriously the old Lakota maxim about using the whole buffalo.

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Except by "use" we mean "form stars out of" and by "buffalo" we mean "interstellar hydrogen gas."?

Hydrogen gas is the fuel that galaxies use to make new stars, and most galaxies are the equivalent of a Hummer with a broken oxygen sensor, four flat tires, and a buffalo carcass strapped to the roof. Most of the gas meant to transport you gets wasted. But a new study has spotted a galaxy that is converting gas into stars at a rate hundreds of times that of our galaxy with almost 100 percent efficiency.

An international team of scientists looked at data from?NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and spotted a galaxy that was just blazing with infrared radiation, equivalent, they say, to a trillion suns. Observations from the Hubble telescope confirmed that the galaxy, which is affectionately known as?SDSSJ1506+54, is extremely compact, with most of the infrared light pouring from an area that is a fraction of the size of our own Milky Way.?

The researchers then used data from the IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometer in the French Alps to detect the presence of carbon monoxide, which indicates the presence of hydrogen. By combining the gas measurements with the rate of star formation, the scientists found that the galaxy was forming stars out of the gas at a rate that is close to the theoretical maximum. Their paper, which has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Astrophysical Letters, calls it "star formation at its most extreme."

A NASA press release explains just how this galaxy is achieving such efficiency:

In regions of galaxies where new stars are forming, parts of gas clouds are collapsing due to gravity. When the gas is dense enough to squeeze atoms together and ignite nuclear fusion, a star is born. But this process can be halted by other newborn stars, as their winds and radiation blow the gas outward. The point at which this occurs sets the theoretical maximum for star formation. The galaxy SDSSJ1506+54 was found to be making stars right at this point, just before the gas clouds would otherwise be blown apart.

"We see some gas outflowing from this galaxy at millions of miles per hour, and this gas may have been blown away by the powerful radiation from the newly formed stars," said Ryan Hickox, an astrophysicist at Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., and a co-author on the study.

Why is this galaxy so efficient at converting hydrogen into stars while all the others are such slouches? It actually comes down to timing. We just happen to be witnessing the time period, six billion years ago, when this galaxy produces lots of stars. The researchers speculate that this period could have been triggered by the merging of two galaxies into one.?

In any case, it's a bright spot in our sky. As Discovery News's Ian O'Neill points out those living on a planet on the outskirts of this prolific star factory will have a "night" sky that is actually brighter than daylight.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/nSOMe2q9n60/Astronomers-discover-the-Ed-Begley-Jr.-of-galaxies

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Chiefs pick Central Michigan's Eric Fisher at No 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) ? The Kansas City Chiefs have a new anchor for their offensive line.

The Chiefs selected Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher first overall in the NFL draft Thursday night, grabbing a potential replacement for Branden Albert and someone to protect the blindside of new quarterback Alex Smith. The Chiefs picked Fisher over Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel to lead off a draft heavy on offensive and defensive linemen.

"I can't even process what's happening right now," Fisher said. "This is a dream come true, the fact that I was the No. 1 pick. I can't even understand what's going on right now, but what an honor. What an honor. A great opportunity."

Fisher is the third offensive lineman picked No. 1 since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

The Chiefs had the top pick in the modern NFL draft for the first time in franchise history. But rather than announce their intentions early, like the Indianapolis Colts did in picking Andrew Luck last season, new general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid decided to wait until they were on the clock before making their choice public.

Kansas City was still considering a handful of players early this week, including Joeckel, who many believed was the best available player. Dorsey also indicated that he would listen to offers from teams trying to trade up until the last possible minute.

When nothing materialized, Dorsey phoned in his selection to Radio City Music Hall, and Fisher became the first player from Central Michigan to be picked first overall.

He's only the third player in the past 20 years to be drafted first from a non-BCS school, and the first non-quarterback. The only other player out of Central Michigan to go in the first round was Joe Staley, the San Francisco 49ers' Pro Bowl left tackle.

With surprising athleticism in a 6-foot-7, 306-pound frame, Fisher rocketed up draft boards during the annual scouting combine. His ability to make blocks in the open field ? not to mention a bit of a mean streak ? made him a natural fit for Reid's offense.

The Chiefs were in a need of a quarterback after going 2-14 a year ago, but without a top-end talent available, they acquired Smith in a trade with San Francisco. That allowed them to spend the most coveted pick in the draft on who they believed to be the best player.

While Fisher doesn't play a marquee position such as quarterback or wide receiver, and may not push the needle for many Chiefs fans, he does fill a significant need.

