Lyme disease study uses xenodiagnosis on humans

Lyme disease study employs animal technique xenodiagnosis on humans

Lyme disease is the subject of a new study that has yielded modest yet promising results at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.  The researchers employed xenodiagnosisâ€"until now a successful diagnostic technique generally reserved for animalsâ€"on humans.    In animal studies, Xenodiagnosis involves using another animal in order to find a diagnosis.

The technique was previously successful in diagnosing the similar parasitic infection Chagas disease.  In this case, xenodiagnosis was used to determine whether a human subject showed signs of Lyme disease in his/her blood.  The details of this research, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, revealed that out of the 12 people participating, two participants’ Lyme disease parasite DNA was transferred to a previously uninfected tick.  (Ticks, of course, are the potential carriers responsible for infecting humans with Lyme disease.)

Adult Deer Tick

People with Lyme disease are usually put on antibiotics and after a few weeks are usually healthy again.  However, between 10 and 20 percent of patients with Lyme disease report suffering from aches and pains even after they are no longer infected.  The symptoms sometimes last up to six months following the contraction of Lyme disease.  This is known as Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).

Dr. Adriana Marques, lead author of the project, told the press: “This is a very initial study; our main objective was to develop the technique in humans.  It is very hard to find evidence of the bacteria itself, not just antibodies, in infected people once the skin rash is gone.”

Having concluded that xenodiagnosis is a safe, acceptable technique to use on human subjects, she acknowledges that they still have more important work to do.  The next step is to connect this diagnostic method to the persistent symptoms.

Editorial co-author of the study, Linda K. Bockenstedt, of Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, added: “There is consensus that post-Lyme disease syndrome as defined in the paper does exist and that it occurs in a minority of people.  We do not know why this occurs, and the reasons may not be the same for everyone.”

(Image courtesy of Wikipedia).

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NBA 4-Point Line: Is the League Actually Thinking of Creating One?

NBA 4-Point Line: With the way some guys are able to shoot from well behind the arc it would not be surprising to see this be created.

@AthletesCenter/Twitter

Sports fans love many, many different things. While watching their favorite team blow their opponent out of the water has to be one of those things, watching their team overcome a deficit in dramatic fashion for the win has to be a close second. For basketball fans that usually involves a barrage of three pointers mixed with some poor free throw shooting by the other team (depending on how big the deficit is of course).

What if there was a four point line? What if there was a way to close a larger gap late in the game? A seven point gap at best requires three shots to overcome, but what if it could be done in just two?

According to ESPN the NBA is thinking about creating a four-point line.

“Oh man,” NBA president of basketball operations Rob Thorn said, “some of the players we have can shoot the ball 30 feet as easily as they can shoot 23, 24 feet.”

Could be interesting, right? Would the league actually do it? Don’t hold your breath. An NBA spokesperson responded to the idea over Twitter and blasted ESPN for manufacturing a story (via Bleacher Report):

Frank: “”No one at the NBA,nor the competition committee, has had any serious conversations about increasing the size of the floor …”

â€" Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) February 25, 2014

Frank, cont: “…or adding a 4-point line. Rod Thorn and Kiki VanDeWeghe were entertaining a line of questioning…”

â€" Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) February 25, 2014

Frank, cont: “about out of the box ideas and ESPN. com chose to make a story that doesn’t exist.”

â€" Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) February 25, 2014

So there you have it folks. There will not be a 4-point line coming anytime soon.

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Mars craters for $5?

You can name Mars’ craters for just 5 dollars each

Scientists and astronauts step aside.  The space-education project, Uwingu, (“sky” in Swahili), is making it possible for anyone to name any of Mars’ 500,000 or so unnamed craters, as part of a special citizen’s mapping project.  Uwingu CEO Alan Stern, a former NASA science chief who also heads the space agency’s New Horizons mission to Pluto, said: “It’s a very social thing.  This is the first people’s map of Mars, where anybody can play. ”

Mars crater

Technically, not everyone can name one of the Mars craters.  In order to name one of Mars’ craters one will need an internet connection and a few disposable dollars.  Employing an interactive map of  Mars’ surface, one need only click on a chosen crater and pay a charge between $5 and $250.  The price increases with the size of the crater.

The profits from this “people’s choice” Mars’ property-naming projectâ€"which could come to over $10 millionâ€"will be used to fund “grants to space researchers, educators, and entrepreneurs in this time of government cutbacks.”  This is in fact the organization’s chief purpose.

Stern told Space.com: “We’re developing this grant fund â€" the Uwingu fund â€" for people who’ve been hit by sequestration.  There’s nothing like it right now. They have no place to go; it’s either NASA, NSF (the National Science Foundation) or you’re out of luck.”  He is optimistic about the effort and believes all of mars’ craters could be named by the end of the year.

Craters will be named on a first come, first served basis.  Submitted names for each of the Mars craters will receive immediate acceptance and will not be removed unless company representatives later establish them to be offensive or profane.  They also hope to solicit name choices for other topographical features including the mountains and canyons of Mars as well.

While Uwingu will not solicit approval from the International Astronomical Union which usually authorizes “official” names, Stern made it clear that their naming of Mars’ craters and other features is not an attempt to supersede other maps of Mars like those created by the US Geological Survey.  In fact, the Uwingu map will later incorporate the 15,000 Mars feature names already accepted by the IAU.  At the same time, Stern notes that while the Uwingu names will be popular or informal names, sometimes unofficial names “come into wide usage”.  One need only look at the unofficial moniker “The Milky Way” to see his point.

Finally, Stern stated that this project naming one of the Mars craters and other features could also serve as a commentary on our current culture: “It’s like taking a picture of ourselves.  “What will people put? Will there be a lot of craters named for politicians? For artists, for relatives, for places on Earth? Sports teams?”

You can name Mars craters for just 5 dollars each

(Image courtesy of Wikipedia)    

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What is Aspartame?

Many people in America are starting to ask What is Aspartame? You might not know it, but Aspartame is in a lot of products these days. Along side of this there is an increase of Brain tumors and cancer. Why is this? Well we can look back as far as 1983 when people started consuming Aspartame in soda drinks and food. Companies are thinking that this would help a longer shelf life on food and drinks, but shorter shelf life for human beings.

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener used for a sugar substitute 

The first big product to use Aspartame was NutraSweet in 1965. Ajinomoto bought the aspartame business off Monsanto for $67 million in 2000. Aspartame deceases itself as Equal, NutraSweet, and Canderel. 

