chalet tribalism: June 2013

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Win yourselves an iPad, courtesy of Crackberry.com?!

It's been a rough end to the week for our BlackBerry loving friends over at CrackBerry. The PlayBook, the one and only tablet from BlackBerry, long promised an update to BlackBerry 10, has basically been killed. A sad day for those who clung to their PlayBook waiting, hoping, but CrackBerry is determined to turn the mood around by giving away any tablet that isn't a PlayBook. That's right; you could win an iPad on CrackBerry!

Head on over there for the full rundown and to enter. There's no doubts a few ex-BlackBerry users and CrackBerry frequenters amongst the iMore community, so head on over and help them out and show a little love! The contest runs through July 1, with winners announced the following day. Good luck!

Enter CrackBerry's PlayBook Black Friday contest

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/Gy5IdEty2MU/story01.htm

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Reality Star Kim Zolciak Smoking While Pregnant: Disgusting! (VIDEO)

Kim Zolciak caught smoking cigarette Reality star Kim Zolciak just announced on Tuesday that she is pregnant with her fifth child. But the 35-year-old is being awfully selfish still smoking while pregnant, knowing the health risks to the unborn baby. Pretty sickening! Kim Zolciak was spotted puffing on a cigarette in a parking lot in Atlanta on Thursday, with her ...

Reality Star Kim Zolciak Smoking While Pregnant: Disgusting! (VIDEO) Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/06/reality-star-kim-zolciak-smoking-while-pregnant-disgusting-video/

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Gillmor Gang Live 06.28.13 (TCTV)

Gillmor Gang - John Borthwick, Kevin Marks, Robert Scoble, Keith Teare, and Steve Gillmor. Recording live today at 1pm Pacific.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Bz-3usazY-Q/

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Friday, June 28, 2013

Why many 2016 GOP hopefuls are mum on Supreme Court gay marriage moves

Some possible Republican presidential candidates ? Rick Santorum and Marco Rubio ? chided the Supreme Court for its actions Wednesday on gay marriage cases. But many others remained quiet. Why is that?

By Jennifer Skalka Tulumello,?Correspondent / June 26, 2013

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, seen earlier this month, and other possible GOP presidential contenders have been silent thus far on the Supreme Court's DOMA ruling.

Scott Eisen/AP

Enlarge

Some high-profile Republicans have been drawn to the cause of marriage equality, perhaps most notably attorney Ted Olson, who represented the plaintiffs in the Proposition 8 case in California; US Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, whose son is gay; and former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, who recently announced after years in politics that he is gay.

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How Hackers Beat The NSA In The '90s And How They Can Do It Again

FILE PHOTO NSA Compiles Massive Database Of Private Phone Calls

While the world parses the ramifications of the National Security Agency's massive snooping operation, it's important to remember an earlier government attempt at data collection and, more important, how a group of hackers and activists banded together to stop it.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/SYe3YiXcLmc/

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Firefox gets a new logo, rolls out desktop and Android Beta updates

Firefox is an ever evolving beast, and that includes both its friendly orange fox logo, and its Beta channel browser. Today Mozilla unveiled the fourth Firefox logo, a (slightly) less textured and glossy icon for its favored web browser. Meanwhile, the latest update for for Firefox Beta brings access to the company's Social API and, consequently, Share buttons to the platform -- so Facebook fanatics can have one-click sharing of images, articles, videos and links from the Firefox toolbar. The new Beta is also getting a Mixed Content Blocker that prevents HTTP (read: nonsecure) content from loading on HTTPS websites. Plus, there's a new Network Monitor feature to let devs see how quickly individual page components load and optimizations for OS X 10.7 that enable its scrollbar style and and the scroll bounce behavior Apple fans love.

Oh, and for you mobile fans, the Android Beta was updated today, too. Now, it's got an auto-hide Awesome Bar, a URL autocomplete function and an updated RSS feed reader that allows you to add feeds to with a long press on the aforementioned Awesome Bar. Pretty awesome, gents, now let's get these Beta features into a full release, and it'll be really awesome.