Albert, who the Chiefs picked in the first round in 2008, was given the franchise tag in March when the two sides failed to reach agreement on a long-term deal. He ultimately signed the tender, which guarantees him about $9.3 million next season, but has repeatedly expressed his unhappiness with the lack of long-term stability. The Chiefs granted permission to the Dolphins to speak with Albert's agent, and it's possible a trade could happen during the draft. Kansas City was seeking a second-round pick.

That would allow Fisher to slide into the starting lineup at left tackle. Even if Albert plays for the Chiefs next season, one of them could shift to the right side.

Fisher's only scholarship offers out of high school came from Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan, and he said at the combine in February that he heard from Michigan State and Purdue but that "neither of them really wanted anything to do with me."

The Chiefs certainly have made him feel wanted.

While Fisher is a solid pass blocker, his real strength comes in the running game, where he helped the Chippewas' Zurlon Tipton run for 1,492 yards and 19 touchdowns last season.

Now, he'll be blocking for Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles.

Fisher is the 13th offensive lineman that the Chiefs have drafted in the first round, the most of any position. He also continues a trend: Dorsey helped to pick offensive linemen two of the past four years when he was working for the Packers, and Reid selected offensive guard Danny Watkins with the Eagles' first-round pick in 2011.

The only other offensive linemen picked first overall had been Orlando Pace, who the Rams selected in 1997, and Jake Long, the choice of the Dolphins in 2008.

Pace started 165 games over 13 seasons, and was voted an All-Pro three times while making seven Pro Bowls. Long started 68 of the 80 games he's played over the past five seasons, going to the Pro Bowl every year from 2008-11, but appeared to decline this past year.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chiefs-pick-central-michigans-eric-fisher-no-1-002757222--nfl.html

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U.S. believes Syrian government used some chemical weapons: Hagel

MADRID, April 25 (Reuters) - Playmaker Andres Iniesta has dismissed the idea Barcelona are at the end of an era following their 4-0 Champions League mauling by Bayern Munich. Barca, who lifted the trophy in 2009 and 2011, were the favourites to win the competition ahead of Tuesday's semi-final first leg but they were so outclassed by the Germans that many pundits believe their recent spell of dominance is over. "I think it is unfair to talk of a cyclical change," the Spanish World Cup winner told a news conference on Thursday. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-believes-syrian-government-used-chemical-weapons-hagel-153259010.html

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Isaan: A Laid-back Way To Experience Amazing Thailand

Travelers in Thailand who are looking for an escape from the bustle of Bangkok, the built-up southern beaches, or another temple tour should consider a location where national parks are plentiful, ancient Khmer architecture abounds, and water buffalo roam.

That place is Isaan, Thailands landlocked Northeast region where, despite infertile soil and hot climate, traditional farming is the way of life. The environment for tourists, however, is fertile. A rich, multi-cultural blend of easygoing Thai living, stunning outdoors environments, and some of the most mouth-watering food on the planet affords travelers an opportunity to experience real Thailand, discover its agricultural roots, and revel in breath-taking Southeast Asian scenery.

Bordered by Cambodia to its south, Isaan is hugged by the mighty Mekong River to the north and east, separating it from Laos. One of the regions northernmost outposts is the sleepy town called Nong Khai, located on the banks of the Mekong, where the Laotian influence is strong. Visitors should be sure to visit the truly unusual sculptures known as Sala Kaew Ku, located just outside of town. Here the art of a Laotian mystic synthesizes Buddhism and Hindu imagery resulting in statues, many-armed goddesses, naga snakes, and a variety of human-animal hybrids, all set among lush sub-tropical gardens. In the town itself, Nong Khai is a charming place to chill out or wander about, soaking up the Isaan way of life.

Just outside Isaans second-largest city Ubon Ratchathani, in the southeastern part of the region, lies Si Saket where a sizable Northern Khmer population resides. As youd expect from somewhere that was once an important settlement in the Khmer empire (as far back as the 12th century), ancient Khmer ruins are everywhere. The largest and most complete complex is Sra Kampaeng Yai, which features three imposing stupas built on a single base and aligned side-by-side facing east. The shrine was originally dedicated to Shiva, one of the three supreme Hindu Gods, but was converted to a Buddhist temple in the 13th Century.

And speaking of temples in Si Saket, visitors also wont want to miss Wat Larn Kuad, aka, the beer bottle temple, an immaculate structure made from millions of colorful glass bottles.