Aspartame in: Aspartame in Diet sodas, Aspartame in Yogurts, Aspartame in Chewing gum, Aspartame in Cooking sauces,Aspartame in Chips, Aspartame is in Tabletop sweeteners, Aspartame in Drink powders, Aspartame in Flavored water, Aspartame in Sugar-free products, and Aspartame in Cereals, Aspartame in instant breakfasts, Aspartame in breath mints, Aspartame in kids cereals, Aspartame sugar-free chewing gum, Aspartame in cocoa mixes, Aspartame in frozen desserts, Aspartame in gelatin desserts, Aspartame in juices, Aspartame in laxatives, Aspartame in chewable vitamin supplements, Aspartame in milk drinks, Aspartame in pharmaceutical drugs, Aspartame in supplements, Aspartame in  shake mixes, Aspartame in teas, Aspartame instant coffee, Aspartame topping mixes, Aspartame in wine coolers, Aspartame in Crystal Light Tea, Aspartame in Kool-aid and the list goes on. 

Aspartame is in over 6,000 foods and beverages sold worldwide

Aspartame has been in the middle of several political and medical controversies for years. Doctors will not admit that Aspartame is the cause to any of these medical conditions. Is scientific data unreliable?

One of the most common symptom reported by consumers of  Aspartame are headaches,  also eye damage does accrue when consuming lots of Aspartame.

 Aspartame: The Bitter Truth Behind This Toxic Sweetener

Video via : YouTube / user: Mercola â€" Published on Sep 10, 2013 - Watch this special video about aspartame and discover the truth behind this toxic artificial sweetener. You may even be surprised how it affects your overall health.

Watch these Real Life Stories, and make a decision for yourself

ASPARTAME â€" Sweet Misery, A POISONED World â€" Documentary, lecture, talk â€" (CANCER Food)

Video via: YouTube / user: Health and Super Foods â€" Uploaded on Feb 13, 2012 - Aspartame â€" Sweet Misery, A Poisoned World Documentary, lecture, talk - This documentary discusses the dangers of Aspartame and MSG, the flavour enhancers that are linked to the increase in brain cancer and brain disorders, and many other degenerative diseases. The narrator, Cori Brackett recovered from MS (Multiple Sclerosis) following the removal of aspartame from her diet, which she had been ingesting from drinking diet coke and ‘natural sweeteners’. She interviews several experts in the field, including Dr. Russell Blaylock, author of the book Excitotoxins, and Arthur Evangelista, a former FDA Investigator, amongst others. There are also countless testimonies by other people (including a doctor), who have reversed chronic degenerative diseases just by stopping their consumption of these toxic food additives. *DISCLAIMER* FAIR USE NOTICE: These Videos may contain copyrighted (© ) material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in receiving similar information for research and educational purposes. USC : Table of Contents | LII / Legal Information Institute.

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What is Aspartame?

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Study Says Fetal DNA Testing at Illumina Discovers Disorders Better

Fetal DNA testing can discover disorders better and more accurately according to a new study. Fetal abnormalities can be screened with DNA testing, however, experts warn that the test has not been proven effective in rigorous clinical trials.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine stated that fetal DNA testing has been proven to be a reliable source in discovering abnormalities in DNA sequencing that result in disorders like Down syndrome. Making up to 20 percent of the total DNA in a pregnant woman, fetal DNA segments come from the placenta. Using fetal testing by Illumina Inc., the DNA test is able to detect the unusual three copies of a chromosome when their should only be two.

Fetal DNA Testing at Illumina Discovers Disorders Better and Faster According to New Study â€" photo from Wikipedia

The Illumina method, known as verfi, simply counts the fragments that are associated with chromosome attributed disorders. If the test shows any abnormalities, the patient is informed by the doctor and they proceed to a sampling from the amniotic sack. During this time, the doctor, assisting with an ultrasound scanner, places a hypodermic needle into the uterus and extracts amniotic fluid. The doctor also takes a catheter needle to extract a small sample of tissue to determine the health of the unborn child.

While many doctors are in support of this new and more efficient way of testing, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says there is not enough evidence at this time to endorse the tests as screening tools for low-risk women. Seeking to address those concerns, Dr. Diana Bianchi of Mother Infant Research Institute at Tufts Medical Center and her colleagues conducted a study using 1,914 low-risk pregnant women. The result was overwhelmingly positive as the fetal DNA test for Down syndrome had a significantly low false-positive rate of 0.3 percent.

While initial tests indicate that the Illumina test could be used for screenings, more studies will be done before it becomes the medical standard.

Study Says Fetal DNA Testing at Illumina Discovers Disorders Better.

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Paco De Lucia World Renowned Flamenco Guitar Player Dies

Paco De Lucia, was a world renowned guitar player who dazzled audiences with his lightning-speed flamenco rhythms and finger work, has died in Mexico, officials said Wednesday.

The Spanish guitar player suffered a heart attack while on vacation in Mexico at a the Caribbean beach resort of Playa del Carmen and he was rushed to the hospital were he died.

Paco De Lucia famous flamenco guitar player dies. Image Courtesy: Wikipedia.

Paco lived as he wished and died playing with his children beside the sea,” said a statement from his family published on the websites of Spanish newspapers.

His family and friends are calling his death premature and unexpected; Paco was a unique perosn with an unrepeatably personality and he will be dearly missed one of his friends told reporters.

Paco’s real name was Francisco Sanchez Gomez, he was an extremely popular flamenco guitarist, but he experimented with and enjoyed playing all types of music. His most famous recordings was “Friday Night in San Francisco,” recorded with fellow guitarists John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola in 1980.

Flamenco guitarists play the guitar slightly different from a classical guitar, using different posture, strumming patterns, and techniques. Flamenco guitar players are known as tocaores and flamenco guitar technique is known as toque. This style of guitar playing produces a raspier and harsher sound when the guitarist strikes the cords.

De Lucia produced numerous award winning and popular recordings throughout the 1960′s and 1970′s. His latest album ”Cositas buenas” (Good Things) won him a Latin Grammy in 2004.

Paco De Lucia came from a poor background and fell in love with music at early age. He learned to play guitar with his father and brothers and when his formal schooling was over at the young age of 11, Paco started playing flamenco in the local bars.

I didn’t study music. I literally lived it. Flamenco was a way of life, a relationship with music, more than a career. I never learned about harmony or canons in music,” he said.

He is arguably the most influential flamenco artist to have ever lived, blending new life into the traditional form of flamenco music and is credited with modernizing it by introducing influences from other musical forms such as jazz, bossa nova, classical and salsa.

Paco inspired musicians around the world to construct new fresh styles of music that touches the hearts of people around the world.

Paco De Lucia World Renowned Flamenco Guitar Player Dies.

The Associated Press Contributed to this story.

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Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer Vetos SB 1060!

“I can assure you, as always, I will do the right thing for the state of Arizona,” - Gov. Jan Brewer 

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer made a statement today at 6pm in Phoenix, that she will veto the SB 1060. This going to make a major impact on the Arizona economy. Still this is nothing new to Arizona when it comes to being in the spot light for civil rights issues. The south-west state seems to have a hard time fitting in to the United State trends. Arizona has been out of the loop for sometime with human rights issues. The Super Bowl has been pulled from us before when Arizona did not recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a National Holiday. 

