Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Chimp 'secret handshakes' may be cultural

Chimpanzees that engage in unusual hand-holding behavior during grooming may be showing off a little culture, new research suggests.

These chimp handshakes, which are seen only among some of the primates, seem to differ from group to group in ways that aren't dependent on genetics or environment. That leaves cultural differences between groups as a possible explanation for why and how the hand-holding occurs.

"We think that this at least indicates that chimpanzees do not only respond to their environment instinctively or based on genetic predisposition," said study researcher Edwin van Leeuwen, a doctoral student at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands. Nor do they learn in a vacuum, van Leeuwen told LiveScience.

"They can have a shared community tradition," he said.

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    4. Chimp 'secret handshakes' may be cultural

Handshakes and grooming
Chimps groom to bond, to relax and to get rid of pesky insects. Among some groups, though, the fur-picking is accompanied by above-the-head hand-holding. One chimp will grasp the other's hand and raise their linked hands toward the sky. The apes will then start grooming one another with their free hands. [ See Images of the Hand-Holding Chimps ]

This behavior was first seen in a group of chimps in Tanzania, and has been observed in at least 15 other groups as well. Meanwhile, some groups of chimps never break out hand clasps during grooming. It hasn't been clear whether the difference is purely social or whether there are genetic or environmental factors that explain it, van Leeuwen said.

At the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust (CWOT) in Zambia, multiple groups of semi-wild chimps live in 50- to 200-acre forest enclosures. About half of these chimpanzees are rescues from the wild, and the other half are born to rescued moms at the Trust. This mix of animals means there aren't major genetic differences between the groups as would be seen in related families in the wild.

The chimps also share the same environment, though they are separated by fences and cannot see one another. That makes them a perfect test case for pegging down the reason for social differences, van Leeuwen said.

Rudimentary culture?
Van Leeuwen and his colleagues observed the chimps for more than 1,000 hours between 2010 and 2012, recording the primates' grooming behaviors. They found that of the four groups at the sanctuary, two never held hands while grooming.

The other two groups were big into hand-clasping, but even here, there were differences. Group 1 almost always grasped their hands palm-to-palm, while Group 2 hooked their wrists around each other instead. Additional observation by sanctuary scientists suggests that these behaviors have been going on for at least nine years.?

The researchers have also observed young chimpanzees learning the hand clasps from their elders, van Leeuwen said. About 80 percent of the time, juvenile chimps first practice the hand-grabbing grooming with their mothers, the researchers found.

The fact that the behavior is long-lasting and appears to be passed down through generations suggests that the handshakes may be a rudimentary form of culture, van Leeuwen said. Other studies have found that different groups of chimps use tools differently, suggesting similar cultural differences, but this is the first example of different social interactions between groups, he said.

"The indication might be that chimpanzees have the capacity at least to respond to their environment with more flexibility," van Leeuwen said. "It's social flexibility and that's of course what we definitely see in humans."

The researchers report their work Aug. 28 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitter @sipappas or LiveScience@livescience. We're also on Facebook &Google+.

? 2012 LiveScience.com. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48819824/ns/technology_and_science-science/

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What to pack for your dog | The Jet Set Pets

dogdaysofsummerLabor Day is almost here and you?re wondering what to pack for the long weekend getaway. Don?t think?iPad, eye mask and bikini. We?re referring to what to pack for your dog.

With more than 30 million Americans estimated to travel over Labor Day according to AAA, The Jet Set Pets realizes that a good number of pets will be traveling as well. Whether Fifi is accompanying you on holiday, checking into a luxury pet hotel or going to a loving home for boarding, there are certain must-haves items when it comes to what to pack for your dog.

Thankfully, the folks at DogVacay, a free, new website that links traveling pet parents with locals who give them a loving cage-free home-boarding environment, have shared suggestions on how to make your dog feel at home wherever he or she is.?With DogVacay, you no longer have to leave your dog at a kennel. The site offers less expensive and more loving options available with the click of a mouse.

dog-vacay-logo-120x80DogVacay has put together a ?must-have? list of items to insure your dog?s vacation is as great as yours. And whether your furry companion?s bag is a Louis Vuitton, Goyard or an inexpensive tote, the essentials still apply when it comes to what to pack for your dog.

The basics include food, water, bowls, treats, poop bags, and a leash ? but your list of what to pack for your dog may expand depending on the type of vacation you are taking. Consider if your four-legged companion will have the opportunity to get wet, muddy or covered with burrs and ticks. If so, bring dog towels, dog shampoo, a brush, flea comb and tick remover.

?

5 must-have items to pack for your dog when he accompanies you:

  • beaglebeachID: Be sure your pet always wears a well-fitted collar and ID tag with accurate contact information. It is important that the ID tag include an easily accessible number, such as your cell phone. When lodging out of town, prepare a temporary tag with the address and number of your travel quarters. Use waterproof tape and a waterproof marker to change your phone number as you travel.
  • Seat covers: Having your dog along for the ride can be awesome, but you don?t want to come home with expensive damage down to your leather seats! Pet seat covers are made in a rainbow of colors and textures to keep you and your pet at peace on the road; some even come in eco-friendly, water-resistant or scratch-durable fabrics. The price on seat covers range, so you can find these to fit any budget.
  • Travel water dispenser: To prevent dehydration, dogs should always have fresh water available. But in terms of a bumpy road trip ? you may be wondering just how to hydrate your dog without making a mess! You won?t have to worry about that if you use a pet travel water dispenser. These accessories are designed specially to halt spills and stay put.
  • Food: If you are not sure your brand of food will be available at your destination and along the way, or if you feed a special diet, bring enough food for the whole trip. If you feed canned food, bring a can opener and spoon. If it?s dry, a Tupperware container works best. Wet food travels well in cans or you can scoop that into a Tupperware container as well.
  • Sunscreen: Some dogs sunburn around their nose, ears and other areas ? so pack sun protection cream for the dog if you are going somewhere sunny!

