20 Percent of Population Carry Alzheimer’s Protecting Gene

A natural protector against Alzheimer’s disease has been discovered by researchers from the University of California San Francisco and the Glandstone Institute. Researchers have found that a gene carried by 20 percent of the population can mitigate the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

The scientists were studying a variant of the Klothos gene, also known as KL-VS, and discovered that people who had the KL-VS gene performed better on cognitive function tests per Daily Digest News. When scientists duplicated the effect in mice test subjects, synaptic plasticity â€" the connection between neurons â€" was strengthened due to an increase of activity of a cell receptor associated with forming memories.

20 percent of the population are genetically protected against Alzheimer’s disease a study shows.
Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

“Based on what was known about klotho, we expected it to affect the brain by changing the aging process,” said lead author Lennart Mucke, MD, director of neurological research at the Gladstone Institutes and professor of neurology and at UCSF. “But this is not what we found, which suggested to us that we were on to something new and different.”

The discovery provides a huge breakthrough into the insight as to how genes can improve cognitive ability and could revolutionize the treated of diseases similar to Alzheimer’s. Because higher levels of klotho protein seem to help increase cognitive function throughout a person’s life, artificially raising klotho levels could help build a cognitive reserve as a bastion against the disease.

Rather than stop dementia, the increased klotho levels of a person offer a higher starting point of decline in cognitive ability and function.

It is estimated that about 20 percent of the population carry the KL-VS variant of the klotho gene or 1 in 5 people. Previous research also indicated that higher levels of klotho can lessen the potential for cardiovascular disease and is associated with living a longer life.

Researchers published these findings in the May 8 journal Cell Reports.

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If Something ‘Goes Without Saying’ Why Do People Still Say It? – ‘The Why’

Welcome to the newest edition of The Why.

Everywhere you look the media is pushing you telling you who to follow, what to watch and when to watch it.   You’re even sometimes told how to do it all.  Truth is, here at American Live Wire we do a bit of that too.  The big difference is we also tell you why.

You ask the questions.  We provide the answers.

“If something ‘goes without saying’ why do people still say it?” you ask? Good question. There are several reasons why people use this phrase. Sometimes it is one of those phrases used by someone who doesn’t really know what to say but it buys them a moment or two to think. One online commentator considers it a filler phrase that people sometimes use to flesh out a speech they feel is too short.

If something “goes without saying” why do people still say it? / Image: BuperStickerz

If something “goes without saying” why do people still say it? Sometimes people use the phrase as a way of promoting or hyping someone or something.  Advertisers employ this type of phrase on a regular basis in fact.

This might be why some online experts have labeled this phrase a “constipated clause.” In fact, the folks at Sales HQ call this one of the “11 stupid writing mistakes”. They say if it “’goes without saying’ then don’t say it. If it doesn’t, in fact, go without saying, then don’t say it does.”

If something “goes without saying” why do people still say it? “Emily” on YahooAnswers provided some additional insight. She stated: “My mom says it all the time. It’s something that you say when you believe that what you will say next is generally accepted or understood.”

Additionally, it’s a C.Y.A. thing in that when a person uses the phrase they are now informing the 1 percent of his/her audience that actually does not/may not know. (It certainly has grown to accumulate some built-in confusion as there is even a translation site that explain what a native user of the language means when he/she uses it.)

If something “goes without saying” why do people still say it? / Image: DailyCaller

This phrase (which refers to something that should be obvious) has also grown to become “one of the 11 overused phrases dumb people say” according to some online experts. But there is perhaps one more entertaining response to our question: If something “goes without saying” why do people still say it?

In the words of someone known only as “CountSpatula” if something “goes without saying” people still say it “probably (for) the same reason that there are Braille menus posted on drive-thru windows.”

If something “goes without saying” why do people still say it? Now you know.

You ask the questions.  We provide the answers.

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Californian Mites- The Fastest Land Animals

Californian Mites Beat the Cheetah, Get Crowned the Fastest Land Animal

At the speed of 60 whopping miles per hour, cheetah is well known as the fastest animal on the planet; but when it comes to speed based on body lengths per second, the Californian mite is what leaves the cheetah behind.

While the cheetah does manage an impressive 116 body lengths per second, the Californian mite covers a jaw dropping 322 body lengths per second, which is indeed commendable. The Paratarsotomus macropalpis, which is native to Southern California, is a close relative of ticks, and was discovered in the year 1916.

Californian Mites Beat the Cheetah
Photo Credits: Wikipedia

This Californian mite is believed to run at a speed equivalent to the speed of a person running 2,092 kilometers per hour, and has also managed to outrace the Australian Tiger beetle, which was previously known for its impressive speed of 171 body lengths per second.

The team of scientists who came across this interesting piece of news were actually attempting to study the muscular biochemistry and make up of insects, and discovered this fact by accident.

The researchers also found that these Californian mites were skilled at changing directions and had an impressive ability to tolerate heat- they were able to run on concrete surfaces heated upto 140 degrees Fahrenheit too.

It’s so cool to discover something that’s faster than anything else, and just to imagine, as a human, going that fast compared to your body length is really amazing,” Rubin explained. “But beyond that, looking deeper into the physics of how they accomplish these speeds could help inspire revolutionary new designs for things like robots or biomimetic devices.”

Scientists are now trying to find an upper limit to the speed of these mites.

Californian Mites Beat the Cheetah, Get Crowned the Fastest Land Animal

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2014 NFL Schedule: Seattle Seahawks are Too Good for Prime Time?

The NFL schedule for the 2014 season has been released and is burning up the internet. Most of the talk has been good, but one issue has fans perplexed.

@Seahawks/Twitter

How come the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are only playing one game at home during prime time?

When it comes to games broadcast on national television during prime time you would think that scheduling the reigning champs would be a good thing. To be fair, Seattle is playing four games in prime time. Three of them are away games and the other the NFL season opener against the Green Bay Packers.

So what gives?

Wellâ€"the answer is actually pretty simple. The Seahawks are just too darn tough at home.

Last season Seattle dominated each opponent they played at home in prime time. Both games against the 49ers were blow outs (42-13 and 29â€"3) as was the other prime time game against the New Orleans Saints (34-7).

While it is a smart move to put the reigning champs in prime time it is not so smart to put them in a position to succeed. Yes, a Seattle game is going to get good ratings, but if there is one thing fans like more than watching the champs it is watching them get knocked off their pedestal.

Since the networks and the league are not in the business of fixing games (or so we think…) they can make it a little bit tougher by taking away home field advantage.

First up will be the Washington Redskins in Week 5 on Monday Night Football; a game that could be tough if Robert Griffin III returns to form. Thanksgiving night the Seahawks will be in San Francisco for a conference championship game rematch. In Week 16 they travel to Arizona to take on a much improved Cardinals team.

So the lesson is this  NFL teamsâ€"if you want prime time games at home you have to be good, but not too good (i.e. the Dallas Cowboys host three).

[PFT]

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Toddler kills 11 year old girl, Jamara Stevens Fatally with Gun

Sunday, April 6 2014

PHILADELPHIA (AP) â€" A 2-year-old boy apparently shot and killed his 11-Updated: year-old sister while they and their siblings played with a gun inside a Philadelphia home, police said Sunday.

Jamara Stevens was fatally shot Saturday morning with a gun that police believe was brought into the home by the mother’s boyfriend a few hours earlier.

Photo: American Press

The mother was home with her four children in a master bedroom, Lt. John Walker said. Police say the shooting occurred when she left the room at about 10 a.m. to use the bathroom.

The 2-year-old pointed the loaded, cocked gun in the direction of his sister and the gun discharged, according to investigators. The fatal bullet struck Jamara’s shoulder and then traveled to her chest.

