Weston School Board Briefs | The Weston Forum

The Weston Board of Education discussed the following agenda items at its meeting on Monday, Dec. 17.

Retirements and resignation

The board accepted retirement letters from three teachers who will be retiring at the end of the 2012-13 school year: William Slattery, a 34-year veteran of Weston public schools as a special education teacher; 23-year veteran Margaret Taylor, a family and consumer sciences teacher in the Weston Middle School; and John Drummond, a curriculum instructional leader in math and science, who has worked for 23 years in Weston.

The board also accepted the resignation of Wendy Brighindi, administrative assistant to the assistant superintendent, who is taking a position in the Easton-Redding school district.

Hurlbutt?s history

In light of the proposed allocation of space in North House at Hurlbutt Elementary School to the town, board member Dick Bochinski researched the history of Hurlbutt with cooperation and assistance from Karin Giannitti, secretary of the Weston Historical Society. Although the board subsequently decided to table ?indefinitely? allocation of the space to the town, Mr. Bochinski presented his research.

In 1929, the town accepted Horace C. Hurlbutt?s offer of 10 acres of land to build Weston?s first central school. The donation was contingent on it being named after his son, Horace C. Hurlbutt, Jr., who had been a heroic ambulance driver in World War I.

Hurlbutt School opened in 1934. That year, a series of murals titled ?School Life in this Neighborhood of the 18th Century? were painted by Ray Strang as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) under President Roosevelt, and were displayed at Hurlbutt. In 1950, East House at Hurlbutt was opened and the murals were moved there. In 1952, South House at Hurlbutt opened.

In 1963, a fire destroyed the original Hurlbutt school. Two years later, North House was opened on the site of the original Hurlbutt school. In 1991, a four classroom addition to North House was completed. In 1997, Hurlbutt?s core building was constructed; and in 1998, the Strang murals were moved to the Learning Resource Center in the core building at Hurlbutt.

Hurlbutt principal search committee

The board discussed putting together a search committee to look for a new principal for Hurlbutt Elementary School, following the resignation at the beginning of the school year by Joanna Genovese. Michael Cicchetti has been serving as interim principal since that time.

The board did not appoint committee members at this time.

Textbook adoption

The board adopted a series of math textbooks for grades K-8. Recommendations were made by textbook committee members Carolyn Vinton, John Drummond, Jenna Connors, and Kelly DelVecchio.

Gun Club gift

The board accepted a gift in the amount of $3,020 from the Weston Gun Club Community Foundation, for the purchase of equipment for the district?s photography program.

Source: http://www.thewestonforum.com/7080/weston-school-board-briefs/

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Study Finds Flaws in Pipeline Leak Detection Systems

[unable to retrieve full-text content]The forthcoming federal report found that members of the general public are more likely to identify oil and gas spills than the pipeline companies? leak detection systems.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/22/us/study-finds-flaws-in-pipeline-leak-detection-systems.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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FEATURE: Pingtung villages? Christmas parade a hit

Most people may not have expected it, but for residents in Pingtung County?s two small villages of Wanjin (??) and Chishan (??) ? with a combined population of about 5,000 ? Christmas is the most important festivity of the year, since about 80 percent of the villagers are Catholics.

One after another, fireworks were shot into the sky as Christmas songs were sung and a carriage, drawn by men in Santa Claus outfits and carrying two children dressed up as Joseph and the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus, passed through the crowd. Church volunteers led the way, while onlookers took pictures of the parade.

In the past, the carriage was drawn by a cow. However, as the number of visitors grows, the church has decided to have people draw the carriage because a cow would be easily scared by the crowd.

?Merry Christmas. May peace be upon you,? the paraders and the onlookers said to each other, with smiles on their faces.

Many may have thought that parades on Christmas Eve only took place in predominantly Christian countries, but the residents of the two small villages neighboring Wanluan Township (??) have celebrated Christmas for well over a century.

?We have just celebrated the 151st anniversary of the founding of the Wanjing Basilica, and we?ve always had a parade since the founding of the church here to express and share our joy for the birth of Christ,? said Pan Ching-yu (???), a priest at the basilica.

Prior to the parade, at the entrance of Chishan, a group of priests and young volunteers had traveled to another village named Jiazuo (??), about 2km south of Chishan, to pick up the children dressed up as Joseph and Mary holding baby Jesus in a reconstructed stable, and paraded them through Chishan and Wanjin villages.

The parade ended at the basilica, where a mass was held.

The parade symbolizes the villagers welcoming Jesus and is also to spread the faith, said Baru, a priest of the Paiwan tribe.

?There are seven neighborhoods in Wanjin and Chishan, plus Jiazuo Village, so a total of eight communities in the surrounding areas of Wanjin Basilica take turns to stage the Nativity,? he said. ?Representatives from the eight neighborhoods hold meetings to make the decision.?

Pan explained why there was such a concentration of Catholics in the two villages.

?The two villages were historically severely impoverished, but things began to change when the Spanish missionary Father Fernando Sainz arrived in Wanjin in 1861,? Pan said. ?He made great efforts trying to help the villagers economically, while also mediating ethnic conflict. Through his acts of benevolence, he gained the trust of the people and a large number of people were converted to Christianity.?

For instance, many villagers at the time had to sell their land for cash, and without land, they would not be able to make a living, Pan said.

?So what Father Sainz did was purchase the land with church funds and continue to allow the original landowners to work their land,? he said.

Ethnic conflicts were also a serious problem because Wanjin and Chishan are Hoklo-speaking villages surrounded by Hakka-speaking and Paiwan Aboriginal communities, Pan added.

In fact, although Wanjin and Chishan are Hoklo-speaking villages, the majority of the villagers are descendants of the Makataos, a Pingpu Aboriginal tribe.

Christmas celebrations have long attracted Catholics from across the country and promotion by the Pingtung County Government since last year has made it a popular event even for non-Christians.

