Friday, May 31, 2013

A Love Story Edited From Stock Footage Is Your Tearjerker of the Day

Last year ad agency AlmapBBDO tugged at our heart strings with an animated love story assembled from over 5,000 Getty stock photos. And this year the agency's back with an even sappier tale of love edited together from a seemingly endless run of perfectly matched clips harvested from Getty's stock footage archive.

If you don't believe in love at first returned search results, you will after watching this. [YouTube via The Awesomer]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/a-love-story-edited-from-stock-footage-is-your-tearjerk-510525840

aladdin ufc 144 fight card ufc 144 results acura nsx all star weekend 2012 giada de laurentiis howard hughes

Comet ISON is hurtling toward uncertain destiny with Sun

May 30, 2013 ? A new series of images from Gemini Observatory shows Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) racing toward an uncomfortably close rendezvous with the Sun. In late November the comet could present a stunning sight in the twilight sky and remain easily visible, or even brilliant, into early December of this year.

The time-sequence images, spanning early February through May 2013, show the comet's remarkable activity despite its current great distance from the Sun and Earth. The information gleaned from the series provides vital clues as to the comet's overall behavior and potential to present a spectacular show. However, it's anyone's guess if the comet has the "right stuff" to survive its extremely close brush with the Sun at the end of November and become an early morning spectacle from Earth in early December 2013.

When Gemini obtained this time sequence, the comet ranged between roughly 455-360 million miles (730-580 million kilometers; or 4.9-3.9 astronomical units) from the Sun, or just inside the orbital distance of Jupiter. Each image in the series, taken with the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph at the Gemini North telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawai'i, shows the comet in the far red part of the optical spectrum, which emphasizes the comet's dusty material already escaping from what astronomers describe as a "dirty snowball." Note: The final image in the sequence, obtained in early May, consists of three images, including data from other parts of the optical spectrum, to produce a color composite image."

The images show the comet sporting a well-defined parabolic hood in the sunward direction that tapers into a short and stubby tail pointing away from the Sun. These features form when dust and gas escape from the comet's icy nucleus and surround that main body to form a relatively extensive atmosphere called a coma. Solar wind and radiation pressure push the coma's material away from the Sun to form the comet's tail, which we see here at a slight angle (thus its stubby appearance).

Discovered in September 2012 by two Russian amateur astronomers, Comet ISON is likely making its first passage into the inner Solar System from what is called the Oort Cloud, a region deep in the recesses of our Solar System, where comets and icy bodies dwell. Historically, comets making a first go-around the Sun exhibit strong activity as they near the inner Solar System, but they often fizzle as they get closer to the Sun.

Sizing up Comet ISON

Astronomer Karen Meech, at the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy (IfA) in Honolulu, is currently working on preliminary analysis of the new Gemini data (as well as other observations from around the world) and notes that the comet's activity has been decreasing somewhat over the past month.

"Early analysis of our models shows that ISON's brightness through April can be reproduced by outgassing from either carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. The current decrease may be because this comet is coming close to the Sun for the first time, and a "volatile frosting" of ice may be coming off revealing a less active layer beneath. It is just now getting close enough to the Sun where water will erupt from the nucleus revealing ISON's inner secrets," says Meech.

"Comets may not be completely uniform in their makeup and there may be outbursts of activity as fresh material is uncovered," adds IfA astronomer Jacqueline Keane. "Our team, as well as astronomers from around the world, will be anxiously observing the development of this comet into next year, especially if it gets torn asunder, and reveals its icy interior during its exceptionally close passage to the Sun in late November."

NASA's Swift satellite and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) have also imaged Comet ISON recently in this region of space. Swift's ultraviolet observations determined that the comet's main body was spewing some 850 tons of dust per second at the beginning of the year, leading astronomers to estimate the comet's nucleus diameter is some 3-4 miles (5-6 kilometers). HST scientists concurred with that size estimate, adding that the comet's coma measures about 3100 miles (5000 km) across.

The comet gets brighter as the outgassing increases and pushes more dust from the surface of the comet. Scientists are using the comet's brightness, along with information about the size of the nucleus and measurements of the production of gas and dust, to understand the composition of the ices that control the activity. Most comets brighten significantly and develop a noticeable tail at about the distance of the asteroid belt (about 3 times the Earth-Sun distance -- between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter) because this is when the warming rays of the Sun can convert the water ice inside the comet into a gas. This comet was bright and active outside the orbit of Jupiter -- when it was twice as far from the Sun. This meant that some gas other than water was controlling the activity.

Meech concludes that Comet ISON "?could still become spectacularly bright as it gets very close to the Sun" but she cautions, "I'd be remiss, if I didn't add that it's still too early to predict what's going to happen with ISON since comets are notoriously unpredictable."

A Close Encounter

On November 28, 2013, Comet ISON will make one of the closest passes ever recorded as a comet grazes the Sun, penetrating our star's million-degree outer atmosphere, called the corona, and moving to within 800,000 miles (1.3 million km) of the Sun's surface. Shortly before that critical passage, the comet may appear bright enough for expert observers using proper care to see it close to the Sun in daylight.

What happens after that no one knows for sure. But if Comet ISON survives that close encounter, the comet may appear in our morning sky before dawn in early December and become one of the greatest comets in the last 50 years or more. Even if the comet completely disintegrates, skywatchers shouldn't lose hope. When Comet C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) plunged into the Sun's corona in December 2011, its nucleus totally disintegrated into tiny bits of ice and dust, yet it still put on a glorious show after that event.

The question remains, are we in for such a show?

Comet ISON: The View from the North and South

Regardless of whether Comet ISON becomes the "Comet of the Century," as some speculate, it will likely be a nice naked-eye and/or binocular wonder from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres in the weeks leading up to its close approach with the Sun.

By late October, the comet should be visible through binoculars as a fuzzy glow in the eastern sky before sunrise, in the far southeastern part of the constellation of Leo. By early November, the comet should be a much finer binocular object. It will steadily brighten as it drifts ever faster, night by night, through southern Virgo, passing close to the bright star Spica. It is during the last half of the month that observations will be most important, as the comet edges into Libra and the dawn, where it will brighten to naked-eye visibility and perhaps sport an obvious tail.

