Dogs may be mans' best friend, but 53 year-old Greg LeNoir has proven that a man can be a dog's best friend, too. A carpenter from Florida, Mr. LeNoir may not have had an especially loyal relationship with his dog Jake. At least, not until Friday evening. That's when man and dog went for a swim together off New Smyrna Beach, and became easy pray for a hungry shark. LeNoir barely registered the open-mouthed predator before it snatched Jake, pulling the 28 pound pooch under the surface. After a crazed moment of screaming, LeNoir dove after the shark, furious fists a-flying! ''I clenched my fists and dove straight in with all my strength, like a battering ram,'' LeNoir, told the Miami Herald. "I hit the back of the shark's neck. It was like hitting concrete.'' No doubt stunned by the assault, the shark released Jake, who quickly swam to safety. Amazingly, neither he nor Greg LeNoir were seriously injured during the ordeal.
Read more at http://www.miamiherald.com/news/5min/story/707023.html
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
19 Hostages Rescued in Desert by Multinational Troop Effort
CAIRO, Egypt
A group of 19 tourists' safari in the remote Sahara region of Africa took a turn for the horrifyingly cinematic last week, when they were abducted by armed kidnappers and driven off into the barren wilderness. Egyptian and Sudanese troops rescued the European tour group early Monday morning, and the tourists and their Egyptian guides returned safely to Cairo.
The operation, apparently backed by European special forces, ends a 10-day hostage situation that took the 11 Europeans and their eight guides across a barren stretch of the Sahara Desert. They were seized by gunmen on the 19th while on a desert safari in remote southwestern Egypt. It was unclear where their abductors were taking them, or where they would end up... Sudan, followed by Libya? Chad?
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini suggested Italian and German special forces were involved. He was beaming as he explained that Sudan and Egypt carried out "a highly professional operation" with the "intervention of Italian intelligence and experts from the special forces" from Germany and Italy.
The official said the tourists, who include two Italians in their 70s, were "feeble" but in good condition. Most importantly, MENA reported that none of the captives was hurt in the rescue. Amazing!
The freed captives, who included five Germans, five Italians, a Romanian and eight Egyptian guides and drivers, were brought by a military plane to Cairo on Monday, greeted at the airport by officials who extended their welcome with bouquets of fresh flowers. They were then taken to a military hospital for checkups.
"Our compatriots and the other hostages in Egypt have been freed," Frattini said. "It is the result of international cooperation for which we have to be really grateful to the authorities of other countries that have been working with us."
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,429475,00.html
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Scientists Coax Adult Cells Back to Embryonic State
Harvard University, USA
Stem cell research has been one of the most promising areas of medical advancement in our generation. Political controversy, however, has strangled funds for research projects, while moral controversy keeps the public decidedly undecided about the potentially life-saving knowledge we stand to gain. The question we are faced with, time and again, is "Is it ever acceptable to use embryonic stem cells for medical research?" Starting now, the answer may not matter.
A team of scientists at Harvard University has developed a method by which adult stem cells can be regressed back to their original embryonic state. With the controversy of harvesting true embryonic cells behind them, scientists may be able to learn by leaps and bounds in the next few years.
"We have removed a major roadblock for translating this into a clinical setting," said Konrad Hochedlinger, a Harvard University stem cell researcher whose research was published online today by the journal Science. "I think it's an important advance."
To read more, visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/25/AR2008092502099.html?hpid=moreheadlines
Stem cell research has been one of the most promising areas of medical advancement in our generation. Political controversy, however, has strangled funds for research projects, while moral controversy keeps the public decidedly undecided about the potentially life-saving knowledge we stand to gain. The question we are faced with, time and again, is "Is it ever acceptable to use embryonic stem cells for medical research?" Starting now, the answer may not matter.
A team of scientists at Harvard University has developed a method by which adult stem cells can be regressed back to their original embryonic state. With the controversy of harvesting true embryonic cells behind them, scientists may be able to learn by leaps and bounds in the next few years.
"We have removed a major roadblock for translating this into a clinical setting," said Konrad Hochedlinger, a Harvard University stem cell researcher whose research was published online today by the journal Science. "I think it's an important advance."