5 must-have items to pack for your dog when he is home-boarded:

Bon voyage!

The Jet Set Pets wants to know what?s in your dog?s bag. What does your pooch never leave home without?

Source: http://thejetsetpets.com/what-to-pack-for-your-dog/

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Kaspersky Lab's New ?Safe Money? Technology Protects Online ...

It?s no secret: most cybercriminals don?t want online fame, they want your money.? Kaspersky Labresearch shows that each day, more than 1,400 new pieces of banking malware are created. These malicious programs are designed specifically to hijack your online purchases, snoop on credit card transactions, and redirect your web browser to fraudulent sites. More than $1.2 trillion will be exchanged over the Internet in 2012, and stealing even a small percentage can mean a big pay-day for cybercriminals.

Kaspersky Lab announced new versions of Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Anti-Virus. Both products feature our strongest protection ever against modern threats and significant improvements to performance and simplicity, including a faster installation, less drain on computer resources and battery life, and real-time protection against viruses, spyware, and more.

A new offering found in Kaspersky Internet Security is Safe Money, Kaspersky Lab?s unique technology designed to protect the user?s money when shopping and banking online. To keep your cash safe, Kaspersky Internet Security?s Safe Money will:

1. Automatically activate when visiting most common payment services (PayPal, etc.), banking websites, and you can easily add your own bank or shopping websites to the list.

2. Isolate your payment operations in a special web browser to ensure your transactions aren?t monitored.

3. Verify the authenticity of the banking or payment website itself, to ensure the site isn?t compromised by malware, or a fake website designed to look authentic.

4. Evaluate the security status of your computer, and warn about any existing threats that should be addressed prior to making payments.

5. Provide an onscreen Virtual Keyboard when entering your credit card or payment information so you can enter your information with mouse-clicks. This will activate a special program to prevent malware from logging any keystrokes on your physical keyboard.

In July, this new Safe Money technology was evaluated against 15 real-world attack styles used by malware to steal your banking information. Tested by independent research lab Matousec, Kaspersky Internet Security successfully blocked all 15 banking attacks. Most other popular security products failed to block even half of the attacks. The full test results are available online.

Watching for Security Flaws in Your Apps and Programs

Another new and unique technology added to both Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Anti-Virus is called Automatic Exploit Prevention. An easy way for a cybercriminal to gain control of your PC is to take advantage of a security flaw in one of the dozens of programs and applications you use every day. When cybercriminals discover an unpatched security flaw in a popular program ? such as Adobe Acrobat, Java or Microsoft Internet Explorer, for example ? they may race to infect as many victims as they can before the vendor fixes the flaw. Whenever you ignore a pop-up window telling you to download the latest updates for a program, you?re unwittingly keeping this window of vulnerability open even longer. Now, Kaspersky Lab will not only alert you when out-of-date programs are running on your machine, but Automatic Exploit Prevention will protect you from these vulnerabilities until you are able to update them.

Kaspersky Lab?s technology watches over the programs installed on your PC and knows how these programs are supposed to act. If the program tries to perform unusual or unauthorized activities, Automatic Exploit Prevent blocks the abnormal action while still allowing the program to perform its normal operations. This means Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Anti-Virus will keep you safe without inconveniencing you by shutting off the applications you use every day. It happens more often than you think ? from January through March 2012, Kaspersky Lab detected more than 1 million malicious programs designed to exploit vulnerabilities in commonly-used software.

Kaspersky Lab: 15 Years of Award-Winning Security for Your Computer

In 2012, Kaspersky Lab celebrated its 15th anniversary of security research and technological innovation. For years, Kaspersky Lab has steadily refined and improved its cornerstone products ? Kaspersky Anti-Virus for essential protection needed to secure a PC, and Kaspersky Internet Security for advanced protection to confidently browse online. Both products work behind the scenes to deliver the fastest and most trusted virus and spyware protection in the world. Kaspersky Lab?s key improvements to both products, designed to protect customers in 2013 and beyond, include:

  • A new antivirus engine with better detection rates for the entire scope of emerging cyber-threats
  • New anti-phishing technology that features improved detection of imposter websites that try to steal passwords and other valuable data
  • A simplified user interface that provides faster installation and easier day-to-day use of the product
  • Improved performance, to keep you safe without slowing you down
  • More efficient power consumption, to ensure you get the most battery life from your laptop

In addition, both Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Kaspersky Internet Security are Windows 8 Ready, and will work seamlessly on the new Microsoft operating system. The new versions of Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Anti-Virus are included in Kaspersky ONE, a Universal Security product that protects PCs, Macs, smartphones1 and Android tablets using a single activation code. No matter what devices you use to get online, all you need is Kaspersky ONE.

Pricing and Availability

Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Anti-Virus are available for purchase now on Kaspersky Lab?s online store, and wherever quality software is sold in the U.S. and Canada. Current customers may upgrade free of charge from Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 to the new products for the remainder of their existing license period. A standard subscription ? 3-user licenses for a 1-year period ? is $79.95 for Kaspersky Internet Security and $59.95 for Kaspersky Anti-Virus.

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Source: http://www.softzine.net/kaspersky-labs-new-safe-money-technology-protects-online-purchases.html

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?2016: Obama?s America? ? a box office success (Powerlineblog)

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How ocean currents affect global climate becoming better understood

ScienceDaily (Aug. 26, 2012) ? Florida State University oceanographer Kevin Speer has a "new paradigm" for describing how the world's oceans circulate -- and with it he may help reshape science's understanding of the processes by which wind, water, sunlight and other factors interact and influence the planet's climate.

A Florida State University professor of oceanography with a passion for teaching, Speer and a colleague recently published a significant paper in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Working with John Marshall, an oceanography professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Speer reviewed -- or essentially synthesized -- vast amounts of previous data on ocean circulation (including their own earlier papers). As a result, they have created what Speer calls a new paradigm in the study of ocean currents on a global scale.

