UK scientists develop safer foot-and-mouth vaccine

By Ben Hirschler

LONDON (Reuters) - British scientists have developed a new vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease that is safer and easier to manufacture, an advance they believe should greatly increase production capacity and reduce costs.

The technology behind the livestock product might also be applied to make improved human vaccines to protect against similar viruses, including polio.

The new vaccine does not require live virus in its production - an important consideration as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is extremely infectious and vaccine facilities handling virus samples are difficult to secure.

"It spreads like wild fire," said David Stuart, a professor of biology at the University of Oxford, who led the research.

A 2007 outbreak of FMD in southeast England, for example, was traced to a nearby vaccine site. The same facility, ironically, is home to some of the researchers behind the new vaccine.

In contrast to standard FMD livestock vaccines, the new product is made from synthetic empty protein shells containing no infectious viral genome, scientists reported in the journal PLOS Pathogens on Wednesday.

This means the vaccine can be produced without expensive biosecurity and does not need to be kept refrigerated.

"One of the big advantages is that since it is not derived from live virus, the production facility requires no special containment," Stuart said.

"One could imagine local plants being set up in large parts of the world where foot and mouth is endemic and where it still remains a huge problem."

Worldwide, between 3 billion and 4 billion doses of FMD vaccine are administered every year but there are shortages in many parts of Asia and Africa were the disease is a serious problem.

Current standard vaccines are based on 50-year-old technology, although U.S. biotech company GenVec last year won U.S. approval for a new one.

The purely synthetic British vaccine has so far been tested in small-scale cattle trials and found to be effective.

Stuart said the research team from the universities of Oxford and Reading and two state-funded bodies - Diamond Light Source and the Pirbright Institute - would now conduct larger tests while discussing the vaccine's commercial development.

"We are talking to a potential commercial partner," Stuart told Reuters, adding that it would probably take around six years to bring the new vaccine to market. He said it was too early to give an indication of how much the vaccine would cost.

He declined to name the company involved but said it was not Merial, the animal health division of Sanofi that shares Pirbright's site in southeast England.

Stuart and his colleagues were able to produce empty protein shells to imitate the protein coat that surrounds the FMD virus using Diamond's X-ray system to visualize images a billion times smaller than a pinhead.

The same approach could in future be used to make empty shell vaccines against related viruses such as polio and hand-foot-and-mouth, a human disease that mainly affects infants and children, the researchers said.

(Editing by Keiron Henderson)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uk-scientists-develop-safer-foot-mouth-vaccine-220336601--finance.html

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'Featured Android Apps for Tablets' page now on Google Play website

Developers who spend time to make apps that look great on a tablet get a shout-out from Google on a new page at the Google Play site.

Google has put up a page at Google Play that focuses on apps designed with a tablet in mind. Android doesn't require applications to be specifically written for Android, instead opting to allow developers to use UI elements like fragments to better utilize screen real estate on any device. But the truth of the matter is, most app developers aren't doing it. Hopefully, a chance to get featured by Google will jump start a bit more development in this area.

We're not saying it's easy to make one app work across all devices, because it's not. Google provides a good toolbox for it, and they have outreach programs for developers, but it still takes time and work to make you app look great on both a phone and a tablet. While Android is the market leader for smart phones, their tablet sales fall to a distant third behind Apple and Amazon. It makes sense for developers to focus on an app designed to look great on a smaller screen before he or she starts worrying about tablet-sized screens and the new challenges they bring.

Anyhoo, it's nice to see Google give props to a handful (there's 116 apps featured) of applications that are awesome on your tablet, and we hope this list grows and grows. To check them out for yourself, just follow the link below.

Source: Google Play. Thanks, Tomas!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/idoy-EDYhdk/story01.htm

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Study finds molecular 'signature' for rapidly increasing form of esophageal cancer

Study finds molecular 'signature' for rapidly increasing form of esophageal cancer

Monday, March 25, 2013

During the past 30 years, the number of patients with cancers that originate near the junction of the esophagus and stomach has increased approximately 600 percent in the United States. The first extensive probe of the DNA of these esophageal adenocarcinomas (EACs) has revealed that many share a distinctive mix-up of letters of the genetic code, and found more than 20 mutated genes that had not previously been linked to the disease. The research, led by scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Broad Institute, and other research centers, may offer clues to why EAC rates have risen so sharply. The findings, which are being released as an advanced online publication by Nature Genetics, point to an array of abnormal genes and proteins that may be lynchpins of EAC cell growth and therefore serve as targets for new therapies, according to the study's authors.

"Adenocarcinomas of the esophagus, particularly those that arise at the gastroesophageal junction, were extremely uncommon 40 years ago and now account for approximately 15,000 new cases in the United States each year," said Adam Bass, MD, of Dana-Farber and the Broad Institute, who is co-senior author of the paper with Gad Getz, PhD, of the Broad Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital. "Unfortunately, it's also a disease with a generally poor prognosis: five years after diagnosis, only about 15 percent of patients are still alive. Bass added that despite the increased incidence of EAC, there have been few new approaches to treatment. "The goal of our study was to identify abnormalities within the genome of EAC cells to develop a foundation to better understand these tumors, diagnose them earlier, and develop better treatments," explained Bass.

EAC is thought to be associated with chronic gastroesophageal reflux, which sends stomach acid gurgling into the esophagus. This produces a condition known as Barrett's esophagus, in which cells at the lower end of the esophagus change to resemble cells in the intestine. Patients with Barrett's esophagus often go on to develop EAC.

Researchers don't know why EAC rates are increasing, but they speculate that it may be due to a rise in obesity, particularly in men: A heavier abdomen puts increased pressure on the stomach, causing acid to back up into the esophagus.

In the new study, researchers "sequenced" specific sections of DNA in cells from 149 EAC tissue samples, reading the individual letters of the genetic code within those areas. They focused on the one percent of the genome that holds the codes for making cell proteins. They also sequenced the entire genome ? all the DNA within the cell nucleus ? of cells from 15 of these EAC samples. Prior to this study, the largest sequencing study of EAC involved only a dozen tumor samples.

"We discovered a pattern of DNA changes that had not been seen before in any other cancer type," Getz remarked. The pattern involved a subtle swap in one of the four "nucleobases" that form the rungs of the DNA double helix, often designated by the letters C, T, G, and A. The investigators found that in many places where an A nucleobase was followed by another A nucleobase, the second "A" was replaced by a "C," a process known as transversion.

"We found this type of transversion throughout the genomes of the EAC cells we analyzed," Bass stated. "Overall, about one-third of all the mutations we discovered within these cells involved this type of transversion. In some tumor samples, these transversions accounted for nearly half of all mutations," Getz added.