The comet reaches perihelion (the closest point in its orbit to the Sun) on November 28th, when it will also attain its maximum brightness, and perhaps be visible in the daytime. If Comet ISON survives perihelion, it will swing around the Sun and appear as both an early morning and early evening object from the Northern Hemisphere. The situation is less favorable from the Southern Hemisphere, as the comet will set before the Sun in the evening and rise with the Sun in the morning.

By December 10th, and given that everything goes well, Comet ISON may be a fine spectacle in the early morning sky as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. Under dark skies, it may sport a long tail stretching straight up from the eastern horizon, from the constellations of Ophiuchus to Ursa Major. The comet will also be visible in the evening sky during this time but with its tail appearing angled and closer to the horizon.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/space_time/astronomy/~3/s2BF2WQWkTQ/130530111307.htm

iOS 6.1 BlackBerry Kwame Harris Vine dr oz sag awards rajon rondo

California's Democratic lawmakers push for tighter gun control (reuters)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/309245208?client_source=feed&format=rss

eric johnson big east tournament ashley olsen new apple tv sun flare love hewitt new ipad

Leaked Windows 8.1 build points to the Start button's return

Leaked Windows 81 shots point show Start button, wallpaper on home screen

When we last got a peek at Windows 8.1 "Blue," most of the updates lurked under the surface: rumors of a Start button revival didn't pan out. Flash forward to Paul Thurrott's screenshots of a newer build, however, and it's a different story. The leaked code has the Start button once more occupying a spot on the desktop taskbar, with behavior reportedly like what we've seen with Stardock's Start 8 utility. More throwbacks also appear to be in store. Users can now transfer their desktop wallpaper to the Start screen, and the storied boot-to-desktop option is available -- if turned off by default. Microsoft hasn't acknowledged the existence of these (or any) Windows 8.1 features, but the rapidly approaching Build conference suggests that we'll learn more in the near future.

Filed under: ,

Comments

Via: The Verge

Source: SuperSite for Windows

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/TYONyRuZyMA/

Cat Zingano DMX spartacus spartacus Jonathan Winters Justin Bieber Anne Frank will ferrell

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Interleukin-22 protects against post-influenza bacterial superinfection

Interleukin-22 protects against post-influenza bacterial superinfection [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 30-May-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Jim Sliwa
jsliwa@asmusa.org
202-942-9297
American Society for Microbiology

Researchers from the Pasteur Institute, Lille, France have shown in a mouse model that interleukin-22 protects against bacterial superinfections that can arise following influenza. Their research is published in the June 2013 issue of the Journal of Virology.

Influenza A viral infection can lead to primary pneumonia and, later on, to serious complications including secondary bacterial pneumonia and sepsis. Post-influenza bacterial superinfections that occur during seasonal epidemics and pandemics are of great concern to human health and impose a considerable socio-economic burden.

"It is therefore critical that we reach a better understanding of the causes of and potential treatments for post-influenza bacterial superinfection," says corresponding author Franois Trottein.

"Mouse studies have revealed that impairment of the host innate immune defense, as well as lung damage caused by the virus are cardinal features of bacterial superinfection," says Trottein. The authors tested the hypothesis that interleukin-22, an important cytokine implicated in mucosal immunity, inflammation and tissue repair, might play an important role during influenza.

The authors show that several cell types belonging to the innate immune system produce interleukin-22 soon after infection. They also demonstrate that the lack of interleukin-22 aggravates the pathogenesis that develops in the lungs and in particular exacerbates epithelial damage caused by the virus. Furthermore, endogenous interleukin-22 displays a protective role during secondary bacterial (pneumococcus) infection in the mouse system.

Although the mechanisms sustaining the protective effect of interleukin-22 are not yet fully elucidated, the authors speculate that its beneficial effect is due to its role in the maintenance of epithelial integrity.

"If it works as well in humans, the production of interleukin-22 could confer a substantial benefit on patients having flu," says Trottein.

###

A copy of the article can be found online at http://bit.ly/asmtip0513b.

(S. Ivanov, J. Renneson, F. Trottein, et al. Interleukin-22 reduces lung inflammation during influenza A virus infection and protects against secondary bacterial infection. J. Virol. June 2013; 87:12 6911-6924. Published ahead of print17 April 2013. doi:10.1128/JVI.02943-12)

The Journal of Virology is a publication of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). The ASM is the largest single life science society, composed of over 39,000 scientists and health professionals. Its mission is to advance the microbiological sciences as a vehicle for understanding life processes and to apply and communicate this knowledge for the improvement of health and environmental and economic well-being worldwide.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Interleukin-22 protects against post-influenza bacterial superinfection [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 30-May-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Jim Sliwa
jsliwa@asmusa.org
202-942-9297
American Society for Microbiology

Researchers from the Pasteur Institute, Lille, France have shown in a mouse model that interleukin-22 protects against bacterial superinfections that can arise following influenza. Their research is published in the June 2013 issue of the Journal of Virology.

Influenza A viral infection can lead to primary pneumonia and, later on, to serious complications including secondary bacterial pneumonia and sepsis. Post-influenza bacterial superinfections that occur during seasonal epidemics and pandemics are of great concern to human health and impose a considerable socio-economic burden.

"It is therefore critical that we reach a better understanding of the causes of and potential treatments for post-influenza bacterial superinfection," says corresponding author Franois Trottein.

"Mouse studies have revealed that impairment of the host innate immune defense, as well as lung damage caused by the virus are cardinal features of bacterial superinfection," says Trottein. The authors tested the hypothesis that interleukin-22, an important cytokine implicated in mucosal immunity, inflammation and tissue repair, might play an important role during influenza.

The authors show that several cell types belonging to the innate immune system produce interleukin-22 soon after infection. They also demonstrate that the lack of interleukin-22 aggravates the pathogenesis that develops in the lungs and in particular exacerbates epithelial damage caused by the virus. Furthermore, endogenous interleukin-22 displays a protective role during secondary bacterial (pneumococcus) infection in the mouse system.

Although the mechanisms sustaining the protective effect of interleukin-22 are not yet fully elucidated, the authors speculate that its beneficial effect is due to its role in the maintenance of epithelial integrity.

