Long-Term Care Insurance: Policies and Benefit Choices (Free ...

The following is a guest post from Genworth Financial and is a follow-up to their post titled How to Buy Long-term Care Insurance: What Every Policy Should Include.

To continue the series on long-term care insurance, I?d like to further discuss important considerations when choosing policies and benefits.

As of 2010, two-thirds of people will need some long-term care, such as home care, assisted living or nursing home care after they reach age 65, yet only 35% of people believe they will need such care. That?s a staggering discrepancy, and speaks to an underestimation of the financial, emotional and even social anxieties that can result from under preparedness. But if you familiarize yourself with policies and offerings now, then you?ll be better equipped to make some important decisions earlier, rather than when it?s too late.

Here are some of the policy and benefit choices currently available:

• You can choose a daily benefit amount (say, $100/day), which serves as the maximum daily amount the policy will pay. The majority of policies range from $50/day to $500/day.? It?s possible to delineate benefits on a monthly basis, so you have greater flexibility in choosing when to receive care (if you have an arrangement with family members on certain days then this is especially helpful).


• Most policies allow you to choose the amount of the benefit received in proportion to the cost per setting (i.e. you may choose a policy that pays less for home care, which is less expensive than nursing home care). According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, usually choices ?include a home care benefit of 50 percent or 75 percent of the daily nursing home benefit amount.?


• There is a difference between a Maximum Lifetime Benefit and the total lifetime amount. Generally, policies offer a fixed lifetime dollar amount of your choosing (for example, $200,000) that corresponds to a certain amount of time (as in a three-year or five year policy). It?s also possible to choose coverage with no dollar limit. Such ?Lifetime? or ?Unlimited? coverage allows you to receive benefits as long as you continue to need long-term care.


• Based on your needs, you can opt for a wider range of available services and settings, including in-home care in a ?comprehensive care? plan or ?facility care only.? The majority of policies are comprehensive, but if you look for ?a facility care only? policy, which is often less expensive, then determine beforehand that the facilities covered will be sufficient for your needs.


• It is also possible to customize coverage with additional optional benefits or ?riders.? With the cost of care rising beyond the rate of inflation, look for Inflation Protection (like that in many homeowners? insurance plans). Types of long-term care Inflation Protection are varied, so review carefully the options available in the policy. Commonly, Inflation Protection riders build the cost into the starting premium, so that cost doesn?t increase with inflation.


• Cost of long-term care insurance is based on age, health, the policy and the type of coverage you select. Not everyone is eligible for LTCI, and only sometimes are additional costs covered. There are many online resources available to assist you in determining overall costs and the type of coverage you need which provide estimates of LTC costs per state.

Review carefully your options, and consider rationally what kind of future you envision for yourself.

Source: http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2011/10/long-term-care-insurance-policies-and-benefit-choices.html

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Thousands march in Taiwan gay rights parade

Participants march through the street during the gay and lesbian parade in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. Thousands of gay rights supporters have marched through Taiwan's capital, calling for increased tolerance and the enactment of anti-discrimination legislation. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

Participants march through the street during the gay and lesbian parade in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. Thousands of gay rights supporters have marched through Taiwan's capital, calling for increased tolerance and the enactment of anti-discrimination legislation. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

Gay rights supporters march through the street during the gay and lesbian parade in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. Thousands of the supporters have marched through Taiwan's capital, calling for increased tolerance and the enactment of anti-discrimination legislation. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

Participants march through the street during the gay and lesbian parade in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. Thousands of gay rights supporters have marched through Taiwan's capital, calling for increased tolerance and the enactment of anti-discrimination legislation. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) ? Thousands of gay rights supporters have marched through Taiwan's capital, calling for increased tolerance and the enactment of anti-discrimination legislation.

The Saturday event is the ninth annual gay rights parade in Taipei, which has one of Asia's most vibrant gay communities.

The parade has attracted gays from around the world, with many marchers dressing up as prom queens, zombies or sumo wrestlers.

About a dozen men and women marched behind a Malaysian flag, deploring the absence of gay rights in the mostly Muslim country.

Ming Yueh of Kuala Lumpur said, "We hope to learn from Taiwan so we can help our friends back home."

Parade organizers called for legislation to wipe out deep-rooted gay discrimination in Asian cultures.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-10-29-AS-Taiwan-Gay-Parade/id-dfae64f905384e96b2868ee328b903bf

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Israeli airstrike kills militant in Gaza Strip

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip?? An Israeli aircraft struck a pair of Palestinian militants on Sunday, killing one man and wounding a second in a new eruption of violence that raised the death toll in a weekend of rocket attacks and airstrikes to 11.

The strike cast doubts on efforts to forge a cease-fire after the deadliest round of fighting in months between Israel and Gaza militants, and raised the likelihood of a new bout of fighting.

The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a small militant group, said the men targeted in Sunday's strike were members of the organization. The Health Ministry of the Hamas militant group, which runs Gaza, said the attack occurred along the territory's border with Israel.

The Israeli military confirmed the airstrike, saying the men were preparing to fire a rocket into Israel.

On Saturday, nine militants and an Israeli civilian were killed in some of the worst violence in the area in months. The exchange of fire continued overnight, with Palestinians firing 10 rockets into Israel in the early hours of the morning, and Israeli aircraft targeting six militant sites in Gaza, the military said.

But Sunday had been largely quiet following a cease-fire offer from Islamic Jihad, the Palestinian militant group responsible for most of the rocket barrages.

"When all jet fighters leave the skies of Gaza we will stop firing rockets," said Dawud Shehab, a senior member of Islamic Jihad.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not formally address the Islamic Jihad offer. In a statement carried on Israel Radio, he said his country "does not want things to deteriorate," but would defend itself against anyone who would attack it.

During the current round of violence, Israel has responded to immediate threats of militants firing mortars or rockets, but has so far stopped short of hitting larger, strategic targets.

The latest round of violence was set off by a rocket attack last Wednesday by Islamic Jihad. The group said that attack was meant to mark the 16th anniversary of the assassination of its founder by Israel.

Both sides, meanwhile, have braced for further strikes.

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As a precautionary measure, Israeli officials closed schools in southern communities within 25 miles (40 kilometers) of Gaza, as well as Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba and several colleges, which were to have begun their academic year Sunday, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Police brought in reinforcements from other areas of the country.

More than 1 million Israelis live within the range of rockets possessed by Gaza militants.

In Gaza, militants who had been emboldened to remove their masks and emerge from their hideouts following a high-profile prisoner swap with Israel earlier in the month disappeared from the streets again. And the territory's ruling Hamas movement scaled back its police deployment, apparently afraid that police positions would be targeted by Israeli aircraft.

Hamas militants are not believed to be involved in the attacks, which were claimed by smaller factions. But Israel holds Hamas ultimately responsible for all violence against it emanating from the territory.

