Fast food linked to higher asthma and allergy risk | MNN - Mother ...

Fast food linked to higher asthma and allergy risk

New study links fast-food consumption to a greater risk for developing asthma, eczema and allergies.

Tue, Jan 15 2013 at 8:56 AM

Teens and kids who eat a lot of fast food may be at greater risk for developing asthma, eczema?and allergies, according to a new study published in the British Medical Journal's respiratory magazine,?Thorax.

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For the study, researchers from?the University of Auckland in New Zealand and the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom looked at surveys from more than 500,000 kids in 51 countries to determine how diet affected their allergy-related risks. They found that?eating fast food three times a week may lead to asthma, eczema?and itchy, watery eyes in children. ?

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Researchers surveyed kids and their parents to determine whether or not they experienced symptoms of allergies, asthma and eczema. Participants also shared what types of foods they consumed each week. In the study, children in their early teens who ate fast food three or more times each week had a 39 percent greater risk of severe asthma. For 6- and 7-year-olds, there was a 27 percent increased risk. Overall, kids who ate fast food three or more times a week had about a 30 percent increased risk of severe allergies. The results were consistent across all age groups regardless of gender or socioeconomic status. ?

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Interestingly, kids who ate fruit were able to cut their risk of developing these conditions. Researchers found that kids who ate three or more portions of fruit each week reduced their risk of severe asthma, eczema and allergies by between 11 and 14 percent.

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Related allergies and asthma stories on MNN:

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Source: http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/fast-food-linked-to-higher-asthma-and-allergy-risk

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Santa Clara Youth Rugby | Campbell Sports & Recreation Events on ...

Thursday, January 31, 2013, 5:00 pm

Rainbow Dr & S Blaney Ave, San Jose, CA | Get?Directions??
FREE

RUGBY at Calabazas Park!? Santa Clara Youth Rugby is currently looking for boy and girl athletes ages 7-12.? Our certified coaches teach the fundementals of rugby while having fun and staying safe.? Rugby is a contact sport that incorporates skills similar to that of football, basketball, and soccer.? This winter sport season typically runs from January through March, it is a great way to stay fit for upcoming spring sports.? There is also an abbreviated summer "7s" season, (appearing in the 2016 summer Olympics).

Matches take place typically on Sundays, with the occasional match on Saturday.? Thursday night rugby practice is for our 10U-12U and 8U play non-contact touch rugby and practice on Sundays before the matches.? The season has started, but there's still time! For information please contact info@santaclarayouthrugby.com, come out to practice, or visit our website: www.santaclarayouthrugby.com.?

We look forward to seeing you on the pitch!

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Source: http://campbell.patch.com/events/santa-clara-youth-rugby-9e8454e9

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Microsoft Shows How to Make Video Game Consoles Profitable ...

With Kinect,?Microsoft?may have found something unexpected ? a long forgotten arcane recipe of how to make video games consoles manufacturing profitable. Ever since the company first ventured into console business with its first Xbox in 2001, it had to count on other divisions to finance the loss making video games segment. They were not alone.?Sony?was also routinely making losses with its PlayStation, and only Nintendo seemed to know how to turn a profit in this industry. Yet, the last two years of the current console cycle may have found a hint for what?s been missing all along ?gadgets!

While some key players of video game consoles are busy with trying to re-invent themselves in order to adapt the ever changing new trends, long forgotten Atari filed for a bankruptcy in the US on 21st January. The 40-year-old firm was one of the original gaming pioneers, producing classic titles such as Pong, Asteroids and Centipede. As the company plans sell off its logo and video game titles, its fall didn't come as a surprise to many since its position in video gaming was overtaken long before by other players.
Kinect lifts Microsoft sales in the last two years of the console cycle

What makes Kinect so likable from the business perspective is how it lifted Microsoft?s video games sales in the last two years of the current console cycle. Kinect launched in the fall of 2010, immediately giving Microsoft a strong boost over the closest rival ? Playstation 3. In 2009, Playstation seemed to be catching with Xbox in terms of units sold in Microsoft?s home market ? the US. Playstation 3 sold 4.3mn units, below 4.8mn of Xbox 360- but the momentum was clearly on Sony?s side. However, Kinect launch clearly turned the tides in Microsoft?s favour, giving it a very comfortable lead again.

Xbox and Playstation Unit Sales in the US

Source: Euromonitor International

The last two years of the console cycle may well hold the key to profitability of a console. Console manufacturers typically run massive losses in the first few years following the launch, due to R&D costs and the fact that most tend to sell their products below cost initially in an effort to establish market share. Typical range of losses runs in the billions during the first years.? After such heavy initial outlays, consoles typically become profitable during 3rd-4th year, as manufacturing costs run down and software royalties continue to come in. ?As such, strong sales at the end of the generation lifecycle play a crucial role in profitability.

Kinect ? technological breakthrough or well fitted consumer niche

With non-core gamer demographic expanding and more females and adults playing video games, gadgets may well be the answer how to sustain console sales. Kinect itself was most likely pre-destined to support Microsoft?s next gen console, but the co-incidental decision to launch it towards the end of the current cycle, likely a reaction to Sony launch of Move, was certainly a good step forward.

% of Adults (Population Aged Over 20) playing video games

Source: Euromonitor International

Kinect wasn?t just a product led by an advancement of remote sensing technology. Microsoft saw the niche behind it from the very beginning and invested heavily. Its launch was supported by US$500 million marketing campaign and Microsoft also pushed developer kits to have more games available for Kinect ? an area that Sony forgot.?? Effectively, Microsoft did what Nintendo used to do best before ? count on gadgets to win the sales, software exclusives are not enough.

Perhaps the industry has outlived the technology driven phase, where video games closely followed hardware innovation, and any new gadget had to justify its existence through close examination of specs. Companies that continued to innovate on the consumer trends happened to be among the most successful last year - Skylanders? from Activision Blizzard is a good example. Other companies like ?Atari and THQ, ran out of innovation and now face the consequences.

