Shape of urine can indicate prostate issues: Characteristic shape of a man's urine can help diagnose urinary problems

ScienceDaily (Oct. 16, 2012) ? Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London have discovered that the characteristic shape of a man's urine stream could be used to help diagnose urinary problems.

The research, published Oct. 16 in PLOS ONE, is the first study to analyse the specific pattern a man's urine makes and whether it could be used to detect prostate problems.

Co-author Dr Martin Knight from Queen Mary's School of Engineering and Materials Science explained: "The characteristic shape is due to the surface tension in the urine and the elliptical shape of the urethra.

"The computer model matched perfectly to experiments in the laboratory and also with video data of human volunteers. There was an excellent correlation between the shape of the urine stream and the urine flow rate."

The medical engineers at Queen Mary used 60 healthy volunteers and 60 patients to test whether self-measurement of the shape of the urine stream could be used to predict maximum urine flow rate.

They found that a simple measurement of the characteristic shape of the flow pattern could accurately predict the maximum urine flow rate; important in the diagnosis of urinary problems such as those associated with prostate enlargement.

According to Prostate Cancer UK, about four out of every ten men over the age of 50 (40 per cent) and three out of four men in their 70s (75 per cent) have urinary symptoms that may be caused by an enlarged prostate.

Dr Knight said: "This research began as a student project when a team of urologists asked Queen Mary to come up with a simple non-invasive way of measuring urine flow rate that could be easily used at home where patient's urine flow rates are likely to be more typical than when urinating in hospital.

"The current techniques, although very accurate, are difficult or expensive to use reliably outside of the clinic. This new approach may therefore represent a useful solution to this important medical engineering problem, allowing men to easily monitor their urine flow rate."

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Journal Reference:

1. Andrew P. S. Wheeler, Samir Morad, Noor Buchholz, Martin M. Knight. The Shape of the Urine Stream ? From Biophysics to Diagnostics. PLoS ONE, 2012; 7 (10): e47133 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047133

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/TN4uTnbFjQQ/121016173132.htm

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Boston museum shows royal family, celebrity photos

BOSTON (AP) ? Mario Testino poses for photographs in front of photographs.

Cameras flash as Testino stands, arms crossed, in black jeans, black suit coat and black collared shirt, the top two buttons open. Behind him, model Gisele Bundchen steps out of a car wearing a sparkly, silver dress in a 2007 Vanity Fair photograph.

Photos of superstars line the dark teal walls as museum Director Malcolm Rogers goes in for a photo with Testino, joking that he is the beast to the photographer's beauty.

"I've never thought of myself as a beauty as I work with these people," Testino replies with a laugh.

The celebrity and fashion photographer has himself become a celebrity, specifically requested by Madonna and the British royal family, Vogue and Vanity Fair, Gucci and Burberry. He helped launch the modeling careers of Bundchen and Kate Moss.

In his U.S. debut, two Museum of Fine Arts, Boston exhibits showcase Testino's three decades of work. The photographer himself selected the pieces in the exhibits, one of celebrity photos and one of the British royal family portraits.

Most of the pictures are familiar, splashed across American and European Vogues, Vanity Fair and the Internet. But this time, they're 2-, 3- and 8-feet tall.

"This is a contemporary artist who is in the thick of pop culture," museum curator Anne Havinga said.

Art critics may bash the show, because it's commercial, colorful and sexy, Rogers said.

Jennifer Lopez as a boxer. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and a snarling dog. Nude models, celebrities and athletes.

"I like to bring things here that are unexpected ... take on new color, really to find excitement and beauty in things taken for granted," Testino said.

Born in Peru in 1954, Testino fell in love with fashion, from bellbottoms to a lilac terrycloth suit, when accompanying his father on business trips to the United States.

He moved to England in 1976 and took his first photograph of the British royal family in 1981, an impromptu shot of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Edward in a parade celebrating Prince Charles's marriage to Lady Diana Spencer. He sat on a mailbox to capture the shot, which features a smiling queen, seeming to look right at the camera.

More than a decade later, Testino went on to photograph the royal family in depth, often capturing them relaxed and informal in official portraits. He made the Vanity Fair photographs of Princess Diana smiling and lounging on a white couch months before her death, as well as the official 21st birthday shots of Princes William and Harry, and Prince William and Kate Middleton's engagement photos.

Despite his success, he said he still has insecurities when he's working.

"Just because you've won a gold medal doesn't mean you're going to win another one in a year," said Testino, who never spends more than four days in one place. "There's nothing more boring than someone who thinks that they're amazing."

"British Royal Portraits" will be on display from Oct. 21 through June 16.

"In Your Face" will exhibit celebrity portraits and candid shots from Oct. 21 through Feb. 3.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/boston-museum-shows-royal-family-celebrity-photos-220636710.html

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Battery maker who got government money files for bankruptcy

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Shuttle X-ing: Endeavour spacecraft slowly winds through L.A.

In retirement, it's crawling along the streets of Los Angeles at a sluggish 2 mph, a pace that rush-hour commuters can sympathize with.

