Friday, November 30, 2012

Spaun: a Large-Scale Functional Brain Model

Spaun: a Large-Scale Functional Brain Model - Slashdot
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AI Science Technology Posted by Soulskill
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New submitter dj_tla writes "A team of Canadian researchers has created a state-of-the-art brain model that can see, remember, think about, and write numbers. The model has just been discussed in a Science article entitled 'A Large-Scale Model of the Functioning Brain.' There have been several popular press articles, and there are videos of the model in action. Nature quotes Eugene Izhikevich, chairman of Brain Corporation, as saying, 'Until now, the race was who could get a human-sized brain simulation running, regardless of what behaviors and functions such simulation exhibits. From now on, the race is more [about] who can get the most biological functions and animal-like behaviors. So far, Spaun is the winner.' (Full disclosure: I am a member of the team that created Spaun.)"

The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. -- Oscar Wilde

Working...

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/6SJ2Rx-kaoc/story01.htm

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California Transition To Affordable Care Act Prompts Concerns From Health Plans

This story comes courtesy of California Watch.

By Christina Jewett

Under a budget-paring plan crafted by Gov. Jerry Brown and approved by lawmakers, 870,000 children who were covered by the Healthy Families program will be moved to Medi-Cal in phases starting Jan. 1. But it remains unclear whether a health plan serving Sacramento, Fresno, San Diego and Los Angeles counties will have enough doctors to accept the children.

Health Net, which covers about 86,000 children, notified the state that it can?t say how many of its doctors will continue to see children after they are moved from the better-paying Healthy Families program to Medi-Cal, a Medicaid program that pays some of the nation?s lowest reimbursement rates.

CalViva, a plan that contracts with Health Net to provide care to nearly 15,000 clients in Fresno, Kings and Madera counties, also reported similar concerns.

?That?s a lot of children who would be affected if there are problems in the health plans,? said Michele Stillwell-Parvensky, a policy and communications associate with the Children's Defense Fund ? California.

In a report published Nov. 1, Health Net said it could not determine its doctors' willingness to take on Medi-Cal clients without seeing rates under the emerging plan.

After hearing the concerns, state authorities moved the transition date for Health Net and CalViva clients covered by Healthy Families from Jan. 1 to March 1. The coverage transition is expected to roll out in four phases through August.

State Department of Health Care Services spokesman Norman Williams said the state provided rate information to Health Net on Nov. 5 and is continuing to collect data on whether doctors will accept Medi-Cal clients. The change comes as the state attempts to cut about $64 million from children?s coverage in the fiscal year ending next summer.

Health Net reported to the state that it has a low ?overlap? in its network, meaning that many doctors who served Healthy Families clients do not accept Medi-Cal.

?Our focus is to help Health Net increase the overlap of providers in its Medi-Cal model so that it can ensure a seamless transition into a network that is adequate for the transition,? Williams said in an email.

Health Net spokesman Brad Kieffer said the firm ?continues working closely with the state and we will be providing an update by the deadlines that are required.?

Federal health reform is expected to limit rate cuts for doctors who see children covered by Medi-Cal starting in January. At that time, federal funds will boost Medi-Cal rates for primary care doctors to the same level as Medicare rates, which are roughly 50 percent higher. The change is expected to last through 2015.

Still, whether doctors will take on the influx of Medi-Cal clients goes to the heart of children's advocates' concerns.

?Our worry is that there seems to be an intention to proceed with these transitions without that certainty that the doctors will be there to meet all these kids,? said Kathleen Hamilton, director of governmental affairs with the Children?s Partnership.

Hamilton said she?s also concerned that pediatricians will be caught off guard by the changes. She said she recently spoke to doctors in Los Angeles about the changes and found they were ?anxious for information.?

Twenty-two members of California?s congressional delegation signed a Nov. 16 letter urging caution during the transition.

The letter to state Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley notes that the changes come as the state moves 470,000 elderly and disabled Medi-Cal clients into managed care plans.

?When large numbers of persons are moving into managed care plans, plan capacity and access to providers must be addressed carefully,? the letter says. ?The potential for children to lose access to care is of great concern to us.?

Authorities with the state?s Medi-Cal agency say they are ?working diligently to ensure that this transition is conducted appropriately.?

Christina Jewett is an investigative reporter focusing on health and welfare for California Watch and the Center for Investigative Reporting. To read more California Watch stories, click here.

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/29/affordable-healthcare-act-california_n_2215098.html

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Autumn sets in rapidly on Saturn's giant moon

ScienceDaily (Nov. 28, 2012) ? As leaves fall and winter approaches in Earth's Northern Hemisphere, a change of seasons is also rapidly becoming noticeable in the southern hemisphere of Saturn's giant moon, Titan.

Thanks to NASA's Cassini spacecraft which has been orbiting Saturn since 2004, scientists have been able to observe for the first time ever the seasonal atmospheric circulation direction change on Titan -- an event which only happens once every 15 years and is never observable from Earth. Their findings are published today in Nature.

Titan, while technically only a moon, is bigger than the planet Mercury, and is often considered a planet in its own right. It is the only known moon to have a significant atmosphere and is one of only four terrestrial atmospheres in our Solar System (the other three being Earth, Venus, and Mars). As Titan's rotation axis is tilted by a similar amount to that of Earth, it experiences seasons in a similar way, but at a much more relaxed pace as Saturn takes 29.5 Earth years to orbit the Sun.

Dr Nick Teanby of the University of Bristol and colleagues used infrared spectra measured by Cassini's Composite InfraRed Spectrometer (CIRS) instrument to determine atmospheric temperature and global distributions of chemical tracers. This allowed them to map out the seasonal changes in great detail.

The team observed an enormous increase in Titan's exotic trace gases over the south pole within a relatively short time. These trace gases are produced high in Titan's atmosphere, where sunlight and highly energetic particles break down nitrogen and methane and recombine to form a vast array of more complex molecules like benzene and hydrogen cyanide.

Co-author, Dr Remco de Kok of SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research said: "We were waiting for signs that the trace gas abundances would change together with the new season, but we did not expect such a large and rapid change: some gas concentrations increased more than a thousand times within only a few months. Also surprising was that this was happening at altitudes above 450 km, much higher than initially anticipated."

At these high altitudes the atmosphere goes around the planet much faster than the rotation of Titan's solid surface and can have horizontal wind speeds around the planet of up to 200m/s (450mph). Vertical winds caused by the seasonally varying hemisphere to hemisphere atmospheric circulation are much slower at a rather sluggish few millimetres per second and are hard to measure using conventional means.