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Source: http://blog.euromonitor.com/2013/01/microsoft-shows-how-to-make-video-game-consoles-profitable-while-it-is-game-over-for-atari.html

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UK GDP falls more than forecast in fourth quarter

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's economy shrank more than expected at the end of 2012 with a North Sea oil production slump, lower factory output and a hangover from London' Olympics pushing it perilously close to a "triple-dip" recession.

The country's gross domestic product fell 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter, the Office for National Statistics said on Friday, a sharper fall than the 0.1 percent decline forecast by analysts.

The news is a blow for Britain's Conservative-led government, which a day earlier defended its austerity programme against criticism from the International Monetary Fund. It needs solid growth to meet its budget targets, keep a triple-A debt rating and bolster its chances of winning a 2015 election.

Sterling fell to its lowest in 13-1/2 months against the euro and hit a five-month low against the dollar in response to the data. The euro was also buoyed by a stronger-than-expected German Ifo sentiment survey.

"This is a very disappointing outturn," said Philip Shaw, economist at Investec in London. "Clearly now the talk will focus on whether we are in a triple dip recession. Certainly the news is unwanted."

Britain's economy is now 3.3 percent smaller than its peak in Q1 2008, having recovered only about half the output lost during the financial crisis - a worse performance than most other major economies.

The country slipped back into recession in the last three months of 2011, and only emerged from it in the third quarter of 2012, after a boost from the London Olympics.

After a bout of inclement snowy weather in January - which is likely to have hit spending and output - the risk is that the economy will continue to shrink in the first three months of this year, technically pushing it into a rare and unwelcome "triple dip" recession.

Britain's biggest department store group, John Lewis, said earlier on Friday that snow was responsible for its sales growth stalling in the latest week.

POLITICALLY INCENDIARY

In economic terms, the picture remains one of stagnation over the past year. But politically, the latest dip in national output is more incendiary.

"Stagnation is going to be the theme for the next couple of quarters or so. This obviously brings Osborne's strategy into sharp relief and also the (Bank of England) strategy of maintaining or not sanctioning further monetary policy action," said Rob Wood at Berenberg Bank. "The Bank of England were forecasting a return to some growth in Q1 and that is likely to be disappointed."

Chancellor George Osborne stuck fast to his austerity plan on Thursday, rejecting suggestions from the International Monetary Fund's chief economist that he should consider slowing his deficit reduction plan.

Prime Minister David Cameron this week staked his political future on offering a referendum on Britain's place in the European Union. But it is Osborne's gamble that austerity will deliver strong growth before a 2015 election that will be crucial in determining his Conservative party's chance of winning.

After the figures were released, the Treasury conceded that Britain still faced a "very difficult economic situation".

"While the economy is healing, it is still a difficult road," it said in a statement.

Britain's chief central banker Mervyn King expects no more than a "gentle recovery" this year, while this week the IMF cut its 2013 forecast for British economic growth to 1.0 percent from 1.1 percent predicted in October.

However, economists and business groups warn that even such lacklustre growth could be derailed by a hit to firms' and consumers' confidence from talk of a triple-dip recession.

That prospect will add to pressure on the ruling coalition of Conservatives and Lib Dems to loosen its deficit-cutting drive and bolster the economy as George Osborne prepares his 2013 budget, due in March.

The biggest driver for the fourth-quarter fall in GDP was a 10.2 percent drop in mining and quarrying output, the biggest since records began in 1997, driven by disruption from extended maintenance affecting North Sea oil and gas fields.

This knocked 0.18 percent off GDP, while slightly smaller amounts of damage were done by falls in factory output and in the 'government and other services' category, where the Olympics had boosted sports and recreation services in the third quarter.

Friday's figures showed output in the service sector -- which makes up more than three quarters of GDP -- was flat in the fourth quarter. Industrial output was 1.8 percent lower.

(Reporting by David Milliken and Olesya Dmitracova, writing by Mike Peacock. Editing by Jeremy Gaunt.)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gdp-falls-more-forecast-fourth-quarter-093404487--business.html

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Analysts to Apple: Bend your knee to Wall Street

FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2009 file photo, the Apple logo is seen on an Apple store in San Francisco. AP Apple shares plunged Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, after the company reported quarterly results that point to growth slowing after five blowout years. (AP Photo/Russel A. Daniels, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2009 file photo, the Apple logo is seen on an Apple store in San Francisco. AP Apple shares plunged Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, after the company reported quarterly results that point to growth slowing after five blowout years. (AP Photo/Russel A. Daniels, File)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Apple needs to start making nice with Wall Street, analysts said Thursday as investors hammered the company's stock.

The sell-off put Apple a hair's-breadth away from losing its status as the world's most valuable company. At Thursday's close, it was worth $423 billion, just 1.6 percent more than No. 2 Exxon Mobil Corp.

The plunge was set off by Apple's quarterly earnings report late Wednesday, which suggested the company's nearly decade-long growth spurt is slowing drastically.

The stock ended down $63.51 or 12 percent, at $450.50. It last traded that low a year ago. It was the biggest one-day percentage drop in the stock since Sept. 29, 2008, when two Wall Street brokerages downgraded the stock because of the recession. In dollar terms, it was the largest ever single-day change in the stock.

Should Apple try to win back the investors who are fleeing? No, analysts say. Investors who bought the stock on the way up will be chasing the next hot stock. The company needs to make itself appealing to a new crop of people who've never considered the stock, analysts say, by doing what Wall Street wants and doling out more of its massive cash pile in the form of more generous dividends and stock buybacks.

Apple's profits for the October-December quarter were flat compared with the year before. It still managed to grow revenue 18 percent from the year before, but the cost of starting up production lines for multiple new products like the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini meant that less revenue flowed to the bottom line. The company's gross profit margin in the recent quarter was 38.6 percent compared with 44.7 percent a year earlier.

Of even more concern to investors: Apple's forecast sales growth for the current quarter is around 7 percent compared with a year ago ?far from the 50-percent-plus rate it's often hit in recent years.

