Big feet preference in rural Indonesia defies one-size-fits-all theory of attractiveness

May 30, 2013 ? People in most cultures view women with small feet as attractive. Like smooth skin or an hourglass figure, petite feet signal a potential mate's youth and fertility.

Because they signal reproductive potential, a preference for mates with these qualities may have evolved in the brains of our Pleistocene ancestors and are viewed by evolutionary psychologists as evidence that the preference is hard-wired into our genetic makeup.

But in new research published May 30 in the journal Human Nature, Geoff Kushnick, a University of Washington anthropologist, reports that the Karo Batak, who mostly live in scattered rural villages in the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, deem women with big feet as more appealing.

Kushnick, who studies the evolution of human reproductive strategies, suggests that culture -- not just genetics -- plays a role in deciding what makes a mate attractive. The Karo Batak predilection for big feet is linked to the society's ecological context -- that is, being rural and agricultural -- and limited exposure to Western media, he found.

"Universal features of physical attractiveness are typically thought to suggest that mate choice criteria are hard-wired in humans and that they evolved tens of thousands of years ago," Kushnick said.

"This new research supports that idea that cultural transmission of mate preferences allows humans to adapt to local environments, and this may trump hard-wired preferences."

Kushnick showed 159 Karo Batak adults five drawings of a barefoot woman with her long hair pulled back and dressed in a shirt and a skirt reaching her mid-calf. The drawings were the same except for subtle differences in foot size.

Both male and female participants judged the drawing of the woman with the largest feet most attractive and the woman with the smallest feet least attractive.

An earlier study across societies found an overall preference for women with small feet. Respondents from Iran, Lithuania, Brazil, the United States and India rated women with small feet more attractive, but those from Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, and Tanzania preferred women with big feet.

Kushnick wondered why small-foot preferences weren't universal. He compared his results with the earlier study and looked for an association between societies' foot-size preferences and three potential causes -- patriarchal values, rural versus urban ecology, and exposure to western media.

Both rural ecology and less exposure to Western media showed a statistical association with the preference for women with larger feet, whereas small feet were more desirable in urban societies with more exposure to Western media. Patriarchal values did not make a difference.

"My analyses support the notion that culturally transmitted preferences that allow people to adapt to local environments can trump evolved preferences," Kushnick said. "Cultural and social influences play a stronger role in mate choice than some evolutionary psychologists are willing to accept."

Or, as one male Karo Batak respondent was overheard saying: "Why would anyone like a woman with small feet? How would she work in the rice field?"

Big feet equal strength and greater productivity in the rice fields among the Karo Batak, who join other societies in challenging the one-size-fits-all notion of beauty.

The findings hint at how humans continue to evolve.

"The study adds more evidence of the potential for culture to drive human evolution," Kushnick said. "Since mating preferences drive sexual selection, it is possible that male-female differences in relative foot size are the product of recent evolution."

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/strange_science/~3/l3OwNMY1XS0/130530094434.htm

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Investing in White Gold! | Zero Hedge

Article courtesy of http://capitalistexploits.at/

China circa 2008? six babies die from severe kidney damage while another 300,000 suffer kidney stones. As it turns out, melamine isn?t meant to be in infant milk formula! The result was a few Chinese businessmen taken out back and shot, literally? and a nation that, for good reason, doesn?t trust the dairy industry (for starters?).

Since then China has ?enjoyed? multiple infant formula scandals, including formula containing aflatoxin, a known carcinogen, and a scandal involving milk powder containing mercury.

Outside of infant formula, but remaining on the topic of food found on Chinese supermarket shelves, it?s also possible to buy ?glow in the dark? meat. Turns out bacteria-laden pork does that. I figure there may be a market serving it in night clubs, instead of glow rods you could have ?glow kebabs? ? call it theme food.

Not to be outdone by the Europeans, who were recently caught passing off horse meat as beef, below I present a list of culinary delights to be found in the middle kingdom:

• Rice containing cadmium. A heavy metal which destroys your internal organs and causes cancer. Not a great ingredient in food methinks.
• Rat, Fox and Mink meat sold as Lamb. Come on?let?s face it, most any meat deep fried and doused in sufficient amounts of soy sauce tastes pretty much the same anyway.
• Dead, diseased pigs sold as food. This was stylishly referred to as ?swine gate?. Turns out the pseudo-rabies virus in the pigs doesn?t gel well with humans.

?

In short, buying food off a supermarket shelf in China is a high risk adventure sport. What the average man may risk on his own behalf, he is far less likely to risk on his precious spawn. Those reading this article who have loved ones, especially children will likely agree with me when I say I would NEVER let my kid so much as look at any infant formula originating out of China. Even if there is a statistically small chance of poisoning, the ultimate penalty is death. Yeah, thanks, but no thanks!

It appears many Chinese parents feel the same way, which has led to mainland Chinese buying infant formula in bulk from Hong Kong, Europe, the US, and Australasia, thereby prompting a rationing in some countries by companies such as Danone and Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

In a move reminiscent of US anti-drug trafficking efforts, the Chinese Government, exhibiting the intellectual capacity of a stuffed bear, have since restricted imports to just 2 cans per person. This has opened up a massive smuggling opportunity. You know the world is a screwed up place when transporting something so innocuous as infant formula is a punishable crime!

Hong Kong border officials last year arrested more people for smuggling baby infant formula than they did for heroin!

Markups now exceed 100% above retail prices in Europe, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. When you consider I?m talking about the retail price and not the wholesale price, those of you who are not asleep, stoned, or dim, will quickly realise the obscene profits that smuggling generates. The average Chinese newborn consumes 22,630 grams of formula in their first 6 months of life, equating to a US$1,544 retail value. Demand is overwhelming supply right now.

When a market accepts and trusts people whom they don?t know from Adam, selling infant formula out of their garage, then you know you have a market ripe with opportunity. Done properly the potential exists to create a powerful ?trusted brand?.

At present 70% of the imported infant formula market is controlled by foreign brands, with most of the independent brands run by small ?Mom and Pop? companies from NZ and Holland, who as far as our analysis shows are successful mainly due to their product coming from ?safe? jurisdictions. None we?ve found have strong marketing or endorsement programs, or are taking advantage of this opportunity in a well thought out manner.

Below is a graphic representation of the major players in this $12.5 billion sector:

Mark and I, along with our CPAN members have recently completed a ?friends and family? seed financing round in a company seeking to change this.

Using a strong marketing platform they will seek to establish themselves as a niche, high-end supplier of infant formula to the China market. I?m here in NZ, and I just met with the CEO who is sourcing supply from a boutique New Zealand dairy company. He commented to me, ?you know I wouldn?t know what to do here in NZ, all the problems seem to be solved.? This is exactly what excites us about emerging and frontier markets. There is NO shortage of problems, and the greatest profits always go to those who solve problems.

We believe this company is in the right market, has a solid strategy which they are systematically executing on, and most importantly they have a very well-established team of professionals with solid track records of operating in China. Those factors, combined with a compelling valuation, are some of the reasons we got involved.

As mentioned on our blog numerous times, we ALWAYS bet on talented, proven management first and foremost. By doing so we think the odds are stacked more in our favour than otherwise. Executed well, the rewards in this sector promise to be substantial. What is a sure bet is that someone in this space is going to make a fortune.