Lead author, Dr Nick Teanby of Bristol's School of Earth Sciences said: "Using measurements of temperature and chemical tracers by Cassini, we were able to observe changes in the subtle vertical winds and reveal the pole-to-pole circulation cell. For the first time ever, we observed the circulation cell direction reverse over the south pole around the time of the 2009 southern autumnal equinox. The resulting distribution of gases shows that the circulation must extend much further than previously thought to 600 km or even higher. This calls into question our current understanding of how Titan's atmosphere works and suggests new avenues to explore."

"Our results provide a powerful new constraint for atmospheric models of Titan. Titan provides a natural laboratory for an Earth-like atmosphere in the cold outer solar system. So, these results could eventually lead to a more complete understanding of atmospheric processes on Earth, other Solar System planets, and the many exoplanetary systems now being discovered."

In the coming years Cassini will continue to observe how the seasons develop. Dr Conor Nixon at NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre said: "These results are giving us the first detailed look at changes occurring in Titan's atmosphere around the time of equinox, a season which has not been viewed up close by a spacecraft previously. This shows the really great science that is coming out of the Cassini extended mission phases since 2008, and we look forward to seeing the further changes that will occur over the next five years until the end of mission in 2017."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Bristol.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. Nicholas A. Teanby, Patrick G. J. Irwin, Conor A. Nixon, Remco de Kok, Sandrine Vinatier, Athena Coustenis, Elliot Sefton-Nash, Simon B. Calcutt, F. Michael Flasar. Active upper-atmosphere chemistry and dynamics from polar circulation reversal on Titan. Nature, 2012; 491 (7426): 732 DOI: 10.1038/nature11611

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/space_time/nasa/~3/X_XeVqXcboA/121128132311.htm

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NBCUniversal Ups Lenore Moritz To VP Communications In Digital ...

NBCUniversal executive Lenore Moritz has been promoted to the position of Vice President, Communications, Digital and Integrated Media, in NBCUniversal?s Entertainment & Digital Networks and Integrated Media (E&DN/IM) division. In this expanded role, Moritz takes on communications oversight of DailyCandy, Fandango, Television Without Pity and elevates her role within Integrated Media (IM) to lead communications for the group. IM is the creative content, marketing, and research group which develops custom cross-portfolio deals across NBCUniversal, and encompasses Women at NBCU, Green is Universal , Healthy at NBCU and Hispanics at NBCU. Most recently, Moritz was Vice President of Communications for Integrated Media and iVillage, which recently moved to the digital portfolio in NBCUniversal?s News division.

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Source: http://www.deadline.com/2012/11/lenore-moritz-promotion-nbcuniversal-vp-communications-digital-and-integrated-media/

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Thyroid problems linked to irregular heart rhythm

ScienceDaily (Nov. 27, 2012) ? People with an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) carry a greater risk of developing irregular heart rhythm (known as atrial fibrillation) than those with normal thyroid function, finds a study published on bmj.com today.

As such, the researchers suggest there should be an increased focus on atrial fibrillation in patients with raised thyroid function.

Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland makes too much thyroxine (thyroid hormone), causing many of the body's functions to speed up. About 1 in 100 women and 1 in 1,000 men develop hyperthyroidism at some stage of their life and it can happen at any age.

It is well known that overt hyperthyroidism is associated with atrial fibrillation, but it's still not clear whether milder (subclinical) hyperthyroidism has a similar effect. Data on the risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is also limited.

So a team of researchers in Denmark set out to examine the risk of atrial fibrillation in relation to the whole spectrum of thyroid disease in a large group of patients.

Using nationwide registries, they identified 586,460 patients who had consulted a general practitioner in Copenhagen from 2000 to 2010 and had a thyroid function blood test. This measures the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) circulating in the blood. In people with hyperthyroidism the level of TSH will usually be low, whereas in people with hypothyroidism the level of TSH will usually be high.

During an average five and a half years follow-up, 17,154 (3%) of patients had a diagnosis of a first atrial fibrillation, 53% of whom were women.

Compared to patients with normal thyroid function, the risk of atrial fibrillation increased with decreasing levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone. For example, patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism had a 30% increased risk of atrial fibrillation, while patients with high-normal thyroid function had a 12% increased risk.

In contrast, hypothyroidism was associated with a lower risk of atrial fibrillation.

The authors stress that, although atrial fibrillation was closely associated with thyroid activity, they cannot prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship. However, they say their study is "the first to assess the association between the whole spectrum of thyroid disease and the subsequent risk of atrial fibrillation in a population of primary care patients."

They conclude: "These results support long term screening for atrial fibrillation in patients with thyroid disease."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by BMJ-British Medical Journal.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. C. Selmer, J. B. Olesen, M. L. Hansen, J. Lindhardsen, A.-M. S. Olsen, J. C. Madsen, J. Faber, P. R. Hansen, O. D. Pedersen, C. Torp-Pedersen, G. H. Gislason. The spectrum of thyroid disease and risk of new onset atrial fibrillation: a large population cohort study. BMJ, 2012; 345 (nov27 1): e7895 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.e7895

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/top_news/~3/aLnVUQqZaxI/121127190327.htm

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Iranian MP decries cyber police "violations" over blogger's death

DUBAI (Reuters) - A senior Iranian MP criticized the nation's cyber security force for "violations" in the wake of the death in police custody of a blogger, Press TV reported late on Monday.

In a case that has sparked international outrage, 35-year-old Sattar Beheshti, who wrote a blog critical of the government, was arrested on October 30 after receiving death threat. He died some days later.

Under increasing pressure at home and abroad, Iran's parliament said it had formed a committee to examine the case, and the judiciary said it would deal "quickly and decisively" with those responsible.

"The judiciary's measure for arresting Sattar Beheshti was legal, but the violation by cyber police in this case is indisputable," said Mehdi Davatgari, a member of the parliament's national security and foreign policy commission.

"Unfortunately, the officers of the cyber police kept the suspect in their custody without court order for a whole night, which was completely against the law," he added.

Iran created a cyber police unit in 2011 in the wake of the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that led to widespread protests.

The authorities were initially caught by surprise by activists using social networking websites to organize rallies, but they have has since created systems to monitor online activity and restrict web access, human rights groups say.

Officials have repeatedly voiced suspicions about the internet and web giant Google as part of the West's "soft war" against Iran.

Last week the Tehran prosecutor's office said that the most likely cause of the blogger's death may have been shock but that the medical committee investigating it said the exact cause was impossible to determine.

The office said the investigation was still underway and the results would be made public.

Iranian authorities have arrested seven people suspected of involvement in the death of Beheshti and a judiciary official said a forensic examination had found bruises on five parts of the blogger's body.