“I have a history of deliberating and having an open dialogue on bills that are controversial, to listen to both sides of those issues, and I welcome the input, and information that they can provide to me. And certainly I am pro-business, and that is what’s turning our economy around, so I appreciate their input, as I appreciate the other side,” Gov. Jan Brewer

This Controversial Freedom Bill has been a dark cloud over the Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s head. For a state in a drought with water and money Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is flirting with the death of Arizona’s economy. The NFL has told her they pull out of the state. Companies are starting to boycott Arizona and the people are starting to boycott Arizona. Over 100′s of companies  wants Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer to veto this bill.

Before she gets a great award, she has left the public hanging on a limb. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer calls them like she sees them. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer Vetos SB 1060!

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer calls herself a pro business person, Well, what do you think about that ?

 Will the Super Bowl move to Tampa Bay?

Let us know what you Think â€" - â€" >American Live Wire cares about what the people have to say…

 Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer Vetos SB 1060!

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M. Night Shyamalan and Bruce Willis Back Together for “Labor of Love”

M. Night Shyamalan and Bruce Willis are back at it. The director recently revealed via a whosay post that he will be working with Willis once again on the film Labor of Love, which was written even before the pairs last outing, 2000′s  Unbreakable.

M. Night Shyamalan and Bruce willis back together for new film â€" photo courtesy of imgur

“Out in the cold with our Production Designer,” said Shyamalan in his post.

It’s been nearly fifteen years since a young filmmaker rocked audiences everywhere with one of the most shocking movies of all time, The Sixth Sense.  Shyamalan has had some success since then, but nothing has quite compared to that early work with Willis.

Labor of Love will feature Willis as a bookstore owner who walks across the U.S. after the passing of his wife.

The directors last effort, 2013′s sci-fi epic After Earth was a disappointment both at the box office and with critics, it currently holds an 11% on Rotten Tomatoes, even in spite of the combined star power of Will Smith and Jaden Smith. By comparison, The Sixth Sense currently holds an 85%.

Shyamalan is surely looking to bounce back into praise after a string of movies that appear to be suffering from diminishing returns. Signs and The Village both showed fans glimpses of his early work, but both Lady in the Water and The Happening were largely panned in spite of solid casts which included Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel and even Paul Giamatti.

M. Night Shyamalan and Bruce Willis Back Together for “Labor of Love”

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Why is Irrational Games Shutting Down? BioShock Creator Leaves 15 Staffers Out of Work

Irrational Games is closing shop as co-founder Ken Levine announced that the BiosShock creator will be starting a new venture and leaving 15 people out of work.

When asked why Irrational Games is shutting down, Levine wrote on the company’s website:

“I am winding down Irrational Games as you know it. I’ll be starting a smaller, more entrepreneurial endeavor at Take-Two. That is going to mean parting ways with all but about fifteen members of the Irrational team. There’s no great way to lay people off, and our first concern is to make sure that the people who are leaving have as much support as we can give them during this transition.”

Irrational Games Shutting Down May Mean the End of the BioShock Series â€" photo from Devian Art

Being one of the most popular game-making companies in the industry, Levine also expressed his remorse of parting ways with Irrational Games as he starts up his new and smaller endeavor Take-Two Interactive:

“Seventeen years is a long time to do any job, even the best one. And working with the incredible team at Irrational Games is indeed the best job I’ve ever had. While I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished together, my passion has turned to making a different kind of game than we’ve done before,” Levine said. “To meet the challenge ahead, I need to refocus my energy on a smaller team with a flatter structure and a more direct relationship with gamers. In many ways, it will be a return to how we started: a small team making games for the core gaming audience.”

While Ken Levine and the Irrational Games team have completed the last installment of BioShock that is set to be released on March 25, the future of the beloved series is yet to be seen.

Why Is Irrational Games Shutting Down? BioShock Creator Leaves 15 Staffers Out of Work.

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US Toddler Obesity Rate Dramatically Decreases

The United States toddler obesity rate has rapidly fell by 43% since 2003-2004, the first noticeably large decline in years, a new national study discovered.

US toddler obesity, among children ages two to five-years-old, dropped 8.4% in 2011-2012 from 13.9%, the survey showed.

Scientists have yet to pinpoint an exact cause or reason for the major decrease, but say a reduction of sugary beverage consumption may have helped to contribute.

Childhood obesity has been shown to negatively impact one’s health including increasing the risk of cancer, adult obesity, heart disease, and stroke later in life.

The study was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and was published in the Journal of American Medical Association (also known as Jama) on Tuesday.

“This is the first time we’ve seen any indication of any significant decrease in any group,” author Cynthia Ogden told the New York Times, describing the finding as “exciting”.

The study followed an estimated 9,100 people, including approximately 600 infants and toddlers in 2011 and 2012. They weighed and measured each study participant.

The study, overall, found no significant changes in obesity rates of older youth and adults over the study period.

Adult obesity rates continue to remain high, with a third of US children and teens and more than two-thirds of adults considered to be obese and/or overweight.

The news comes right on the heels of the first lady Michelle Obama’s fourth anniversary of her “Let’s Move!” campaign which focuses on encouraging kids to exercise and practice eating healthy choices in an effort to stop the nation’s obesity epidemic.

“I am thrilled at the progress we’ve made over the last few years in obesity rates among our youngest Americans,” the first lady said in a statement. “Healthier habits are beginning to become the new norm.”

The first lady has led a public effort on this since 2010, including appearing with Elmo on Sesame Street, as well as recording an album with hip-hop and pop stars that encourage healthy eating habits.

Looks like her movement may have lent a hand in lowering toddler obesity rates.

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Could a Law Banning Gay NFL Players Actually Get Passed by Congress?

Michael Sam’s announcement was bound to be met with a mix of reactions from indifference to acceptance and hateâ€"but with a law banning gay NFL players?

@AthleteSwag/Twitter

For the last few years there have been rumors that there was going to be a player in the NFL announcing that he is gay. There have of course been gay players in the past, but their sexuality was not public knowledge until long after their careers were over. By making his sexual preference known Michael Samâ€"the co-defensive player of the year in the SECâ€"all but guaranteed that there would indeed be an openly gay player  in the NFL next season.

Some will look at his less than stellar performance in the NFL Combine as reason to think that he may not actually make it, but long time Combine followers know that performance there means little when it comes to measuring how well a player can perform on the field.

Fact of the matter is that Sam is a solid football player, and while he may have some work to do in order to become an every down player on the defensive line he is good enough to play. Should that be the case, or if another player decides to announce he is gay, one lobbyist wants to make sure they can’t play in the NFL.

He wants to ban gay athletes from playing in the NFL. GOP lobbyist Jack Burkman is working on developing legislation that if enacted would do just that.

”We are losing our decency as a nation,” Burkman said in a statement. “Imagine your son being forced to shower with a gay man. That’s a horrifying prospect for every mom in the country. What in the world has this nation come to?”

