Friday, August 31, 2012

Residential Decks: Just What They Are and Just What They're Made Of











As the years pass, there might come a time when every little thing in your home will begin to look dull. The exception, naturally, being your family. After a while, you just can not stand certain parts of the home anymore and simply would prefer some changes.

These modifications might either be the renovation or replacement of existing elements like windows, roof coverings, sidings, and nearby landscapes. Different spaces in the house might also be redesigned or constructed, such as bedrooms, washrooms, and kitchens. Additional projects may consist of swimming pool, patio area, outside kitchen, or fence and deck makeover or construction.

Nevertheless, all these modifications require the required monetary resources or they may simply add up to your disappointments each time you return home. On the other hand, you do not need to make these changes all at once? you could concentrate on one task at a time, beginning with the home improvement project that can supply you with the most feasible perks. For those wanting to provide their residence a remarkable makeover, pools, patios, and decks can be redesigned or added to the home.

In many states in New England, such as Maryland, where cool weather conditions normally reign, a deck can be a positive addition to the house framework. Decks Maryland residents like are those constructed from wood or composite wood? the latter patronized for being long lasting and inexpensive. On the other hand, these materials require some maintenance; wood decks commonly have to be sealed, which will certainly safeguard their durability and integrity for a number of years.

While a deck might offer that remarkable result, a Maryland roofing expert can also conduct improvements on your roof covering to provide it the essential curb appeal, which will raise your property's worth. By employing a qualified contractor supported by trustworthy suppliers and highly experienced installation employees, you can not fail in your choice of roofing materials. A new deck and a new roof can make your residence stick out in the neighborhood.

Regardless of which Maryland home improvement project you could prefer to undertake, you can always count on the right specialists to address your demands. For even more information on the topic, please visit the following web site, servicemagic.com/article.center.Home-Additions.21.html.

For more details, search Decks Maryland, Maryland roofing, and Maryland home improvement in Google for related information.

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Haredi Students To Get Tablet Computers, Mobile Devices ...

Man holding tablet computerTwo haredi school networks, Ma'ayan HaChinuch HaTorani and the Shuvo, have agreed to join the technology program, which is sponsored by Israel?s Ministry of Education.

Man holding tablet computer

Haredi Students To Get Tablet Computers, Mobile Devices
Shmarya Rosenberg ??FailedMessiah.com

For the first time, haredi students will reportedly study using personal computers, tablets and other mobile devices.

Two haredi school networks, Ma'ayan HaChinuch HaTorani and the Shuvo, have agreed to join the technology program, which is sponsored by Israel?s Ministry of Education, Ynet reports.

The program, however, will be specially modified for the haredi students. Websites haredi rabbis object to will be blocked, and other changes will be made.

Animated characters that are considered to be immodestly dressed? by haredi leaders will be replaced or removed. Other animated characters will be redrawn to conform with the haredi dress code ? including adding a yarmulke to the male characters and replacing shorts or pants worn by some female characters with a dress.

Evolution and related subjects will be stripped from the electronic curriculum, as well. So will subjects that call into question haredi norms of marriage and family life, among other changes.

Computers, the Internet and especially mobile computing devices and smart phones have until now been considered to be ?abominations? by haredi leaders.

About 200 haredi schools will now participate in the program.

Source: http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2012/08/haredi-students-to-get-tablet-computers-mobile-devices-567.html

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Moscow's Hotel Metropol up for auction

MOSCOW (AP) ? Michael Jackson slept there. Vladimir Lenin harangued Bolsheviks there. Over the past century, the Hotel Metropol has seen the extremes of Russian life, from austere revolutionary fervor to flashy pop indulgence.

Now, at a starting price of 8.7 billion rubles ($272 million), the hotel is up for sale Thursday, auctioned off by the Moscow city government as part of its privatization program. That's expected to go higher ? in steps of 435 million rubles ($13.6 million) ? and where it will stop is anybody's guess.

"It's hard to tell what's justified" as a final price, said Tatiana Tikova, the director of the valuation department at the Colliers real estate brokerage in Moscow.

Officials haven't released the names of the prospective bidders, but news reports say Azimut and Khorston, two major Russian hotel chains, are expected to be among them.

Moscow, with a perpetual shortage of hotel rooms and a business culture that adores ostentation, is an attractive market for high-end hoteliers and the Metropol offers plenty of curb-flash.