(Reporting By Marcus George; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iranian-mp-decries-cyber-police-violations-over-bloggers-074501677.html

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For some feathered dinosaurs, bigger not always better

ScienceDaily (Nov. 27, 2012) ? Every kid knows that giant carnivores like Tyrannosaurus rex dominated the Cretaceous period, but they weren't the only big guys in town. Giant plant-eating theropods -- close relatives of both T. rex and today's birds -- also lived and thrived alongside their meat-eating cousins. Now researchers have started looking at why dinosaurs that abandoned meat in favor of vegetarian diets got so big, and their results may call conventional wisdom about plant-eaters and body size into question.

Scientists have theorized that bigger was better when it came to plant eaters, because larger digestive tracts would allow dinosaurs to maximize the nutrition they could extract from high-fiber, low-calorie food. Therefore, natural selection may have favored increasing body sizes in groups of animals that went meatless.

Three groups of giant feathered theropods from the Cretaceous period seemed to follow that rule of thumb -- the biggest specimens were also the plant-eaters. Lindsay Zanno, research assistant professor of biology at North Carolina State University and director of the Paleontology & Geology Research Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and Peter Makovicky, associate curator of paleontology at the Field Museum in Chicago, decided to see if diet was the determining factor when it came to size. Makovicky notes that "Having three closely related lineages of dinosaurs adapting to herbivory over the same geological time span and showing evidence of increasing size provided a near perfect test case."

Zanno and Makovicky estimated body mass for 47 extinct species of feathered dinosaur, representing three major groups that abandoned a strictly meat-eating diet -- ornithomimosaurs ("bird-mimics"), oviraptorosaurs ("egg-thieves"), and the bizarre therizinosaurs ("scythe-lizards"). Most species in these lineages also possessed a toothless beak, three-toed feet, and shorter tails than your average dinosaur, making them look a lot like modern birds.

All three groups evolved gigantic proportions: the largest oviraptorosaur weighed over 7,000 pounds, and the biggest ornithomimosaurs and therizinosaurs topped out at over 13,000 pounds. "The largest feathered dinosaurs were more than 100 times more massive than your average person," says Zanno. "The reality is that for most of us, it is downright difficult to imagine a feathered animal of gigantic proportions."

The researchers also found that average body mass did increase in these groups over time (on average, the earliest members were smallest and the last species to evolve were among the largest). But this simple correlation didn't indicate whether large size was an evolutionary advantage.

To test whether these groups were being driven to get bigger by natural selection, Zanno and Makovicky fitted different evolutionary models to the data, looking to see which model best described the patterns of body mass from ancestor species to descendant species. They found that these theropod groups were experimenting with different body masses as they evolved, with some getting bigger, while others were getting smaller. In short, there was no clear-cut drive to get big -- size seemed to provide no overwhelming advantage during the evolution of these animals.

The researchers' results appear in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

"Results of our study don't rule out diet as affecting body mass, but do seem to indicate that fluctuating environmental conditions over time were trumping the benefit of becoming a giant," Zanno says. "The long and short of it is that for plant-eating theropods, bigger wasn't always better."

"Where resources permitted, these animals could get as big as elephants, but that clearly was not the case in all environments and time periods," says Makovicky. "Factors such as resource abundance and competition with other herbivores likely played a more significant role." He added that uneven sampling in the fossil record, such as preferential preservation of smaller species in earlier time periods and larger species in later ones, could also impact the results.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by North Carolina State University.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. L. E. Zanno, P. J. Makovicky. No evidence for directional evolution of body mass in herbivorous theropod dinosaurs. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2012; 280 (1751): 20122526 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2012.2526

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/Hr6I2O3rKvk/121128093254.htm

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Scenes from the Apple Cup pre-game

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Source: http://southhill.kxly.com/photo-gallery/community-spirit/85495-scenes-apple-cup-pre-game

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Medicare Solutions Blog ? Stay Healthy This Holiday Season Using ...


At this time of the year when so many of our social and holiday gatherings are food and drink-related, it is especially important to follow steps to maintain healthy habits.? Review your healthcare plan to uncover specific benefits which will help you remain healthy and prevent illness during the holiday season and the New Year.

Staying Active

If you are a senior, look for ways to keep yourself fit, strong and flexible to reduce holiday stress and help prevent ailments.? Not only will staying active promote positive mental and emotional health, but it will also increase your chances to remain independent long after the holiday decorations are stored away.

With many leading insurance plans, enrollment includes discounts for health club memberships and fitness classes.?? Many leading Medicare health plans also offer SilverSneakers Fitness Program designed to help older adults and seniors live fit, active and independent lifestyles.? (To determine if your health plan offers SilverSneakers, visit:? http://www.silversneakers.com/HealthPlanLocator.aspx.)

Quitting Smoking

The holiday season is a stressful time of the year for most people, and for those who are working to quit smoking, the holidays can be especially challenging.? Even though the single most preventable cause of death and disease in the United States is tobacco use, quitting smoking for most people is extremely difficult.

If you decide to quit on your own, there are several steps you should take to increase your chances of success, including:

  • ?Setting a ?quit date.?? Tell family members, friends and co-workers about your decision and ask for their support.
  • Get enough rest to reduce that run-down feeling and resist the urge for cravings.
  • Reduce your caffeine when you need an energy boost; take a rest instead if you?re tired.
  • Drink more water as not only is it a great craving-buster, but it will keep you well-hydrated and feeling better in general.
  • Go for a walk to reduce stress and improve circulation.? When the urge to smoke strikes, head out for a quick walk.? You?ll come back relaxed and refreshed.
  • Contact your healthcare provider and inquire if they have any programs to support you during your journey or ask them if they have any medicines that may help you quit.
  • ?After you quit, keep yourself away from cigarettes and situations that may ?trigger? your desire to smoke.? If you slip and smoke; don?t give up!? Set a new ?quit date? and learn from your mistakes.

Many medical plans recognize the toll that smoking takes on a person?s well-being and offer programs that offer a variety of solutions to quitting.? Tobacco Use Cessation Counseling is a benefit that is now considered a preventative service, whether or not you have been diagnosed with an illness caused or complicated by tobacco use.? While it may be difficult, and at times uncomfortable, navigating the holidays without cigarettes is a vital part of your journey.? Put yourself in the best possible environment for success as you move through the next few months and keep your decision for a healthier, smoke-free life in focus.

No Cost Screenings

Although there are often too few minutes in the day during the holiday season, putting your health on the back-burner for the next few months is not a wise decision.? Take the time necessary to take advantage of the many preventative services that are covered under Medicare.

In particular, make certain you are up-to-date on vaccines that can prevent seasonal illnesses such as influenza.? If your holiday schedule includes parties and dinners and you are concerned about controlling weight or diabetes, seek out medical nutrition therapy and counseling to help manage these illnesses.

