The Last Guardian Still a No-show, Sony Apologises - News

More news courtesy of Sony Worldwide Studios President, Yoshida, this time in an interview with Kotaku:

"I apologize to people who are waiting for the game. Ueda-san posted that he's still working on it, that he's creative-directing it and that the team in the Japan studios are working hard. We are waiting for the right time to re-introduce The Last Guardian."

Trico's impression of 'working hard'

Kotaku also asked whether development for the game had shifted from the PlayStation 3 to the PlayStation 4, to which Yoshida replied:

"We're going to talk about it when we can."

So... yeah better than nothing I guess; at least Yoshida was able to confirm that The Last Guardian is still being worked on. Nonetheless, the long, nervous wait continues for us Team ICO fans.

Source: http://www.gamrreview.com/news/89805/the-last-guardian-still-a-no-show-sony-apologises/

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Mayor Bloomberg Our Techno-Richard Nixon 911 Mega Theft

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Source: http://occupyunionsquare.net/2013/02/23/mayor-bloomberg-our-techno-richard-nixon-911-mega-theft/

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Fungicide Use Surges, Largely Unmonitored

Fungicide use is rising, but experts warn that there is inadequate environmental monitoring and information on the chemicals' safety. Image: Flickr/CIAT

Glenn Waller's 100 acres of soybeans in Washington County, Georgia, are the highest yielding in the state. But the "Mr. Efficiency" award winner is worried about rust.

Soybean farmers in the Southeast survived a bout with the crop-destroying fungus in 2005 by using pesticides to halt its spread. But Waller remains worried about a rust resurgence.

"I'm afraid we're going to kind of put it on the back burner and it's going to jump back up and get us,? he said.

Waller, who has farmed for 51 years, increasingly has turned to fungicides to ward off pests and increase his crop yields. Farmers around the country are doing the same, causing an unprecedented surge in fungicide use. But as widespread contamination of waterways near these farms emerges, experts warn that there is inadequate environmental monitoring and information on the chemicals' safety.

"It's concerning," said Jason Belden, an environmental toxicologist at Oklahoma State University. "We have limited toxicological data for a lot of these compounds."

Fungicides are contaminating the majority of water bodies tested in states where there is heavy use, such as in Maine, Idaho and Wisconsin. Some are known to be highly toxic to aquatic creatures, but little is known about whether they are actually harming frogs or other animals in the environment. The potential threats to people are unknown, with new research on lab mice linking them to obesity.

Farmers have historically sprayed fungicides to stop disease. But over the past decade, in an effort to squeeze extra bushels from their crops, they have been spraying more kinds of fungicides on more acres. Wheat, corn, soybeans, citrus and cotton are among the crops that often are sprayed.

The fungicide explosion prompted Kathryn Kuivila, an environmental organic chemist with the U.S. Geological Survey, to see if fungicides were escaping farms and winding up in nearby streams. In a 2012 study of 33 fungicides used on potatoes, Kuivila's lab found that 75 percent of surface waters tested and 58 percent of ground water samples were contaminated with traces of at least one fungicide.

A fungicide called boscalid???used on a variety of crops from food to turf grass???was the most common, found in 72 percent of water samples. The team tested 24 bodies of ground water and shallow water in Maine, Idaho and Wisconsin; the scientists noted that the results may vary nationwide.

The fungicides were found below levels that would kill creatures at the bottom of the food web, such as zooplankton and amphipods, the authors said. But Belden said that doesn't mean there's no threat. Fungicides degrade rapidly so monthly testing in water might not "see all the pulses" of fungicides application, he said. More work is needed to get a better idea of how much aquatic creatures are exposed.

"Is it a red alert that these things should be banned? I don't think so," Belden said. "Is it an alert that we need to do a lot more research relatively quickly to figure out what's going on? I do think that."

There is little information from manufacturers on how much is applied to crops. But all signs suggest that fungicides are now in vogue.

With an estimated $8-billion global market in 2005, before the recent surge, industry experts now predict $21 billion worth of fungicides will be sold annually by 2017.

Spraying of soybean crops quadrupled between 2002 and 2006 in an effort to fight Asian Soybean Rust, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Rust is a windblown disease that attacks soybean leaves, causing lesions and eventually killing the plant.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=b5b7e9f1b3cb24d6233580afc79711c4

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7 Ways to Add Curb Appeal to Your Home ? Key West Real Estate ...

Unlike how the saying goes about books, you can judge a house by its cover ? and people do. Whether you?re selling your house or just want to make the outside a little more attractive, adding curb appeal is one of the easiest ways to add value to your home. Consider your exterior as a way to invite people into your home. If someone drives by your house and sees drab, overgrown bushes and a scuffed up door, then they?ll be less likely to be interested in coming inside. Make the exterior of your home clean, well maintained, and fabulous with these seven tips!

Clean Up Your Home?s Exterior

Nothing screams ?go away? like a front yard filled with leaves, lawn debris, rusty lawn equipment, or toys strewn throughout. Rake up all leaves, roll up garden hoses, get rid of any garbage, and find places for toys and equipment. By doing this, your yard will already look fabulous!

Flowerbeds

Bright coleus decorates the walk of this Washington Street house.

Rid all flowerbeds of any weeds,? or dead plants. Till the soil and add new topsoil now? ? and every year in order to maintain a uniform, clear-cut appearance. If you prefer the look, add new mulch to your plant beds every year. Not a gardener? Not all flowerbeds need to have flowers in them! In fact, the heat of Key West summers limits your choices of blooms in traditional flower beds ? to add color to your beds, consider heat hardy choices such as Crown of Thorns, Portulaca, Gaillardia or Salvia. Use colorful coleus or even small crotons as an alternative to flowers.

Remove Overgrown Shrubbery

If you haven?t paid attention to the landscaping lately, consider removing old overbearing shrubbery. Your shrubbery should enhance the architecture of your home, not hide it! Cut down old leggy bushes -? aralia is often used to create a quick growing hedge, but once it?s leggy it is very unattractive. Trim mango and avocado and other fruit trees.

Focus on the? Front Door

Whether it?s getting a whole new door altogether or just adding a fresh coat of paint, the front door of a home acts as the focal piece.The front door is also a great place to be trendy. For example, light tiffany blue and salmon are both colors that are in style this year. Why not try painting your door one of these colors? Both of these colors look great with either the white siding of historic Old Town homes. Give trendiness a try!

Accents, Accessories and Art

Accessorizing your outdoors is one of the most exciting parts of adding curb appeal. While traditional wreaths are not what you expect to see on a subtropical island, a wreath made of seashells lends itself to the island theme; or dried starfish hung against each casement window. If you have a large porch or front yard, add a bench or Adirondack chairs! Accessorize either seating arrangement with cute pillows that compliment the entire color scheme of your exterior like this Newton Street home.

Adirondack furniture painted to match the house colors, colorful crotons just inside the wall match the cushions.

The banana leaf pattern of the stained glass door mirrors the palm fronds along the picket fence and the wood sculpture is complemented by natural wood Colonial shutters on this Meadows home.