Situated catty-corner from the Bolshoi Theater and an easy stroll from Red Square, the location is prime for any guest who wants to feel in the very center of the city's heaving action.

It's one of Moscow's most distinctive buildings as well, a cheery Art Nouveau confection in a city where buildings mostly seem to glower. Although at six stories it's one of the city center's more low-rise structures, it stands out with sinuous curves, friezes of women en deshabille and bands of brightly colored majolica tiles. Several elaborate mosaics top the building, the most noted being Mikhail Vrubel's "Princess of Dreams," showing a dying knight sailing through a crashing sea to a vision of his beloved.

Then, there's the historical cachet. When it opened in 1901, it was a paragon of Russians' growing prosperity and confidence, but 17 years later took on a far different role. When Bolsheviks decided to move their government from St. Petersburg to Moscow, the hotel was appropriated to become the Second House of the Soviets.

A large plaque on the exterior notes that in 1918-19, Lenin "many times gave reports and speeches at sessions and party congresses" in the hotel and chatted there with members of the "prodotryad," armed squads of workers who forcefully appropriated food from the bourgeoisie. Another plaque commemorates a 1921 meeting in the hotel that resulted in a friendship agreement with Mongolia.

In the chaos of World War II, the Metropol became home and office for almost all the foreign journalists allowed to work in the USSR. "Gloomy and cavernous, Mother Metropol was like a college fraternity house" during that time, Whitman Bassow wrote in his book "The Moscow Correspondents."

The auction winner will get all that, but won't get the hotel's elaborate array of antique furnishings and paintings. How much of that might be available for separate purchase is unclear. Natalya Bocharova, head of the city property department, said this month that an array of objects from the hotel will be turned over to museums.

The furnishings are a major part of the hotel's appeal. Jackson, during a 1993 stay, reportedly was so enamored with a lamp featuring a bear figure that he agitated unsuccessfully to buy it.

Despite its storied history and reputation, hotel review websites suggest the Metropol's rooms often are in need of spiffing up. Tikova said privatization should ensure the hotel gets an upgrade.

"It allows for more efficient management, it allows timely renovations," she said.

___

Oleg Yuriyev in Moscow contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/moscows-hotel-metropol-auction-064139281--finance.html

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Computer systems And Technology: Mobile Computing Article Class

Surgical know-how graduates are non-licensed, however individual hospitals, surgical procedure facilities and healthcare supplier networks may have their own standards for hiring. Apprenticeships and on the job training may be provided before a current graduate is entrusted to the working room on their own.

As corporations move to new expertise solutions and platforms, how IT operations are conducted immediately may change dramatically throughout the next three years. Units will evolve to run the increasing variety of cell functions being developed. A new cell architecture anticipated in the coming years will affect not only IT operations, but a companys core operations.

Tone IVR is taken into account low-cost to put in however compared to the speech IVR and other strategies of communication with potential customers. With this technology, it is not detailed and entails providing an easy Yes or No reply to the caller.

Whirlpool sixth sense know-how lets you take advantage of special sensors to continuously monitor and robotically regulate the efficiency of your kitchen home equipment, offering excellent results and important resource savings.

A new company called Leap Motion wants to make all those motion controllers look archaic. It claims its movement controller, which you can plug into any USB port in your laptop, is 200 instances more sensitive than current gesture based contextlinks1.

Regardless of how effectively you think your IT programs are being protected, somebody could possibly receive your personal, personal, and enterprise information. The answer is easy however. By using technology like encryption, firewalls, and anti-virus packages, you possibly can maintain your data secure.

So how can reseller organizations revenue from this complex computing technology? Step one is for a corporation?s gross sales crew to completely perceive all aspects of cloud computing. Given the expertise remains to be evolving and many various choices exist, everyone must be on the same page.

One of the vital common methods an extremely skilled and absolutely certified know-how public relations agency can get its message across is through intensive use of radio, tv, and print interviews advocating the various advantages that may be reaped through technological research. Expertise public relations companies have to think twice about their wording, so info might be simply repeated and passed on, allowing their message to get across.

There is more content available about ako email head over to Cornelia J. Bacigalupo?s site there is plenty of points not outlined in this post, take a look at Author?s blog to discover more.


Source: http://blog.thorsrubberhammer.com/2012/08/computer-systems-and-technology-mobile-computing-article-class/

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All You Wanted to Know About Umbrella Liability Auto Insurance ...