___

Amy Teibel in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45094529/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/

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AP Source: NYC officer violated pepper spray rules (AP)

NEW YORK ? An internal New York Police Department review has found an official violated department guidelines when he used pepper spray on Occupy Wall Street protesters last month, a person with knowledge of the investigation said Tuesday.

Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna faces discipline of a loss of 10 vacation days after the Sept. 24 incident near Union Square, shortly after the now-global protests began in a tiny private plaza in lower Manhattan, the person said. The person had direct knowledge of the review but was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The demonstrators had meandered from their base in Zuccotti Park and spilled over into the streets, blocking traffic. Video from the protests shows a small group of mostly women corralled by orange netting used by officers to control crowds. Bologna approaches and, seemingly without warning, blasts the cluster with pepper spray. Two of the women crumple on the sidewalk in pain. One screams.

The incident helped propel the movement into the national spotlight. It sparked outrage by demonstrators and a collection of gawkers who were watching the protests online through streaming footage. Video has played an important role in the demonstration in New York, with police and protesters carrying cameras in nearly every encounter. The footage can go both ways, showing possible missteps by protesters and possible misconduct by police, and it can be heavily edited. Generally, the demonstrations have been peaceful.

Bologna, who works in Manhattan South, has the option to appeal the decision. His union said Bologna's actions were motivated by his concern for the safety of officers under his command and the safety of the public.

"Deputy Inspector Bologna is disappointed at the results of the department investigation," said Roy Richter, president of the NYPD captain's endowment association. "His actions prevented further injury and escalation of tumultuous conduct. To date, this conduct has not been portrayed in its true context."

A lawyer for one of the women, 24-year-old Kaylee Dedrick, said Bologna had assaulted her and he should be arrested.

"The crux of Deputy Inspector Bologna's offense is not that he mishandled pepper spray or shot off mist in a careless fashion; the crux of Bologna's conduct is he engaged in a deliberate assault against five innocent people," attorney Ron Kuby said.

Shortly after the incident, the hacker group Anonymous, which is affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement, posted on its website Bologna's address, his phone number and where his children went to school, among other personal details. Police department officials said that was out of line and deplorable.

Pepper spray is relatively low on the spectrum of force available to officers. The patrol guide lists several situations where an officer may use it, including for protection. The guide prohibits the use of pepper spray against subjects who don't actively resist.

Kuby met with the Manhattan district attorney's office earlier this week to ask for an investigation. Other lawyers representing the hundreds of people arrested in the monthlong protest have asked for disorderly conduct charges to be dropped. Seven hundred protesters were arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge a week after the women were pepper sprayed. Other demonstrations resulted in significantly fewer arrests.

The demonstrations have sparked similar protests around the world, where demonstrators have had more significant clashes with police. In Italy, riots broke out in Rome, and on Monday, Italian police conducted raids throughout the country against suspected anarchists and their sympathizers.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/stocks/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111018/ap_on_re_us/us_wall_street_protest_pepper_spray

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Gene variant leads to better memory via increased brain activation

Public release date: 17-Oct-2011
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Bertil Born
bertil.born@adm.umu.se
46-703-886-058
Swedish Research Council

Carriers of the so-called KIBRA T allele have better memories than those who dont have this gene variant. This means we can reject the theory that the brain of a non-bearer compensates for this. This is shown by researchers from Ume University.

Carriers of the so-called KIBRA T allele have better memories than those who don't have this gene variant. This means we can reject the theory that the brain of a non-bearer compensates for this. This is shown by researchers from Ume University in The Journal of Neuroscience.

In this study, KIBRA was first examined in relation to the memory performance of a group of 2,230 subjects. Just as in previous studies, carriers of the KIBRA T allele performed better than non-carriers. Then the brain activity of 83 subjects was studied with the help of fMRI. In contrast with the earlier study, higher activation of the hippocampus was observed in T carriers than in non-carriers.

Thanks to the large number of subjects in the study, the effect could also be studied in a group in which T carriers performed better (83 individuals) and in a subgroup in which the memory performance was equal between T carriers and non-carriers (63). This is especially important as differences in memory performance are regarded to be of significance in how to interpret differences in brain activation. However, in both cases, T carriers had increased hippocampus activation, which means that the effect of KIBRA on brain activation as such is not dependent on the difference in memory performance but is of importance for memory performance.

The conclusion must be that there is no support for the previous theory regarding compensatory mechanisms in non-carriers of the T allele. Instead the new findings indicate that the KIBRA gene plays a role in memory by improving the hippocampus function in carriers of the T allele.

In a study published in Science in 2006 the entire genome was screened (in a so-called Genome-wide association study) for genetic variations of importance to episodic memory (Papassotiropoulos et al., 2006). Individuals who carried the T allele (CT or TT genotype) in a common C/T polymorphism in the KIBRA gene had better episodic memory than non-carriers of the T allele (CC genotype). In the same study, brain activity was examined during a memory task in 30 subjects with the help of a magnetic camera (fMRI). It was found that non-carriers of the T allele had greater activation of the hippocampus, an area in the brain that is important for episodic memory, than did T carriers.

Since the groups had the same memory performance, the results were explained as indicating that non-carriers needed to compensate for their poorer memory function with increased activation of the hippocampus in order to reach the same level of performance as T carriers. Increased activation in the hippocampus is strongly associated with positive aspects of the memory function, and with other genes related to memory the opposite has been observed: increased hippocampus activation in carriers of a gene variant that is associated with better memory (e.g. Hariri et al., 2003). In those cases a reasonable explanation has been that the gene is important for memory via a favorable effect on the hippocampus function.

Improved memory performance in carriers of the KIBRA T allele has been verified in several subsequent studies (e.g. Bates et. al., 2009, Preuschhof et al., 2010), but since the 2006 Science article, this is the first to study KIBRA in relation to brain activation.

###

The Journal of Neuroscience, October 5, 2011 31(40):14218 14222, http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3292-11.2011

---

[ | 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.

Public release date: 17-Oct-2011
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Bertil Born
bertil.born@adm.umu.se
46-703-886-058
Swedish Research Council

Carriers of the so-called KIBRA T allele have better memories than those who dont have this gene variant. This means we can reject the theory that the brain of a non-bearer compensates for this. This is shown by researchers from Ume University.

Carriers of the so-called KIBRA T allele have better memories than those who don't have this gene variant. This means we can reject the theory that the brain of a non-bearer compensates for this. This is shown by researchers from Ume University in The Journal of Neuroscience.

In this study, KIBRA was first examined in relation to the memory performance of a group of 2,230 subjects. Just as in previous studies, carriers of the KIBRA T allele performed better than non-carriers. Then the brain activity of 83 subjects was studied with the help of fMRI. In contrast with the earlier study, higher activation of the hippocampus was observed in T carriers than in non-carriers.