Here's how it works: Basically, the oceans, together with the atmosphere, rebalance heat on the planet. The sun shines on Earth and heats up the tropics more than the poles. Near the poles, the ocean is cold and the water sinks; near the equator, the surface of the ocean is inviting and warm -- and floats on top of the colder deep water.

So the question is this: Where does the water that goes down come back up?

Speer, Marshall and other oceanographers now believe that it comes back up in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica -- not as much in the warm oceans as had been previously thought.

"We're not saying that nothing comes up in the rest of the World Ocean, just that the main thrust is in the Southern Ocean," Speer said. "To a large extent it's driven by the wind."

Very strong winds, to be precise.

In the rough waters around Antarctica, sailors call those winds the "Roaring Forties" and the "Furious Fifties." They originate near the Equator, where hot air rises and then is pushed toward the North and South poles by cooler air that rushes in to take its place.

The resulting "eddy-driven upwelling" in the Southern Ocean, as Speer characterizes it, may in fact describe the most important process to date that helps scientists understand the role of the ocean and climate.

Speer, who holds a doctorate in physical oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program, spent years living in France as an oceanographic researcher for a French governmental agency. (Yes, he's fluent in French.)

Today, from his office on the Florida State campus, Speer serves as interim director of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute, a warren of intriguing laboratories just a few steps outside his door. It is there that Speer helps students and postdoctoral researchers learn about how climate works.

The laboratory's equipment includes a large, vintage rotating table designed nearly a half-century ago by the lab's founder, Florida State meteorology Professor Richard Pfeffer. (The device may be old, but it's one of the biggest and best in the United States, Speer says). Here students can recreate the ocean's churning and study natural phenomena such as the Antarctic circumpolar current.

Speer and his students have been studying ocean currents thanks to $2.5 million in funding from a larger $10 million National Science Foundation grant that FSU shares with eight other universities and institutions worldwide. Research has included releasing tracers and floats into the ocean to study the mixing and spreading of currents.

One of Speer's graduate students, Druv Balwada, recently took part in a joint U.S.-United Kingdom research program to study ocean currents aboard a ship in the Southern Ocean.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Florida State University. The original article was written by Elizabeth Bettendorf.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. John Marshall, Kevin Speer. Closure of the meridional overturning circulation through Southern Ocean upwelling. Nature Geoscience, 2012; 5 (3): 171 DOI: 10.1038/ngeo1391

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/g2-bcevCKoE/120827094213.htm

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Monday, August 27, 2012

More parents of special-needs children opt out of ... - Education News

For thousands of Texas parents, the start of the school year has taken on a new meaning: an end to the conflicts, struggles and disappointment with the public school system.

A growing number of parents of special-needs children are opting out of public schools, deciding instead to home school or to pay for pricey private schools.

The number of secondary students who left public schools to home school increased 50 percent from 2003 to 2010, reaching 2,040 7th- through 12th-graders, according to the Texas Education Agency. The number of middle- and high-school special education students who withdrew for private school increased 75 percent, reaching 772 in 2010.

That?s not to mention thousands of younger students whose reasons for leaving public schools aren?t recorded, or the countless families who give up on public school before their child receives a needed ?special education? classification. With Texas? diagnosis rate falling to an all-time low of 8.8 percent in recent years ? the lowest in the nation ? the label and its accompanying services are harder than ever to come by.

?It?s the free market at work. People are voting with their feet,? said Tim Lambert, president of the Texas Home School Coalition. ?Parents just get frustrated with the bureaucracy of the public school.?

A record 300,000 Texas children are being home-schooled, and an increasing number of them have special needs, prompting the creation of support groups and specialized curriculum. Some families who don?t feel equipped to handle home-schooling a child with special needs search out one of the dozens of specialty private schools, often paying the equivalent of Ivy League tuition.

Leslie Phillips pulled her son out of a Katy school when he was in second grade, opting to pay a $30,000-a-year tuition bill rather than continue fighting for the services she felt he needed. The family viewed tuition as a better investment than a legal battle they were unlikely to win. To add urgency, her son, who has an autism disorder, was coming home with bruises that no one could explain.

Lack of resources

?They just didn?t or couldn?t respond quickly enough to get us in a situation that was safe for him,? said Phillips, whose son, now 12, is thriving at a private school. ?I have probably more sympathy for school districts than many parents. ? They?re left with this explosion of children with a high level of need and they can?t scramble fast enough to get the resources and training.?

Considering the autism and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder epidemics, Texas? shrinking number of special education children seems questionable, she added.

Some education officials, however, argue the decline is a positive sign that public schools are identifying and remediating learning disabilities faster, reducing the need for special education.

Cynthia Singleton home-schooled her son, who has autism, for several years before enrolling him in Johnston Middle School in the Houston ISD, where he?s an eighth-grader in advanced classes. It?s the lack of attention to the social needs of special education students that will likely leave her scrambling for alternatives for high school.

?They don?t have even half of the resources they need to handle the kid with disabilities,? she said. ?They turn a blind eye to the social needs.?

A niche group of lawyers defends school districts against parents? special-education legal claims, making it difficult for parents to prevail without spending considerable time and money.

?Find an alternative?

?When you get into a fight with a school, it?s like a divorce,? Singleton said. ?I?d rather take my energy and money and find an alternative.?

Claudia Wanczyk pulled her son out of Katy ISD when he was rezoned to a different school with a new teacher at the start of fourth grade. The family has spent thousands of dollars on therapy in addition to home-schooling the 12-year-old.

?He?s made more progress? at home, she said.

Rebecca Rex?s son is starting Lone Star College this month after being home-schooled throughout K-12. She showed up for kindergarten registration 15 years ago intending to enroll him in public school, but she had immediate concerns about administrators? reaction to her son, who was born with lead poisoning.

Rex?s son is now an avid photographer and a skilled swimmer. He?s well traveled and a talented artist.

?It just became a way of life for us,? she said. ?I guess I?m happy the school system ran me off, to be honest.?