His lobbying firm, Burkman Associates, works t secure contracts with the federal government for companies so Burkman is bound to have a lot of contacts inside Washington D.C. circles, but enough to get a law like this passed? There is no word on whether he has finished his proposed legislation or if a congressman has agreed to sponsor the bill so we may never know.

Michael Sam’s announcement has been largely met with support and well wishes, but even the though of such legislation is proof positive that society still has a long way to go before sexual orientation becomes exactly what isâ€"a personal and private matter.

“If the NFL has no morals and no values, then Congress must find values for it,” Burkman said.

[H/T The Hill]

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Woman Kills 4 People At Eviction Hearing On A Indian Reservation in California

Woman shoots and kills 4 people at eviction hearing on a Indian reservation in California, two more people were injured in the shooting. An eviction hearing at a tiny Indian tribe’s headquarters building in Northern California turned deadly as a woman who once served as a leader for the band of Northern Paiute Indians allegedly opened fire, killing four people and critically wounding two others, authorities said.

The tribal council was meeting to evict a woman when she went crazy and shot four people. Image Courtesy: Bishop Paiute Tribe

Cherie Lash Rhoades a former leader of the tribe and her son were attending a tribe meeting to decide if they would be evicted from their home on Rancheria land. Rhoades went crazy with rage during the eviction meeting pulled out a gun and shot four people and when the gun ran out of bullets she grabbed a butcher knife and stabbed a woman. One woman escaped the building covered in blood and ran to police station for help. When the police arrived on the scene Rhoades was outside the building, running and clutching a knife in her hands. A Rancheria employee helped tackle her and she was quickly subdued and brought into custody.

The stabbing victim and one of the shooting victims â€" both women â€" were taken to a Redding hospital where they were in critical condition. Rhoades has been charged with murder and attempted murder charges according authorities.

The Cedarville Racheria in Northern California, is federally recognized Indian land comprised of 26 acres. This tragic event has stunned close knit community of people who live and it has been a very traumatic event for everyone.

Woman Kills 4 People At Eviction Hearing On A Indian Reservation in California.

The Associated Press contributed to this Story.

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Research Discovers There Are Only 6 Types of Tweeters: Which of the 6 Are You?

After studying tens of thousands of Twitter conversations,  researchers discover only six types of tweeters exist! #thetwitterproject

Pew Research Internet Project

The study analyzed Twitter conversations over the past four years to reveal a “topographical map” of these patternsâ€"each showing identifiable contoursâ€"based on the topic being discussed, the information and influences driving the conversation and the social network structures of the participants.

Researchers are quick to note that not everyone uses Twitter â€" only 14 percent of the U.S. population.  Still, looking at how conversations flow on social media can provide new insights into how people communicate in a way that was not possible until very recently.

Which of the 6 are you?

Polarized crowds, people who often form around political topics.  These type communicate very little with other opposing viewpoints.

 Brand Clusters, people who talk about well-known brands on Twitter tend to be disconnected from one another, focusing only on the topic at hand and not really interacting with each other.  One graph, that looked at mentions of Apple, found that users didn’t follow, reply to or mention any other person who also tweeted about the company.

 Tight Crowds Networking, share similar knowledge and passions. People who tweet from a social media conference, or about another highly specialized topic tend to form tight crowds of people who are connected to one another as followers. There are only a few users who are not connected to at least a few others in the group. This crowd uses the most #hashtags.

Community clusters happen when several, evenly sized Twitter groups are connected to each other. In a sense, these can be compared ‘‘to people clustering in different stalls at a bazaar.’’ The conversations in this group share a common broader topic, whether that’s Michelle Obama or a tech conference, but each cluster takes a different focus.

Broadcast networks, often media outlets or prominent social media figures with a lot of followers who repeat the messages such outlets send out.

 Support Network, these conversations usually involve a large company, such as a bank or airline, that listens and replies to consumer complaints. When mapped, the interactions in these groups tend to look like a bicycle wheel hub with many spokes.

“This new field is emerging right before our eyes,” Shneiderman says. “It could eventually have a large impact on our understanding of everything from health to community safety, from business innovation to citizen science, and from civic engagement to sustainable energy programs.”

Research Discovers There Are Only 6 Types of Tweeters: Which of the 6 Are You?

The Associated Press and Pew Research contributed to the facts of this Article

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Why Is the Piers Morgan Show Ending? The CNN Talk Show Comes to an End

CNN’s prime-time talk show “Piers Morgan Live” is coming to an end.

Morgan told The New York Times that his show lately has “taken a bath in the ratings” but that he and CNN President Jeff Zucker were discussing a new role for him at the channel. CNN’s audience has tired of hearing a Brit weigh in American cultural issues.

Piers Morgan Live show comes to an end. Image Courtesy: Wikipedia

CNN has not yet released any details about Morgan’s future involvement with the network.

Why Is the Piers Morgan Show Ending?

The Piers Morgan Live show has seen increased competition from a revised Fox News Channel lineup that included a strong new performer at 9 p.m. EST with Megyn Kelly’s “The Kelly File.”

Morgan, who succeeded the longtime runnign Larry King show three years ago has continually drawn poor ratings.

Piers Morgan is a professionally recognized British journalist and television host, he is a former judge on America’s Got Talent, Britain’s Got Talent, and previous Celebrity Apprentice winner.

He is a former editor for the Daily Mirror, The Sun, News of the World, and several other British tabloids. Morgan has been questioned in connection with Britain’s long-running phone hacking scandal, which has led to numerous arrests, resignations and the closure of Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World tabloid. On 6 December 2013, Morgan was interviewed, by police officers from Operation Weeting investigating phone-hacking allegations at Mirror Group Newspapers during his tenure as editor.

Morgan quickly gained notoriety for his invasive, thrusting style and lack of concern for celebrities’ privacy, claiming that celebrities manipulate the media to further their own wants.

The CNN Talk Show Piers Morgan Live Comes to an End.

The Associated Press Contributed to this story.

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San Diego State RB Adam Muema: God Told Me Leave the NFL Combine

Kids are known for saying the darndest things, but college running backs? In the case of San Diego State running back Adam Muema that would be the case.

@Sports10internet/Twitter

Why? Because he left the NFL Combine in Indianapolis because God told him to and that he’d play for the Seattle Seahawks if he did so.

“(God) told me to sit down, be quiet, and enjoy the peace,” he said.

Ummm…okay.

It will be interesting to see how this goes over with teams. On one hand, his religion is his religion. As long as it doesn’t involve breaking the law and he can play teams are not going to care. In the United States people have the freedom to worship as they chooseâ€"so all the power to him.

But thisâ€"this sounds just a little off.

It only takes a glance at his Twitter feed to see that he was quite excited to be at the Combine. You can also see that he is a deeply religious person.

Againâ€"nothing wrong with that.