By Alicia Chang,?Associated Press / October 12, 2012

The space shuttle Endeavour sits in a strip mall as a Hawaiian Airlines jet approaches a runway at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 12. Endeavour's 12-mile road trip kicked off shortly before midnight Thursday as it moved from its hangar at the airport en route to the California Science Center, its ultimate destination.

Jae C. Hong/AP

Enlarge

At its prime, the space?shuttle?Endeavour circled the globe at 17,500 mph, faster than a speeding bullet.

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In retirement, it's crawling along the streets of Los Angeles at a sluggish 2 mph, a pace that rush-hour commuters can sympathize with.

Endeavour's two-day, 12-mile road trip to the California Science Center where it will be put on display kicked off early Friday. Rolled on a 160-wheeled carrier, it left from a hangar at the Los Angeles International Airport, passing diamond-shaped "Shuttle?Xing" signs, and reached city streets about two hours later.

Hundreds of spectators, some with pajama-clad children in tow, waited in the predawn darkness. In unison, they held up their cameras and cellphones and gaped as the 170,000-pound Endeavour inched by with its tail towering over streetlights and its wings spanning the roadway.

It made stop-and-go progress, with some halts to check its balance and to prune trees in its path as it crept past strip malls and storefronts.

In a massive feat of parallel parking, the?shuttle?was backed into a shopping center parking lot in the Westchester neighborhood around 5:30 a.m. ? later than expected.

Janet Dion, a family therapist from nearby Manhattan Beach, was in awe as she marveled at Endeavour, its sides weathered by millions of miles in space and two dozen re-entries.

"You can sense the magnitude of where it's been," Dion said, focusing on the heat tiles that protected theshuttle?during the return to Earth.

"It's exciting to see the tiles up close, especially the texture of the tiles," she said. "It's amazing. You can almost feel the fabric of it, like a skin. Like our skin."

Everyone it seemed wanted to pose with Endeavour. Firefighters, police officers and construction workers on duty took turns standing in front of it.

Others saw an opportunity to make a buck. Jason Duran and his friend printed up Endeavour T-shirts and hawked them for $30.

"We're entrepreneurs," he said.

Endeavour will remain at the parking lot for a nine-hour layover as crews worked to widen the carrier so that it could straddle the median during the next part of the trip. It was expected to move again in early afternoon then stop for several more hours to transfer to a special dolly for the cross over the busy Interstate 405 at night.

Ushering a?shuttle?through an urban core is a logistical challenge that took almost a year to plan. Guarded by a security detail reminiscent of a presidential visit, police enforced rolling street and sidewalk closures as early as Thursday night in some locations and discouraged spectators from swarming side streets.

The behemoth transport has caused headaches for shopkeepers along the route who counted on cheering crowds jamming the curbs to boost business.

In the days leading up to Endeavour's move, the owners of Randy's Donuts sold shuttle-shaped pastries emblazoned with the NASA logo and even hung a miniature?shuttle?replica inside the giant doughnut sign visible from the freeway.

Co-owner Larry Weintraub planned to watch the?shuttle?creep by the roadside sign, which has been featured in several movies. But the store, which serves up sweets 24-7, will be closed.

"I'm still excited, but I'm disappointed that people aren't going to be able to stand in the streets and shout 'Yay,'" he said.

Saturday is typically the busiest day for James Fugate, who co-owns Eso Won Books in South Los Angeles. But with Endeavour expected to shuffle through, Fugate braced for a ho-hum day in sales.

"We don't close because we're slow. That's when you pull out a book to read," he said.

The baby of the?shuttle?fleet, Endeavour replaced Challenger, which exploded during liftoff in 1986, killing seven astronauts. It thundered off the launch pad 25 times, orbited Earth nearly 4,700 times and racked up 123 million miles.

Last month, it wowed throngs with a dizzying aerial loop, soaring over the state Capitol, Golden Gate Bridge, Hollywood Sign and other California landmarks while strapped to the back of a modified 747 before finally landing at LAX.

The last leg of Endeavour's retirement journey skips the tourist attractions and instead, winds through blue-collar communities in southern Los Angeles County. While viewing will be severely curtailed due to sidewalk shutdowns, crowds are still expected.

Moving the Endeavour required a specialized carrier typically used to haul oil rigs, bridges and heavy equipment. The wheels can spin in any direction, allowing the?shuttle?to zigzag past obstacles. An operator walks alongside, controlling the movements via joystick. Several spotters along the wings are on the lookout for hazards.

To make room for the five-story-tall?shuttle?and its 78-foot wingspan, some 400 trees were chopped down, cable and telephone lines were raised, and steel plates were laid down to protect the streets and underground utilities.

Endeavour will mostly travel on wide boulevards with some boasting as many lanes as a freeway. While there have been advance preparations, there is remaining work to be done during the move, including de-energizing power lines. Southern California Edison warned of outages in the suburb of Inglewood.

One of the trickiest parts involves trundling through a narrow residential street with apartment buildings on both sides. With Endeavour's wings expected to intrude into driveways, residents have been told to stay indoors until the?shuttle?passes.

The route was selected after ruling out other options. Dismantling the?shuttle?would have ruined the delicate heat tiles. Helicoptering it to its destination was not feasible. Neither was crossing on freeways since theshuttle?is too big to fit through the underpasses. The cost of transporting it cross-town was estimated at over $10 million.