Source: http://libertytimes.feedsportal.com/c/33098/f/535599/s/270eeb26/l/0L0Staipeitimes0N0CNews0Ctaiwan0Carchives0C20A120C120C310C20A0A3551411/story01.htm

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Mondial junior: le Canada bat les ?tats-Unis gr?ce ? Malcolm Subban

OUFA, Russie - Gr?ce au gardien Malcolm Subban, qui a fait face ? 37 tirs, le Canada a dispos? des ?tats-Unis 2-1, dimanche, en ronde pr?liminaire du championnat mondial de hockey junior, ? Oufa, en Russie.

Les attaquants Ryan Nugent-Hopkins et Ryan Strome ont enfil? les buts des Canadiens, qui inscrivaient une troisi?me victoire en autant de matchs.

Le d?fenseur Jacob Trouba a r?pliqu? pour les Am?ricains. Le gardien am?ricain John Gibson a stopp? 30 des 32 tirs dirig?s vers lui.

Le Canada affrontera la Russie lundi.

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Source: http://quebec.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/12/30/mondial-junior-le-canada_n_2383890.html

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Internet Explorer 8 and Earlier Vulnerable to New Exploit

If you prefer to use Internet Explorer or must use it in your enterprise environment you should be aware of a new exploit that takes advantage of the way IE accesses an object in memory that has been deleted or not properly allocated.

Microsoft has acknowledged this vulnerability in the just-issued Security Advisory 2794220 which points out that this exploit only affects IE 8 and earlier. In the advisory they recommend several actions users can take to eliminate exposure to the vulnerability including upgrading to IE 9. If you still use Windows XP you can install Microsoft's Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit or just set IE's security settings for Internet and Intranet to high which will block the exploit from running. Or you could switch browsers.

Stay safe out there! Photo by Javier Aroche

Microsoft Security Advisory (2794220) | Microsoft Technet via Ghacks

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/Dx-FOa5dUmo/internet-explorer-8-and-earlier-vulnerable-to-new-exploit

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Do I need to authenticate user each time user uses my android app

I am creating an android application in which I need to show some data from server as user logged in. We are using facebook login to authenticate user. We are handling session with jsessionid. We cache the data in android local db and every time when user open the app we show the cache data and synch the data in background process. We are using gcm messaging to send notification to user.

My only concern is about user authentication. Do every time I need to authenticate user when he open my app or I can rely on jsessionid token that I received from server on authenticating the user for the every first time.

I checked the behaviour of gmail. It shows me data immediately when I click the app and seems that they do not send call at server to authenticate the user.

I am using Google app engine as backend.
What other parameters should I use with jsessionid to ensure user so that I can see the contents immediately he open android app

Regards

Rick

Source: http://facebook.stackoverflow.com/questions/14091009/do-i-need-to-authenticate-user-each-time-user-uses-my-android-app

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Walk Away (Powerlineblog)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/273771674?client_source=feed&format=rss

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APNewsBreak: Sen. Crapo won't fight DUI charge

FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2010 file photo, U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, gives his victory speech at the Republican Party election headquarters held at the Doubletree Riverside Hotel in Boise, Idaho. Authorities say Crapo has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012 in a Washington, D.C. suburb. (AP Photo/Matt Cilley, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2010 file photo, U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, gives his victory speech at the Republican Party election headquarters held at the Doubletree Riverside Hotel in Boise, Idaho. Authorities say Crapo has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012 in a Washington, D.C. suburb. (AP Photo/Matt Cilley, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? U.S. Sen. Michael Crapo, the Idaho Republican arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, doesn't plan to fight the charges when he appears in court in January, a spokesman said Friday.

Meanwhile, results from a secondary blood alcohol test performed at the jail show the conservative three-term senator registered a higher level about an hour after being arrested than when he was first tested by the police officer who stopped him.

Police have said Crapo registered a blood alcohol level of 0.11 percent when he was pulled over early Sunday in the Washington suburb of Alexandria, Va., after running a red light. But a secondary test performed after Crapo was brought to the jailhouse ? the one that will be used in court ? registered at 0.14, nearly twice the legal limit, according to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the arrest. The official wasn't authorized to release information publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

"He does not plan to contest the charges," said Crapo spokesman Lindsay Nothern, adding that Crapo has consulted with a local Virginia attorney ahead of his Jan. 4 court hearing.

Nothern confirmed there had been a discrepancy in the blood alcohol tests, but said he was uncertain why they differed.

A blood alcohol level of 0.14 means Crapo tested 1/100 of a percentage point below the level that would have mandated jail time under Virginia law. The legal limit in Virginia, which has strict drunken driving laws, is 0.08 percent.

Crapo has apologized and taken responsibility for the incident in a statement, but he hasn't spoken publicly about the arrest. Crapo returned to Washington from Idaho on Wednesday as lawmakers pursue a solution to the looming fiscal cliff, but he wasn't immediately available to comment Friday.

A number of factors could explain the discrepancy between the preliminary breathalyzer test, performed on the street when Crapo was pulled over shortly after midnight, and the jailhouse test, conducted just before 2 a.m. The higher level at the jailhouse could indicate Crapo was drinking shortly before getting behind the wheel and his body was still absorbing the alcohol. But another possible explanation is that blood alcohol testing simply isn't a perfect science, said Michael Hlastala, a breath testing expert and former physiology professor at the University of Washington.

"It could be consistent with rising blood alcohol levels," Hlastala said. "But it just depends on the way the person was breathing, and other factors."

Alexandria police say Crapo was alone in his vehicle when he ran a red light, was pulled over and failed field sobriety tests. He was taken to the Alexandria jail and released on an unsecured $1,000 bond about 5 a.m. Sunday. Crapo is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 4 ? the day after the start of the next Congress. Crapo was handily re-elected in 2010 and won't have to run again until 2016.

It's still not clear where Crapo was coming from when he was arrested, and the senator hasn't explained the circumstances of the arrest. Court records show Crapo residing in Southeast Washington, a short drive over the Potomac River from the historic suburb where he was arrested.

The 61-year-old's arrest two days before Christmas stunned colleagues and constituents alike, not only because of his squeaky-clean image but also because the senator, a Mormon, had said previously he abstains from alcohol, in accordance with his church's practices.

Many of Crapo's Republican colleagues, including Sen. Jim Risch, Idaho's senior senator, have come to his defense, suggesting Crapo can overcome the indiscretion and remain a viable leader. Crapo's home-state newspaper, the Idaho Statesman, ran an editorial with the headline: "We can all learn from Sen. Crapo's mistake."