We have placed our bet, now let?s see how it plays out. Time will tell, and nothing in private equity is ever a sure thing. However, I?m always cognizant of the deals which have vaulted my own portfolio, and most have had the ingredients of this one. We?ll likely introduce readers again to the company in question once they hit cash flow, but prior to going public.

- Chris

?Even if there is only a 1% chance that Chinese formula is not safe, I don?t want to be that 1%.? ? a ?Mrs Li? (a Chinese mother)

Source: http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2013-05-30/investing-white-gold

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FOR KIDS: Killer-flu update

Infection that recently developed in China shows signs of being easy to spread and hard to kill

Infection that recently developed in China shows signs of being easy to spread and hard to kill

By Janet Raloff

Web edition: May 29, 2013

Enlarge

Mapping flu's emergence

Map showing provinces in eastern China where early cases of the new bird flu emerged in February through April 15, 2013.

Credit: World Health Organization/ Western Pacific Regional Office

This spring, doctors in China began encountering patients with an unusually severe form of flu. So far, it has sickened at least 131 people, killing 36. That kill rate ? more than 27 out of every 100 people known to be infected ? is very high. New studies now offer more reason for concern.

The microbes appear able to spread through the air, something not all types of bird-flu germs can easily?do. Even more worrying, the virus appears to be evolving an ability to ignore the drugs meant to kill it. These findings point to a virus with the potential to spread quickly, easily and globally.

Visit the new Science News for Kids website and read the full story: Killer-flu update.

---

Citations

T. Saey. Tests show that deadly flu could spread among people. Science News Online. May 23, 2013. [Go to]

Y. Hu, et. al. Association between adverse clinical outcome in human disease caused by novel influenza A H7N9 virus and sustained viral shedding and emergence of antiviral resistance. The Lancet published online May 28, 2013. doi: 10.1016/SO140-6736

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/350697/title/FOR_KIDS_Killer-flu_update

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GOP group ramps up minority recruiting for 2014 campaign

The ongoing saga of the Republican effort to woo minority voters continues this week with an announcement that one party group plans to spend $6 million this election cycle to recruit and support female and minority candidates at the state level.

The effort is a continuation of the Republican State Leadership Committee's Future Majority Project, a campaign founded by GOP strategist Ed Gillespie in 2011. In the past election cycle, Gillespie's team spent $5 million to recruit 125 Hispanic candidates and 185 women. For 2014, the group announced on Thursday a goal of investing "at least" $6 million to find more than 200 minority and female candidates.

"We as a party need to do a better job of having a sustained conversation with men and women of all backgrounds in our communities where we think we can make a difference. Not only telling them to run, but offering them help. I think that's an important point that we're trying to make here: that it's not only talking, it's about action," said Jose Felix Diaz, a Republican state representative from Florida taking part in the effort. "It's a good start, but we can and must do better."

Members of Future Majority Caucus, a group chaired by New Mexico Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, held a conference this week in Austin, Texas, to outline its goals and plan for the next election season. The effort is part of a wider Republican Party effort to hit a reset button with minorities and women after the party struggled with nonwhite male demographics in the 2012 election.

Earlier this year, the National Republican Committee published a wide-ranging audit of the GOP's 2012 campaign efforts urging the party to invest significant resources into making inroads with minority communities. The party is currently seeking minorities to run for office on the state and local level and adopting a permanent presence in neighborhoods and districts that traditionally vote Democratic.

Jason Villalba, a Republican state lawmaker from Texas, said he anticipates the party will even veer away from hot-button issues like implementing voter identification laws in the future in fear that it could alienate minorities.

"We recognize as a party that those kinds of issues can become divisive," Villalba said. "I'll tell you philosophically that I'm not opposed to voter ID just because I believe it's about voter integrity, not about alienating our brothers and sisters. That being said, I also recognize the political implications of those kinds of issues and we want to avoid those issues that are perceived as divisive. So I think what you're going to see over the course of the next few election cycles is moving away from that kind of an issue."

According to a memo provided to Yahoo News, the Future Minority Project's goals for the 2013-2014 cycle include:

-Identify 200 new diverse candidates of all backgrounds. This reflects a doubling of our goals from last cycle when we initiated the project.

-FMP looks to not only recruit and encourage these candidates to run?we will help them win.

-Our goal is to elect 75 new candidates of diverse ethnicities across the country.

-Invest at least $6 million for the 2013-2014 election cycle.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/republican-group-aggressively-seeking-minorty-candidates-run-2014-170713001.html

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There Will Be Wine: Shindigger Drinks Penn Badgley's Chardonnay ...

Alison Price Becker.

Shindigger was sitting next to publicist Miriam Silverberg in the front section of Midtown?s Destino early last week. ?Most people eat to live,? she proclaimed, taking a stab at one of the joint?s prized meatballs, ?but I live to eat!? Owner Anthony Curko scurried by to refill our glass of Piemonte Barbera just then, and we thought: if Ms. Silverberg lives to eat, then we must live to drink!

It all started with the introduction of a premium sparkling French wine cocktail, Pampelonne Ros? Lime, at the Dream Downtown on Monday. One day later, Shindigger was toasting Chardonnay Day with Constellation?s Clos du Bois label at The Frying Pan, where winos played cornhole alongside newlywed actress Katrina Bowden.

One ace, apparently not showing his festive colors that evening, was actor Penn Badgley.

?He?s so skinny,? whispered a nearby Cond? Nast editor. ?I heard that they offered him one of the [Chardonnay-infused] slushies and he said, ?Ew! I would never drink that.??

Unverified rumors aside, Shindigger guzzled two of the delicious Kelvin Slush Truck libations in spite of the purportedly grumpy Mr. Badgley, who sat at a nearby wrought-iron table, looking seriously aloof.

We then made the rounds, sampling the North Coast Chardonnay, Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay and Calcaire Chardonnay. Before long, we couldn?t tell if it was the NC Lightship that was swaying or our own slush-filled body. Either way, it was time to abandon ship!

Next we headed back to the Dream Downtown for Chandon?s celebration of its limited-edition summer bottle and design collaboration with Trina Turk.

?I?m a little warm,? Ms. Turk said of the 80-degree weather. ?I changed my wardrobe plan for the evening by going to the Trina Turk store in Meatpacking. My original plan was not gonna work tonight.?

?What was your favorite drink here?? we asked the designer, who was still a little hot under the collar.

?A sparkling wine cocktail. It was elderflower? Elderberry? Elder-something?it?s that St. Germain,? she said. Ms. Turk also told us that she was gearing up for even more heat over the Memorial Day Weekend.

?I?m going to go to Palm Springs. There?s no humidity!? she said with a toothy grin. ?I?m flying back to L.A. Thursday night.?

In need of a refill, a publicist suddenly pointed us toward one of the evening?s signature poisons, a Chandon Cabana Boy cocktail.

Much obliged.

The party was in full swing, with Hannah Bronfman on the turntables. We approached her.

?How are you coping with this early heat?? we wanted to know.

?There?s not much to do, besides put your hair up and put on some mad lipstick?I dunno,? she said.

?Well, we are drinking chilled beverages,? we told her. ?What would go into your ideal summer drink??