Add Blinds

Yes, window blinds are primarily about the interior design of the home. However, because you can see window treatments from the curb, they still have a big impact on the exterior appeal of your home. Adding Venetian slatted blinds will not only keep the sun out but is in keeping with the tropical look to your home from the outside. The larger 2 inch slatted blinds are the traditional choice in Key West ? usually in white but sometimes in natural wood.

Potted Plants

Potted Plants or topiaries are both great ways to bring a little bit of dimension to your front porch! Place either two topiaries or flowerpots on either side of your front door for a classic symmetrical look. If you have stairs leading up to your front porch, try adding a flowerpot on every other step to add appeal.

The indigo blue is repeated on the screened door, the ceramic pots and the flowering vine. Even the cat's eyes are blue!

Crows on the roof and railing of this Old Town home reveal the owner's sense of humor.

Don?t be afraid of color ? or whimsy! It?s Key West.

Barbara Johnson is an experienced real estate agent who enjoys finding her clients the perfect home by helping them see its potential. In addition, she shares her home improvement and gardening tips with others through blogging. Barbara?s love for home improvement blossomed at a young age as she helped her family of plumbers in Edmonton assist clients throughout Canada. She loves frequenting her local farmer?s market and hopes to become a better gardener.

Source: http://rudymolinet.com/keywestrealestatenews/7-ways-to-add-curb-appeal-to-your-home/

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Richard III 'discovery' was reported in 1935, too

findmypast.com

In 1935, the Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald reported the discovery of a skeleton thought to be Richard III's.

By Stephanie Pappas
LiveScience

A September 1935 article heralding the potential discovery of the bones of King Richard III is among the haul of newspaper articles newly digitized by a genealogy website.

The project, collaboration between findmypast.com and the British Library, is an effort to scan 50 million pages of newsprint from more than 200 years of history. Of course, history has proven the Richard III article mistaken ? the likely discovery of the king's real bones was just announced Feb. 4 in Leicester, England ? but the find illustrates the long history of fascination with the dead monarch, who ruled for only two years.

"We look at something that happened 100 years ago, and it can be happening today ? of course a different version of it," said Joshua Taylor, the lead geneaologist at findmypast.com.

The false Richard
The Richard III article appears in the Sept. 7, 1935, issue of the Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald. It reports the discovery of a leaden coffin and skeleton at the ruins of the church of St. Mary in Leicester. [See Images of the Historical Articles]

"This has a receding forehead and projecting jaw, attributes of King Richard," the article quotes Mr. L.W. Kershaw, the principal of Leicester Technical College.

Northcliffe Media Ltd, courtesy The British Library Board

A 1934 article datelined Birmingham, Ala., tells of an elephant theft.

The skeleton, however, would prove not to belong to the king, who died in battle in 1485. University of Leicester researchers, using modern bone and DNA analysis, announced recently that a skeleton unearthed in late 2012 beneath a Leicester parking lot is almost certainly Richard III's. The skeleton has scoliosis and battle wounds matching historical accounts of the king, and DNA analysis links the bones to two living descendents of Richard III.

The Richard III article is just one of many historical oddities rediscovered during the digitization process, Taylor told LiveScience. The team is about two years into a 10-year project and has already converted 65 million articles into digital format, working at a rate of 8,000 pages of newsprint per day. Huge scanners are used to capture digital images of the delicate old newspapers, Taylor said.

Weird history
Among the amusing headlines of yesteryear was one 1934 Daily Mail shocker, "Drunk In Charge Of An ? Elephant." Datelined Birmingham, Ala., the news brief describes an alleged elephant theft. The purloined pachyderm was discovered with the alleged thief drunk and passed out on her back.

Another Daily Mail article, this one dating to 1924, tells a suspiciously too-good-to-be-true tale of mathematician Albert Einstein arguing with a Berlin tramcar conductor over correct change and being proved wrong.

The newspapers also reveal more substantial history, such as the spread of influenza epidemics, Taylor said. As the flu reached communities, articles, death notices and ads hawking cures sprung up in local papers.

"You can trace the epidemics as they come into the town," Taylor said. "You trace people passing away and how it's being spread and how doctors are treating it."

The newspapers are searchable by keyword at findmypast.com, though a subscription or one-time fee is needed to see complete scans.

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

Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/11/16929386-richard-iii-discovery-was-reported-in-1935-too?lite

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How will church handle a living ex-pope?

The resignation of Benedict XVI raises a conundrum not faced by the Catholic Church for centuries: How do you handle a still living ex-pope?

For the entire 2,000 year history of the Church, the accepted orthodoxy has been for a pope to rule until he dies. A select group of cardinals then get together in a secretive conclave and a successor is chosen, in a clean break from the past.

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All that has been turned on its head by Benedict?s surprise resignation, the first in the papacy since 1415. It raises a potential difficulty for the Vatican ? that even after his retirement, he could become a lightning rod for dissatisfaction and dissent with his successor, whoever that might be.

IN RETIREMENT, POPE WILL PUBLISH

The Catholic Church has faced painful schisms throughout its history, in which rival claims to the Seat of St. Peter resulted in competing papacies. In 1415, Pope Gregory XII stepped down in an attempt to end just such a schism, when two rival claimants set themselves up in opposing cities ? Pisa in Italy and Avignon in southern France ? precipitating one of the Church?s gravest crises.

When Benedict formally resigns on the evening of Feb. 28, he will be taken probably by helicopter to Castel Gandolfo, the traditional summer retreat of popes, in the hills outside Rome. The 85-year-old is expected to remain there for 15 to 20 days, until the conclave of around 120 cardinals drawn from around the world gathers at the Vatican and elects a new pontiff. Benedict will then take up residence in a cloistered monastery within the Vatican City State. His title at that point? Unclear.

Inevitably he will run into his successor and will still be in daily touch with cardinals and other influential figures within the Holy See. Not only that but, according to the Vatican spokesman, Benedict will continue to write and publish treatises and essays ? he is a noted theologian who recently completed a trilogy on the life of Christ.

That could produce a situation where the former pope says one thing on an important matter, while his successor says something different.

?Traditionally popes have not resigned because there is this question of what do you do with two popes,? says John Thavis, an American who has covered the Vatican for 30 years and recently wrote an insider?s account of the Holy See ? ?The Vatican Diaries.?

?What should be the role of a former pope ? does he have to stay quiet for the rest of his life? What if he speaks up and disagrees with his successor? You then have the prospect of the Church effectively having two popes.?

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Benedict has never been regarded as a power-hungry political player and will probably embrace a return to a quiet life of study and prayer.

?I don?t think he will deliberately upstage or contradict his successor,? says Mr Thavis. ?But he?s not going to be behind a wall of silence. If I was the new pope, I would be paying attention to whatever he writes about.?

VATICAN: NO CONFUSION

The Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, said there was no prospect of a schism in the Church and dismissed ideas that Benedict would attract a rival support base or interfere in papal affairs.

?We have no fears of this kind,? he told a packed press conference at the Vatican. ?He will renounce the post, so there will be nothing to discuss. There will be no confusion, or division.?

In St. Peter?s Square, however, tourists and Catholic faithful were not so sure it would be quite so easy.

?To have an ex-pope who is still alive, even if they are in not very good health, is unprecedented as I understand it,? says Daniel Benedyk from London. ?I don?t know how the Vatican will deal with that.?