___

Miller reported from Boise, Idaho.

___

Reach Josh Lederman on Twitter: http://twitter.com/joshledermanAP

Reach John Miller on Twitter: http://twitter.com/idahojohn69

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-12-28-Crapo-DUI%20Arrest/id-d13b6c84ae8644f9a775bda92b826dad

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Fusion Energi Most Fuel Efficient US Sedan

Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid rated up to 108 MPGe city, making it America?s most fuel-efficient sedan

The 2013 Ford Fusion ? recently voted Green Car of the Year ? just got greener as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certified the new Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid at up to 108 MPGe, making it America?s most fuel-efficient sedan.

Fusion Energi is the Ford brand?s fifth electrified vehicle to launch in the past year and is expected to accelerate the company?s record hybrid sales pace, including its highest monthly hybrid sales month ever in November. Ford is seeing demand for fuel economy across its lineup as the brand ranks No. 1 in fuel economy customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and now beats Toyota for leading efficiency in every segment where both compete.

The EPA also certified Fusion Energi to deliver up to 92 MPGe highway and a combined 100 MPGe ? figures that could potentially help save customers an estimated $6,850 in fuel costs compared with an average new car over the course of five years.

?The Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid is the exclamation point for Ford?s transformed lineup of fuel-efficiency leaders that now beats Toyota across the board,? said Raj Nair, group vice president, Global Product Development.

Adding to Fusion Energi?s value ? and the myriad ways it beats Toyota Prius plug-in ? are its innovative technologies that are designed to help win over both novice and pro hybrid owners.

SmartGauge with EcoGuide, for example, provides in-vehicle customizable displays, including instantaneous fuel economy readings and coaching functions to help drivers understand and optimize their fuel efficiency.

SYNC with MyFord Touch offers multiple ways ? including voice commands ? for customers to manage and control their phone, available navigation, entertainment and climate functions. Plug-in hybrids and all-electric models have additional options for monitoring information like battery state of charge.

EV+ combines the built-in GPS of Ford SYNC with proprietary software algorithms developed by Ford engineers to learn frequent destinations. As a result, vehicles give drivers more drive time in electric-only mode.

Fusion is designed with the driver?s sense of style in mind, delivering a midsize sedan that offers functional design elements that enhance its sleek exterior and promote fuel economy. A video explaining the origin of Fusion Energi can be found here.

With Fusion Energi and Fusion Hybrid, the all-new Fusion lineup brings the widest range of powertrain options to the U.S. midsize segment. Fusion also is available in gas-powered versions with a choice between a pair of fuel-efficient EcoBoost engines and a normally aspirated four-cylinder engine.

Fusing technologies

Many of the innovative technologies of Fusion Energi are shared across Ford?s electrified vehicle lineup and draw from the automaker?s portfolio of about 500 patents related specifically to hybrid technology:

??? ?MyFord Mobile: Enables access via smartphone or Web-based interface to perform key tasks, such as monitoring a vehicle?s state of charge and current range or locating charge stations and planning routes to find them
??? ?Eco cruise: Saves vehicle energy by relaxing acceleration compared to standard cruise control
??? ?EV mode button: Conveniently mounted on the console to the right of the shifter ? allows a driver to switch vehicle operation between three modes: all-electric, normal hybrid operation and conserve battery power for later use
??? ?Regenerative braking is capable of capturing and reusing more than 90 percent of the braking energy normally lost during the braking process
??? ?Hybrid transmission, designed by Ford engineers in-house, is capable of operating at high speeds and in a smooth, fuel-efficient manner at the same time
??? ?Advanced lithium-ion batteries used in Ford?s electrified vehicle lineup ? covered by an eight-year/100,000-mile component limited warranty ? are smaller and lighter than nickel-metal-hybrid batteries used in previous-generation hybrids
??? ?Charge port with LED light ring, conveniently located on the driver?s side and near the front of the car, it features a light ring that illuminates to indicate charge status

SOURCE Ford Motor Company

Tags: Ford, ford fusion energi, fusion energi

Source: http://www.lotpro.com/blog/2012/12/29/fusion-energi-most-fuel-efficient-us-sedan/

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R. Clarke Cooper, Head Of Log Cabin Republicans, To Step Down

WASHINGTON -- R. Clarke Cooper, the head of the Log Cabin Republicans, is stepping down from his position at the end of the year after serving at the helm of the gay rights group for two election cycles.

While the group searches for a permanent replacement, Gregory T. Angelo, the chairman of Log Cabin Republicans of New York State, will be stepping in as the interim executive director.

"There has never been a more exciting and historic time to be a gay Republican-with the wind at our backs following four referendum victories for the freedom to marry last November and the United States Supreme Court soon to rule on marriage equality, 2013 could mark a turning point in the fight for equal rights for all," said Angelo in a statement.

Cooper took over as head of the organization in May 2010, after serving in the administrations of both former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) and former President George W. Bush.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, Cooper said he let the national board of directors know of his decision to step down at its last meeting in October in Burbank, Calif. He notified Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus of his decision a week or two after the election.

One Log Cabin Republican member who requested anonymity to speak openly said chapter leaders were not notified in advance of Cooper's decision. Some people, however, had known about his intentions as early as August, when Cooper was reportedly discussing it at the Republican National Convention.

When asked what he is most proud of from his time at Log Cabin Republicans, Cooper -- without any hesitation -- cited the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, which barred gay men and women from serving openly in the military.

"I say that from a personal perspective, from a policy, organizational, institutional perspective, but also externally. I think probably the thing that ... really touched me the most in my time at Log Cabin is Bush administration colleagues and Army colleagues being so supportive ... and so congratulatory once the repeal succeeded," he said.

Log Cabin Republicans filed the lawsuit that eventually led to a federal judge declaring DADT unconstitutional. They were also instrumental in pressuring Republicans in Congress to support the law's repeal in 2010.

Charles Moran, chairman of the California Log Cabin Republicans, said that after the heavy GOP losses in the 2012 elections, the group had an even more important role to play in "continuing to be a strong voice of inclusion in the Republican Party."