The main aim of an Umbrella Liability Auto Insurance is to provide peace of mind to all those who want some additional coverage besides the basic auto coverage that they possess. It is basically designed to cover the policy owner in case the owner is sued by the court and is held responsible for a serious accident. This policy is also referred to as excess coverage or ULI and it helps to pay off the claim amount in case the policy holder is found to be legally involved in some accident.

How Does An Umbrella Liability Policy Work?

Read on to understand how a ULI works and how it can protect you from paying huge damages.

Suppose you own auto insurance coverage with a liability limit of $200,000 per accident and you also possess a ULI with a liability limit of $2 million. Now you are found to be responsible for an auto accident and the court slaps a $300,000 fine on you. In such a case while your auto insurance would shell out $200,000, the rest would be paid by the ULI policy that you own.

What Coverage Is Provided By A Typical ULI?

An Umbrella Liability Insurance policy provides the policy owner with the below mentioned protection:

o Protection for all claims of body injuries or property damages that may be caused due to the policy holder or anyone in the family.
o Personal liability coverage for accidents that happens on or off your property.
o Protection against all claims of defamation, insult, false arrest or illegal eviction.
o The ULI also covers all legal defense costs that include the fee of the lawyers and other associated costs.

The Following Are Not Covered By A ULI

Though Umbrella liability coverage has a huge coverage still there are a few aspects that are not covered by the policy. These are:

o All intentional damages caused to your car or your property.
o Damages due to personal or business pursuits.
o All liability related to recreational vehicles like, aircrafts, airboats or water skis.
o All liability arising due to war or civil disobedience.
o All damages covered under a worker?s compensation policy.

Many of you may still feel that a basic insurance coverage is all that you need, but do keep in mind that a serious auto accident can wipe out all your assets and leave you with nothing. This is the sole reason why you would be suggested a ULI by your agent in most cases. A typical policy can provide you with coverage worth $1 million to $10 million. However, you must see how much premium you can afford and then only go ahead with determining your coverage limit. At the end of it all, you actually have nothing to lose!

Source: http://swiminn6.com/all-you-wanted-to-know-about-umbrella-liability-auto-insurance.html

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Parenting: Pet fish by the pound ? mother allie

?Good morning, Gil. I said, good morning, Gil.?

Ahh, summer carnival season. It?s almost over, but if you?re lucky enough, you have one keepsake or two from that special night you spent with your family. Close your eyes and you can almost smell it. That warm June night where you dropped $85 on nine (9) rides (of dubious construction and unknown operator sobriety), one (1) funnel cake, five (5) chances on the balloon dart game (Beyonce poster, yes!), two (2) orders of cheese fries, a few spins of the wheel at the chuck-a-luck table, and five (5) chances to get a ping pong ball into a vase for a goldfish.

Carnival goldfish. It?s exciting to win ?stuff? at a carnival, but winning a LIVING thing is just the apex of prize winning. You win a soul. I mean, a soul that will probably only live between 6 and 18 hours, that doesn?t feel empathy, that you can?t pet, and that cost the carnival ~$.015?but a soul nonetheless. If the good people who run these carnivals really thought about it, they would sell little ?goldfish starter kits? for $20 right next to the game. (Small tank, canister of food, bag of rocks. Boom.) But, alas, the carnival cooperatives haven?t decided to do this quite yet. You cross your fingers that your goldfish makes it home alive (or not, perhaps) and then you scrounge around in your garage at 11:00 PM trying to find your old tank. Or worse, you grab the big ricotta cheese container you?ve been saving with the rest of your Tupperware (clean, preferably), fill it with water and tell yourself, ?just for tonight.?

Carnival goldfish inevitably enable us to teach our kids about the circle of life. In a way, the carnival people might be providing one of the greatest services to us parents. We get the opportunity to discuss life and death with our kids. Understand care and feeding. Feel love for something that relies on you. Create burial practices, understand loss. Conversely, this ?prize? allows parents to lie and deceive our children by any means possible (another great skill to hone to deflect discussing one of life?s difficult issues) to replace the dead fish with a similar looking one before the kid finds ?the floater.?

When my kids won a goldfish this year at the fair, ONE goldfish, they decided to spend $100 of their birthday money on a 10 gallon tank setup the next day (complete with kitschy ?No Fishing? sign, faux plants, ?deep sea? backsplash, rocks, and the all important filter.) I have to admit, it was kind of cool to have a nice tank after all these years. I thought this new guy had a fighting chance.