More parents of special-needs children opt out of public schools ? Houston Chronicle.

Related posts:

  1. Special Interests Sue to Remove Arizona Children with Special Needs From Private Schools PHOENIX, Ariz. (September 27, 2011) ? The Arizona Education Association...
  2. America?s Woeful Public Schools: At the End of the Special Ed Ghetto ? ? by RiShawn Biddle - Percentage of learning disabled...
  3. Why I Send My Children to Public Schools Robert Niles ? My two children, ages 14 and 11,...
  4. Affluent Foreign-Born Parents in N.Y. Prefer Public Schools Miriam and Christian Rengier, a German couple moving to New...
  5. Parents seek limits on restraining special-ed kids WASHINGTON?Parents urged Congress on Thursday to limit the ability of...
  6. Parents Owe Full Tuition After Withdrawing Children From Private Schools In February 2011, Nicole Smolowitz?s son was admitted to the...
  7. Rochester schools renew focus on special-education issue For years, the City School District has been placing a...
  8. Henrico County Public School Officials Use Henrico?s Commonwealth Attorney, Juvenile Courts, and Sheriff To Violate Civil Rights Of African-American And Special Needs Parents K. N. Lucas ? In October 2010, The U.S. Department...
  9. Has Constructivism Increased Special Education Enrollment in Public Schools? By Nakonia (Niki) Hayes - As a teacher and administrator...
  10. Parents should ?send children to school with sniffles? Parents are sometime overzealous in keeping their child off sick...

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?The quality and variety of the selections you will find on EducationViews.org is second-to-none on the internet today. Since 1997 we have been providing this service at no cost to education professionals, the public in general and policy makers. Hope you enjoy the articles and commentary. Please forward us to your friends and associates. EducationViews.org is maybe the most effective way to transforming educators. The daily email offers a direct and easy way for busy teachers to grow philosophically. I was skeptical, but once you open the email and decide to read a story, you are hooked and it becomes a daily ritual to check out what?s happening. Educating teachers as to what is really going on in the schools opens up a new worldview and vision of thinking most have not been exposed to. The end result, better informed teachers who have a more effective understanding of the principles that make academic achievement a reality. Great job. The more email addresses of educators you get on your list, the bigger the impact and the more kids you will positively influence.

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How far apart is long distance? - The Student Room

For questions and discussions relating to all aspects and kinds of relationships, from love and dating to friends, family and work. Threads about sexuality also belong here.
  1. n-qia's Avatar

    New Member

    Thread Starter

    Join Date: Aug 2012

    Posts: 15

    How far apart is long distance?

    I was just wondering, what are everyone's opinions on how far apart a couple need to live before their relationship is classed as "long distance"?

    My boyfriend lives 50 miles away from my large city in a small village by the coast, which is two train journeys and about an hour and a half in total. He says we're in a long distance relationship but I disagree, I think it has to be about 80 miles? For example, I'd say Manchester to Birmingham is long distance, but Manchester to Liverpool isn't.

    I asked a friend and she said as a general rule it's anywhere over an hour away, or anywhere you can't get one bus to. (I disagree with the second part - for me it's two bus journeys to her house and she only lives ~10 miles away!)

    Thoughts?

  2. New Member

    Join Date: Aug 2012

    Location: Sheffield

    Posts: 1

    Re: How far apart is long distance?

    If the relationship works, should it matter? I apologise in advance for being a tad blunt, but this is somewhat inconsequential if you and your boyfriend are in a relationship that works.
  3. Junior Member

    Join Date: Jan 2011

    Posts: 55

    Re: How far apart is long distance?

    I would class long distance as any distance that means you have to plan to see each other in advance. By that I mean you can't just ring them up and say 'do you want to come over'. So for some people it could be half an hour.

Source: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2100087

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27 Afghans, 2 US soldiers killed in attacks

(AP) ? Attackers hit international forces, the Afghan army and Afghan civilians in two days of violence that by Monday morning had left 29 people dead ? two of them Americans soldiers killed by an Afghan colleague.

In the deadliest attack, insurgents beheaded 17 Afghan civilian for taking part in a music event in a Taliban-controlled area of southern Afghanistan, officials said. The attack happened Sunday night in Helmand province's Musa Qala district, said provincial government spokesman Daoud Ahmadi. All of the bodies were decapitated but it was not clear if they had been shot first, Ahmadi said.

The victims were part of a large group that had gathered for a celebration involving music and dancing, said Musa Qala government chief Neyamatullah Khan. He said the Taliban slaughtered them to show their disapproval of the event. Information was only trickling out slowly because the area where the killings occurred is completely Taliban controlled, Khan said.

Then on Monday morning, two American soldiers were shot and killed by one of their Afghan colleagues in the east, military officials said, bringing to 12 the number of international troops ? all Americans ? to die at the hands of their local allies this month.

But Afghan officials said Monday's attack in Laghman province was a separate case from the rash of recent insider attacks on international forces, because it appeared to have been an accidental shooting.

When the group of U.S. and Afghan soldiers came under attack, they returned fire and ran to take up fighting positions, said Noman Hatefi, a spokesman for the Afghan army corps in eastern Afghanistan. But an Afghan soldier fell and accidentally discharged his weapon, killing two American soldiers with the errant rounds, he said.

"He didn't do this intentionally. But then the commander of the unit started shouting at him, 'What did you do? You killed two NATO soldiers!' And so he threw down his weapon and started to run," Hatefi added. The U.S. troops had already called in air support to help with the insurgent attack and the aircraft fired on the escaping Afghan soldier from above, killing him, Hatefi said.

NATO spokesman Lt. Col. Hagen Messer of Germany confirmed that two international soldiers were killed by an Afghan soldier in Laghman province, but declined to give further comment.

Insider attacks have been a problem for the U.S.-led military coalition for years, but it has exploded recently into a crisis. There have been at least 33 attacks so far this year, killing 42 coalition members, mostly Americans. Last year there were 21 attacks, killing 35; and in 2010 there were 11 attacks with 20 deaths.