To read more, visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/25/AR2008092502099.html?hpid=moreheadlines
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Ping Pong Ball Saves 2 Year-Old's Life
Sydney. Australia
An Australian surgeon took a daring step in a liver transplant recently; He implanted a ping pong ball in the patient! What sounds like a medical mishap was, instead, an innovative measure taken to save a life. 2 year-old Mackenzie was on the operating table to receive a portion of an adult liver in place of her own. With donors rare, in Australia, surgeon Albert Shun had no back-up options when the transplant organ proved troublesome. The liver's size and shape caused it to rest on Mackenzie's blood vessels, creating potentially fatal pressure. In an almost MacGyver-like fashion, Shun placed a $2 ping pong ball inside hie patient to prevent the liver from obstructing her blood flow. "There shouldn't be any complications." Says Shun. "We are in a unique situation in Australia because we have a low donor rate so we have to be adaptable." While the unorthodox technique came as a shock to Mackenzie's parents, who found out about it after the surgery, they insist are happy to see their daughter alive and well. "She is so normal now," says mother Letice Darswell, "she is a happy kid."
To read more, visit http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24393387-5006009,00.html
An Australian surgeon took a daring step in a liver transplant recently; He implanted a ping pong ball in the patient! What sounds like a medical mishap was, instead, an innovative measure taken to save a life. 2 year-old Mackenzie was on the operating table to receive a portion of an adult liver in place of her own. With donors rare, in Australia, surgeon Albert Shun had no back-up options when the transplant organ proved troublesome. The liver's size and shape caused it to rest on Mackenzie's blood vessels, creating potentially fatal pressure. In an almost MacGyver-like fashion, Shun placed a $2 ping pong ball inside hie patient to prevent the liver from obstructing her blood flow. "There shouldn't be any complications." Says Shun. "We are in a unique situation in Australia because we have a low donor rate so we have to be adaptable." While the unorthodox technique came as a shock to Mackenzie's parents, who found out about it after the surgery, they insist are happy to see their daughter alive and well. "She is so normal now," says mother Letice Darswell, "she is a happy kid."
To read more, visit http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24393387-5006009,00.html
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Google Phone Unveiled At Last
For years, we've been hearing rumors that Google is developing a phone to rival the BlackBerry and the iPhone - music to the ears of anyone who loves Googe or is anti-Mac. Finally, T-Mobile and Google have teamed up to release the G1, a brand new uber-phone unlike anything we've ever seen. Boasting Google's Android operating system, an iPhone-like touch screen, and an expandable keyboard, the G1 combines many features that have consumers excited to try this latest addition to the technology wave. The G1 will become commercially available on October 22, at a cost of about 180$ with a 2-year contract. I know I'm tempted!
Learn more at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94953519&ft=1&f=1001
Learn more at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94953519&ft=1&f=1001
Friday, September 19, 2008
Everyone Poops, San Antonio Recycles
SAN ANTONIO, Texas
This Texan town is taking recycling to a whole new level: turning the city's collective poop into renewable energy. Quite a metamorphosis, from caca to cash.
Ameresco Inc., a Framingham, Massachusetts-based energy services company has offered to buy captured methane gas generated from the San Antonio Water System treatment of "biosolids" (a nice neutral word for human waste sewage) for $250,000. The 140,000 tons of biosolids will yield at least 900,000 cubic feet of natural gas daily for the next 20 years. Representatives for SAWS explain that this amount is "enough gas to fill seven commercial blimps or 1,250 tanker trucks each day."
"We're very pleased that we can capture and sell this gas, which is good for San Antonio's air quality and puts this renewable energy resource to work for San Antonio." Steve Clouse, the water system's chief operating officer.
It will take a year or two for the facilities to be built, but in the meantime SAWS is already using their human garbage for fertilizing lawns and selling methane byproducts to other institutions.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Unknown Work of Mozart Discovered in French Library
Nantes, France
A priceless bit of musical history was discovered in a French museum this week: a sheet of previously unknown music, handwritten by none other than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The sheet was donated to the museum in the 19th century by an autograph collector, and was apparently cataloged as part of the library's collection without being recognized for what it is. The International Mozarteum Foundation's head researcher Ulrich Leisinger says there can be no doubt of the document's authenticity. "This is absolutely new," Leisinger said. "We have new music here. . . His handwriting is absolutely clearly identifiable. . . There's no doubt that this is an original piece handwritten by Mozart."
The music itself is described as an early draft, or the start of a piece that was never finished. Leisinger explains "It's a melody sketch, so what's missing is the harmony and the instrumentation, but you can make sense out of it. The tune is complete. It's only one part and not the whole score with eight or twelve parts." Despite its incompleteness, the discovery is considered an important find. And rare, among fewer than a dozen such documents brought to light in the past 50 years.