Where executives are going to take issue is with his claim that God talks to him through numbers (unless their fans of the former Fox show Touch starring the guy that plays Jack Bauer). Through his social media accounts he appears to know someone that refers to himself as Lord Ray-el (which Muema says means ‘the word of God’).

Here’s the kickerâ€"this guy claims to be the second coming of Christ.

The part that will keep teams from running for the hills will be his production on the field. Last season he rushed for 1244 yards and 15 touchdowns on 256 carriersâ€"pretty good numbers. Chances are he would have been drafted too. The league’s draft advisory board rated him as a fourth to seventh round pick.

It will be interesting to see if he still participates in San Diego State’s Pro Day and if he does how he responds to the obvious questions people are going to have because of his departure from the Combine.

[H/T utsandiego.com]

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Sailors from Ronald Reagan Battle Group Suffering from Cancer 3 Years After Japanese Quake

Over 50 Sailors who served on the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) are Suffering from Thyroid Cancer, Leukemia, and Brain Tumors after participating in Humanitarian assistance during the Japanese earthquake of 2011.

At least 71 sailorsâ€"many in their 20sâ€"reported radiation sickness and will file a lawsuit against Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), which operates the Fukushima Daiichi energy plant.

During the Fukushima Nuclear rescue efforts, sailors onboard the USS Ronald Reagan and apart of the battle group that responded to the disaster, were exposed to high levels of radioactive material while afloat off the East coast of Japan.

(TRN http://www.TurnerRadioNetwork.com ) â€" Crew members in their mid-20′s from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan are coming down with all sorts of radiation-related illnesses after being deployed less than 3 years ago to assist with earthquake rescue operations off the coast of Japan in 2011. It looks as though the onboard desalinization systems that take salt out of seawater to make it drinkable, were taking-in radioactive water from the ocean for the crew to drink, cook with and bath-in, before anyone realized there was a massive radiation spill into the ocean.

On behalf of US sailors, attorney Charles Bonner is filing a class action lawsuit against TEPCO, the owner of the Fukushima nuclear energy plant that erupted in 2011 when the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan. The following radio interview of Bonner, photos and excerpts are taken from Nuclear Hotseat and Energy News (ENE).

Charles Bonner, attorney representing sailors from the USS Ronald Reagan said “the crew members were not only going to the rescue by jumping into the water and rescuing people out of the water, but they were drinking desalinated sea water, bathing in it, until finally the captain of the USS Ronald Reagan alarmed people that they were encountering high levels of radiation.”

A sailor from the USS Ronald Reagan posted this comment on Reddit.

Reddit user TheBeneGesseritWitch said:

Just coming here to share this link. I was on another ship that was deployed in this, and my DCA and RADCON officer fought long and hard with our CO and upper chain of command regarding the Navy’s procedures to deal with entering radiated areas. Basically, they kept asking us to come up with a plan of action to allow us to continue to operate safely in a radiation cloud. DCA freaked out and was like, “THE PROCEDURE IS TO NOT DO IT! THE PROCEDURE IS TO AVOID THE CLOUD AND SEEK DEEP COVER! THE NAVY POLICIES ARE ALL TO NOT GO INTO THE MOTHERF!CKING CLOUD!” From a Damage Control view, we were completely under equipped and ill prepared to handle anything like this. We had a guy on “watch” sitting at the only authorized entrance to the weather decks with a little radiac device and they were scanning all the flight deck personnel and another one for our well deck…..They scannedâ€"and still scan regularlyâ€"the ship to note areas of radiation contamination, but there’s really nothing we could/can do to cope with it. I have no doubt that others from my ship will start showing similar symptoms.

What concerns me is that those of us who have transferred don’t have anything marked in our medical records. I’ve gone through two PHAs and had nothing asked about it.

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Sniper Attacks On California Power Station, Raise Fears of Terrorism

Officials are calling the sniper attacks on the PG&E power station near San Jose, California, last April significant acts of terrorism. The sniper snuck into the power station and fired over 100 methodically well placed shots; the shots from a high powered rifle caused the electric transformers to overheat and the attacker cut the cables for the 911 emergency call service. The unidentified person afterwards slipped away into the night.

Officials now fear the sniper attacks could be a new form of domestic terrorism. Michael McNerney, a security consultant for Delta Risk, thinks the incident could be the latest illustration of how cyber terrorism could be used to attack America. McNerney reported:

Yes, this is a likely target, and something we’re becoming more concerned about,” McNerney said. “Critical infrastructure are things we rely on as a country in order to function: electric grid, air traffic control, water system, stock market. And if they go down, it could potentially be catastrophic.”

Image Courtesy: Wikipedia

The attacks on the power station were at first reported as vandalism by local police and authorities, but since the coordinated attacks last April the case has been turned over to the FBI to further investigate for signs of terrorism. Although the FBI has not yet officially labeled the incident as terrorism. Jon Wellinghoff, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at the time, called it “the most significant incident of domestic terrorism involving the grid that the U.S. has ever seen.”

The FBI and local authorities still do not have any suspects in the case and the sniper remains on the loose. PG&E was able to reroute power around the substation and no one lost power because of the attacks.

Sniper Attacks On California Power Station, Raise Fears of Terrorism

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Lower Bond Rates? Fed Reserve President Fisher is in favor despite harsh winter

The president of the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas believes the nation needs to continue lowering bonds purchase rates despite the slow economic growth through the harsh winter weather. Bank president Richard Fisher thinks the economy is moving in right direction and he favors bond buying trims at each Federal Open Market Committee. Despite the sales drop at U.S. retailers being the lowest the economy has seen since June 2012, according the most recent figures from the Commerce Department.

In an interview with Bloomberg Radio in Dallas Fisher said, “I am not persuaded continuing to taper should be altered. Obviously, weather is playing a significant role here.”

Richard Fisher president of Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas favors continued bond trimming rates. Image Courtesy: Wikipedia

President Fisher who will vote on bond buying policies this year, still thinks the economy is moving in the right direction and doesn’t believe a change is necessary unless something really drastic happens in the economy.

If you look at activity in the west and the southwest and Florida, you are seeing pretty robust activity,” Fisher said.

Some lower than expected data on manufacturing and retail sales followed two straight employment reports that failed to reach the bar of what economists were hoping see. Payrolls grew by 113,000 last month and by 75,000 in December last year, the most unconvincing gains seen in recent years. The U.S. Department of Labor also reported the jobless rate fell last month to 6.6 percent.

The California native Fisher has been president of the Bank of Dallas since 2005, before leaving a firm where he served as a chief advisor to the White House regarding economy issues and policies. The Federal Reserve plans to continue tapering bond buying at a pace of $65 billion monthly.