Meanwhile, Helmand officials reported that 10 Afghan soldiers were killed in an attack on a checkpoint in the south, and five were either kidnapped or joined their assailants.

Ahmadi, the provincial spokesman, said insurgents attacked the checkpoint in Washir district Sunday evening. Another four soldiers were wounded he said.

Ahmadi did not provide details of the attack. He said the five missing soldiers left with the insurgents but it was unclear if they were kidnapped or went voluntarily.

____

Khan reported from Kandahar, Afghanistan. Associated Press writers Amir Shah and Rahim Faiez contributed to this report in Kabul.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-08-27-Afghanistan/id-c8f837c1dd6c45c48f53d406223c17ae

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West Nile Virus | thepetauthority

We?re firmly entrenched in the last week of August, and with the weather running warm to hot for the foreseeable future, I want to take some time to discuss a zoonotic disease that?s making headlines locally and nationally. This is something that -everyone- should pay attention to, whether you?re an outdoorsy or indoorsy person. Dog and Cat owners don?t have much to be concerned about with their pets, but horse owners should be concerned.

West Nile Virus (WNV) is closely related to a small set of viruses known as flaviviruses. It?s found throughout the majority of the US. While it generally infects birds, animals and people are potential hosts for the virus. Interestingly, WNV in the US hasn?t changed much since about 1999. In contrast, many types of virus can change their makeup more frequently.

WNV is primarily found in birds. Birds can survive the infection and become immune, but some of them will die after being infected. Mosquitos transfer the virus from bird to bird when they bite to drink a blood meal. These same mosquitos can bite other animals or people, which can lead to infection of those other animals. The main difference in the infections is that birds develop very high levels of virus in the bloodstream. Humans and other animals generally do NOT develop high levels of virus in the bloodstream. Animals other than birds and humans are called ?dead-end hosts? because they don?t serve as a means for the virus to reproduce.

WNV 21August 2012 a

WNVcycle4 18 big
Spending time outdoors is the primary risk factor for contracting WNV. Anywhere that you can get bitten by a mosquito puts you at risk for contracting WNV. One of the mosquito species that transmits WNV can survive the winter by hibernating in places like barns, underground, or in root cellars. The presence of mosquitos indoors means that people and indoor pets are at risk of being infected.

As I mentioned, dogs and cats are quite resistant to this virus. The CDC reports that a 1999 study (in New York) showed many dogs are infected by WNV but do not develop any symptoms. Horses, on the other hand, seem to be more susceptible. Not every horse that is infected will get sick, but those that do have a 40% chance of dying from the infection. A vaccine exists, but no one is certain how much it?s helping protect horses.

For people that are infected by WNV, about 80% will have no signs or symptoms at all. People over 50 years of age, or those with diabetes or other immune suppression, are more susceptible. About 20% of the people infected will develop flu-like symptoms 3-14 days after being bitten by a mosquito: fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. People can feel sick for a few days to a few weeks. About 1 in 150 of the people who are infected will get severely sick. High fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis can occur. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent. If you think you may have WNV, you should contact your physician for further instructions.

There is no vaccine for people. Preventing mosquito bites is the best way to avoid contracting WNV. According to the CDC, these methods can be used to lessen your risk:

Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Be sure to use insect repellent with an EPA-registered insect repellant. Wear long sleeves and pants at these times or consider staying indoors during these hours. Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out. Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children?s wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren?t being used.

Here?s the CDC webpage about WNV.

Here is the wikipedia page about WNV.

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Source: http://thepetauthority.wordpress.com/2012/08/25/west-nile-virus/

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Sunday, August 26, 2012

Find Out Revealing Guide to Hints on Benefits of Equipment Rentals ...

For projects and events that only come along every once in a while, you will not need to buy all the things required for set up. There will be businesses that will be more than able to provide all the quality tools for you. There are many of these to be found in your area, so look up the nearest equipment rentals San Jose service.

Your needs will be met by all their many services. Equipment rentals can be found anywhere, so it takes very little effort to find one. There will always be a shop nearby, so check if their services are any good, or if not, there is sure to be another place with better services. All your specifications are likely to be met. These businesses have all the right machinery in their inventory.

If you need tools and services for cars, they can be found just about anywhere. You can have full use of automotive lifts, emission and brake service testers and other service equipment. If you are not certain on use to use it properly, all you will need to do is ask them for instructions. It is cheap, and convenient, and is usually offered along with insurance.

Home improvement, gardening tools are usually very popular these days. A lot of people are looking for do it yourself projects to pass the time or to simply make their houses look better. Rent out your tools instead of buying them, if you would only use them a couple of times. Most companies have trailers, trucks, and tools for welding and plumbing. You can even rent out pressure washers to clean a driveway or boat. These companies will give you the assistance you need, to teach proper use when you need it.

Birth anniversaries and nuptial celebrations also call for leasing needs. You will find some providers around your city that can provide video, audio, and lighting equipment. You can lease chairs and tables for a wedding reception. You can ask your provider to help you set up the furniture for a large wedding. This is an advantage of leasing your things instead of buying them wherein you will be required to set up the place yourself.

These businesses invest in the best tools for their customers. The things they rent out are well taken care of, and very well maintained. Look for the most dependable providers for big savings and quality equipment. You can rent for as long as your project requires it.

Payments are made very flexible, and you can pay in whichever way you would prefer. Cash, credit cards and checks are all widely accepted. They are open on weekdays, and maybe Saturdays, and keep convenient hours. These businesses will give you the best to keep you coming back.

You can expect to get exactly what you need at a reputable equipment rentals San Jose service. Look for tools and items that are known to perform well. Ask your provider to teach you how to use the items before you leave the store. They may also give you additional tips on how to use the devices safely.

Source: http://www.articlesolve.com/articledetail.php?artid=356423&catid=81

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Source: http://griffeexyluke.typepad.com/blog/2012/08/find-out-revealing-guide-to-hints-on-benefits-of-equipment-rentals.html

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Debt consolidation loan ? consolidate debt: Speedcredit's Personal ...