?I?d put in some mint, maybe some basil and a bit of citrus to cut the bite,? she purred.

?Are you going to be up to anything fun for the holiday??

?I?m going out east,? she divulged. ?I?m going to deejay Surf Lodge and Ruschmeyer?s.?

Her chanson du jour?

?Haim!? she exclaimed. ?Their song ?Falling??it?s so good!?

We concluded our weeklong oenophilic escapades at an intimate press dinner at Chelsea?s farm-to-table eatery, Alison Eighteen.

?So you have a new chef?? we questioned restaurateur Alison Price Becker. ?What is exciting for you about that??

?Everything! Her energy, her flavor palate, where she wants to go, what she loves to do,? Ms. Price Becker enthused about executive chef Roxanne Spruance.

We took another swig of our dessert wine, Domaine les Grandes Vignes Coteaux du Layon 2006. It was sublimely rich with an apricot parfum.

?She thinks about food the way I do, so there?s an unbelievable dialogue,? Ms. Price Becker continued. ?Food is fun, and she gets that. We speak the same language.?

Shindigger wondered if we spoke the language as well. We had, after all, relished the restaurant?s choice of Cassis Blanc Clos Saint Magdeleine 2009, which was served with a roasted carrot salad.

?I don?t know if you used a sommelier, but your wine selection has our heart aflutter,? we said, inquiring about a barrel to go.

?I get all my grapes mixed up,? Ms. Price Becker confessed with a wink. ?I nearly flunked chemistry! I can never remember the percentages of the blends.?

What Ms. Price Becker does know is what pairs well with the establishment?s food.

?What I also believe about wine is that, ultimately, if it doesn?t taste good to you, guess what? You don?t have to drink what someone else thinks is good wine. Who cares?? she said.

Changing gears, Shindigger informed Ms. Price Becker that we had arrived a bit late to her tasting because we had come from the Spirit of Helen Keller Gala, where former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had received an award.

?You didn?t! Why didn?t you bring her?? was her excited response.

?What wine would you serve her?? Shindigger wanted to know.

?Oh, interesting,? she began, before taking a pause. ?Hillary, not Bill, right??

?Correct. No Bill.?

?From these wines, I would sell Hillary the Cassis Blanc,? she said.

?Why??

?Because she would get it. Because it?s a wine that has, like, a little bit of a hidden sexuality to it,? she elaborated. ?She?s got a sense of humor. She?s really strong, but with a twist.?

We didn?t dare ask what she?d serve to Bill!

Follow Benjamin-Emile Le Hay via RSS.

Source: http://observer.com/2013/05/there-will-be-wine-shindigger-drinks-penn-badgleys-chardonnay-slushie-we-drink-it-up/

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CBT Nuggets - Microsoft Windows Server 2012 70-412

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Free Direct Download CBT Nuggets - Microsoft Windows Server 2012 70-412

CBT Nuggets - Microsoft Windows Server 2012 70-412

English | h264, yuv420p, 1280x720, 15.00 fps | aac, 22050 Hz, mono, s16 | 3.09 GB

Genre: Video Training

This Windows Server video training with Tim Warner covers the latest version of Microsoft?s popular server, including configuring network load balancing, recovering servers, implementing AD FS, and more.
Recommended skills:

Familiarity with Microsoft Windows
Familiarity with Windows Server 2012

Recommended equipment:

Windows Server 2012

Related certifications:

MCSA: Windows Server 2012
MCSE: Desktop Infrastructure
MCSE: Server Infrastructure
MCSE: Private Cloud
MCSE: Messaging
MCSE: SharePoint
MCSE: Communication

Related job functions:

IT professionals

Get ready for the 70-412 exam with this series from trainer Tim Warner!

Microsoft exam 70-412: Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 Services, counts as credit toward the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) and Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) certifications in Windows Server 2012.

The 70-412 test covers the following general topic areas: Advanced Network Services; Advanced File Services; Dynamic Access Control; Network Load Balancing; Failover Clustering; Disaster Recovery; Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS); Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS).

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Source: http://softarchive.net/blogs/bestever/cbt_nuggets_microsoft_windows_server.1166741.html

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Patrick, Stenhouse make up following wreck

LONG POND, Pa. (AP) ? Danica Patrick left the bumpy ride with boyfriend Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on the track.

The relationship is still smooth sailing at home.

Patrick says there were some "silent moments" on the way home from Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 after Stenhouse drove his car into the side of his girlfriend's car and ended her race. It was the first run-in for the NASCAR rookies since they announced in February they were dating.

Patrick says it was impossible to stay quiet for too long since they shared a ride home. She says "we're fine."

Patrick participated Wednesday in the Stewart-Haas Racing testing session at Pocono Raceway.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/patrick-stenhouse-following-wreck-180359879.html

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96% Blancanieves

All Critics (50) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (2)

Most films are experiences to be ignored or at best forgotten. "Blancanieves" is a little classic to be treasured.

It is a full-bodied silent film of the sort that might have been made by the greatest directors of the 1920s, if such details as the kinky sadomasochism of this film's evil stepmother could have been slipped past the censors.

Blancanieves, which won 10 Goyas (Spain's equivalent of the Oscars) and was a smash hit in its native Spain, has traces of a kinky undertone and an uncommon willingness to embrace the darkness inherent in this fairy tale.

As if bewitched, the legend of Snow White is transferred to Seville in the early twentieth century and transformed into high melodrama.

Sensuous, mischievous, hotblooded retelling of the old Teutonic fairy tale.

This gorgeous silent film is an unexpected gift from the gods of pure cinema.

A boldly conceived fairy tale from Spain

Succeeds in all its cinematic experiments

The story might be familiar, but Berger's film is so beautifully shot and so wonderfully scored - and so distinctively Spanish - that it stands as its own film.

Blancanieves holds to the structure, but not strictures, of the source fairy tale.

A new, purely silent movie from Spain that never once speaks and doesn't need to speak. What's more, it seems to get the infinite possibilities of silence, and how much passion can come from it.

Berger's film doesn't show loyalty to any traditional version of Snow White. Berger's Blancanieves takes a darker approach, which seems appropriate.

A completely enchanting fairy tale about the vicissitudes of fate, in live action and glorious black and white.

The fun in the Spanish "Blancanieves" is the way it plays with our expectations.

May not have much depth to its characters or particular surprise, but its lovely depiction of family's ability to harm and mend has the flair of flamenco and the sorrow of opera.

No, "Blancanieves" isn't subtle, but it's an unforgettable time at the movies.

Inspired filmmaking steeped in the imagery of silent film history, a dark Iberian strain of Roman Catholicism and the magic of fairy tales.

... lusty and heartfelt, fiery flamenco and spirited country jig. Don't go expecting a Disney-fied fable. Berger seasons with S&M and the kind of macabre touches you'd expect in vintage Browning or Bunuel.

If not for some faintly disturbing imagery and a pleasingly feminist heroine, you could mistake this for a movie actually made in the 1920s (and even those two factors weren't utterly unknown then).

A loving tribute to European silent films of the 1920s; a reminder that cinema need not be constrained by words.