Apple usually lowballs its forecasts, but Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer indicated the company will provide more realistic figures from now on.

To be sure, Apple products haven't lost their appeal. Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company couldn't make enough iPhones, iPads and iMacs in the holiday quarter to satisfy demand. The problem is rather that Apple hasn't launched a revolutionary new product since the iPad in 2010.

It's a lot to ask that a company reinvent consumer electronics every few years, but Apple did it three times in a decade with the launch of the iPod, iPhone and iPad. In doing so, the company left investors with the expectation of perpetually zooming growth.

Now, Apple looks quite different. It's still massively profitable, but its growth is moderate, making it similar to companies like IBM Corp. and Microsoft Corp.

"The company is at a bit of a crossroads," said Nomura Securities analyst Stuart Jeffrey. "It's gone from launching big hit products where they didn't have to look at the competitive landscape ? they just did their own thing ? and the growth meant they didn't have to focus on the whims of Wall Street."

The problem, Jeffrey said, is that Apple hasn't adjusted to this reality and worked to find new constituencies among investors. Those who invest in fast-growing companies or chase rising stocks have abandoned the company. Apple doesn't do enough to attract other investor types: value investors who seek out the stocks of undervalued companies with steady, predictable profits, and income investors who look for stocks with generous dividends and low risk.

Analyst Brian White at Topeka Capital Markets said the lack of interest from value-oriented investors means Apple lacks a safety net when there's disappointing news, like Wednesday's earnings report. When other companies' stocks fall, value investors tend to swoop in, putting a floor under the stock and dampening volatility.

"No one wants to pay anything for (Apple) because you can't get the value investor to back it up," White said.

Apple sits on a cash pile of $137 billion, which currently earns about 1 percent annual interest. It's a hoard that frustrates many company-watchers, and analysts are virtually unanimous in their opinion that Apple should be putting it to better use.

Apple has taken steps in the right direction, as far as Wall Street is concerned. Last year, it instituted a quarterly dividend of $2.65 per share, a generous sum compared with most technology companies. But it's paltry when measured against companies with similar cash reserves. It has also started using cash to buy back shares ? another way to reward investors.

But analysts say the company should be doing more. Jeffrey calculates that Apple will generate about another $103 billion over three years, but has only committed to returning $45 billion of this $240 billion in cash to shareholders.

"The company needs to change strategically in a number of ways... including in looking after shareholders," Jeffrey said.

A higher dividend would appeal to value and income investors, and buybacks would reduce the number of shares outstanding, which in turn would get the company's earnings per share growing again.

White has been one of the biggest Apple cheerleaders on Wall Street. He drew attention in April for setting a $1,111 price target for Apple's stock when the shares were trading around $600.

White backed away from his old price target on Thursday. He said he still believes the company is worth that much, but he has realized he's too far in front of the pack. Investors aren't going to give the company the credit it deserves, in his opinion.

"It's tough for people to get their head around. I can't be a visionary forever," White said.

His new price target: $888. Eight is a lucky number in China, and three eights are extra lucky.

"Look, Apple needs a little luck here," White said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-01-24-Apple-Stock/id-e6bc5bf0cc2e4c779246fdca3633c8e0

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What's YOUR Big Idea? - Simple Marriage

Photo courtesy Krikit ???

Late last week I was going through my Google reader and came across a post from Hayden of Through The Illusion. In this post Hayden was reacting to a post she read from Steve Pavlina and his wife?s decision to explore the realm of polyamory in their marriage. For those who not familiar with this term, polyamory is the practice or acceptance of having more than one intimate relationship at a time with the full knowledge and consent of all involved.

Since I had not read Steve?s writing, I headed over to the source to get everything first hand.

It turns out that in his initial post he discloses his intention of focusing on his intimate relationships in 2009 ? namely his desire to no longer limit himself to one person in his intimate relationships. To that end, he introduced the idea of polyamory.

My first thought as I read was that he is tired of his current marriage and he wants to open it up in order to avoid divorce ? a fact he confirms in his next post.

After listening to the latest post, which is a lengthy podcast with both him and his wife, I get the sense that they view the role of their partner as someone to meet each of their personal needs ? and needs that cannot be met by one?s partner become an avenue to expand into other relationships.

On Hayden?s most recent post (very good by the way), Steve commented? ?The truth is that monogamy and polyamory aren?t choices. They?re perspectives. Really, all of us are polyamorous because we all meet certain needs outside of our primary relationship. So strict monogamy is something of a delusion.?

My reactions to Steve?s perspectives prompted me to ask (and answer) the question, ?What?s my big idea about relationships??

Let me explain where I?m coming from. I believe that marriage is designed to grow us up ? to help us become better humans. We are created by God in relationship with Him for relationship with Him and for relationship with others. Our relationship with God matures through our relationships with our spouse and our children, and in turn these relationships mature because of our relationship with God.

Marriage is an excellent example of a relationship with God. We can share everything with God, and to a lesser extent, a spouse. The sacredness of marriage ? emotional, sexual, and spiritual ? is rooted in two people using their connection with one another to push, pull, and prod each into a deeper relationship with God. That?s what makes the marriage relationship so sacred.

The best way to experience God on this earth is in the quality of our human relationships.
~Martin Buber

Marriage is continuously getting dumped on in our society.

In their podcast, they boast about how in their view, being open to the idea of each person getting their intimate needs met outside of the relationship will actually make their marriage stronger. The flaw with this lies in the definition of needs. How do you differentiate between needs, urges, and wants?

In my mind, we have a natural state of being ? that is, the way we exist in nature apart from God. And that natural state of being is unable to be satisfied apart from the Creator?s intention ? which is for us to come into relationship with Him.

Taken straight from Hayden?

So, yes, marriage is inherently imperfect because people are imperfect. But flawed?

Marriage is personal development boot camp. You will demand much from your partner, as they will from you. You will be challenged to open your being in love, even as you are angry. You will be challenged to fully forgive transgressions both major and minor. Your marriage, in short, is the daily practical exercise of the opportunity to be your best self. And what you master at home, you take into the world.