If you can keep the fish?or a series of lookalikes?great. You?ve succeeded. However, if you?re like most people, even with a fancy schmancy new fish tank, the fish die and you are left with an empty tank. You can perform an unceremonious flush of the deceased, or have an all out funeral (with eulogy and burial.) I?ve had both and everything in between.

At a certain point, the death of your fish is no longer a sad event for everyone, it?s just annoying. Trip after trip to the pet store to pick up the next round of goldfish becomes onerous. There had to be an easier way.

The last time we went fishing, we caught a lot of bluegill and sunfish. A lot. I usually just let the kids catch them and then release them back into the lake. But I just kept thinking of that empty tank. That sad empty tank. Fast forward two hours to our 10 gallon tank full of 4 inch pan fish. I had just been to LL Bean store and they seemed to be *thriving* in their tanks at the retail location. Well, I never thought I?d say this out loud, but the next day I muttered, ?I really hope that bluegill doesn?t get stuck in the toilet.?

So, what I?ve decided to do now, is to go down to the local bait shop and buy minnows. Yes, minnows. They are pretty hearty, they are active in the tank, and the best part, they are sold?by the pound. I?ve resorted to buying my pets based on weight. It?s come to this.

Thank God I didn?t have to buy my beagle this way.

?Gunner. ?Big boned? like his mom.?

Tags: carnival fish, funny, kids, minnows, parenting, pet fish, pets for kids

Source: http://motherallie.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/parenting-pet-fish-by-the-pound/

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Diamond Multimedia intros GC1000 console-friendly real-time HD video capture device

Diamond Multimedia intros GC1000 consolefriendly realtime HD video capture device

Want to record those epic Modern Warfare shootouts, but don't want to impede your lightning fast reloads? Diamond Multimedia thinks its new GC1000 is just the box your looking for. The USB HDMI video capture device promises to let you preserve, share (via YouTube and Facebook) and edit your finest gaming moments in 1080i with zero lag, thanks to its video pass-through capability. There's also the GC500, which Diamond refers to as a "lite" version of the GC1000. The main difference, it seems, being the lack of HDMI (both do composite and s-video also). If you're jonesing for the full-fat version, then you can lay down $140 for one from today. Don't need HDMI? Then you'll save yourself $70. Scan the PR after the break for retailers.

Continue reading Diamond Multimedia intros GC1000 console-friendly real-time HD video capture device

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Diamond Multimedia intros GC1000 console-friendly real-time HD video capture device originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/7SXouzAtTlA/

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

An underdog's story

An underdog's story

The Nazi have won the war in the west and now they're bringing the warfront to American soil. With the American Army almost in ruin a group of teens decide to start a resistance and try to fight back.

Owner:

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This topic is an Out Of Character part of the roleplay, ?An underdog's story?. Anything posted here will also show up there.

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Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.
This is the auto-generated OOC topic for the roleplay "An underdog's story"

You may edit this first post as you see fit.

User avatar
Centraiu
Member for 1 years



Centraiu, can I reserve The Second in Command for the Rebellion?

Woah!!! Are you saying that a colour inside of a colour is possible?
Yep!
How?
Draw a circle then inside the circle draw a blocked circle.
Uhhh... what?

User avatar
dudedude889
Member for 1 years


That you can. If you can please try to get the character up soon.

User avatar
Centraiu
Member for 1 years


Alright...any character skeleton?

User avatar
dudedude889
Member for 1 years


ahh. I forgot that. Just use mine as a reference.

User avatar
Centraiu
Member for 1 years




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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

McManus & Associates | Bloomberg: ?Romney Tax Returns Show ...

August 28, 2012

Sharing his expert knowledge for an article taking a closer look at the estate planning techniques used by GOP nominee Mitt Romney to minimize taxes and build millions of dollars in wealth, McManus & Associates Founding Principal and Attorney John O. McManus recently spoke with Bloomberg Reporter Margaret Collins.

As noted in the piece, in addition to establishing a family trust in 1995, the Romneys set up a charitable remainder unitrust, or a CRUT, in 1996. Within the article, McManus estimates that:

The Romneys also set up a charitable remainder unitrust in 1996, according to state financial disclosure documents. The trust, also known as a CRUT, moves money out of an estate by donating it to charity and has two additional benefits for the creator, said John O. McManus, principal at the law firm McManus & Associates in New Providence, New Jersey, and New York.