"If it works as well in humans, the production of interleukin-22 could confer a substantial benefit on patients having flu," says Trottein.

###

A copy of the article can be found online at http://bit.ly/asmtip0513b.

(S. Ivanov, J. Renneson, F. Trottein, et al. Interleukin-22 reduces lung inflammation during influenza A virus infection and protects against secondary bacterial infection. J. Virol. June 2013; 87:12 6911-6924. Published ahead of print17 April 2013. doi:10.1128/JVI.02943-12)

The Journal of Virology is a publication of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). The ASM is the largest single life science society, composed of over 39,000 scientists and health professionals. Its mission is to advance the microbiological sciences as a vehicle for understanding life processes and to apply and communicate this knowledge for the improvement of health and environmental and economic well-being worldwide.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-05/asfm-ipa053013.php

blue ivy carter meteorite lebron james NASA asteroid cruise ship Asteroid 2012 DA14

EU seeks to abolish data roaming charges in Europe

BRUSSELS (AP) ? A top European Union official says mobile phone network operators should be forced to end charging customers for data roaming when traveling across the 27-nation bloc.

European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes told the European Parliament on Thursday the roaming fees should cease to exist by next year.

The Commission, the bloc's executive arm, has already cracked down on roaming charges for international cellphone calls. It has also mandated lower maximum ceilings for data roaming costs, but bills for using the Internet on smartphones or tablets when traveling in Europe still rise quickly.

Kroes said abolishing data roaming fees will be another step to accomplishing the bloc's single market, saving citizens and companies money.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/eu-seeks-abolish-data-roaming-charges-europe-155408387.html

Monsters University nfl playoff schedule Rex Ryan tattoo Alaska earthquake green bay packers houston texans houston texans

CSN: Staley has surgery to repair torn meniscus

Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Staley, who did not participate in the first week of 49ers OTAs, recently underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a minor meniscus tear in his left knee.

The knee otherwise looked "perfect," a source said, and Staley is expected to be ready for the opening of training camp in late-July.

The six-year veteran was seen working out in the weight room during Tuesday's practice.

Staley has been selected to the NFC Pro Bowl team the past two seasons.

He tweeted the following at 3:48 PT Tuesday afternoon:

?

Source: http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/matt-maiocco/knee-surgery-49ers-lt-joe-staley

japan earthquake Star Trek Into Darkness Heisman watch John McAfee Jenny Rivera Pacquiao vs Marquez 4 pacquiao

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Military medals being stored at state treasury

  • Officer shoots man in Winton Terrace

    Officer shoots man in Winton Terrace

    Tuesday, May 28 2013 7:00 AM EDT2013-05-28 11:00:50 GMT

    WINTON TERRACE - Cincinnati Police tell us they are working a shooting in Winton Terrace. Officers were called to the 5000 block of Winneste around 3:30am for a shooting. Scanner traffic indicates anFull Story >Cincinnati Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Winton Terrace.
    Full Story >
  • Electrical fire damages Green Twp. home

    Electrical fire damages Green Twp. home

    Tuesday, May 28 2013 6:55 AM EDT2013-05-28 10:55:40 GMT

    An electrical fire damaged a Green Township home on Monday. Crews were called to the 900 block of Four Mile Road for smoke coming from the roof of a residence. The fire was located just behind the frontFull Story >An electrical fire damaged a Green Township home on Monday.Full Story >
  • 3 hurt in Pierce Twp. crash

    3 hurt in Pierce Twp. crash

    Tuesday, May 28 2013 6:49 AM EDT2013-05-28 10:49:40 GMT

    Three people were taken to the hospital after a crash in Pierce Township. It happened just before 2:30 a.m. Tuesday on SR 125 just east of SR 132. Preliminary investigation reveals that a 2005 DodgeFull Story >Three people were taken to the hospital after a crash in Pierce Township.Full Story >

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Veterans missing their medals or discharge papers could find them at the state treasury.

Treasurer Todd Hollenbach said his office has hundreds of unclaimed military items in the vault and he wants to return them to the veterans or their families.

Among the items in the vault are a bronze star, seven navy medals, two purple hearts, numerous battle ribbons and campaign pins, dog tags and dozens of discharge papers, including one from the Civil War.

The treasury collects all property surrendered to the state that is presumed lost or abandoned. The military medals and papers in the vault are among more than 50,000 unclaimed items taken from abandoned safe deposit boxes.

The treasury returns millions of dollars in unclaimed property to Kentucky residents each year.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.fox19.com/story/22433424/military-medals-being-stored-at-state-treasury

uganda the parent trap invisible children kony 2012 space weather sunspots pac 12 tournament sun storm

Tide Men's Golf Third At NCAA

Alabama shot 5-under 275 and is five shots off the lead of Arizona State. The Sun Devils posted 10-under 270 in the morning flight with the help of John Rahm?s NCAA-record 61 (-9). Host Georgia Tech is second at 6-under 274 while Illinois is fourth (-4, 276) and No. 1-ranked California is fifth at 3-under 277. Oklahoma is sixth at 278 while Texas and Oklahoma State are tied for eighth at 279.

?We would have loved to win the day,? Alabama head coach Jay Seawell said following the round. ?That is our goal every day. We had it at 11-under par at one time. Absolutely we are happy were we are with three guys under par and a 71 and a 72. I thought it was a very solid start.?

Alabama sophomore and reigning National Player of the Year Justin Thomas led the Tide charge with a 3-under-par round of 67. He made four birdies and just one bogey and stands in a tie for fourth place after the opening round.

? ?(The course) was playing really hard this afternoon,? Alabama sophomore Justin Thomas said following the round. ?It is already a hard course, but the greens got really firm and pretty crispy, so you really had to know where your ball is landing and where you want to putt from.?

? Thomas, from Goshen, Ky., went out in 2-under 33 with birdies on the 11th and 13th holes and then birdied the first and second after making the turn to get to 4-under par. A three-putt bogey on the 461-yard par-eighth was the only blemish on his card.