The document appears to have been written sometime during the last 5 years of Mozart's life.
To read more, visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/18/eu.mozart.discovery.ap/index.html
A priceless bit of musical history was discovered in a French museum this week: a sheet of previously unknown music, handwritten by none other than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The sheet was donated to the museum in the 19th century by an autograph collector, and was apparently cataloged as part of the library's collection without being recognized for what it is. The International Mozarteum Foundation's head researcher Ulrich Leisinger says there can be no doubt of the document's authenticity. "This is absolutely new," Leisinger said. "We have new music here. . . His handwriting is absolutely clearly identifiable. . . There's no doubt that this is an original piece handwritten by Mozart."
The music itself is described as an early draft, or the start of a piece that was never finished. Leisinger explains "It's a melody sketch, so what's missing is the harmony and the instrumentation, but you can make sense out of it. The tune is complete. It's only one part and not the whole score with eight or twelve parts." Despite its incompleteness, the discovery is considered an important find. And rare, among fewer than a dozen such documents brought to light in the past 50 years.
The document appears to have been written sometime during the last 5 years of Mozart's life.
To read more, visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/18/eu.mozart.discovery.ap/index.html
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Vaccinations for Pregnant Moms Means Protecting Babies Too
Boston, USA
For moms-to-be looking to protect their babies, a study confirms what scientists have assumed for years: flu shots given to pregnant women a month or more before delivery results in the immunization being passed on to the buns in their ovens. Such vaccinations usually remain effective for the first six months of the baby's life. Since newborns are not authorized to receive flu shots during this time period, a mother's vaccination helps bridge the gap: a time when babies are particularly susceptible to get the flu. Centers for Disease Control have been recommending pregnant women get their flu shots since 1997, but the advice tends to go ignored: only about 15% of expectant mothers are vaccinated each year. Specialists are hoping that this concrete proof will inspire more moms to get their flu shots during the high-risk fall months.
"Immunize the mother and you protect the infant," Dr. Mark Steinhoff, a pediatrician with the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. "This might persuade more mothers to say, 'Hey, it really helps me and it really helps the baby,'"
In the test of 340 pregnant women in Bangladesh, the shots cut the risk of flu by 63 percent and the risk of respiratory illness overall by 29 percent. There were six confirmed cases of influenza in the vaccinated group, compared to 16 among the mothers given a different vaccine.
The injections also lowered the likelihood of fever and respiratory illness among the mothers by 36 percent.
http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN1726328620080917
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Genetic Therapy May Prevent Hereditary Blindness
Paris, France
A condition known as Leber hereditary optic neuropathy robs young adults of their sight by destroying the optic nerve. In Paris, Marisol Corral-Debrinski and her team at the Pierre and Marie Curie university have created a treatment which may be the light at the end of the tunnel for potential sufferers of the disorder.
The experimental treatment involved implanting functional copies of the ND4 gene, which is irregular in Leber patients, into lab rats with the disease. Electric impulses were used to temporarily open the cells' surface pores. Among treated rats, most of the optic nerve cells survived. Untreated rats lost 40% of their optic nerve cells within eight weeks.
Though the current treatment has only been tested in lab rats, the solution to Leber is beginning to come into focus.
To read more, visit http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/mg19926735.000-hereditary-blindness-therapy-within-sight.html?feedId=online-news_rss20
A condition known as Leber hereditary optic neuropathy robs young adults of their sight by destroying the optic nerve. In Paris, Marisol Corral-Debrinski and her team at the Pierre and Marie Curie university have created a treatment which may be the light at the end of the tunnel for potential sufferers of the disorder.
The experimental treatment involved implanting functional copies of the ND4 gene, which is irregular in Leber patients, into lab rats with the disease. Electric impulses were used to temporarily open the cells' surface pores. Among treated rats, most of the optic nerve cells survived. Untreated rats lost 40% of their optic nerve cells within eight weeks.
Though the current treatment has only been tested in lab rats, the solution to Leber is beginning to come into focus.
To read more, visit http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/mg19926735.000-hereditary-blindness-therapy-within-sight.html?feedId=online-news_rss20
Monday, September 15, 2008
Assistance Dog Calls 911, Saves Man's Life
Phoenix, AZ, USA
The frantic sound of a dog whining and barking may not be what Chriss Trott is accustomed to hearing when he answers 911 calls, but it was enough to save the life of Joe Stalnaker on Wednesday when he suffered a seizure.