We are all flawed and often seek for others to cover this flaw. In my book, this flaw is called sin. And the only covering for this is Christ alone.

If everyone is special, then no one is.

If I share everything with everyone, then nothing is sacred.

That?s my Big Idea ? What?s yours?

Source: http://simplemarriage.net/whats-your-big-idea/

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Some Tried And Trued Ways To Improve Your Home | Roof Repair ...

TIP! Installing a source of heat beneath a tile floor is simple and economical. Look into radiant heat equipment, especially if you want to replace your flooring anyway.

The ultimate benefit to home improvement is the appreciation in value of your home. You can realize tremendous savings by adding upgrades yourself. For many homeowners, home improvement work is enjoyable enough to be considered a hobby. If you want get into the home improvement game, read these easy-to-understand tips that will help you get started.

TIP! When you are interviewing contractors, check to make sure they have all of the proper licenses your state requires. You can easily find out this information by looking at your state government?s website or by calling them.

Change the doors to your cupboards. Not all of us can afford to purchase brand new cabinets. Changing out the doors can help you afford a new look at a reasonable price. Just be sure to take careful measurements to be sure of the sizing before getting new doors. Installing new doors is simple. Just screw them in place!

TIP! When improving your home, think about the end result. Will it look out of place in your neighborhood? If your project is daring, will you regret having a house that is radically different? It is much better to be recognized for your home?s beauty and quality rather than outlandish home improvements.

If a contractor will be performing your project, keep records. Never rely on your contractor to do so. Keep a folder with all contracts and invoices relevant to the project you are doing. That helps you and the contractor continue to concentrate on the work at hand.

TIP! When buying new furniture for your bedroom, consider buying freestanding units. Custom made furniture may look nice but you cannot resell them or take them along when you are moving.

Examine your roof for evidence of damage every spring. You will want to look for curling or blistering of shingles and do some repairs. Fixing minor roof problems right away can prevent more major and costly problems down the road.

TIP! Texturing walls through the use of drywall mud could cover up unwanted blemishes. Texturing is easy.

Be sure and include landscaping in your home improvement plans. Your yard is the first item people view when they visit your home, so a good landscape can improve the look of any home. So make sure that you always fix up the front of your home and its landscape so that your home has nice curb appeal.

TIP! Insulation is something worth investing in. Use weather stripping around windows and doors.

As mentioned earlier, such projects can be personally fulfilling and provide substantial financial value. It is hoped that this advice will assist you in making the best choices, provide you with good ideas and help you save some money in the process.

IDEAL Construction is a locally owned and run establishment serving the construction needs of greater New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine, New York and Connecticut since 2001. Whatever your construction needs, IDEAL has you covered. We supply quick service and free written quotes for your unique project requirements.

Company President, John M. Woods, has been involved in the building construction and management establishments since 1983. IDEAL Construction is composed of multi-talented persons committed with looking after the operations, estimating, contracting, planning and management of our jobs. With over 100 tradesmen or sub-contractors, we work to deliver the highest possible job fulfillment to each of our consumers. IDEAL Construction is a general contracting business with a roofing and siding division that concentrates in commercial and residential roofing and siding jobs all throughout New England.

Every member of our professional team has a high degree of experience with over 100 years of combined construction and management expertise which allows us to better plan, execute, and take care of our tasks for success. Our job managers, field supervisors, and estimators, enjoy a total comprehension of all stages of the building process. IDEAL Construction is dedicated to endorsing the continued education of all our workers. Our goal is to maintain a well enlightened and trained team, with knowledge of the latest and most reliable building products and techniques of construction. We want to fulfill both the present and future construction wants of our clients and the environment.

Our intention is to construct with the best quality and most energy efficient methods; for the best attainable price. To assure that we accomplish our objectives, we make use of technology to assist us in developing structures that are energy effective, and use the latest technology and ?green? construction materials when our consumer?s finances permits. IDEAL Construction uses computer software and cutting edge technology to design and take care of our jobs from start to finish.

Please check out our website at http://www.roofteks.com/manchesternh

About John Woods

John Woods runs a home improvement business and providing services to greater New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine, New York and Connecticut areas.

Source: http://www.roofteks.com/manchesternh/some-tried-and-trued-ways-to-improve-your-home/

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Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant: Contamination Risks Worry Iranian Villagers, Arab Neighbors

By Yeganeh Torbati
DUBAI, Jan 23 (Reuters) - For the Iranian government, the Bushehr nuclear power plant is proof to a world worried about Tehran's intentions that its atomic programme is aimed only at securing a modern, clean energy source for its people.
But for villagers living next to the facility, as well as Arab capitals nearby, the plant poses a potential danger that is less geopolitical and more immediate: the risk of contamination.
"We are extremely worried about our health and the health of our families," residents of the coastal villages of Heleylah and Bandargah wrote in a statement published on a blog in 2010.
"According to international standards, the distance between a nuclear power plant and the nearest residence must be at least one kilometre ... but the distance between the village of Heleylah and this power plant is just six metres!"
Thousands of people live in the two villages 18 km (11 miles) south of the Gulf city of Bushehr, many of them making their living as service workers at the plant.
Residents living near Iran's nuclear-related sites told Reuters in interviews by phone and over the Internet that the government stifles debate on the pros and cons of the programme and where its sites should be located, and has not addressed their questions about what would happen in an emergency.
Iran's Arab neighbours are also nervous. Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates all occupy coastline across from Bushehr, and the plant is closer to five Arab Gulf capitals than it is to Tehran.
Kuwaiti emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah said at a December meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council that Iran should cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency to "ensure the safety of the region's states and its people from any effect of radioactivity".
Iran has repeatedly maintained there are no grounds for concern, a position backed up by Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, whose subsidiary Atomstroyexport built the plant and plans its formal handover to Iran this year.
But a few recent incidents, as well as a lack of transparency, continue to worry both neighbours and experts in global nuclear safety, particularly after the disaster at the Fukushima power plant in Japan, which was caused by an earthquake and tsunami.
Like Japan, Iran is on an earthquake fault line, although the risk of a tsunami in the Gulf is seen as slim.
"It is difficult to have confidence that Bushehr will meet the very high safety standards that should apply to every nuclear power plant in the world in the post-Fukushima era," Edwin Lyman, of the Union of Concerned Scientists, said in an e-mail to Reuters.