Jamara was rushed to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, but died about a half-hour later, police said. The girl’s mother was at the hospital, Walker said.

“She was distraught,” Walker said.

The bullet traveled through the girl chest and struck her heart, police said.

She was taken to a hospital but was pronounced dead, the station reported. The little boy was found with a burn and traces of gun powder on his arm.

Tiffany Goldwire was in the home with her four children, ages 14, 11, 7 and 2, the station reported.

Police believe the mother’s boyfriend had brought the gun to the house and stashed it on top of a refrigerator.

Later, police states the gun was left with the children in the room when she went to the bathroom,

It’s not immediately clear who brought it to the bedroom. Homicide detectives are investigating and will forward information to the district attorney’s office, police said.

No charges have been filed.

Police did not immediately return a message Sunday for an update.

Toddler kills 11 year old girl, Jamara Stevens Fatally with Gun.

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Buried Fossil Soils Contain Rich Carbon According to New Study

A new study finds that buried fossil soils contain rich carbon. Soils that formed thousands of years ago have been found to contain rich amounts of carbon which adds a major factor in Earth’s carbon cycle and climate change.

Buried Fossil Soils Contain Rich Carbon According to New Study â€" photo from Wikipedia

The study, led by author and University of Wisconsin-Madison assistant professor of geography Erika Marin-Spiotta, was supported by both the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and the National Science Foundation. According to Marin-Spiotta:

“It was assumed that there was little carbon in deeper soils. Most studies are done in only the top 30 centimeters. Our study is showing that we are potentially grossly underestimating carbon in soils. Most of the carbon (in the Brady soil) was fire derived or black carbon. It looks like there was an incredible amount of fire.”

Known as Brady Soil, Marin-Spiotta and her colleagues studied the 15,000-year-old soil located in the Great Plains of Nebraska and Kansas. The research found that this particular soil went through dramatic changes during the time glaciers were melting in the Northern Hemisphere which sparked a shift in the climate. This change left an extreme amount of wildfire that resulted in the carbon being trapped in the soil.

Also notable in the study by Marin-Spiotta’s team is the organic matter that was found from ancient plants. The burial from windborn dust called loess helped isolate the soil from outside biological processes that would have decomposed the organic matter and break down the carbon.

Researchers state that these buried soils are common and widespread and that these findings are significant as the study suggests that these trapped pockets of carbon contribute greatly to the global climate change. The study can be found in the Nature Geoscience journal.

Buried Fossil Soils Contain Rich Carbon According to New Study.

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Fast Food Wage Raise War Continues at Shareholder Meeting

The fast food wage raise war continued onward at McDonald’s annual shareholder meeting in Oak Brook, Illinois Thursday morning as hundreds of the company’s employees lined up to protest, demanding minimum wage to increase to $15 an hour and the right to unionize. Just the night before, more than 100of the fast-food chain’s workers were arrested for crossing a police barricade.

(Facebook)

Is a $15 per hour wage an option for future salaries at the burger joint? And is McDonald’s really paying their workers an unfair wage compared to the industry overall? The fast food wage raise war has reached its peak over the past month, with a nationwide fast-food strike held on May 15^th and with protests continuing, the chances of it stopping anytime soon look gloom.

There are more than 3 million people employed for preparing and serving food in the United States, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

They are a significant part of the labor market, making up 23 out of every 1,000 jobs in the United States. As of May 2013, the food-preparation and service industry paid an average hourly wage of $9.08. Statistics show that over half a million fast-food cooks earn an average of $9.07 an hour per BLS. This figure varies dependent on industry and state.

San Francisco area currently holds the highest average wages for fast-food workers in the country, but at $12.17 an hour, that falls nearly $3 short of what is being demanded by protesting McDonald’s employees. They are seeking $15 per hour. It is in fact true that fast-food workers, overall, are among the lowest paid employees in the country.

What is sure to escalate their frustration is there is no clear-cut definition of a livable wage in the U.S. However, it is clear that with an average annual wage of $18,880, fast-food workers who provided all the income in their households would only be able to support one other person without falling into poverty.

Fast Food Wage Raise War Continues at Shareholder Meeting

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Rescue of Injured Eagle Sparks Nationwide Debate Over Wildlife Intervention

A nationwide debate began over U.S. wildlife intervention when officials rescued an injured eagle that was suffering from a broken wing. The injured eagle was part of a nest of eaglets that were being broadcasted to thousands of people all over the world.

On the other hand, a moose was found in pain from an open wound where its tail should have been in Minnesota. Wildlife experts agreed that it was a result of a wolf attack and chose to leave it alone.

Minnesota Nongame Wildlife Program’s EagleCam.
(Facebook)

These types of natural events in the wild highlight a nationwide issue that’s common all throughout the country: when should we let nature take its course and when is it appropriate to intervene?

“It depends on the circumstances in each case, and often it depends on how man has affected the situation,” Dough Inkley, a senior scientist with the National Wildlife Federation said, according to The Associated Press.

Though every animal is needed to maintain genetic diversity, Inkley and other biologists prefer leaving it up to nature’s wisdom, though intervention can occur with endangered species or when humans caused the problem, says AP.

Yellowstone National Park spokesperson Amy Bartlett says that officials hardly intervene with nature. The only case she could remember was when a grizzly bear was hit by a car several years ago.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced a “hands-off” approach when they went live with an EagleCam this spring. The EagleCam had a large following when three baby eagles hatches, though soon after one of the chicks began experiencing issues.

Eagle-viewers demanded that action take place, posting a slew of complaints on the Nongame Wildlife Program’s Facebook page along with calls to the governor’s office. Officials then decided to take the injured eagle from its nest, according to AP.

The eaglet was taken to The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota, where vets found it had a systemic infection and a broken wing. They were forced to euthanize the eaglet after determining it had no chance of surviving in the wild or living a pain-free life in captivity.

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Refugees From Syria Denied Cancer Healthcare

With millions of Syrians driven from their homes and huge numbers having fled a decade of violence in Iraq, the region’s healthcare has been overwhelmed.

Photo Courtesy: Syrian Telegraph

Lack of funds are forcing aid workers to deny Syrian war victims and other refugees with cancer the care they need.

With millions of Syrians driven from their homes by three years of conflict, and large numbers having fled over a decade of violence in Iraq, health systems in the region have been too overwhelmed, the UN refugee agency’s top medical expert warned on Monday.

“We can treat everyone with measles, but we can’t treat everyone with cancer,” said Paul Spiegel, UNHCR’s medical chief.

Doctors are therefore having to make heart-rending decisions about who gets cancer care and who is left to fend for themselves.

“We have to turn away cancer patients with poor prognoses because caring for them is too expensive.”

“After losing everything at home, cancer patients face even greater suffering abroad â€" often at a huge emotional and financial cost to their families,” Spiegel said.

In a new study published in the journal The Lancet Oncology, Spiegel documented hundreds of refugees in Jordan and Syria denied cancer treatment due to limited funds, and called for urgent new steps to tackle cancer in humanitarian crises.

A study looked at refugees in Jordan and Syria from 2009 to 2012 â€" therefore covering not only those fleeing the Syrian civil war that broke out in 2011, but exiles from older conflicts such as that in Iraq, which began with the US-led overthrow of dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Breast cancer is most common amongst refugees, accounting for almost a quarter of all applications in Jordan to UNHCR’s “Exceptional Care Committee”, which decides whether to fund expensive treatments.

In Jordan, the committee could only approve 246 out of 511 refugee applications for cancer treatment between 2010 and 2012.

The main reason was poor prognosis, meaning a patient had little chance of recovery, leading the committee to decide that the limited amount of money was better spent on other patients.

But it is also having to reject patients with good prognoses, because their treatment is too expensive.

“We face a terrible decision over who to help,” said UNHCR doctor Adam Musa Khalifa.