? ?This was, if not the best, in my top three or four ball-striking rounds. I left myself in good position on the greens. I hit 16 greens and my only bogey was a three putt. This is a national championship course and you have to give it a lot of respect. I hit it well; if I could have made a couple of putts, it really could have been low. I played well, the team played well and we are in good position.?

? The Crimson Tide got a 2-under-par 68 from junior Bobby Wyatt, who also carded four birdies on this round. The Mobile native is tied for eighth after the first day of play. Fellow junior Cory Whitsett shot 1-under 69 and is tied for 20th. He got to 3-under par through 15 holes only to finish with bogeys on two of his final three holes.

Scott Strohmeyer was the Tide?s final counting score on Tuesday at 1-over-par 71. Only a triple bogey on the eighth hole (his 17th) kept him from posting an under-par round. Trey Mullinax?s 72 was dropped from Alabama?s team total in round one.

? Alabama will play with California and UCLA again in the second round at the Crabapple Course on Wednesday. The Crimson Tide will tee off at 6 a.m. (CDT) on the first hole. The field will cut to the top eight teams after three rounds on Thursday and then play three rounds of match play to crown a national champion.

Source: http://alabama.scout.com/2/1295186.html

Anne Stringfield paczki lent la times heart attack grill KTLA Ash Wednesday 2013

Sen. McCain makes trip to Syria to visit rebels (The Arizona Republic)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/308652241?client_source=feed&format=rss

Notre Dame Football Schedule detroit tigers Tsunami Lil Reese Hurricane Sandy Nyc Saanvi Venna vikings

Intel's first buy under Krzanich is ST-Ericsson's GPS division

Well, that didn't take long. Even though Brian Krzanich took over the reins at Intel a mere 12 days ago, he's already authorized his first-ever acquisition. The chip giant announced it has purchased ST-Ericsson's satellite navigation chip business unit, which was put up for sale as a result of the latter's dissolving joint venture. Though terms haven't been disclosed, the sale is said to have reduced the Swiss manufacturer's annual need for cash by around $90 million. As for the sat nav unit, it'll become a part of Intel's mobile chip outfit headed under smartphone chief Mike Bell. It's all certainly in line with Krzanich's recent promise to make Intel more competitive in mobile, which should be key in its ever growing battle with that other mobile chip architecture.

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Source: AllThingsD

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/9I0RU4XTGQg/

berkshire hathaway ufc 144 james jones james jones aladdin black forest ufc 144 fight card

What Do You Think of Arrested Development Season 4 So Far?

What Do You Think of Arrested Development Season 4 So Far?

If you're like us, you probably spent a good part of your weekend plowing through at least some of Arrested Development season 4 on Netflix. Were you able to restrain yourself, or did you binge and watch all 15 episodes? What do you think so far?

Read more...

    


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/PFEaOfuEI8U/what-do-you-think-of-arrested-development-season-4-so-f-510080842

Red Equal Sign maundy thursday Mexico vs USA Harmony Korine Battlefield 4 Summly Human Rights Campaign

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

How the Army Fit a Suitcase-Sized Battery Charger into a Shoebox

How the Army Fit a Suitcase-Sized Battery Charger into a Shoebox

Nothing's worse than a dead battery?except maybe if you run out of juice while on patrol in the backwoods of Afghanistan. But until now, US forces have had to lug around a huge and heavy charger. Not anymore. Army research has just shrunk a mobile charging station small enough for any soldier to carry on assignment.

"There is an increasing need with the networked Soldier for portable power," said Dave Schimmel, a PM SWAR lead engineer. "There is a widening gap between the need for power and the actual availability of that power when the Soldier is in the Tier-1 environment [the most austere environment, such as the remote areas of Afghanistan] so portable power is an absolute requirement."

The old charger was state-of-the art when the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command's communications-electronics center (CERDEC) created it in the 1990s, but was roughly the size of a carry-on bag and weighed so much it had to be mounted on a truck. But technological advances over the past two decades have led CERDEC and its industry partners to develop the Universal Battery Charger. "We're taking that 1990s technology and shrinking it, bringing it into the 21st century," ERDEC CP&I engineer Marc Gietter said. "It will keep up with today's technology."

This 6-pound, shoebox-sized charging station "can charge eight batteries and two USB devices at once," Gietter continued. "The USB component is becoming increasingly important as the Soldier moves toward being more connected via a smartphone. It also can charge a morale-boosting device like an iPod." What's more, the UBC will be able to generate a current from virtually any power source?be it a generator, fuel cell, solar array, even a truck's cigarette lighter socket?and simultaneously charge a variety of battery types.

The UBC is also sturdy enough to survive harsh battlefield conditions and is impervious to extreme temperatures, rain, sand, and wind. The unit can even be submerged, during say a river fording, and continue working.

"The charger will function after being completely submerged in water," Schimmel said. "We don't want them to be carrying a six-pound brick after one of those crossings."

There's no word yet on exactly when the new device will make it into the hands of front line troops. [US Army via PopSci]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/how-the-army-fit-a-suitcase-sized-battery-charger-into-509727425

kirk cameron news 10 hillary rosen j.k. rowling j.k. rowling axl rose google earnings

Should You Get BRCA Gene Testing?

May 27, 2013 10:19am

The death of Angelina Jolie?s aunt, Debbie Martin, has once again highlighted the genetic risk of breast cancer.

gty angelina jolie thg 130514 wblog Angelina Jolie Loses Aunt to Breast Cancer: Should You Get BRCA Gene Testing?

Alastair Grant/AFP/Getty Images

Martin, 61, was the younger sister of Jolie?s mother, Marcheline Bertrand, who died from ovarian cancer at the age of 56. Martin?s ?death comes ?two weeks after Jolie revealed she?d had a preventive double mastectomy after testing positive for a hereditary mutation in one of the?BRCA genes.

Women with mutations in the genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 are five times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer and up to 28 times more likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, according to?the National Cancer Institute. That means that 60 percent of women with a BRCA mutation will develop breast cancer in their lifetimes, compared with 12 percent of women in the general population, and up to 40 percent of women with a BRCA mutation will develop ovarian cancer, compared with 1.4 percent of women without a mutation.