Filed under: Internet, Software

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Source: Mozilla Future Releases blog (1), (2), Mozilla about:pixels blog

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/27/firefox-gets-a-new-logo-rolls-out-desktop-and-android-beta-upda/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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10 Things to See: A week of top AP photos

South Korean Air Force aerial demonstration team, the Black Eagles, performs during a ceremony for a re-enactment of the battle of Chuncheon in Chuncheon, north of Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, June 22, 2013. South Korean Defense Ministry hosted the re-enactment of one of major battles fought in the 1950-53 Korean War as part of commemoration events for the 63rd anniversary of the Korean War. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

An Indian Sadhu or Hindu holy man stands to bless worshippers during Ambubasi festival at Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Saturday, June 22, 2013. Hundreds of Hindu devotees come to attend the three day Ambubasi festival which started Saturday. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A cotton candy vendor, center, walks in from of the moon during the Los Angeles Angels' baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, June 22, 2013, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

A view of damaged houses is seen following monsoon rains in Shrinagar, India, Tuesday, June 25, 2013. Authorities prepared Tuesday to cremate the bodies of hundreds of people who perished in monsoon flooding in northern India, as soldiers attempted to rescue tourists and pilgrims who remained stranded in a remote town. (AP Photo)

A print of Nelson Mandela and get-well messages hanged outside of the Mediclinic Heart Hospital where former South African President Nelson Mandela is being treated in Pretoria, South Africa Monday, June 24, 2013. Mandela's health has deteriorated and he is now in critical condition, the South African government said. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Here's your look at highlights from the weekly AP photo report, a gallery featuring a mix of front-page photography, the odd image you might have missed and lasting moments our editors think you should see.

This week's collection includes an aerial demonstration team in South Korea, cotton candy in front of the supermoon in California, a humanoid communication robot in Tokyo, a blocked shot at a Stanley Cup hockey game and a holy man in India.

___

This gallery contains photos published May June 20-27, 2013.

Follow AP photographers on Twitter: http://apne.ws/XZy6ny

___

See other recent AP photo galleries:

AP PHOTOS: Blackhawks win second Cup in 4 years: http://apne.ws/14ZI0Ze

AP PHOTOS: Hugs, tears as school closes in Chicago: http://apne.ws/16BOnBt

AP PHOTOS: Largest and brightest full moon of year: http://apne.ws/122wVRW

AP PHOTOS: Brazil protesters take to streets again: http://apne.ws/17FbWO8

AP PHOTOS: Slave descendants' community dwindling: http://apne.ws/17Fc1l4

AP PHOTOS: From Egypt's street, a new techno sound: http://apne.ws/17kJCgq

Last week's 10 Things To See: http://apne.ws/11PSMgK

___

Follow AP Images on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Images

Visit AP Images online: http://www.apimages.com/

___

This gallery was curated by news producer Caleb Jones in New York. Follow him on Twitter (http://apne.ws/11ijrmc ) and Instagram (http://apne.ws/11KfolD ).

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-06-27-10%20Things%20To%20See/id-ae1e1c6c991c4a63890bc4189de00883

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Devo drummer Alan Myers dies of cancer

Music

Eric R. Danton Rolling Stone

21 hours ago

Michael Ochs Archives

Alan Myers of the band Devo performs onstage in Los Angeles around 1979.

Alan Myers, Devo's drummer during their period of greatest success, died Monday of brain cancer. He was 58. Myers' death was first reported on Facebook by his friend Ralph Carney, a jazz musician who knew Myers in Devo's hometown of Akron, Ohio, (and the uncle of Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney).

Myers became Devo's third drummer when he joined the band in 1976. Known for his precision on the kit, his playing featured on Devo's first seven albums, including 1978's "Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!" and 1980's "Freedom of Choice," which included the single "Whip It." He left the band in 1986 over a lack of creative fulfillment as the group increasingly used electronic drums, according to the 2003 book "We Are Devo!"

100 Best Debuts of All Time: Devo, 'Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!

After leaving Devo, Myers worked as an electrical contractor in Los Angeles, and since 2005 had played improvisational music with his wife, Christine Myers, in the group Skyline Electric. He had also performed with his daughter, Laena Geronimo, in the experimental ensemble Swahili Blonde.