“Some patients have a good prognosis, but the cost of treating them is too high. These decisions affect all of us psychologically.”

Refugees From Syria Denied Cancer Healthcare.

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Emma Watson Shares Cap and Gown Selfie On Graduation Day

Emma Watson can add yet another credential to her already impressive resume: Brown University college graduate. The actress, 24, shared her milestone with fans on social media when she tweeted a selfie of herself donning her school’s cap and gown for her graduation ceremony. Watson received her bachelor’s degree in English literature Sunday per E! News.

The actress, best known for her infamous role of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, began her freshman year at the Ivy League school back in 2009. She also studied at England’s Oxford University and continued to make movies while going to school. She took one year off in 2011, but still managed to graduate within 5 years â€" a feat that is quite impressive given her demanding career.

(Twitter)

The starlet said that while deciding to pursue higher education she was nervous about trying to blend in with her classmates. “On the first day, I walked into the canteen and everyone went completely silent and turned to look at me,” she told The Sunday Times in March. “I had to say to myself, ‘It’s okay, you can do this. You just have to take a deep breath and gather your courage.’”

Watson’s leading role in the Potter franchise made it difficult to blend into the crowd. “I was in denial,” she said in a 2011 interview. “I wanted to pretend I wasn’t as famous as I was. I was trying to seek out normality, but I kind of have to accept who I am, the position I’m in and what happened.”

As if school wasn’t enough to juggle, Watson shot the final two Harry Potter movies and starred in indie films like The Bling Ring and The Perks of Being a Wallflower while she was in school. She also filmed Darren Aronofsky’s biblical hit Noah.

Next on Watson’s list? She is working on the thriller Regression, co-starring Ethan Hawke and her other future plans are TBD.

“When I finish my degree,” the actress said while guest-editing Wonderland‘s February 2014 issue, “I will have a lot more time to pursue other passions, and I want to figure out what those will be. I love having something completely unrelated to the film industry. I want to find something that will let me use my brain in another way. I like connecting people who aren’t part of that world, too.”

Congrats Emma Watson!

Emma Watson Shares Cap and Gown Selfie On Graduation Day

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Cute Bear Cub Found in Bushes, to be Placed in Zoo

An adorable black bear cub turned out to be an unlikely suspect held overnight by the police in southern Oregon. On Monday, the said cub was dropped in a large plastic storage bin at the police station by a teenager as said by Myrtle Creek Police Chief Don Brown. The small animal was found whimpering in the bushes outside  his house on the outskirts of town by the said teen. It was dangerous on the part of the teen to pick up the cub apprehending the mother bear could have spotted him and attacked as opined by Brown.

Brown said that while spending the night at the station, the 12 pound bear cub was “very well behaved”.  Moreover the search conducted for the cub’s mother by Police and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials using device that mimics a cub distress call was in vain.

Orphaned Black Bear Cub Spends Night with Cops in Oregon
Photo Credit: Flickr

A veterinary check-up is being done to the orphaned cub at the University of Oregon. The bear cub is a female and is in generally good health as compared to other than being underweight as said by the Fish and Wildlife officials. Though not confirmed which one, but they said that the bear cub will be placed at a zoo.

“We’ve had two baby rattlesnakes brought into the station, but nobody has brought in a bear in the last nine years I’ve been here,” Brown explained. The Wildlife officials say that they are not aware as to what happened to the cub’s mother.

There have been no reports of a bear being hit by a car, nor hunter reported killing one and no dead bear has been found in the area as confirmed by the officials.

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Supernova SN 2013cu: ‘Better To Burn Out Than To Fade Away . . .’

Supernova SN 2013cu is the focus of a new study of supernovas published in the journal Nature this week. Scientists in Berkeley, California are now able to locate and observe supernovas in detail. In the case of supernova dubbed SN 2013cu the astronomers have actually been able to discover which kind of star was the catalystâ€"namely, a Wolf Rayet star.

A Wolf Rayet star is twenty times as large as the sun and will reportedly burn five times hotter. Wolf Rayet stars are believed to be the brightest stars in the universe. Their deaths are incredible. They explode in a huge “burst of fiery light” and researchers also consider them to be quite mysterious.

Supernova / Image: Wikipedia

The mystery is mainly due to the fact that their deaths are so powerful and so bright that they become difficult to observe. The light and matter propelled out into the universe often are said to obscure the actual “source of the explosion.” Thus, until recently astronomers have been uncertain on precisely how and why Wolf-Rayet stars self-destruct.

Scientists have even pondered whether these Wolf-Rayet stars are actually responsible for the incredible explosions called supernovas. Fortunately, cutting-edge observation techniques for locating and examining supernovas are aiding in learning more about them.

Peter Nugent, head of the Berkeley Lab’s Computational Cosmology Center, said: “For the first time, we can directly point to an observation and say that this type of Wolf-Rayet star leads to this kind of Type IIb supernova.”

He and his team of investigative astronomers found that the recently-located Type IIb supernova dubbed SN 2013cu was born in the Bootes constellation approximately 360 million light years distant from Earth. They discovered the supernova by utilizing the Palomar Transient Factory which is “a robotic telescope” which unceasingly searches the heavens for supernova-like explosions. By scrutinizing the supernova almost immediately after it occurred Nugent and his team of astronomers amassed incredible amounts of information.

Dr Gal-Yam, of the Weizmann Institute, in Israel and author of the supernova study, noted that a new method of analysis, flash spectroscopy, was used to establish “the makeup” of the supernova.  He stated: “Newly developed observational capabilities now enable us to study exploding stars in ways we could only dream of before. We are moving towards real-time studies of supernovae.”

Nugent concluded that the results indicated that this particular supernova was caused by “a dying Nitrogen-rich Wolf-Rayet. This is the smoking gun.”

Supernova SN 2013cu: ‘Better To Burn Out Than To Fade Away . . .’

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Does Sean Connery Slap Women?

Sean Connery is a legendary actor and film icon. At various points in his career he’s been the man every man wants to be whether it was  playing James Bond or Highlander, but does Sean Connery slap women?

Does Sean Connery slap women? â€" photo courtesy of Imgur

Connery is 83 years old, and women have come a long way since Connery was a young man. In the past, women were certainly not respected by men in the same way that they are today, which is why some of the chauvinistic ideas put on display in his 007 films have been dismissed to a degree, but Connery himself has been vocal over the years about his feelings towards hitting a woman.

A video of an interview the actor did back in 1987 with Barbara Walters made its way onto Reddit recently and has surprised some fans who were unaware of Connery’s feelings on the subject.

“I don’t think it’s that bad. I think it depends entirely on the circumstances and if it merits it,” Connery said.

Walters proceeded to ask Connery what he thought an appropriate situation to hit a women would be and he did have a fairly specific answer saying that if you have tried everything else and the woman can’t leave it alone, than it is ok to slap her. Walters was clearly disgusted with his thinking and this is not the only time Connery has publicly stated his feelings on the matter.

In 1965, Connery did an interview with Playboy and was asked how he felt about roughing up women, as his character James Bond would have to do from time to time. Surprisingly, Connery’s answer was even more blunt.

“I don’t recommend doing it in the same way that you’d hit a man. An openhanded slap is justifiedâ€"if all other alternatives fail and there has been plenty of warning. If a woman is a bitch, or hysterical, or bloody-minded continually, then I’d do it,” Connery said.

Connery hasn’t spoke on the matter much since the Walters interview, but it is something that is seemingly hard for many people to swallow in today’s society, especially from someone who so many people idolize.

Be sure to watch the clip from the Barbara Walters interview below.

YouTube video courtesy of Kalle72

Does Sean Connery Slap Women?