Angelina Jolie Reveals She Had Double Mastectomy to Prevent Breast Cancer

Less than 1 percent of women carry a faulty BRCA gene, making costly genetic testing unnecessary for most. But women with a mother and aunt diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer are prime candidates for the test, according to the NCI.

For women who are not of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, the agency recommends genetic testing if you have:

  • Two first-degree relatives diagnosed with breast cancer, with one of them before age 51. First-degree relatives include your mother or sister;
  • Three or more first- or second-degree relatives diagnosed with breast cancer. Second-degree relatives include your grandmother or aunt;
  • A combination of first- and second-degree relatives diagnosed with breast cancer?or ovarian cancer;
  • A?first-degree relative?diagnosed with cancer in both breasts;
  • A combination of first- or second-degree relatives diagnosed with ovarian cancer;
  • A first- or second-degree relative diagnosed with breast?and?ovarian cancer;
  • A male relative diagnosed with breast cancer.

For women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, who are more likely to carry a specific BRCA2 defect passed from generation to generation, the NCI recommends genetic testing if you have:

  • A first-degree relative diagnosed with breast?or?ovarian cancer;
  • Two second-degree relatives on the same side of the family diagnosed with breast?or ovarian cancer.

About 2 percent of adult women have a family history pattern described above but, again, less than 1 percent of women will have a BRCA mutation.

?Not every?woman in such families carries a harmful?BRCA1?or?BRCA2?mutation, and?not every?cancer in such families is linked to a harmful mutation in one of these genes,? according to the NCI. ?Furthermore,?not every?woman who has a harmful?BRCA1?or?BRCA2?mutation will develop breast and/or ovarian cancer.?

Women without one of the family history patterns described above are unlikely to have a harmful BRCA?mutation, according to the NCI.

Based on her genetic testing results, Jolie opted for a preventive double mastectomy ? the surgical removal of both breasts to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Studies suggest that preventive mastectomy can reduce breast cancer risk by about 90 percent in high-risk women, according to the NCI. But surgery carries risks, too, so women are advised to talk to their doctors about the procedure?s pros, cons and possible alternatives.

Click here?for more information from the National Cancer Institute.

SHOWS: Good Morning America

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/05/27/angelina-jolie-loses-aunt-to-breast-cancer-should-you-get-brca-gene-testing/

grenada Sikh Sanya Richards Ross decathlon Honey Boo Boo Child marilyn monroe Nathan Adrian

Monday, May 27, 2013

Rockets hit south Beirut after Hezbollah vows Syria victory

By Dominic Evans

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Two rockets hit a Shi'ite Muslim district of southern Beirut on Sunday and wounded several people, residents said, a day after the leader of Lebanese Shi'ite militant movement Hezbollah said his group would continue fighting in Syria until victory.

It was the first attack to apparently target Hezbollah's stronghold in the south of the Lebanese capital since the outbreak of the two-year conflict in neighboring Syria, which has sharply heightened Lebanon's own sectarian tensions.

One rocket landed in a car sales yard next to a busy road junction in the Chiah neighborhood and the other hit an apartment several hundred meters away, wounding five people, residents said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility and the army said it was investigating who was behind the attack.

A Lebanese security source said three rocket launchers were found, one of which had misfired or failed to launch, in the hills to the southeast of the Lebanese capital, about 5 miles from the area where the two rockets landed.

The rocket strikes came hours after Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, a powerful supporter of President Bashar al-Assad in neighboring Syria's civil war, said his fighters were committed to the conflict whatever the cost.

"We will continue to the end of the road. We accept this responsibility and will accept all sacrifices and expected consequences of this position," he said in a televised speech on Saturday evening. "We will be the ones who bring victory".

Syria's two-year uprising has polarized Lebanon, with Sunni Muslims supporting the rebellion against Assad and Shi'ite Hezbollah and its allies standing by Assad. The Lebanese city of Tripoli has seen frequent explosions of violence between majority Sunnis and its small Alawite community.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius condemned the violence in Lebanon. "The war in Syria must not become the war in Lebanon," he told reporters in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

QUSAIR OFFENSIVE

Until recently, Nasrallah insisted that Hezbollah had not sent guerrillas to fight alongside Assad's forces, but in his speech on Saturday he said it had been fighting in Syria for several months to defend Lebanon from radical Islamist groups he said were now driving Syria's rebellion.

Hezbollah forces and Assad's troops launched a fierce assault last week aimed at driving Syrian rebels out of Qusair, a strategic town close to the Lebanese border which rebels have used as a supply route for weapons coming into the country.

Lebanese authorities, haunted by Lebanon's own 1975-1990 civil war and torn by the same sectarian rifts as its powerful neighbor, have sought to pursue a police of "dissociation" from the Syrian turmoil.

But they are unable to prevent the flow into Syria of Sunni Muslim gunmen who support the rebels and Hezbollah fighters who support Assad, and have struggled to absorb nearly half a million refugees coming the other way to escape the fighting.

At least 25 people have been killed in Tripoli in the north of Lebanon over the last week in street fighting which has coincided with the battle for Qusair across the border.

Nasrallah's speech was condemned by Sunni Muslim former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri who said that Hezbollah, set up by Iran in the 1980s to fight Israeli occupation forces in south Lebanon, had abandoned anti-Israeli "resistance" in favour of sectarian conflict in Syria.

"The resistance is ending by your hand and your will," Hariri said in a statement. "The resistance announced its political and military suicide in Qusair".

Hariri is backed by Saudi Arabia, which along with other Sunni Muslim Gulf Arab monarchies has strongly supported the uprising against Iranian-backed Assad, whose minority Alawite sect is an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam.

(Additional reporting by Leila Bassam and Erika Solomon in Beirut and John Irish in Abu Dhabi; Editing by Tom Pfeiffer)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/two-rockets-hit-hezbollah-held-district-beirut-residents-045444191.html

Tropical Storm Isaac path Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Isaac Path Isaac Hurricane earthquake san diego Hurricane Isaac Sam Claflin

Carrie's Experimental Kitchen: Barbecue Party Calculator from Food ...

Are you having a last minute get-together??

ensure you have the right amount of food!?