There was collective disbelief about the news of the resignation among people strolling in front of St. Peter?s Basilica under gray winter skies.

"It was a huge surprise to me,? says Wolfgang Schnapel, a priest from Benedict's home region of Bavaria. ?I only heard when my mother called me from Germany. I think it would be nice if the next pope came from Africa or Latin America. And he should definitely be younger than Benedict was.?

Flora Joseph, a nun from Tanzania, says: "It's very difficult to accept. I have been saying to myself 'why is he leaving, why doesn't he want to continue?' But he is an old man and he has so many appointments and meetings. I guess he just has no energy left anymore."

Nicola Signorile, a businessman from Bari in southern Italy, said he was deeply saddened by the announcement, speculating that the pope must be very ill ?although the Vatican has given no indication he has health problems. "If he has made this choice, it must be for a very good reason."

Only a handful of Benedict?s closest confidantes knew that he had made the decision to resign, including Tarcisio Bertone, who as Vatican secretary of state is effectively prime minister of the tiny city state, Georg Ganswein, the pope?s private secretary, and Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the head of the College of Cardinals.

The papacy had seemed to many Italians like the one remaining constant in their lives after having been buffeted in the last few years by earthquakes, floods, the fall of Silvio Berlusconi, and the imposition of tough austerity measures by his successor, Mario Monti. The economy is in a deep recession and politics in turmoil ahead of a general election on Feb. 24-25.

?I can?t believe it ? first the government is about to end, now it?s the papacy that?s in trouble,? says Marco, a taxi driver. ?Everything is falling apart. I?ll be sad to see Benedict go. He was a bit cold and German, but he was a decent man.?

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/catholic-church-handle-living-ex-pope-205900619.html

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Uganda seeks to deport Briton linked to 'gay play'

Isaac Kasamani / AFP - Getty Images, file

British theater producer David Cecil waves from a court cell in Kampala on Sept. 13, 2012 after being arrested for staging a play about a gay man.

By Philippa Croome, Reuters

KAMPALA ? Ugandan authorities said on Monday they plan to deport a British theater producer who was charged last year with staging a play about homosexuality.

Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda and David Cecil, 35, was charged with disobeying a public official last September after ignoring official orders to cancel a theater production with a gay leading character.

---

A court dropped the charges against him last month due to lack of evidence. Cecil, who denied being a gay rights activist, would have faced two to four years in jail if convicted.

Even so, "the process of removing him from the country is on," Uganda's director for immigration, Godfrey Sasagah, told Reuters on Monday.

"He's going to be removed from the country ... this was a decision that was taken by the minister (of internal affairs) ... and we have prepared the relevant papers."

British High Commission spokesperson Chris Ward said it was aware of Cecil's detention and providing him with "consular assistance."

Fridah Mutesi, one of Cecil's lawyers and a gay rights activist, told Reuters she would file an appeal against deportation in the high court this week. Mutesi said Ugandan officials had not allowed the lawyers to see the grounds for the deportation.

"We're in the process of challenging the whole deportation,'' she said. "If they're relying on the previous case, that case was dismissed."

Florence Kebirungi, Cecil's partner, said he was arrested at her business premises in the capital, Kampala, on Wednesday, and that immigration officers have told her to book him a ticket out of the country.

She said Cecil was being held in a Kampala prison that wasn't allowing visitors over the weekend, and that his phone has been switched off.

Cecil had planned to stay in Kampala, where he helps Kebirungi run a cultural centre that stages plays and concerts.

He had applied for a work permit which was being processed, and had planned to take the contested play, The River and the Mountain, on tour including to Kenya, South Africa and Washington, Kebirungi said.

Uganda's commissioner for immigration and legal services, Josephine Ekwang, said the country's immigration act allows the deportation of any foreigner "declared by the government as an undesirable immigrant."

Countries including the United States have criticised an anti-homosexuality bill currently before the Ugandan parliament.

The bill seeks to impose jail terms of up to life imprisonment for some homosexual activities. Germany cut off aid to Uganda late last year citing the bill as one of its concerns.

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Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/11/16929841-uganda-seeks-to-deport-briton-linked-to-gay-play?lite

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iOS 6.1.1 rolling out for the iPhone 4S

Well, iOS 6.1 is still pretty young, but 6.1.1 is already hitting the airwaves. At least for some iPhone 4S owners that is. We've been able to confirm availability of the upgrade on multiple 4S handsets, but have not seen it yet on an iPod touch or any other iPhone model. The notification screen does specifically call out the update as fixing issues relating to "cellular performance and reliability" on the iPhone 4S, so it's quite likely the update will be for that device only. While better signal reliability would be a welcome upgrade, the bug we've heard the most complaints about is the seriously diminished battery life under 6.1. Unfortunately the pseudo-changelog that appears alongside the update make no mention of improved longevity. Other tweaks rumored to be landing with this version, including better Maps support in Japan, will have to wait for a future release like 6.2.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Apple

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Work Stress Unlikely to Cause Cancer | Psych Central News

By Janice Wood Associate News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on February 9, 2013

Work-related stress is not linked to the development of colorectal, lung, breast or prostate cancers, according to a new study.

Around 90 percent of cancers are linked to environmental exposure, according to the research, which notes that while some exposures are well-recognized, such as UV radiation and smoking, others, including psychological factors such as stress, are not.

However, stress can cause chronic inflammation, which has been shown to have a role in the development of cancer, the researchers said, adding that stressed individuals are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol and be obese ? all of which are cancer risk factors.

Only a few studies have examined the association between work-related stress and cancer risk and these had unclear conclusions, according to researchers from the IPD-Work Consortium, led by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and University College London. That led them to carry out a meta-analysis of 12 studies involving 116,000 participants aged 17 to 70, from Finland, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and the UK.

According to the researchers, psychological stress at work was assessed using a validated measure, job strain. Job strain was categorized into high strain job (high demands and low control), active job (high demands and high control), passive job (low demands and low control), and low strain job (low demands and high control).

Data on cancer was obtained from national cancer or death registries and hospitalization registries.

Rates were adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic position, smoking, alcohol intake and BMI. Those with a BMI under 15 or over 50 were excluded from the study, according to the researchers.

Results showed that 5,765 of 116,056 participants ? or 5 percent ? developed some form of cancer in the average 12-year follow-up.

Researchers conclude that the meta-analysis provided ?no evidence for an association between job strain and overall cancer risk? suggesting that work-related psychological stress is unlikely to be an important factor for cancer.

They also suggest that many of the previously reported associations may have been chance findings or influenced by possible unmeasured common causes of stress and cancer, for example, shift work.

Source: British Medical Journal

?
Man holding his head because of stress photo by shutterstock.

APA Reference
Wood, J. (2013). Work Stress Unlikely to Cause Cancer. Psych Central. Retrieved on February 10, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/02/09/work-stress-unlikely-to-cause-cancer/51399.html

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Source: http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/02/09/work-stress-unlikely-to-cause-cancer/51399.html

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AP Photos: Grammy Awards feature plenty of skin

Jennifer Lopez arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Jennifer Lopez arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Katy Perry arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Miranda Lambert arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Rihanna arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Taylor Swift arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? A warning not to show too much skin didn't seem to deter the stars out Sunday for the Grammy Awards.