By the time the film arrives at its grand theatrical finale, you're almost prepared for Berger's last great twist. Almost.

this beautifully shot and imaginatively told fairy tale should be seen my many, but only a few will likely get to enjoy it. This is a shame for the audience it is intended for.

This film is simply gorgeous, pure beauty on film, a vision that leaves you breathless and reeling.

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Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/blancanieves/

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Cantwell: New Farm Bill Would Mean Jobs in Eastern WA, Healthier School Meals

SPOKANE VALLEY, WA ? Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Spokane-area farmers urged Congress to act on the 2013 Farm Bill, which could help make school meals more nutritious, increase research into peas? and lentils? health benefits, and support Eastern Washington jobs. The Senate is currently debating the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 (S. 954), which passed the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on May 14.

Speaking from Spokane Seed Company?s processing facility, Cantwell and growers of ?pulse crops? ? which include peas, lentils and chickpeas ? highlighted how two Cantwell provisions in the Farm Bill could help drive total farm acres of pulse crops in Washington state to more than double over the next 5 to 10 years, according to industry estimates. Nationwide, pulse crop production could also double in the next eight years.

Washington state is the top chickpea producer in the nation ? producing nearly half of the nation?s total ? and third in the nation for pea and lentil production. Thousands of jobs in Washington state are supported by the growing pulse crop industry, including 43 at Spokane Seed.

?We need to pass a Farm Bill now to support jobs at Spokane Seed and across Eastern Washington,? said Cantwell. ?Peas and lentils aren?t just the gateway to better health for America?s children ? they?re also the gateway to more jobs right here in Eastern Washington. Washington state is already the top chickpea producer in the nation. With the right investments, acreage of chickpeas, peas and lentils could double and support even more jobs in the state.?

The 2013 Farm Bill includes the Cantwell-backed Pulse Health Initiative, which would support $25 million per year over five years in pulse crop health research grants to help increase public demand and drive job growth. The research would look into the health and nutrition benefits of pulse crops, including their ability to reduce obesity and associated chronic disease. The initiative would support technical expertise to help food companies use nutrient-dense pulse crops in their products as well as establish an educational program to encourage the consumption and production of pulse crops. On a visit to Spokane on June 3, 2012, Cantwell joined local businesses, farmers and researchers and urged Senate leaders to make the ?Pulse Health Initiative? a top priority in the Farm Bill.

The Farm Bill also includes Cantwell?s Pulse School Pilot amendment, which would provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) $10 million through 2017 to purchase pulse crops to use in school breakfasts and lunches. This could include raw beans and lentils as well as other foods made from pulse crops, such as hummus, pizza dough fortified with pea flower, or baked beans. Flours made from pulse crops could be added to breads, tortillas and pastas to enhance their nutritional value. Pulse crops are an excellent, cost-effective source of fiber, potassium, protein and other essential vitamins and nutrients.

At the conclusion of the Pulse School Pilot, the U.S. Department of Agriculture would determine the program?s effectiveness by measuring increases in student consumption of pulse crops, identifying pulse crops students prefer and determining how pulse crops change nutritional levels in school meals. The Pulse School Pilot is modeled after the successful 2008 Whole Grains Pilot program, which helped the USDA purchase five million pounds of whole grain pancakes and tortillas for schools.

Washington state has 1,000 farm families producing pulse crops and 22 processors employing more than 300 people in Eastern Washington. The value of pulse crop shipments handled via the Columbia-Snake River System reached nearly $50 million in 2011 ? up from just over $30 million in 2001.

Chickpea acreage in Washington state has exploded from less than 10,000 acres in the year 2000 to nearly 80,000 acres in 2012. A main driver of increased demand for chickpeas in the last decade has been increased demand for hummus. Retail sales of hummus are projected to increase to $250 million in 2013, up from $192 million in 2007 and $5 million in 1997. This increase has supported thousands of jobs in Washington state, including 43 at Spokane Seed Company.

The 2013 Farm Bill contains other provisions important to Washington state?s agriculture economy. These include continued investment in specialty crops as well as export promotion programs like the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Access Development (FMD) program, which have helped increase overseas sales of Washington state agriculture products like wheat and wine. Cantwell has consistently supported these programs to help Washington state farmers and producers stay competitive. On July 5, 2012, Cantwell joined Spokane-area wheat farmers to highlight the benefits of the Farm Bill for Washington state wheat research and production.

The legislation would also invest in agriculture research to help lead to the discovery of new ways to increase crop yields and reduce losses from pests and diseases. The Economic Research Service has estimated that for every $1 invested in publicly-funded research, $10 of economic activity is generated.

Washington State University is a national leader in agriculture research and utilizes the Farm Bill?s research investments. The Farm Bill?s Agricultural Food and Research Initiative supports the university?s research to develop varieties of wheat that use less water and grow in more diverse climates. The initiative also supports research into how wheat can better resist ?stripe rust,? a fungal infection that strikes Washington state wheat.

Spokane County has 2,502 farms ? the second highest number in the state. Agriculture in the county generates $587 million in annual economic impact and supports 1,576 jobs. The market value of crops grown in Spokane, Lincoln, Adams, Whitman, and Stevens counties is more than $800 million. As a whole, agriculture is a $40 billion industry in Washington state.

Today, Cantwell was joined by Peter Johnstone, CEO of Spokane Seed; Tim McGreevy, CEO of the USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council and a local chickpea farmer; Andrew Fontaine, V.P. Sales and Marketing for Spokane Seed Co.; and Kim Elkins, Public Policy & Legislation Chair for the Washington State School Nutrition Association.

###

Source: http://www.cantwell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=45420400-c108-4460-b8c7-9707dc6c928c

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Coty says IPO to raise up to $1.2 billion

(Reuters) - Fragrance maker Coty Inc said it expected its initial public offering of up to 65.7 million Class A shares to be priced at between $16.50 and $18.50 each, raising as much as $1.2 billion.

Coty, which sells perfumes under brands such as Calvin Klein, Davidoff and Chloe, said all the shares in the IPO would be offered by its three biggest stockholders -- JAB Holdings BV and private equity firms Berkshire Partners LLC and Rhone Capital LLC.

Vienna-based JAB Holdings, owned by four siblings from the billionaire Reimann family, holds nearly 82 percent of Coty. It plans to sell 43.6 million shares, or 14 percent of its holdings, in the IPO.

Berkshire Partners and Rhone each own about 27.2 million shares, or 7.1 percent of the company, and they plan to sell 6.8 million shares each, trimming their respective stakes in the company to 6.6 percent.

Following the offering, all the three stockholders will have a combined 97.7 percent of voting power in the company as their stakes will be converted into class B shares, giving them 10 votes per share, compared with one vote per class A common share.

The company, founded in Paris in 1904 by Francois Coty, said it would not receive any proceeds from the share sale.

It reported a net profit of $230.3 million on revenue of $3.6 billion in the nine months to March 31.

The company, which failed in an attempt to buy Avon Products Inc for $10.7 billion last year, filed to go public in June.

Coty's products run from luxury perfumes for fashion house Bottega Veneta to skin care products sold at Wal-Mart Stores Inc .

The company said it intends to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COTY." (http://link.reuters.com/xup48t)

Coty competes with companies such as Estee Lauder Cos Inc , L'Oreal SA and Elizabeth Arden Inc .