For the Food
  • Adults will consume 1 pound of food total; children, about 1/2 pound.
  • The more options you have, the less you need of each; decrease the main course portion sizes by 1 to 2 ounces if served on a buffet.
  • Guests will always eat and drink more at night than during the day.
For the Drinks
  • You can either create a few mixed drinks to be served punch-style, allotting 1 gallon for 10 guests, or provide a do-it-yourself array of alcohol and mixers (one 1-liter bottle of alcohol will make up to 22 mixed drinks).?
  • Allow for 1 bottle of wine per 8 guests.
  • Guests will consume 2 drinks in the first hour, and 1 drink every hour after that.?
  • Buy 2 pounds of ice per guest, and a large number of lemons and limes.
For Hors D'oeuvres and Appetizers Only
  • Assume each guest will eat 4 to 6 bites per hour.?
  • For a cocktail hour preceding a larger meal, 6 bites per person total is a safe estimate.?
  • Planning a more intimate dinner party with plated appetizers? 10 ounces of leafy greens for an appetizer salad will feed 10.
For Main Courses
  • Each adult 6 to 8 ounces of meat or seafood total for their main course.?
  • Smaller grill staples like hot dogs, ribs, chicken legs and thighs each run 1 1/2 to 4 ounces each.?
  • For hamburgers, each store-bought patty is about 6 ounces. Consider making homemade smaller patties so guests can mix and match proteins.
For Condiments
  • For ketchup, one 20-ounce bottle. ?
  • For mustard and relish, one 10-ounce bottle each.?
Side Dishes
  • For pasta salad, 1 cup per guest
  • Baked beans, about 1/2 cup
  • For a group of 10, plan on 7 cups of potato salad and 5 cups coleslaw to feed the crowd.
Desserts
  • Individual desserts like cookies and watermelon slices, assume guests will eat about 2 each.?
  • For larger cakelike options, each guest will most likely eat 4 ounces.?
  • Pre-slice your cakes or serve messier desserts or ice cream (also 4 ounces per guest) in cups.
Read more at Food Network?and Happy Memorial Day!?

Source: http://carriesexperimentalkitchen.blogspot.com/2013/05/bbq-party-calculator-food-network.html

pacers undrafted free agents braveheart roy orbison the third man 2012 nfl draft order mohamed sanu

A controversial victory lap for Lewis at Cannes

Comedian Jerry Lewis poses for portraits at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 24, 2013. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

Comedian Jerry Lewis poses for portraits at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 24, 2013. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

From left, Michel Legrand, comedian Jerry Lewis and actor Kevin Pollak arrive for the screening of Nebraska at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

From left, musician Michel Legrand, actress Kerry Bishe, comedian Jerry Lewis, director Daniel Noah and actor Kevin Pollak pose during a photo call for the film Max Rose at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

Comedian Jerry Lewis poses for portraits at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 24, 2013. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

Comedian Jerry Lewis jokes with photographers during a photo call for the film Max Rose at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

(AP) ? Jerry Lewis, so beloved in France, isn't quite overcome with emotion now that he's back at the Cannes Film Festival.

The festival, he says, is "for snobs," and when he meets a reporter from his native land, he exhales, "It's so nice to hear an American." To him, Cannes isn't an epicenter of rabid Lewis fandom, it's simply "business," he says, chomping on gum.

And at 87, Lewis is back in business. Nearly two decades since his last film, he's at Cannes with "Max Rose," a modest independent film in which he stars as an elderly man reconciling himself to life without his late wife.

"I'm very happy to relax and stay home with my family, and if something comes up, I'll consider it," Lewis, in an interview, said of his return to movies. "That's the nice part about 87. You just tell people: Oh, you're very tired."

At Cannes, Lewis has been anything but tired, both burnishing and tarnishing his legacy as a brilliant comedic performer. His Cannes tribute ? the festival paid "homage" to him in an out-of-competition screening of "Max Rose," as well as with a screening of his 1961 classic "The Ladies Man" ? has been overshadowed by his views about female comedians.

In a press conference, Lewis told reporters that his earlier-stated feelings haven't changed in recent years: Comedy isn't for women, he claims. A day after his comments roiled women across the Internet, Lewis wasn't apologetic, saying he sees females as mothers, not stand-ups.

"It's the truth. I can't help it," Lewis says, shrugging. "Women, it's just wrong. I don't care that the audience laughs at it and likes it. I don't happen to like it. I have too much respect for the gender. And I think that they are wrong in doing it. I can't expect them to stop working, but just don't work anywhere where I have to look at it."

It's a clearly out-of-date attitude that has turned many away from Lewis. In Cannes, "Max Rose" didn't help his reputation. The film, by first-time filmmaker Daniel Noah, drew terrible reviews at the festival. Variety said only "the most irrationally charitable of Lewis' fans" will appreciate it.

But such opinions mean little to Lewis. He made the film with Noah purely because he liked the script ? the best he's ever read, he says. It's the rare film to tell a story about the struggles of growing older, featuring a downbeat performance from Lewis far from the elastic farce his fans are accustomed to seeing.

Asked why he hadn't made a film since 1995's "Funny Bones," Lewis responds: "You see the movies they're putting out? What am I going to do, discuss that?"

Noah, who wrote the script based on his grandfather, sought out Lewis with little expectation of landing him. Months after sending the screenplay, Lewis called him and committed over the phone. Lewis told him he hadn't planned to make another film, but decided, "I gotta give them one more Jerry picture."

"I was braced for a difficult experience," says Noah. "I saw nothing but horror stories about how he was controlling and irascible and unpredictable and moody. . But I cannot explain to you the chasm between the man that othjcoers seem to know and the man that I know. I have not had a single moment of tension with him, of difficulty. He has been like a grandfather to me."

Noah says Lewis ? who helmed more than a dozen films in his career, including 1963's "The Nutty Professor" ? left the directing completely to him. He gave his famous star little direction, save for the occasional reminder to be more minimal, more "sad clown," says Noah.

"He's a wonderful kid," says Lewis. "When you're 87, almost everybody's a kid."