As complex as the latest endeavor is, Southern California is no stranger to moving heavy things.

In 1946, Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose" aircraft was built in sections and hauled from Culver City to Long Beach, 30 miles away. In 1984, an old United Airlines DC-8, with its wings and tail disassembled, was towed from Long Beach to the science center.

Earlier this year, a two-story-tall chunk of granite was hauled 105 miles from a rock quarry to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/eGBWH67SNP8/Shuttle-X-ing-Endeavour-spacecraft-slowly-winds-through-L.A

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Police question 2 at Pakistani girl's hospital

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) ? Police on Tuesday questioned two people at a hospital where a teenage Pakistani activist is recovering after being shot, raising fears about the girl's security amid pledges by the Taliban to finish the job.

Fourteen-year-old Malala Yousufzai was shot in the head by the Taliban last week as she was returning home from school. She was airlifted to Britain on Monday to receive specialized medical care and protection from follow-up attacks threatened by the militants.

Medical Director Dave Rosser of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham stressed Tuesday that security was "under control." He said several individuals had turned up at the hospital claiming to be the girl's relatives ? but didn't get very far. He said the people were arrested, but police said they had merely been questioned.

"We don't believe there's any threat to her personal security," Rosser told journalists, explaining the hospital did not believe the suspects were related to Malala. "We think it's probably people being over-curious."

Police could not immediately confirm the details of the incident.

The attack on Malala, who campaigns for girls' right to education, horrified people in Pakistan and across the world.

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik announced a $1 million bounty for Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan during an interview with CNN that aired Tuesday. Malik said "we want to definitely get him" because he was the one who announced that the Taliban carried out the attack on Malala.

Malala was targeted by the Taliban for promoting girls' education and criticizing the militant group's behavior when they took over the scenic Swat Valley where she lived. Two of her classmates were also wounded in the attack and are receiving treatment in Pakistan.

The Taliban has threatened to target Malala until she is killed because she promotes "Western thinking."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/police-2-pakistani-girls-hospital-113332313.html

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Texas Tech Streaker Brent Smith Removes Clothes During West Virginia Game (VIDEO)

A Texas Tech University fan faces criminal assault charges after he attempted to streak during a football game on Saturday. Texas Tech went on to win the game by a startling margin, so maybe the nudity was good luck!

Brent Smith, 20, who is not a Texas Tech student but apparently a very committed spectator, ran onto the field during the fourth quarter of the school's game against West Virginia University. Smith took off his pants and shoes and might have taken off more items of clothing, but he was unceremoniously tackled by several men in cowboy hats. Police don't believe "alcohol was a factor," according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

Texas Tech went on to pulverize WVU, winning the game 49-14.

Smith's attempt appears to be only the second streaking incident of the season involving a Texas college football team. An Ole Miss fan got naked during a game against the University of Texas last month.

Streaking has long been a part of college life. In 1804, eight Washington and Lee students got in trouble for "stripp[ing] naked in the public street in a clear moonlight night between the hours of 8 & 9," according to a history posted on the school's website. Streaking has since become so ingrained in college culture that there are now seven schools at which streaking is an organized sport. Texas Tech is not one of them.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/16/texas-tech-streaker-brent-smith_n_1971222.html

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Suicide attempts by poisoning found to be less likely around major holidays

ScienceDaily (Oct. 15, 2012) ? A joint study by University of Cincinnati (UC) Department of Emergency Medicine and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center researchers has found that, in contrast to popular opinion, major holidays are associated with a lower number of suicide attempts by poisoning.

The study found that holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving may actually be protective against suicide attempts, possibly due to the increased family or social support structures present around those times. In contrast, New Years Day had significantly higher numbers of suicide attempts by overdose.

"There are multiple studies out showing that there's a worsening suicide epidemic internationally, and numbers for suicide attempts are rising as well, says co-author and third-year emergency medicine resident Gillian Beauchamp, MD. "Researchers have observed a seasonality and daily variations in completed suicides, and because of that, it's been suggested that environmental factors and their effect on mood may play a role."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide rates among adults 25 to 64 years old have risen every year since 1999, with the fastest increase in people between 45 to 64 years old.

Beauchamp says the team conducted the study to determine if particular days of the week, months or holidays were associated with increased number of suicide attempts by poisoning. They analyzed calls recorded in the National Poison Database System made between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2010, that were coded as "suspected suicide." While overdoses themselves may be accidental or intentional, the study included only patients who provided a history concerning for intentional overdose.

There were a total of 1.06 million attempts during the time period, with each year leading to a significant increase in the number of exposures. There were 198,806 attempts in 2006 and 219,849 in 2010. Beauchamp says overdoses and attempts lead to high morbidity in patients and a high cost to society.

The study compared exposures occurring on various holidays to three control dates. Researchers also included a three- to seven-day window around each study dates to capture related attempts.

They found that, with the exception of New Year's Day, holidays had relatively little effect on suicide attempts. In contrast, more periods around holidays had a lower number of recorded attempts.

Holidays found to be protective against attempts were Thanksgiving, Christmas and the Fourth of July. Other holidays measured, but found to be neutral, were Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Memorial Day.