Although A-to-C changes are not commonly observed in cancer, there is some evidence that oxidative damage can produce these changes. (Oxidative damage occurs when cells cannot neutralize the potentially harmful products of oxygen's reactions with other molecules.) "Gastric reflux can produce this type of damage, suggesting that reflux may underlie this pattern of mutations," Bass commented.

In addition to the mutational "signature" of AA becoming AC, the research team identified 26 genes that were frequently mutated in the tumor samples.

Five of these were "classic cancer genes" that had previously been implicated in EAC, Bass said, and the others were involved in a variety of cell processes.

Among the genes not previously linked to EAC were ELMO1 and DOCK2, mutations that can switch on a gene called RAC1, which can cause cancer cells to invade surrounding tissue. "The discovery of mutated ELMO1 and DOCK2 in many of these tumors may indicate that this invasive process is particularly active in EAC, promoting metastasis," Bass related. "We know that EAC tumors tend to spread at an earlier stage than many other cancers, which may help explain why survival rates for EAC patients tend to be low."

The RAC1 pathway ? the network of genes that control RAC1 activity ? is being pursued for pharmaceutical development. The discovery of ELMO1 and DOCK2 mutations in EAC samples may spur testing of new agents targeting this pathway in EAC, said Bass.

"Identifying the mutated genes within these tumors will help us understand the underlying biology of the disease," said Bass. "It also presents us with a slate of known genetic abnormalities that can someday be used to diagnose the disease at an early stage, classify tumors by the particular mutations within EAC cells, and ultimately develop treatment geared to precisely those mutations."

###

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: http://www.dfci.harvard.edu

Thanks to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127435/Study_finds_molecular__signature__for_rapidly_increasing_form_of_esophageal_cancer

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Genetic alterations linked with bladder cancer risk, recurrence, progression, and patient survival

Mar. 25, 2013 ? A new analysis has found that genetic alterations in a particular cellular pathway are linked with bladder cancer risk, recurrence, disease progression, and patient survival. Published early online in CANCER, a peer- reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings could help improve bladder cancer screening and treatment.

Alterations in the regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) pathway, which is important for various cellular processes, have been implicated in several cancers. Eugene Lee, MD, of the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and his colleagues sought to determine the role of RGS alterations in bladder cancer risk, recurrence, disease progression, and patient survival. Dr. Lee is currently a fellow of Dr. Ashish M. Kamat. The researchers worked together with Dr. Xifeng Wu's Epidemiology Lab. They studied 803 patients with non-muscle invasive or muscle invasive bladder cancer and 803 healthy individuals.

After evaluating 95 single nucleotide alterations or variants in 17 RGS genes, the investigators identified several that were linked with overall risk of bladder cancer. The strongest association was seen with the rs10759 variant on the RGS4 gene: it was linked with a 0.77-fold reduced risk of overall bladder cancer. The researchers also found that with an increasing number of unfavorable variants, the risk of bladder cancer increased. "Screening for bladder cancer has proven to be difficult on a population level, and our work may be a first step in identifying molecular markers for potential genetic-based screening tests. This will help recognize specific groups at increased risk beyond the existing known risk factors such as smoking and chemical exposure," said Dr. Lee.

Dr. Lee and his team also revealed that in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, 11 variants were linked with recurrence and 13 variants were linked with progression. Ten were associated with earlier death in patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer; rs2344673 was the most significant, with an average survival of 13.3 months in patients with the variant compared with 81.9 months in patients without it.

In the current era of personalized medicine, an individual's genetic information can provide valuable information on screening, treatment, and surveillance. "Our study provides an initial step in how we can use a patient's genetic makeup to identify those at risk for bladder cancer. Furthermore, we can identify patients who already have a diagnosis of bladder cancer that are at increased risk of worsening of disease or dying from their cancer," said Dr. Lee. "The goal is to find as many genetic alterations that confer risk and create a panel of markers that would aid in diagnosis, treatment, and follow- up."

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Journal Reference:

1. Eugene K. Lee, Yuanquing Ye, Ashish M. Kamat, Xifeng Wu. Genetic variations in regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) confer risk of bladder cancer. Cancer, 2013 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.27871

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/PeWO93_aqak/130325094021.htm

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FedEx Is Shipping 2 Pandas Across The Globe. Here's How

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FedEx Is Shipping 2 Pandas Across The Globe. Here's How
Weird, giant, endangered stuff sometimes must be shipped. Meet the "loadmaster" who has FedExed tigers, gorillas, eagles, penguins, lions, rhinos, and even beluga whales across the globe. On March 25, he's shipping a couple of Pandas from China to Canada.

Source: FastCompany
Posted on: Monday, Mar 25, 2013, 8:48am
Views: 6

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127434/FedEx_Is_Shipping___Pandas_Across_The_Globe__Here_s_How

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Both sides of gun debate make public appeals

In this photo combo, Wayne LaPierre, left, CEO of the National Rifle Association, makes remarks at CPAC 2013, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Friday, March 15, 2013; and at right, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks to the Economic Club of Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012, in Washington. Two of the loudest voices in the gun debate say it's up to voters now to make their position known to Congress. LaPierre and Bloomberg claim their views on guns have the support of the overwhelming number of Americans. (AP Photo, Ron Sachs, Manuel Balce Ceneta)

In this photo combo, Wayne LaPierre, left, CEO of the National Rifle Association, makes remarks at CPAC 2013, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Friday, March 15, 2013; and at right, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks to the Economic Club of Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012, in Washington. Two of the loudest voices in the gun debate say it's up to voters now to make their position known to Congress. LaPierre and Bloomberg claim their views on guns have the support of the overwhelming number of Americans. (AP Photo, Ron Sachs, Manuel Balce Ceneta)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Two of the loudest voices in the gun debate say it's up to voters now to make their position known to Congress.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and National Rifle Associate Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre claim their opposing views on guns have the support of the overwhelming number of Americans. They are looking at the next two weeks as critical to the debate, when lawmakers head home to hear from constituents ahead of next month's anticipated Senate vote on gun control.

Bloomberg, a former Republican-turned-independent, has just sunk $12 million for Mayors Against Illegal Guns to run television ads and phone banks in 13 states urging voters to tell their senators to pass legislation requiring universal background checks for gun buyers.

"We demanded a plan and then we demanded a vote. We've got the plan, we're going to get the vote. And now it's incumbent on us to make our voices heard," said Bloomberg.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday that legislation would likely be debated in his chamber next month that will include expanded federal background checks, tougher laws and stiffer sentences for gun trafficking and increased school safety grants. A ban on assault-style weapons was dropped from the bill, fearing it would sink the broader bill. But Reid has said that he would allow the ban to be voted on separately as an amendment. President Barack Obama called for a vote on the assault weapons ban in his radio and Internet address Saturday.

Recalling the horrific shooting three months ago at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school that left 20 first graders and six school administrators dead, Bloomberg said it would be a great tragedy if Congress, through inaction, lost the moment to make the country safer from gun violence. Bloomberg said that 90 percent of Americans and 80 percent of NRA members support universal background checks for gun purchases.