"We are ready to move forward, and need the professional infrastructure and bold leadership to ensure we have the resources, position and message to take advantage of the 2014 mid-terms and a seat at the table so the Republican Party truly understands that inclusion wins," Moran said. "The grassroots is the backbone of the Republican Party and Log Cabin Republicans. It?s time to get back to basics."

Cooper's announcement comes a day after the group placed a head-turning full-page ad in The New York Times opposing former Sen. Chuck Hagel's (R-Neb.) potential nomination as secretary of defense -- citing his record on LGBT rights, Iran and Israel.

Typically, such an ad can cost more than $100,000 -- a sum that many pointed out was out of reach for the group. Cooper said that the group received a hefty discount -- due to when the ad ran -- and raised funds from multiple donors in order to pay for it.

"This is being true fiscal conservatives. We're not paying full price. And honestly, if we had not raised the funds, we would not have run the ad," he said.

The group stirred up controversy in the 2012 election cycle with its decision to endorse Republican Mitt Romney for president, despite the former governor's opposition to marriage equality.

Going forward, Cooper said he wants to see more gay Republicans involved in politics.

"It's one thing to call for change, and it's another thing to step up. Walk the walk, not just talk the talk," he said. "Take a more active role in state and party politics. LCR has an important role as an ancillary group. But more importantly, LGBT Republicans need to take official roles in their state parties. They need to seek roles in the national party, and they need to run for office. That's where positive change will occur."

Cooper said he is currently considering a few other options as he figures out his next steps, although he declined to be more specific. He will, however, be fulfilling some of his obligations as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve that are required for promotion.

This article has been updated to include the comments of Charles Moran.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/28/clarke-cooper_n_2377992.html

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Animoog v2 with 4-track Recorder announced by - Music Industry ...

Music Industry Newswire NEWS: Moog Music this past week announced the latest version of their iOS app for iPad, the ANIMOOG V2. According to the company: This major update to the TEC-Award Nominated iOS synthesizer is a free update for existing Animoog users and includes many user requested features and product enhancements, such as: accelerometer integration which gives Animoog owners the ability to tilt their iPad in any direction as an interactive 3D modulation source; note hold and scale lock, and tools for advanced users like, Load/Save MIDI CC maps, Audiocopy/Audiopaste integration and support for the new Audiobus platform.

Also, as a holiday gift, Animoog V2 features a powerful 4 Track Recorder, which gives Animoog users the ability to record audio from within Animoog or import audio tracks directly from their iTunes library. Users can then split, loop, copy, paste, and share individual clips, or mix down entire songs and upload them directly to SoundCloud, all from within the Animoog universe.

This 4 Track Recorder will be free to existing users until Dec. 31, 2012 at which time it will revert to it?s regular price of $4.99 in the Animoog Store.

VIDEO

About Christopher Laird Simmons

Christopher Simmons has been writing about music since 1984 when he sold his first feature to Polyphony (now Electronic Musician) magazine. He has composed music for two TV cable shows, is a member of ASCAP and PRSA, and is the managing editor for Music Industry Newswire(TM), as well as the CEO of Neotrope(R) Entertainment. His 80s music can be found on iTunes, Amazon, and CDBaby, among others. He played in several electronica bands in the '80s, and currently tries to find time to play with his studio gear. He is also an award winning graphic designer, photographer, author of one book "Fractopia," and has created digital art for numerous national magazines. ? Christopher Laird Simmons. More at: ChristopherSimmons.com .

Similar & Related Content

Related Topics: Industry Headlines, iPod, iPhone and iOS, Story Index, Videos, Virtual Instrument News.

Tags: Animoog, ipad app, Moog Music Inc

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Source: http://musicindustrynewswire.com/animoog-v2-with-4-track-recorder-announced-by-moog-music/

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Canberra Vegan: Dairy is implicated in prostate cancer etiology

Dairy is implicated in prostate cancer etiology

A long term study of male doctors in the USA has found that dairy milk is associated with prostate cancer incidence and mortality. The complete story is somewhat complex, with results divided into skim milk and whole milk. Both types of milk are implicated. In particular, it was found that high intake of whole milk doubles the risk of dying after diagnosis. High intake was defined as anything over 237ml/day (about 1 cup per day).

This is an important finding. The risk of dying after prostate cancer diagnosis can potentially be halved by quitting dairy consumption. Note that since this study also found that low fat milk contributed to prostate cancer incidence, quitting dairy entirely seems prudent. If there was a cancer treatment that could halve the risk of dying it would be hailed as a miracle treatment. Why not take it?

This is not the first time these sort of associations have been found. A large Japanese cohort study published in 2008 found that high dairy consumption increased the risk of prostate cancer by 63%. Both milk and yoghurt were found to contribute to this risk. Prior to this study, in 2007 a meta analysis of dairy product and prostate cancer risk was published which also demonstrated the link.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men in Australia and it is not to be messed with. Getting prostate cancer seems to be the new normal for men. While dairy is not the only risk factor, it is important to do everything that can be reasonably done to minimise the risk. This means that it is important to educate ourselves and to act on the available evidence. Based on the evidence, dairy is not a health food. And anything that is not health food is junk.

The bodies that write the official dietary guidelines take a long time to admit to mistaken advice. The most recent dietary guidelines have downplayed the history of results linking dairy and prostate cancer. Also, Dairy Australia is a major sponsor of the Dietitians Association of Australia, the body that gives accreditation to practising dietitians. It therefore seems unlikely that DAA will be able to acknowledge the damage that dairy is causing to men's health.

Canberra Milk uses marketing aimed at children to persuade them into a lifetime habit of dairy consumption. There's no doubt that if the diet is otherwise lacking in nutrients such as magnesium and calcium, dairy could provide some health benefits. But plant foods (especially leafy greens) are more dense in these essential nutrients. In the food modelling for the latest Australian dietary guidelines, the insistence on having dairy as a food group meant that in many cases it was impossible to meet all of the required nutrients without going over the limit of 10 per cent of energy as saturated fat. And that was with "low fat" dairy. Read our submission to the dietary guidelines for further details.