"This is possibly reflective of family or other social support systems which may be more available during holidays," says Beauchamp. "The one exception was New Year's Day, when there was a spike in attempts."

Additionally, the beginning of the week, and the beginning of spring, were associated with higher number of suicide attempts, which Beauchamp says has been similarly seen in studies on completed suicides.

Beauchamp says studying the temporal nature of suicide attempts could lead to a better understanding of when prevention techniques could be best utilized in terms of either counseling patients or staffing crisis centers.

"By showing times of the year when counseling services or drug and poison centers would see more demand," she says, "we can help hospitals who receive these patients be better prepared for spikes in suicide attempts."

As these are preliminary findings, Beauchamp cautioned that further research is needed to definitively mark the correlation between holidays and reduced attempts.

Co-authors include Mona Ho, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and lead author Shan Yin, MD, MPH, UC assistant professor of clinical pediatrics and medical director at Cincinnati Children's Drug and Poison Information Center. Beachamp, Ho and Yin presented their work at the North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology held Oct. 4-5 in Las Vegas.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/living_well/~3/UQHuXgX0SCs/121015122425.htm

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Journey's Neal Schon, Michaele Salahi engaged

Jason Merritt / Getty Images file

Neal Schon and Michaele Salahi.

By Alexis L. Loinaz, E! Online

Neal Schon and Michaele Salahi are ready to journey down the aisle. The Journey guitarist popped the question to his "Real Housewife" ladylove over the weekend. And in true rock-star fashion, he did it in grand style.

Per The Washington Post, Schon, 58, proposed to Salahi, 47, onstage during a concert in Baltimore Sunday night.

Michaele Salahi, Neal Schon settle beef with her "thrilled" ex-husband

The rocker and his band were performing at a fundraiser for Johns Hopkins Hospital's Kimmel Cancer Center when, halfway through the show, he reportedly brought Salahi onstage, dropped to one knee and popped the question.

Cue the "Here Comes the Bride" guitar riff!

After the erstwhile "Real Housewives of D.C." star said yes, the crowd supposedly erupted into cheers and the band then began playing its fitting romantic ballad, "Faithfully." (Her rep later confirmed the engagement on Twitter.)

Paul Nassif, Adrienne Maloof custody battle: Judge grants Nassif monitored visits with kids

The news comes just two months after the duo reached an out-of-court settlement with her estranged ex-husband, Tareq Salahi, who had sued them for a whopping $50 million over alleged lost wages from reality-TV appearances.

That's all bygones, now, as Schon later said, "I wish Michaele the best."

We do, too -- congrats to the happily engaged couple!

Check out pics of exes whose divorce settlements nearly broke the bank

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Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2012/10/15/14450561-neal-schon-of-journey-and-michaele-salahi-get-engaged-onstage?lite

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Nikon D600 24.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) by Nikon (57) Date first available at Amazon.com: September 11, 2012 Buy new: $2,099.95 $2,096.95 4 used & new from $1,301.26 (Visit the Hot New Releases in Digital Cameras list for authoritative information on this product?s current rank.)

Shop For: #6: Nikon D600 24.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

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Sweet Country Life: Education, Family & Faith...

?Aw, So here we go.

I have been dragging my feet on these last books.

Why?

Because education decisions, parenting philosophies, and faith talk...tend to make people a little fussy.

?As you all already know.

But, I'll say it again.

These are our opinions alone.

How you feel about each of these subjects has only to do with you and yours.

Sound good?

Let's start with education.

As most, if not all of you know.

We have chosen to educate our children at home.

This is a growing trend for sure.

But, still? relatively small in the big picture of education.

I could tell you a hundred reasons for why I am not qualified to do this.

But a million more, on why it's the right and best path for us...

So this first set of books are all ones that encourage me and my husband to carry on in this endeavor.

I love this book!

As a homeschooling mama.

Sally is so good at feeding that part of me that wonders if I am really making a difference in the lives of these children?

Will they be better for it?

Will I be enough...

Do I have what it takes?

And so on.

And just in case you are NOT a homeschool mother.

I know ladies who have read this.

Who still appreciated the message and did NOT homeschool.

Although, I must admit.

Sally is very clear about your role...your Mission as a mother.

And it can be very hard to hear for some.

I love this book!

While not specifically about education.

It does provide that backdrop for educating your children through the seasons with a sense of peaceful well being, enjoying the abundance of nature. Slowing your schedule way down.

Crafting, creating, family time.

And overall just finding your own family rhythm.

It has a chapter on each month.

And I must confess...

I have to make myself not read ahead.

I wait and savor the beautiful writing by Amanda and her husband each month.

The photos are gorgeous.

And the "things to do" each month are so up my alley!

Such a simple pleasure and treasure.

Since we are raising some boys out here in the country.

My job, as I see it...

Is not just about reading, writing and arithmetic.

It's about preparing these boys to be Godly men.

Which is scary, no?

This book does not mince words on our responsibilities as the parents of boys.

And, I need all of the help I can get on what they must be.

This is a tough book.

Really.

But if you have a goal, a Godly inspired goal for your boys.

I would get this and read it.

Another book by Voddie.

And...

All I can say here is this.

That the daddy and I are in the process of equipping ourselves to be better leaders of our children and growing their faith.