Thanks to the large number of subjects in the study, the effect could also be studied in a group in which T carriers performed better (83 individuals) and in a subgroup in which the memory performance was equal between T carriers and non-carriers (63). This is especially important as differences in memory performance are regarded to be of significance in how to interpret differences in brain activation. However, in both cases, T carriers had increased hippocampus activation, which means that the effect of KIBRA on brain activation as such is not dependent on the difference in memory performance but is of importance for memory performance.

The conclusion must be that there is no support for the previous theory regarding compensatory mechanisms in non-carriers of the T allele. Instead the new findings indicate that the KIBRA gene plays a role in memory by improving the hippocampus function in carriers of the T allele.

In a study published in Science in 2006 the entire genome was screened (in a so-called Genome-wide association study) for genetic variations of importance to episodic memory (Papassotiropoulos et al., 2006). Individuals who carried the T allele (CT or TT genotype) in a common C/T polymorphism in the KIBRA gene had better episodic memory than non-carriers of the T allele (CC genotype). In the same study, brain activity was examined during a memory task in 30 subjects with the help of a magnetic camera (fMRI). It was found that non-carriers of the T allele had greater activation of the hippocampus, an area in the brain that is important for episodic memory, than did T carriers.

Since the groups had the same memory performance, the results were explained as indicating that non-carriers needed to compensate for their poorer memory function with increased activation of the hippocampus in order to reach the same level of performance as T carriers. Increased activation in the hippocampus is strongly associated with positive aspects of the memory function, and with other genes related to memory the opposite has been observed: increased hippocampus activation in carriers of a gene variant that is associated with better memory (e.g. Hariri et al., 2003). In those cases a reasonable explanation has been that the gene is important for memory via a favorable effect on the hippocampus function.

Improved memory performance in carriers of the KIBRA T allele has been verified in several subsequent studies (e.g. Bates et. al., 2009, Preuschhof et al., 2010), but since the 2006 Science article, this is the first to study KIBRA in relation to brain activation.

###

The Journal of Neuroscience, October 5, 2011 31(40):14218 14222, http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3292-11.2011

---

[ | 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/2011-10/src-gvl101711.php

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Google Earth typhoid maps reveal secrets of disease outbreaks

ScienceDaily (Oct. 16, 2011) ? In the mid-nineteenth century, John Snow mapped cases of cholera in Soho, London, and traced the source of the outbreak to a contaminated water pump. Now, in a twenty-first century equivalent, scientists funded by the Wellcome Trust working in Kathmandu, Nepal, have combined the latest in gene sequencing technology and global positioning system (GPS) case localisation to map the spread of typhoid and trace its source.

Typhoid fever is caused by two bacteria -- Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi. Both of these bacteria are found in Kathmandu and they usually spread through water or food contaminated with faeces. Symptoms of the disease include fever, abdominal pain and vomiting.

Recent advances in DNA sequencing have allowed scientists to accurately track the spread of some diseases by measuring mutations in the pathogen's DNA when the DNA replicates.

However, tracing the spread of typhoid has proved challenging as these mutations are small in number and not detectable by most techniques in use.

Tracing outbreaks of typhoid in Kathmandu also carries its own problem: street names are not used in Nepal, so capturing the addresses of typhoid cases -- and hence accurately mapping the outbreaks -- has proved challenging to health workers.

In research published October 16 in the journal Open Biology, scientists at the Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme in Vietnam and the Oxford University Clinical Research Units in Kathmandu, Nepal, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, have found a way to accurately map typhoid outbreaks in the city. Their research combines DNA sequencing technology and GPS signalling, and maps the data onto Google Earth.

"Until now, it has been extremely difficult to study how organisms such as the typhoid-causing bacteria evolve and spread at a local level," explains Dr Stephen Baker from the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam. "Without this information, our ability to understand the transmission of these diseases has been significantly hampered. Now, advances in technology have allowed us for the first time to create accurate geographical and genetic maps of the spread of typhoid and trace it back to its sources."

To capture the information, health workers would visit a patient's home and use GPS to capture the exact location. They would also take a blood sample from the hospitalised patient to isolate the organism and to allow analysis of the typhoid strain's genotype -- its genetic make-up. This genotyping used sequencing technology able to identify single changes in the 'letters' of DNA -- the A, C, T and Gs that make up the code.

The researchers found extensive clustering of typhoid infections in particular locations. Yet, perhaps counter-intuitively for a disease that spreads amongst humans, this clustering was unrelated to the density of the local population. In fact, the study showed that people living near to water spouts, for whom these provide their main source of water, and people living at a lower elevation are at substantially greatest risk of contracting the disease.

Typhoid incidence is likely to be associated with faecal contamination of ground water during the monsoon. As S. paratyphi A (a strain of S. paratyphi found in Nepal) appeared to spread downstream from the main focal point, this would put people living in areas with low elevation at higher risk. These two variables, elevation and water spout proximity, are likely to be interconnected, as the water spouts are more common in low lying areas.

The research has also shed light on the role of asymptomatic carriers of the disease in the spread of typhoid. As these carriers do not show symptoms, they are likely to be unaware of their infection and can unwittingly spread the disease. The most famous of such cases was a cook in New York in the early twentieth century, nicknamed 'Typhoid Mary', who is believed to have spread the disease to dozens of people.

If the disease was spreading within a household due to direct transmission -- either from an asymptomatic carrier or someone with symptomatic, acute disease, the researchers should be able to isolate the same genotype from a number of individuals in the same household. In fact, the variation of genotypes was more or less random, suggesting that the disease infrequently spreads from asymptomatic carriers. Rather, infections are transmitted predominantly through the environment -- for example, through the water source.

Dr Baker adds: "Improvements in infrastructure are fundamental to the control and elimination of typhoid. Poor water quality, sanitary conditions and the presence of carriers mean that the organisms will persist in the community long after the limited window of immunity given by the current vaccine. Without integrating improvements in infrastructure alongside other control measures such as diagnosis, treatment and vaccination, it is unlikely that typhoid can be adequately controlled in places like Kathmandu in the long-term."

Combating infectious diseases is one the strategic priorities of the Wellcome Trust. Much of this work is carried out at a local level in regions where disease is endemic. This includes several major overseas programmes, including the Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme in Vietnam.

Commenting on the research, Dr Jimmy Whitworth, Head of International Activities at the Wellcome Trust, said: "Just as John Snow's pioneering cholera maps of the nineteenth century showed that poor sanitation leading to contaminated water was spreading disease, this study, which combines accurate mapping with the latest in genotyping technology, further reinforces the importance of improving the quality of water supplies and infrastructure for sanitation if we are to seriously tackle diseases such as typhoid."

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The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Wellcome Trust, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z4jvRtvhr2k/111016212016.htm

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Kelly Osbourne: I Was Never as "Fat" as Christina Aguilera (omg!)