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California Woman Located 10 Years After Being Kidnapped

A 25-year old Southern California woman reported missing in 2004, has been found after contacting police about her alleged kidnapping and captivity of 10 years against her will.

A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping for rape, lewd acts with a minor and false imprisonment after the young victim came forward almost a decade after she was reported missing by her mother.

Santa Ana police arrested Isidro Garcia on suspicion of kidnapping a California woman and holding her captive for 10 years
Courtesy of Santa Ana PD

Isidro Garcia of Bell Gardens was placed in police custody on Tuesday, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.

The unidentified woman was only 15 years old when her mother alerted police that she and her boyfriend had gone missing after a “domestic violence incident” had occurred in their home.

At the time, the boyfriend was living with the young girl’s family and the mother believed Garcia was sexually abusing her daughter, but had no concrete proof of the allegation.

According to a SAPD news release, the victim recently made contact with her sister through Facebook before mustering up the courage to go to police with her story.

The woman told police that the sexual abuse initially started in June 2004 when Garcia came to live with the family at their home in the 800 block of South Fairview Street in Santa Ana. Two months later, after assaulting her mother, Garcia drugged the young girl and took her to a house located in Compton.

She was kept locked in a garage and given fictitious identification papers.

“Over the course of the following months and years, Garcia repeatedly told the victim her family had given up looking for her, and if she tried to go back to them, the family would be deported,” the news release stated.

The victim was frequently subjected to emotional and physical abuse by Garcia on a regular basis and was forced to move repeatedly in order to avoid police, according to the report.

Officials disclosed the couple was employed by a nighttime cleaning service, which allowed Garcia to “keep a close eye on the victim.”

“Even with the opportunity to escape, after years of physical and mental abuse, the victim saw no way out of her situation and lived a life with Garcia under sustained physical and mental abuse,” the news release stated.

Three years after her abduction, the victim was coerced into marriage by Garcia. She gave birth to his child in 2012.

The case has been turned over to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

California Woman Located 10 Years After Being Kidnapped

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Is There A National Church of Beyonce? Does The Singer Have Her Own Religion, ‘Beyism’?

Is There A Church of Beyonce? Does The Singer Have Her Own Religion? Image courtesy of 91.2 Crooze FM FB Page

Beyonce fanatics have proven to be dedicated “worshipers” of the singer and now it appears ‘Beyism’ has become a ‘religion’. Is this spreading religion just a joke or something more?

Reportedly a 23 year old named Taniya Hattersfield committed suicide as a sacrifice to the singer. She considered Beyonce to be her ‘lord and savior’ and was found in her College Park, Georgia home dead. She was surrounded by a homemade shrine dedicated to the entertainer.

The story surfaced a little over a month ago and has left many outraged. Many believe that the singer should speak out against such acts, but Knowles has yet to respond to it.

Reportedly an organization in Atlanta Georgia founded the church dedicated to worshiping the songstress. It is said that the church reads lyrics by the singer, who has referred to herself as “King Bey”, as scriptures. They allegedly gather on Sunday’s to sing her songs as well.

The group of ‘Beyist’ posted the following statement on their website. “We are very disappointed in the failure of the public to recognize the existence of a divine Deity walking among them. Deity’s often walk the earth in their flesh form. Beyonce will transcend back to the spirit once her work here on Mother Earth has been completed.”

The statement continued on saying, “As our congregation begins to swell, we ask that you consider what is more real; an invisible spirit on high, or a walking, talking breathing Goddess who shows you her true form daily… While we do not believe Beyonce to be the Creator, we recognize that she still sits among the throne of Gods.”

The term ‘Beyism’, which is the label for this fan made religion has been coined by her fans who are referred to as the ‘BeyHive’. There is even a Tumblr page dedicated to ‘The National Church of Beyonce‘. A YouTube video shows a 46 second commercial dedicated to the church for the superstar’s fans.

The site asked onlookers to respect their choice stating, “We humbly ask you to respect our beliefs, just as you want those to respect yours. Open your mind to new possibilities and you will see, just as we did, that Bey is a true higher power.”

The ‘Drunk in Love’ singer’s fan base have proven to be passionate about the entertainer. Saturday Night Live recently spoofed how overly zealous the ‘BeyHive’ can be with their ‘Beygency’ trailer. What may be a joke to some, is quite serious to others, especially considering the reported suicide by one extremist. Will Beyonce Knowles speak about such extremes; no one knows.

Is There A ‘Church of Beyonce’? Does The Singer Have Her Own Religion, ‘Beyism’?

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Scientists Discover New Species of Praying Mantis

New Species of Female Praying Mantis Lays Egg Case in Captivity

A new species of praying mantis known as the bush tiger mantis or Dystacta tigrifrutex has been discovered. The wingless females of this species can supposedly catch prey that is close to the ground, much similar to a big cat.

At first, the scientists had come across only the male species of this praying mantis, but soon enough, they also managed to capture a female, who surprisingly also laid an egg case, which gave the scientists a sneak peek into the emerging nymps. This also gave them an opportunity to view these new species in their nymphal stages.

“We knew this mantis was special after completing nearly eight months of work to identify all the specimens found during the three week expedition,” lead author Riley Tedrow, Case Western Reserve University, explained in a statement. “The new species is amazing because the fairly small female prowls through the underbrush searching for prey while the male flies and appears to live higher in the vegetation.”

Researchers discover a new species of praying mantis
Photo Credits: Flickr

One of the distinguishing features that helped the scientists identify the species is the presence of the male genetilia which was usually missing due to the ants eating up important parts of the insects that may have died. Apparently, the scientists came across this new species when they were attempting to study the local insects using light traps.

This species of praying mantis was first discovered in Nyungwe National Park, and the scientists will now be returning there to hunt for additional mantises and also examine other locations of the area.

Their findings have been published in the journal ZooKeys.

New Species of Female Praying Mantis Lays Egg Case in Captivity

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Antipsychotics Reduce Violent Crime By 50 Percent Study Shows

For people with mental illnesses, antipsychotics have proven to greatly alter their moods, behaviors, and actions. In a new study, researchers analyzed the relationship between taking antipsychotic medication or mood stabilizers against the rate of violent crimes. Through their research, they found that when people with psychiatric illnesses take their medications, they become around 50 percent less likely to commit a violent crime compared to when they skip their medications.

Antipsychotics have been shown to reduce violent crime by almost 50%. Image courtesy of Wikipedia

The psychiatric diagnoses of 40,937 men and 41,710 women in Sweden who were given mood-stabilizing and antipsychotic drugs between 2006 and 2009 were analyzed for the study, which was published in The Lancet per Canada Journal.

A team of British and Swedish researchers, led by Dr. Seena Fazel from Oxford University, found that 6.5% men and 1.4% of women were found guilty of a violent crime in the span of those three years.

Those patients who received antipsychotics committed 45% fewer violent crimes during periods when they were not on medication, though that figure was 24% lower for those on mood stabilizers.

Taking a combination of both types of drugs had no further effect on the number of violent crimes committed, the researchers deduced.

The team also discovered that, while the antipsychotics are typically prescribed to people diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, many study participants were taking them for other conditions such as depression or substance abuse.

Dr. Fazel said it was unknown until the study whether antipsychotic and mood-stabilizing drugs had any impact on the level of violent crimes committed.

He said that his team’s research suggested the risk of violence could be dramatically reduced by antipsychotic drugs, and that violence could even be preventable in patients that have psychiatric disorders.

Up to one in 50 people in the United Kingdom(2%) are thought to suffer from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or related disorders.

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Colorado Mom Miraculously Found Alive Six Days After Car Crash

A Colorado mom who lost both her feet after being trapped in car wreckage for six days, is speaking out for the first time about her horrifying ordeal, saying thoughts of her four children kept her from giving up hope.