Estee Lauder shares are near their life-high, while Elizabeth Arden shares have soared about 32 percent in the last year.

Joint book-running managers for the offering are BofA Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Deutsche Bank Securities and Wells Fargo Securities.

Lead managers are Lazard Capital Markets, Piper Jaffray and RBC Capital Markets.

(Reporting by Avik Das and Anil D'Silva in Bangalore; Editing by Joyjeet Das, Maju Samuel)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/coty-says-ipo-raise-1-2-billion-150055317.html

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Video Discovery Service Matcha Disappears, Co-Founder Promises ?Something Better' In The Future

Over the last few days, the website for video-discovery website Matcha.tv has gone dark, and those who have downloaded the company's mobile app report that it's no longer working. Co-founder and CEO Guy Piekarz says that the company is going in a new direction and that it will have "something better" in the future.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/ESd4I_FD_mE/

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Japan's Nikkei dives as yen gains strength

BANGKOK (AP) ? Japan's stock market dived Monday after the yen reversed some of its recent fall against the U.S. dollar. Stocks elsewhere in Asia were mixed as investors tried to sort out conflicting indicators about the health of the global economy.

The Nikkei 225 shed 2.6 percent to 14,238.72, after its stalwart export sector was hit with wide-ranging losses. The benchmark in Tokyo has been on a tear, rising 36 percent since the beginning of the year. The yen's steady fall against other major currencies has been a major market propellant but it reversed some of that decline Monday after reaching 103 to the dollar last week.

The yen's weakness has been a byproduct of the economic stimulus policies embraced this year by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has embarked on an aggressive campaign to lift consumer prices and encourage borrowing and spending. As part of that effort, Japan's central bank is flooding its financial system with money, helping reduce the value of the yen.

Nissan Motor Corp. dropped 6.2 percent. Yamaha Motor Co. tumbled 6.4 percent. Sony Corp. slid 5.6 percent.

Hopes for a global economic recovery were undermined last week when a survey on China's monthly manufacturing pace showed a bigger-than-expected decline. Less-than-clear indications from the U.S. Federal Reserve on whether it might scale back its aggressive bond-buying program, dubbed quantitative easing or QE, also caused investors to curb their enthusiasm.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng reversed early losses to rise 0.3 percent to 22,674.41 after pledges by China's leaders to pursue sustainable growth helped push up alternative energy stocks. China Everbright International rose 2.7 percent. Anton Oilfield Services, which is pursuing shale gas development in China, jumped 6.4 percent.

"We have seen a lot of funds buying into shale gas, wind power and environmental protection," said Jackson Wong, vice president at Tanrich Securities in Hong Kong. Wong also said that a recovery in mainland Chinese stocks helped the Hang Seng.

South Korea's Kospi gained 0.5 percent to 1,982.63. Benchmarks in mainland China, Singapore and Taiwan rose. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.6 percent to 4,959.70. Benchmarks in the Philippines, New Zealand and Indonesia fell.

On Wall Street on Friday, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.1 percent, to 15,303.10. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell less than 0.1 percent to 1,649.60. The Nasdaq composite index fell less than 0.1 percent to 3,459.14.

Markets in the U.S. will be closed Monday for Memorial Day.

Benchmark oil for July delivery was down 47 cents to $93.70 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 10 cents to $94.15 a barrel on the Nymex on Friday.

In currencies, the euro fell to $1.2923 from $1.2934 late Friday in New York. The dollar was at 101.06 yen down from last week's high of more than 103 yen per dollar.

___

Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-05-27-World%20Markets/id-5ae67dd6b4bb450cbd45ed4f4f81c8d5

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Mom's obesity surgery may help break cycle in kids

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Obese mothers tend to have kids who become obese. Now provocative research suggests weight-loss surgery may help break that unhealthy cycle in an unexpected way ? by affecting how their children's genes behave.

In a first-of-a-kind study, Canadian researchers tested children born to obese women, plus their brothers and sisters who were conceived after the mother had obesity surgery. Youngsters born after mom lost lots of weight were slimmer than their siblings. They also had fewer risk factors for diabetes or heart disease later in life.

More intriguing, the researchers discovered that numerous genes linked to obesity-related health problems worked differently in the younger siblings than in their older brothers and sisters.

Clearly diet and exercise play a huge role in how fit the younger siblings will continue to be, and it's a small study. But the findings suggest the children born after mom's surgery might have an advantage.

"The impact on the genes, you will see the impact for the rest of your life," predicted Dr. Marie-Claude Vohl of Laval University in Quebec City. She helped lead the work reported Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Why would there be a difference? It's not that mom passed on different genes, but how those genes operate in her child's body. The idea: Factors inside the womb seem to affect the dimmer switches that develop on a fetus' genes ? chemical changes that make genes speed up or slow down or switch on and off. That in turn can greatly influence health.

The sibling study is "a very clever way of looking at this," said Dr. Susan Murphy of Duke University. She wasn't involved in the Canadian research but studies uterine effects on later health. She says it makes biological sense that the earliest nutritional environment could affect a developing metabolism, although she cautions that healthier family habits after mom's surgery may play a role, too.

It's the latest evidence that the environment ? in this case the womb ? can alter how our genes work.

And the research has implications far beyond the relatively few women who take the drastic step of gastric bypass surgery before having a baby. Increasingly, scientists are hunting other ways to tackle obesity before or during pregnancy in hopes of a lasting benefit for both mother and baby.

What's clear is that obesity is "not just impacting your life, it's impacting your child," Duke's Murphy said.

More than half of pregnant women are overweight or obese, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. But it's not just a matter of how much moms weigh when they conceive ? doctors also are trying to stamp out the idea of eating for two. Gaining too much weight during pregnancy increases the child's risk of eventually developing obesity and diabetes, too.

What's too much? Women who are normal weight at the start of pregnancy are supposed to gain 25 to 35 pounds. Those who already are obese should gain no more than 11 to 20 pounds. Overweight mothers-to-be fall in the middle.

Sticking to those guidelines can be tough. The National Institutes of Health just began a five-year, $30 million project to help overweight or obese pregnant women do so, and track how their babies fare in the first year of life.

Called the LIFE-Moms Consortium, researchers are recruiting about 2,000 expectant mothers for seven studies around the country that are testing different approaches to a healthy weight gain and better nutritional quality. They range from putting pregnant women on meal plans and exercise programs, to weekly monitoring, to peer pressure from fellow parents trained to bring nutrition advice into the homes of low-income mothers-to-be.

It's best to get to a healthy weight before conceiving, noted Dr. Mary Evans of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, who oversees the project.

Just how much mom has to lose for a healthier baby is "obviously a research gap," she said.

Monday's research findings from Canada may shed some new light. Consider: Overweight mothers have higher levels of sugar and fat in the bloodstream, which in turn makes it to the womb.

Fetuses are "marinated, and they're differently marinated" depending on mom's weight and health, said Dr. John Kral of New York's SUNY Downstate Medical Center, who co-authored the Canadian study.

That may do more than overstimulate fetal growth. Scientists know that certain molecules regulate gene activity, attaching like chemical tags. That's what Laval University lead researcher Dr. Frederic Guenard was looking for in blood tests. He took samples from children born to 20 women before and after complex surgery that shrank their stomachs and rerouted digestion so they absorb less fat and calories. On average, they lost about 100 pounds.