Lower Bond Rates? Fed Reserve President Fisher is in favor despite harsh winter

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Military Researchers Are Close to Perfecting Pizza MRE Recipe For Soldiers

Soldiers in the field have been asking to have for this for years and are calling it the holy grail of ready-to-eat meals for soldiers. Military researchers are close to perfecting a recipe for pizza MRE’s (meals ready to eat). MRE’s have been issued to soldiers in field of combat since replacing canned goods back in 1981.

Pizza MRE one requested items by soldiers in the field of combat. Photo Courtesy: Associated Press

A U.S. military research lab in Massachusetts reports to be close to perfecting a pizza MRE recipe that doesn’t need to be refrigerated or frozen. Researchers and scientists at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research and Development Center get more and more requests each year from soldiers for pizza in their rations.

Researchers have been testing the recipe on and off for a few years, but have struggled with the moisture in the tomato sauce making the pizza dough soggy over time, which would create a haven for bacteria and mold to grow. Recently the researchers made a brake through in preventing the moisture from spreading with the use of sugar and syrups that constrain the moisture from spreading about the dough and making it soggy. The team at Natick also added more acidity to the pizza sauce to further protect from the growth of bacteria and they added iron fillings to the inside of pouch to absorb any air pockets. 

Michelle Richardson, one of the scientists that works at Natick labs says, “You can basically take the pizza, leave it on the counter, packaged, for three years and it’d still be edible.”

The pizza MRE is still in the developmental stage, so most soldiers haven’t gotten the opportunity to taste it yet. Jill Bates one of the researchers who runs the lab says, “It pretty much tastes just like a typical pan pizza that you would make at home and take out of the oven or the toaster oven, the only thing missing from that experience would be it’s not hot when you eat it. It’s room temperature.” Former Army lieutenant colonel, Daivd Accetta has also tasted the pizza and liked it. Accetta said, its important for soldiers in the field to have foods that they can enjoy.

Military Researchers Are Close to Perfecting Pizza MRE Recipe For Soldiers

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Jonathan Martin Blames Parents and the Good Life for His Troubles

Ted Wells released his report in to the Jonathan Martin/Richie Incognito bullying case and as could be expected it does not paint a very good picture.

@NBCLA/Twitter

The bullying claims have been confirmed even though Martin appeared to participate in the back and forth trash talk. However, according to the report Martin did so as a defense mechanism since he did not know how to handle the atmosphere in the Dolphins locker room after a life time of being bullied.

Most people would have simply blown Richie Incognito, Mike Pouncey, and John Jerry off, but Martin had never learned how to do so. In his report Wells describes Martin as a person that was bullied as early as middle-school on through high school before becoming a star football player.

Even though he has not been diagnosed with depression, Martin says that he is.

Where the report gets interesting is when it describes where Martin lays the blame for his shortcomingsâ€"his parents, the upper-middle class upbringing he had, and the quality schools that he attended. He told his mother as much last April in a text message (via USA Today):

“I figured out a major source of my anxiety. I’m a push over (sic), a people pleaser.  I avoid confrontation whenever I can, I always want everyone to like me. I let people talk about me, say anything to my face, and I just take it, laugh it off, even when I know they are intentionally trying to disrespect me.

“I mostly blame the soft schools I went to. … I used to get verbally bullied every day in middle school and high school, by kids that are half my size. I would never fight back, just get sad & feel like no one wanted to be my friend, when in fact I was just being socially awkward. Most people in that situation are witty & quick with sarcastic replies, I never have been. I’m awkward around people a lot of the time because I simply don’t know how to act around them.”

Soft schools? So because he was able to live the good life growing up he can’t handle being allegedly bullied? Could it be that maybe he needs to take some blame himself rather than try to deflect it everywhere else?

Maybe. Whatever the reason is there is one thing that is clearâ€"he is done playing professional football. There is not a team in the NFL that will want to have someone that can’t function in a less than perfect environment.

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Can Vitamin C Lower Risk of Stroke?

Can Vitamin C lower risk of stroke?
Image by Wikipedia

A new study shows that people who were deficient in Vitamin C were potentially at higher risk for hemorrhagic stroke.  According to the American Stroke Association, hemorrhagic strokes make up only 13 percent of strokes, but are typically deadlier than ischemic strokes.

A hemorrhagic stroke results when a weakened blood vessel ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain.  The two types of weakened blood vessels are aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations.

“This study suggests that a low level of vitamin C is a risk for spontaneous brain hemorrhages,” states lead researcher Dr. Stepane Vannier.  According to Dr. Vannier, the link may be due to Vitamin C potentially lowering overall blood pressure and aiding in maintaining blood vessel health.

A total of 65 people who had suffered strokes were compared with 65 healthy people in this study.  Blood samples taken showed that on average, depleted levels of Vitamin C correlated with those who had suffered strokes, whereas those who did not averaged normal levels of Vitamin C.

Can Vitamin C lower risk of stroke?
Image by Wikipedia

The depleted levels of Vitamin C did not link with higher instances of death, however did correlate with longer hospitalization.

“Vitamin C levels were significantly lower in people who had brain bleeds, compared with healthy people, but we have not yet calculated an odds risk,” states Dr. Vannier.

Although the study did find a potential correlation, it did not find a direct relationship.  Further studies will be needed to confirm the findings.

The findings are considered preliminary, and are due to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.

“Vitamin C does have a relationship to the integrity of tissue.  One can speculate that it might have something to do with brain bleeding,” states Dr. Ken Uchino, stroke specialist.

Dr. Vannier states that the best way to get Vitamin C is by diet rather than supplements, “We actually don’t recommend using vitamin C supplementation when there is no deficiency.”

Can Vitamin C lower risk of stroke?

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Roger Goodell 2012 Salary is a Whopping $44.2 Million

We hear, being the boss, is quite the big task, but the financial reward can really make it interesting. In the NFL it sure does pay to be the Big Boss. Just ask Roger Goodell. In Goodell’s case he gets paid to be the enforcer/bad guy, known for passing out fines.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made $44.2 million in 2012, according to tax returns the league has submitted. However he does have players who top even his salary. Drew Brees leads the way as the NFL’s top earner between June 2012 and June 2013 with $51 million. Brees signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension last summer with the New Orleans Saints that included a $37 million signing bonus and a $3 million salary for the 2012 season. Green Bay Quarterback, Aaron Rodgers is a close second making nearly $49 million a year.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during a Super Bowl XLVIII news conference at the Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center on January 31, 2014 in New York City.

Goodell earned $35.1 million in salary, bonus and pension compensation. Based on IRS reporting guidelines, his total 2012 compensation includes a $5 million incentive payment and a $4.1 million pension payment from the 2011 lockout year that was paid in 2012.

The league’s revenues have approached $10 billion and its TV ratings dominate all other programming.

“Commissioner Goodell’s compensation reflects the value of his leadership and the success of the NFL at the highest levels,” said Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, a member of the league’s compensation committee. “His significant accomplishments continue to strengthen our game, our business and our leading position in the sports industry.”