We need all of the help we can get.

And just like home education.

Discipleship starts at home.

This is a great book!

Truly.

If you want to grow in your family driven faith this is a must read.

And, I put it into the education category for a couple of reasons.

My personal growth and learning.

And because of the nuggets that I glean form books like this to use in my teachable moments with my children.

Because...Let's face it.

Being together 24/7 provides a million and one reasons and times for me to have teachable moments!

I had heard about this book a lot.

And recently checked it out from the library.

And while the author was basically preaching to the choir...

At least in my case.

I look around me and see so many families that could benefit from this book.

Our busy lifestyle and go, go, go.

Not to mention the competitiveness and too much stuff...

Are all "waging an undeclared war on childhood."

So...

If you need help recognizing the signs of strain on you AND your children.

If you need help, a reason, and a really good excuse to quiet things down.

Or, if you just want a little affirmation in the fact that you already are a slow and steady parent.

This is a great and fast read.

Full of wisdom.

And ideas for simplifying your life.

Spot on in my humble opinion...

And another book not based on education as much as lifestyle.

And for those of you who home educate or plan to in the future...

You all already know, or will soon find out.

Home education and lifestyle are one in the same.

OK, Back to education.

More specifically.

This was hard for me to see as a new home teaching mama.

But, eventually. You will find that certain methods fit you better than others.

You will start to see that you gravitate towards a certain kind of books, curricula, style, method...

And for me, it's a mostly Charlotte Mason approach.

"The Gentle Art of Learning"

This book has been so good for many reasons.

But, what I love most is how it ties the atmosphere of home, in with nature studies, strong literature based learning, art, history, poetry, and so on with the discipline of habits. All together!

And let me just say this.

I need good discipline of habits!

And so do my children.

Beautifully written and a great reference to use again and again.

I just recently started reading this book.

But, oh so good!

This is another great reference book with the Charlotte Mason philosophy woven through out.

Sally and Clay do an excellent job of guiding you in these areas:

* Make your home and family the heart of your children's education
* Train your children to become creative, self-directed learners
* Enrich your family's life and education with living books
* Identify and work with each child's learning style
* Help your children love to learn as naturally as they love to play
* Gain confidence to teach using practical, common-sense methods?

All with God at the center.

Love this.

And find it to be very encouraging and inspiring!

This is not, of course, all of my favorite books on parenting and education...

And, sweet living in general.

But, these are my favorites right now.

And... are definitely what are shaping our days, our choices, and our time and teaching the most.

Please feel free to leave any books that you like, in the comments, so that other readers may glean a few titles from you.? Or, even if you didn't like one of these books. feel free to say why...

I'll finish up this book series in my next post.

It will be about faith and what is moving us on our current path.

Then, as you know.

I have already announced that I will be closing up the Sweet Country Life, soon.

And if you missed it, here is the post regarding that.

I posted these books after a request from a reader, so if there is anything else you are wondering about...now is the time to ask.

And, if any of you have a desire or a need to contact me.

Now is the time to do so.

As always.

These are my humble opinions.

And I take what I love from the books, let go of what I don't.

And move on.

Which you should do, too.

Praying you have found some help, inspiration or encouragement here.

And also that you would have a beautiful weekend.

XO

Source: http://thissweetcountrylife.blogspot.com/2012/10/education-family-faith.html

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USDA Blog ? Secretary's Column: Expanding Rural Broadband ...

As the drought continues, USDA and other Federal agencies are doing all we can to help farmers, ranchers and communities. Unfortunately, USDA?s tools are limited today. Due to inaction by Congress, many programs authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill expired on October 1. Other aspects of the law will continue to expire in the coming months.

This brings tremendous uncertainty for rural families ? particularly livestock producers who have lost access to disaster programs, and dairy producers who no longer have access to dairy support programs.

As we encourage Congress to pass a multi-year Food, Farm and Jobs Bill as soon as possible, USDA continues our work to strengthen the rural economy.? This includes continuing our record efforts to expand access to broadband internet in rural areas.

Since 2009, USDA has invested in critical infrastructure to deliver faster internet to nearly 7 million rural Americans ? expanding opportunity and improving quality of life for rural residents.? This includes bringing service to dozens of isolated, limited-income communities through USDA?s ?Community Connect? initiative.

Our efforts have also extended broadband internet to more than 360,000 rural businesses. The fact is, today?s small businesses are competing in a fast-moving global economy and a great deal of business is conducted online. If a rural community or small town lacks access to modern, high-speed internet, rural businesses are faced with a significant disadvantage. USDA?s record investments in broadband infrastructure are ensuring that these businesses can compete, grow, and create more jobs.

USDA has complemented these efforts by providing more than 5,700 loans and grants for distance learning and telemedicine projects. Today, distance learning initiatives are helping deliver online education in rural areas, expanding opportunity for our young people. And for rural Americans who don?t have a doctor nearby or who need specialized advice, telemedicine projects are connecting physicians in our cities with patients in our small towns.

Ultimately, broadband internet is a critical factor in expanding opportunity and growing the rural economy. ?Folks who call rural America home should be able to enjoy the same opportunity as Americans in our cities. Faster internet isn?t just more convenient ? it opens new doors for businesses, grows opportunity and improves quality of life. I?m proud of our work ? and even in a time of uncertainty, we will continue doing all we can to strengthen rural communities.