Guenard compared differences in those chemical tags in more than 5,600 genes between the younger and older siblings. He found significant differences in the activity of certain genes clustered in pathways known to affect blood sugar metabolism and heart disease risk.

Only time will tell if these youngsters born after mom's surgery really get lasting benefits, whatever the reason. Meanwhile, specialists urge women planning a pregnancy to talk with their doctors about their weight ahead of time. Besides having potential long-term consequences, extra pounds can lead to a variety of immediate complications such as an increased risk of premature birth and cesarean sections.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/moms-obesity-surgery-may-help-break-cycle-kids-192322482.html

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Eat Drink Better | Cross-Country Vegan: 10 Tips for Eating Well on ...

I love road trips! But I don?t love fast food, gas-station junk, or being hungry.?Traveling through our fast-food nation can be?challenging for real-food whole-food vegan-food enthusiasts; but?with a bit of forethought and planning,?eating well on?the road?can be?quick, easy, and delicious!

Plan Ahead

When it comes to eating well on the road, a little planning goes a long way. Don?t wait until you?re stranded in a fast-food wasteland far from home, to think about what?s for dinner! Always have ready-to-eat snacks on standby, and pack quick food within easy reach ? if you can?t get to it easily, at rest stops or hotels, you?re more likely to be hungry and cranky and less likely to enjoy being a travelin? vegan.

If you travel often, consider adding Vegan Unplugged to your cookbook collection. It?s great for low-prep, fast, no-kitchen, one-pot cooking with easy cleanup: perfect for hatchback, rest stop, and hotel room cooking! Lipsmackin? Vegetarian Backpackin? and Backpack Gourmet also offer good strategies for travel cooking, with many vegan/ vegetarian?or easily veganizable recipes.

Port-a-Kitch

A basic ?traveling kitchen? bag might include non-breakable plates, small strainer (for rinsing beans or draining noodles), a medium-sized saucepan with folding handle, medium Pyrex or BPA-free plastic bowl (for hotel or gas station microwaving), backpacking-style flatware, small cutting board, cloth or paper napkins, and a medium sized folding knife.

Throw in whatever spices you use most ? my basics include small plastic spice jars (or freezer-strength Ziploc bags) of salt, organic sugar, Old Bay or other Cajun-style seasoning, dried chipotle powder, and organic tamari (or Bragg?s Liquid Aminos). I also like agave syrup for spreading on bagels or mixing with peanut butter for pretzel dip, but don?t pack it in a flip-top container! I use baby-food jar or recycled spice jar, inside a ziplock baggie: don?t risk sticky syrup spills all over everything else you pack! Sesame oil is also good to pack this way ? just a tiny bit adds?tons of?flavor to rice?or noodle dishes.

I like to pack camp soap for dish cleanup, in case I need to wash up somewhere besides a contained sink. I also fold 8-10? squares of aluminum foil into quarters and slip them into kitchen-bag pockets, for storing leftover avocadoes, ginger, lemons, etc. between meals.

Small camp stoves like this one also come in very handy, to exponentially expand your travel-cooking horizons! If you?re going more than one or two nights on the road, I definitely recommend finding room in the trunk for at least a small?backpacking stove ? if you have some way to boil water wherever you are, your food fortunes are assured.

Whenever you?re on the road, be sure to pack more water than you think you?ll need; not only does it come in handy for drinking, but you?ll need it for cooking?and cleanup. I also like to pack an assortment of tea bags and coffee bags ? either with stove-boiled water or hot water from gas station coffee machines, plus my Thermos coffee cup, I have all the coffee or green tea I like without any extra?convenience-store expenses (or disposable-cup waste).

Throw a headlamp or small lantern in your kitchen bag, in case you need a light for food prep, and be sure to?load your car-kitch bag within easy reach ? when you?re traveling, if you can?t find it you don?t have it.

Depending on the length of your trip, you may or may not want a fully loaded car-kitchen? but with these tools you?ll be ready for anything!

Road-Trip Pantry

When packing food for a cross-country car trip, include these things for fast-easy-healthy vegan nom:

1. Tortillas, bagels, flatbreads ? avoid loaf bread or rolls, and go for the nonsquishable varieties.?Peanut butter (or peanut butter ? agave blend), canned refried beans and salsa,?or seasoned and mashed canned chickpeas with olives all make tasty no-fridge wraps and sandwiches.

2. Nuts and trail mix ? Peanuts, cashews, almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, pepitas, and sunflower seeds all?offer easy and nutritious eat-and-drive snack options. Make your own trail?mix by combining your favorite nuts, seeds, dried fruit (such as cranberry, mango, and pineapple), and vegan chocolate chips. Throw in some candied ginger and large coconut flakes for a tropical flair. If you buy pre-packaged trail mix, be sure to read food labels carefully to avoid unwanted animal junk?? as always!

3. Bars ? Clif bars and Larabars offer some great vegan options, great for a no-hassle breakfast or snack while you drive; or make your own before leaving for your trip.

4. Chips, crackers, pretzels ??when dipped in peanut butter-agave dip, dehydrated/ reconstituted hummus or bean dip, or single-serve salsas, these make a filling snack. You can also make easy roadside-pic-nic nachos, with rinsed black beans, chopped avocado,?and salsa or green chiles over chips. If you have a dehydrator,?it?s easy to make?zuchini or sweet potato or kale chips before traveling, for quick low fat snacking on the road. To make potato chips with a dehydrator: season mashed potatoes to taste, then use water or veggie broth to thin mixture to a barely-pourable consistency. Spread mixture very thinly on parchment paper in the dehydrator, dry at about 125 degrees for 8-10 hours, and then break into chip-sized pieces. Store in airtight bags or containers.

5. Rice and noodles and couscous, oh my!?? Glass noodles or?Ramen-?and Udon-style noodles cook very quickly and offer versatile Asian-style nom. Couscous only needs soaking in boiling water for about 5 minutes, then you can toss it with olives, artichokes, lemon juice and salt for a tasty Greek-style dish. Canned black or?pinto beans, quick-cooking brown rice, and a 4-oz. can of salsa (plus chipotle powder, if you like?it spicy)?makes a tasty burrito filling.

Tailgate-Chef?Thai Noodles:

Mince about a teaspoon each of fresh garlic and ginger, and add to uncooked Ramen, Udon, or?cellophane?noodles in saucepan. Cover dry noodles with about 2? water, and use camp stove to boil until noodles are tender (according to package directions ??often less than 5 minutes). Add 1 drained can of lo-mein veggies or baby corn during the last minute of cooking. While noodles cook, in a cup or bowl?stir together tamari, peanut butter, and Sriracha sauce, to taste. Drain noodles/ veggies if needed, toss with peanut sauce, and top with?roasted?peanuts or cashews.

6. Some fresh?fruit and vegetables travel well ? apples, pears, oranges, mangoes, and avocadoes are pretty sturdy, and add fresh deliciousness to your travel menu. Onions, shallots, garlic, and ginger also need no refrigeration and add tons of flavor to camp- (or hotel-) based?hot-plate cooking. One or two lemons or limes add fresh yum to rice?or?noodle dishes,?as well as?to tea or water.