The 43-year-old single mother recalls leaving work on April 27, and taking her usual route home on highway 285.  The next thing she remembers is waking up the next day trapped in her vehicle that was flipped upside down, 120 feet below the freeway.

Colorado mom, Kristin Hopkins, recovers from double amputation surgery after surviving six days without food or water, when her car plunged 120 feet off freeway embankment.
Courtesy of Kristin Hopkins Recovery Facebook

“I remember waking up and it was daylight and I was like, ‘What the heck happened?’” Hopkins said. “One thing I did, and I don’t know why, I tried to turn the car on. I don’t know where I was going to go. It was upside down.”

After suffering significant trauma, Kristin Hopkins, 44, found herself stranded in her mangled Chevrolet Malibu for six grueling days, all without any means of food or water. Doctors affirm she was just eight hours from death’s door when she was discovered by two passing motorists, Andy and Hope Lombard on May 4.

Reported missing on April 29, Hopkins was unconscious when she was finally discovered and was immediately transported to St. Anthony Hospital with critical injuries, as her internal organs had  begun to shut down and her feet were severely crushed in the crash. Doctors were left with no choice but to perform a double amputation surgery.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Hopkins remarkably has no recollection of the pain. She remembers feeling the dampness of the blood on her skin and clothing, but thoughts of her kids gave her the will she needed to persevere.

“I never had the death thought in my head,” she said. “It was more or less like all right, well, when will someone find me?”

The resilient mom miraculously mustered up the strength to pen notations on an umbrella and stick it out her crumbled car door. On the white panels of the sunshade, she managed to etch the words: “Hungry, thirsty, need a doctor”, although she has no recollection of doing so.

‘The one door I could open this much, I got the umbrella out and I opened it and it stayed there. …I don’t remember what day that was,’ she said.

It took a lot of strength and fortitude on Hopkins part to survive the excruciating six-day ordeal.  Her shear determination, along with the faces of her four loving children, Thor, Dane, Juno and Ekko, continue to be the driving force towards Hopkins successful recovery, as she endures painful physical therapy sessions.

“I can, I will. End of story,” she said.

Colorado Mom Miraculously Found Alive Six Days After Car Crash

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5 NATO Soldiers Killed When UK Helicopter Crashed In Afghanistan

A helicopter belonging to the UK was carrying some troops in Southern Afghanistan when it crashed Saturday, killing 5 of the NATO soldiers on board. The reason for the crash is still under investigation, but a Taliban group has already spoken out, claiming responsibility. While the US-led Coalition is not ruling out the Taliban as a potential cause of the helicopter’s crash, they are being cautious about accepting the group’s claim. Often times the Taliban will attempt to take credit for accidents that they were not a part of in hopes of boosting their morale, or to intimidate foreign troops in their region. The climate in Southern Afghanistan is a very difficult climate to properly maintain equipment, and it could still be possible that the helicopter crashed due to a mechanical failure of some sorts.

Featured Image of LYNX Helicopter from Wikipedia.

Saturday’s crash marks the very first time that a UK Military Helicopter crash has caused fatalities since the war began years ago. While many are suspecting that all 5 of the NATO troops on board were of British nationality, the identities of all of those killed will be kept secret until their families can first be notified. The helicopter crashed in the Kandahar Province in Southern Afghanistan, which was near the Kandahar Air Base, one of the coalition’s strongholds in Afghanistan.

The UK has had an exceptional flight record so far in the Afghan conflict, thanks in part to the superb quality of their equipment, and the discipline of their flight and ground crews. The British troops will continue to fly missions as they prepare to withdraw completely from Afghanistan as the conflict winds down. The responsibility of policing the country will be handed over completely to Afghan forces in the years to come. Foreign troops have been training Afghan forces for the past few years to ensure that they will be prepared for their own conflicts ahead.

5 NATO Soldiers Killed When UK Helicopter Crashed In Afghanistan.

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Hawaii’s Hot Story: New Underwater Volcano

Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa recently announced the discovery of a new underwater volcano. Oahu, the third largest Hawaiian island, is actually composed of three large Hawaiian “shield volcanoes.” Until recently, scientists believed it consisted of only two volcanoes.

Oahu is largely the remnant of a pair of volcanoes named Waianae and Ko’olau. Extending almost 100 kilometers from the western tip of the island of Oahu is an area of shallow bathymetry (or underwater topography) called Ka’ena Ridge.

Hawaiian volcano / Image: Wikipedia

The investigative team designated this area as “a precursor volcano to the island of Oahu.” The Waianae Volcano was previously thought to have been exceptionally large and simply came to be an unusual distance from the ancient Kaua’i Volcano. The UH team discovered this was not true.

Lead Study Author and Emeritus Professor of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology John Sinton stated: “Both of these assumptions can now be revised: Waianae is not as large as previously thought and Ka’ena Volcano formed in the region between Kaua’i and Waianae.”

A study in 2010 revealed an odd chemistry of strange lavas of Waianae Volcano that drew their attention and warranted further study sometime in the near future. Sinton noted: “We previously knew that they formed by partial melting of the crust beneath Waianae but we didn’t understand why they have the isotopic composition that they do. Now, we realize that the deep crust that melted under Waianae is actually part of the earlier Ka’ena Volcano.”

After analyzing data logged by the research vessel Kilo Moana it was determined that the Ka’ena Ridge had an unusual form or shape that was unlike that of other area extensions of volcanoes on land. The research team collected numerous samples from both the Ka’ena and Wai’alu Ridges. Thus they discovered that Ka’ena was indeed separate from Waianae but was in reality a third, separate underwater volcano.

Sinton noted: “What is particularly interesting is that Ka’ena appears to have had an unusually prolonged history as a submarine volcano, only breaching the ocean surface very late in its history.” He concluded that there is a lot more left to be learned this new underwater volcano.

Jack S. Chesney, a former Penn State penman and commentator was not too surprised by this new underwater volcano. He told American Live Wire: “I was born there. I have studied my birth place and followed the research. This new underwater volcano logically just had to be there but when it comes to science you simply can’t say too much too soon without consequences.”

Hawaii’s Hot Story: New Underwater Volcano

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Michael Jackson Hologram Steals the Show At Billboard 2014 Awards

There were many memorable moments at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards, but a Michael Jackson hologram stole the show overall.

The Michael Jackson hologram performed a previously unreleased “Slave to the Rhythm” Sunday night, beginning with a synchronized SWAT Team dancing until a curtain dropped revealing Jackson sitting on a thrown. The hologram (or perhaps someone impersonating MJ â€" reports say it was difficult to tell if the projection was indeed an image or perhaps a real person) sang and danced to the upbeat dance tune, which appears on the late King of pop’s recently released Xscape, in the same urgent, frenzied, and breathy tenors he gave Dangerous tracks like “In the Closet” and “Jam”.

A Michael Jackson hologram stole the show at Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards.
Facebook image.

The performance was brief but in true Michael Jackson fashion the hologram moonwalked, crouched, and twirled its way across the stage dazzling fans.

The Billboard Awards show’s producers had tried to keep the Michael Jackson hologram under wraps, however it was leaked when two companies, including one that acquired the company that make the Tupac Shakur hologram at Coachella 2012, filed a lawsuit against the show. A judge rejected their claim, citing there was not enough evidence to support that the Billboard Music Awards was violating their patents â€" or even used their patents.

Jackson began working on “Slave to the Rhythm” when he was recording his 1991 album Dangerous. The version the hologram performed was “contemporized,” to us Xscape executive producer L.A. Reid’s word, by four producers, including the likes of Timbaland, Babyface and Reid, for the record.

Xscape contains tracks that Reid pulled from the Jackson family vaults, featuring material recorded between Thriller and his final album, Invincible. Reid then tasked a number of producers, including those listed above, to give the tracks a more modern edge. To show the differences in the versions, the album was released in two different configurations â€" one with the contemporized songs and a second disc with just the original versions.