Personal Finance Blogs - Saving Advice

"Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half." - John Wanamaker

August 25th, 2012 at 08:31 PM by I'm a young mom determined to be rich someday!!!

My usual Saturday would include an automatic $50 spent by noon at the hair salon maybe another thirty to forty at a restuarant for lunch. Than no telling what other household products/groceries I'd need to pick up. I am very happy that I wrote my budget out on paper and kept cash in my pocket. I find it too easy to overspend money when i'm swiping my debit card. I'm more prone to think twice when I have to give up the cash out of my purse. I ended up spending $1 on chicken nuggets...

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Source: http://speedcreditloans.savingadvice.com/2012/08/25/debt-consolidation-loan-consolidate-debt_97032/

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Saturday, August 25, 2012

College ? Tips For Choosing a Course of Study in College

Getting accepted into college can be a very confusing time. That is if you?re not certain what to pursue. With so many courses and specialties to choose from, how do you know which is best for you?

Choosing a course of study should be carefully measured to avoid wasting four years on academics that will be useless once you graduate. Numerous studies conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics point to 60% of graduates working outside their majors. What does this figure signify? It either means low employment rates in the field, or students pursuing another field of passion.

Here are tips for choosing a course of study in college:

  • Income ? Research what?s the average income in the field. Many students do not think about how lucrative a degree will be. However, the bottom line of getting a degree is to earn financial security.
  • The Job Market ? The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides in-depth insight into job prospects for different fields of study. It usually includes a ten year forecast, and as an example, specific technology jobs like Network And Computer Systems Administrators can anticipate a median salary of $69,160, with a 28% growth between 2010-2020.
  • Student?s Interest ? What did you want to become when you were growing up? Do you still have that dream? Chances are, students will be much happier working in a field they?re passionate about. Aside from financial benefits, the student?s core values, interests and beliefs will translate directly into the field of work. Confucius was right when he said ?Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.?
  • Take a Personality Quiz ? Experts recommend this test to determine if students are better suited working as a blue or white collar worker, based on his or her personality and interests.
  • The Factor of Time ? Some courses require a greater timeframe for completion. Examples include degrees related to medicine and law. As a new student, it?s important to figure out if an extended course length will be an issue, and whether dedication is key.
  • Talk to a Pro ? Who will better advise all the necessary procedures to take, in order to select the best course for students? careers. Each online college should house a counselor for this purpose.

Rather than having a change of heart half-way through the online university program, students can begin by weighing these options to make the most practical choice.

Source: http://toddsblogs.com/referenceandeducation/2012/08/24/college-tips-for-choosing-a-course-of-study-in-college/

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Movie review: Scares never materialize in 'The Apparition' | The Salt ...

Stefan Erhard | Warner Bros. Pictures Ashley Greene, Sebastian Stan and Tom Felton (from left) star in the supernatural thriller "The Apparition."

Review ? Inept direction leads to false starts and dead ends.

The horror thriller "The Apparition" is short, barely clocking in at 70 minutes before an attenuated credits sequence, but it makes up for its brevity by being one of the most tedious movies ever to advertise itself as something scary.

Writer-director Todd Lincoln, in his first feature, starts by suggesting a "found-footage" thriller with an old-school twist. It begins with grainy film stock of a 1973 incident, called "The Charles Experiment," in which a group of paranormal psychologists try to summon the spirit of a deceased colleague. But before that possibility gets rolling, the scene shifts to modern video of college students somewhere trying to re-create "The Charles Experiment," with (as nearly as we can tell with the dim lighting and shaky camerawork) horrific results.

?

H

?The Apparition?

A young couple is terrorized by something supposedly scary in this lame horror thriller.

Where ? Theaters everywhere.

When ? Opened on Friday, Aug. 22.

Rating ? PG-13 for terror/frightening images and some sensuality.

Running time ? 78 minutes.

Then begins what is, by default, the real story: Young couple Kelly ("Twilight" co-star Ashley Greene) and Ben (Sebastian Stan) are house-sitting in suburban California, when strange stuff starts to happen. First it?s little things, like furniture moving slightly. Then the menace grows bigger, with unexplained mold patches and the sudden death of the neighbors? dog.

Is the house haunted? Are the power lines over the house, which Lincoln obsessively photographs, carrying some unseen menace? Is Kelly a target of some supernatural force?

Any of these would be interesting avenues for a horror movie to explore. Lincoln briefly toys with each of them, and then moves on.

But moves on to what? Eventually we get some exposition about Ben?s involvement in the second attempt at "The Charles Experiment," told to us by his paranoid ex-colleague Patrick ("Harry Potter" alum Tom Felton, without his bleached-blond Draco Malfoy ?do), who intones dire warnings of something that "crossed into our world."

Lincoln never gets around to revealing anything important about that evil something. He throws in a few arresting images, linked by an oppressive synth-heavy soundtrack by the duo tomandandy. But between Lincoln?s ineptitude and the vacant prettiness of Greene and Stan, "The Apparition" becomes just a pile of false starts and dead ends that never build to anything truly frightening.

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Copyright 2012 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/lifestyle/54759031-80/apparition-lincoln-thriller-horror.html.csp

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College basketball in pictures

The Cal State Northridge Matadors defeated the Vancouver Island University Mariners 85-45 on Wednesday at the VIU gym in men's exhibition basketball.

For the full story, please click here.

To view the slideshow at full size, please click the maximize button in the lower right-hand corner.

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Source: http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/sports/167236525.html

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Friday, August 24, 2012

With A Budget Almost Cut In Half And 40 Percent Staff Cuts Can The ...

RIAA?s budget comes from music labels and distributors. In theory it represents the interests of the music industry. Therefore, it depends on their willingness to pay them to represent music in all its forms. That?s not going so well.