Myers' former bandmate Gerald Casale praised the drummer on Twitter as news of his death spread. The Devo founder called Myers "the most incredible drummer I had the privilege to play with for 10 years. Losing him was like losing an arm."

In subsequent tweets, Casale wrote, "I begged him not to quit Devo. He could not tolerate being replaced by the Fairlight and autocratic machine music. I agreed ... Alan, you were the best -- a human metronome and then some."

Drummer Josh Freese, who joined Devo for their 2010 reunion, has cited Myers as one of his major influences. "An underrated/brilliant drummer," Freese tweeted. "Such an honor playing his parts w/Devo. Godspeed Human Metronome."

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/devo-drummer-alan-myers-dies-cancer-6C10454468

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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Possible Food Poisoning Strikes Passengers

Jun 26, 2013 8:31pm

Fifteen people took ill in a possible case of food poisoning during a trans-Atlantic flight Wednesday, officials told ABC News.

Inspectors with the local health department and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention met Delta Flight 72 as it arrived at Kennedy International Airport in New York around 5 p.m., airport officials said. The flight originated in Istanbul, Turkey.

?They had stomach cramps and were vomiting,? said one source.

The stricken passengers were interviewed and declined offers to be transported to a hospital for further treatment.

In a statement to ABC News, the airline said: ?After a small number of customers on flight 73 from Istanbul reported feeling ill prior to landing at JFK, Delta called for medical personnel to meet the flight. Delta employees are working closely with these customers to ensure they are well cared for. Delta will look into what may have caused these reports.?

SHOWS: World News

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/06/26/possible-food-poisoning-strikes-passengers-on-trans-atlantic-flight/

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New study on popular prostate cancer protein provides insight into disease progression

June 25, 2013 ? Researchers at the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute have uncovered for the first time the vital role a popular protein plays in the stroma, the cell-lined area outside of a prostate tumor.

Researchers have long understood the function of the protein, Caveolin-1 (Cav-1), in prostate cancer, including its role in treatment resistance and disease aggressiveness. However, prior to this study, little was known about the role of Cav-1 within the stroma.

The study, published in the Journal of Pathology, found that a decreased level of the Cav-1 protein in the stroma indicated tumor progression -- a function opposite to the known role of Cav-1 within a tumor. Inside the tumor, an increased level of this protein signifies tumor progression. These human tumor findings suggest that patients whose prostate tumor is surrounded by a stroma with decreased levels of the Cav-1 protein may have an overall worse prognosis and a higher chance of disease relapse.

"How a prostate tumor communicates with its microenvironment, or stroma, is a vital process we need to understand to assess the aggressiveness of a patient's disease and potential response to treatment," said Dolores Di Vizio, MD, PhD, associate professor in the Urologic Oncology Research Program and senior investigator of the study. "This research suggests that the cells surrounding a prostate tumor are equally as important as the tumor itself in helping understand the complexity of a man's disease. This early-stage research may provide a new, future marker that may ultimately aid diagnosis and treatment, and personalize prostate cancer therapy."

In addition to understanding the role of Cav-1 in the tumor microenvironment, researchers discovered that the loss of Cav-1 causes an increase of cholesterol in the stroma. Previous research findings suggest that cholesterol levels are related to aggressive prostate cancer, but cholesterol's role had never been evaluated within the stroma.

"Cholesterol has been shown to be a driver of prostate cancer progression," said Di Vizio. "For the first time in prostate cancer research, we found that when levels of Cav-1 decrease in the stroma, both cholesterol and androgens increase. This finding may partly explain a resistance to traditional treatments."

Though the findings are preliminary, the Cedars-Sinai researchers Di Vizio, Michael Freeman, PhD, vice chair of research in the Department of Surgery and professor/director of the Cancer Biology Program at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, and post-doctoral fellows Matteo Morello, PhD, and Sungyong You, PhD, will continue evaluating the role of the Caveolin-1 protein in the stroma and its potential end benefit in patients.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/VE9UPKMFmBY/130625092006.htm

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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

IG: IRS credit cards used for wine, pornography

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Poor oversight by the Internal Revenue Service allowed workers to use agency credit cards to buy wine for an expensive luncheon, dorky swag for managers' meetings and, for one employee, romance novels and diet pills, an agency watchdog said Tuesday.