Stalnaker's home is flagged in the 911 database as having a trained assistance dog who may call for help in an emergency. Buddy, Stalnaker's faithful German shepherd, has been trained since puppyhood to recognize the symptoms of a seizure, get the telephone, and press specially programmed numbers that contact the 911 emergency hotline.
"It's pretty incredible," says Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark "Even the veteran dispatchers — they haven't heard of anything like this."Clark further reports that Mr. Stalnaker spent a couple of days in the hospital, making a full recovery from his seizure thanks to Buddy. Man's best friend, indeed.
To read more, visit http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jeDqeOQlgzwM4VjSCR1TETh6rM4AD936NST82
Thanks going out to Papa Goose for this story!
The frantic sound of a dog whining and barking may not be what Chriss Trott is accustomed to hearing when he answers 911 calls, but it was enough to save the life of Joe Stalnaker on Wednesday when he suffered a seizure.
Stalnaker's home is flagged in the 911 database as having a trained assistance dog who may call for help in an emergency. Buddy, Stalnaker's faithful German shepherd, has been trained since puppyhood to recognize the symptoms of a seizure, get the telephone, and press specially programmed numbers that contact the 911 emergency hotline.
"It's pretty incredible," says Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark "Even the veteran dispatchers — they haven't heard of anything like this."Clark further reports that Mr. Stalnaker spent a couple of days in the hospital, making a full recovery from his seizure thanks to Buddy. Man's best friend, indeed.
To read more, visit http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jeDqeOQlgzwM4VjSCR1TETh6rM4AD936NST82
Thanks going out to Papa Goose for this story!
Junkyards Go Green
New Hampshire, USA
How green can garbage get? A new campaign in New Hampshire has been inspiring-and requiring-salvage lots to clean up their act. Junkyards are particularly difficult areas to keep in line with environmental law due to the increasing number of regulations regarding the disposal of mechanical leftovers. Cars alone have 13 parts with specific regulations pertaining to their storage.
Both local communities and the Federal government were concerned over water contamination from spilled gas and oil, but the real impetus for change came from within the industry itself: the New Hampshire Auto & Truck Recyclers Association reached out to the Department of Environmental Science in 2003 for advice and help on cleaning up junkyards and staying in compliance. Now over 160 yards across the state of New Hampshire are involved in a nationally recognized and governmentally lauded program called New Hampshire Green Yards.
"We have wonderful compliance from the junkyards as far as this town is concerned," said Dee Voss, manager for the building inspector's office in Plaistow, which has three salvage yards. "They get surprise visits from us almost quarterly and they are quick to act when we ask something of them."
Turning over a new leaf hasn’t been easy. ASAP Auto salvage yard owner Ken Chapman points out the difference between the old days and the new, greener ones:
"Every time you turn around there's a new law," he said. "Junkyards used to pour the used oil on the ground just to keep the dust down, and it was fine."
That is precisely one of the ways in which the Green Yard program supports those they oversee is by helping them to cope with the continually expanding list of disposal regulations. Together they have compiled its Best Management Practices: with recommendations and guidelines along with free training videos and site assessments by state experts.
"Our members all feel positive about the whole thing," Ken reports. "At first some didn't feel that way, but now that they've been through it and have seen how it works, they are finding that it works well for them."
The Green Yard project has even inspired some salvage yards to go above and beyond by taking voluntary precautions. Some are only draining fluids indoors and using water-soluble degreasing solvents. In response, taking such self-starting measures is specially recognized by the state’s official Green Yard Certification, a sort of gold star rating for salvage yards. The recognition comes complete with official flags and magnetic truck door signs which are displayed with pride. It’s great to see another example of green practices sprouting up, even amongst scrap metal and old carburetors.
How green can garbage get? A new campaign in New Hampshire has been inspiring-and requiring-salvage lots to clean up their act. Junkyards are particularly difficult areas to keep in line with environmental law due to the increasing number of regulations regarding the disposal of mechanical leftovers. Cars alone have 13 parts with specific regulations pertaining to their storage.
Both local communities and the Federal government were concerned over water contamination from spilled gas and oil, but the real impetus for change came from within the industry itself: the New Hampshire Auto & Truck Recyclers Association reached out to the Department of Environmental Science in 2003 for advice and help on cleaning up junkyards and staying in compliance. Now over 160 yards across the state of New Hampshire are involved in a nationally recognized and governmentally lauded program called New Hampshire Green Yards.