In addition, don?t put off doctor?s visits when necessary.? Even though you may be spending additional money during the holiday season, the list below includes preventative services that Medicare currently covers at no cost:

  • ?Annual Wellness Visits:? This exam is a one-time review of your health as well as education and counseling about preventive services and other care.
  • Screenings:? No longer will you need to pay a Medicare Part B deductible or copayment for these screenings if certain coverage criteria applies:
  • Bone mass measurement
  • Cervical cancer screening, including Pap smear tests and pelvic exams
  • Cholesterol and other cardiovascular screenings
  • Colorectal cancer screenings
  • Diabetes screening
  • Flu shot, pneumonia shot and the Hepatitis B shot
  • Glaucoma tests
  • HIV screening for people at increased risk or who ask for the test
  • Mammograms
  • Medical nutrition therapy to help manage diabetes or kidney disease
  • Prostate cancer screening

Utilizing Available Resources

Making informed decisions regarding your medical conditions requires getting information from an educated source.?? Most insurance plans now provide written materials, including newsletters and dedicated websites to help you manage your health.? Whether you?re dealing with a specific health issue or trying to prevent problems, consult your health plan to determine if they offer any of the following:

  • Nursing hotlines for easy-access information from home or away.
  • Wellness discounts on health and wellness products, over-the-counter medicines and vision services.
  • Caregiver Support for access to services for managing chronic conditions.
  • Help after Hospitalization.? During the holidays when family members and friends may be busy traveling, it may be especially critical to utilize skilled nursing and home health aide services to ensure that on-going patient care is uninterrupted.
  • Medicare coverage while traveling during the holidays.

Remember, with balance and moderation, you can enjoy the holidays in a healthy way.?? Knowing your health plan and the benefits it offers you is the first step towards taking care of yourself and enjoying the bounties of the season.

Our licensed agents at MedicareSolutions are available to assist you in selecting a Medicare plan that best fits your health care needs.? Call us today at 1-800-328-7305!


Source: http://www.medicaresolutions.com/blog/index.php/2012/11/stay-healthy-this-holiday-season-using-your-health-plan-benefits/

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Novel power system for space travel tested

ScienceDaily (Nov. 26, 2012) ? A team of researchers, including engineers from Los Alamos National Laboratory, has demonstrated a new concept for a reliable nuclear reactor that could be used on space flights.

The research team recently demonstrated the first use of a heat pipe to cool a small nuclear reactor and power a Stirling engine at the Nevada National Security Site's Device Assembly Facility near Las Vegas. The Demonstration Using Flattop Fissions (DUFF) experiment produced 24 watts of electricity. A team of engineers from Los Alamos, the NASA Glenn Research Center and National Security Technologies LLC (NSTec) conducted the experiment.

Heat pipe technology was invented at Los Alamos in 1963. A heat pipe is a sealed tube with an internal fluid that can efficiently transfer heat produced by a reactor with no moving parts. A Stirling engine is a relatively simple closed-loop engine that converts heat energy into electrical power using a pressurized gas to move a piston. Using the two devices in tandem allowed for creation of a simple, reliable electric power supply that can be adapted for space applications.

Researchers configured DUFF on an existing experiment, known as Flattop, to allow for a water-based heat pipe to extract heat from uranium. Heat from the fission reaction was transferred to a pair of free-piston Stirling engines manufactured by Sunpower Inc., based in Athens Ohio. Engineers from NASA Glenn designed and built the heat pipe and Stirling assembly and operated the engines during the experiment. Los Alamos nuclear engineers operated the Flattop assembly under authorization from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

DUFF is the first demonstration of a space nuclear reactor system to produce electricity in the United States since 1965, and the experiment confirms basic nuclear reactor physics and heat transfer for a simple, reliable space power system.

"The nuclear characteristics and thermal power level of the experiment are remarkably similar to our space reactor flight concept," said Los Alamos engineer David Poston. "The biggest difference between DUFF and a possible flight system is that the Stirling input temperature would need to be hotter to attain the required efficiency and power output needed for space missions."

"The heat pipe and Stirling engine used in this test are meant to represent one module that could be used in a space system," said Marc Gibson of NASA Glenn. "A flight system might use several modules to produce approximately one kilowatt of electricity."

Current space missions typically use power supplies that generate about the same amount of electricity as one or two household light bulbs. The availability of more power could potentially boost the speed with which mission data is transmitted back to Earth, or increase the number of instruments that could be operated at the same time aboard a spacecraft.

"A small, simple, lightweight fission power system could lead to a new and enhanced capability for space science and exploration," said Los Alamos project lead Patrick McClure. "We hope that this proof of concept will soon move us from the old-frontier of Nevada to the new-frontier of outer space."

Los Alamos research on the project was made possible through Los Alamos's Laboratory-Directed Research and Development Program (LDRD), which is funded by a small percentage of the Laboratory's overall budget to invest in new or cutting-edge research. NASA Glenn and NSTec also used internal support to fund their contributions to the experiment.

"Perhaps one of the more important aspects of this experiment is that it was taken from concept to completion in 6 months for less than a million dollars," said Los Alamos engineer David Dixon. "We wanted to show that with a tightly-knit and focused team, it is possible to successfully perform practical reactor testing."

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_technology/~3/a03a8iZp7q4/121126131344.htm

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Preparation for the Great Critical Incident: First Aid Emergency ...

By J.W. Caesar

Hosea 4: 6 (KJV) My people perish from a lack of knowledge.

Knowledge is power for survival when it comes to overcoming disasters. It is vital to get educated on how to survive in the event of a myriad disaster scenerios. Many people die or get injured because they did not adequately plan, prepare or mitigate for unseen emergencies. In order to win the war on disasters; American citizens must take disaster preparation seriously and strengthen themselves mentally, spiritually, and physically to overcome the challenges in the future.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency states on their website that there are actions that should be taken before, during, and after an event that are unique to each hazard. Each person or group should identify the hazards that have happened or could happen in their area and plan for the unique actions for each hazard. They further note that mitigation can be defined as actions to reduce loss of life and property by decreasing the impact of disasters.? What this means is??taking action now??before the next disaster?to reduce human and financial consequences later (analyzing risk, reducing risk, insuring against risk).? Effective mitigation requires that we all understand local risks, address the hard choices, and invest in long-term community well-being. Without these actions, people jeopardize their safety, financial security, and self-reliance and quality of life.