"I don't think there's ever been an issue where the public has spoken so clearly, where Congress hasn't eventually understood and done the right thing," Bloomberg said.

But the NRA's LaPierre counters that universal background checks are "a dishonest premise." For example, mental health records are exempt from databases and criminals won't submit to the checks. Background checks, he said, are a "speed bump" in the system that "slows down the law-abiding and does nothing for anybody else."

"The shooters in Tucson, in Aurora, in Newtown, they're not going to be checked. They're unrecognizable," LaPierre said. He was referring to the 2011 shooting in a Tucson shopping center that killed six and wounded 13, including former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, and the July assault in a suburban Denver movie theater that killed 12 and injured 70. In both instances, as well as in the Newtown killings, the alleged shooters used military-style assault rifles with high-capacity ammunition magazines.

LaPierre slammed Bloomberg for the ad buy.

"He's going to find out this is a country of the people, by the people, and for the people. And he can't spend enough of his $27 billion to try to impose his will on the American public," LaPierre said, adding, "He can't buy America."

"Millions of people" from across the country are sending the NRA "$5, $10, $15, $20 checks, saying stand up to this guy," LaPierre said, referring to Bloomberg.

LaPierre said the NRA supports a bill to get the records of those adjudicated mentally incompetent and dangerous into the background check system for gun dealers, better enforcement of federal gun laws and beefed up penalties for illegal third-party purchases and gun trafficking. Shortly after the Newtown shooting, LaPierre called for armed security guards in schools as well.

LaPierre would like to see Congress pass a law that "updates the system and targets those mentally incompetent adjudicated into the system" and forces the administration to enforce the federal gun laws.

"It won't happen until the national media gets on the administration and calls them out for their incredible lack of enforcement of these laws," LaPierre said.

In Colorado, a state with a pioneer tradition of gun ownership and self-reliance, Gov. John Hickenlooper just signed bills requiring background checks for private and online gun sales. The legislation also would ban ammunition magazines that hold more than 15 rounds.

"After the shootings last summer in the movie theater, we really focused on mental health first then universal background checks," Hickenlooper said on CNN's "State of the Union." ''I think the feeling right now around assault weapons, at least in Colorado, is that they're so hard to define what an assault weapon is."

Hickenlooper said he met with a group of protesters against the bills in Grand Junction, Colo., were "very worried about government keeping a centralized database, which I assured them wasn't going to happen." The protesters, he added, view the background checks as "just the first step in trying to take guns away."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-03-24-Guns/id-905622d1cf7e4b7cb84314add69236bc

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Retaliation: Your #1 risk in job-bias lawsuits ? Business ...

Supervisors in your organization probably know it?s illegal to discriminate based on race, age, sex, religion or disability. But apparently far fewer realize those same federal laws also make it illegal to retaliate against people for voicing complaints about such discrimination.

Employees (and their lawyers) are certainly becoming aware of their rights.

For the third year in a row, retaliation is the No. 1 type of job discrimination claim filed with the EEOC. Employees submitted 37,836 retaliation claims in 2012. That?s only a small increase from 2011, but up more than 70% since 2005 and 100% since 1998.

Why the jump? The Supreme Court rewrote the definition of ?retaliation? a few years ago, making it easier for employees to get retaliation cases into court. Plus, workers now routinely tack retaliation claims onto their age-, sex- or race-bias complaints to the EEOC.

The law: EEOC rules clearly say that employers ?may not fire, demote, harass or otherwise ?retaliate? against an individual for filing a charge of discrimination, participating in a discrimination proceeding or otherwise opposing discrimination.?

Advice: Don?t give employees any reason to file retaliation claims. Before taking disciplinary action against people who?ve complained about discrimination (either formally or informally), supervisors and HR should ask themselves:

1. ?Why am I taking this action now?? Scrutinize the reason and timing of the action. Is there any connection to the person?s complaint? If it smells at all like retaliation, a jury could see it that way, too.
2. ?Would I take this action with my best employee?? If your answer is ?no,? you could be open to a retaliation charge. If it?s ?yes,? docu-ment the basis for your decision.

3 best practices

1. Put retaliation on managers? radar screens. Clarify in policies that it?s unlawful to retaliate against anyone who exercises their legally protected rights. That includes everything from taking FMLA leave to filing a discrimination charge to going out on workers? comp.
2. Have experts review complaints. All complaints that might give rise to retaliation claims should be funneled to a senior group that will determine the existence of ?protected activity,? decide on a response and guide supervisors.
3. Use performance management. In court, retaliation cases often hinge on the timing of negative appraisals and discipline. Be prepared to show that managers followed a clear performance-management process and any negative feedback or reviews were in writing before the employee engaged in protected activity.

Online resource: The best tool for managers to prevent (and defeat) retaliation claims is a simple performance log system. Find six tips on creating a performance log, plus a list of what to include, in "Use performance logs to simplify employee reviews."

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Swedish military apologizes for mink massacre | IceNews - Daily News

Posted on 23 March 2013. Tags: mink, mink farm, Swedish Armed Forces

The F?rsvarsmakten, or the Swedish Armed Forces, apologized for flying their planes low over a mink farm in Svenljunga prompting the death of some 500 minks last summer.

Analysis: Easy Fed softens fiscal policy punch on economy

By Lucia Mutikani

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve's aggressive easing of monetary policy is proving surprisingly effective at blunting the blow to the U.S. economy from tighter fiscal policy, according to economists who have been scrambling to raise their growth forecasts.

Economists had feared higher taxes and deep government spending cuts would stunt growth in the first quarter, but a string of strong economic data has so far proven them wrong. And they mostly blame the Fed.

"Monetary policy is beginning to gain some traction here," said Tom Higgins, global macro strategist at Standish Mellon Asset Management in Boston.

According to Higgins, if it were not for the monetary stimulus, the economy would probably be facing growth of a 1 percent annual rate or less. As it is, he expects growth to come in at a 2.5 percent pace in the first quarter.

The U.S. central bank has held overnight interest rates near zero since December 2008 and has pumped about $2.5 trillion into the economy by purchasing Treasury debt and mortgage-backed bonds in a bid to foster faster growth and lower unemployment.

On Wednesday, it recommitted to plans to buy $85 billion worth of bonds each month and said it would keep buying assets until it sees a significant improvement in the labor market.

Those actions have helped put the economy in better shape to deal with the end of a 2 percent payroll tax cut, higher tax rates for wealthy Americans and $85 billion in across-the-board government spending cuts known as the "sequester."

The easy money stance has given a boost to interest rate sensitive sectors of the economy, such as autos and housing.

The commitment to easy policy also appears to be lifting business confidence, which in turn is underpinning job growth and the stock market. Nonfarm payrolls increased 236,000 in February and the jobless rate fell to a four-year low of 7.7 percent.