Two IRS credit cards were used to buy online pornography, though the employees said the cards were stolen. One of the workers reported five agency credit cards lost or stolen.

IRS employees used agency credit cards to make more than 273,000 purchases totaling nearly $108 million in 2010 and 2011, according to the report by the Treasury inspector general for tax administration.

The vast majority of those purchases were legitimate, the report said. However, the report said the IRS has inadequate controls to prevent inappropriate purchases.

For example, investigators found that one IRS employee spent $2,655 on diet pills, romance novels, steaks, a smartphone and baby-related items, including bottles, games and clothes. The case was referred to the IG's office that investigates employee misconduct, the report said.

Among other "improper" purchases identified by the inspector general:

? $3,152 to rent a popcorn machine and to buy prizes for an employee event, including bandanas, stuffed animals, sunglasses and stovepipe hats.

? $418 for novelty decorations and swag at managers' meetings, including kazoos, bathtub toys and "Thomas the Tank Engine" wristbands.

? $119 for Nerf footballs that were never used and were found stored in a filing cabinet.

"Inadequate procedures to identify, report and address inappropriate use leaves the IRS purchase card program vulnerable to repeated violations of applicable laws and regulations," said J. Russell George, the Treasury inspector general for tax administration.

The report comes as the IRS faces intense scrutiny over agents targeting conservative groups for additional scrutiny when they applied for tax-exempt status. Documents released Monday show that liberal and progressive groups were singled out, too.

Also, the inspector general released a report earlier this month that detailed lavish spending at employee conferences. In all, the agency spent nearly $50 million on employee conferences from 2010 through 2012.

"Clearly, any inappropriate card use impacts our bottom line and is cause for concern," said acting IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, who took over the agency last month. "Wasteful spending cannot be tolerated, and any employees found to be abusing the system will be held accountable. In fact, we are following up on several inappropriate incidents mentioned in the report, ranging from internal actions to criminal charges."

"That said, more than 99.75 percent of IRS purchases adhered to the rules," Werfel added. "The IRS has made important progress over the past two years in strengthening the controls in our purchase card program. We are committed to protecting taxpayer resources, and we will take quick action to implement all of TIGTA's recommendations."

The new report highlighted a 2010 conference in Washington for tax officials from other countries. At a luncheon, the IRS bought 28 bottles of wine ? for 41 guests, the report said. A dinner at the conference cost the agency $140 a person, four times the allowable government rate at the time.

In all, the agency spent more than $50,000 on meals, receptions and meetings at the five-day conference, the report said. Agency credit cards were used for about $12,500 of the purchases.

"It is important to note that the luncheon described in the report took place in 2010 for an international business meeting of tax officials from several of the world's largest countries. This meeting is an important forum for international leaders on major tax issues," Werfel said. "However, given the excessive purchases for the luncheon, I am directing the IRS business units to more closely review spending in advance for any similar events to ensure all spending is appropriate."

The IRS participates in the General Services Administration's SmartPay purchase card program. Under the program, agency employees can use purchase cards, which act like credit cards, to buy work-related items. The maximum amount for an individual purchase is $3,000.

More expensive items are subject to competitive pricing policies.

In 2010 and 2011, internal controls at the IRS found 327 cases in which employees divided their purchases to skirt the $3,000 limit. The inspector general's office found an additional 34 cases. In all, the purchases totaled $493,000, the report said.

The report said 94 employees were responsible for the purchases, including 22 workers who had done it more than once in a six-month period. However, the report said, none of the employees were disciplined.

As for the two IRS employees whose cards were used to buy pornography, the inspector general's report didn't determine who bought the material or whether their cards were actually stolen. One of the employees is no longer at the agency. The IG is continuing to investigate the other employee, the report said.