Kelly Osbourne sure holds a grudge.

On E!'s Fashion Police Friday, the 26-year-old slammed Christina Aguilera for her weight. "She called me fat for years," Osbourne said. "I was never that fat."

PHOTOS: Stars who've been bullied for their weight

Osbourne was criticizing Aguilera's performance look at last weekend's Michael Jackson Tribute Concert. The 30-year-old paired a pantsless ensemble with fishnet tights, heavy makeup and supersized hair.

But Ozzy's daughter wasn't the only cohost to attack Aguilera's figure. "Lady Marmalade got into the peanut butter again," Joan Rivers sniped.

PHOTOS: Kelly Osbourne's body through the years

"I'm looking at this and thinking, 'Well, she's put on weight. This just isn't flattering,'" George Kotsiopoulos said. "But this is just a crappy outfit, regardless. No matter what shape your body is in, it's just bad."

Kotsiopoulos pointed out Aguilera was "still probably a size 2/4," but Osbourne was quick to disagree.

"Trust me," she said. "I'm a 2/4. That is not a 2/4."

This isn't the first time Osbourne has criticized The Voice coach. Last month on E!'s Fashion Police she called Aguilera a "fat bitch."

VIDEO: Christina Aguilera's Super Bowl slip-up

"She called me fat for so many f***ing years," Osbourne vented, "so you know what? F**k you! You're fat too."

Ironically, Osbourne battled with her weight in the past, but after her 2009 stint on Dancing with the Stars she shed 48 pounds and kept it off. "I took more hell for being fat than I did for being an absolute raging drug addict. I will never understand that," she told Us in 2010. Osbourne checked into rehab for drug and alcohol addiction three times.

Get more Us! Follow us on Twitter, Friend us on Facebook, Subscribe to Us Weekly

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/http___omg_yahoo_com_news74664/43279732/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/kelly-osbourne-i-was-never-as-fat-as-christina-aguilera/74664

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Dawson stops Hopkins in bizarre 2nd-round finish (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? Chad Dawson spent most of the past half-decade angling for a fight with Bernard Hopkins, believing he could define his boxing career by knocking out an ageless champion who had never been stopped.

Dawson got his TKO on Saturday night.

But his dream looked nothing like this debacle.

Hopkins was stopped for the first time in his career in bizarre fashion when Dawson lifted him and tossed him to the canvas late in the second round, leaving the 46-year-old champion with a dislocated joint in his shoulder.

Dawson (31-1, 18 KOs) claimed the WBC light heavyweight title from Hopkins (52-6-2), but both fighters were left furious and screaming when referee Pat Russell ruled Dawson hadn't fouled Hopkins, whose promoter immediately said he'll protest the result.

"They want me out of boxing, and this is one way to do it," said Hopkins, whose spokesman said he dislocated the joint connecting his collarbone and shoulder blade. "Chad Dawson came in the ring tonight, and he just wanted to rough me up with dirty tactics. He wanted to get me out of there, and that was the only way he could."

After five unmemorable minutes, everything happened in an instant: Hopkins leaned over the crouching Dawson after throwing an overhand right, and Dawson lifted Hopkins off his feet by standing up, shrugging him onto the canvas.

Hopkins landed roughly on his back and left shoulder, his head poking underneath the bottom rope, and might have glanced off the ringside table. Hopkins immediately clutched his shoulder and grimaced in pain, apparently unable to continue.

"He jumped on me and was pulling me down, so I pushed him off with the shoulder," Dawson said. "B-Hop disappointed a lot of fans. I was looking forward to a good fight. I trained eight weeks for this. ... Yes, he was faking. This is a fight I wanted for three years, and Bernard obviously didn't want the fight."

Hopkins said he told Russell he would continue fighting "with one arm," but Russell waved off the fight and declared a TKO. Just like that, a long-awaited showdown between the ageless light heavyweight champion and his top young rival was over, enraging the lively Staples Center crowd.

"It was not a foul," Russell said. "It's a TKO. He could not continue because of an injury. No foul."

After waiting several years and training relentlessly for the fight, Dawson was apoplectic when Hopkins stayed down on the ground, taunting him and climbing on the ropes. When Russell called it off, Dawson went over to Hopkins and motioned at him to get off his stool, repeatedly cursing at him.

"I knew he didn't want the fight," Dawson said. "He keeps talking about Philly and being a gangster. He's no gangster. Gangsters don't quit. He's weak. He's a weak physically- and mentally-minded person. He has no power."

Golden Boy President Richard Schaefer, Hopkins' promoter, said he'll protest to the California State Athletic Commission. Hopkins was released from the California Hospital Medical Center two hours after the fight after his dislocation was diagnosed.

"That was not a boxing-like move," Schaefer said. "If you're allowed to lift somebody up and slam them to the floor, you can't win your belts like that."

Even California officials acknowledged the first TKO on Hopkins' record could soon be up for debate in a boardroom.

"He couldn't continue, so it's a TKO for now," said George Dodd, commission's executive officer. "At this time, that's the call."

The brief fight will be an absurd chapter in the remarkable mid-life renaissance of Hopkins, who became the oldest man to win a significant world title last May with a victory over Jean Pascal, the only man who has beaten Dawson.

"He knew he wasn't in there with a 46-year-old, because I was quicker and faster than him," Hopkins said. "That was a blatant foul, and it should be a no-contest, not a disqualification."

Hopkins has defied all conventional wisdom about athletes and aging ever since his career appeared finished after two decision losses to Jermain Taylor in 2005, when Hopkins was just 40.

He won a light heavyweight title with a stunning upset of Antonio Tarver in 2006 to start a 6-1-1 streak over his previous eight fights, beating Winky Wright ? Dawson's friend and training partner ? along with Kelly Pavlik and Roy Jones Jr.

Dawson was left just as unsatisfied as the fans who paid $54.99 for the pay-per-view event, although it featured an exciting undercard including the pro debut of 52-year-old Dewey Bozella, who won an unanimous decison after spending 26 years in prison wrongfully convicted of murder.

"Let Bernard take his paycheck and refund it to everybody. We came to fight," said Gary Shaw, Dawson's promoter. "What I really feel is Bernard is old, and he gave it all he could for as long as he could. He beat Pascal, but there was no way he could have beaten Chad."

Dawson is among his generation's most gifted boxers ? Floyd Mayweather Jr. called him the world's best ? but his career didn't have a signature moment. He also hasn't been a fan-friendly fighter, rarely taking the risks required for knockouts while openly admitting to boredom and lapses in training, particularly before his only loss to Pascal last year.

Hopkins showed little interest in fighting Dawson, deriding his meager ticket-selling abilities. Hopkins also likely was concerned about the problems posed by Dawson, a strong technical fighter behind his superb physical gifts.