"The message from the data is that in the battle between fiscal drag and monetary stimulus, the Fed is winning," said Jim O'Sullivan, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics in Valhalla, New York.

Stunned by a surprisingly strong report on retail sales last week, most economists rushed to raise first-quarter growth estimates. JPMorgan pushed theirs up by an eye-catching eight-tenths of a percentage point to 2.3 percent, while Goldman Sachs increased theirs by three-tenths of a point to 2.9 percent.

Economic activity expanded at a meager 0.1 percent rate in the last three months of last year, the slowest pace since the first quarter of 2011.

MADE A MISTAKE

Economists also said they had been mistaken to believe that businesses would retrench if it became clear deep government spending cuts were going to take hold.

They said they had simply been drawing on lessons learned during the acrimonious fight in 2011 to raise the government's borrowing limit, a battle that hit confidence hard.

"The chance we decided to take was for a more upfront impact from sequestration; in reality that is not what we are seeing," said Adolfo Laurenti, deputy chief economist, Mesirow Financial in Chicago. "Businesses have taken it at a more leisurely pace."

Indeed, a Deloitte Growth Enterprise Services survey of about 1,000 mid-market executives this month found little evidence the spending cuts were worrying businesses.

About 72 percent of respondents said sequestration would not affect their businesses and 91 percent said they had not put off hiring because of the cuts. That could be an indication of the confidence generated by the Fed's willingness to aid the economy, economists say.

Also helping the economy is the fact that banks are starting to ease lending standards and household balance sheets have improved after being ravaged by the housing market's collapse.

"What we have been seeing for a while is households have worked down their debt loads and they are now starting to expand their borrowing and, across the board, bank lending is increasing," said Steve Cunningham, head of research at the American Institute for Economic Research in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

"So monetary policy is becoming effective in that respect."

Fed data this month showed household debt in the fourth quarter grew at its fastest pace since early 2008, while a measure of the burden of carrying debt sank to a record low.

In addition, consumer credit has increased solidly from last year through January of this year and banks in January reported stronger loan demand and easier credit standards.

Still, the economy is not out of the woods by any means.

Part of the expected bounce back in growth this quarter will come from a buildup in business inventories, which means second quarter growth could fall short of the January-March rate.

As a result of the economy's firmer underlying strength, many analysts now estimate government budget cuts could shave off about 0.3 percentage point from GDP this year, half of what was predicted by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

"The drag from sequestration is probably a little bit smaller than we thought a month ago," said Mesirow Financial's Laurenti. "We have a better economy that is in a better position to absorb a negative shock."

(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Phil Berlowitz)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-easy-fed-softens-fiscal-policy-punch-economy-050407739--business.html

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'DuckTales' cult NES classic gets HD redux for Xbox, PS3,?Wii U

Devin Coldewey , NBC News ? ? ? 12 hrs.

One of the most well-loved NES games of all time, "DuckTales," is being resurrected in high definition, Capcom announced today. "DuckTales: Remastered" will be coming to Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii U this Summer.

Gamers old enough to have had an NES will likely remember the original "DuckTales," a creative and challenging platformer with catchy music and memorable level design. The new version features highly detailed graphics based on the original, as well as new levels and improved boss fights.

The game was announced at the PAX East gaming convention, along with non-HD releases of the classic Dungeons & Dragons series of arcade beat-em-ups. Capcom has been highly successful with its retro re-releases, producing popular and acclaimed versions of "Mega Man," "Blaster Master" and "Bionic Commando" among others in the last few years.

No word on exact release date, but "DuckTales: Remastered" will cost $14.99 or the equivalent amount in Microsoft's MS points.

Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. His personal website is coldewey.cc.

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653377/s/29e37c7e/l/0L0Snbcnews0N0Ctechnology0Cingame0Cducktales0Ecult0Enes0Eclassic0Egets0Ehd0Eredux0Exbox0Eps30Ewii0E1C90A33699/story01.htm

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Drake Gets A Very Strange Tweet From Amanda Bynes | Music ...

Walking train wreck, former child star and current?Kiely Williams?impersonator?Amanda Bynes?has been on a pretty major self-destructive spiral into madness, hasn?t she? It?s the kind that?s absolutely riveting to watch, even as it fills the observer with the idle discomfort that arises when we don?t know whether it?s going to turn out like Britney Spears?(redemption!) or?Amy Winehouse?(tragedy!) or?Lindsay Lohan?(neither!), where we think, ?Oh, here?s a talented person who?s clearly suffering from a serious mental illness, but the spectacle is so funny that it?s hard not to laugh at, even though a time will probably come when we?ll feel terrible for having been so cruel to her.? Ah, well.?

Anyway, celebrity news isn?t really our beat here, but?music?news is (which means now we get to talk about Amanda Bynes, hey!) and last night, Bynes amped up the insanity with a disturbing and provocative tweet to?Drake, in which she asked him to murder her vagina. Yep! That?s what she said. Behold:

And then the seas dried up and the stars dropped out of the sky and the Internet melted into a hot tsunami of semiconductors and telephone wire and it was the end of the world, the end of everything. The End. Bye forever.

But no, okay, really. Of course this is hysterical, and also horrifying, and the sort of thing that we can?t?not?talk about, but also, maybe, let?s try and be compassionate to poor Amanda Bynes, the oddest celebrity curiosity who ever lived. She?s going through a rough patch! And if she wants Drake to murder her vagina, well ? sure, it?s a little explicit, and also gruesome, but who are we to judge? After all, it?s what a girl wants.

[via Popdust]

Source: http://idolator.com/7448074/amanda-bynes-drake-tweets-vagina-murder

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Reconnecting the Church: Networks - Their Value in Strategy

Networks are the invisible webs of relationships that link people together. Simply stated, they are people talking to each other, sharing ideas, information and resources. Traditionally, networks have been oriented to kinship, neighborhood, and friendship ties. In a broader urban context, particularly in complex culture, however, they can forge broad coalitions of people and organizations to accomplish specific tasks which are in the interests of all involved. Some examples of where networking is done are families, mutual friends, conferences, private clubs, social media, travel, parties, meetings, and workshops.

There are different types of networks. Some exist naturally (family, colleagues, or friendships), others are organized formally (prestige clubs, coops, etc.), and yet others are brought together to accomplish one specific task (election campaign).

Ray Bakke points to three kinds of networks: those based on kinship, on geography, and on vocation. To these we can add networks based on common interest and shared information. Each of these can serve as a means of evangelistic outreach.

Kinship / Workplace / Friendship Networks

Friendships perform significant functions in all societies. In any setting, next to family ties, they are often the closest relationships people have. Depending on where you live, your significant network will probably be made up of family, friends or colleagues.