Jennifer Lopez was among those showing off thigh-high ? or higher ? openings in their dresses. Katy Perry showed down-to-there cleavage in a seafoam gown.

CBS put out a memo earlier in the week asking that "buttocks and female breasts are adequately covered" for the televised award show. The memo sent out Wednesday also warned against "see-through clothing," exposure of "the genital region" and said that "thong type costumes are problematic."

"As you can see, I read the memo," Lopez joked as she took the stage.

Miranda Lambert revealed some leg on the red carpet and laughed about the guidelines.

"I thought it was funny," she said. "Country music has never really been a problem with that."

Singer-songwriter Skylar Grey let out an "oops!" when asked about it. "I had to show the side boob," she said. "What are they gonna do, kick me off?"

Andrew Dost of fun. said he read the memo, "but all we wanted to do is go as classy and timeless as possible." Bandmate Jack Antonoff joked that he was "showing off a lot of ankle" going sockless with high pants.

Rihanna seemed to get the memo: The usually provocative star covered up in an elegant red gown. Taylor Swift wore a prim gold metallic floral cocktail dress by Jenny Packham to the pre-telecast awards before changing into something a bit more revealing for the red carpet. Beyonce wore a modest pantsuit. All three won early awards.

"I think it's just, you know, we should always stay classy and dress according to the event that's being held," Ashanti said. "So I don't think people should be limited so much and told what you can and cannot do. But, you know, you do have to have a certain class and prestige about yourself."

Even she, though, revealed a fair amount of leg and cleavage. Hey, this isn't the Oscars.

Comedian Kathy Griffin joked about the fashion warning.

"I'm here to watch all the pomp and circumstance," she said. "You want to see a lack of underwear. I'm open to all the forbidden parts."

___

AP reporter Beth Harris contributed to this report.

__

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A son of Africa returns long-lost treasures

Courtesy of William Holland

Cameroonians marvel over an 18th-century slave shackle that was brought to Africa for a "history lesson" by African-American businessman William Holland, at far left.

By Alan Boyle, Science Editor, NBC News

Decades after they were taken away, African ceremonial masks have been returned to the communities that venerated them, thanks to an African-American family researcher who bought them through eBay.

Georgia businessman William Holland, who has been tracing his roots in West Africa for more than a decade, carried the three masks back with him last month during his latest trek to Cameroon. That's not all he was carrying: Holland also brought relics from the mid-18th century ? the time?when his ancestor was taken from Cameroon, loaded onto a ship, brought to Virginia and sold into slavery.

The masks made a big impression on the hundreds of Cameroonians who gathered for Holland's show-and-tell session. But the slave chains made an even bigger impression.

"When we brought the shackles out, that's when they were about to cry," he said. "They were shocked to see an authentic item that brought so much pain along with it."

---

Holland's frequent trips to Cameroon's Oku and Nso regions have been a learning experience for him as well as for his long-lost cousins. It took years for Holland to narrow down his approximate place of origin, based on DNA tests as well as a study of American and African pedigrees. Along the way, Holland found out that one of his ancestors was a slave who was pressed into service in the Confederate Army, and that more distant ancestors were members of royal families in Cameroon.

During the buildup to his latest trip, Holland combed through online auction sales, looking for artifacts that could help bridge the gap between the African and American history of his family. He worked with Cameroonian contacts to identify two elephant masks that were associated with the Nso people's secret rituals, plus a wooden mask with a human visage that was used by Oku families during funerals.

The masks were sold out of Africa in the 1970s or 1980s under murky circumstances, and eventually ended up in private hands. "It's almost the same thing as the slave trade," Holland observed. "Outsiders go to a middleman and ask them to get something or someone for them. 'I'm giving you guns, I'm giving you cowrie shells, I'm giving you iron bars. Bring me the people to fill this ship, and I'll give you this.' That's what it reminded me of."

Holland spent hundreds of dollars of his own money to buy the masks, as well as other items such as throwing knives, the wrist and ankle shackles and a "monkey wrench quilt"?? a type of quilt that slaves used to signal each other that it was time to wrap up their tools and get ready for an escape. Then he headed for the Cameroonian towns of Kumbo, Bamenda and Oku.

Courtesy of William Holland

The Fon of Nso, leader of one of Cameroon's tribal groups, looks on as his aides examine a Cameroonian throwing knife that was purchased on eBay. Some of the aides are looking at a photo of a statue of Ngonnso that was taken from Cameroon to Berlin before 1910. Cameroonian authorities are seeking the statue's return.

Courtesy of William Holland

William Holland, left, gets his picture taken with Cameroonian Prime Minister Philemon Yunji Yang and Emmanuel Motika, a physics teacher from the Cameroonian town of Bamenda who is an extremely distant relative of Holland.

"It's more than just bringing things back," he explained. "It's a history lesson about those who were taken away during the slave trade. The Cameroonians didn't receive this information in school."

Holland's trip caused a sensation in Cameroon: More than 1,000 townspeople turned out to see the American who was bringing their treasures back. In Cameroon's capital, Yaounde, Holland met the prime minister. Journalists clamored for interviews. "It was crazy," Holland said. "It was a media circus."

The chiefs of the Nso and Oku peoples, who are known as "fons," joined up to give Holland a title that combines two honored names: "Shufaay," a title that is typically given to the Nso noble next in line to the king; and "Bailack," which recognizes Holland's connection to a patriarch who came to Oku from Nso centuries ago. "No Nso son or daughter is allowed to shake hands with a Shufaay again, if they are not of the same status," Holland said. "This goes back to the ancient way of doing things."?

All the attention was great ??but for Holland, the most important result of the trip was the restoration of pieces of African history to their rightful places. Authorities in Kumbo are building a cultural museum that will eventually house the elephant masks and other Nso artifacts. And family members in the Oku region now have the funerary mask they were missing when their loved ones passed away.

The Fon of Oku drew a lesson from Holland's round of eBay diplomacy?? a lesson that's particularly timely for the month of February, recognized in the United States as Black History Month. "He was telling people not to sell these precious things from our society," Holland recalled. "This is wrong. No matter how much money they offer, do not sell."

Holland is already planning his next trip, to the Cameroonian city of Buea in May. He'll be taking over some new history lessons to his ancestral homeland, but he's also hoping to bring back some business: Holland is planning to start up a travel business to put other African-Americans in touch with their roots, and the Africa Travel Association's annual congress in Buea seems like the perfect place for networking.

"I guess you'd call it 'historical tourism,'" Holland said. "Cameroon is really an untapped market for that."

Previous chapters in the African saga:

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Alan Boyle is NBCNews.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's?Facebook page, following?@b0yle on Twitter?and adding the?Cosmic Log page?to your Google+ presence. To keep up with Cosmic Log as well as NBCNews.com's other stories about science and space, sign up for the Tech & Science newsletter, delivered to your email in-box every weekday. You can also check out?"The Case for Pluto,"?my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.