NO CONVENTION
Iran is the only country operating a nuclear power plant that does not belong to the 75-nation Convention on Nuclear Safety, negotiated after the 1986 nuclear disaster in Chernobyl which contaminated wide areas and forced about 160,000 Ukrainians from their homes.
Inspectors from the IAEA, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, visit the Bushehr plant occasionally to check the nuclear material kept there, but not to conduct safety inspections. The U.N. agency has wider powers when it comes to preventing the spread of nuclear arms than it has to ensure reactor safety in member states.
Western officials and the United Nations have urged Iran to join the safety forum, designed to boost safety through peer review and mutual oversight.
There are some indications of progress.
Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Mohammad Khazaee, wrote in a letter to the New York Times on Jan. 15 that Iran has "started the internal legal procedures to accede to the Convention on Nuclear Safety".
In another step that could help allay concerns, Iran has officially requested the IAEA to send an international expert mission to review operational safety at Bushehr, according to a schedule posted on the UN agency's website. Such missions are voluntary for IAEA member states.
One problem is that Iran's nuclear regulatory authority, INRA, is not considered independent by the IAEA because it is contained within the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, Iran's nuclear agency, Lyman said.
"Given the overheated political context of Iran's nuclear facilities, the lack of a regulator independent of the agency for development and promotion of nuclear energy raises questions about its effectiveness," he said.
The United States and some other Western countries believe Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons and have imposed harsh financial and trade sanctions to try to stop it. Iran denies that is its intent.
But Bushehr is not considered a major weapons proliferation risk by Western states, who are focused on sites where Iran has enriched uranium beyond levels needed to fuel power plants.
An IAEA mission conducted a review of safety regulations at Bushehr in 2010 and recommended that Iran establish INRA as an independent authority, hire more expert technical staff and replace its current ad hoc regulations with a comprehensive national system.

LONG DELAYS
The 1,000-megawatt Bushehr plant, which was connected to the national grid only in September 2011, has had a long and chequered history.
Germany's Siemens started construction in 1975 during the reign of the U.S.-backed Shah, but work stopped after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and it was damaged by air raids in the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s.
After Russian engineers took over the project in the 1990s, the launch was further delayed by disagreements between Tehran and Moscow as well as technical problems. For example in February 2011, concerns that metal particles from the aging parts used in the reactor core may have contaminated the fuel prompted the fuel's removal.
In October 2012, fuel had to be unloaded again and the plant shut down. A Russian nuclear industry source told Reuters in November the shutdown was due to the discovery of stray bolts beneath the fuel cells. Experts said such debris can cause problems by damaging fuel rods, blocking coolant channels and causing overheating, or clogging pipes and pumps.
The plant is now back to 100 percent capacity, Iran said in January.
Iran, as well as officials of Rosatom and its subsidiaries, have repeatedly said the delays at Bushehr were in part due to the need to ensure safety.
"We have always taken every step to ensure safety and are prepared to continue to work with the operator to do everything that is necessary to ensure safety," Rosatom spokesman Sergei Novikov told Reuters.
IAEA chief Yukiya Amano said in December the procedure was not of particular concern.
"They are taking necessary measures," he said on a visit to Washington. "Removing the fuel is already a measure to remedy the situation, and we have good communication on this issue."

INFORMATION BLACKOUT
Malcolm Grimston, a nuclear energy expert at Imperial College, London, agreed the Bushehr plant should not be a safety concern as long as proper inspections have been carried out.
But it was important that for any new plant, authorities "put quite a lot of effort into building communication links with local people and letting them understand the context in which the plant operates," he told Reuters.
The nuclear programme is highly politicised in Iran and few officials publicly question its validity.
When emergency official Gholamreza Masoumi spoke to the Mehr news agency in November about health problems among people near Isfahan's Uranium Conversion Facility and the importance of preparing agencies for a nuclear accident, his comments were taken down from the agency's website and denied by other officials.
"It's not totally clear (to us) if the plant has started or not. No one knows what's going on," said Saeed, 22, a college student from Heleylah who, like other Iranians interviewed, did not want his last name used so he could speak freely.
The Bushehr plant has brought some good to the people of Heleylah, Saeed said. Locals can find work as janitors, cooks and other service workers at the plant, and they have access to the hospital built on site.
But many residents feel stuck, said Hassan, 62, who was raised in Heleylah and now lives in the city of Bushehr.
The government has drawn up plans to move residents, but compensation has still not been agreed.
"The villagers want to go to a place where they won't have trouble finding work, and near the centre of the province," he said. "But because there is no appropriate place for them to go, and the government hasn't provided enough money for them to move, people are in limbo."
Saeed said although many in Heleylah would like to leave the area, only about 10 percent have done so.
"Those who could afford to leave, have left." (Additional reporting by Fredrik Dahl in Vienna and Steve Gutterman in Moscow; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)

Earlier on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/23/bushehr-nuclear-power-plant-contamination-iran_n_2533383.html

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Carpe Noctem

Twin sisters of an extremely well known mafia gang in New York are kidnapped by the son of the leader of their rival gang and his friend. Private rp between bambi_xrave and kissmekillme

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A Patient Genealogist: Heritage Scrapbooking: Using Paper ...

I've shared a number of different types of scrapbook pages you might want to include in your family history album. If you've missed any post, check out the heritage scrapbooking posts that you've missed by clicking here.

As you might have seen in my Treasure Chest Thursday and Photo Friday posts, I have preserved a lot of artifacts digitally. Now that they are digitzed, I can use them in my scrapbook layouts. One such layout belongs to my mother's grandmother Emma Virginia Townsend Brown.