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Arizona Officials Hold Emergency Meeting on 3 Wrong-Way Driver Collisions in 6-Day Span

Arizona officials gathered together Sunday to hold an emergency meeting to discuss three fatal, head-on wrong-way driver collisions that happened in a span of 6-days. Both law enforcement and transportation officials attended the meeting.

The third fatal collision took place early Sunday morning when two people were killed after their car was struck by a wrong-way driver on the Santan Freeway in Gilbert, Arizona Department of Public Safety Officials said.

An emergency meeting was held Sunday after 3 wrong-way driver collisions took place in a 6-day span in Arizona.
Image courtesy of Wikipedia

The fatal crash is the third to take place in six days by a wrong-way driver. The three collisions combined have claimed the lives of seven people â€" including an off-duty police officer according to USA Today.

The string of three fatal car collisions in just a week’s time is a tragic coincidence that even law enforcement officials and investigators are struggling to wrap their minds around, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Raul Garcia said.

“This past week and a half has weighed heavy with everyone involved,” Garcia said.

On Sunday, a pickup truck entered the Loop 202 along the eastern stretch of the freeway, heading west in the eastbound lanes, Garcia said.

Multiple patrol vehicles and police responded, but unfortunately they were too late to catch the truck, after it collided head-on with a car, Garcia said. Two people were killed that were travelling in the correct direction. The driver of the truck suffered from serious injuries while the passenger suffered non-life threatening injuries. Both were taken to the hospital.

Impairment is said not to be a factor, Garcia said.

Authorities try to intercept wrong-way drivers with stop sticks or by ramming their vehicles, Officer Carrick Cook, a Department of Public Safety spokesman said.

“There is no existing protocol that would be outside of just trying to get ahead of the vehicle,” he said.

An off-duty police officer, officer Brandon Mendoza, 32, was killed in the early morning of May 12, when 42-year-old Raul Silva-Corona rammed into Mendoza’s vehicle on a ramp linking U.S. 60 to Interstate 10 as he was heading to his Phoenix home after finishing a patrol shift, police said.

Silva’s blood-alcohol content was 0.24%, more than triple the legal limit to drive in Arizona. He had driven more than 30 miles in the wrong direction on Valley freeways, with highway patrol attempting to track him down before the crash. Both men were killed in the crash.

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Johnny Maziel’s biggest target WR Josh Gordon faces suspension

Josh Gordon, Wide Receiver Cleveland Browns â€" photo by Erik Drost

Less than 24-hours after the Browns drafted quarterback Johnny Manziel, All-Pro wide receiver Josh Gordon, failed an alleged third drug test and faces a year-long suspension as reported by NFL Network.

Josh Gordon posted a league high in receiving yards (1,646) in just 14 games last season. The 23-year-old wide receiver was suspended the first two games of the 2013-2014 season for violating the leagues substance abuse policy, which was the second strike levied to Gordon by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Gordon who had been campaigning publicly this offseason for the Brown’s to select the Texas A&M quarterback, may now be lost for the entire season after facing his third strike.

Josh Gordon has had a string of failed drug tests dating back to his college playing days at Baylor, which eventually led to the wide receiver being dismissed by Baylor. Gordon was in stage two of the league’s substance abuse policy after having two positive tests, the second being for codeine. His most recent suspension is linked to a positive for marijuana which is being speculated to earn the star wide receiver a year-long ban.

If Gordon’s suspension is indeed season long, Manziel and the Cleveland Browns will be faced with moving forward with only one legitimate threat in their passing attack in Pro bowl Tight End Jordan Cameron. The Browns also added former Texans running back Ben Tate via free agency which will aid the rookie quarter back who will compete with incumbent Brian Hoyer; however the loss of Gordon is a blow to the offense.

Three rounds into the draft the Browns are still yet to draft a wide receiver to address the potential void created by the looming departure of their third year All-Pro wide receiver. As Josh Gordon faces suspension by the league, Cleveland still has another four rounds and an entire offseason to add talent at wide receiver to their roster.

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13000 Year Old Skeleton DNA To Teach Us About Native Ancestors

A teenage girl was unfortunate enough about 13,000 years ago to fall into a hole and die. Her skeletal remains were found recently by divers who were exploring underwater caves in Mexico, and are some of the oldest ever found in the Americas. The girls’s bones have been exhumed so that they can be studied, and have their DNA extracted for further research. Scientists are hoping that this young girl’s DNA will be able to tell us something about some of the most ancient known inhabitants of the Mexican Peninsula. The cave system where her bones were found is known as the Sac Atun Cave System and is located near the city of Tulum in the Eastern Yucatan Peninsula.

It is believed that the girl fell to her death in the cave, presumably while searching for water to drink. The bone’s position and condition indicated that the girl may have fallen a great deal before fracturing her hip and suffering other internal injuries. At the time of her death, it is estimated that the cave was not filled with water as it is today, as there are many ancient animal bones scattered throughout the floor of the same cavern that she was located in. The cave may have been used as a safe place by prehistoric humans.

The skeleton has been named Naia, and is a mostly complete skeleton of what appears to be a 16 year old girl at the time of her death. Her skull still contained all of its teeth, which is proving to be critical for DNA mappers who have been extracting DNA from her teeth. These scientists are hoping to prove that her DNA is linked to modern day native people, and other specimens found throughout North America. If they can prove that she is distantly related to other remains found in North America, they could be able to prove the theory that early settlers arrived in the Americas via an ancient land bridge in the Bering Sea.

There are still many scientists who are skeptical of the ancient land bridge theory as being the only plausible reason for explaining human migration on the American Continents. Other researchers believe that our ancient ancestors may have first arrived here by boat from both Asia and Europe. Early Scandinavian remains in the North Eastern Americas conclude that it was possible for people to travel by boat to this continent much sooner than what was previously thought.

With so few intact human remains from the ancient past being discovered in the Americas, it makes consistent research very difficult for anthropologists who wish to prove or disprove a theory. Perhaps the conditions here did not allow for sufficient preservation of human remains, or perhaps humans just didn’t exist in significant populations until more modern times. Many landmarks and artifacts seem to come from a much more recent era in the past few thousand years, long after the supposed migration would have occurred.

13000 Year Old Skeleton DNA To Teach Us About Native Ancestors.

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$2.1 Billion For Red Lobster, That’s A Lot Of Cheddar Bay Biscuits!

Darden has reportedly struck a deal to finally sell off the ailing Red Lobster brand to Golden Gate Capital for $2.1 billion. The loss of the Red Lobster brand caused an expected drop in share prices for Darden, but the financial stimulus of the deal, plus the reduction of losses from the failing restaurant chain should provide the company a lot of needed relief. The big question will be if Golden Gate Capital has what it takes to turn Red Lobster’s performance around. You might expect to see some upcoming changes at the restaurant in the near future, as this change of management could be the critical play that the organization really needed.

Image From Darden

The cash deal allowed Darden to be able to pay off nearly $1 billion is outstanding debt that the company owed, and they plan to spend the other half of the cash to reinvigorate the remaining Olive Garden restaurant chain. Olive Garden’s sales performance has also been falling in recent years, though not as badly as Red Lobster has been. By spending some time and money to add some vitality in Olive Garden’s public image, Darden hopes that sales will pick back up in years to come. There is certainly a lot of competition in the casual restaurant business, and Olive Garden’s image and reputation have just been stagnant for the past years.

Golden Gate Capital, on the other hand, has already struck a deal to sell most of the real estate that the Red Lobster stores are situated on to a real estate holding company. The immediate sale helped Golden Gate Capital to recoup some of their financial investment in the Red Lobster brand. The company now plans to lease the land back from the real estate company, which could prove mutually beneficial for both parties.