7. Canned and jarred sustenance?? beans, chickpeas, salsa, sun-dried tomatoes (still dry or packed?in oil), green chiles, artichokes, coconut milk, hearts of palm, olives, lo-mein veggies, water chestnuts, and peanut butter offer versatile menu options ? toss in various combinations with noodles, rice, or couscous and season with contents of your?spice bag,?for a variety of fast-and-easy hot-plate nom. Mix crushed or chopped walnuts with chopped olives and artichokes, then season with salt and lemon juice, for a tasty and filling bagel-topping tapenade.

8. Microwave meals ? if you can find them, Tasty Bites makes some delicious ?fast-food? Indian options, with 90-second brown, basmati, or jasmine rice. They?re designed for easy microwave cooking, but can be adapted easily to camp-stove cooking: just add a splash of water to rice in a saucepan, top with the entr?e, and?simmer until it?s heated through and the rice is tender (about 2-5 minutes). Not all their varieties are vegan, but many are ? and (especially with a dash of Sriracha and/ or a squeeze of?fresh lemon or lime juice), these meals are?pretty aptly named!

9. One-pot quickie dishes ? canned or boxed vegan soups and stews make a?almost-no-effort dinner, with the help of a microwave or camp stove. Amy?s Kitchen offers some great vegan options ? if you can spice ?em up with chipotle pepper, curry powder, fresh lime juice, or other yum from your spice bag, all the better!

10. When you must: restaurant navigation. Maybe you?re traveling with someone inflicting the peer pressure; or maybe you just absolutely don?t feel like doing any food prep a?tall. It?s possible to find vegan fare at some national restaurant chains, or you can use Happy Cow to search for veg-friendly restaurants wherever you are.

If you?re at a non-vegan restaurant, though (or one without a menu specifically including vegan options), remember to approach the ordering process with a healthy degree of skepticism: don?t be shy about very politely asking about frequent contaminants like lard in the refried beans, chicken broth in the rice, or?all the dairy things?(sour cream, mayo, etc.) that might otherwise appear on your veggie wrap uninvited. I also recommend a thorough visual check before chowing down ? unfortunately sometimes ingredient separation is a problem, and animal bits can get dropped into veggie food unintentionally on shared workspaces. Greek and Ethiopian restaurants tend to be very vegan-friendly, if you can find them; Moe?s, Chipotle, Noodles & Co., and P.F. Chang?s offer delicious vegan fare; and vegan/ vegetarian restaurants are becoming easier and easier to find!

Happy (Vegan) Trails!

Eating well?on the road?takes a bit of forethought and preparation, but ? like eating well when you?re not traveling! ? it?s definitely worth the effort!

These are just a few of my favorite road-trip foods? what are yours?

Image by the author, all rights reserved.

Source: http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2013/05/25/cross-country-vegan/

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Community outreach key to Obama counterterror plan (The Arizona Republic)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/308261566?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Gay Man Beaten in Hate Crime Assault in NYC's Hell's Kitchen| Gay ...

Another anti-gay hate crime has reportedly occurred in NYC's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood.

Alan Bounville, of the activist group Queer Rising, reports:

Last night, Friday, May 24th, a group of 9-10 men attacked one of my dearest friends, Eugene Lovendusky. They yelled "faggot" at Eugene as he was punched in the jaw. There have been a half-dozen, publicized violent anti-queer crimes in New York City in May 2013, including the cold-blooded murder of Mark Carson, 32, for being a "faggot."

Adds Scott Wooledge on Facebook:

This hits home as I know this man personally. There have been a spree of anti-gay hate crimes in New York City this month. As people are unable to enforce their bigotry by laws and policies, they will turn to expressing their impotent hate on the streets.

I can't do much to help make the world safer for my friends. But I have a platform, and I'm sending out this message to gay bashers: "You can kick us. You can punch us. You can shoot us dead as you did Mark Carson and Harvey Milk. But the LGBT community will not go back to the days before Stonewall Riots and DADT repeal. We will not abandon our righteous claim to be treated equally under the US Constitution and the laws of our states. You will lose eventually.

And eventually we LGBT people will meet our respective Gods with our hands clean of blood."

(via tncrm)

Source: http://www.towleroad.com/2013/05/gay-man-beaten-in-anti-gay-assault-in-nycs-hells-kitchen.html

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Asia stocks extend losses after big sell-off

BANGKOK (AP) ? Asian stocks continued to retreat Friday after being routed the day before by unexpectedly weak Chinese manufacturing and fears the Federal Reserve will start withdrawing its monetary stimulus.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index, which plummeted more than 7 percent Thursday, reversed a big morning gain and shed 0.7 percent to 14,391.74 as the yen strengthened against the dollar. South Korea's Kospi gained 0.1 percent to 1,971.23.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng spent the morning bobbing between slight gains and losses before falling 0.5 percent to 22,553.60. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 tumbled 1.7 percent to 4,976, hit by losses in banking and mining shares. Benchmarks in the Philippines, Taiwan and New Zealand also fell.

The Nikkei's dramatic fall Thursday was attributed on the spike in the interest rate on the country's benchmark 10-year bond to above 1 percent for the first time in a year, which came after Fed meeting minutes showed some of its policy makers want the U.S. central bank to start scaling back its monetary stimulus.

The swing in Japanese bonds unnerved investors at a time when Japan's already overburdened government finances are vulnerable to rises in interest rates. The interest rate, or yield, later slipped back to about 0.9 percent.

The sell-off is a reminder of Japan's vulnerability as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tries to end two decades of stagnation with unprecedented monetary easing, increased government spending and reforms to make the world's No. 3 economy more competitive.

Abe reassured Japan's parliament Friday that the government was closely monitoring financial markets and would "proceed with measures to secure sustainable fiscal structure, and secure market confidence."

Mixed messages from the Federal Reserve about when it might start scaling back its bond-buying program also stirred investor anxiety.

The Fed is buying $85 billion worth of bonds every month as part of its stimulus program. That has kept interest rates low and encouraged investors to put money into stocks and other risky assets. If the Fed slows down its bond purchases, investors fear it could lead to an outpouring of money from stocks.

Among individual stocks, Australia's Westpac Banking tumbled 2.2 percent while market heavyweight Commonwealth Bank of Australia declined 1.6 percent.

The release Thursday by HSBC of a survey showing a decline in Chinese manufacturing for May hurt Australian miners, which have boomed on the back of raw material demand from the world's No. 2 economy. Mining giant BHP Billiton fell 1.6 percent. OZ Minerals lost 0.7 percent.

"The China data looking like it's hitting a soft patch is hitting resources," said Stan Shamu, market strategist at IG in Melbourne.

Benchmark oil for July delivery was down 43 cents to $93.82 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 3 cents to close at $94.25 per barrel on the Nymex on Thursday.

In currencies, the euro fell to $1.2922 from $1.2932 late Thursday in New York. The dollar weakened to 101.62 yen from 101.91 yen.

___

Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/asia-stocks-extend-losses-big-sell-off-054558985.html

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Obamacare's California Insurance Premiums - Business Insider

After weeks of talk about implementation "train wreck" for the Affordable Care Act,?supporters of the law finally got some good news Thursday. ?