Back up north, picturesque Loei Province is surrounded by mountain ranges and is known as Thailands coldest province due to its occasional sub-freezing nighttime temperatures during cold season. And while cold is a relative word, theres no debating just how cool Loei can be for tourists. The sites, retreats, and parks are too numerous to name, but we recommend the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, featuring hundreds of wild Asian elephants. The Elephants Rehabilitation Project within the reserve is under the patronage of Sirikit Kittiyakon, Thailands beloved Queen. Loei is a true outdoors destination.

Isaans ultimate outdoor experience, however, is surely Khao Yai National Park, a stunning diversity of flora and fauna located in the southwest part of the region just 250km from Bangkok. There are nearly 3,000 recorded species of plants, 320 species of birds, and 66 species of mammals, including such vulnerable or endangered ones as the Indian bison, the Asian elephant, and the Asiatic black bear. There are over 50km of hiking trails, kayaking and rafting trips, and nighttime wildlife-spotting excursions which unofficially kick off each evening when thousands of wrinkled lipped bats emerge from a cave outside the northern gate to begin their nighttime feeding. The landscape at Khao Yai is also dotted with several beautiful waterfalls, an irresistible temptation for hikers in need of a cool-down.

And after a day spent exploring the park, it will be time to eat. And in Isaan, two words come to mind: spicy and spicier! The most familiar characteristics are the sticky rice that accompanies almost every meal, and the use of fiery Thai chili peppers. Of course, not every dish is hot, and most any purveyor will make your food to-order depending on your tastes, but if you really want to experience Isaan, go for a blazing papaya salad, some grilled chicken, the sticky rice, and of course, a cold Thai beer to wash it all down. Now THAT is Isaan!

Getting to and around Isaan is easy. There are daily flights from Bangkok to several of the bigger hubs in the region, and bus routes criss-crossing the whole of the Northeast. So dont miss it: the ruins, the rural life, the incredible food, the beautiful outdoors, and a laid-back slice of Amazing Thailand.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Isaan--A-Laid-back-Way-To-Experience-Amazing-Thailand/4568785

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CISPA Is Dead, Long Live CISPA

(Releads, adds Sheikh Mohammed's comments, Dubai dateline) DUBAI/LONDON, April 24 (Reuters) - Godolphin are to close the Newmarket stable of trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni while dope tests are carried out on all racehorses in his care after 11 tested positive for steroids, Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum said on Wednesday. "There can be no excuse for any deliberate violation," Sheikh Mohammed, also Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, said in a statement sent to Reuters. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cispa-dead-long-live-cispa-020125535.html

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Binge drinking in college can lead to heart disease later in life

Apr. 23, 2013 ? Frequent binge drinking in college can cause more than a hangover. Regularly consuming multiple drinks in a short window of time can cause immediate changes in circulation that increase an otherwise healthy young adult's risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life, according to research published online today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

"Regular binge drinking is one of the most serious public health problems confronting our college campuses, and drinking on college campuses has become more pervasive and destructive," said Shane A. Phillips, PT, PhD, senior author and associate professor and associate head of physical therapy at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "Binge drinking is neurotoxic and our data support that there may be serious cardiovascular consequences in young adults."

College students age 18 to 25 years old have the highest rates of binge drinking episodes, with more than half engaging in binge drinking on a regular basis. Prior studies have found that binge drinking among adults age 40 to 60 years old is associated with an increase in risk for stroke, sudden cardiac death and heart attack, but the effect on younger adults has not been studied.

Researchers looked at two groups of healthy nonsmoking college students: those who had a history of binge drinking and those who abstained from alcohol. Binge drinking was defined as consuming five or more standard size drinks (12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, 1.5 ounces of 80 proof spirits or 8-9 ounces of malt liquor) in a two-hour period for males and four or more standard size drinks in a two-hour period for females. On average, the students who binge drink had six such episodes each month over four years. Abstainers were defined as having consumed no more than five drinks in the prior year.

Students were also questioned about their medical history, diet, history of family alcohol abuse and frequency of binge drinking.

The study found that the binge drinkers had impaired function in the two main cell types (endothelium and smooth muscle) that control blood flow. These vascular changes were equivalent to impairment found in individuals with a lifetime history of daily heavy alcohol consumption and can be a precursor for developing atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, and other cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke.

Binge drinkers were not found to have increased blood pressure or cholesterol, which are well-established risk factors for heart disease; however, both high blood pressure and cholesterol cause changes in vascular function similar to what the students demonstrated.