Hopkins is a master of boxing's mental game, and he teased and prodded Dawson in the weeks leading up to the bout, attempting to get in his head.

Dawson claimed it wouldn't work, insisting he was in perfect mental position for the fight. He recently broke free of a former manager and reunited with trainer John Scully, who worked with Dawson on his way to the top before Dawson went through four big-name trainers in the past few years.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111016/ap_on_sp_bo_st/box_hopkins_dawson

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MIND Reviews: A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links between Leadership and Mental Illness

A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links between Leadership and Mental Illness
by Nassir Ghaemi. Penguin Press, 2011

In 1972 Thomas Eagleton was chosen to run as the democratic vice-presidential nominee under George McGovern in the race against Richard Nixon. But it soon emerged that Eagleton suffered from depression and had received shock treatment for it. A scandal erupted, and Eagleton stepped down, forming a cloud that still hovers over politics today.

Psychiatrist Nassir Ghaemi thinks the public is mistaken in wanting leaders who appear sane and mentally healthy. In A First-Rate Madness, he proposes that Eagleton may have actually been the best candidate to deal with a national crisis because of, not in spite of, his depression.

The crux of Ghaemi?s argument is that people who are depressed exhibit what psychologists have dubbed ?depressive realism??an all too accurate view of the world. Since the 1970s, when the concept of depressive realism first surfaced, some studies have suggested that people who are mentally healthy actually have overly optimistic ideas about their place in the world.

Being depressed, on the other hand, can give people keener powers of perception and heightened abilities to assess complex or tumultuous situations. In fact, various studies have shown that being bipolar can make people more creative, resilient and in tune with their environment.

Ghaemi details ?case studies? wherein he examines respected political figures?such as Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and John F. Kennedy?who lived with depression or mania, or both, and argues that these qualities enhanced their leadership skills. Conversely, he asserts that leaders considered mentally healthy do well during times of peace and prosperity but falter during crises because they lack the practicality or creative thinking skills that leaders with mental disorders often exhibit. Ghaemi offers an anecdote in support of his point: the sane British prime minister Neville Chamberlain thought Adolf Hitler was someone who could be reasoned with, but Churchill saw from the beginning that the strategy would never work.

On the surface, the theory may seem counterintuitive. But Ghaemi provides exhaustive research and makes a compelling case for his point, which is perhaps best summed up by an aphorism from Martin Luther King, Jr.: ?Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.?

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=40ef4e07879415e601fdc0dec75bff2b

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"It's Yom Kippur. Banks should atone." -- The Truth Behind the Sign (Little green footballs)

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VisionZone Initiates Eye Heath Awareness and Low Vision ...

San Diego (PRWEB) April 1, 2010

VisionZone, a nationwide movement to promote ocular health awareness, spearheaded by Optelec U.S. Inc., a world leader in innovative and life changing assistive technologies for the blind and visually impaired, today launched its online component, VisionZone.org. The VisionZone initiative is the low vision community?s first live and virtual eye-health resource designed to bridge the gap between eye disease, prevention, awareness and product solutions.

?VisionZone is just starting out, so the more people contribute the better it will become,? said Brian Fischler, 37, a nationally recognized, legally blind stand-up comedian and Founder of Laugh for Sight not-for-profit who was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at age 12. ?This is a remarkable venture for those with visual impairment, as it offers advice for people with low vision in all walks of life. VisionZone spreads awareness and helps people in similar circumstances connect ? something that many of us in the visually impaired world have been lacking for years.?

Now professionals, businesses, associations, health specialists, non-profits, and the visually impaired can relate both in-person (VisionZone Live) and virtually (VisionZone.org). With VisionZone?s ?Connect. Learn. Live. You?re Not Alone Anymore? slogan, it enables knowledge to be shared through a blended, interactive experience with the objective of combating eye diseases, creating a centralized social networking community, and amplifying low vision awareness through one platform.

?Everyday we change lives through Optelec?s innovative assistive technologies, and VisionZone makes not only ours, but other useful solutions such as fitness routines, nutritional tips, and low vision-friendly travel amenities easily accessible,? said Andre Hardy, president of Optelec U.S. Inc. ?When someone is diagnosed with a retinal eye disease such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy, many times they and their families are desperately searching for support. VisionZone is their long-awaited answer.?

Through this groundbreaking public awareness movement, VisionZone allows visitors to experience a variety of educational resources for activities, products and services based on the themes of Health & Wellness, Travel & Leisure, School & Work, Hobbies & Games, Reading & Writing, and Community. VisionZone will uniquely pair those seeking involvement and those who are already an active part of the low vision industry.

?We chose to unite our forces with Optelec to further endorse the much-needed VisionZone initiative,? said Stephanie Wells, director of development for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. ?As an organization that raises funds for retinal degenerative diseases, we have thousands of members who will benefit from learning tips that can easily be integrated into their daily routines.?

VisionZone.org

By going online, visitors will find a wealth of information including articles on vision health, open discussion forums, and a user-generated networking community designed to connect members for free. VisionZone members can create their own unique social networking profile, sign-up to participate in local events, read influential blogs bylined by health specialists, as well as write their own content.

VisionZone Live

In 2010, VisionZone Live, a cross-country tented mobile tour, will travel to select cities throughout the United States in conjunction with the Foundation Fighting Blindness signature fundraising event called VisionWalk. VisionWalk was created to raise funds for retinal degenerative diseases VisionZone Live offers a variety of demonstrations and exhibits from national and local partners.

Key components include a low vision simulation: friends, family and peers of those who are visually impaired have the opportunity to ?touch and feel? with sight-reduced goggles that simulate a variety of various eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, and diabetic retinopathy. In addition, participants will have access to a wide range of leading industry assistive technology and daily living aids that can help low vision users at school, on-the-go, at home or at work.

For more information visit http://www.VisionZone.org or call 800-335-7970. Follow daily updates via @VisionZoneOrg on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

About VisionZone

?Connect. Learn. Live. You?re Not Alone Anymore.? VisionZone is the low vision community?s first live and virtual eye-health resource designed to bridge the gap between eye disease, prevention, awareness and product solutions. VisionZone Live and VisionZone.org connect the eye care, visually impaired and caretaker communities through a blended interactive experience and major corporate and non-profit partners, including Optelec U.S. Inc., which is spearheading the movement. Visit http://www.VisionZone.org for more information.

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Source: http://www.crafty2.com/visionzone-initiates-eye-heath-awareness-and-low-vision-community-connectivity.html

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Lilian Cheung, D.Sc., R.D.: The Benefits of Doing Nothing

It's Sunday afternoon. You've enjoyed coffee with a loved-one, cleaned the living room, paid a few bills and are surfing the internet. A friend calls, "Hey, what are you up to?" You say, "Nothing much."