"We have wonderful compliance from the junkyards as far as this town is concerned," said Dee Voss, manager for the building inspector's office in Plaistow, which has three salvage yards. "They get surprise visits from us almost quarterly and they are quick to act when we ask something of them."
Turning over a new leaf hasn’t been easy. ASAP Auto salvage yard owner Ken Chapman points out the difference between the old days and the new, greener ones:
"Every time you turn around there's a new law," he said. "Junkyards used to pour the used oil on the ground just to keep the dust down, and it was fine."
That is precisely one of the ways in which the Green Yard program supports those they oversee is by helping them to cope with the continually expanding list of disposal regulations. Together they have compiled its Best Management Practices: with recommendations and guidelines along with free training videos and site assessments by state experts.
"Our members all feel positive about the whole thing," Ken reports. "At first some didn't feel that way, but now that they've been through it and have seen how it works, they are finding that it works well for them."
The Green Yard project has even inspired some salvage yards to go above and beyond by taking voluntary precautions. Some are only draining fluids indoors and using water-soluble degreasing solvents. In response, taking such self-starting measures is specially recognized by the state’s official Green Yard Certification, a sort of gold star rating for salvage yards. The recognition comes complete with official flags and magnetic truck door signs which are displayed with pride. It’s great to see another example of green practices sprouting up, even amongst scrap metal and old carburetors.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Child Mortality Rate Down 27% Since 1990
WORLD
UNICEF reports that child mortality rate, that is, the number of live-birth children who die before the age of five, is down 27% since 1990. The organization noted particular progress in Laos, Bangladesh, Bolivia and Nepal. Factors contributing to the good news include healthier breast feeding practices, measles vaccination, vitamin A supplementation, the use of insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria, and prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. While much work remains to be done, particularly ins Sierra Leone, which has the highest child mortality rate in the world, the decrease is viewed as very good news. The latest numbers indicate that the rate continues to decrease, as it has fallen more than 60% since 1960.
To read more, visit http://news.aol.com/article/unicef-child-mortality-down-27-percent/172520?cid=14
UNICEF reports that child mortality rate, that is, the number of live-birth children who die before the age of five, is down 27% since 1990. The organization noted particular progress in Laos, Bangladesh, Bolivia and Nepal. Factors contributing to the good news include healthier breast feeding practices, measles vaccination, vitamin A supplementation, the use of insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria, and prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. While much work remains to be done, particularly ins Sierra Leone, which has the highest child mortality rate in the world, the decrease is viewed as very good news. The latest numbers indicate that the rate continues to decrease, as it has fallen more than 60% since 1960.
To read more, visit http://news.aol.com/article/unicef-child-mortality-down-27-percent/172520?cid=14
Friday, September 12, 2008
New York's Fashion Week Boasts Healthier Models
NY, USA
Fashion Week in New York: It's all about expression. Top-notch designers from around the world converge to unveil their latest and most exclusive creations in the form of runway fashion shows. The glitterati are in attendance, along with a slew of fashion correspondents who distill new trends from the cutting-edge pieces that glamorous models flaunt down the runway. And, sitting in front of their TV screens or flipping through magazines, young girls all over the globe begin to dream of one day becoming fashion models.
For decades, there has been a public outcry against the stick-thin women who, as they strut down the catwalk, set the standard for fashion and beauty. Young women and the people who love them have lamented the spread of eating disorders and psychological problems that too often accompany a little girl's journey towards professional modeling. With designers supplying their clothing in sizes 0 and 2 (that's "emaciated" and "waifish," for those of you who may be unfamiliar with women's sizes), it has long been impossible for any woman, no matter how beautiful, to realize the dream of modeling during fashion week without sticking to an extreme, and often unhealthy diet.
That's why it is good news indeed that this year, Fashion Week has finally jumped on the ever-expanding bandwagon of putting healthier women in the spotlight. According to Nian Fish, who chairs a fashion designers health initiative, models were up to size 4 (read: "thin") this year, and there wasn't a size 0 in sight. Furthermore, designers turned away from modeling their clothing on prepubescent 13 year-old girls.
"I think a lot of the direction from the designers has been a much healthier approach," said James Aguiar, co-host of Ultra HD's "Full Frontal Fashion." Avril Graham, executive fashion and beauty editor at Harper's Bazaar, agrees: "We're obviously going through a season of a less cookie-cutter look."