League general counsel Jeff Pash was second on the list of executives’ pay with $7.86 million, and he had $1.23 million in deferred compensation. Executive vice president Eric Grubman was at $4.243 million, with another $527,000 deferred.

“The NFL owners determined that the NFL under Goodell is the best-run sports league and has a great future,” said Marc Ganis, president of SportsCorp, a Chicago-based consulting firm, and close observer of the NFL. “They felt Roger’s performance warranted his compensation to at least be comparable to the highest paid commissioner, which has historically been Bud Selig.”

Selig is believed to earn a salary in excess of $20 million.

“The people who decided his performance warranted this compensation are the same people who are paying it, the 32 team owners,” Ganis added. “They decided that Goodell’s performance was worth a little more than $1 million for each of the teams â€" a very rational decision based on the extraordinary results Goodell has delivered for them.”

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Thousands Without Heat This Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a day to turn up the heat and celebrate your hot romance.  Heat, a word  East Georgia and western and southern Carolina are yearning for tonight.

Winter Weather Dismay
Courtesy of Associated Press

Ben Zielger is amongst  thousands having been without power the last three days.  He is continuing to cut firewood to keep his wife, 14-month-old daughter and neighbors warm.

“I got tired of this about five minutes after the lights went out,” the 33-year-old U.S. Army veteran said at a firewood stand near his Evans, Ga., neighborhood.

Unfortunately the end is nowhere in sight.  The power outage is expected to last through the weekend.

 Nikki Haley, compared the damage left by the two ice storms to the aftermath of a hurricane. “I didn’t know this was going to be in the same realm as Hugo,” Haley, who toured damaged areas Friday, said of the hurricane that struck in 1989. “To look at these neighborhoods and see the trees down and on houses â€" to see all of the devastation that’s happened to this community â€" is terrible.”

The same system dumped more than a foot or two of snow on parts of several states and was blamed for more than two dozen deaths, closed schools, snarled air traffic, caused countless crashed and delayed thousands of flower deliveries on Valentine’s Day.  Many residents are on wells with pumps that need electricity to operate. Some people had buckets out to catch the melting ice so they could use the water to flush their toilets.

Roads have begun to thaw allowing few to finally leave their homes.  Where do they go? Most places are closed because they don’t have power either.  Dollar General Stores are allowing customers to shop using flashlights and only taking cash since there is no power to scan plastic.

Driving is risky! Intersections are frozen, trees have fallen onto the streets and traffic lights are out.

Tedda and Stan Howard were ready to wait a long time to get their power back from Aiken Electric Cooperative. During the day, they cut down broken branches and repaired fences so their goats wouldn’t escape from their 56 acres near Williston. At night, they huddle around the propane heater and played chess by candlelight. They had a neighbor who had power and offered them a warm shower.

“With a hurricane, the storm blows through, does its damage and it’s gone. An ice storm is like a hurricane followed by a series of mini-hurricanes. You restore power to an area, but then the ice comes back and the same area goes down again,” said Bob Paulling, CEO of Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative in Lexington.

Thousands Without Heat This Valentine’s Day

The Associated Press Contributed To This Report

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Top 10 Richest People in the World

TOP 10 RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD Have you ever wondered who the richest people in the world are? As we all know, money makes the world go ‘round. Find out who is worth the most.

Richest people in the world
Image by Wikipedia

1. Carlos Slim Helu Topping the list of richest people in the world, and holding strong with a net worth of $78.2 billion. Carlos Slim Helu of Mexico slipped into second place not long ago, but has quickly regained first place.

2. Bill Gates While Bill Gates held the top for richest people in the world just days ago; he has fallen back into second recently, coming in at a net worth of $64 billion.

3. Amancio Ortega Coming in at third with an amazing story of self-made riches is Spain’s Amancio Ortega with $59.1 billion.

4. Warren Buffett American entrepreneur Warren Buffett comes in fourth with $51.7 billion.

5. Ingvar Kamprad Another self-made billionaire and owner of IKEA, Ingvar Kamprad holds fifth with $45.3 billion.

6. David Koch Coming in sixth with $43.6 billion, co-owner of Koch Industries.

7. Charles Koch Also co-owner of Koch Industries, coming in at $43.6 billion.

8. Larry Ellison CEO of Oracle has a net worth of $40.9 billion.

9. Christy Walton Widow of one of Sam Walton’s (founder of Wal-Mart) sons, John Walton, she has a net worth of $33.5 billion.

10. Jim Walton Youngest son of Sam Walton (founder of Wal-Mart), Jim Walton holds tenth place and is worth $32 billion.

Thanks for reading our TOP 10 RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!

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Sochi Winter Olympic Games Medal Count for February 13, 2014

  Sochi Winter Olympic Games Medal Count for February 13, 2014 

   Sochi Winter Olympic Games Medal Count  February 13, 2014Â		GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	ALL
1	NOR	4	3	6	13
2	NED	4	3	5	12
2	USA	4	2	6	12
4	RUS	2	5	4	10
5	GER	7	2	1	10
5	CAN	4	4	2	8
7	AUT	1	4	0	5
7	SWE	0	4	1	5
9	SUI	3	0	1	4
9	FRA	2	0	2	4

*Today: Norway still holds the lead with 13 medals. The Netherlands and the United Staes of America are tied in second place with 12 medals, and Russia close behind with 10 medals. Stay tuned with www.americanlivewire.com for all the Sochi Winter Olympic Games Medal Counts. 

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Will Cable TV Really Crush Netflix and Apple? Here Are Some Reason Why It Won’t

Streaming services have become exceedingly popular and are revolutionizing the way that people watch, produce and consume video based content. However, a potential deal that will allow Comcast to purchase cable TV provider Time Warner is looking to threaten these streaming services. If the deal is approved, it could hurt the ability of these services to negotiate deals to license content. Even though this poses an immediate issue for companies like Netflix, ultimately, these services will likely succeed in spite of industry opposition. Here’s why.

Price

The price for cable TV subscription has skyrocketed in recent years, with many paying more than 100 dollars a month. Cable gives its subscribers hundreds of channels and seemingly endless options. The problem is that the programs are on at a certain time and there are likely only select shows that one will watch, but are still required to pay for everything. Services like Netlix have become so appealing because they are so much cheaper. Netflix and Hulu both charge roughly $8 a month for their services and offer thousands of hours of content. Even if people decide to carry subscriptions to multiple streaming services, it will still be cheaper than cable.

Convenience

As mentioned, even though there seems to be a massive surge in quality programming on cable TV right now, it is still difficult to watch these shows as they air. Netflix solves that by simply allowing users to watch what they want, when they want. No longer are consumers forced to be home at 7 p.m to watch their favorite show. They can watch them as they please. Also, “binge-watching” has become very popular, where one can watch an entire season of a show in a day if they so please. People no longer have to wait a week to just watch one episode of a show. Also, with devices like the Roku, Apple TV, Tablets and smart TV’s the delivery system is becoming more clean and easy to use. The convenience factor is huge and likely won’t be ignored by consumers.