These activities may feel like nothing compared to your hectic work-week pace. But they call upon your mind, body and emotions, nonetheless. It's likely that even as you do these "nothing much" activities, you are mentally multitasking -- planning for the week ahead, analyzing last night's social event or daydreaming about a future vacation or your ideal job. Your attention is in demand, and very likely, divided.

What would it feel like to truly do nothing? What benefits could it bring you?

In Buddhism, the ideal person has nowhere to go and nothing to do. To achieve this state of freedom and serenity, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh encourages us to cultivate aimlessness. In our productivity-obsessed society, we tend to devalue the practice of aimlessness. Often, it's such a low priority that we don't truly rest until we've burned out completely.

But is it really productive to run yourself down until your body and mind are so fatigued they refuse to work?

Without a practice of doing nothing, what quality of attention are you offering? Are you truly present, available to share all of your love, talents, clarity and good humor? When we are truly available, we do our best work, cultivating goodness within ourselves and the world. Dragging yourself along with an empty tank does not serve you, or anyone else, well. You need down time to refuel and refresh.

Keeping this in mind, schedule a time to practice aimlessness. A weekend afternoon may be the perfect opportunity. Since we don't often take time to do nothing, this practice may be difficult at first, but resist planning your lazy day -- simply let it unfold.

You may find yourself enjoying pastimes you'd forgotten were dear to you -- strolling through your neighborhood, playing with a pet, enjoying a bit of fiction, savoring a cup of tea or taking a bath.

There will likely be plenty of distractions calling to you -- tasks that need to get done, people who need your attention. Whenever you start feeling pulled in by obsessive thinking or emotions of guilt and anxiety, return to your breath. Try to notice it moving in and out, without controlling it. Smile to the distractions that arise, and let them float on as easily as they came.

Breathing in, I am doing nothing.
Breathing out, I recognize the value of this practice.

After practicing a few lazy days, you will start to feel a buoyancy return to all the rest of your days. You may feel young in spirit. You may notice more space around your heart. Your ability to focus on the tasks at hand will likely improve, as will the clarity of your thinking. In this clear-minded state, you can make much better use of your time. Your projects and relationships will blossom in the full light of your attention, and they will begin to demand less of your time.

Before you fill this new-found free time up with more hobbies, errands and social occasions, pause. Remember that this efficiency resulted from aimlessness, and plan your next lazy day.

?

Follow Lilian Cheung, D.Sc., R.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SAVOR_the_book

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lilian-cheung-dsc-rd/benefits-of-doing-nothing_b_999264.html

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Seized vessel shines light on illegal fishing (AP)

JUNEAU, Alaska ? The recent seizure of a stateless ship in international waters 2,600 miles off Alaska's coast has spotlighted the challenge that the U.S. and other nations face in trying to crackdown on illegal fishing, an activity that accounts for up to $23.5 billion a year in global economic losses.

Finding rogue vessels in the vast, open ocean can be like finding a needle in a haystack. But U.S. officials and some environmentalists say progress is being made, including multinational patrol and enforcement agreements and the potential for sanctions against countries that engage in illegal, unreported and unregulated (or IUU) fishing.

More countries are joining the efforts and there is greater awareness of the illegal fishing issue in the U.S. and Europe, where patrons ask restaurants and shops for the source of their product. There are efforts to better track high-value products like bluefin tuna to ensure they were obtained legally, and to keep illegal product out, said Rebecca Lent, director of the Office of International Affairs for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries.

Such efforts are important because "we can't be out there all the time, watching the boats," she said.

"I think there's been progress (but) we have to continue; you can't let your guard down," Lent said. "It's like any place where you might have crime or illegal activity. You just have to stay vigilant, if you will."

The seizure of the Bangun Perkasa was the first of a suspected illegal fishing vessel by the U.S. Coast Guard since 2008.

The ship was spotted by a Japanese aircraft Aug. 31 and seized by the Coast Guard Sept. 7, under an agreement that includes annual patrols of international waters of the Pacific to look for illegal drift-netting. High-seas drift nets are often referred to as "the wall of death" because they capture myriad species the pirates don't intend to use. The United Nations has banned drift netting.

The drift net on the Bangun Perkasa was about 10 miles long and crew members cut it in an attempt to flee, said Capt. Craig Lloyd, chief of response for the Coast Guard in Alaska. Authorities were able to stop the vessel but a second ship in the area got away, he said.

The Coast Guard reported that 30 tons of squid and about 30 shark carcasses were onboard the rat infested ship. The vessel arrived near Dutch Harbor in southwest Alaska last weekend after a laborious escort that included two Coast Guard cutters.

NOAA Fisheries must decide what to do with the ship and catch once the rats are eradicated and the boat is in good enough shape to be brought closer to shore. Alaska law forbids ships with rats from entering state waters.

The Coast Guard said the crew initially claimed the vessel was from Indonesia but Indonesian officials did not claim it. In the case of a stateless vessel, the U.S. can impose its own law, Lloyd said.

The 22 crew members are from China, Vietnam, Taiwan and Indonesia, the Coast Guard said. Authorities investigating the case are expected to forward their findings to the U.S. attorney's office.

Lloyd called the seizure a big win for the international community and for law-abiding fishermen. Still, statistics are elusive as to whether enforcement actions are having a significant impact on the problem.

The U.S. Commerce Department in a report to Congress this year said that since IUU fishing activities are generally carried out covertly monitoring and detection are difficult.

Estimates suggest global economic losses due to illegal fishing could be as high as $23.5 billion a year, with the problem a particular concern in the waters off developing countries. John Hocevar, oceans campaign director for Greenpeace USA, said losses to sub-Sahara Africa alone are estimated at over $1 billion annually.

The toll taken by pirate fishing can't be overstated, he said: Fisheries are being depleted, many countries lack the resources to monitor and enforce illegal fishing in their waters, and large ships and powerful gear allow pirates to go farther out on the high seas, meaning, "fish literally have no place to hide."

He cited a concern with sharks, often targeted because they're prized for shark-fin soup. Sharks have low reproductive rates, he said, leaving them vulnerable if their numbers steeply decline.

Lent said her agency plans to propose expanding the definition of IUU fishing to include protections for sharks.

Earlier this year, the Commerce Department reported that it had identified six countries as having engaged in IUU fishing in 2009 or 2010: Colombia, Ecuador, Italy, Panama, Portugal and Venezuela. Twelve other countries were considered but either the allegations were refuted or the nations involved said they'd acted to address the concern.

Italy, Panama and four other countries ? France, Libya, China and Tunisia ? were identified in a 2009 report to Congress. But in each case of verified violations, the countries took action against the vessels or persons involved and showed proof of their own efforts, according to the Commerce Department.

Countries that do not comply run the risk of sanctions including a block on imports.

Hocevar said the federal government now has strong tools to hold other countries accountable if they're supporting illegal fishing. And he thinks NOAA is doing a good job in addressing the problem.