___

Follow Stephen Ohlemacher on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stephenatap

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ig-irs-credit-cards-used-wine-pornography-190551115.html

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Pakistani Folk Art and US Drones Collide in These Ornate Paintings

Pakistani-American artist Mahwish Chishty was originally trained in painting miniatures in her native Lahore. But these days, Chishty is also emerging as a notable conceptual artist abroad, treading the potent line between Pakistani and American culture. Yesterday, in an interview with Mother Jones, Chishty discussed her paintings of American drones?which she covers in traditional Pakistani ornamentation.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Live coverage of George Zimmerman murder trial

After spending a few days roasting over an open fire, Paula Deen is cooked. She lost her job with the Food Network on Friday meaning that she is, for all intents and purposes, gone from our lives now. But an unusual voice spoke up in her defense last night: professional opinioner Bill Maher. Eater pointed us towards this video of Maher defending the former Food Network star on last night's?Real Time with Bill Maher. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/george-zimmerman-murder-trial--live-video-and-chat-222843188.html

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Texas Abortion Bill: Republican Lawmakers Approve Tough New Restrictions

AUSTIN, Texas ? Texas Democrats are stalling the passage of new abortion restrictions by not arriving in time for the resumption of a House session to approve the proposed law.

After debating Senate Bill 5 until 3:30 a.m. Monday, the Democratic minority didn't show up by 6:46 a.m. when the House was scheduled to reconvene.

Without the Democrats, the House cannot reach a quorum to approve the bill.

The measure would ban abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy, require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and limit abortions to surgical centers.

Supporters say the bill would improve women's health care. Opponents warn it would shut down 37 out of 42 abortion clinics in the state.

The bill still must go to the Senate, where Democrats hope to filibuster it Tuesday.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

Republicans used their majority to cut short debate and give preliminary approval early Monday to some of the toughest abortion restrictions in the country as time was running out on the Texas Legislature's special session.

Many members of the conservative majority had flyers on their desks that read "Psalm 139:13-14," which reads in part: "You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Democrats gained strength from more than 800 demonstrators who packed the hallways of the Capitol carrying signs reading, "Stop the War on Women," to oppose Senate Bill 5. The measure would ban abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy, require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and limit abortions to surgical centers.

Supporters say the bill will raise the standard of women's health care. Opponents say the bill would shut down 37 out of 42 abortion clinics in the state.

"If this passes, abortion would be virtually banned in the state of Texas, and many women could be forced to resort to dangerous and unsafe measures," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and daughter of the late former Texas governor Ann Richards.

Democrats used parliamentary tactics to draw out the debate for 15 hours, pointing out technical mistakes in the process or trying to tack on amendments to fundamentally change the bill. Republicans remained largely silent, until finally passing a motion to stop accepting amendments and force a vote, a highly unusual and partisan move.

"We are willing to have an attack on women in order to have someone's political agenda achieved," Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, said in opposition to stopping debate on the bill. "It may be in the dark of night now ... but the sun will shine on each and every one of us, and we will be held accountable."

Republicans, though, needed to end debate and move the process forward in order to make a midnight Tuesday deadline, when the session ends. House members must still give final approval to the bill, and then it must sit for 24 hours before the Senate can consider it.

The bill's sponsor stopped answering questions about her bill after the first two hours after she got into trouble denying Democratic amendments. When Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, called for an exemption for women who were victims of rape and incest, Rep. Jody Laubenberg, R-Parker, explained why she felt it was unnecessary.

"In the emergency room they have what's called rape kits where a woman can get cleaned out," she said, comparing the procedure to an abortion. "The woman had five months to make that decision, at this point we are looking at a baby that is very far along in its development."

Her apparent confusion about "rape kits" ? a phrase generally used to describe the equipment used by medical personnel during forensic examinations to gather physical evidence following allegations of rape or sexual assault ? sparked widespread ridicule on social media sites. Laubenberg, who has difficulty debating bills, then simply rejected all proposed changes to her bill without speaking until the end of the debate.

"At five months, we are talking about a human being, unless you think it's still a clump of mass ... and we have to protect that baby's rights," Laubenberg said in her closing argument. "Too often the back alley clinic today is the abortion clinic because of lax standards."

Three Democrats joined the Republican majority and voted for the bill 97-33. Protesters jeered their disapproval as security guards ordered them out of the chamber and they regrouped to protest outside.

The Texas Medical Association, the Texas Hospital Association and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists had sent letters urging lawmakers to vote no on the bill, saying it would not raise the standard of care.

Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, gave a personal privilege speech decrying how the Republicans were manipulating the parliamentary process to rush it to a vote.

"Everything about the process related to these abortion regulation bills has smelled like partisan politics," Farrar said. "Proponents of the bill have failed to demonstrate any evidence that the regulations imposed by these bills are necessary. Nor have they expressed any sign of responsible governance in ensuring that women will continue to be able to access safe and legal abortion care."

Democrats in the Senate said they would try to filibuster the bill if it came to them on Tuesday, which now appears assured.

Gov. Rick Perry added abortion to the special session in the final two weeks, after lawmakers had already taken up redistricting.

___

Texas Senate Bill 5: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess831&BillSB5

___

Follow Chris Tomlinson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/cltomlinson

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/24/texas-abortion-bill_n_3488965.html

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Rotation-resistant rootworms owe their success to gut microbes

June 24, 2013 ? Researchers say they now know what allows some Western corn rootworms to survive crop rotation, a farming practice that once effectively managed the rootworm pests. The answer to the decades-long mystery of rotation-resistant rootworms lies -- in large part -- in the rootworm gut, the team reports.

The findings appear in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Differences in the relative abundance of certain bacterial species in the rootworm gut help the adult rootworm beetles feed on soybean leaves and tolerate the plant's defenses a little better, the researchers report. This boost in digestive finesse allows rotation-resistant beetles to survive long enough to lay their eggs in soybean fields. Their larvae emerge the following spring and feast on the roots of newly planted corn.

"These insects, they have only one generation per year," said University of Illinois entomology department senior scientist Manfredo Seufferheld, who led the study. "And yet within a period of about 20 years in Illinois they became resistant to crop rotation. What allowed this insect to adapt so fast? These bacteria, perhaps."

Controlling rootworms is an expensive concern faced by all Midwest corn growers, said study co-author Joseph Spencer, an insect behaviorist at the Illinois Natural History Survey (part of the Prairie Research Institute at the U. of I.). Yield losses, the use of insecticides and corn hybrids engineered to express rootworm-killing toxins in their tissues cost U.S. growers at least $1 billion a year.

In a 2012 study, Seufferheld, Spencer and their colleagues reported that rotation-resistant rootworm beetles were better able than their nonresistant counterparts to tolerate the defensive chemicals produced in soybeans leaves. This allowed the beetles to feed more and survive longer on soybean plants. The researchers found that levels of key digestive enzymes differed significantly between the rotation-resistant and nonresistant rootworms, but differences in the expression of the genes encoding these enzymes did not fully explain the rotation-resistant beetles' advantage. Seufferheld and his colleagues thought that microbes in the rootworms' guts might be helping them better tolerate life in a soybean field.

To test this hypothesis, graduate student Chia-Ching Chu analyzed the population of microbes living in the guts of rootworm beetles collected from seven sites across the Midwest. Some of these sites (including Piper City, Ill.) are hot spots of rotation-resistance and others (in Nebraska and northwest Missouri, for example) lack evidence of rotation-resistant rootworms.

Chu found significant and consistent differences in the relative abundance of various types of bacteria in the guts of rotation-resistant and nonresistant rootworms (see graphic). These differences corresponded to differing activity levels of digestive enzymes in their guts and to their ability to tolerate soybean plant defenses.

The researchers found other parallels between the composition of gut microbes and the life history of the rootworms. The beetles' gut microbial structure corresponded to the insects' level of activity (rotation-resistant rootworms are usually more active), and also paralleled -- in a graduated fashion -- the plant diversity of the landscapes they inhabited. (Rotation-resistant rootworms are most abundant in regions where rotated corn and soybean fields are the dominant components of the agricultural landscape.)

To determine whether the microbes were in fact giving the rotation-resistant beetles an advantage, the researchers dosed the beetles with antibiotics. Low-level exposure to antibiotics had no effect on any of the beetles, but at higher doses the rotation-resistant beetles' survival time on soybean leaves fell to that of the nonresistant beetles. Antibiotics also lowered the activity of digestive enzymes in the rotation-resistant beetles' guts to that of their nonresistant counterparts.