Source: http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/08/16900779-a-son-of-africa-returns-long-lost-tribal-treasures-to-the-land-of-his-ancestors?lite

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Uggs? Ugh. N.Y. Fashion Week battles the elements

NEW YORK (AP) ? Mother Nature is clearly not a fashionista.

A blizzard forced Michael Kors to arrive at New York Fashion Week's "Project Runway" show on Friday in ? gasp ? Uggs.

"I came in looking like Pam Anderson," he joked backstage, where the offending boots had been traded for tasteful black leather.

Marc Jacobs postponed his Monday night show until Thursday, citing delivery problems, but for the most part Fashion Week went on with the show. IMG Fashion said organizers remained in contact with city officials, including the mayor's office, about potential weather problems but had planned for an extra layer of tenting for the venue and more heat at Lincoln Center, along with crews to help with snow and ice.

Zac Posen said he would present his collection as usual on Sunday but he worried that out-of-town editors and retailers might not be able to make it. Other designers were considering Plan B ? adding an Internet stream ? to accommodate guests who couldn't make it to their shows.

Still, plenty of fashion fans wouldn't let a little snow get in the way. Baltimore college student Carmen Green arrived in a red cocktail dress and black high-heel booties.

"In this outfit, the blizzard did not deter me," she said. She did allow that she only had to cross the street from her hotel and would change into combat boots for the train ride home.

Alyssa Montemurro, 22, works for a website that covers models. She was wearing four-inch heels and left the boots at home. Why?

"I am 5-foot-3 on a good day," she said, "and when you're interviewing models backstage it's best to be somewhere near their face level."

The celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch offered a blizzard pro tip.

"You either come in warm and comfortable clothes and boots or you come in neon ? or sequins would be a good one ? so they see you in the drift," he said.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week wraps up Feb. 14, when the industry moves on to London, Milan and Paris.

JASON WU

Wu's collection was all woman. Not girlie. Not mannish. That was by design.

"I wanted to bring back the woman to the runway," he said backstage.

The clothes were full of strength, with exaggerated shoulders and some military touches, but chiffon pleats floated down the runway. Two outfits were long ? as in floor-length ? pleated, peplum tops over tuxedo pants, the perfect yin and yang.

Red that offset the mostly black-and-white combinations was the va-va-voom. Use of the color both here and on Michelle Obama's inaugural gown last month was not a coincidence. Wu started on the collection in October and the gown ? for which he received plenty of congratulations and accolades ? was designed in November.

"Certainly red was on my mind. ... I felt it was right for right now," he said.

RAG & BONE

Outside, there was sleet, snow and slush. But inside at the Rag & Bone show, one could find at least a temporary solution to the winter storm: Hot mulled wine to ease the chill, and some fun, colorful clothes.

Designers Marcus Wainwright and David Neville were interested in pops of bright color ? like mineral green and grape ? and in a more overtly masculine style. "We referenced men's silhouettes a lot more than usual this time," Wainwright said.

On the other hand, the collection was full of flirty quilted miniskirts, too, giving it a feminine accent along with the structured jackets and coats. A grape-colored crochet mini was a typically fun look, as was an orange bomber skirt paired with a long coat, also in grape.

There were lots of soft sweaters, too, like a charcoal "funnel sweater" paired with a crochet skirt of the same color. A charcoal sweater-coat looked deliciously big and warm ? one envied the model who got to wear it on such a cold evening.

PROJECT RUNWAY

The rivalry stayed on the catwalk when new judge, Zac Posen, met previous judge, Michael Kors.

Kors, acting as a guest panelist, Posen, Heidi Klum and Nina Garcia were one big happy family when they took their seats to watch the collections of this season's contestants. (Kors and Klum joked they've spent so much time together over the years that they now look like brother and sister.)

"I didn't call Zac with any tips before he started. He knows what he's doing," Kors said. "I knew I was leaving it in very capable hands."

Chiming in, Posen added: "I had 10 seasons to watch Michael, and I had been a guest judge with him. I'm sure I learned a few things."

The show is the godmother of fashion reality TV, now in its 11th season. It was time for a change, said Klum, who is an executive producer.

The other new wrinkle this go-around is that the contestants have been working in teams ? and they are not necessarily happy about it, Klum said.

CARMEN MARC VALVO

Valvo's tell-tale heart drew him to Edgar Allan Poe for inspiration.

"I was thinking long, lean, moody and dark," the designer said backstage. "Edgar Allan Poe. Creatures of the night. With a little rock 'n' roll, too."

The show featured some stunning gowns in ivory, grape and merlot, but most creations were in black. Valvo said he was so taken with black this season that he almost did the entire collection in it. "It really makes you focus on the structure and the detailing, to make sure each dress is different," he explained.

The show opened with what seemed a perfect nod to the stormy weather: An embroidered trench with patent leather squares, all in black.

Actress Nichole Galicia, who appears in "Django Unchained," especially loved a couple of gowns in flowing ivory ? but was partial to the black lacy gowns, too. "I'm doing some mental shopping here," quipped the actress, who wore Valvo to a recent event honoring "Django" director Quentin Tarantino. "I'm still looking for an Oscar dress."

EDUN

There's something new on the Edun runway this season: the Y chromosome.

The theme for fall is youth culture, and the label founded by U2 rocker Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson, decided to showcase men's clothes with equal emphasis.

"We've been making men's clothes for so long, but a lot of people didn't know that," Hewson said. "It's great to bring men's looks to the fore."

The look was strong and simple for the men: big black biker jackets, with fitted black jeans. On the women's side, many of the looks ? from jackets to tops to dresses ? featured little silver chains.

But not too thick, emphasized the label's designer, Sharon Wauchob.

"I didn't want it to be too aggressive and tough," she said backstage of the chain detailing. "It's always a very careful balance between expressing femininity and expressing a strong identity."

HELMUT LANG

The Lang label went cubist, Picasso style.

The show in a funky downtown space was dubbed "Assemblage," for the many geometric dresses, skirts and coats combining a range of fabrics and textures.

But this Picasso, as interpreted by creative directors Nicole and Michael Colovos, was near-absent color, sticking mostly to shades of black, white and nude. Hints of bright yellow and blue broke through in some looks for fall.

The show was influenced, according to its notes, by an exhibition called Picasso Black and White, along with the work of Richard Prince in his book, "Prince/Picasso," which turns an eye on the nude female form ala the Spanish painter.

The Lang designers used a rubber-treated fabric for a raised effect. Some pieces combined leather, pressed felt, wool, pony and silk. The pony theme was carried into high-heel boots and pumps.

___

Jocelyn Noveck and Leanne Italie in New York contributed to this report.

___

Follow Samantha Critchell on Twitter at http://twitter.com/AP_Fashion

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uggs-ugh-ny-fashion-week-battles-elements-154327665.html

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Experimental gene therapy treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy offers hope for youngster

Feb. 7, 2013 ? Jacob Rutt is a bright 11-year-old who likes to draw detailed maps in his spare time. But the budding geographer has a hard time with physical skills most children take for granted ? running and climbing trees are beyond him, and even walking can be difficult. He was diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy known as Duchenne when he was two years old.

Clinical trials participant Jacob Rutt talks with research coordinator Erica Goude during one of his visits to Sacramento.