It is reported that after two or three years, the average new Christian will have very few friendships outside the church. Virtually all of their unsaved friends will either have left them or been left behind. Unfortunately, in an effort to build community or out of fear of the world around them, many churches encourage members to form their friendships only inside the congregation. If this happens, those church members will have almost no networks they can use to witness to the lost.

Friendship networks in the lives of new Christians can be important for further evangelism and discipleship formation. Campus Crusade for Christ, for example, has used events in the homes and apartments of new believers for new Christians to witness. A new Christian would invite his or her friends to a party, and toward the end would give his or her testimony. A time for Q&A and an opportunity for deeper and more personal conversation about salvation can also be planned. If one of the friends receives Christ, the process is repeated.

Common-Interest Networks

Other ways to use networks in the church would be to organize small groups, special interest groups that nurture Christians in their particular walks of life, or common need groups of all kinds. All can be utilized to bring others to faith and spiritual maturity. An example of networks in the community would be Christian business associations, where Christians in the market-place gather in a neutral space and invite their non-Christian friends. The program is most often built around issues of interest to people in the business world. Similarly, Christian doctors, nurses, academicians, politicians, construction workers, and other specialists reach out to those in their respective vocations.

Special interest groups go beyond vocational associations. Single parents, young singles, old people, parents whose children are on drugs, women whose husbands are abusive or alcoholics?anyone who needs Christian friends who understand and can help them through their particular trials. Churches need to be sensitive to special needs, and stand by all with love and friendship.

One group has been particularly responsive historically and currently, namely, students. Students are exploring new ideas and so are often more open to hearing the gospel than when they become established in their cultures and careers. Student ministries in high schools and universities have not only won many to Christ but also produced many strong leaders for the church.

Networks for Task Completion

In order to be a servant to its community, the church also needs to network with as many institutions and organizations as possible. Information about needs in the community circulates in existing networks, and if the church is plugged in, and has resources to help, it can offer its assistance. Once viable networks have been established, it is important to encourage church members to get plugged into those organizations.

If we are serious about reconnecting the church and its witness to the community, we must begin planning ministry that happens outside the church building. We must also begin to act on the fact that loving service to others, in any form, is a witness. We need to minister because it is the right thing to do, not because it will fill our church?the sowing and reaping principle. Jesus made this abundantly clear in Matthew 25. Befriending someone who does not yet know Christ is ministry. Listening to a colleague?s personal problems without judging his or her lifestyle is ministry.

Ministry in the complex culture, using its networks, is spreading the gospel message. At the same time, it is one way the Church can reconnect itself to its context, the community in which it serves. The reconnecting church is a church that finds a way to be a servant.

Source: http://reconnectingthechurch.blogspot.com/2013/03/networks-their-value-in-strategy.html

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Tiffany 4Q net income rises less than 1 pct

FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2008 file photo, shoppers look in through a window at Tiffany & Co.'s new store at Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio. Jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co. said Friday, March 22, 2013, its fourth-quarter net income edged up less than 1 percent, but managed to beat Wall Street predictions. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2008 file photo, shoppers look in through a window at Tiffany & Co.'s new store at Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio. Jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co. said Friday, March 22, 2013, its fourth-quarter net income edged up less than 1 percent, but managed to beat Wall Street predictions. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Tiffany says its fourth-quarter net income edged up less than 1 percent, but still beat Wall Street predictions as strong customer demand in Asia for its pricey baubles offset weakness in the U.S.

The upscale jewelry company also offered an annual sales outlook that topped analysts' estimates, and its shares rose more than 4 percent in premarket trading Friday.

The results, which include the critical holiday season, show Tiffany's resilience even as it faces challenges in the U.S. and a fiscal crisis in Europe.

For the quarter ended Jan. 31, Tiffany earned $179.6 million, or $1.40 per share. Revenue rose 4 percent to $1.24 billion.

Analysts polled by FactSet expected earnings of $1.36 per share on $1.25 billion in revenue.

"While financial results in fiscal 2012 were disappointing due to lower-than expected sales growth and pressures on gross margin, we continued to maintain a longer term focus on strengthening global awareness of the Tiffany & Co. brand," Michael J. Kowalski, Tiffany's chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Total sales in the Americas region increased 2 percent to $620 million in the fourth quarter and 2 percent to $1.8 billion in the full year. The area represents 48 percent of last year's global revenue. Revenue at stores open at least a year declined 2 percent in both the quarter and full year on a constant exchange rate basis. Sales in the New York flagship store dropped 3 percent in both the quarter and full year, while that figure dropped 2 percent for its branch locations for both periods.

In the Asia-Pacific region, total sales rose 13 percent to $254 million in the fourth quarter and 8 percent to $810 million in the full year. The region represents 21 percent of worldwide sales. On a constant exchange rate basis, total sales rose 10 percent in the fourth quarter due to sales growth in Greater China and in other markets and rose 8 percent in the full year. On that basis, revenue at stores opened at least a year rose 6 percent in the quarter and 2 percent for the full year.

Total sales in Japan declined 6 percent to $192 million in the fourth-quarter, reflecting a weaker Japanese yen versus the U.S. dollar and increased 4 percent to $639 million or 17 percent of worldwide sales in the full year. However, on a constant exchange rate basis, total sales rose 2 percent in the quarter and 6 percent in the full year. On that basis, revenue at stores opened at least a year rose 2 percent and 7 percent in the quarter and full year respectively.

In Europe, total sales rose 3 percent to $146 million in the fourth quarter due to mixed performance by country and also rose 3 percent to $432 million or 11 percent of worldwide sales in the full year. On a constant exchange rate basis, total sales rose 3 percent and 7 percent in the quarter and full year respectively. Revenue at stores opened at least year were unchanged in the quarter and rose 2 percent in the full year.

The New York-based jewelry company also says it expects its first-quarter earnings from operations will fall about 15 percent to 20 percent as a result of profitability pressures and higher marketing costs, but pick up later in the year.

For the current year, Tiffany expects sales growth of 6 percent to 8 percent, which means that sales are expected to be anywhere from $4.02 billion to $4.09 billion. Analysts project $4.02 billion

It expects full-year earnings of $3.43 per share to $3.53 per share. Analysts expect $3.46 per share.

Tiffany shares rose $2.79, or 4.1 percent, to $70.70 in premarket trading.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-03-22-Earns-Tiffany/id-397ff65c60624bdf8abe843bea1e2fdf

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Rewriting Biblical history? Agriculture might be 5,000 years older than believed.

A new find suggests farmers in Bible lands built channels for irrigation long before historians thought they did, allowing for cultivated vineyards, olives, wheat and barley.

By Douglas Main,?LiveScience.com / March 20, 2013

By using walls to channelize and collect floodwaters, ancient farmers made the most of scant rainfall to grow crops in the desert. These techniques are still used today, like in this field outside the old city of Avdat, Israel.

Douglas Main / LiveScience.com

Enlarge

For thousands of years, different groups of people have lived in the Negev desert, building stone walls and cities that survive to this day. But how did they make their living?