The message of the research, Seufferheld said, is that the gut microbes are not just passive residents of the rootworm gut.

"They are very active players in the adaptation of the insect," he said. "The microbial community acts as a versatile multicellular organ."

"It's not just the rootworm that we have to worry about," Spencer said. "There's really this whole conspiracy between the rootworm and its co-conspirators in the gut that can respond fairly quickly, relatively speaking, to the assaults that they face."

The research team also included former postdoctoral researcher Jorge Zavala (now a professor at the University of Buenos Aires) and graduate student Matias Curzi.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/slJG9FABJYI/130624152603.htm

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High Speed Footage Reveals an AK-47 Works Even Better Under Water

The AK-47 can be considered the Timex watch of the gun world. It takes a licking, and keeps on ticking, except that by ticking we of course mean firing round after round of ammunition. The automatic machine gun is based on a gas recoil system that uses the hot expanding gases of a bullet being fired to automatically rechamber the next round, and surprisingly, it appears to work even better under water.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Idolian Studio 10

The budget tablet realm was once strictly reserved for no-name devices that were shoddy at best. That's all changed with companies like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Google itself offering up budget-friendly, high-quality tablets that put those fringe devices of yesteryear to shame. The Idolian Studio 10 falls somewhere in between, with a low $258 (direct) asking price, but some frustrating compromises. The sturdy aluminum frame and generous port selection are nice, but it suffers from Wi-Fi issues, bugs, and short battery life. If money is your greatest concern, I'd pony up the extra cash for a tablet like the Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9"?or save $50 with the Coby MID1065.

Design and Features
Judging by outward appearances, the Studio 10 doesn't look or feel cheap. It's got a substantial, if somewhat hefty, aluminum body that feels sturdy in the hand and yields almost no flex. At 10.1 by 6.9 by 0.4 inches (HWD) and 1.29 pounds, it's in line with the MID1065 in terms of size and weight. A plastic panel along the left edge houses a microSD card slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack, micro USB and mini HDMI ports, and a DC power input. Like the MID1065, the Studio 10 syncs via micro USB, but requires the included power brick to charge. The micro USB port also supports USB OTG, and Idolian includes an adapter for plugging in peripherals like USB mice and keyboards?both of which worked fine in my tests. ?

The 1,280-by-800 pixel IPS display isn't bad, but it's unremarkable. It gets bright and viewing angles are good. Colors skew a little cool, as whites have a bit of a blue hue, and I noticed some backlight bleeding at the edges. It's neck and neck with the Coby MID1065 on the display front, while coming a bit short of tablets like the Toshiba Excite 10 SE.

This is a Wi-Fi-only tablet that connects to 802.11b/g/n networks on the 2.4GHz frequency. During testing, the Studio 10 had some trouble reconnecting to Wi-Fi when woken from sleep?there were noticeable delays even though saved networks were within range. The tablet also supports Bluetooth 2.1 and connected easily with a pair of wireless headphones

Performance and Android
The Studio 10 is powered by a dual-core 1.6GHz Cortex-A9 processor with 1GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage. Performance is generally swift, and the Studio 10 did well on most of our benchmarks?besting the MID1065 in many categories. And while the MID1065 was plagued by choppy real-world performance, the Studio 10 feels much smoother in operation. Gaming performance is decent, with games like Temple Run 2 running without a hitch, but don't expect high framerates on more graphically intensive games like Real Racing 3.

The software loaded onto the Studio 10 is a mixed bag. It's running Android 4.1.1 "Jelly Bean," which is a step up from the MID1065's 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich," but buggy Google apps hold this tablet back. Google apps like the Play Store, Gmail, and Chrome are disabled by default?you have to dig into the settings, find Developer options, then uncheck "Hide Google Application." Idolian says it is still working out the kinks with its Google certification, but promised future firmware updates to resolve any bugs. As it stands, the Studio 10 can access the Play Store and its hundreds of thousands of apps, but I found frustrating deficiencies, like the fact that Chrome did not work during testing.