New technology to monitor vessels and attention to the issue by the United Nations helps, too.

"But the fact is, we still have a multibillion-dollar problem on our hands," he said, "and we still have a long way to go."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111008/ap_on_re_us/us_rogue_fishing

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Cuban spy free from Florida jail but must stay in U.S. (Reuters)

MARIANNA, Florida (Reuters) ? A Cuban agent jailed for spying on Cuban exiles in Florida was freed from a U.S. prison on Friday but must remain in the United States for three years on probation, a condition Cuba says puts his life in danger.

Rene Gonzalez, 55, the first to be freed of the so-called "Cuban Five" espionage agents arrested in 1998, left the Marianna prison in Florida's northwest Panhandle at around 4 a.m. EDT and was reunited with his two daughters, father and brother, attorney Philip Horowitz told Reuters.

"He was in great spirits, very happy to see his family, to be out, he had a smile on his face," Horowitz said.

He added he would renew an appeal against the requirement that Gonzalez, who has dual U.S.-Cuban citizenship, spend three years of supervised release in the United States.

The case of the five -- the other four are still serving long U.S. jail terms -- has been an irritant to already poisoned U.S.-Cuba ties. These have deteriorated further since the jailing by communist Cuba of a U.S. aid contractor, Alan Gross, who was sentenced this year to 15 years in prison.

The same Florida judge who had sentenced Gonzalez and his fellow Cuban spies in 2001 denied a motion presented last month by Horowitz for the terms of the convicted man's supervised release to be modified so he could immediately return to Cuba.

Cuba's communist government and Gonzalez's family and supporters are demanding he be allowed to leave the United States now. They say he is at risk from possible reprisals by the Cuban exiles on whom he was convicted of spying.

"In U.S. territory, Rene is in danger, in whatever corner of the United States," Gonzalez's wife, Olga Salanueva, told Reuters on Thursday in Cuba. "Rene is a man who has served his time, he has a right to go home and his home is Cuba."

Salanueva -- whom U.S. prosecutors say was a Cuban intelligence operative linked to the spy ring who was arrested and deported back to Cuba in 2000 -- said she was denied a U.S. visa to be present at Gonzalez's release on Friday.

Gonzalez's early morning departure in darkness from the rural Florida Panhandle prison was low key -- a camera crew waiting outside the prison saw a car drive out at about the time of his release.

He was taken to an unknown destination which Horowitz declined to reveal, citing safety reasons.

Cuba hails the five convicted spies as heroes and has waged an international campaign for their release. Havana argues Gonzalez and his fellow agents were working undercover in Florida to stop "terrorist" attacks on Cuba by hard-line anti-communist Cuban exiles.

"ENEMY OF AMERICA"

Other members of the uncovered Cuban intelligence ring were also convicted of trying to infiltrate U.S. military installations in South Florida, as well as spying on exiles.

Reflecting the animosity felt toward the "Cuban Five" by Cuban exiles, Cuba-born Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen this week called Gonzalez an "enemy of America" and demanded "the most stringent monitoring and safeguards" surrounding his probation period in the United States.

Ros-Lehtinen, who chairs the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said Gonzalez had "American blood on his hands" and remained a threat to U.S. security.

Her comments recalled U.S. prosecutors' arguments that Gonzalez, as a member of the so-called Cuban "Wasp Network," infiltrated a Cuban exile flying group, Brothers to the Rescue, two of whose planes were shot down by Cuban fighter jets off Cuba in 1996. Four men in the planes were killed.

"If Rene is a danger for them ... why do they insist on keeping him there?" Salanueva asked.

She was quoted by Cuban state media as saying Gonzalez was "unrepentant about being an anti-terrorist fighter," referring to the espionage activities in the United States for which he was convicted.

The case of the U.S. contractor Gross jailed by Cuba for "crimes against the state" has raised speculation that he could be exchanged for the five. U.S. officials have so far said this is not being considered however.

Salanueva suggested a swap could still be a possibility.

"If they want Gross back in exchange for the five, yes, of course, but it has to be all the five," she said.

Gonzalez, a pilot who had previously served with Cuba's armed forces in Angola, flew to the United States from Cuba in 1990 in a crop-dusting plane in an apparent defection.

Only later, at his arrest in 1998, did it emerge he was working for Cuban intelligence. Gonzalez has U.S. citizenship because he was born in the United States in 1956 but returned with his family to Cuba in 1961.

(Additional reporting by Rosa Tania Valdes in Havana and Pascal Fletcher in Miami; writing by Fletcher; Editing by Philip Barbara)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/crime/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111007/ts_nm/us_usa_cuba_agent

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Yabusame ? Horse Archery ? Tokyobling's Blog

Of all the things I would like to try, if I could pick one single uniquely Japanese experience, it would be yabusame. I really can?t think of any activity in Japan that is more attractive to me than this. Which might be why I haven?t felt up to the task of blogging about it before. Yabusame is the ritual practice of mounted archery, an old samurai training practice which today involves riding down a narrow lane attempting to hit three targets with a Japanese bow and arrow. In the old days this was a useful practice for war but after Japan gained stability under the shogun, yabusame has had a more ritual than practical meaning. Some yabusame exhibitions are used by priests to tell the fortune of the coming year (more hits means a better year and vice versa) and it is still a highly ritual sport complete with attending priests, blessings and full shinto rituals. Most yabusame exhibitions are three archers each being given three passes. Most horses used are trained exclusively for this task but in some cases, like in the case I am blogging about today, regular racing horses are used. Naturally, the faster the horse runs the lesser the chance of hitting the targets. Often the commentators will announce with dread in their voice that ?today the horses are very lively?, meaning that the archers will have a hard time, but I also saw one event where the commentator joked that the horses seemed not to have been properly woken up yet!

The arrows, as you can see, are not pointed and they don?t need to penetrate the target. The target is a small wooden pane that is often pre-broken in half and filled with a tissue pocket of confetti, so that when the blunt arrow breaks the pane, a showering of confetti announce the hit! Another reason for the blunt arrows are the three judges seated next to the target or sometimes beneath or behind it! Perhaps as an added incentive to hit the target instead of a judge? I have never seen it personally, but some friends mention having seen stray arrows hit judges, apparently it?s considered bad sport to flinch!

The easiest target to hit is usually the first one, if the horse moves fast it becomes really difficult to draw the next arrow, place it on the bouncing bow and draw for the next target, especially if the archer is even slightly out of balance. But skilled archers are sometimes able to hit all three targets even on fast horses. I have seen plenty of not so skilled archers complete all three runs with zero hits tough, so I assume it must be an extremely difficult sport. If you?re into archery you will have noticed the peculiar Japanese un-balanced bows! The way of shooting these bows are completely different from western archery, for example, the hand holding the bow uses almost no force, resulting in the bow turning on it?s own, often leaving the string hitting the wrist of the left arm after letting the arrow loose! A properly drawn Japanese bow looks more like an arch than the line of the western drawn bow and unskilled archers will often end up with the string hitting their faces or wrists, which needless to say can be quite painful. I have done it several times while doing normal Japanese archery. There?s also horror stories in every archery school of someone accidentally getting their ear caught in front of the drawn string.