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The current thinking is that these desert denizens didn't practice agriculture before approximately the first century, surviving instead by raising animals, said Hendrik Bruins, a landscape archaeologist at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

But new research suggests people in this area, the Negev highlands, practiced agriculture as long ago as 5000 B.C., Bruins told LiveScience. If true, the finding could change historians' views of the area's inhabitants, who lived in the region in biblical times and even before, he added.

A great surprise

Bruins' findings come from radiocarbon dating of bones and organic materials in various soil layers in an ancient field in southern Israel. He measured the ratio of carbon isotopes (atoms of the same element with a different number of neutrons), which changes as the radioactive carbon-14 isotope breaks down over time, while the stable carbon-12 does not. Within the soil, he found evidence of past cultivation, including animal manure and charred organic material (likely burnt kitchen scraps), both of which have been used as fertilizer around the world for millennia, he said. (Carbon dating has been used to date famous objects, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls).?

"I found a wonderful radiocarbon sequence of ages," Bruins said. "And it was for me a great surprise."

He found three distinct layers in the earth indicating that the field had been cultivated, corresponding to three different periods of activity, with long gaps in between. The first one dated from 5000 B.C. to 4500 B.C., followed by another from 1600 B.C. to 950 B.C. and a final layer dating from A.D. 650 to A.D. 950.

The first group of people that farmed here has no current known name, he said, but developed flint tools that have been found throughout the region.

The Exodus

The second period of agriculture, from 1600 B.C. to 950 B.C., corresponds to the time in which the Jews made their way from Egypt to modern-day Israel, according to Exodus and other books of the Bible, Bruins said.

The site where Bruins conducted his research, south of Beersheba, is likely to the south and east of where historians place the Israelites during this time period, he said. But it could possibly have been home to tribes associated with the Amalekites, a group living in the area at the time that was hostile to the Israelites, Bruins said.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/t9FSk-_XTPo/Rewriting-Biblical-history-Agriculture-might-be-5-000-years-older-than-believed

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Blackberry's CEO Says the iPhone Is Outdated

With the launch of the last-chance Z10 around the corner, Blackberry is giving itself a pep talk to keep those hopes high. And according to CEO Thorsten Heins, the iPhone's hardly in the race Blackberry's fixin' to win because it's old news. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/lWXQXcM_uZA/blackberrys-ceo-says-the-iphone-is-outdated

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The Beautiful Beaches Of Lloret De Mar

Situated on the northeastern coast of Spain, the town of Lloret de Mar is a popular resort town in the Costa Brava. It is easily accessible from airports of the larger Spanish cities, and when you travel the easy 70 kilometres from Barcelona to Lloret de Mar you will be well rewarded for your effort.

The history of the town dates back to the Romans who first settled there after the Iberians. They also settled the nearby towns and villages, but the first time the name appeared in writing was in 966 A.D. Over the centuries the town has had its ups and downs and now is a thriving seaside resort. It caters to tourists who want to explore the deep and richly interesting history of the area, as well as those who take the transfer from Barcelona to Lloret de Mar simply to enjoy the stunning beaches. While you are here, be sure to enjoy the delights of one (all all) of the five, fabulous main beaches the town offers.

The Platja de Lloret

The Platja de Lloret, or the Central Beach, is the main beach of the resort town. When you arrive after the short trip from Barcelona to Lloret de Mar, you find this central beach one of the most accessible and, in the height of the season, the most populous. It is no wonder that people flock to its 1,650-metre strip of golden sand with unending opportunities for entertainment. When you are not busy relaxing and soaking up the sun you can parasail, swim, snorkel, water ski, paddle boat, rent a canoe for a bit, and much more. There are always lifeguards on duty and plenty of places where you can get a refreshing drink to cool down in the mid-day sun.
The Platja de Fenals

Also known as Fenals Beach, this one is situated next to the main Central Beach in the heart of the resort. If after you've arrived from Barcelona to Lloret de Mar you find that the Central Beach is a bit full, head to this much quieter beach just along the way. There are still lifeguards on duty, and the array of bars and restaurants is still great, but it has the added benefit of feeling like a hidden gem with its backing of trees and outcrops of cliffs; it feels like a very different beach from the main one. You can also enjoy the many of the same water sports as on the Central Beach and the rocky coves near the ends of the beach are especially good for snorkelling and diving.

The Smaller Beaches

If you are the type that wants to explore the nitty gritty of the area and get away from the hustle and bustle that can come with being in a resort, then heading to one of the smaller beaches is good option. The Platja de Santa Cristina is three and a half kilometres away from the heart of the town in a sheltered bay with surrounding woodlands. The sand here is very fine, and there is a lovely chapel well worth taking a walk to discover. If you are feeling more adventurous, you may want to pay a visit to Boadella Beach, the areas local nudist beach. In recent years, however, the area has been more populated by families and is becoming more family friendly.

These are just a few of the attractions awaiting you once you arrive on your transfer service from Barcelona to Lloret de Mar. There are plenty more and you will be able to compile your own list of favourites for your next holiday.

About the Author:
Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If youre looking for a transfer from Barcelona to Lloret de Mar, Shuttle Direct provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you dont miss your car on your holiday abroad.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/The-Beautiful-Beaches-Of-Lloret-De-Mar/4490337

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Argentina blends devotion and marketing over Pope

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) ? From slum chapels to Buenos Aires' imposing cathedral, Argentines celebrated their pope in Sunday Masses.

While the faithful prayed, vendors sold papal memorabilia and workers installed huge screens in the capital's central Plaza de Mayo in preparation for an all-night vigil ahead of Francis' formal installation ceremony, which will begin before dawn Tuesday Argentina time.

Mass in the slums began earlier and seemed more intimate. At the Villa 21-24, one of the capital city's most dangerous slums, many recalled how as an archbishop, Jorge Mario Bergoglio blessed their tiny Caacupe Virgin of the Miracles chapel.

Not everyone could fit inside its yellow walls with painted saints and many stood outside during the vigil. Blanca Franco, a 58-year-old housewife, listened and shed some tears.

"I have feelings in my heart that only God knows," Franco said. "I'm happy about the appointment of our archbishop."

Nearby, Marcos Manuel Solar, a 28-year-old former drug addict, smiled widely as he told passers-by that he had received the rite of confirmation from the pope himself. Solar, who works at a soup kitchen, said he kicked the habit through a rehab program funded by the church.

In the heart of Buenos Aires, the mood was festive.

Vendors outside the Cathedral sold pins, calendars and posters with the image of Francis. The flag of the Vatican City seemed to be the most popular sales item.

Uma Eiras, a 10-year-old student, waved a tiny one with its two white-and-gold vertical bands and said she would hang it in her room.

There seemed not to be a single pew empty inside the giant national Cathedral and many followed the Mass on large screens across the street.