For media support, the Studio 10 handles Xvid, DivX, MPEG4, H.264, and AVI videos at up to 1080p resolution. For audio, you get MP3, AAC, FLAC, OGG, WAV, and WMA support. Screen mirroring worked fine using a mini HDMI cable, and the tablet was able to output video at 720p or 1080p resolution. If you absolutely need a camera on your tablet, there are front- and rear-facing 2-megapixel cameras, but they are not worth using?details are smudged, image noise is overwhelming, and dynamic range is non-existent.

In our battery rundown test, which loops a video with screen brightness set to max and Wi-Fi on, the Studio 10 lasted 3 hours, 56 minutes, which is disappointing. Compare that with the MID1065's 4 hours, 37 minutes or the Excite 10 SE's 7 hours, 37 minutes.

Conclusions
The Idolian Studio 10 may look and feel like a more expensive tablet, but it makes a number of compromises to ring in at a budget-friendly price. Chief among them is haphazard Google apps implementation that can leave novices in the dark. And even if you know your way around Android, the Studio 10 can still give you problems. Performance-wise, it's right in line with budget options like the MID1065, which is even less expensive than the Studio 10. So if you have more room in your budget, I'd recommend a tablet like the Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9", which gets you a far sharper display, better performance, and a much smoother software experience.?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/_juRByAsS-I/0,2817,2420607,00.asp

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Sunday, June 23, 2013

Police remove flagpole at centre of Afghan, Taliban row

By Hamid Shalizi and Amena Bakr

KABUL/DOHA (Reuters) - Police have removed a flagpole from the Taliban's office in Qatar, an official said on Sunday, expunging the last visible sign of official decoration that riled the Afghan government and derailed nascent peace talks.

The Taliban was due to hold discussions with U.S. officials in Qatar last Thursday - originally raising hopes the meeting could develop into full-blown negotiations to end Afghanistan's 12-year-old war.

But the session was cancelled when the Afghan government objected to the fanfare surrounding the militants' opening of an office in the Gulf state, complete with flag and official plaques.

Kabul said the regalia gave the mistaken impression the militants - who ruled Afghanistan until they were ousted by the U.S. offensive starting in 2001 - had achieved some measure of global recognition.

The flag and a plaque were removed late last week amid frantic diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute. The flagpole was no longer visible at the building on Sunday.

"The Taliban's flag has been taken down from (their) office in Qatar, the banner and signboard have been removed, and the Qatar government's police have also removed the Taliban flagpole," said Masoom Stanekzai, a member of the Afghan High Peace Council, a government body set up to pursue a negotiated ceasefire with the Taliban.

His comments, released by the Afghan government, did not go into whether that meant the U.S.-Taliban talks could now continue.

TALIBAN SAYS QATAR APPROVED

The Taliban earlier on Sunday said it had erected its flag and plaques with the agreement of the Qatari government, which is hosting the talks.

The statement, issued by the Taliban's spokesman in Doha, Dr. Muhammad Naeem, did not say whether the subsequent removal of the symbols was meant as a concession to other parties in the talks. There was no comment from the Qatar government.

The news of the removal of the flagpole came a day after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry put the onus on the Taliban to revive the talks - and warned the militants their whole office could be closed if the process collapsed.

He kept up the pressure on Sunday, telling reporters in New Delhi a final peace depended on the militants changing course and renouncing violence.

"Any political settlement must result in our judgment in the Taliban breaking ties with al Qaeda ... and accepting the Afghan constitution - including its protections for all Afghans, women and men," Kerry said.

The Afghan government repeated its complaints about the office earlier on Sunday, saying the ceremonial opening of the Taliban office had broken agreements on how the talks would proceed.

"We still need a full explanation about what happened," Said foreign ministry spokesman Janan Mosazai.

The Taliban were pushed out of power in Afghanistan by the U.S. invasion that followed the al Qaeda attacks on U.S. targets on September 11, 2001.

The group has since waged an insurgency to overthrow the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai and oust foreign troops.

It has until now refused talks with Kabul, calling Karzai and his government puppets of the West.

(Additional reporting by Lesley Wroughton in New Delhi; Writing by Dylan Welch; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Andrew Heavens)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/taliban-says-doha-office-flag-banner-raised-agreement-082635196.html

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