Building an emergency kit with first aid equipment and taking medical classes are best practices in mitigation that can assist in reducing risk and loss to families and the community.? It is important to analyze what type of hazards would affect the community during a disaster, as well the decision to shelter in place or evacuate to a safe location.? By following this risk analysis process, it would help clarify what type and size of container or bag to place first aid items inside, the quantity, what too and what not to pack, where to pack it, the environment, hazard scenario and number of people it can provide care too. Your first aid kit or emergency supplies should be designed around an all hazards approach that insures against the risk of not being able to treat or prevent hazards from overtaking you and your group. These hazards can cause temporary or permanent damage to the critical infrastructure of this nation. Therefore everyone should be a stakeholder in public safety and security of this nation. As a result, many are designing their first aid kits around temporary disaster events where there is a short recovery period, while others are preparing their kits for a total collapse of the system where medical resources will be hard to find.

Caution: for medical legal and health safety reasons-Disaster Preparers should think about:

  1. Preparing physically, mentally, and spiritually now to adapt to changes caused by impact of disasters and?continuity of civil and infastructure recovery.
  2. Familiarizing with their local, state and federal laws on the boundaries of giving care to humans, pets and livestock.
  3. Getting prior training on how to use the items in the first aid kit.
  4. Working as a trained and covenant group, not loner.
  5. Trying to get written certification or medical authority to perform certain procedures.
  6. Not going beyond their scope of practice or their medical certifications.
  7. Abiding by the local laws of what is allowed in your first aid or medical kit.
  8. (Personal, Force, Asset?Protection)Avoiding making themselves a target for thieves, murderers, drug addicts that use false emergency scenes or requests for help.

A first aid kit can be purchased at many stores, disaster preparedness organizations and online merchants. Medical supplies can also be purchased individually to build your own kit.? Some have also combined the two as one mitigation measure. Others have crafted their own replacement first aid products by improvising. They use tampons for bleeding, card board for splints, and other homemade items, or pet supplies for their kit?s inventory. The real issue is finding the right items and kit skin for your needs. There are many questionable claims to first kits such as the number of people that it can actually treat in an emergency, the quality, sterility and durability of items, the protective covering of the container or bag and excessive prices for minimal supplies. This is why it is vital to do a risk analysis and make appropriate mitigation decisions for your own needs from an all hazards approach.

?Non exhaustive Example of items for Emergency First aid Survival Kit:

Airway Control Kit

_____ Pocket Mask kit

_____ Breathing Barrier with gloves kit

Diagnostic Instruments/Tools

_____ First aid booklet _____Trauma/Bandage scissors _____Protective Face masks

_____12 hour Cyalume Lightsticks _____Candles_____Straws

_____ Scissors, fine point_____ Splinter Forceps _____Nail clippers ____Tweezers

_____ Disposable Penlight or flashlight _____Head Lamp _____ Flashlight

_____Permanent Markers_____Pen _____Pencil_____Writing Paper Tablet _____

_____ Disposable Gloves_____ Splints_____Trash bags ______Ziploc bags

_____Duct Tape_____Clear tape____Painter?s tape____Scotch tape

_____Lockman tool_____Knife_____Razor_____ Box Cutter

_____Cable ties______Rope______String_____Plastic Wrap______Foil

______Belts______Straps____Batteries____Heavy protective gloves

Circulation/Bleeding Control Shock Kit

_____ Triangular Bandages(Cravats)______Rubber Latex gloves_______ Eye protection

______Military Field Dressing bandages______Abdominal bandages___Burn Kit

______ Large Absorbent pad dressings _____ Elastic Bandages

______Gauze Roll Bandages______ Adhesive Bandages

______ Tourniquets______ Gauze Pads, 4?x4?______ Gauze Pads, 2?x2?

______ Bandage tape_____ Disposable Rescue Blanket for shock

Sickcall /First Aid items

____Band Aids____Salt____Pepper____Sugar____Ammonia Inhalents

____Tongue depressors____Tempa-dots Thermometers____Eyewash kit____Eye drops

_____Eye pads_____KY-Jelly ____ Aspirin____Tylenol____Cough drops

_____Cold Med.Tablets_____Nasal spray_____Immodium Tablets ____Anaphalaxis kit

____Anti-biotic Ointment______Antifungal cream______Iodine wipes._____Betadine wipes.

_____Alcohol wipes._____Cleaning wipes. ______Anti-bacterial Soap solution

Alcohol Bottle. ____Hydrogen Peroxide Bottle. _____Hand cleaning solution Bottle.

_____Ice Pack______Heat Packs____Moleskin cover bandage

Medical Supplies and their Skins

Medical supplies for a first aid kit can be put inside of a various items that are all weather resistant, waterproof, durable, floatable, not previously had any toxic or corrosive materials stored inside of it, and clearly marked as a first aid or medical kit. Ziploc bags and plastic trash bags can give extra all weather protection and longetivity of items. The kit should also be easy to carry with straps or handles, have reasonable space or compartments for medical items, and easy to open or secure during an emergency. The size and type of first aid emergency kit may be based on varied factors such as the personal needs of the individual, group, or community, different hazards, ?medical training, number of sick and injured, terrain, response time, life cycle of disaster, use with vehicles, walking distance, evacuation, and weather.

Examples:

  • Military Unfolding zippered Aid Bag M-3 & M-17
  • Military Chest with handles
  • Military Aid Station chest containers
  • Military hard plastic or metal containers
  • Nylon, Leather or Canvas Back Packs
  • Luggage with wheels and handle
  • Purse or designer bag
  • Lunch box
  • Square or rectangle storage containers
  • Tupperware containers
  • Plastic Ice Cream or used Food Containers
  • Hunting vests
  • Belt Pouches

A well-stocked and well maintained list of items in the first aid kit should be kept up to date at all times by rotating and replacing items.? A best practice for maintaining the mitigation investment of life saving equipment is doing inventory and preventative maintenance checks before and after using the kit. It can take place on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly cycle. ?The outside and inside of the emergency kit should be inspected for damage such as cracks, tears or holes. Mitigations measures such as health safety inspections for spoilage and expiration dates of items are important also.? However, some questions have been raised about keeping items regardless of expiration dates because of future scarcity of items during extreme disaster periods. These questions should be addressed by medical authorities who are expert in disasters and laws of the land. ?In any case, some items can lose their shelf life, sterility, durability, and may become toxic because of the hot storage temperatures. Another temperature issue is freezing. ?Solutions can freeze causing the containers to crack and break causing contamination of other items or damaging the first aid container.

The kit should work as expected: treat injuries and save life when you need it and cause no harm when it is not needed. It is vital to verify that the items consisting within the kit still function as expected, including the batteries in the medical equipment. The first aid kit should be stored in a place that is of the right temperature for medical supplies, in a safe location, away from pests, where no damage can occur, can be accessible to adults, but not to children or pets that can be poisoned and injured.