"It is important that young adults understand that binge drinking patterns are an extreme form of unhealthy or at-risk drinking and are associated with serious social and medical consequences," Mariann Piano, PhD, RN, co-author of the study and professor and head of the department of biobehavioral health science at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said. "Discoveries and advances in many different areas of medical science have cautioned against the notion that youth protects against the adverse effects of bad lifestyle behaviors or choices."

According to the investigators, more research is needed to determine if damage caused by binge drinking in young adulthood can be reversed before the onset of cardiovascular disease and to determine the timeframe for onset of disease.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oGNW1F2-wWE/130423161905.htm

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Netflix Spends $2B Per Year On Content, Primarily On Licensing Movies And TV Shows

Following up on their strong quarterly report earlier this week, Netflix has just released a big ol' mission statement document to their investor relations site, and it's jam packed with all sorts of great lil' details. For example: you know how every Netflix customer's first complaint is that there's just not enough great streaming content? They know ? and they're spending $2B a year to fix it.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/wnKa6dKPSYk/

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Tennis-Myanmar cancels Davis Cup events over security concerns

April 23 (Reuters) - Myanmar has decided to opt out of hosting two Davis Cup events due to security concerns following last month's anti-Muslim riots, the head of the country's tennis association said on Tuesday.

Myanmar was to host the 2013 Asia/Oceania Zone Group III and IV events from April 22-May 5 in Yangon where 19 nations were set to take part.

Sectarian violence in Buddhist-majority Myanmar killed 43 people last month. Thousands, mostly Muslims, were driven from their homes and businesses as bloodshed spread across the Southeast Asian country.

"The government informed us on April 13 that we will need to postpone the events due to security reasons," Aung Maw Thein, president of the Tennis Federation of Myanmar, told Reuters.

"While the sports ministry did not divulge the details, I think it was because of last month's problems."

Players from a number of Muslim countries like Malaysia, Bahrain and Iraq were scheduled to play in the event and the International Tennis Federation has not yet decided on alternative dates and a venue.

The world governing body could not be reached for comment. (Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; editing by Ed Osmond)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tennis-myanmar-cancels-davis-cup-events-over-security-122102926--ten.html

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Lance Armstrong sued by government over sponsor money

By Jessica Dye

(Reuters) - The U.S. government filed court documents Tuesday laying out its case against cyclist Lance Armstrong, who is accused of defrauding the Postal Service by taking millions of dollars in sponsorship money while flouting professional cycling rules by doping.

The U.S. Department of Justice said in February it would join a whistleblower lawsuit brought in 2010 by Armstrong's former teammate, Floyd Landis, and on Tuesday filed its formal complaint.

Armstrong has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and was banned for life from cycling in 2012 after accusations he had cheated for years. In January, he said the accusations were true in an interview with television host Oprah Winfrey.

Armstrong and his teammates from Tailwind Sports were paid $40 million by the Postal Service from 1998 to 2004, according to the suit. Armstrong's salary during that time, excluding bonuses, was $17.9 million, according to the complaint.

The government is suing under the False Claims Act and can recoup up to three times the amount it lost as a result of the fraud. The complaint also alleges breach of contract, unjust enrichment and fraud.

An attorney for Armstrong said the complaint was opportunistic and insincere.

"The U.S. Postal Service benefited tremendously from its sponsorship of the cycling team. The USPS was never the victim of fraud," said attorney Elliot Peters in a statement. "Lance Armstrong rode his heart out for the USPS team, and gave the brand tremendous exposure during the sponsorship years."

The complaint echoes Landis' claims that Armstrong and others defrauded the U.S. government by falsely denying the doping accusations and continuing their sponsorship relationship with the Postal Service.

When the government believes a suit has merit, it may take over the litigation. The individuals, or whistleblowers, get a portion of the proceeds if the case is successful.

The U.S. complaint accuses Armstrong of using at least one prohibited substance or method in connection with every Tour de France between 1999 and 2005. "Moreover, he knew that his teammates were engaged in similar doping practices, and he actively encouraged and facilitated those practices," the complaint said.

"(T)he United Stated suffered damage in that it did not receive the value of the services for which it bargained," the complaint said.

A lawyer for Landis, Paul Scott, said in statement that he was "pleased to see the United States take this important step toward recovering taxpayer dollars lost to fraud."

The case is U.S. ex rel Landis v. Tailwind Sports Corp, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, No. 10-976.

(Reporting by Jessica Dye in New York; Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lance-armstrong-sued-government-over-sponsor-money-021242659--spt.html

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