Whether we really need to have a creamy milky substance in our diet is questionable. However, if you like having milk in your cereal and coffee, soy milk is likely to be a safer choice.

References

[1] Song Y, Chavarro JE, Cao Y, Qiu W, Mucci L, Sesso HD, Stampfer MJ, Giovannucci E, Pollak M, Liu S, Ma J. Whole Milk Intake Is Associated with Prostate Cancer-Specific Mortality among U.S. Male Physicians. J Nutr. 2012 Dec 19. [Epub ahead of print]

[2] Kurahashi N, Inoue M, Iwasaki M, Sasazuki S, Tsugane AS; Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study Group. Dairy product, saturated fatty acid, and calcium intake and prostate cancer in a prospective cohort of Japanese men. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2008 Apr;17(4):930-7.

[3] Qin LQ, Xu JY, Wang PY, Tong J, Hoshi K. Milk consumption is a risk factor for prostate cancer in Western countries: evidence from cohort studies. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2007;16(3):467-76.

[4] Yan L, Spitznagel EL. Soy consumption and prostate cancer risk in men: a revisit of a meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Apr;89(4):1155-63.

Source: http://canberravegan.blogspot.com/2012/12/dairy-is-implicated-in-prostate-cancer.html

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Amazon deforestation brings loss of microbial communities

Dec. 24, 2012 ? An international team of microbiologists led by Klaus N?sslein of the University of Massachusetts Amherst has found that a troubling net loss in diversity among the microbial organisms responsible for a functioning ecosystem is accompanying deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

N?sslein, an expert in tropical rain forest microbial soil communities, says, "We found that after rainforest conversion to agricultural pastures, bacterial communities were significantly different from those of forest soils. Not only did the pasture soils show increased species numbers, these species were also less related to one another than in rainforest soil. This is important because the combination of lost forest species and the homogenization of pasture communities together signal that this ecosystem is now a lot less capable of dealing with additional outside stress."

He and colleagues studied a large farm site over the past four years at the frontier where farmers drive agriculture into pristine rainforest in Rondonia, Brazil, to convert rainforest to agricultural use. Findings in part validated previous research showing that bacteria in the soil became more diverse after conversion to pasture. However, in its fourth year, their study overcame limitations of earlier investigations to show that changes in microbial diversity occurred over larger geographic scales. Results appear in the current issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In addition to N?sslein at UMass Amherst, the research group includes first author Jorge Rodrigues at the University of Texas at Arlington with Brendan Bohannan at the University of Oregon, James Tiedje at Michigan State University, and others at the University of Sao Paulo. Lead investigators N?sslein and Rodrigues emphasize that the study is an equal collaboration among the four research groups.

Findings do not support earlier study conclusions, instead they show that the loss of restricted ranges for different bacteria communities results in a biotic homogenization and net loss of diversity overall. Scientists worry that the loss of genetic variation in bacteria across a converted forest could reduce ecosystem resilience. The researchers hope their work will provide valuable data to those making decisions about the future of the Amazon rainforest.

Biologist and first author Jorge Rodrigues of the University of Texas at Arlington adds, "We have known for a long time that conversion of rainforest land in the Amazon for agriculture results in a loss of biodiversity in plants and animals. Now we know that microbial communities which are so important to the ecosystem also suffer significant losses."

As N?sslein and colleagues point out, the Amazon represents half of the world's rainforest and is home to one-third of Earth's species, yet the Amazon has one of the highest rates of deforestation. Agriculture is one of the largest and most dynamic parts of Brazil's economy, so dealing with standing rainforests in the tropics will be tricky, but nevertheless, it is vital that the issue is tackled."

Rodrigues says he and colleagues are currently compiling findings about the potential for recovery of the microbial diversity after pastureland is abandoned and returned to "secondary forest." At the same time, N?sslein and colleagues are leading an effort to investigate how the redundancy of functions provided by soil microbes provides resilience to the effects of agricultural land use change to support a stressed ecosystem to recover stability.

"Whether bacterial diversity will completely recover from ecosystem conversion will depend in part on whether the taxa lost due to conversion are truly locally extinct or whether they are present in the pasture sites but of such low abundance that they are undetectable in our study," the authors write.

This work was supported by grants from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Research Support Foundation of the State of S?o Paulo.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Massachusetts at Amherst, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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

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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/most_popular/~3/bNOdEgsL0s4/121226080908.htm

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Health Insurance Exchanges 101 | Shirazi Benefits

(Photo by Robin Kanouse via Flickr)

Everyone is talking about the health insurance exchanges and what they will mean to you.? Starting January 1^st, 2014, the Affordable Care Act requires every state to create health insurance exchanges for businesses, employees, and individuals. ?If states do not establish an exchange in time, the Federal government will step in and create one.

So, what exactly is a health insurance exchange?

A health insurance exchange is an organized marketplace for individual, families, and small business to shop for and purchase health insurance based on quality and price. ??Basically, they are a store specializing in health insurance merchandise.

How is this all going to work?

In Colorado, the Health Benefit Exchange will be an online marketplace; a website where Coloradans can shop for and purchase health plans. Two will be set up: one for individuals, and one for small groups. This website will interface with various government databases to determine a consumer?s eligibility for tax credits and public insurance.

Small employers will also be able to purchase plans for their employees, using tax credits.

Insurance brokers will need to be certified to sell plans through the exchanges; they will be able to help individuals and small groups navigate the exchanges.

Who is eligible to participate? ?

An exchange would be available to be used by individual consumers who do not have access to a group plan and small businesses with up to 50 employees when it opens for enrollment beginning October 2013. Large employers may be allowed to participate in 2017.

Will the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange offer every health plan that is currently offered on the market?

No. The exchange will offer health plans that have been determined to offer adequate levels of coverage and comply with new regulations to protect consumers. These plans will have ratings and will fall into four tiers: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. The bronze plans will offer the basic coverage required by law and will be the most affordable. The platinum plans will offer the highest level of coverage and will be the most costly. Silver and gold plans will offer coverage with monthly premiums in the middle of that spectrum.

Are there any tax credits for going through the exchange?