In summary, disasters can happen at anytime and anyplace. The consequences of not preparing for them may be immeasurable. To minimize this risk, it is vital to mitigate these impacts by building an emergency first aid kit based on analyzing, reducing, and insuring against future risks. It would be wise to assemble an emergency first aid kit that is adaptable and maintainable for your needs, take first aid classes, get familiarized with medical ? legal laws, learn how to take protective measures in emergency situations, and establish mutual-aid and covenant partnerships well in advance of an emergency situation. All of these steps help reduce the impact of hazards associated with future events and improve the chances of winning the war over disasters.? Americans, must remember that everyone is a stakeholder in public safety, God given freedoms, continuity of civil government,?and protecting the critical infastructure and key resources of this nation.

References:

  1. KJV
  2. ?http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation

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Source: http://ctable.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/preparation-for-the-great-critical-incident-first-aid-emergency-survival-kit-part-9/

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Monday, November 26, 2012

GOP starting to rebel against no-tax-hikes pledge - Personal ...


From: Yahoo! News: Personal Finance News - 8:27pm - November 25, 2012

With the fiscal cliff looming for the United States, some Republican members of Congress said today they are ready to break a long standing pledge not to raise taxes.

Continue reading this article ?

Source: http://ewallstreeter.com/gop-starting-to-rebel-against-no-tax-hikes-pledge-4591/

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leroykirman: How to Become Recertified in Pet Loss Grief - Typepad

How to Become Recertified in Pet Loss Grief Counseling

November 22nd, 2012 by admin

There are already a significant number of pet loss grief counselors in the United States. They have been certified to offer mental health and emotional support in a unique field. However, those with certification should be aware of the requirements to get recertified. Certification typically lasts three years. To be eligible to renew pet loss grief certification, the medical doctor, nurse or minister must have been actively practicing. In other words, it may be desirable to reapply several months before current certifications are due to lapse. The counselor must have been in practice for about 500 hours or more during the last two or three years. He or she should also have had 50 hours of continuing education. The standards for pet loss grief continuing education are somewhat tolerant and can include seminars and college courses. Publications in academic journals may meet up to half of the 50 hour requirement.

Posted in Self Improvement and Motivation |

Source: http://www.hubph.com/self-improvement-and-motivation/how-to-become-recertified-in-pet-loss-grief-counseling/

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Shrubs lend insight into a glacier's past

ScienceDaily (Nov. 26, 2012) ? The stems of shrubs have given researchers a window into a glacier's past, potentially allowing them to more accurately assess how they're set to change in the future.

Their findings have been published 27 November in IOP Publishing's journal Environmental Research Letters, and show how a glacier's history of melting can be extended way past the instrumental record.

Much like the rings on a tree stump indicate how old it is, measuring the width of rings on the stem of a shrub can give a good indication of how well it has grown year on year. Under extreme environmental conditions, such as those close to a glacier, a shrub's growth relies heavily on summer temperatures, meaning the ring-width of a shrub can be used a proxy for glacial melting, which also relies heavily on summer temperatures.

Lead author of the study, Allan Buras, said: "In warm summers, shrubs grow more compared to cold summers. In contrast, a glacier's summer mass balance is more negative in warm summers, meaning there is more melting compared to cold summers.

"Big rings in shrubs therefore indicate comparably warm summers, and thus a strongly negative summer mass balance -- in other words, more melting."

The researchers, from the University of Greifswald, tested this theory on a local icecap in the Scandic Mountains of southern Norway. They took 24 samples of shrubs from a site close to the glacier and analysed their ring-widths.

Monthly precipitation and temperature data from a local climate station were retrieved from the Norwegian Meteorological Office, and the summer mass balance of the glacier, from 1963 to 2010, was retrieved from the existing literature.

Each of these data sets was then statistically tested to see if there was a correlation between them. The results showed a robust and reliable correlation between the ring-width of shrubs and the summer melting of the glacier.

"Our results show that it is possible to reconstruct glacier summer mass balance with shrub ring-width series and it is therefore theoretically possible to extent records of summer mass balance into the past," Buras continued.

The shrubs that were collected in the study were relatively young, only allowing for reliable reconstructions over the past 36 years, meaning they could not be used to extend the record of the glacier; however, the researchers are confident that this could have been achieved if longer-lived shrubs were selected.

Most of the available data on the mass balance of glaciers only spans several decades and there is some data missing, mainly because most glaciers are situated in hard-to-reach arctic and alpine areas.

With the possibility to extend the instrumental records of summer mass balance, researchers may gain a better understanding of how glaciers behave in the summer, which they can use to calibrate and verify their existing models.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Institute of Physics.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. Allan Buras, Martin Hallinger, Martin Wilmking. Can shrubs help to reconstruct historical glacier retreats? Environmental Research Letters, 2012; 7 (4): 044031 DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/7/4/044031

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OBMn89C92Ik/121126192759.htm

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Sunday, November 25, 2012

Energy efficient windows ? Home Improvement: House Plans

November 20th, 2012 by admin Leave a reply ?

I must change the windows of my home. My old windows aren't bad looking. But although they go well with the house and I still like them, they are lacking the much needed energy efficiency. Heating and cooling my home takes five times longer than it is supposed to. I talked to the contractor that I always use, and after inspecting them, he told me that is time for windows upgrade. Because I really like the window design I have, I went in search for the similar window style only with a better energy efficiency index. I found something that looks promising at the Nitro Windows store my next door neighbor suggested. I?ll see soon enough how they will do.?

Source: http://redtreeinteractive.com/energy-efficient-windows/

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Santa Clarita open houses and theft ? Train your real estate agent

LAPD and Open Houses

Coming from an LAPD background has certain?privileges? ?That Training is second to none. ?Going through the police academy back in 1990 was not easy. ?Those that went to academy?s with the LAPD before that will tell you that they had it ever harder. ?OMG ? I bet those that went through in 1942 were tortured :)

Another thing this training prepared us for is hosting open houses. ?The interesting thing about open houses is that the agent does notSanta Clarita sellers real estate listings for sale know who?s visiting. ?It could be a cute couple that wants to get into your?jewelry?boxes, watch?drawer?or change jar?

Asking for ID at open houses :)

It could also be your neighbors. ?In fact, it will be your neighbors, most of them :) ?However, what is to stop your real estate agent from letting in everyone that wants view the home? ?Nothing at all. ?When an agent is advertising an open house ? they can ?mandate? people to sign in, at your ?the sellers? request. ?That is a smart move, but what if someone does not want to sign in? ?How do you know they are using their real names? ?What about checking their identification? ?It can get quite extreme ? if you are going to allow your agent to host your home as being ?open?, school them.

Hey, the game is on?

Don?t let your agent sit on the couch, with a beer, bag of chips and the game playing on your big screen. ?They should act like they are working a dinner party, where your home is the guest of honor. ?They should be working the room while keeping track of everyone coming and what rooms they are visiting. ?The BEST open houses are done by at least two Real Estate agents. ?What is why we have a team in place with three buyers agents, two team leaders and a licensed assistant, we have our clients open houses manned by at least two licensed ?team members?.