There are no plans yet on what changes are to come to the Red Lobster restaurants, other than the already hashed out corporate and real estate changes. There have been no announcements made about any upcoming changes to menus, promotions, or the restaurant’s image. It may not take much for the performance of Red Lobster to turn around, as long time fans have been hoping that it just doesn’t fade into obscurity.

$2.1 Billion For Red Lobster, That’s A Lot Of Cheddar Bay Biscuits!

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Arrest Made For The California Wildfires

It was revealed Thursday night by the Escondido Police Department that there was an arrest made for the California wildfires.

Arrest Made For The California Wildfires â€" photo courtesy of Imgur

A pair of suspects, Isaiah Silva, 19, and a 17-year-old juvenile who wasn’t named have been arrested under suspicion of trying to start a fire according to investigators. It is yet unknown if the pair had anything to do with starting the blaze that is currently burning the area outside of San Diego.

According to the police, the pair were accused of trying to start two brush fires. The pair were arrested after witnesses reported seeing them attempt to start the fires.

The eight separate fires that are currently burning through the area have already blazed more than 10,000 acres of land and destroyed many homes and other structures that are in their path.

Many have been forced to evacuate their homes as 16,000 new evacuation orders were passed down for San Marcos and Escondido according to local authorities.

Local officials stressed the importance of evacuating for those who have been given the order.

According to recent reports, the blaze is nearly ten percent contained and the weather is starting to turn more favorably with temperatures and winds dying down.

The fierce winds and flame have spawned many “firenadoes” causing the fires to spread incredibly fast.

Even though more than 15,000 residents have been evacuated, some have already returned to where the fires ravaged their homes and have found rubble and ash where their homes once stood.

The fires have been raging since Tuesday and with temperatures in the 100′s, the blazes have been difficult to contend with.

“The last three years have (been) the driest in California’s recorded history,” Said California Gov. Jerry Brown.

Local fire officials have stated that the fires in California this year are unprecedented in the states history and have cited the drought as a major factor.

Arrest Made For The California Wildfires

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Star Wars Sequel That Almost Happened Instead of ‘Empire’

The internet has been blowing up ever since Disney announced the official cast for Star Wars: Episdoe VII, the much awaited sequel to Return of the Jedi, However, many fans don’t know there was a different Star Wars sequel that was never made.

Alternate Star Wars sequel could have happened â€" photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Star Wars of course went on to be one of the most influential films ever, ranking as number 13 on AFI’s greatest films of all time. Also, The Empire Strikes Back is generally considered to be one of the greatest sequels ever made. But what happened after Empire could have been very different.

George Lucas decided to finance Empire without 20th Century Fox so lucasfilm financed the film independently, which cost the studio almost all of its money. Empire was a very ambitious and expensive film which Lucasfilm was able to make because the first Star Wars was so successful.

However, Lucas didn’t assume that Star Wars was going to be a massive success and had a plan for a lower budget sequel in case it wasn’t. Alan Dean Foster was commissioned to write a lower budget sequel option in the form of a novel.  The novel became Splinter of the Minds Eye.

Foster recently talked to Screen Crush about the experience.

“I was originally brought in while ‘Star Wars’ was still in production, on a two book contract to do the novelization of the film, but he also instructed me to write a novel that could be filmed on a low budget,” Foster said.

The plot revolves around Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2-D2 and C-3PO crashing on a planet where they discover a secret Empire mining operation, eventually coming down to a fight with Darth Vader. Han Solo was not featured in the book because he had not signed on for another film yet. As a result, Chewbacca was also left out of the book.

The book was released, but of course the film never saw the light of day. Dark Horse comics later adapted the book into a graphic novel as well.

Star Wars Sequel That Almost Happened Instead of ‘Empire’

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NEW STUDY: Meal Schedule For Type 2 Diabetes Reduces Symptoms

May 16, 2014

Photo: Flickr

People with Type 2 diabetes, eating two large meals a day might be better than consuming the same number of calories in six smaller meals.

Some diabetes experts recommend small meals as a better way to control metabolism and others believe eating three large meals is much better. Some actually believe it makes little difference, but studies show it does not.

Czech researchers randomly assigned 54 diabetics ages 30 to 70 to a 12-week diet of either 2 or 6 meals each day. Those groups ate the same number of recommended daily calories. Then the groups switched diets for another 12 weeks. The study appears online in Diabetologia.

The differences were not as dramatic as expected, but compared with those eating six meals each day, those who consumed just breakfast and lunch reduced their weight and waist circumference  significantly. Those eating fewer meals had improved fasting glucose levels, lower liver fat content and better insulin sensitivity.

“Not only our study, but others too, show that it may be more beneficial to eat a larger breakfast and lunch with a small dinner,” said the lead author, Dr. Hana Kahleova, a researcher of the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague. “We confirmed the ancient proverb,” she added, “eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.”

From Wikipedia, the free encycloped

Diabetes mellitus type 2 (formerly noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes) is a metabolic disorder that is characterized by hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) in the context of insulin resistance and relative lack of insulin. This is in contrast to diabetes mellitus type 1, in which there is an absolute lack of insulin due to breakdown of islet cells in the pancreas.The classic symptoms are excess thirst, frequent urination, and constant hunger. Type 2 diabetes makes up about 90% of cases of diabetes, with the other 10% due primarily to diabetes mellitus type 1 and gestational diabetes. Obesity is thought to be the primary cause of type 2 diabetes in people who are genetically predisposed to the disease.

Type 2 diabetes is initially managed by increasing exercise and dietary changes. If blood sugar levels are not adequately lowered by these measures, medications such as metformin or insulin may be needed. In those on insulin, there is typically the requirement to routinely check blood sugar levels.

Rates of type 2 diabetes have increased markedly since 1960 in parallel with obesity. As of 2010 there were approximately 285 million people diagnosed with the disease compared to around 30 million in 1985.Long-term complications from high blood sugar can include heart disease, strokes, diabetic retinopathy where eyesight is affected, kidney failure which may require dialysis, and poor blood flow in the limbs leading to amputations. The acute complication of ketoacidosis, a feature of type 1 diabetes, is uncommon, however hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state may occur.

NEW STUDY: Meal Schedule For Type 2 Diabetes Reduces Symptoms.

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Why Are There Interstate Highways In Hawaii? – ‘The Why’

Welcome to the newest edition of The Why.

Everywhere you look the media is pushing you telling you who to follow, what to watch and when to watch it.   You’re even sometimes told how to do it all.  Truth is, here at American Live Wire we do a bit of that too.  The big difference is we also tell you why.

You ask the questions.  We provide the answers.

“Why are there Interstate highways in Hawaii?” you ask?

Good question. The question arises because some of us take the English language a bit too seriously apparently.   After all, the word “interstate” is defined as “existing between or including different States”. For some reason the mention of interstates in Hawaii turns everyone into Linguist Nazis.

Interstate H-1 / Image: AARoads

Why are there Interstate highways in Hawaii? There are Interstates in Hawaii because even though the Interstate routes there are obviously not physically connected to the continental routes they are nonetheless a part of it.

Hawaii became a state in 1959. Shortly after that a government study was conducted to determine the need for Interstate routes there. The next year Congress recommended a 50-mile Interstate network in Hawaii. The Hawaii Omnibus Act, which was signed by President Eisenhower, removed the legal limitation that “the Interstate System be designated only within the continental United States.”

Why are there Interstate highways in Hawaii? They are there because the Interstate System is not only a group of connected freeways. It’s also an actual ‘design concept” in which the highways are built to deal with “high volumes of traffic” in a safe and efficient manner and “at freeway speeds.”