For small group employers, the tax credit that you receive now will only be available if you purchase your plan through the exchange. An enhanced version of the credit will be effective beginning January 1, 2014. In general, on January 1, 2014, the rate will increase to 50 percent and 35 percent, respectively.

Advance tax credits are available to individuals and families with incomes between the federal poverty level and up to 4 times that amount to help reduce the cost of purchasing health insurance. That means an individual making up to $43,320 a year and a family of four making up to $88,200 a year will be eligible for this financial assistance. The amount of assistance will be determined on a sliding scale, which means the higher your income, the lower the amount of aid.

Can you provide an example of how the tax credit will work?

Here are three examples provided by the Internal Revenue Service in August 2011 to explain how the tax credits will work:

1. Family of Four with Income of $50,000, Purchases Benchmark Plan

• Premium Cost for Plan Family Chooses: $9,000
• Tax Credit: $5,430
• What Family Pays: $3,570

2. Family of Four with Income of $50,000, Purchases Less Expensive Plan

• Premium Cost for Plan Family Chooses: $7,500
• Tax Credit: $5,430
• What Family Pays: $2,070

3. Family of Four with Income of $50,000, Parents are between ages 55 and 64,
Purchases Benchmark Plan

• Premium Cost for Plan Family Chooses: $14,000
• Tax Credit: $10,430
• What Family Pays: $3,570

I have a pre-existing condition. Am I eligible to buy insurance in the exchange?

Yes. Beginning in 2014, pre-existing conditions will be a thing of the past. No insurer can deny anyone health insurance based on health status, inside or outside the exchange.

Shirazi Benefits can help you navigate through all of this.?

?

Resource: Colorado Health Benefit Exchange. http://www.getcoveredco.org

?

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Source: http://shirazibenefits.com/health-care-reform/health-insurance-exchanges-101/

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Genetic sequencing breakthrough to aid treatment for congenital hyperinsulinism

Dec. 27, 2012 ? Congenital hyperinsulinism is a genetic condition where a baby's pancreas secretes too much insulin. It affects approximately one in 50,000 live births and in severe cases requires the surgical removal of all or part of the pancreas.

Researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School are the first in the world to utilise new genetic sequencing technology to sequence the entirety of a gene in order to identify mutations that cause hyperinsulinism. Previously, existing technology limited such sequencing to only part of the coding regions of the gene which meant that some mutations were missed.

Using new Illumina genetic sequencing technology, the research team led by Professor Sian Ellard has discovered novel mutations that cause hyperinsulinism. Their findings are published December 27 2012, on-line by The American Journal of Human Genetics.

The outcome will be that some infants born with hyperinsulinism will require fewer investigations, because the new technology means that for many only one genetic test will be required to determine the extent of the condition in each child. It also means that clinicians will have more information at their fingertips to inform them about how much of the pancreas needs to be removed.

Approximately 50 per cent of patients with congenital hyperinsulinism require surgery, and of those half require the entire pancreas to be removed. Removal of the entire pancreas increases the risk of diabetes later in life, but if left undiagnosed and untreated hyperinsulinism can result in irreparable brain damage. Symptoms range from shakiness and tiredness to seizure and coma.

Dr. Sarah Flanagan, Research Fellow in Molecular Genetics at the University of Exeter Medical School said: "The potential provided by this new technology is important and exciting, because it allows us to investigate genetic coding in its entirety. This means that investigators can identify mutations that sit at the heart of any number of conditions where before they might have been missed. This in turn results in better information for clinicians upon which they can base effective treatments and interventions for their patients."

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Journal Reference:

1. Sarah?E. Flanagan, Weijia Xie, Richard Caswell, Annet Damhuis, Christine Vianey-Saban, Teoman Akcay, Feyza Darendeliler, Firdevs Bas, Ayla Guven, Zeynep Siklar, Gonul Ocal, Merih Berberoglu, Nuala Murphy, Maureen O?Sullivan, Andrew Green, Peter?E. Clayton, Indraneel Banerjee, Peter?T. Clayton, Khalid Hussain, Michael?N. Weedon, Sian Ellard. Next-Generation Sequencing Reveals Deep Intronic Cryptic ABCC8 and HADH Splicing Founder Mutations Causing Hyperinsulinism by Pseudoexon Activation. The American Journal of Human Genetics, 2012; DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2012.11.017

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/Hvyf7POeyVQ/121227130325.htm

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Stop Subsidizing Obesity | Your Health Journal

From Your Health Journal?..?I very rarely will post or commend an opinion in the media, but I encourage you all to go read an opinion in the New York Times by Mark Bittman, who makes some excellent points in his statement entitled Stop Subsidizing Obesity. Mr. Bittman starts off by mentioning how times have changed over the years, as doctors very rarely concerned themselves with nutrition many years ago, which now, has changes, as obesity in the United States has reached epidemic proportions in all 50 states. Adult onset diabetes, which is now frequently called Type 2 diabetes (which is environmental, and in many cases caused by obesity) is significantly on the rise, with many individuals also showing high risk factors for heart disease. The article also gives an interesting statistic stating that 17 percent of children in the United States are obese, 16 percent are food-insecure (this means they have inconsistent access to food), and some number, which is impossible to nail down, are both. What I liked most was the mention of food stamp usage near the end of the article ? as several cities, including New York, have programs that double the value of food stamps when used for purchases at farmers markets. Please go to the New York Times web site to read the entire article, as Mr. Bittman makes some valuable points in his writings.?

?Snip? from the article?..

Not long ago few doctors ? not even pediatricians ? concerned themselves much with nutrition. This has changed, and dramatically: As childhood obesity gains recognition as a true health crisis, more and more doctors are publicly expressing alarm at the impact the standard American diet is having on health.

?I never saw Type 2 diabetes during my training, 20 years ago,? David Ludwig, a pediatrician, told me the other day, referring to what was once called ?adult-onset? diabetes, the form that is often caused by obesity. ?Never. Now about a quarter of the new diabetes cases we?re seeing are Type 2.?

Ludwig, who is director of the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center in Boston, is one of three authors, all medical doctors of an essay (?Viewpoint?) in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association titled ?Opportunities to Reduce Childhood Hunger and Obesity.?