Sabina Podrez, a 39-year-old scrivener, said she attended the Mass out of hope that Argentina and the world will change under a new pope.

"We were going to work disheartened, with insecurity," Podrez said. "This is a breath of fresh air."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/argentina-blends-devotion-marketing-over-pope-214546445.html

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This Week: March 17 ? March 23, 2013 | Venture Caf?

Friends,

Get inspired at Venture Caf? this week. Find out how to address big problems such as the need for clean energy, better education, and fresh water?in developing countries, and in our own. Speak with visiting experts and learn how to access advice, grants, and other resources that will help translate your ideas into tangible solutions. Connect with:

• NextDrop, a tech-enabled social enterprise in India
• LearnLaunchX, New England?s first learning and education startups accelerator
• Boston Cleanweb Hackathon, the city?s biggest cleanweb event
• Mass. Tech Transfer Center, organizer of the Mass. Clean Energy Center Catalyst Program Awards
• The EntreTech Forum, monthly discussions on entrepreneurship and technology commercialization
• TiE, organizer of the TiE Challenge startup accelerator program
• Mass. Small Business Development Center, offering services and training for small businesses
• MassChallenge, the world?s largest startup competition
• Burns & Levinson, legal expertise in funding and IP protection
• George Mabry, experienced mentor and angel investor
• MassVentures, an early-stage venture capital fund

At the Venture Caf?, we believe that innovation and entrepreneurship are means to an end, not ends in themselves. The end is to improve the human condition.

Hope to see you at the Caf? on Thursday!

Thursday, March 21, 2013 | Venture Caf? in Session | 3:00 ? 8:00 P.M.

3:00 ? 5:00 P.M. | Mass. Tech. Transfer Center / Mass. Clean Energy Center ? Info Table

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center in partnership with the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center, ?invites you to apply for MassCEC Catalyst Program Awards. The Program?s primary intent is to stimulate the commercialization of clean energy technologies developed in the Commonwealth. The program awards grants of $40,000 each to help entrepreneurs demonstrate the feasibility of technologies in specific industry applications. More information on the awards is available here. Visit their info table to find out more.

3:00 ? 5:00 P.M. | Mass. Small Business Development Center ? Office Hours

Mark Allio will be back at the Caf? for office hours. Mark is Regional Director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network?s Boston Regional Office & Minority Business Center at UMass Boston. The MSBDC provides free one-on-one business advisory services, entrepreneurial training workshops, and special assistance in gaining access to capital. MSBDC Advisors are all former entrepreneurs. Mark co-founded two business ventures: TracRac, a Fall River-based manufacturer of automotive accessories, and Virtuous.com, an e-ticketing service provider serving the arts and entertainment industry. If you would like a consultation with Mark, please fill out this request form before Thursday. To learn more about MSBDC?s services, check out this flier.

3:30 ? 5:00 P.M. | MassVentures ? Office Hours

Discuss your pitch with Jennifer Jordan, Vice President of MassVentures, an early-stage venture capital fund dedicated to investing in Massachusetts high growth technology companies. MassVentures focuses on Series A Investments in software, data, analytics, crowdsourcing, and the intersection of healthcare and IT. ?Reserve a 15 minute segment by signing up at the bar. ?Come prepared with a high level pitch deck that covers: (1) the problem you are addressing, (2) the size of the market, (3) the team, (4) the product offering, and (5) the exit strategy.

4:00 ? 6:00 P.M. | LearnLaunchX ? Office Hours

Chat with LearnLaunchX, New England?s first accelerator program for new learning and education technology companies. Participant companies will receive seed funding, workspace, and intensive mentoring and collaboration from experienced professionals in the learning and education space. The first Boston class of LearnLaunchX begins on June 10th. Applications are being accepted until March 25th.

4:00 ? 6:00 P.M. | Funding and Protecting Your Idea and Business ? Office Hours

Burns & Levinson?s attorneys Gil Breiman and Bruce Jobse are holding office hours at Venture Caf? this week. Gil can assist you with devising and preparing funding strategies for your business. Learn about traditional options such as venture capital and angel investment, as well as alternatives such as grants, crowdfunding, and accelerator programs and platforms. ?Gil can introduce you to the firm?s Innovation Program, a special legal services offering available to a select group of startup and emerging businesses. Speak with Bruce about the ramifications of the ?first to file? changes to the U.S. patent process that came about on March 16, 2013 as a result of the America Invents Act.

4:00 ? 6:00 P.M. | George Mabry ? Office Hours

Ask consultant, mentor, and angel investor George Mabry for feedback on your business concept. ?He is active in Harvard, MIT, and Greater Boston?s entrepreneurship communities and holds degrees in computer science and business. ??George co-founded a biotech market research company that was acquired by a global biopharmaceutical service provider in 2008. ?To speak with him, please sign up at the Caf? bar for a 20-minute appointment. ?Come prepared with concise, high-level materials to explain your idea, including the market, the team, and how you are addressing the opportunity or problem.

5:00 ? 6:30 P.M. | TiE ? Office Hours

TiE Challenge is a startup accelerator program that turns great ideas into companies. TiE Challenge offers first-time entrepreneurs a 2-for-1 opportunity: help from top Boston entrepreneurs and access to capital. Twenty companies are selected to participate in the program run by TiE Charter members and sponsors. Benefits include: dedicated advisors, office space, attendance at all TiE events and the opportunity to present to TiE Angels for potential investment. Come by their info table to learn more.

5:00 ? 6:00 P.M. | How to Find the Right Funder for Your Startup

Do you have questions about how to find a funder for your startup? In the labyrinthic funding map there may be a funder that is perfect for your startup. Who should you talk to first and why? Jennifer Jordan of MassVentures will be discussing the funding landscape for startups: how to navigate and how to find the right funder for you.

5:00 ? 8:00 P.M. | Boston Cleanweb Hackathon ? Info Table

Boston?s biggest cleanweb event, the Boston Cleanweb Hackathon, is coming back this year from April 5th to the 7th. ?Learn how you can help solve some of the world?s most pressing energy and water problems using a creative combination of clean tech and high tech.

5:00 ? 8:00 P.M. | MassChallenge ? Office Hours

MassChallenge, the world?s largest startup accelerator, connects entrepreneurs with the resources they need to launch successful businesses. Mass Challenge invites startups in any industry to apply for 125 spots in the 2013 program. Benefits include world-class mentorship and training, joining a community of fellow entrepreneurs, $10 million in in-kind support and $1 million in grants with no equity taken. Applications are open from February 13 to April 3. Chat with a MassChallenge representative if you interested in being a participant, sponsor, mentor, or judge?or if you have questions, comments, or suggestions about the competition.