For me, yabusame is the epitome, the one sport to outshine all sports, and the ultimate of Japanese culture. Very dangerous and extremely difficult but when well performed it looks absolutely effortless. Plus look at those gorgeous costumes! I?ll post more photos from this event at Tokyo?s Bajikouen later. Enjoy!

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Source: http://tokyobling.wordpress.com/2011/10/07/yabusame-horse-archery/

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AirPlay Mirroring coming to iPhone 4S, not just for iPads

That snazzy AirPlay Mirroring feature Apple showed off at WWDC earlier this year is back for an encore, and now it's strutting its stuff on the iPhone 4S. Previously we saw AirPlay piping an iPad 2 to the big screen by way of Apple TV, but the upcoming iOS 5 features seems to have broadened it horizons -- letting Apple handsets get in on the HDTV mirroring love. AirPlay not your thing? Don't worry, you can still score high-def mirroring action using a wired dongle. Skip on past the break for a peek at the accessory that will make your next $2,000 Halloween costume that much easier to build.

Continue reading AirPlay Mirroring coming to iPhone 4S, not just for iPads

AirPlay Mirroring coming to iPhone 4S, not just for iPads originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trion prepares to host third-party games on its online gaming ...

Game maker?Trion Worlds, which?successfully launched its first major online role-playing fantasy game, Rift, back in March, is now unveiling a game platform to publish games created by other companies.

While Trion will continue making massively multiplayer online games such as its upcoming End of Nations and Defiance titles, the platform, called Project Red Door,?is a way for the Redwood City, Calif.-based company to make a lot more money than it otherwise would, said Lars Buttler, chief executive of Trion, in an interview. The two-pronged initiative will have a consumer platform on the web and a publishing platform for game makers.

If it can start publishing third-party games in the first part of 2012, Trion could become a much bigger player in the lucrative online game market. The new strategy shows that Trion is making one of the biggest bets that a startup has ever made in the video game industry.

?We?re doing this because we see this massive shift in entertainment, which is transforming traditional content into connected services,? Buttler said. ?The future of interactive entertainment is incredibly connected. Our job is to transform games into living worlds.?

Buttler said that the company raised more than $100 million and hired more than 500 employees since 2006 so that it could launch premium quality MMOs. But at the same time, it built a publishing platform that other companies can use. From a business view, the move makes sense because it allows Trion to amortize its technology investments over a much broader base of games. It also reduces Trion?s dependence on its own internally produced games.

?Our own games are just the tip of the iceberg,? Buttler said. ?The true business significance of our company lies in the Trion platform.?

Red Door will roll out in the spring of 2012. Buttler said that Trion is talking with other game developers and publishers so that it can line up games that are ?living worlds,? or MMOs that take heavy investment. It?s almost as if Trion is launching its own console, hoping to attract a lot of game companies to support it with their own games. Those who adopt Red Door could save years in development time, Buttler said.

For consumers, Trion will deliver a single, trusted destination site for connected games with rich social features. Players will be able to discover and download content and enjoy a suite of flexible account services, Buttler said.

Trion has game studios in Redwood City; San Diego; Austin, Texas; and London. On top of that, it has tapped Petroglyph Studios in Las Vegas to make End of Nations, which will be published as a free-to-play title, where users play for free and pay real money for virtual goods.

The company?s investors include Time Warner, Comcast, Bertelsmann, Rustic Canyon Ventures, Trinity Ventures and DCM. Buttler cited recent PricewaterhouseCoopers stats that show online games are growing at 21.3 percent a year, compared to console games that are growing much more slowly. Buttler said Trion can take advantage of the latest trends in providing dynamic services ? where a game can be updated on the fly in response to user feedback ? as well as modern monetization, analytics, and business intelligence tools.

Buttler hopes to make Trion?s site into a hub that consumers can trust as a brand that represents quality. Buttler says he doesn?t think of the Red Door platform as a social network for MMO players. Rather, it?s a destination for ?games as a service,? more like Microsoft?s Xbox Live online game platform for the Xbox 360 game console.

?This is a huge evolutionary step in the history of our company,? Buttler said. ?Our platform is built and we are opening it up.?

The risk for Trion is that it could be disrupted as well. While it focuses on the ?deep end of gaming,? casual game makers such as Zynga are attracting huge audiences at the ?shallow end.? Zynga can give away its games for free and charge for virtual items, undercutting the prices of subscription games such as Trion?s Rift. But Buttler said Trion remains flexible enough to test new business models as well to see what resonates with players. The beauty of subscription revenues, he said, is that the revenue doesn?t dry up after just a few months, in contrast to console games. And, compared to social games, the average revenue per users (ARPU) is far bigger.

Buttler said that Rift, Trion?s first game launched earlier this year, has been a great success. The game scored 84 out of 100 on Metacritic, a review aggregator. Trion continues to update the game on a regular basis. The game sold more than 1 million copies in under four months, and the average gamer plays for four hours a day. So far, players have spent 1 trillion minutes in the game and completed 1 billion quests. Players have tweeted more than 1.5 million times from within the game. Within six months, Trion has launched five major updates.

?We consider this to be the most successful MMO launch in the West,? Buttler said. ?We have grown faster than World of Warcraft (the market leader) did in its early days. Rift has proven the technology and given us a revenue stream we can count on.?

Much of that success is due to the Trion platform, the underlying technology that uses a distributed computing architecture. The servers were designed to work in a dynamic fashion. If the game needs more functional tasks, particularly in a certain part of the world, Trion can simply add more servers to handle tasks such as physics or artificial intelligence of player data. That way, the game can support a huge influx of players into one part of the world, as can happen when Trion stages an invasion of the world. When the world changes, Trion simply changes its servers. There is no reason to patch a gamer?s own machine.

Anyone who adopts the Trion platform can use those same kinds of features and live services in their own games. Next year, Trion will launch End of Nations, a real-time strategy game, and Defiance, a first-person shooter game co-developed with the SyFy Channel. After that, Trion hasn?t said what else it will do.

Trion?s Red Door will be an end-to-end publishing platform that can be customized for each partner.

?The only thing you need is a talented game team,? Buttler said.

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Tags: Defiance, End of Nations, Red Door, Rift

Companies: Comcast, DCM, Rustic Canyon Ventures, Time Warner, Trinity Ventures, Trion Worlds

People: Lars Buttler

Source: http://venturebeat.com/2011/10/06/trion-prepares-to-host-third-party-games-on-its-online-gaming-platform/

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