That title that would once have been impossible, but now it?s merely paradoxical. Because the situation is this: 17 percent of children in the United States are obese, 16 percent are food-insecure (this means they have inconsistent access to food), and some number, which is impossible to nail down, are both. Seven times as many poor children are obese as those who are underweight, an indication that government aid in the form of food stamps, now officially called SNAP, does a good job of addressing hunger but encourages the consumption of unhealthy calories.

The doctors? piece, which addresses these issues, was written by Ludwig along with Susan Blumenthal, a former assistant Surgeon General and U.S.D.A. medical adviser, and Walter Willett, chair of Harvard?s Department of Nutrition (and a stalwart of sound nutrition research for more than 30 years). It?s essentially a plea to tweak SNAP regulations Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Benefits, the program formerly and more familiarly known as Food Stamps) so that the program concerns itself with the quality of calories instead of just their quantity.

To read the full article?..Click here

Source: http://www.lensaunders.com/wp/?p=10938

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From Athletics to Wellness ? Stay Active and Live Life Fully

Colleges and high schools traditionally have slashed physical education and health curriculums that serve a multitude of students and have continued to support and fund competitive athletics, which provides opportunity for a relatively small percentage of the entire student body. Spelman College, the oldest historically black U.S. college for women, is flipping this script. The private school, based in Atlanta, Georgia, will cease competing against other college athletic teams and put its $1 million annual sports budget toward improving the health of all 2,100 students.

Currently, Spelman fields about 80 student athletes, while the wellness program has 300 participants, and is limited by financial and facility constraints. By expanding the wellness programs and student opportunities the college will move from an emphasis on developing sports skills to a model that focuses on fitness for life.

The college plans to expand fitness programs such as strength training, Pilates and yoga, and is raising money for a new student recreation center. The decision was generated in part by the health statistics for African-American women that include higher rates of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure than other groups.

Not only does this make good physical sense, the potential to increase academic performance by improving the health of students is significant.

The Spelman College model is an exciting template that can benefit students at many high schools and colleges. Kudos Spelman for taking the initiative and being leaders in promoting, physical fitness, good health and wellness!

Source: http://getphysicaltoday.com/archives/2351

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The Apps You Should Download For Your New iPhone or iPad

Santa brought you a new iPad. You screamed, you cried, you hugged your mother, you thanked America. Now that the shock has subsided, here are the apps you should download to your new iOS device. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/m03APIUKBgg/the-apps-you-should-download-for-your-new-iphone-or-ipad

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Firefighters ambushed by gunman while responding to house fire

A man with a criminal history shot and killed two West Webster, N.Y. firefighters and seriously injured two others as they responded to a fire at his home, police say.

William H. Spengler, Jr., 62, apparently started a 5:35 a.m. fire at his home on Lake Road? and then waited with an armament of weapons for first responders to arrive, Webster N.Y. Police Chief Gerald Pickering said at an afternoon news conference.

?He was shooting from high ground or a berm," Pickering said. "He was barricaded with weapons to shoot first responders."

After a brief exchange of gunfire with police, Spengler then shot and killed himself at the scene, Pickering said.

Spengler was convicted in 1981 in the death of his 92-year-old grandmother a year earlier. He served time in prison and was released in 1998, Pickering said.

Spengler beat Rose Spengler to death with a hammer 1980, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported. Rose Spengler had lived in the home next to William Spengler on Lake Road at the time of her death.

Local police had not noted any criminal activity in his recent past, Pickering said.

Pickering said they are looking into the apparent disappearance of Spengler's sister who is unaccounted for at this time.

Police and fire officials are continuing to gather evidence and will inspect the seven homes that were destroyed in the fire that spread to nearby houses in the small lakeside town located 10 miles east of Rochester.

The victims in the shooting are Mike Chiapperini, also a lieutenant and public information officer with the local police department, and Tomasz Kaczowka, Pickering said.

"These people get up in the middle of the night to fight fires. They don't expect to be shot and killed," a tearful Pickering said at the press conference.

Chiapperini was described by Pickering as a lifelong firefighter who started with the department's explorer program and had about 20 years of experience. Kaczowka was a younger firefighter who was on the force for about two years and was also a 911 dispatcher, he said.

West Webster firefighters Joseph Hofsetter and Theodore Scardino were seriously injured and are at Strong Memorial Hospital with gunshot wounds, a hospital spokeswoman said.? Scardino? has? injuries to his chest and lungs. Hofsetter was injured in the pelvis, the spokeswoman said at a media briefing. Both are in guarded condition, she said.

An off-duty police officer from nearby Greece, N.Y., John Ritter was also injured by shrapnel during the shooting, Pickering said.

Pickering said that one of the firefighters who survived made his way across a bridge to safety. The other three did not make it across, Pickering said. Police arrived and rescued the other three firefighters, but two were fatally shot, Pickering said.

The morning scene was described as chaotic as police and firefighters dealt with an immense blaze as well as gunshots,? local news station WHAM-TV? reports.

?I?m not aware of anything like this happening in Webster, obviously not a firefighter being fired upon,? Webster Fire Marshal Rob Boutillier told the Democrat and Chronicle.? Pickering described Webster as resort lakeside community that is quiet and usually peaceful.

WHAM reported that an outpouring of support has come through the Webster community. Black flags reportedly have been draped at some homes and offices to honor those killed and injured.

N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo tweeted of the incident: We as the community of #NY mourn their loss as now 2 more families must spend the holidays without their loved ones #Webster

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/two-firefighters-shot-killed-while-responding-webster-n-163105823.html

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Michelle Obama Reads ''Twas The Night Before Christmas' At Children's National Medical Center, Bo Steals The Show (VIDEO)

First Lady Michelle Obama recently took some time to read the holiday classic "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" to kids at Children's National Medical Center. But one creature was stirring, and it was the Obama family dog, Bo.

Just as the FLOTUS was getting ready to start, the large Portuguese Water Dog jumped into her lap and made himself comfortable for the remainder of the reading.

"This is exactly what he does at home," said the First Lady. "He tries to beat Malia and Sasha to my lap."

According to the official White House Blog, "paying a visit to the young patients at the Children's National Medical Center is a holiday tradition that dates back to the 1950s, when Bess Truman was First Lady."