Content

“Content is king,” so the saying goes, and Netflix along with other services have an undeniable leg up with their content. Obviously the majority of the content for these services is licensed through other providers but with that, their customers get a centralized aggregation of this content. Netflix subscribers can watch AMC, NBC and FX shows all in one place. Plus, Netflix and Amazon have started producing their own critically acclaimed content as well, most notably House of Cards, which will have it’s second season premiering Feb. 14 on Netflix. Also, the service has just acquired the rights to Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which will air an unseen sixth season exclusively. This content aggregation is huge and is something cable can’t do.

The fate of cable TV and that of streaming services is uncertain. But history has shown us that if the delivery method is sound and the content is good, people will go to it. Apple had amazing success with iTunes and essentially reshaped an entire industry. Cable may be trying to crush streaming with this move, but odds are that streaming is here to stay.

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Minimum Wage Went Up Today as President Obama Signs Executive Order

Yes its true, minimum wage did go up! But, just for government contract workers. All this minimum wage hype only to find out it does not apply to everyone.

But hey, if you are a federal contract worker, who was unhappy about the pay you were receiving then cheer up a bit, you got a raise!

In a statement released by the White House here is what the President said:

Hello everyone,

Earlier today, I signed an Executive Order to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 for federal contract workers.

It’s the right thing to do. But what’s more, companies have found that when their employees earn more, they’re more motivated, they work harder, and they stick around longer. You should expect the same of your federal government.

The bottom line is this: We are a nation that believes in rewarding honest work with honest wages. And America deserves a raise.

If you agree, let me know you’re standing with me â€" and take a look at what else we’re going to do in 2014.

The order I signed today will help folks across the country. But it’s not enough.

Right now, there’s a bill in Congress that would raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour for all Americans. It would lift wages for more than 28 million current workers, and would move millions of Americans out of poverty. That means businesses would have customers with more money to spend.

Raising the minimum wage would grow the economy for everyone.

You don’t need to believe me: Believe the 600 economists â€" including seven Nobel Prize winners â€" who wrote both houses of Congress last month to remind them that the bill before them will have little or no negative effect on jobs.

When I stood before both chambers of Congress and said that I intended for 2014 to be a year of action, that wasn’t just a nice line in a speech. It was an acknowledgment that we’ve got to restore opportunity for everyone in America â€" the idea that no matter who you are, or how you started out, you can get ahead here if you’re responsible and willing to work for it. That’s what this “year of action” is all about.

And since that speech, I have taken actions on my own to make it easier for folks to save for retirement, help working Americans get the skills that good jobs demand, and assist millions of Americans who have been looking for work for several months. I’ve announced a major new commitment toward connecting our schools to 21st-century technology.

That action continues today, and in the months to come.

Take a look at what we’ve done already and what’s to come.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

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• We will only retain personal information as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes.
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• Personal data should be relevant to the purposes for which it is to be used, and, to the extent necessary for those purposes, should be accurate, complete, and up-to-date.
• We will protect personal information by reasonable security safeguards against loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or modification.
• We will make readily available to customers information about our policies and practices relating to the management of personal information.

We are committed to conducting our business in accordance with these principles in order to ensure that the confidentiality of personal information is protected and maintained.

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Top 10 Best E Liquid Vendors

TOP 10 BEST E LIQUID VENDORS For your vaping pleasure, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 best e liquid vendors out there.
Are you finding the information on the best e liquid to be a bit hazy? We can help you wade through the fog with our reviews of the top 10 best e liquid vendors! Burn through some of these vapes, and find the one that sparks your interest.

Top 10 best e liquid vendors

Here are the top 10 best e liquid vendors:

1.J Vapes- Like many other e liquid vendors, J Vapes provides a solid base of standard flavors that taste true to their name. What puts these guys at the top of the list? Their innovative methods in creating new combinations of e liquids and testing before release ensure that each product is a good, solid vape. With names like Yellow Submarine and Furry Wall who wouldn’t be intrigued? In need of a good system? They carry the top of the line Ego Starter Kit and Zmax. From amazing flavors, to great gear and mods, to exceptional customer service, these guys have got it right!

2. Pink Spot-With over 100 e liquid flavors to try, you’re likely to find something that will hit the spot here. Some of the top sellers are Gummy Bear and their USA Blend (tobacco), but I would personally recommend the Strawberry Cheesecake. Afraid you’ll never make it through all of those flavors in your lifetime? They’ll help you out by sending a sampler size bottle of random e liquid with every order.

Top 10 best e liquid vendors

3. DFW Vapor-Seemingly specializing in candies and desserts, which they do an amazing job of, don’t forget to check out the ”Other” page, featuring gems like Hibiscus and Kettle Corn. A personal favorite is currently Caramel Macchiato.

4. Mad Vapes-You’ll find over 150 flavors to choose from here. Along with the plethora of choices, you can find mods and gear, and D.I.Y. kits! Also, the only place I’ve been able to find Cherry Blossom e liquid!

5.Vapor Bomb- This site is packed with options for the vaping enthusiast. They boast a wide selection of standard flavors, with quite a few interesting mixtures as well. The best service offered is the chance to make your own Custom Blend using any of the flavors they have in stock! If you’re suffering from a stroke of genius, they’re more than happy to send you an entire D.I.Y. Kit so you can try your own hand at becoming the next great mixologist!

6. Heather’s Heavenly Vapes- This site is quite popular amongst the vaping community, and it’s easy to see why. Offering up a wide selection, many of which appear to be quite unique, including the option to “Build Your Own Waffle” in which you can add additional flavoring. They also offer the option to customize your blend of PG/VG for those of you who have found your sweet spot.

7. Tasty Vapors- This is another favorite amongst fellow “Vapers.” You can find a long list of available flavors available in strengths as high as 48mg! Can’t find the one you’re looking for? Try requesting a Custom Blend of up to three flavors with varying VG/PG mixtures, and the option to sweeten!

8. Johnson Creek- With an interactive website that allows you to hone in on your vapes based on selections like “Vapor Production” and “Throat Hit,” these guys are quite helpful. Their offerings are not as extensive as some; however their tobacco blends are some of the best. An all-time favorite of mine from this company is their French Vanilla. This is honestly the best vanilla flavor I have found anywhere!

9. E Liquid Planet-E Liquid Planet seems to be designed for the curious aficionado. While they do provide quite a range of flavors and blends, it appears that their specialty is in providing you with all of the gear and essences that you could possibly want to make your own blends.

10. Nite Lite Vapors- Has boasted an impeccable reputation for their tobacco blends for years. While they may not carry as many options for flavoring as some of the newer companies available today, if you’re a fan of the traditional tobacco flavors, this may be the right choice for you!

Top 10 Best E Liquid image from user Dave Calver on blogspot

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