I do not have a lot of things or photos belonging to Emma even though her daughter-in-law Louise (my grandmother) lived with her until Emma passed. For Emma's scrapbook page, I wanted to include the two photos that I do have. I also had a bit of biographical information, so her text spot is larger than some of my other pages in mom's heritage album. You can see I continue with the green, tan, and gold color scheme throughout mom's pages.

But that's not why I'm showing of this page. I LOVE the "Emma V Brown" paper that I have in my document collection. I believe this was obtained in Emma's family bible among some other small random pieces of paper. When the family documents passed to me, I've kept this faded news print paper. I would love to know why Emma had this made... it's printed and on newsprint paper. Why would she have this done?

Regardless, I have loved this crazy piece of paper with Great Grandma Emma's name on it. And, my love for this 'trivial' piece of paper that has been in my possession since 1994, and my mother's since 1977, prompted me to include it on Emma's heritage page. I don't think I really needed the extra title on brown texture paper. However, I used both 'titles' and to me they don't conflict.

So... if you have similar pieces of paper in your genealogical stash... consider using them on your family history scrapbook pages. Be sure to digitize the artifact so that you don't have to use the original.

Source: http://patientgen.blogspot.com/2013/01/heritage-scrapbooking-using-paper.html

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Suction Cup Viewfinder Makes Your iPhone Slightly More DSLR-Like

If you're a professional photographer who's reluctantly embraced the iPhone as an occasional alternative to your DSLR, you're gonna love Photojojo's latest smartphone accessory. It's a suction cup viewfinder that sticks your iPhone's display letting you block out all the distractions around you and frame your shots the same way you would with your full-sized camera. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/-j9lPWKe5HM/suction-cup-viewfinder-makes-your-iphone-slightly-more-dslr+like

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Legend, 2 Chainz, MC Lyte honored at Hip-Hop Ball

WASHINGTON (AP) ? John Legend believes hip-hop played its part in helping Barack Obama become president, and he's proud at how the genre has matured over the years.

"I think hip-hop had a role in making sure we elected a black president in America because we made it so that black people were in people's homes ... through our music and through our culture," the R&B crooner said Sunday night at the Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball.

"I think it made Barack Obama and more people like him possible, so I'm really thankful for hip-hop and the role it plays in society," he continued.

Legend was awarded the humanitarian award at Sunday's event, and it was one of many honors handed out at the Harman Center for Arts.

Hip-hop pioneers MC Lyte and Doug E. Fresh were both given lifetime achievement awards. Fresh even hit the stage, beat boxing while comedian-actor-singer Wayne Brady cooed Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?" At one point, Brady even busted out his own rhymes.

Rapper Yo Yo earned a roaring cheer when she hit the stage to honor MC Lyte; Lil Mama also paid tribute to the "Ruffneck" rapper.

2 Chainz, who had a breakthrough year with his Grammy-nominated solo debut and multiple rap hits, earned the street soldier award for encouraging young voters as a spokesperson for the Hip-Hop Caucus' "Respect My Vote!" campaign.

"Doing my thing on the charts is one thing, but to be getting honored on another avenue, it just feels like a blessing," he said in an interview. "I'm keeping my head leveled and staying humble."

Actress Rosario Dawson won the vanguard award for her work as chairman of the Voto Latino organization.

"It's time to step out of the shadows. It's time to not just be talked about by other people, it's time to take the leadership ourselves and that first step of leadership is voting," Dawson said of the importance of the Latino vote.

Rappers Swizz Beatz and Meek Mill also earned honors at the event, attended by a few hundred hip-hop fans, including model Tyson Beckford, former NBA star Dikembe Mutumbo and Victor Cruz of the New York Giants. La La Anthony and Terrence J hosted the ball.

British singer Marsha Ambrosius also delivered a rousing performance, and playful jokes about Obama.

"I got a call from the president and he asked me to perform his favorite song," she said before singing the R&B jam "Hope She Cheats on You (With a Basketball Player)."

Then she sang "Butterflies," a song she co-wrote for Michael Jackson's 2001 "Invincible" album.

"This might have been his favorite," she said.

___

Follow Mesfin Fekadu on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MusicMesfin

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/legend-2-chainz-mc-lyte-honored-hip-hop-074256197--politics.html

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NESCA News & Notes: 10 Tips for Special Education Advocates

From Wrightslaw.com

By Pat Howey, Advocate
March 12, 2012

Remember: your goal is to assist parents in achieving an appropriate education for their child.

1.) Good advocates facilitate the IEP process.

Advocates must set an example for the entire IEP Team. They must model behavior for the parents. Challenging school experts, demeaning staff or being inconsiderate or impolite, will not advance the child?s cause.

Your goal is to get better school services for the child. Good advocates ask questions and make valuable suggestions to advocate for a child. It is okay to disagree. It is not okay to put down or verbally attack someone.

2.) Good advocates know the child and understand the disability.

Do your homework before you attempt to advocate for the child. Research the child?s disability. Be ready with ideas about instructional methods that are research-based and peer-reviewed. Meet the child and the family in the home environment. Put off making recommendations until you fully understand how the child?s disability affects his or her life and education.

3.) Good advocates try to reduce existing barriers between the parent and the school.

Your goal is to bring the school and the parent closer to agreement. Good advocates explain to parents that negotiation is part of the IEP Team process ? and a part of life! Pouring gasoline on a fire ensures that everyone gets burned and does not improve the child?s lot.

4.) Good advocates are willing to admit mistakes, and to apologize.

No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. Good advocates are not afraid to say they are sorry when they make a mistake. They may even write a note to everyone involved, apologizing and asking for forgiveness.

5.) Good advocates hone their listening skills to a fine edge.

You must learn to listen to everything that others say. Sometimes, what others do not say is most important. If you are not listening, you may not hear what others say and what they do not say. Good advocates repeat and paraphrase what they have heard to avoid misunderstandings. They ask others to verify that they understood correctly. Good advocates ask follow-up questions. They do not interrupt even when they are faced with rudeness and discourtesy.

6.) Good advocates learn the art of negotiation.