Bo seems to be in the holiday spotlight this year. On Sunday, President Barack Obama's official Twitter account posted the following image of the First Dog frolicking in the snow:

Watch video of the First Lady, with Bo in her lap, at the top of this entry (via The White House).

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/24/michelle-obama-twas-the-night-before-christmas_n_2360332.html

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Tips On How To Efficiently Improve Your House - Joe Aldeguer

Anyone needs a little advice in home improvement, even if you are a professional. There are just those projects that you may not be 100% sure of, or techniques that you don?t know about. If this is the case, great advice could be just a click away. Start with this article and learn some great tips about home-improvement today.

If you need a power tool for a short-term project, consider renting one from a home improvement store rather than purchasing it yourself. You will not only save room in your garage or workshop, but you will not be saddled with the maintenance of a tool that you use very infrequently.

Keep your partially used can of drywall compound from drying out between uses! All you have to do scrape and wipe the insides of the can down to the surface of the remaining drywall mud. Next, pour just enough water onto the mud to cover its surface. Before you use it again just pour off the water and it will be as good as new!

If you are unable to pick a paint color because you are not sure how the colors will look in your desired room, purchase a small amount of paint in different colors to test out on the wall. Having a larger color swatch to look at and evaluate in your room?s lighting can help you to make a decision.

Great home-improvement jobs start with great ideas. If you do not know where to start or think that you need help with doing your home improvements, then consult an interior designer to help. They have the knowledge of color schemes, designs, and overall layouts that are trendy and unique to help you with your project.

It is best to paint your home in the spring and fall months. During the winter the air is filled with too much moisture that can cause the paint to take an extended amount of time to dry. During the summer months it can be too hot and cause the paint to blister or bubble.

Upgrade your kitchen to improve home value quickly. Kitchen improvements can be as simple as refreshing paint or wallpaper or as complex as installing new cabinetry, appliances or flooring. You can do most kitchen improvements yourself or contract with a professional for more difficult items. Investing in your kitchen makes your home more enjoyable for yourself and your family, and it also increases the home value should you ever decide to sell your house.

Design a renovation with an eye to creating built-in storage. For example, a broom closet can be reborn into a small pantry, or you can add floor-level shelving to a coat closest for shoes and bags. If you are renovating to sell a home, the benefit of the added storage can be the deciding factor in a buyer?s decision.

Be careful to what degree you personalize your home improvement projects. What appeals to you now may not appeal to potential buyers down the road. The more specialized and substantial your project is, the smaller return on investment you can expect to receive when you sell your home in the future.

In conclusion, home improvement is inevitable for homeowners. Parts of a home may break down and need repair or new additions to a house must be made. Using the tips that were provided in this article, you can tackle your own home improvement needs with ease and keep your home in top shape.

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Source: http://joealdegueronline.com/tips-on-how-to-efficiently-improve-your-house/

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Richard Adams, early figure in gay marriage, dies (Providence Journal)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/272727994?client_source=feed&format=rss

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AP PHOTOS: Remembering the Conn. shooting victims

AAA??Dec. 23, 2012?8:32 PM ET
AP PHOTOS: Remembering the Conn. shooting victims
By The Associated Press??By The Associated Press

CATHERINE HUBBARD, 6: "We are greatly saddened by the loss of our beautiful daughter, Catherine Violet and our thoughts and prayers are with the other families who have been affected by this tragedy," Jennifer and Matthew Hubbard said. "We ask that you continue to pray for us and the other families who have experienced loss in this tragedy." ---- Ryan Bartolotta, right, and Ray Massi light up candles that were put out by rain at a makeshift memorial in the Sandy Hook Village of Newtown, Conn., as the town mourns victims killed in the school shooting, Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

CATHERINE HUBBARD, 6: "We are greatly saddened by the loss of our beautiful daughter, Catherine Violet and our thoughts and prayers are with the other families who have been affected by this tragedy," Jennifer and Matthew Hubbard said. "We ask that you continue to pray for us and the other families who have experienced loss in this tragedy." ---- Ryan Bartolotta, right, and Ray Massi light up candles that were put out by rain at a makeshift memorial in the Sandy Hook Village of Newtown, Conn., as the town mourns victims killed in the school shooting, Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

CAROLINE PREVIDI, 6: "Caroline Phoebe Previdi was a blessing from God and brought joy to everyone she touched," her parents, Jeff and Sandy Previdi, said in a statement. "We know that she is looking down on us from heaven." ---- Mourners gather for a candlelight vigil at Ram's Pasture to remember the shooting victims, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 in Newtown, Conn. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

CHASE KOWALSKI, 7: Chase was always outside, playing in the backyard, riding his bicycle. A week earlier, he was visiting neighbor Kevin Grimes, telling him about completing ? and winning ? his first mini-triathlon. "You couldn't think of a better child," Grimes said. ---- Names of Connecticut school shooting victims, including Chase, are displayed on a makeshift memorial as people walk by on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, in Newtown, Conn. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

ALLISON WYATT, 6: "Allison made the world a better place for six, far too short, years and we now have to figure out how to move on without her," her family said in a statement. "She was a sweet, creative, funny, intelligent little girl who had an amazing life ahead of her. Our world is a lot darker now that she's gone. We love and miss her so much." (AP Photo/Family Photo via Benjamin Wyatt)

MADELEINE HSU, 6: "She was just an absolute doll," neighbor Karen Dryer said. "She seemed very shy, but she was just so sweet." ---- Names of Connecticut school shooting victims, including Madeleine Hsu, hang on a U.S. flag on a makeshift memorial in the Sandy Hook village of Newtown, Conn., on Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

The victims of the Sandy Hook school massacre have been laid to rest more than a week after the shootings.

As the families and community grieve, they also remember and share stories about those who were lost: 20 children, six educators and the mother of the shooter.

Here are some images of the victims, funerals and memorials.

Associated PressNews Topics: General news, School shootings, School violence, Shootings, Violent crime, Crime, Violence, Social issues, Social affairs, School safety, Education issues, Education

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-12-23-School%20Shooting-Victims-Photo%20Gallery/id-743247a31e9f40e990a16f86e51c6e1e

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