The disease affects about 1 in 3,500 newborns ? mostly boys ? worldwide. It usually becomes apparent in early childhood, as weakened skeletal muscles cause delays in milestones such as sitting and walking. Children usually become wheelchair-dependent during their teens. As heart muscle is increasingly affected, the disease becomes life threatening and many patients die from heart failure in their 20s.

Today, Jacob is one of 51 children participating in a nationwide clinical trial for a new type treatment that could offer help to those suffering from devastating neuromuscular disease. Clinical researchers at UC Davis Medical Center and a handful other research centers around the nation are testing a high-tech drug designed to fix the underlying genetic defect causing the progressive muscular decline that is seen in children with Duchenne.

"This type of genetic therapy is the most exciting treatment approach I have witnessed in my career for Duchenne muscular dystrophy," said Craig McDonald, professor and chair of the Department of Physical Medicine Rehabilitation at UC Davis, as well as principal investigator of the national clinical trial that Jacob is participating in. "We are hopeful that it will delay many of the disease's manifestations and ultimately improve life expectancy for patients."

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is caused by genetic mutations in the gene for the muscle protein dystrophin. The protein is a stabilizer that protects muscle fibers; without enough functional dystrophin, muscles become damaged, causing them to weaken and deteriorate over time.

Functioning a bit like a bridge over a dangerous chasm, the experimental drug -- known as drisapersen -- is designed to effectively cover over the specific genetic mutation, allowing the problem area to be skipped and causing cells to produce a slightly shorter -- but functional -- dystrophin protein.

Because Duchenne muscular dystrophy is rare and the drug addresses only a small subset of the genetic variants responsible for the disease, recruiting qualified patients was not easy. Of the medical centers involved in the study, UC Davis, with its highly regarded neuromuscular disease and physical medicine and rehabilitation expertise, enrolled the largest group of patients in the nation. For more than a year, its eight young participants, including Jacob, have been to Sacramento from as far away as Colorado, Utah and Arizona. For each participant, the clinical trial involved weekly injections, which meant Jacob had to fly from Southern California to the UC Davis clinic every Friday for 24 weeks.

"I've never seen such a complicated study in terms of logistics," said Erica Goude, who serves as the research coordinator at the UC Davis site. "We're collaborating closely with departments of pediatrics, cardiology, radiology and several others, and their outstanding commitment to the project has made our tasks much easier and more efficient. This study is an amazing team effort that I see frequently reflected in the smiles of our patients and their families."

The study also entails extensive physical testing to monitor each participant's progress over time. To assess each child's physical abilities and progress, participants complete a six-minute walking test specifically designed and validated by a UC Davis team that included McDonald and Erik Henricson, a UC Davis muscular dystrophy researcher. The six-minute test is now used worldwide in all ambulatory clinical trials for Duchenne. Investigators also measure muscle strength and the level of dystrophin in the participants' muscles -- the latter results obtained through muscle biopsies at several times during study. Of particular interest to the research teams are the residual effects of the drug several weeks after the injection series is completed.

Although McDonald says it is too early to draw conclusions from the current clinical trial, he suggests there is reason to be optimistic based on animal studies and evidence from another clinical trial in Europe. In that trial, patients and study investigators knew which patients were actually taking the experimental drug, meaning it was an "open" study. The current U.S. study is more rigorous because doctors and families are "blinded" about which drug regimen each participant has ? either one of two dosages of the drug or a placebo ? until the end of the study.

According to McDonald, the antisense oligonucleotide-mediated genetic therapy approach is particularly exciting because of its potential applications to most other variants of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other genetic diseases. Although the current experimental therapy specifically addresses mutations in only one particular region of the gene, the same therapeutic concept can be applied to many others.

"If successful, this approach can be developed into specific gene therapy that represents truly personalized medicine," said McDonald. "Covering a mutation to restore a normal genetic open reading frame for protein synthesis can be a powerful approach for a variety of genetic diseases."

Standardizing the drug as a therapy for Duchenne patients still requires approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Investigators say the therapy could be similar to insulin injections for diabetes. But rather than daily injections, the Duchenne treatment might only involve weekly shots, which youngsters could learn to administer on their own.

Now that the clinical trial is closed at UC Davis to new enrollees, McDonald and his study team are completing the protocol for each participant and analyzing the resulting data. They expect results sometime in late 2013 or 2014 once all the participants around the country have completed the trial.

In the meantime, even though no one knows whether Jacob received the genetic therapy drug or a placebo, his family is feeling good about being in a clinical trial. According to Jacob's dad, Timothy Rutt, the family even hopes to use some of its new frequent flyer miles for upcoming vacations.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of California - Davis Health System.

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/Pm6gzYgAqY8/130207172106.htm

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Hunt for ex-cop goes on amid Calif. snowstorm

A San Bernardino County Sheriff SWAT team returns to the command post at Bear Mountain near Big Bear Lake, Calif. after searching for Christopher Jordan Dorner on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Search conditions have been hampered by a heavy winter storm in the area. Dorner, a former Los Angeles police officer, is accused of carrying out a killing spree?because he felt he was unfairly fired from his job. (AP Photo/Pool, The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Will Lester)

A San Bernardino County Sheriff SWAT team returns to the command post at Bear Mountain near Big Bear Lake, Calif. after searching for Christopher Jordan Dorner on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Search conditions have been hampered by a heavy winter storm in the area. Dorner, a former Los Angeles police officer, is accused of carrying out a killing spree?because he felt he was unfairly fired from his job. (AP Photo/Pool, The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Will Lester)

A San Bernardino County Sheriff SWAT team returns to the command post at Bear Mountain near Big Bear Lake, Calif. after searching for Christopher Jordan Dorner on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Search conditions have been hampered by a heavy winter storm in the area. Dorner, a former Los Angeles police officer, is accused of carrying out a killing spree?because he felt he was unfairly fired from his job. (AP Photo/Pool, The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Will Lester)

This undated photo released by the Los Angeles Police Department shows suspect Christopher Dorner, a former Los Angeles officer. Dorner, who was fired from the LAPD in 2008 for making false statements, is linked to a weekend killing in which one of the victims was the daughter of a former police captain who had represented him during the disciplinary hearing. Authorities believe Dorner opened fire early Thursday on police in cities east of Los Angeles, killing an officer and wounding another. Police issued a statewide "officer safety warning" and police were sent to protect people named in the posting that was believed to be written by Dorner. (AP Photo/Los Angeles Police Department)

A San Bernardino County Sheriff SWAT team returns to the command post at Bear Mountain near Big Bear Lake, Calif. after searching for Christopher Jordan Dorner on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Search conditions have been hampered by a heavy winter storm in the area. Dorner, a former Los Angeles police officer, is accused of carrying out a killing spree?because he felt he was unfairly fired from his job. (AP Photo/Pool, The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Will Lester)

Members on the California Highway Patrol search a truck for Christopher Dorner, a former Los Angeles police officer accused of carrying out a killing spree because he felt he was unfairly fired from his job, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, in Big Bear Lake, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (AP) ? All that was left were footprints leading away from Christopher Dorner's burned-out pickup truck, and an enormous, snow-covered mountain where he could be hiding among the skiers, hundreds of cabins and dense woods.