Why are there Interstate highways in Hawaii? / Image: QuickMeme

They are all constructed to Interstate standards. Additionally, the Interstate System isn’t restricted to routes which go through multiple states. A lot of them such as spurs and circumferential beltways are located within a single state.

Why are there Interstate highways in Hawaii? They are there because they were constructed through the sponsorship of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956. Since they were funded by the federal government they are considered Interstate highways.

Why are there Interstate highways in Hawaii? Now you know.

You ask the questions.  We provide the answers.

American Live Wire . . . Listen and be heard.

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Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, A Great Pick For The Packers

The Packers did something unexpected.

They didn’t trade down, and they found the safety help they truly needed.

The Packers used the 21st overall pick on Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who could add the playmaker they need to help cover Lions first-round right end Eric Ebron and others.

Photo: vk.com

Clinton-Dix is the kind of rangy safety they need in the back of a defense that improved this off-season, with the addition of Julius Peppers.

Call it the night of Alabama reunions.

The Green Bay Packers selected Ha Ha Clinton-Dix with the 21st pick in Thursday’s first round. The second safety selected in this year’s NFL Draft, Clinton-Dix is the fifth Crimson Tide defensive back to be selected in the first round since 2010.

He quickly followed former teammate C.J. Mosley, who was the first Alabama player off the board at No. 17 to the Baltimore Ravens. While Mosley joined former Crimson Tide players Terrence Cody and Courtney Upshaw in Baltimore, Clinton-Dix will reunite with running back Eddie Lacy, who was the 2013 Rookie of the Year.

“We think he has very good upside,” Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and other Wisconsin media outlets. He’s had great coaching. As I was walking down here, I was thinking I’m turning into Ozzie Newsome, taking all of the Alabama guys.”

A native of Orlando, Florida, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix attended Edgewater High School for his freshman and sophomore years, where he played running back and was teammates with Mike Brewster. Before his junior season, he transferred to Dr. Phillips High School, where he was an All-American defensive back and kick returner, and teammates with Dee Hart. Regarded as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was ranked as the No. 1 defensive back in his class. (Wikipedia)

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, A Great Pick For The Packers.

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Harmful Flame Retardants Pervasive in U.S. Child Care Facilities

Flame retardants present a hazardous danger to small children that come in contact with the toxic materials. Many child care facilities throughout the U.S. are exposing young tots to the harmful chemicals that are used to keep furniture from catching fire.

According to a University of California â€" Berkeley news release, children can spend in upwards of 50 hours a week in daycare facilities.

The hidden dangers of flame retardants are brought to light in new study
oregonstate.edu

A team of researchers conducted a study and examined 40 different child care centers from various locations including “urban, rural and agricultural areas.” In total, 1,760 children were in attendance at these facilities, according to the news release.

Although the quality of air in the majority of the establishments contained a minimal amount of the chemical concentration, strong evidence of flame retardants were discovered in 100 percent of the dust samples collected at the various child care centers.

Exposure to the toxic chemicals could result in detrimental health effects since it has been linked to hormone disruption and lowered IQs in children.

“These findings underscore how widespread these materials are in indoor environments,” study lead author Asa Bradman, associate director of the Center for Children’s Environmental Health Research at UC Berkeley, said in the news release. “A growing body of research has found links between flame retardants and a range of human health effects, including neurodevelopmental delays in children. Children are more vulnerable to the health effects of environmental contaminants, so we should be particularly careful to reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals.”

The equipment used for taking naps seems to play a key role regarding the presence of these toxic chemicals. The facilities that utilized foam napping pads, as opposed to the upholstered pads, were found to contain higher concentrations of the flame retardant chemicals.

In 2006, the state of California placed a ban on two types of polybrominated biphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, considered to be of high risk danger. Older furniture, however, still contains the harmful chemical, which California now lists as a carcinogen.

“I remember learning about the tris phosphate flame retardants in kids’ pajamas when I was in high school 35 years ago, so it’s a bit surprising to still be seeing them today,” Bradman said. “They were never banned. There seems to have been a resurgence in recent years as manufacturers looked for PBDE replacements.”

The foam napping pads received harsh scrutiny this year by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, after it deemed sleeping mats that contained flame retardant materials to be detrimentally harmful to consumers.

Changes at the state level regarding flammability regulations, could be advantageous. Such action could  eliminate the presence of  flame retardants, not only in furniture, but in other items as as well.

“The new standard is not a ban on flame retardants, but manufacturers can meet it without using the chemicals,” Arlene Blum, a postdoctoral researcher, said in the news release. “Most upholstered fabrics, such as leather, are already smolder-proof. Consumers should verify that the furniture they are buying is free of flame retardants, especially when children will be exposed.”

Presently a small, but growing number of child care facilities are becoming proactive in the products they use and are encouraging “green” and “eco-healthy” certification and standards, said Ellen Dektar, senior management analyst with Alameda County’s Early Care and Education Planning Council.

“Child care professionals are really idealistic and would do anything for the children they’re taking care of,” she said.

Harmful Flame Retardants Pervasive in U.S. Child Care Facilities

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Why Is Google Scanning My E-Mail? – ‘The Why’

Welcome to the newest edition of The Why.

Everywhere you look the media is pushing you telling you who to follow, what to watch and when to watch it.   You’re even sometimes told how to do it all.  Truth is, here at American Live Wire we do a bit of that too.  The big difference is we also tell you why.

You ask the questions.  We provide the answers.

“Why is Google scanning my e-mail?”you ask?

Good question. But first let’s review a bit. Google doesn’t charge for their accounts but they still collect their pay, boys and girls. They get their money in the form of huge quantities of personal data about the estimated 500-plus million folks who use the “free” service.

Why does Google scan my e-mail? / Image: BlogGoldstoneWP

Google also doesn’t exactly have a sterling reputation regarding personal privacy either. G-mail specifically is facing numerous privacy lawsuits in the US and Europe as this is being written in fact. Some of these cases involve “illegal wiretapping for scanning the content of e-mails.”

Why is Google scanning my e-mail? Short answer? For the money. In the last quarter of 2013 alone they raked in $16.86 billion in revenues. One source of income is derived from automatically scanning and indexing Gmail messages and using the retrieved information to show its users ads that are relevant to them.

Eric Goldman, a professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law in Santa Clara, California, said: “The basic premise of Gmail is, we’ll give you a robust e-mail service and in exchange we want to display ads alongside our e-mail and we’re scanning your e-mail to decide what ads are most relevant.”

Not to belabor the point but for the curious, Gmail scans for keywords that ID subjects of discussion based on things like context and frequency then they match your e-mail with related advertisements. The information (as well as data from searches, map use and Google+) is also used to create comprehensive user profiles for what is called “future ad targeting.

Why is Google scanning my e-mail? They are doing it because all the major free e-mail providers such as Yahoo and Microsoft Outlook also benefit from their supposedly free services. They post general or even targeted ads, create user bases for other products and services and brand recognition.

Why is Google scanning my e-mail? They are doing it because it has led to a successful way of generating targeted advertisements from user data and this has turned into what’s called a “primary business model” for a lot of tech companies.

Why does Google scan my e-mail? / Image: BlogArticles

Why is Google scanning my e-mail? They are doing it because legally they can. All they have to do is let you know they are doing so by putting it out there in rather lengthy, uninspired and reader-unfriendly terms and conditions and privacy policies that people rarely even glance at before clicking on “agree.”

Why is Google scanning my e-mail? Google reps claim they scan your e-mail to reduce the amount of “malicious e-mails and spam” you receive. They also say they do it for features like “Priority Inbox and the tabbed view that filters e-mails into different categories.” They also claim it is done by a computer and not by Google employees who might have even less of a life than you do in the real world.

Why is Google scanning my e-mail? Now you know.

You ask the questions.  We provide the answers.

American Live Wire . . . Listen and be heard.

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