For an audio version of this column, please click here.

Source: http://blogs.usda.gov/2012/10/12/secretarys-column-expanding-rural-broadband-opportunities/

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Romney: Biden contradicted sworn Libya testimony

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney walks with Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, as he arrives in Richmond, Va., Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney walks with Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, as he arrives in Richmond, Va., Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) ? Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is accusing Vice President Joe Biden of contradicting sworn testimony by State Department officials regarding the terrorist attack that killed four Americans in Libya on the Sept. 11 anniversary.

In a campaign debate Thursday night, Biden said "we weren't told" about requests for additional security at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. A State Department official told Congress this week that requests for extra protection there had been denied.

Romney says the public has a right to know exactly what happened before the attacks. He adds that questions about it shouldn't be brushed aside.

The White House says Biden was speaking just for the White House, for himself and the president.

Romney commented during a campaign event Friday in Richmond, Va.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-10-12-Romney/id-905353b8eccd4098baa026338d0ff4de

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Joe Biden's smiling: Was there a method to his madness?

Could Vice President Joe Biden?s incessant smiling (or smirking, depending on your point of view) during the debate have been deliberate?

By asking this, we don?t just mean that Mr. Biden had a strategy to be aggressive and try to disqualify his much younger opponent by refusing to appear to take him seriously. That's obvious enough.

No, we?re wondering if something even more calculated could have been going on.

RECOMMENDED: Presidential debate: 7 defining moments in history (+ video)

Here?s our thinking: There was much to criticize about President Obama?s performance in last week?s debate ? but the biggest failing, in the eyes of many of his supporters, was his lack of animation and firepower. He just seemed disengaged, so flat and feeble that viewers on both sides of the aisle agreed he?d essentially ceded the stage.

Biden?s challenge Thursday night was not only to reenergize dispirited liberals ? but, maybe even more important, to set the stage for Mr. Obama?s next debate, which comes in just four days.

This time, Obama clearly will need to raise his energy level and give a more impassioned performance than the one he turned in last week. But he can?t appear too heated, too dramatically different ? or the effort could seem artificial and even desperate.

This is the trap that Al Gore fell into back in 2000. Widely criticized for his demeanor in his first presidential debate ? particularly those now-infamous sighs ? he made an obvious effort to change his approach in the next round. The result? He was panned again, this time for what seemed like a too-transparent attempt to be more likable.

So the challenge for Obama will be to carefully calibrate his next performance, correcting his previous mistakes without making it seem like he?s overcompensating.

And that?s where Biden?s incessant, aggressive smiling comes in. By taking his own animation level right through the roof, Biden may have given Obama a little more room to emote on Tuesday, without seeming like he?s overdoing it.

Because everyone just saw what overdoing it looks like ? thanks to Biden.

As MSNBC?s First Read put it Friday morning: ?Biden ? by turning his volume to 11 last night ? takes some ? pressure off the president. If you've followed Obama over the past six years, you know it's not his style to be overly aggressive. Well, Biden last night both gave Obama a road map for how to attack Romney-Ryan (on abortion, tax fairness, foreign policy), and he gave him room to do it in the way he feels most comfortable.?

The really interesting question is whether Biden possibly did this on purpose. True, putting in an over-the-top performance may not ultimately help him in his own presidential ambitions. But if Obama loses the election, Biden?s presidential hopes go up in smoke, anyway.

In other words, sometimes you have to take one for the team. And while it may ultimately be too much of a stretch, it doesn't seem entirely impossible, either, that on Thursday night, Biden may have done just that.

RECOMMENDED: Presidential debate: 7 defining moments in history (+ video)

Related stories

Read this story at csmonitor.com

Become a part of the Monitor community

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/joe-bidens-smiling-method-madness-190513313.html

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Video: Eli poised for NFC title game repeat?

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/21134540/vp/49366266#49366266

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Justin Bieber's Ryan Beatty Cover Was 'An Honor'

YouTube sensation tours New York City with MTV News as he talks about JBiebs, cover songs and his love for Los Angeles.
By Christina Garibaldi

Ryan Beatty
Photo: MTV News

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1695269/ryan-beatty-justin-bieber-cover-song.jhtml

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Colbert interviews Morrissey? One of them has a sense of humor ...

Stephen Colbert discusses the Queen, the royal wedding, vegetarianism, and more with the infamously depressing Morrissey. Morrissey hilariously lives up to his humorless reputation?

* * * * *

Like 22 Words on Facebook and you'll never run out of crazy, funny, and interesting links!

Source: http://twentytwowords.com/2012/10/10/colbert-interviews-morrissey-one-of-them-has-a-sense-of-humor/

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U.S. sets steep final duties on Chinese solar panels

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday slapped steep final duties on billions of dollars of solar energy products from China, but turned down a request from lawmakers and U.S. manufacturers to expand the scope of its order.

China's government and its solar manufacturers criticized the decision, adding more heat to the U.S.-China trade relationship following a congressional panel report on Monday urging American companies not to do business with two Chinese telecommunications companies because of security concerns.