Lewis has continued to perform concerts ? "a wonderful way to make a fortune," he says. Retirement is not on the table. "I'm happiest when I'm on the stage," says Lewis, who was honored with the Academy Awards' humanitarian award in 2009 after years of telethon hosting for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

"Wherever the audience is is where you want to go," he says. "And if you're a ham, like me, you go wherever the action is. You see a lens and a crew and say, 'Yeah!'"

At the press conference in Cannes, Lewis proved that he still has his pugnacious wit and eagerness for laughs.

Asked about Dean Martin, Lewis' famed comedy partner in the '50s, he responded: "He died, you know. When I arrived here and he wasn't here I knew something was wrong." (Martin, with whom Lewis parted acrimoniously, died in 1995.)

"I've worked hard to sustain a reputation of: If you buy a ticket, you know you're going to get entertained," says Lewis. "That's what I was taught."

Lewis may be many things ? talented, funny, honest, out-of-touch, sexist ? but perhaps above all else, he's an entertainer. "Max Rose" marks his 82nd year performing.

___

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jake_coyle

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-05-25-France-Cannes-Jerry%20Lewis/id-95763d37a7784b9abaa0b979ffacc61b

Allison Schmitt Olympic Schedule Kyla Ross Montenegro Olympic Games Dana Vollmer Ryan Dempster

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Swimming Pool Ladders | Business Plan | Health, Clothing ...

Swimming Pool Ladders -?You can find a swimming pool ladder on almost all types of swimming pools. ?Ladders are essential to swimming pools, as they are used to get in and out of the pool. ?For both in ground and above ground pools, you can find a variety of different ladders to choose from. ?The materials used for the ladders are available in either vinyl, aluminum, plastic, resin, or stainless steel.

?

The choices of color doesn?t vary too much, although you shouldn?t paint them. ?To prevent slipping, some come with anti-skid materials. ?Almost all pool ladders are easy to assemble if you follow the instructions, and come with a warranty as well. ?You can find pool ladders on the Internet, or at your local department store or pool supply store.

The ladders used with in ground swimming pools normally include 1 ? 5 steps. ?Depending on how deep the water is where you are using the ladder, the installation and number of steps will obviously vary. ?When you select your ladder, you should make sure that the shape and height is compatible with your pool. ?If your pool was formed with concrete, you may have had the ladder or steps formed during installation. If you have a fiberglass or liner pool on the other hand, you?ll need to properly secure the ladder at both the upper and lower ends.

Above ground swimming pools on the other hand, are a bit different. ?Most people who have above ground pools have a deck that surrounds the pool, then a ladder than leads down into the water. ?You can install your ladder off the deck, or simply position it solely on the pool. ?It?s easier to install the ladder running off the deck and into the water, although you?ll need to properly secure it to the deck to ensure that it doesn?t slide off or end up hurting someone.

The ideal swimming pool ladder for an above ground pool should have 2 ? 4 steps. ?Most above ground pools are 4 ? 6 feet in depth, although they can be a bit tough for kids to enter. ?The more steps you have on your ladder, the easier it will be for kids to get in and out of the pool. ?If you are using your ladder with a deck, you won?t need as many steps.

All things aside, a swimming pool ladder is essential for any swimming pool. ?Without a ladder, it would be near impossible to get out of the pool. ?If you have an in ground pool, adults and teenagers can get out from the side, although kids will need to use a ladder. ?Ladders don?t cost a lot of money, yet they help to simplify getting in and out of your pool.

Posts related to Swimming Pool Ladders

Source: http://endianturk.org/swimming-pool-ladders.html

ash wednesday kate middleton marco rubio marco rubio Zero Hour Funny Valentines Chris Kyle

CrunchWeek: Yahoo's $1.1B Tumblr Purchase, Lyft's Big Raise, And Microsoft's Xbox One

tumblr-yahoo It?s that time of the week for CrunchWeek, the show where a few of us writers chat up the most interesting stories from the past seven days. Ryan Lawler, Greg Kumparak, and I chatted about Yahoo's $1.1 billion purchase of Tumblr (and the reports that the company is eyeing a purchase of Hulu); Lyft's $60 million raise from Andreessen Horowitz and the debut of Microsoft's next generation gaming console, the Xbox 1.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/5ElULg_AiQo/

Hunter Hayes rick warren Final Four 2013 final four Ray J I Hit It First Rick Pitino Spike Albrecht

Friday Fun Fact: The First Movie On TV Was In Theaters At The Time

Only about half a dozen people in the Los Angeles area owned a TV in 1933. But those handful of early adopting TV geeks were in for a special treat on March 10th of that year when the movie The Crooked Circle was broadcast in its entirety.

That day the campy detective flick became the first feature film ever broadcast on TV when experimental Los Angeles station W6XAO-TV beamed it out from the corner of 7th and Bixel Streets in downtown. The really surprising part? It was still playing in local theaters at the time.

In the early 1930s, TV was the promise of the future. It may have been an experimental toy to many, but a select few saw its potential as a revolutionary new medium. This new medium was hungry for content, and one place to draw from was the movie business.

Astonishingly to those of us here in the year 2013, the movie production company that put out The Crooked Circle (the short-lived Sono-Art World Wide Pictures) heartily encouraged the broadcast. From their perspective, it was great advertising. And creating a little buzz in a community of early adopters during the Great Depression ? a time when movies were a popular and affordable form of escapism ? couldn't hurt.

In the early 1930s you couldn't pop on down to the shop and buy a TV set. They were pretty much the exclusive domain of tinkerers, radio professionals and hobbyists. But it's amazing to think what that must have felt like to receive a picture ? a motion picture! ? through the air and into your home while the movie was still playing at the theater just down the street.

Today, movie studios and TV stations alike are battling for eyeballs as the amount of video content available over broadcast and the internet is seemingly endless. But today, just as it was at the dawn of television, it seems the experimenters are the ones most likely to thrive.

You can watch The Crooked Circle in its entirety over at the Internet Archive.