To my own (fashion-blind) eyes, this years models still look impossibly thin. But if there has been a step, even a tiny one, away from the skin-and-bones ideal that I've grown up with, I see it as a step in the right direction. Who knows, maybe next year we'll have the pleasure of seeing a nice rack or a juicy booty on New York's high profile stage!
To read more, visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/homestyle/09/11/thin.models.fashion.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
Fashion Week in New York: It's all about expression. Top-notch designers from around the world converge to unveil their latest and most exclusive creations in the form of runway fashion shows. The glitterati are in attendance, along with a slew of fashion correspondents who distill new trends from the cutting-edge pieces that glamorous models flaunt down the runway. And, sitting in front of their TV screens or flipping through magazines, young girls all over the globe begin to dream of one day becoming fashion models.
For decades, there has been a public outcry against the stick-thin women who, as they strut down the catwalk, set the standard for fashion and beauty. Young women and the people who love them have lamented the spread of eating disorders and psychological problems that too often accompany a little girl's journey towards professional modeling. With designers supplying their clothing in sizes 0 and 2 (that's "emaciated" and "waifish," for those of you who may be unfamiliar with women's sizes), it has long been impossible for any woman, no matter how beautiful, to realize the dream of modeling during fashion week without sticking to an extreme, and often unhealthy diet.
That's why it is good news indeed that this year, Fashion Week has finally jumped on the ever-expanding bandwagon of putting healthier women in the spotlight. According to Nian Fish, who chairs a fashion designers health initiative, models were up to size 4 (read: "thin") this year, and there wasn't a size 0 in sight. Furthermore, designers turned away from modeling their clothing on prepubescent 13 year-old girls.
"I think a lot of the direction from the designers has been a much healthier approach," said James Aguiar, co-host of Ultra HD's "Full Frontal Fashion." Avril Graham, executive fashion and beauty editor at Harper's Bazaar, agrees: "We're obviously going through a season of a less cookie-cutter look."
To my own (fashion-blind) eyes, this years models still look impossibly thin. But if there has been a step, even a tiny one, away from the skin-and-bones ideal that I've grown up with, I see it as a step in the right direction. Who knows, maybe next year we'll have the pleasure of seeing a nice rack or a juicy booty on New York's high profile stage!
To read more, visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/homestyle/09/11/thin.models.fashion.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Cat Survives 16 Mile Journey Under the Hood of a Running Car
Irvine, CA
After driving 16 miles from Anaheim to Irvine, CA, an anonymous driver pulled her Honda over when she heard odd noises issuing from under the hood. When she got out of the car, she realized that the loud wailing sounded just like a cat. After popping her hood, the driver was stunned to find an adult black cat who had somehow wedged himself behind her right headlight, beneath the hood. The woman immediately called 911.
When rescue workers arrived, the car's engine was still so hot that they were unable to access the trapped kitty. Eventually, loosening the car's headlight gave way to a crack wide enough for rescuers to tranquilize and, eventually, extract cat.
Miraculously, "Miles," as the cat has now been named, survived the ordeal without a scratch or even a burn. Miles is micro chipped, however thus far his owners have not come forward. He is currently up for adoption in Irvine.
For the full story, visit: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/09/11/dnt.ca.cat.wedged.in.engine.kcal
After driving 16 miles from Anaheim to Irvine, CA, an anonymous driver pulled her Honda over when she heard odd noises issuing from under the hood. When she got out of the car, she realized that the loud wailing sounded just like a cat. After popping her hood, the driver was stunned to find an adult black cat who had somehow wedged himself behind her right headlight, beneath the hood. The woman immediately called 911.
When rescue workers arrived, the car's engine was still so hot that they were unable to access the trapped kitty. Eventually, loosening the car's headlight gave way to a crack wide enough for rescuers to tranquilize and, eventually, extract cat.
Miraculously, "Miles," as the cat has now been named, survived the ordeal without a scratch or even a burn. Miles is micro chipped, however thus far his owners have not come forward. He is currently up for adoption in Irvine.
For the full story, visit: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/09/11/dnt.ca.cat.wedged.in.engine.kcal
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
eHusbandry Matches Mates Across the World
COLUMBIA, S.C.