Why Multiple ? It?s better?

In this way, we can monitor the activity and make sure those visiting the open house are not stealing from the trusting sellers.

If you are looking for all of the Open Houses being held in the Santa Clarita valley cities. ?All you have to do is go to Santa Clarita open houses dot com. That is one of our sites that will show you every single open house that is going to be help open in our Santa Clarita valley and in the rest of Southern California.

Tell your Realtor:

Here is a open house tip. ?When wanting to venture out without your real estate professional, make sure you tell them that you and yours are going to be hitting the open houses on such and such a date. ?That way your Realtor can best prepare you for the games being played at open houses and how to keep yourselves protected. ?It?s not like you need to buy and wear ballistic armor ? but you do need to keep your?signing?things down to a minimum :) = Talk soon and let us know when you are ready to talk about who to hire to represent you in the selling of your Santa Clarita Home.


Source: http://realtor.paris911.com/2012/11/24/santa-clarita-open-houses-and-theft-train-your-real-estate-agent/

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Video: Blind patient reads words stimulated directly onto the retina

Friday, November 23, 2012

For the very first time researchers have streamed braille patterns directly into a blind patient's retina, allowing him to read four-letter words accurately and quickly with an ocular neuroprosthetic device. The device, the Argus II, has been implanted in over 50 patients, many of who can now see color, movement and objects. It uses a small camera mounted on a pair of glasses, a portable processor to translate the signal from the camera into electrical stimulation, and a microchip with electrodes implanted directly on the retina. The study was authored by researchers at Second Sight, the company who developed the device, and has been published in Frontiers in Neuroprosthetics on the 22nd of November.

"In this clinical test with a single blind patient, we bypassed the camera that is the usual input for the implant and directly stimulated the retina. Instead of feeling the braille on the tips of his fingers, the patient could see the patterns we projected and then read individual letters in less than a second with up to 89% accuracy," explains researcher Thomas Lauritzen, lead author of the paper.

Similar in concept to successful cochlear implants, the visual implant uses a grid of 60 electrodes?attached to the retina?to stimulate patterns directly onto the nerve cells. For this study, the researchers at Second Sight used a computer to stimulate six of these points on the grid to project the braille letters. A series of tests were conducted with single letters as well as words ranging in length from two letters up to four. The patient was shown each letter for half a second and had up to 80% accuracy for short words.


In this video, a patient reads words with the Argus II setup using the camera and not the direct braille stimulation. Credit: Second Sight

"There was no input except the electrode stimulation and the patient recognized the braille letters easily. This proves that the patient has good spatial resolution because he could easily distinguish between signals on different, individual electrodes." says Lauritzen.

According to Silvestro Micera at EPFL's Center for Neuroprosthetics and scientific reviewer for the article, "this study is a proof of concept that points to the importance of clinical experiments involving new neuroprosthetic devices to improve the technology and innovate adaptable solutions."

Primarily for sufferers of the genetic disease Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), the implant Argus II has been shown to restore limited reading capability of large conventional letters and short words when used with the camera. While reading should improve with future iterations of the Argus II, the current study shows how the Argus II could be adapted to provide an alternative and potentially faster method of text reading with the addition of letter recognition software. This ability to perform image processing in software prior to sending the signal to the implant is a unique advantage of Argus II.

###

Frontiers: http://www.frontiersin.org

Thanks to Frontiers for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

This press release has been viewed 35 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/125440/Video__Blind_patient_reads_words_stimulated_directly_onto_the_retina

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Saturday, November 24, 2012

Fiscal Cliff Tweets to Watch

With the dirty dishes cleared and leftovers safely in the fridge, Americans across the country start looking ahead to the winter holidays the day after Thanksgiving.

But for Congress, there's a pretty big hurdle to handle before the House and Senate can abscond to presents and plum pudding. It's called the fiscal cliff, and according to a recent Pew Research Poll , more Americans are paying attention to it than the scandal surrounding Gen. David Petraeus' resignation.

While talks and deals on budget cuts and tax increases are currently on hold, once the holiday weekend ends, it's time to take to Twitter and follow these folks to learn what's at stake, where each party stands and whether to expect a bipartisan deal for the new year.

Subscribe to the list on @OtusNews here.

Follow Tweeters in the House

These partisan tweeters should give a good idea of where things stand on the House side of Capitol Hill.

@SpeakerBoehner - The official Twitter account for the speaker of the House commends Republican representatives for their work on the fiscal cliff negotiations and retweets relevant articles with a GOP slant. Last Friday, a tweet from the account said, "Survey shows Americans favor GOP approach to averting #fiscalcliff http://j.mp/SsmYJT " To see more of Boehner's opinions on the issue and read about his meetings with key players, follow his personal account: @ JohnBoehner .

@NancyPelosi - While the House minority leader has kept her thoughts on the fiscal cliff away from Twitter for now, Pelosi expressed strong sentiments on the need for higher taxation of wealthy Americans in her interview with ABC's Martha Raddatz Sunday. Pelosi will be a tweeter to watch as options come on and off the table - she's a good gauge for how the rest of the party will vote.

@RepPaulRyan - The budget hawk has stayed out of the spotlight since losing the vice presidency earlier this month, but as chairman of the House Budget Committee, it's unlikely Ryan will resist for long when spending cuts are in sight. The former VP nominee's other Twitter account, @PaulRyanVP , spent a lot of time tweeting about the need for pro-growth policies and the reduction of government debt. Keep an eye on Ryan's congressional account to see if those positions will factor into the negotiations this time around.

@ChrisVanHollen - As a ranking member on the House Budget Committee, Rep. Van Hollen, D-Md., has tweeted a photo of him discussing the fiscal cliff, a video of his interview on it and vitriolic attacks with the hashtag #DoNothingGOP.

Tweeters in the Senate

Ranking senators on the fiscal cliff aren't as inclined to tweet as their House counterparts, but here is a couple to keep in your newsfeed.

@ChuckGrassley - The Republican senator from Iowa doesn't tweet many links or videos, but he is outspoken in his digital opinions. "PresObama meets w Congressional leaders tomorrow. I hope it is a serious attempt by PresO to reach bipartisan agreement not a photo op 4tax," Grassley tweeted Nov. 15. In addition to 140-character diatribes on the fiscal cliff, use Grassley's feed to learn about deer hunting, the History Channel and University of Northern Iowa football.

@SenJohnMcCain - The outspoken former presidential candidate will be one to watch throughout these negotiations. In addition to offering news on foreign affairs and the state of the nation's finances, McCain adds humor, tweeting a little pre-emptively last weekend , "Twinkies maker Hostess closes - what will we do without deep fried Twinkies at the #Iowa State Fair?"