Remember the old saying, ?You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar?? Learning to negotiate is not a sign of weakness or that the parent?s position is not valid. Negotiation is an art that good advocates polish to a fine finish. Successful negotiations allow everyone to come out of the IEP Team Meeting feeling like winners.

Brice Palmer, noted advocate from Vermont, says it best: ?Good advocates learn to develop a language of persuasion rather than a language of positional combat."

7.) Good advocates understand special and general education law and the interrelationship between these and other laws.

The law is not a static entity. It changes every day through court decisions and other types of clarifications. Good advocates review special education law often. They know that answers to frequently asked special education questions may be found in other unrelated laws.

For example, Dept. of Agriculture regulations address special dietary requirements for children. A State?s Dept. of Health regulations may address classroom size, lighting, and window light. General education law may provide insight into class size and case load issues. The U.S. Justice Department provides guidance on bullying and harassment.

Good advocates understand that school policies often omit the special needs of students with disabilities. School emergency plans may not address the needs of children in wheelchairs or children who are deaf or blind. Good advocates learn to research many different laws.

8.) Good advocates know that understanding the law is different from quoting the law.

Good advocates know the law but they understand that it is often ineffective and counterproductive to quote it.

Pete Wright once said, ?[A] parent should never quote law, even if they are an attorney; it simply polarizes relationships. Instead seek 'help' in better understanding something best left to rocket scientists and lawyers." -- Pete Wright, Deltaville, Virginia - Tuesday, March 02, 1999

9.) Good advocates understand the importance of ethical behavior in their practice.

There is no Code of Ethics or Professional Responsibility for special education advocates. Advocates have nothing to look to for guidance and there is no governing body to oversee their practice. There are no penalties for advocates who act unprofessionally or unethically.

This does not suggest that advocates should disregard ethics and engage in irresponsible behavior.

Good advocates understand that the professional respect of the IEP Team is a key to successfully assisting parents achieve an appropriate education for their child.

10.) Good advocates treat others the way they would like to be treated.

No one likes surprises. Members of IEP Teams do not respect or trust advocates who drop bombshells. Taking the team by surprise is likely to backfire, especially if the team ?captain? is a gatekeeper or is determined to be the one who runs the show. Making the IEP Meeting a war of wits does not benefit the child nor does it facilitate the process.

More Tips

Source: http://nesca-news.blogspot.com/2013/01/10-tips-for-special-education-advocates.html

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Martin Luther King Jr. - Connecticut Foster Care & Adoption

Posted on: January 20th, 2013

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

?I have a dream?.that little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers??

Such great words were spoken by Martin Luther King, Jr. We ponder them today, just as we did last year on the same day, and perhaps once or twice in between, if we are lucky enough to be reflective.

But, what if we didn?t just hear it as an annual inspirational speech or a reminder of what many communities haven?t quite aspired to even 50 years later?
What if we actually decided to live these words?
How would we do it?

I?m sure there are millions of amazing ideas of how to do it and so many that have done great things to live it out, but just in case we should live it more?how could we? Here are some ideas?some steps:

• Step One ? Acknowledge that we are all different. Color blindness doesn?t benefit race issues?though clearly equality is essential. Acting like we are all exactly the same doesn?t validate the individual experiences of any culture. Though we are all created equal, we are created different and have different things to offer and different ways of relating. Let us see each other (and ourselves) for whatever uniqueness (and sameness) we are.
• Step Two ? Face any prejudices you have. We all have some prejudice and some judgment, even if we aren?t willing to admit it. Crash is a good flick (but a hard movie to watch) that exposes many prejudices in different situations. If we are first honest with our prejudices, then we can make steps to amend them.
• Step Three ? Engage other cultures ? especially ones that you have tended to have negative thoughts about. Once we get to know people, know stories, and have relationships?we aren?t as likely to engage in hurtful judgment or assumptions. We can?t ? they are no longer someone separate, but our friends. Many communities are already doing great jobs at this. Let?s keep working at this.
• Step Four: Live it out in your family in many ways (May I suggest my favorite way?): Foster and adopt! Martin Luther King?s quote about little boys and girls likely expressed the hope for a day where there would be deep friendship across cultures, but, why not express it with real brothers and sisters? Why not bring this dream into the very threads of your family through adoption or through the needs of foster children? Thousands of children in America need permanent homes and hundreds of thousands need foster care, mentors, tutors and more. These are children of all cultural backgrounds that need us to see them for all the ways they are beautifully similar or wonderfully different than us to begin to heal them of their past.

Whatever we do, let us not be in the same place in the next 50 years. Let us give our grandchildren a legacy Martin Luther King Jr. would be honored by.
?An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.? Martin Luther King

Source: http://www.ctfostercareadoption.com/2013/01/martin-luther-king-jr-s-legacy-do-you-live-it/

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Make Positive Changes Today By Following These Self-Help Tips ...

It can be hard to find how to start your own path towards self improvement. Personal development is just that- personal. That means what is required to improve will vary between different people. Be diligent about checking out tips that might help you. For example, in this article, there are a few simple,effective tips to support your self improvement. Check them out.

Are you having trouble finding a mate? Try the world wide web. Up to 40% of couples meet over the Internet nowadays. That perfect someone could be looking for you right now. Of course, both websites have their disadvantages, but they are worth a try.

Choose to spend your time with positive people. This will reinforce the aspects of your personality that you are seeking to develop, while allowing you to distance yourself from toxic individuals in your life.

Conduct yourself with wisdom and modesty as you go through life. You can learn from the situations that you deal with on a daily basis. Ensure you can recognize what circumstances can?t be changed in your life. Exercising humility is a great way to make sure that you stay within your limits. Use wisdom to learn from the past and do better in your future.

Stress is one of the chief impediments to a happy, satisfying lifestyle. When our mind is stressed, our body suffers. Stress is an obstacle to accomplishing one?s goal. Have some time every day when you can relax and meditate in solitude. Having this time every day can make you more peaceful and happy with yourself.