Online dating is becoming more and more commonplace in today's cyber-centered world. The latest development brings good news in the heretofore neglected area of animal husbandry! Zookeepers will soon have access to the profiles of 'single' animals all over the world looking for prospective mates. Until know, discussions and descriptions of animals in captivity were exchanged on an individual basis, over the phone or email. By using a Facebook-esque social networking called the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), 150 zoos and aquariums around the world will be able to play match maker for animals in captivity. Also known as 'studbooks', the web-based data will be more easily accessible, faster in pairing up matches, and will contain information on the animals looks and personalities-- just like sites geared towards humans. This way, even species more hesitant to breed in captivity (such as the panda or African elephant) can be set up with compatible mates.
"Studbooks are the key to our long-term breeding plans," said John Lehnhardt, animal operations director at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Fla. "We want to ensure that these endangered species are here for the future and that's really what the studbooks are all about. What we're trying to do is maintain a savings account in species."
"Big populations out in the wild breed randomly," added Ed Diebold, director of animal collections at Riverbanks Zoo. "In captivity, usually these populations are considerably smaller than wild populations, which is why you can't afford to allow animals to inbreed or breed along closely related lines. That's why you have the studbooks."
For more information and some titillating examples of animal mating habits, check out the original link:
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,419603,00.html
Online dating is becoming more and more commonplace in today's cyber-centered world. The latest development brings good news in the heretofore neglected area of animal husbandry! Zookeepers will soon have access to the profiles of 'single' animals all over the world looking for prospective mates. Until know, discussions and descriptions of animals in captivity were exchanged on an individual basis, over the phone or email. By using a Facebook-esque social networking called the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), 150 zoos and aquariums around the world will be able to play match maker for animals in captivity. Also known as 'studbooks', the web-based data will be more easily accessible, faster in pairing up matches, and will contain information on the animals looks and personalities-- just like sites geared towards humans. This way, even species more hesitant to breed in captivity (such as the panda or African elephant) can be set up with compatible mates.
"Studbooks are the key to our long-term breeding plans," said John Lehnhardt, animal operations director at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Fla. "We want to ensure that these endangered species are here for the future and that's really what the studbooks are all about. What we're trying to do is maintain a savings account in species."
"Big populations out in the wild breed randomly," added Ed Diebold, director of animal collections at Riverbanks Zoo. "In captivity, usually these populations are considerably smaller than wild populations, which is why you can't afford to allow animals to inbreed or breed along closely related lines. That's why you have the studbooks."
For more information and some titillating examples of animal mating habits, check out the original link:
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,419603,00.html
Monday, September 8, 2008
Swimmers Rescued After 12 Hours at Sea
Daytona Beach, FL, USA
A day at the beach for 12 year-old Chris Marino and his father Walter turned nightmarish when Chris was caught in an overpowering tide last Saturday night. Walter rushed to his son's rescue, only to be swept far offshore by the same treacherous current. Night fell, and father and son were separated as they struggled to stay afloat among three-foot swells. Rescue workers searched for the two until after 3:00 am to no avail.
However, both swimmers managed to stay afloat and relatively unharmed for the rest of the night. A fishing boat found Walter Marino, still swimming, at around 7:30 the next morning, while the coast guard rescued Chris two hours later, just a mile from where his father had been found. Both were listed as "in good condition" at a local hospital today.
To read more, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,418495,00.html
A day at the beach for 12 year-old Chris Marino and his father Walter turned nightmarish when Chris was caught in an overpowering tide last Saturday night. Walter rushed to his son's rescue, only to be swept far offshore by the same treacherous current. Night fell, and father and son were separated as they struggled to stay afloat among three-foot swells. Rescue workers searched for the two until after 3:00 am to no avail.
However, both swimmers managed to stay afloat and relatively unharmed for the rest of the night. A fishing boat found Walter Marino, still swimming, at around 7:30 the next morning, while the coast guard rescued Chris two hours later, just a mile from where his father had been found. Both were listed as "in good condition" at a local hospital today.
To read more, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,418495,00.html
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
New Screening Technique Better for Detecting Breast Cancer
Traditional breast cancer screening consists of monthly self-exams, yearly professional exams, and, for older or high-risk women, mammograms. With recent advances in breast cancer screening and treatment, women have a better chance of surviving the disease than ever before. Scientists and doctors are trying to increase that chance even further, and recently unveiled a new screening technique that may go on to save thousands of lives.