(Image: September 1926 issue of Radio-Craft magazine)

Source: http://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/friday-fun-fact-the-first-movie-on-tv-was-in-theaters-509689891

brett ratner stevie nicks anchorman capybara duggars peter facinelli bobby rush

The Nations




Cre' Est is the founding nation of the continent for which it was named. It is ruled by a monarchy in which the King and Queen hold absolute power, and the most common religious view is that of Theocrata, or the belief in a single omnipotent God. Cre' Est has an abundance of forested areas and wide open plains with rolling hills. It is also famous for being the central location of the Great Mountain Range which nearly cuts the continent into two halves. Cre' Est itself is on the western side of this mountain range, and the range extends throughout its southern border where the infamous Roda Valley lies hidden away by a near impenetrable wall of earth. There are only two entrances into this valley, and both are very small and well hidden by the Assassins who reside within. Cre' Est has a single large lake called Lake Bo just outside Roda Valley which is famous as a fishing spot, as well as having some of the most beautiful and vibrant wildlife on the continent.

On the business side of things, Cre' Est makes its greatest living off of farming and hunting. The well populated wildlife makes for excellent trade in fur and meat, and the natural resources such as lumber and stone from the mountains all provide a wealth of materials for Cre' Est to harvest for trade. When it comes to fish, Lake Bo can only provide so much and is more used for sport than anything else, and so it relies on its western neighbor for aquatic goods. When it comes to social customs, Cre' Est recognizes first and foremost the accomplishments of its scholars and military figures. Women are held in high regard, but not so much so that their voices hold sway over the voice of a man. While they are not always forced to be subservient, they never the less must fight to make their voices heard.




Triveila is the aquatic nation and sits on the northwestern most edge of the continent and is ruled as an Aristocracy. The current reigning family is known as the Oorodan Family, and they have ruled Triveila for over three hundred years which is the longest amount of time any single family has held power in the nation throughout its history. The primary religion is Goddecca, as the Gods/Goddesses of the sea, sky and land are all very important to Triveilan life. Famous for its pristine beaches and abundance of sea life, Triveila is the place to be if one wishes to make a living on the sea. Overseas trade, underwater recreation, fishing. When it comes to an aquatic lifestyle, if you name it Triveila is sure to have it. Triveila is also famous for its watercolor artwork and pottery, as there are natural clay deposits on the few small mountain ranges and hillsides which cover the southern edge of the nation.

Triveila's claim to fame is of course its abundance of sea life and food. Harvesting meats, plants, animal teeth, bones, scales and hides, Triveila's most lucrative trade comes from the sea. Possessing the largest ports of any nation, Triveila also holds dominance over sea trade among the five nations as well, and as such it sees the most foreign visits and income among any nation. Triveilan women enjoy the luxury of having complete equality with the men of their nation, and enjoy the benefits of recreation, politics, public events and happenings, and even owning their own trade businesses on the sea.




In Veilbrand, the name of the game is precious metals. It lies southwest of Cre' Est and sits below Triveila geographically. Having the most heavily mountainous geography of any nation, Veilbrand makes its living from gold, silver, opals, bronze, iron, and other such metals and gems which they harvest from the rich mines and deposits which its mountains carry. On the religious side of things, Veilbrand is primarily Theocrata, believing in a single God. Politically, they are an Aristocracy, and are governed currently by the Seilfahn Family who have ruled it for over eighty years and counting. Veilbrand is also famous for its metallic art, with numerous artists rendering statues, monuments, weapons and jewelry out of precious metals such as gold and silver. For many women, this is the place to be to find that one perfect diamond necklace you've always wanted.

However, for women living in Veilbrand, life is far from free. Being considered lower than men in every way, women in Veilbrand are kept under the thumb of the ruling man of the household. If that is the father, brother, grandfather or husband, it doesn't matter. Men come first. All artists, politicians, miners, traders and scholars are men, as women are not thought of as capable of succeeding in such walks of life. The only thing which women are good for in the eyes of most men from Veilbrand is being at home and birthing children for their husbands, nothing more. Their opinions mean little, and their voices mean even less.




Shaharan is Cre' Ests greatest and most competitive sister nation and is a governed by a monarchy with a ruling King and Queen. Its primary religion is Atheocrata, or believing in no Gods/Goddesses. Shaharan lies on the eastern side of the Great Mountain Range and is famous for having both the largest and most hostile desert on the continent, the Malyian Desert, which lies in the dead center of the nation. Almost all which borders it is either rolling hills, very sparsely forested areas, or mountains. Because of the rather harsh landscape, the people who have come to live there are tough and capable and don't back down from much of anything. Living in Shaharan means that you know life is hard, but that if you can conquer the land, you've got yourself a future. True to form, the Shaharan military contains some of the most aggressive and intensely trained soldiers of any nation. While they don't have the numbers of their sister nation Cre' Est, they make up for it in sheer toughness and tenacity. A good example was the continental war during which only 3,000 Shaharanian soldiers fought nearly 8,000 Cre' Itian soldiers to a standstill before a retreat was ordered on both sides.

Women in Shaharan enjoy the same luxuries as their sister nation in Cre' Est in that they have a voice and are seen as near equals to their male counterparts. The only difference is that women in the military are seen as complete equals, while those who are not in the military are seen as slightly less than equal. Overall, life for a woman in Shaharan is fair but demanding, as living on what is easily considered the most hostile geography on the continent is no easy task.




Gweynura is the smallest nation and lies south of Shaharan on the eastern side of the continent, but is easily half the size of its northern neighbor. Gweynura has something of a rough imbalance in its geographical features. It has a single forest called Dhalla Forest, two large lakes (Wei'l Lien and Paarth), a small desert (Xippa), and a few hundred miles of rolling hills with the occasional volcano along the western edge nearest to the Great Mountain Range. Gweynura is ruled by an Aristocracy, the current ruling family being the Yirdrasil Family. The primary religion is Theocrata, believing in a single Goddess (yes, that's right, Goddess). Gweynura's most lucrative trade item is its volcanic rock such as pumice and obsidian. On the militaristic side of things, Gweynura's military is all about adaptation rather than brute force or strict planning. Some of the smartest military soldiers come from this nation, and easily the most adaptable given any situation. When it comes to social customs, women are bottom of the barrel in the same way they are in Veilbrand and do not enjoy any of the same luxuries as men such as art, politics, public events, etc,.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/Kin5ne7RSOw/viewtopic.php

drake NBA Draft 2013 eva longoria WWE April Macie nicki minaj celebrity apprentice