6:00 ? 8:00 P.M. | EntreTech Panel ? Crowdfunding: Where It Stands Now

Join The EntreTech Forum?s panel discussion to learn about the power of alternative financing for entrepreneurs. Ask any entrepreneur about raising seed capital and you?ll hear a wide range of adventure stories. The lucky ones are able to secure an initial investor and get started, but most spend months pitching their ideas to investors who seem receptive but are hesitant to gamble on an uncertain exit. ?Enter crowdfunding, a powerful means to directly tap into groups of new and veteran investors. ?No longer a techie fad, crowdfunding has helped raise more than $10 million for some companies: how can it it can be used as a mature source for financing ventures?

6:30 ? 7:30 P.M. | NextDrop Roundtable: How to do a startup in India

Meet Anu Sridharan, a Forbes 30-under-30 social entrepreneur, and learn how she launched a technology-enabled social-impact enterprise in India. She is one of the founders of NextDrop, a startup that originated in an engineering class at UC Berkeley and won the Knight News Challenge. In conditions of scarcity, fresh water is only available intermittently?even in places with the pipes to deliver it. In India, NextDrop is deploying a system that notifies residents when water will become available. ?Join Anu in this interactive session to discuss how aspiring social entrepreneurs can identify a problem to solve, assess product-market fit, and overcome the many obstacles that might be encountered in a developing country.

Source: http://www.vencaf.org/2013/03/6339/

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Colo. sheriff refuses to enforce gun-control bills (Providence Journal)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

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The Pantheon and Available Spots

[WIP]

Naisia - Goddess of good and life
She appears as a female angel with white robes and white wings. She has long brown hair and blue eyes. The race she made where the humans, along with Gareoth. She is one of the leaders of the gods and goddesses, along side with Gareoth.

Champion: (OPEN)

Gareoth - God of evil and death
He appears as a man with black demon wings and a black leather coat. He has short 'emo' hair that covers one of his eyes. He has red eyes. He also made humans along with Naisia.

Champion: (OPEN)

Spaiyia - Goddess of destiny and prophecy
She appears as a wise and youthful woman with a grey cloak that also has a hood which covers her head. Her hair is pure white and her eyes are white as well, like a blind person will have. She always knows the future and knows everything that will happen. She even warned the others of The Destroyer and how he will release from his prison, so now the gods and goddesses are seeking a champion. She made the Thins who are tall and skinny and have grey-blue skin and six black eyes. They are very silent most of the time and peaceful. The Thins are also very youthful.

Champion: (OPEN)

Neo - God of insanity and illusions
He appears as two things. He will mostly choose to be a jester if he feels REALLY insane. The jester's costume is blood red and he juggles skulls. His hat also has spikes sticking out where bells should be. In other times he will appear as a magician of such with a magic cane and pale skin. The magician will also have a magic top hat which can fit millions of things. He made the Chimera Kin race. The Chimera Kin are usually a bundle of a bunch of animals fitted into either a four legged or a two legged. They vary in looks due to the bunch of animals that can be mixed. They are very beastly and are kept away from.

Champion: (OPEN)

Iansa - Goddess of disease and mutation
She appears as a green skinned woman with elf like ears. She has a torn up dress and long pure black hair. Her eyes are reptilian like and have a green tone color. She made the Amazio. The Amazio live in swamps and are reptilian with scaly skin and reptilian like features. They can breath in water for a long period of time and have different variants of the reptile they are half of.

Champion: (OPEN)

Abala - God of the sun and justice
He is seen in shining gold armor and has angel wings that also have armor on. He is also semi-muscular and has a helmet which covers his face. He made the Justiciers, a race of angelic humans that are very holy and fight for light. They usually follow the places where ever day is and age slowly. They also never sleep and keep watch for any evil.

Champion: (OPEN)

Lila - Goddess of fire and anger
She appears as a woman with brown leather armor and short orange hair which sticks up. Her eyes are pure orange-red and her skin is more tanned. She made the Flamed. They have obsidian skin and have the blood of lava. They are also fire-proof and are very dim witted.

Champion: (OPEN)

Gorco - God of carnivores, meat, forests and the hunt
He appears as a muscular man with the skins of animals to dress him. He has pure green eyes and a goat's skin covering his head. He made the Huangrai. They are usually big a bulky with similar features of certain animals like wolves or bears. They only eat meat and never eat vegetables.

Champion: (OPEN)

Niina - Goddess of traitors, lies, and envy
She appears as a pale woman with a wicked black and skinny dress. Her nails are claws and teeth are sharp. She made the Vonkyroth, a race of vampire-like creatures. They are blinded by light and have pure red eyes. They feast on blood and flesh of others and are pale skinned, sharp clawed, and sharp teethed like their goddess.

Champion: (OPEN)

Seema - Goddess of summer and harvest
She is one of the four goddesses of the seasons. She appears as a young woman with a dress made of all grass. Her hair has a lively rainbow coloring to it. She made a variant of the Elves, ones that are very light and have bigger and more green eyes. They also have black hair. All Elves are known to be youthful.

Champion: (OPEN)

Cahi - Goddess of winter, silence, and stealth
She is the second of the four goddesses of the seasons. She appears as a young woman with grey and white hair. She also has a dress that is partially torn apart. Her skin is cold and pure white. She made the second variant of the Elves. This variant has more grey skin and are sometimes blind, forcing them to depend on sound. They have smaller eyes and bigger ears. Their hair is also short and grey. They are more beastly and brutal then most Elves.

Tiyua - Goddess of spring and revival
She is the third of the goddesses of the seasons. She appears as a tough woman with leather armor. Her hair is more short and brown. She made the variant of the Elves. They have blonde hair and smaller eyes, making them look more human then Elf, yet they still keep their youthfulness and ears.

Adata - Goddess of fall and fear
She is the fourth of the goddess of the seasons. She appears as a woman in a dark orange dress and with darkness surrounding her facial features, making her look wicked. She made the most wicked of the Elf variants, the dark elves. They are more wicked and mischievous. They have purple skin, light purple long hair, and dark purple eyes.

Siktho - God of games, competition, and pride

Ze'uoth - God of greed, gambling, and wealth

Ruauk - God of torture and punishment

Ktulak - God of earth, minerals, mountains, and the underground

Jayil - Goddess of knowledge, wisdom, and magic

Jo'uon - God of shadows, and the unknown

Juoil - God of strength, weapons, and conflict

Tess'ract - God of electricity and technology

Tinya - Goddess of history and art

Ghatra - God of deceit and music

Yougha - God of the moon and freedom

Ballrok - God of beasts, dungeons, and heroes

Yila - Goddess of the oceans

Kough'ra - God of the sky and storms

Jaina - Goddess of necromancy and revenge

Uougrath - God of chaos and change

Hirya - Goddess of order and peace

Xorthya - Goddess of sympathy

Philro - God of love and compassion

Wtuio - Goddess of dreams, colors, and imagination

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/TS3V3GtyMDA/viewtopic.php

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