Molecular breast imaging (MBI) is a new technology which was presented this week at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2008 Breast Cancer Symposium in Washington, D.C. Unlike mammograms, MBI images the breast using a an injected radiotracter that is able to detect different behaviors between cancerous and healthy cells. In a study presented at the symposium, MBI detected 10 out of 13 cancers among 375 patients. Mammograms detected three. Together, the techniques would have detected 11.
In addition to detecting more cancers, MBI produces fewer false positives than mammograms; 28% of MBI-prompted biopsies proved to be cancerous, compared with only 28% of mammogram prompted biopsies. "Based on the results, MBI has shown great promise as a valuable adjunct to screening mammography in women with dense breasts and who are at an increased risk of developing cancer," said study author Carrie B. Hruska, a research fellow in the department of radiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
MBI technology is relatively inexpensive and easy to use. The future of the treatment depends upon it's spread across the country, as the screening is not yet widely available.
To read more, visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/03/AR2008090303193.html
Molecular breast imaging (MBI) is a new technology which was presented this week at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2008 Breast Cancer Symposium in Washington, D.C. Unlike mammograms, MBI images the breast using a an injected radiotracter that is able to detect different behaviors between cancerous and healthy cells. In a study presented at the symposium, MBI detected 10 out of 13 cancers among 375 patients. Mammograms detected three. Together, the techniques would have detected 11.
In addition to detecting more cancers, MBI produces fewer false positives than mammograms; 28% of MBI-prompted biopsies proved to be cancerous, compared with only 28% of mammogram prompted biopsies. "Based on the results, MBI has shown great promise as a valuable adjunct to screening mammography in women with dense breasts and who are at an increased risk of developing cancer," said study author Carrie B. Hruska, a research fellow in the department of radiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
MBI technology is relatively inexpensive and easy to use. The future of the treatment depends upon it's spread across the country, as the screening is not yet widely available.
To read more, visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/03/AR2008090303193.html
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Restaurant Customer Anonymously Leaves the Tip of a Lifetime
Algonquin, IL, USA
After working as a waitress at the Montarra Grill in Angonquin for three years, Michelle Secreto probably has the menu memorized. She had two suggestions at the ready for a couple who came to the restaurant last week and requested gluten-free meals; Ms. Secreto recommended two seafood specials.
While not the most ordinary of interactions between customer and waitress to begin with, the anonymous couple turned their visit to the Montarra Grill into an unforgettable experience for Secreto when they left her the tip of a lifetime: 1,000 dollars.
Secreto plans to use the money to send her daughter, 12 year-old Ashley, on a school trip to Washington DC later this year.
To read more, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,414363,00.html
After working as a waitress at the Montarra Grill in Angonquin for three years, Michelle Secreto probably has the menu memorized. She had two suggestions at the ready for a couple who came to the restaurant last week and requested gluten-free meals; Ms. Secreto recommended two seafood specials.
While not the most ordinary of interactions between customer and waitress to begin with, the anonymous couple turned their visit to the Montarra Grill into an unforgettable experience for Secreto when they left her the tip of a lifetime: 1,000 dollars.
Secreto plans to use the money to send her daughter, 12 year-old Ashley, on a school trip to Washington DC later this year.
To read more, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,414363,00.html
Monday, September 1, 2008
Michigan Balloonist Survives 9,000 Foot Fall
Anderson, S.C., USA
Chuck Walz is in rough shape; he has a broken leg AND a broken pelvis. But, considering that his hot air balloon deflated at 9,000 feet an plummeted back to Earth with him still in it this week, he's not doing too badly. Apparently, the Michigan native owes his lucky breaks to the fact that his balloon's basket became entangled in tree branches about 10 feet from the ground. Though Walz tumbled out of the basket, his fall was slowed by the collision with the tree. He was concious when rescuers arrived, and has undergone surgery to repair his leg and pelvis. His recovery so far has been promising.
For more information, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,414543,00.html
Chuck Walz is in rough shape; he has a broken leg AND a broken pelvis. But, considering that his hot air balloon deflated at 9,000 feet an plummeted back to Earth with him still in it this week, he's not doing too badly. Apparently, the Michigan native owes his lucky breaks to the fact that his balloon's basket became entangled in tree branches about 10 feet from the ground. Though Walz tumbled out of the basket, his fall was slowed by the collision with the tree. He was concious when rescuers arrived, and has undergone surgery to repair his leg and pelvis. His recovery so far has been promising.
For more information, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,414543,00.html
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