TorrentFreak obtained its latest tax filing and the RIAA is facing the same difficulties as the major music labels. Its budget has been cut to $29.1 million for 2010-2011 from $51.35 million two years earlier. Yet, the most important shift comes from the anti-piracy strategy adopted by the RIAA.

Instead of spending tens of millions of dollars in legal fees, the RIAA is supporting the copyright alert system and its six strikes, a policy inspired by the unpopular and ineffective French anti-piracy law called Hadopi.

In other words, the RIAA is still wasting a lot of money that could have been better used to foster novel Internet services or music experiences and to create new sources of revenues for the artists.

With that new-found austerity, the RIAA cut its staff by nearly 40% from 117 to 72 employees. A budget item stays stable over the years, however. Their lobbying activity is still active to the tune of $2.3 million a year.

But legal fees represent the major expense reduction, from $16.5 million to $2.34 million. Over the years, the RIAA has drastically limited the number of lawsuits for illegal music downloading and will probably stay this course.

RIAA is currently undertaking the rollout of the copyright alert system in the U.S. Based on an agreement between ISPs and copyright holders, infringers will receive up to six alerts. If they fail to change their behavior, their connection may be throttled or even suspended for a few days.

After three years in the planning, the copyright alert system is still not implemented.

There have been previous examples of piracy monitoring laws and frameworks with mixed results. In France, the three-strike Hadopi law was introduced in 2009. An important aspect of the law was to foster legal digital services, but it was mostly abandoned ? they only approved legal services with a PUR label in order to identify them.

But the dissuasive part didn?t work either. Instead of downloading movies or music using the BitTorrent protocol, illegal streaming services and direct downloading through file lockers became de rigueur. Given the failure of this plan, the undertaking will probably be stopped in the coming months, when the government finds another way to tackle the issue.

In Sweden, the IPRED law enticed illegal downloaders to massively use a VPN service as a way to anonymize their Internet traffic ? another example, another failure.

The major music labels are right to cut the budget of the RIAA because they cannot win the fight against piracy by suing a few downloaders. Nevertheless, backing a multiple-strike IP-collecting strategy is not the answer.


The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is the trade group that represents the U.S. recording industry. Its mission is to foster a business and legal climate that supports and promotes our members? creative and financial vitality. Its members are the record companies that comprise the most vibrant national music industry in the world. RIAA members create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 90% of all legitimate sound recordings produced and sold in the United States. In support of this mission, the...

? Learn more

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2012/08/23/bad-news-for-the-riaa-budget-almost-cut-in-half-40-percent-staff-cuts-and-still-irrelevant/

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Reaching 4 Excellence: Future Nurse is Good as Gold | fox4kc.com ...

CAMERON, Mo. ? A Northland teenager came away with a gold medal from the summer games ? the summer games of career and technical education.

Shelbie Kirkendoll of Kearney is the only high school student from the Greater Kansas City region to win a top prize at the big National SkillsUSA Championships. And our Fox 4 Young Achiever of the Week is also a champion of volunteerism and philanthropy with a heart of gold.

Warmth. Concern. Empathy. Caring. Her supervisors at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cameron say it?s all deeply genuine in Shelbie Kirkendoll as she interacts with the residents. Fresh off her senior year at Kearney High School in nearby Kearney, Mo., Shelbie?s a recreational therapy aide here, working with veterans with Alzheimer?s, dementia and other special needs conditions, the center?s most challenging population.

?I absolutely love it,? says Shelbie about working with the residents. ?It?s just so fulfilling being around these veterans. They fulfill my life.? Her boss here says Shelbie has uncommon skill and maturity for one still so young.

?She?s just so compassionate and caring,? says Administrator Bradley Haggard. ?And you can just see that when she touches a vet?s hand or shoulder. And she just has that maturity level that she knows, ?This is what I want to do, I want to care for people.?? Shelbie?s going into nursing and says she?d like nothing better than to be a hospice nurse one day soon.

?My grandpa was in hospice before he passed away,? says Shelbie about what sparked her interest in hospice. ?And I want to be able to help people at the lowest time of their life. And the family. It?s a really, really crucial time of their life. And I really want to make a difference at that time.?

Shelbie has an impressive start on her life goal. She?s already a Certified Nursing Assistant and a Licensed Pharmacy Technician. And she soared through health care courses at Excelsior Springs Area Career Center where she was Student of the Year.

?Right away I knew she was a leader,? says Brian Smarker, an instructor at Excelsior Springs Area Career Center who got to know Shelbie as she became president of the school?s Skills USA chapter. ?And she expresses it joyfully. She?s very exuberant. Very outgoing. Very professional in everything she does.?

Shelbie struck gold this summer at the National SkillsUSA Championships competition for the country?s top career and technical students. She won in the Health Occupations Professional Portfolio competition, crafting a superb compilation of her career preparation and personal activities and accomplishments and then dazzling the judges with a terrific oral presentation.

?It?s about selling yourself,? says Shelbie of the importance of putting together a great portfolio. ?As an employee, prospectively, you are selling yourself to an employer.?

All of her stellar accomplishments and honors mean a lot to Shelbie but there?s something else that?s very big in her life that means just as much. She has been a dedicated, seemingly tireless volunteer and philanthropist for years, much of it for health care organizations.

She started volunteering nearly six years ago for charity projects sponsored by a the Target store in Liberty, Mo. where her mom is a manager. She volunteers at Liberty Hospital in the cancer center and at Continua Hospice.

A talented softball player herself, Shelbie almost single-handedly put on a benefit softball game that raised $1,500 for the American Cancer Society. The project made her a Missouri State Finalist for the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, one of the world?s top honors for community service and philanthropy by young people.

?I really just want to make people happy,? says Shelbie. And she?s?succeeding at it gloriously.

Shelbie is starting nursing classes at Missouri Western State University next week with enough college credit hours she racked up in high school and at the career center to be a sophomore.