More than 100 officers, including SWAT teams, were driven in glass-enclosed snow machines and armored personnel carriers to hunt for the former Los Angeles police officer suspected of going on a deadly rampage to get back at those he blamed for ending his police career.

With bloodhounds in tow, officers went door to door as snow fell, aware to the reality they could be walking into a trap set by the well-trained former Navy reservist who knows their tactics and strategies as well as they do.

"The bad guy is out there, he has a certain time on you, and a distance. How do you close that?" asked T. Gregory Hall, a retired tactical supervisor for a special emergency response team for the Pennsylvania State Police.

"The bottom line is, when he decides that he is going to make a stand, the operators are in great jeopardy," Hall said.

As authorities weathered heavy snow and freezing temperatures in the mountains, thousands of heavily armed police remained on the lookout throughout California, Nevada, Arizona and northern Mexico.

Police said officers still were guarding more than 40 people mentioned as targets in a rant they said Dorner posted on Facebook. He vowed to use "every bit of small arms training, demolition, ordinance and survival training I've been given" to bring "warfare" to the LAPD and its families.

At noon, police and U.S. Marshals accompanied by computer forensics specialists served a search warrant on his mother's house in the Orange County city of La Palma. Dorner's mother and sister were there at the time, and a police spokesman said they were cooperating.

The manhunt had Southern California residents on edge. Unconfirmed sightings were reported near Barstow, about 60 miles north of the mountain search, at Point Loma base near San Diego and in downtown Los Angeles.

Some law enforcement officials speculated that he appeared to be everywhere and nowhere, and that he was trying to spread out their resources.

For the time being, their focus was on the mountains 80 miles east of Los Angeles ? a snowy wilderness, filled with deep canyons, thick forests and jagged peaks, that creates peril as much for Dorner as the officers hunting him. Bad weather grounded helicopters with heat-sensing technology.

After the discovery of his truck Thursday afternoon, SWAT teams in camouflage started scouring the mountains.

As officers worked through the night, a storm blew in, possibly covering the trail of tracks that had led them away from his truck but offering the possibility of new trails to follow.

"The snow is great for tracking folks as well as looking at each individual cabin to see if there's any signs of forced entry," said San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon.

The small army has the advantage of strength in numbers and access to resources, such as special weapons, to bring him in.

"We're prepared to use our expertise in terms of special weapons and tactics to address any threat that he poses," LAPD Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese said. "We're working with other agencies ... to make sure we take the advantage of our side as much as we can."

In his online rant, Dorner sprinkled in military and police parlance, seemingly baiting authorities.

"Any threat assessments you generate will be useless," it read. "This is simple. I know your TTP's (techniques, tactics, and procedures) and PPR's (pre-planned response). I will mitigate any of your attempts at preservation."

Without the numbers that authorities have, Dorner will likely rely on the element of surprise, experts said.

"He doesn't even have to stand and fight," Hall said. "He makes his shot of opportunity and flees."

It's an advantage that Dorner is well aware of. In his posting, he wrote: "I have the strength and benefits of being unpredictable, unconventional, and unforgiving. Do not waste your time with briefs and tabletops.

"Whatever pre-planned responses you have established for a scenario like me, shelve it," he said.

Authorities said they do not know how long Dorner has been planning the rampage. It's not clear if he is familiar with the area, or has provisions, clothing or weapons stockpiled in the area. Even with training, days of cold and snow can be punishing.

"Unless he is an expert in living in the California mountains in this time of year, he is going to be hurting," said former Navy SEAL Clint Sparks, who now works in tactical training and security. "Cold is a huge stress factor.

"If he is not prepared to wait that out, or he hasn't done it before, not everybody is survivor-man," Sparks said.

Jamie Usera, an attorney in Salem, Ore., who befriended Dorner when they were students and football teammates at Southern Utah University, said he introduced him to the outdoors. Originally from Alaska, Usera said, he taught Dorner about hunting and other outdoor activities.

"Of all the people I hung out with in college, he is the last guy I would have expected to be in this kind of situation," Usera, who had lost touch with Dorner is recent years, told the Los Angeles Times.

Others saw Dorner differently. Court documents obtained by The Associated Press on Friday show an ex-girlfriend of Dorner's called him "severely emotionally and mentally disturbed" after the two split in 2006.

Dorner served in the Navy, earning a rifle marksman ribbon and pistol expert medal. He was assigned to a naval undersea warfare unit and various aviation training units, according to military records. He took leave from the LAPD for a six-month deployment to Bahrain in 2006 and 2007.

Last Friday was his last day with the Navy and also the day CNN's Anderson Cooper received a package that contained a note on it that read, in part, "I never lied." A coin typically given out as a souvenir by the LAPD police chief was also in the package, riddled with bullet holes.

Police believe that indicates some level of pre planning.

On Sunday, police say Dorner shot and killed a couple in a parking garage at their condominium in Irvine. The woman was the daughter of a retired police captain who had represented Dorner in the disciplinary proceedings that led to his firing.

Dorner wrote in his manifesto that he believed the retired captain had represented the interests of the department over his.

Hours after authorities identified Dorner as a suspect in the double murder, police believe Dorner shot and grazed an officer in Corona and then used a rifle to ambush two Riverside police officers early Thursday, killing one and seriously wounding the other.

The incident led police to believe he was armed with multiple weapons, including an assault-type rifle. That detail concerned officers whose bullet-proof vests can be penetrated by such high-powered weapons, Albanese said.

As a result, all LAPD officers have been required to work in pairs to ensure "a greater likelihood of coming out on top if there is an ambush," Albanese said. "We have no officers alone right now."

In Big Bear Lake on Friday, residents were buzzing about the manhunt but went about their usual routine. Jackie Holohan, who runs a vacation rental company, said visitors weren't dissuaded from coming to the mountain resort despite the intensive manhunt.

"The only ones who have called want to make sure if they can get up the mountain," Holohan said.

Law enforcement officials, meanwhile, said they will continue to search for Dorner through the weekend in Big Bear. They were also inspecting his truck for clues and were following up on multiple theories, including whether he intentionally left it there.

"Here's the bottom line, we don't know," Albanese said.

___

Associated Press writers contributing to this report include Jeff Wilson, Bob Jablon, Michael Blood, Shaya Tayefe Mohajer, Linda Deutsch and John Antczak in Los Angeles, Ken Ritter in Las Vegas, and Elliot Spagat and Julie Watson in San Diego.

Risling reported from Big Bear Lake and Abdollah reported from Los Angeles. She can be reached on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LATams

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-08-LA%20Police%20Shootings/id-bc0f65641bd140b99f27cddd111182b8

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The Key To A Better Life Through Self Improvement - ProjectPB ...

Thousands of Americans of all ages would like to become better at something or improve upon one of their personal qualities. Some people want to advance in their personal lives, while others want to advance in their careers. The article is filled with advice for anyone looking to work on some form of self improvement.

One of the most important elements of personal development is taking proper care of your health. When you feel good physically, you feel better mentally and emotionally too. When your health is good you think wisely and make good decisions. You also save money on medical expenses. You?ll often find that making one healthy choice leads to another, helping you to continue to improve your healthy lifestyle.