"The United States is provoking trade friction in the new energy sector, and sending a negative signal to the world that stirs global trade protectionism and obstructs the sector's development," said China's Commerce Ministry spokesman Shen Danyang.

Shen called on Washington to "correct its mistaken ways" and warned that the duties would harm U.S. exporters and customers.

The U.S. Commerce Department said Chinese companies were "dumping" solar cells and panels in the United States at prices 18.32 percent to 249.96 percent below fair value, although some individual companies received lower anti-dumping duty rates than in a preliminary decision earlier this year.

The department also set additional countervailing duties ranging from 14.78 to 15.97 percent to combat Chinese government subsidies, significantly higher than preliminary levels.

The United States imported about $3.1 billion worth of solar cells and panels from China in 2011, although that figure contains some products not covered by the investigation.

In a related decision that disappointed U.S. producers and cheered U.S. companies that install solar panels, the department turned down pleas to expand the scope of its order to include Chinese panels (or modules) made with non-Chinese solar cells.

Timothy Brightbill, outside attorney for SolarWorld Industries Americas, the driving force behind the U.S. case, said the company would continue to aggressively pursue that issue in the hopes of a more favorable ruling.

"In our view, all Chinese cells and all Chinese modules are dumped and subsidized," Brightbill said

SolarWorld is worried the department's current stance on the issue will encourage Chinese solar panel producers to move cell production to nearby countries to avoid U.S. duties, he said.

But Jigar Shah, president of the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy, which includes Chinese and U.S. companies that oppose SolarWorld's case, said including panels with non-Chinese cells in the order would have "created a lot more chaos."

The Commerce Department's decision not to expand the scope is a "silver lining" to an otherwise disappointing decision on duties, Shah said.

MASSIVE OVERSUPPLY

The United States also has slapped preliminary duties on wind turbine towers from China and is expected to launch a new probe next week into charges that imports of Chinese hardwood plywood are unfairly priced and subsidized.

"We have the most squabbles with our biggest trading partners," said Scott Miller, a trade policy specialist with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explaining the steady stream of U.S.-China trade spats.

In the solar sector, producers in the United States and Europe complain China's rapid expansion of solar panel manufacturing has created massive oversupply, erasing profits and sending company share prices into a tailspin.

SolarWorld's German parent has also been behind a charge in Europe for duties on Chinese solar panel imports.

China has already struck back by launching an investigation into imports of solar-grade polysilicon from both the United States and South Korea.

Chinese manufacturer Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd on Wednesday was hit with a final anti-dumping duty of 31.73 percent and a countervailing duty of 14.78 percent.

However, combined duty rates for Suntech and other companies will be reduced by about 10.54 percentage points to avoid "double-counting" of Chinese export subsidies in the anti-dumping and countervailing duty rates.

Trina Solar Ltd received a final 18.32 percent anti-dumping duty and a 15.97 percent countervailing duty. Well over a hundred companies were hit with a 25.96 percent anti-dumping duty and a 15.24 percent countervailing duty.

Trina said in a statement that it was waiting for a decision from the U.S. International Trade Commission, a separate U.S. government agency, which must give its approval for the duties to take force, before deciding whether to appeal.

The ITC vote is expected in early November. Importers have been, however, required to post bonds or cash deposits based on the preliminary rates.

The Commerce Department also set a China-wide anti-dumping rate of 249.96 percent for other Chinese producers and exporters.

The Obama administration has heavily backed solar and other renewable energy since taking office, pledging about $16 billion for 26 projects through its clean energy loan program.

Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney has criticized the support, saying the federal government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers.

(Additional reporting by Nichola Groom in Los Angeles and Michael Martina in Beijing; Editing by Bob Burgdorfer, Phil Berlowitz and Edwina Gibbs)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-sets-steep-final-duties-chinese-solar-panels-054953201--finance.html

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Crucial matchups in Giants-Eagles

Philly will try to keep Vick upright, but N.Y. must contain McCoy, among others

ANALYSIS

By Greg Bedard

NBCSports.com contributor

updated 6:56 p.m. ET Sept. 29, 2012

Greg Bedard

As NFC East rivals, the Giants and Eagles are certainly very familiar with each other.

But this Eagles team is much different than the version the Giants saw last season in Week 3 (Giants won 29-16) and Week 11 (Eagles won 17-10).

In the first meeting last season, the Eagles? defense under new coordinator Juan Castillo was very much in flux. The struggles on that side contributed to Philadelphia starting the season 1-4 and then 4-8. In the second meeting, Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was injured and Vince Young led Philadelphia to victory.

So while the teams know each other well, the Giants have more to adjust to this time around. The Eagles know what they?re getting from the Giants. The personnel may have changed a little bit, but with Kevin Gilbride and Perry Fewell directing the offense and defense, respectively, Philadelphia can gameplan with a little more certainty.

But, as always, the matchups will tell the tale in the Sunday Night Football game. After going over the tape, here are the five most crucial aspects of the matchups between the Eagles and Giants:

Limiting Victor Cruz
No one knew who Giants receiver Victor Cruz was in the first two weeks of the 2011 season when he had two catches for 17 yards. Cruz set the stage for his breakout season in Week 3 against the Eagles when he had three catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns, including an electrifying 74-yard score. In the Week 11 matchup, Cruz was even better with six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown.