FOX 4 News is Working for You to spotlight outstanding young people and their positive accomplishments. In our weekly report called Reaching 4 Excellence we meet young achievers in subjects like academics, the arts, leadership, community service, volunteerism, career exploration, overcoming obstacles and heroism. Watch for Reaching 4 Excellence every Monday on?FOX 4 News at 8 a.m., every Wednesday on?FOX 4 News at 9 p.m. and every Thursday on?FOX 4 News at 5 p.m.

Source: http://fox4kc.com/2012/08/23/reaching-4-excellence-future-nurse-is-good-as-gold/

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Spike in Afghan Forces Attacking Colleagues, NATO Troops

The escalation in ?green-on-blue? attacks, that is, the attacks by Afghan security forces on NATO occupation forces, has become something of a major story in recent weeks, particularly after nine such attacks were launched in a 11 day span earlier this month.

But it turns out ?green-on-green? attacks are soaring as well, with 35 separate attacks so far this year by Afghan security forces on other Afghan security forces, resulting in at least 53 people killed and 22 wounded.

Though NATO has sought to downplay its significance, many of these attacks appear to be the result of Taliban infiltration of security forces, with low-ranking Taliban joining to acquire weapons and launched attacks on the way out, before disappearing back into the insurgency.

Officials have repeatedly claimed improved ?screening? for security forces, but with the enormous size of the Afghan military and the extremely low pay, it is almost inevitable for recruiters to take anybody who?s willing.

Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AntiwarNews/~3/uNDMF37ta5g/

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Gibbons are soprano singers of the animal world

If you want to hear the clear, piercing voice of a soprano, don't bother with the opera. Just listen to a gibbon. Giving gibbons helium to breathe and studying its effect on their calls provides evidence that the apes call to each other using similar mechanisms to trained human sopranos.

Gibbons are known for their high-pitched "songs", which are unusually melodious for animal calls (listen to a recording).

Wondering how they produce the songs, Takeshi Nishimura of Kyoto University in Aichi, Japan, and colleagues recorded the calls of a captive white-handed gibbon (Hylobates larMovie Camera) ? first in normal air, and then in air that contained 20 per cent oxygen, 30 per cent nitrogen and 50 per cent helium.

It sounds like a prank, but making an animal inhale helium and measuring how it affects their calls offers clues to how their vocal system worksMovie Camera.

It's unclear how most animals produce their calls, but it's thought that in many cases it is the fixed shape of their vocal tract that determines the exact frequency of the sound waves, which make up the call. Because sound waves have a higher frequency in helium than in air, the gas affects the fundamental frequency of these calls.

Unchanged frequency

However, humans can control the frequency of the sound source, and change the shape of their vocal tract to modify it further. One result of this is that the fundamental frequency is not affected when humans breathe helium ? although the resulting sound is altered because the helium changes how the air behaves in the vocal tract, boosting the higher harmonics.

Nishimura's experiment showed that gibbon calls are affected by helium in a similar way to human calls. When the gibbon was breathing helium, the fundamental frequency of her calls was unchanged, suggesting it was produced independently of her vocal tract (listen to a recording).

Gibbons' high-pitched calls are quite simple compared to normal human speech, which uses combinations of different frequencies to produce consonants and vowels. Gibbon calls don't bother with such complexity, but neither do soprano singers. Both sacrifice detail for sheer volume and a purity of tone that allows the call to resonate ? which explains why it's difficult to make out the words when listening to opera.

While other animals such as howler monkeys can produce loud calls that carry for many kilometres, soprano calls are probably unique to gibbons, says Nishimura.

Journal reference: American Journal of Physical Anthropology, DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22124

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A Message To Garcia ? 6400 Personal Finance

Time to be honest people.

Think back to the last time your boss gave you a task to accomplish, what was the first thing out of your mouth?

Did you ask for clarification?

Did you ask for someone else to assist you?

Do you ask for an extended deadline?

Or did you simply respond ?Yes,boss/sir/ma?am? or ?No problem? and set about completing the task?

Back in 1899 a guy by the name of Elbert Hubbard wrote a short essay on this theme that was titled simply ?A Message To Garcia.? ?The short version (of a short essay) is that prior to the Spanish-American War breaking out President McKinley decided he wanted to make contact with the leader of the Cuban insurgents, a general by the name of Garcia. ?He asked around as to who he should send to make contact with the general and was told that Captain Andrew Summers Rowan, United States Army, was his man. ?I?ll let Hubbard?s words tell the rest of the story:

The point that I wish to make is this: McKinley gave Rowan a letter to be delivered to Garcia; Rowan took the letter and did not ask, ?Where is he at??

Here is how the Army would describe what transpired in that sentence: the President gave the officer a mission that contained a clear intent and desired endstate: go to Cuba, deliver this letter to Garcia, and establish a positive relationship with the insurgents. ?In short he told the officer the ?what? and the ?why? and left it up to his subordinate to figure out the ?how.? ?That is the type of leadership that breeds creativity and allows star performers to excel. ?That said Hubbard was a much more talented writer than I was so I?ll let his own words make the point:

It is not book-learning young man need, nor instruction about this and that, but a stiffening of the vertebrae which will cause them to be loyal to a trust, to act promptly, concentrate their energies: do the thing??Carry a message to Garcia.?

If you?ve read more than a handful of the posts that I have been putting up here over the last few months you have probably noticed that I am a strong proponent of discipline in all things, whether it be a matter of health, attitude, behavior, or personal finance. ?It is easy for me to speak of discipline because I have been trained to live it, for others it is a more foreign concept. ?For them, and for you if you are one of them, I strongly recommend that you get a copy of ?A Message To Garcia.? ?At the beginning of the 20th century it was distributed and translated worldwide to the tune of more than 40 million copies and was issued to every soldier in multiple armies of major nations (including Russia and Japan when they went to war with each other). ?It can be had today on Amazon for $0.99.

Or you could just take that $0.99 and buy a burger from a fast food joint. ?It is a free country after all.

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Source: http://6400personalfinance.com/2012/08/22/a-message-to-garcia/

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