Organizations and Think Tanks

@BudgetHawks - The handle for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget gives you an idea of what they're all about. They tweet ideas, articles and commentary on how to balance the federal budget.

@CenterOnBudget - The somewhat-left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities focuses on analyzing national data to predict how possible solutions could affect Americans.

@Heritage - The Heritage Foundation brings a conservative perspective on the financial issues at stake. On Monday it tweeted a chart showing how its plan for lowering the debt stacked up against those of four other think tanks.

@AARP - A number of Democratic senators have pledged to oppose a deal that would hurt seniors, but nevertheless, Medicare and Social Security cuts could be on the table. Follow AARP to see how congressional compromises could affect older Americans.

@CSPAN?_Classroom - This account offers civics lessons for educators, but the guide to the fiscal cliff they tweeted this week has background information and interviews with lawmakers that could be helpful for anyone trying to understand the complex talks on Capitol Hill.

Observers at ABC

ABC's @JakeTapper, @DevinDwyer and @MaryKBruce will bring the view from the White House. @RickKlein, @AmyEWalter and @ JonKarl will have analysis of the issues (most likely with sports metaphors to boot). Turn to @GStephanopoulos for the big picture. @JParkABC report on the ground from the House of Representatives and @SunlenMiller will cover the Senate.

The Instigators, 2016ers and Others

@JimDemint - U.S. Senator Jim DeMint, R-S.C., draws a hard line and likes to stir up the conversation, though the Romney backer has been unusually quiet since President Obama's win. We're hoping this budget battle will be enough to rile him up again.

@TedCruz - The senator-elect from Texas will undoubtedly raise some eyebrows with his fired-up rhetoric during this showdown. As an example of his spunk, the Republican rising star essentially issued a challenge to President Obama about working together on the fiscal cliff.

@MarcoRubio - With his attendance at the Iowa governor's birthday bash last week, it seems Sen. Rubio, R-Fla., is already preparing to court a 2016 electorate. He'll want to command a memorable presence in this historic fiscal fight.

@GovernorOMalley - The Maryland governor is rumored to be a Democratic favorite for 2016. He's garnered praise for reining in costs to the state.

@djheakin - Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former CBO director and current president of the American Action Forum, offers educational tweets, including an e-book with the need-to-know on the fiscal cliff.

@econjared - Jared Bernstein is a Center on Budget and Policy Priorities fellow and the former chief economist and economic adviser to Vice President Joe Biden who made some of the original predictions about the stimulus package.

For a Laugh

If talk of impending economic doom becomes a little too heavy to take, turn to @PourMeCoffee , @MrFiscalCliff and @TheOnion for tweets from the lighter side of the fiscal cliff.

And of course ? @BarackObama - If the fiscal cliff fight is anything like the battle to raise the debt ceiling, President Obama will likely take to Twitter to encourage Americans to get involved and contact their representatives. You'll know tweets that come directly from the president (and not his communications team) if they have "-BO" at the end.

Did we miss someone? Tweet your suggestions to @WordsOfSarah!

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fiscal-cliff-tweets-watch-110202571--abc-news-politics.html

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You can visit these web stores by making a refine read through famous engines like google like Yahoo, Google, Bing, Mozilla, Firefox etc. With a great deal variety in jewelry and a great deal to shop prior to the wedding, it?s but natural that brides is going to be excited for that day. So should you be trying to generate a suit, this could be the location to become. In fact, there?s no dearth of shopping avenues in the vicinities of Delhi that also includes places like Old Delhi bazaar, various emporiums and also other places as well. Pet cremation Ashes pendant lets one not only to observe your dog but to win it in a very rare and dynamic plan which fits your memories, along with your sense of fashion. Whatever you determine to do with your old gold, you will know that it served a reason other than just putting some spare turn into your pocket. eLuxury Website Those people that prefer to get jewelry like a gift also would rather get religious jewelry like Islamic jewelry.

Don?t let a single dealer convince you that their price may be the best without taking a peek elsewhere. louis vuitton damier neverfull One of the most added stars of your shopping website are its rave reviews. com is undoubtedly an Online shopping stow which offers designer products below four diverse shopping lists that include: Type, Beauty, High quality Fashion in addition to Fun The right gifts. In order to find the best inexpensive jewelry online, you need to remain up to date with all the latest trends. While planning your St Lucia vacation holidays you can include this place. In they same manner, they?ve got distinct narratives, symbols and traditions. Personalized jewelry gift may be the one that this recipient is likely to treasure for years.

You should clean your gold jewelry with mild cleansers and warm water. What is much more, they can promise to not offer your beads to others. Consider those that provide extra services like jewellery cleaning and repairs. For the one, who loves to wear elegant along with trendy jewellery they?ve got exciting pearl and gemstone strings along with embossed metal jewellery in the traditional South Indian style. If financial resources are needed immediately, a fair and quick loan will be the better answer. You also can see the designs of these jewelry items through internet as the jewelry stores in Texas are experiencing their own websites. Hermes 35cm Birkin Bags As mentioned, some thrift shop employees find out more about jewelry, and definately will price some pieces too high for you to sell and make up a profit.

If she gets pierced ears, a set of earrings are perfect given that they are likely to fit. Water is commonly enough to clean most varieties of jewelry and precious stones. If you happen to be using sumptuous beads with a lots of detail, too many fancy dips and curls with all the wire will overpower the eye. Jewelry shops: another place to sell jewelry is via jewelry shops. They are manufactured from non-precious natural flagstones, metals having an earthy appears of your gypsy or perhaps tribal ethnic culture. If the whole range of the models for that brand of watches you need to invest in usually are not available at the Stratford watch store you?d probably rather go to London, if you?ve to. ) What may be the personal style statement that you need to communicate on your own wedding day.

Spreading products now instantly approach right to gi mildew these varieties of resources while other metals, jackets, as well as resins, making it possible for perhaps even advanced necklaces types being constructed using rate and in addition uniformity. It is really a fabulous chance to be capable of do this since every nation has unique styles along with special fashions that we use a tendency to all desire to be considered a part of. Shopping for jewelries, finishing touches and trinkets from your wide various designs, and price range is no exception with online shopping. The olden days of silver as a lesser metal than gold are over. Have you usually wanted a jewelry box filled up with handmade jewelry nevertheless, you weren?t sure the way to get it. With special occasions fast approaching, it?s time to get started on thinking about one of the most popular gifts to give for the woman in your life. t recommend utilizing a toothbrush, but if you?ve too, make sure it may be the softest you can find.

Article Creator: Margeret W.Q. Peters

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