Insurance premiums in California's health care exchange will provide plans that range from a 2 percent increase to a 29 percent decrease in premiums, compared to current insurance rates.?

Covered California, the state agency?in charge of the state's health insurance exchange, announced on Thursday?that the state will provide 13 insurance plans next year. Medium-level "bronze" and "silver" health insurance plans came in nearly $200 lower a month than predicted, according to the Washington Post's Sarah Kliff.?

For those who have been closely following the law and its implementation, these are good signs for overall implementation.

Linda Blumberg, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, said the news was positive for a number of key reasons.?

First, it's a good sign that the 13 plans have created legitimate competition, which has always been the central goal of the law. And that competition comes in the nation's largest state actively working to implement Obamacare, which supporters hope will create a model for other states.

"It's the most important state," Blumberg told Business Insider. "It's huge. And it has a large number of uninsured."

The most important part to Blumberg, however, is that premiums will be much lower than was expected. In 2009, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that a "silver plan" would cost an average of $5,200 per year. In reality, at least in California, it will cost approximately $3,312, or $276 per month.?

For Blumberg, it's a sign that insurers are not trying to "game the system."

"It's a signal to other states and carriers in other states that, 'listen, you know, there are plenty of insurers out here who want this business, and not everybody is trying to game the system by pricing high out of the blocks.'

"Because that's one thing you worry about. Without implicitly colluding, they all get in there and say, 'Let's all bid high and see what happens.' This is a sign that ... there are plenty of carriers out there who are going to try to price this smartly and carefully."

Obviously, California's smooth start does not mean implementation will be easy for the rest of the country. In some states ? including Alabama,?Hawaii, Michigan, Delaware, Alaska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Wyoming, and Nebraska ? there is the problem of a lack of competition?and monopolies.?

Some states, including Florida and Texas, are not working as hard as California is to implement the law. But for Blumberg, California is the blueprint.

"It's going to continue to be a mix that's going to continue to play out across the states," Blumberg said. "We're going to see some that are pricing too well, and some that are pricing too high. But I think the dynamics in the market will then lead to changes after that, as you see in California."

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/obamacare-california-insurance-premiums-2013-5

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Video: Girl knocked over by dancer in Disney parade

A Walt Disney World spokeswoman says they are talking with family of a girl who was knocked over by a dancer at a Disney parade, and they are "sorry she had this experience."

Watch: Girl gets knocked over at Disney

The video showing the accident was posted Tuesday by a woman who said she is from Louisiana.

The video shows the girl dancing in the parade, when a Disney dancer turns quickly and elbows the girl in the face. The girl falls backward to the ground.

The mother said the dancer did apologize.

Toward the end of the video, a man can be heard asking if the girl is OK.

"She's OK. She's OK," the mother responds.

The woman said the girl had a purple eye for a few days.

She said Disney did not respond to the accident or to her email.

Disney said they were not aware of the accident and contacted the mother after the video was posted.

Source: http://www.wesh.com/news/central-florida/video-girl-knocked-over-by-dancer-in-disney-parade/-/11788162/20275914/-/kfih1s/-/index.html?absolute=true

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Facial-recognition technology proves its mettle

Public release date: 24-May-2013
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Contact: Tom Oswald
tom.oswald@cabs.msu.edu
517-281-7129
Michigan State University

MSU study demonstrates technology's ability to identify suspect

In a study that evaluated some of the latest in automatic facial recognition technology, researchers at Michigan State University were able to quickly identify one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects from law enforcement video, an experiment that demonstrated the value of such technology.

In the Pattern Recognition and Image Processing laboratory, Anil Jain, MSU Distinguished Professor of computer science and engineering, and Josh Klontz, a research scientist, tested three different facial-recognition systems.

By using actual law-enforcement video from the bombing, they found that one of the three systems could provide a "rank one" identification a match of suspect Dzokhar Tsarnaev.

"The other suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the one ultimately killed in the shootout with police, could not be matched at a sufficiently high rank, partly because he was wearing sunglasses," Jain said. "The younger brother could be identified.

"This study was revealing in that facial recognition technology can successfully handle some cases in which facial images extracted from a video were captured under favorable conditions," he said.

Under controlled conditions, when the face is angled toward the camera and if the lighting is good, this technology can be up to 99 percent accurate.

Automatic face recognition can quickly attach a name to a face by searching a large database of face images and finding the closest match. This is what law enforcement agencies typically do for mug shot databases.

It is unknown, Jain said, what automatic facial recognition technologies were used by investigators in Boston. Some algorithms are better suited than others for face recognition in uncontrolled video.

While the technology has made great strides in recent years, it doesn't mean that improvements aren't needed. Also, more police agencies have to put the technology to use.

"If you use an automatic system, it speeds up the process," Jain said. "Sometimes police get bad tips so innocent people are questioned. Such situations can be avoided with a robust and accurate face-recognition system."

Jain and his team are internationally recognized in the field of identification technology. His team has developed methods to match forensic facial sketches with mug shots, as well as technology that allows police to identify criminal suspects by tattoo matching.

Klontz and Jain's technical paper on evaluating automatic facial recognition technology can be viewed here.

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Public release date: 24-May-2013
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Contact: Tom Oswald
tom.oswald@cabs.msu.edu
517-281-7129
Michigan State University

MSU study demonstrates technology's ability to identify suspect

In a study that evaluated some of the latest in automatic facial recognition technology, researchers at Michigan State University were able to quickly identify one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects from law enforcement video, an experiment that demonstrated the value of such technology.

In the Pattern Recognition and Image Processing laboratory, Anil Jain, MSU Distinguished Professor of computer science and engineering, and Josh Klontz, a research scientist, tested three different facial-recognition systems.

By using actual law-enforcement video from the bombing, they found that one of the three systems could provide a "rank one" identification a match of suspect Dzokhar Tsarnaev.

"The other suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the one ultimately killed in the shootout with police, could not be matched at a sufficiently high rank, partly because he was wearing sunglasses," Jain said. "The younger brother could be identified.

"This study was revealing in that facial recognition technology can successfully handle some cases in which facial images extracted from a video were captured under favorable conditions," he said.

Under controlled conditions, when the face is angled toward the camera and if the lighting is good, this technology can be up to 99 percent accurate.

Automatic face recognition can quickly attach a name to a face by searching a large database of face images and finding the closest match. This is what law enforcement agencies typically do for mug shot databases.

It is unknown, Jain said, what automatic facial recognition technologies were used by investigators in Boston. Some algorithms are better suited than others for face recognition in uncontrolled video.

While the technology has made great strides in recent years, it doesn't mean that improvements aren't needed. Also, more police agencies have to put the technology to use.

"If you use an automatic system, it speeds up the process," Jain said. "Sometimes police get bad tips so innocent people are questioned. Such situations can be avoided with a robust and accurate face-recognition system."

Jain and his team are internationally recognized in the field of identification technology. His team has developed methods to match forensic facial sketches with mug shots, as well as technology that allows police to identify criminal suspects by tattoo matching.

Klontz and Jain's technical paper on evaluating automatic facial recognition technology can be viewed here.

###

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-05/msu-ftp052413.php

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