Never underestimate the power of humility. You can begin making small changes in your health, business and personal relationships. You still have so much to learn and discover. Remain open to any opportunities the world presents to you. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish and learn when your mind is open to new things.

TIP! Track your progress better through proper organization. Try a system that allows you to break each goal down into very small components.

Having a strong sense of self discipline, can really help you excel in achieving your self improvement goals. It is important that you refine your sense of control over physical urges. Beat bad habits like gluttony, jealousy, lust or greed. You will not develop any life long addictions that will compromise your health in a physical or mental fashion.

Learn what others have done that has made them successful. The most obvious way to avoid pitfalls in both career and personal matters is to know what those pitfalls are and find out how other people avoided them. By learning from the experiences of others, you help yourself.

Perhaps you have set high goals for yourself and keep failing to attain them. If this is the case, it is a good idea to stop and think why. You can take time to research your goals, and see how others have achieved the same accomplishments. It?s possible your goals are too lofty, you?re missing a step along the way, or you?re just not putting the resources necessary into meeting your goal.

TIP! Consider your personal character attributes when determining what you want to change. Your aesthetics can be changed quicker than your personality can! Clothes and looks are no reflection of the true personality of person.

The worst way to deal with a situation is by overreacting. This will cause you unneeded and unnecessary stress. Learn how to cope with stress, and be sure to analyze the situation carefully. Mistakes can usually be fixed and are a natural part of the learning process. See the glass as half-full rather than half-empty.

Everyone makes mistakes, especially when it comes to following a healthy diet. Try to do better next time, and don?t worry about that cheesecake you had last night. Today is a new day.

Use your core principles to guide you as you begin to take action. Everyone has values and beliefs in which they hold dear. You will be able to feel proud of yourself if you do not make compromises and follow your values. Sticking to your beliefs will also provide your life with greater consistency in every aspect, making life more manageable and you more admirable.

TIP! See what is in the way between your success and you. Figuring this out is daunting for most people.

Don?t waste too much money on comfort items. If you practice something you like instead of shopping, you will not spend a lot of money and get into debt.

Try to be the best that you can be. You should always want to be the best you can be. It?s not often that we can take the top spot at something, but we can at least drive ourselves to inspire others. Try boosting your worth inside your field so that you can boost your self-esteem as well.

If you hope to advance your state of knowledge regarding personal development, it can help to show a little humility. Realizing that you are but a small part of the bigger picture will potentially open your mind to attaining new insights. You will make dramatic progress in your self improvement once you accept that you still have a lot to learn and become eager to experience all the new things you can.

TIP! Maximize your time for personal development to help you get more done. Something you can do is to increase the amount of short breaks you take throughout the workday.

Find goals that are reasonable, and try to accomplish them to live a good life. If you can identify weaknesses, you can improve on them and yourself.

Start organizing your life. If you are able to organize your life, you will feel more confident and more accomplished. Additionally, your life will be less stressful because you no longer have to deal with disorganization. Being able to find whatever you are looking for is an amazing feeling.

Always think before you act and when you do act, do so in a modest way. Keep an open mind and learn from new situations you encounter. You should also learn to recognize the elements you cannot change. If you have humility, it will be easier for you to understand your limits. Wisdom can help you make better decisions for your future.

TIP! Stress can greatly interfere with your mood. You are harming yourself mentally and physically when there is too much stress in your life.

Eliminate unnecessary stress from your daily life. If you overreact to a situation, you simply increase your stress, which is unnecessary and undesirable. Know that things go wrong in people?s lives and you should find a way to deal with these instances.

Identify which things in life are the most important to you, then focus on obtaining and maintaining them. Many peoples? focus tends to wander to negative things and worries. Check in with yourself and focus on the things that are positive. The result will be much greater inner calm and peace.

Do you drink too often? Do you use tobacco products or any other harmful things? Your body should be treated with the respect it deserves. Eliminating bad habits is important if you wish to improve your life. Take an honest inventory of your life to see where you can make improvements.

TIP! One new trait that is being researched and is very important to develop is known as sexual capitol. This doesn?t mean you need to use your sexuality as a means of getting the results you desire.

Read several highly-rated books on self improvement. You could well derive some great, life-changing ideas from the right books in the field. Pay attention to reviews when you pick a self-help book. The genre has some poorly-written books in it; however, you want one that has proven useful to other readers.

In terms of self improvement, the experience of failure may feel disheartening and decrease self esteem. What you need to realize is that failures can be used as a learning experience. Failure is just one more way to become cognizant of your weaknesses and strengths. Look at it this way, failing us helpful in showing you the person underneath everything.

Getting healthy is a major factor of personal development. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle not only includes watching what you eat and working out but also being able to stay motivated to do so. When your health is an important aspect of your lifestyle, it will lead to general overall well being and will help you feel good about yourself in every area of your life.

TIP! Knowing what you want out of life and how to get there are great tools for personal development. You need to set some goals for the long haul; they can put things into perspective.

A lot of folks have the desire to improve aspects of their existence, but are not sure how to initiate something. This article will give you many ideas to get going, though keep in mind that only you can make a change. If you ever feel your motivation levels start to slack, reread the tips here to help you get going again.

Blue widgets are something that you have probably been researching lately. We hope that you now know much more than you did before, and can put your knowledge to use. There is always more that you can find out about Goal Setting if you keep looking.

Source: http://www.projectpb.net/blog/index.php/personal_development/the-key-to-a-better-life-through-self-improvement/

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Agency says no connection with Florida clinic

SEATTLE (AP) ? The agents who represent Seattle Mariners catcher Jesus Montero and Toronto outfielder Melky Cabrera say no one at their agency has ever heard of or knows anyone at the Florida anti-aging clinic currently under investigation by Major League Baseball.

In a statement Wednesday, Sam and Seth Levinson say no one at their agency, ACES, had ever heard of Anthony Bosch until his name surfaced in news reports recently.

The New York Daily News reported Wednesday that Montero is named in records from Biogenesis of America LLC. The Miami New Times recently released clinic documents that purportedly linked Cabrera, Alex Rodriguez, Gio Gonzalez and other players to purchases of banned drugs from the now-closed anti-aging center.

"Anyone who knows us, knows that it is absolutely ridiculous to think that we would ever condone the use of performance enhancing drugs," the Levinsons said. "We are not involved and do not have any knowledge as to what took place or who was allegedly involved."

Cabrera was suspended for 50 games last year following a positive test for testosterone. A consultant to ACES, Juan Nunez, took responsibility for fabricating a website that Cabrera was intending to rely on in the union's grievance to overturn the suspension. An investigation by the players' association concluded the Levinsons didn't know about the scheme but failed to properly manage the employees of the firm who tried to carry it out.

The Levinsons said Nunez stopped working for ACES as soon as they learned of the scheme last summer. They also represent Gio Gonzalez and Nelson Cruz; Gonzalez has denied the allegations on Twitter and Cruz has denied them through a lawyer.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-02-06-BBA-Mariners-Montero/id-c6e18c5a5eee467eae9b678551bbba05

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