It is important to keep in mind that everyone is different, so look through the advice in this article, and choose the things that you think will work for you. As the old G.I. Joe cartoons used to say, ?Knowing is only half the battle.? You need to apply what you learn to make any progress. Share the information you learn so that you can help others grow too.

Source: http://jcis-online.org/make-positive-changes-today-by-following-these-self-help-tips/

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Al-Qaida flourishes in Sahara, emerges stronger

RABAT, Morocco (AP) ? The Islamists are back as a force in Algeria.

The terrorist attack on an Algerian natural gas plant that left dozens of hostages and militants dead has demonstrated how a failing Algerian insurgency transformed itself into a regional threat, partly by exploiting the turmoil unleashed by the Arab Spring revolts.

Al-Qaida's branch in Algeria retreated into a Sahara no man's land between Mali, Algeria and Mauritania after it was largely defeated by the Algerian army in a 10-year war in the 1990s that claimed 200,000 lives. There it grew rich on smuggling and hostage-taking, gained new recruits and re-emerged stronger than ever, armed with looted high-tech weapons from Libya's 2011 civil war.

The audacious assault last Wednesday on Algeria's Ain Amenas gas complex by a multinational band of Islamists shows how long-simmering ethnic tensions in Mali, a civil war in Algeria and a revolution in Libya have combined to create a conflict spanning the deserts and savannahs of both North Africa and West Africa.

Algeria's Islamists were driven south into the desert by the military's brutal counterinsurgency tactics ? a take-no-prisoners approach vividly on display in the resolution of the latest hostage crisis.

Factions of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb became rich in the lawless desert by smuggling guns, drugs and cigarettes and by kidnapping foreigners for ransom. Soon they became involved in the longstanding disputes of the desert Tuareg against the government in Mali, whom the tribesmen felt ignored or abused them.

One of their prominent leaders was Moktar Belmoktar, who made millions smuggling and kidnapping and went on to mastermind the attack on the Ain Amenas plant.

While taking up the Tuareg cause in northern Mali, these al-Qaida-allied groups decided to use their new-found strength to settle scores against old opponents like Algeria and the West.

"It seems that Moktar has tasked himself with the internationalization of the Mali conflict," said William Lawrence, the North African analyst for the International Crisis Group. "There's no question there is struggle between different groups in the Sahel and Sahara to have the upper hand in claiming the jihad mantle in the region."

Belmoktar fell out with the local al-Qaida franchise, the Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and formed his own northern Mali-based group in December called the Masked Brigade. He promised to attack those threatening the radical Islamist mini-state that was emerging in northern Mali.

"We threaten everyone who participated in and planned for the aggression against our Muslim people due to their implementation of Islamic Shariah law on our land," he announced in December on jihadi websites. "You will taste the heat of war in your countries and we will attack your interests."

With the money to be made in smuggling and kidnapping, all that was missing was easy access to heavy weaponry. That changed in 2011, and weapons came cascading across the borders when Libya fell apart and dictator Moammar Gadhafi's vast arsenals of oil-bought weapons were looted.

What began in January 2012 as a secular revolt of disaffected Tuaregs hoping to carve out a homeland in northern Mali was soon hijacked by al-Qaida and allied extremist groups.

With their new weapons, money and men, Algerian militants like Belmoktar could now do what had never been possible before ? hit oil-rich Algeria's strategic energy infrastructure in the remote desert.

National borders were no impediment to these heavily armed fighters in four-wheel drive vehicles.

"AQIM and other militant Islamist groups' control over northern Mali and weak security along Libya's borders has provided the organization with greater operational freedom," noted Arun Pillai-Essex, an analyst with Maplecroft, a risk analysis group, who said AQIM has also been able to capture weapons from the Libyan and Malian armies.

The question now is where the Islamists will strike next.

Another attack on an Algerian energy installation is doubtful, analysts say. Already heavily guarded, security will no doubt be vastly increased and there are suggestions that the Ain Amenas attack only succeeded by having some type of inside help.

France and its Western allies fear AQIM could metastasize its terrorism into Europe if left unchecked.

In the last two weeks, France has been taking the fight to AQIM with punishing air strikes against the vast territory the group controls in northern Mali ? raising questions about whether the group's fighters will have much time to think about new terror attacks.

"It is one-off episode, they got lucky," said Riccardo Fabiani, North Africa analyst of the Eurasia group. "I would think that the next attacks are going to target other countries. Mauritania could be an easy target, Morocco or any ECOWAS country or possibly in Libya."

The attack has also pushed France and Algeria ? two nations with fraught relations due to bloody colonial ties ? closer together over the need to combat these groups.

Prior to the attack, Algeria had long publicly opposed France's call for armed intervention to deal with the rise of extremist groups in northern Mali, citing the threat to regional stability and the chances of the crisis spilling over into its own desert regions.

Now, with the fight brought to Algeria's doorstep, al-Qaida-linked groups will be facing their old implacable enemy once more.

Unlike other Western nations, French officials refused to criticize Algeria for its strong-fisted handling of the Ain Amenas hostage ordeal.

"When a country is attacked in this way, and its own sovereignty is jeopardized, it decides on how to respond with its own army," French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Sunday on France-5 TV.

Throwing more military operations at al-Qaida, however, is not going to solve the underlying problem, warned Lawrence, the North Africa analyst.

"This is linked to the Libyan conflict, it's linked to the Mali conflict, it's linked to 50 years of struggle by the Tuareg, it's linked to 20 years of struggle in Algeria," he said.

Ultimately, he says, the countries of North and West Africa, not to mention Europe, will have to address the conditions that allowed al-Qaida to flourish in this impoverished region.

"A security response is at best a partial response. Until a robust political, humanitarian and economic effort is implemented, the security effort won't solve these problems," Lawrence said.

_____

Schemm reported from Rabat, Morocco.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/al-qaida-flourishes-sahara-emerges-stronger-200136497.html

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Manti Te'o Speaks Out, Denies Involvement in Girlfriend Hoax

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/01/manti-teo-speaks-out-denies-involvement-in-girlfriend-hoax/

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