The Eagles had problems against Cruz because the Giants like to move him around a lot. That was also a problem for Philadelphia last week against the Cardinals when Larry Fitzgerald had nine catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. Cruz and Fitzgerald are different players physically, but their teams use them in similar fashion. The Eagles are simply going to have to figure out a better way to do with those types of players.

When Cruz is lined up on the left side, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha can handle him. It?s elsewhere that is the problem. The best option would likely be to matchup Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who is physical and athletic, against Cruz. Rookie nickel back Brandon Boykin would seem to be overmatched against Cruz. You can bet Gilbride will be designing ways to get Boykin into coverage against Cruz, but the Eagles will need to have answer for it. Expect Philadelphia to use some sort of bracket coverage against Cruz with help from linebackers or a safety.

Slowing the Eagles' pass rush
Philadelphia is really starting to click with four-man rush, which stars Jason Babin (2.5 sacks) at left end, and Trent Cole (1.5 sacks) on the right side. The Eagles use a heavy line rotation, so backups Darryl Tapp and Brandon Graham will also get their snaps. The Giants have to feel good that left tackle Williams Beatty has returned to the lineup and played well. That has allowed Sean Locklear to go back to the right side, where his skills fit better. The Giants use a lot of sets that involved multiple tight ends and running backs, so they will be asked to help on the edges against the ends.

Where the Eagles might have an edge is up the middle. Starting defensive tackles Derek Landri and Cullen Jenkins are very disruptive and are more physical than the interior Giants line of left guard Kevin Boothe, center David Baas and right guard Chris Snee. Fletcher Cox and Cedric Thornton are the rotation guys at tackle for the Eagles, who run a nine-man line rotation to keep players fresh.

Giants' secondary on the spot
Giants safety Antrel Rolle (knee laceration) isn?t a sure thing to play, but it?s likely he?s out there. But with right cornerbacks Jayron Hosley and Michael Coe dealing with hamstring injuries, that means third-stringer Prince Amukamara will be starting for the Giants. He has yet to live up to his 2011 first-round draft status, so expect the Eagles to go after him. Amukamara played well in the Thursday night blowout victory over the Panthers, but the Eagles are more dangerous with receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.

Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul vs. Eagles LT Demetress Bell
Everyone knows how lethal the Giants? pass rush is, and that should certainly continue against an Eagles line that allows a ton of pressure. Vick brings on some of the issues himself with indecisiveness and holding onto to the ball too long, but the Eagles will need to play well up front to win.

Bell has the toughest job against exquisite end Jason Pierre-Paul, who has 1.5 sacks and about a dozen other quarterback pressure so far this season. This is a matchup where not having starting left tackle Jason Peters (ruptured Achilles) really hurts. The Eagles are going to have to help Bell against Pierre-Paul, or Vick is going to running the entire game.

Eagles RB LeSean McCoy vs. Giants DE Osi Umenyiora
These two have had a well-publicized battle of verbal and Twitter shots for some time, so there?s a little extra fuel on the fire. The latest installment of this feud came last week when McCoy called Umenyiora ?a ballerina in a Giants uniform? during an ESPN interview. Umenyiora has called McCoy ?Lady Gaga? in the past, and even wished him a happy Mother?s Day.

Most of it is in good fun among rivals, but the Giants know they have to be serious about stopping McCoy, last season?s All-Pro running back, if they want to win. He has rushed for at least 100 yards in three of his six career games against the Giants. To limit a shifty, cut-back runner like McCoy, the Giants are going to have to be sound in their gaps and run fits, and not just on the defensive line. Linebackers Mathias Kiwanuka (strong side), Chase Blackburn (middle) and Michael Boley (weak) will need to be disciplined.

Complicating things are the motions with Jackson, and the play-action bootlegs the Eagles like to use with Vick. If the linebackers are fooled by any of the play fakes, that will leave McCoy amble room to gash the Giants on the backside.?

Greg Bedard is a contributor to NBCSports.com and the NFL writer for the Boston Globe. Follow him on Twitter @GregABedard.

? 2012 NBC Sports.com? Reprints

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Crucial matchups in Giants-Eagles

??Bedard: As always, the matchups will tell the tale in the Sunday Night Football game. After going over the tape, here are the five most crucial aspects of the matchups between the Eagles and Giants:

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/49225927/ns/sports-nfl/

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Action Sizzles at 40th Annual Poway Rodeo, With Pros From 9 ...

A pleasant breeze kept a modest crowd comfortable for Saturday afternoon?s lineup at the 40th annual Poway Rodeo. The nighttime finale was expected to be a sellout. Under a brilliant sun, ropers, riders and steer wrestlers from at least nine states and two countries (including Michael Maher of Warwick, Queensland, Australia) entertained kids in cowboy hats and their parents and grandparents. Rodeo clown J.J. Harrison kept the cowboys safe and the crowd amused. But the critters had something to say, including one calf who cleverly slowed out of the gate?allowing a roping pair to shoot past on their mounts.?

Source: http://poway.patch.com/articles/action-sizzles-at-40th-annual-poway-rodeo-with-pros-from-9-states

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