The maker of the trust receives some tax deduction for the value that is expected to go to charity and receives payments from the trust for a set period before the assets transfer, McManus said.

With the help of a variety of estate planning strategies, Mitt and Ann Romney have been able to ?amass at least $100 million for their family outside of their estate.?

Read the whole story here. The team of lawyers at McManus & Associates would be happy to discuss the techniques used by the Romneys and develop a plan to help you protect and build your family?s wealth.

Source: http://mcmanuslegal.com/2012/08/bloomberg-romney-tax-returns-show-strategy-for-moving-money-to-kids/

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Renal denervation treats resistant hypertension in real world patient populations

ScienceDaily (Aug. 27, 2012) ? Renal denervation successfully treats patients with resistant hypertension in real world patient populations, according to a study presented at ESC Congress 2012. The findings were presented by Dr Darren Mylotte from France.

Transcatheter renal denervation represents a novel therapy for treating patients with treatment resistant hypertension, a condition which greatly increases the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke.

"The Symplicity Hypertension I and II studies have suggested that this procedure significantly lowers blood pressure in these patients with few remaining options in terms of treatment," said Dr Mylotte. "However, patients included in clinical trials are often highly selected, and therefore may not reflect the patient encountered by physicians on a day-to-day basis. As such, the results of these trials may not be applicable to less-selected patient populations."

In light of this potential problem, the investigators sought to evaluate the effect of transcatheter renal denervation in a group of patients with resistant hypertension in their own clinical practice at The Institut Cardiovasculaire de Paris Sud, Paris, France.

They intended to perform transcatheter renal denervation on 35 consecutive patients referred to the service with resistant hypertension. The study used the same definition as the Symplicity trials to define resistant hypertension.

Among these patients, 36.5% were female, 36.4% were diabetic, and 15.2% had kidney dysfunction. Baseline office blood pressure (BP) was 181.1?21.9 /100.8?16.8 mmHg, despite an average of 4.6?1.0 medications per patient. Successful bilateral sympathetic denervation was performed in 33 out of 35 patients (1 patient was not treated due to a stenosis of the renal artery; 1 patient had treatment on one side only, as multiple small renal arteries were found on the other side). No procedural complications occurred.

At 6-months follow-up, the average office BP reduction from baseline was 30.3?21.1/14.6?15.3 mmHg (P<0.0001). Similarly, ambulatory BP was reduced 23.3?12.1/10.2?9.9 mmHg from baseline (P<0.001). There were no adverse events during follow-up (death, myocardial infarction, or stroke), and no deterioration in renal function was observed.

"Transcatheter renal denervation is a safe and efficacious treatment, which results in significant reductions in blood pressure in real world patients with treatment resistant hypertension," said Dr Mylotte. "Although longer-term results are required, renal denervation should be considered for all patients with treatment resistant hypertension, as it is likely to lower their blood pressure and reduce their chances of myocardial infarction and stroke."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

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Journal Reference:

  1. Symplicity HTN-2 Investigators, Esler MD, Krum H, Sobotka PA, Schlaich MP, Schmieder RE, B?hm M. Renal sympathetic denervation in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension (The Symplicity HTN-2 Trial). Lancet, 2010;376:1903-1909

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/20UMMDnD2Mc/120827074234.htm

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2016: Obama's America Documentary Rallies the Opposition


The controversial new documentary 2016: Obama's America became a bona fide box office hit over the weekend, grossing $6.3 million and rallying conservatives in the run-up to the Republican National Convention this week in Tampa, Fla.

Dinesh D’Souza and John Sullivan’s film opened last month in just a few theaters, but has now earned over $9 million, tops among documentaries in 2012.

The anti-Barack Obama film offers a speculative, conservative vision of the President's second term, should he win one at the ballot box this November.

Spoiler alert: Said vision is not pretty.

2016: Obama's America has been advertised and promoted heavily on talk radio and was distributed to coincide with this week's Mitt Romney-led convention.

Reactions to the film have been predictably mixed, as the true believers in D’Souza's anti-Obama crusade will be even more fired up ... as will Obama supporters.

Election 2012:

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/08/2016-obamas-america-documentary-rallies-the-opposition/

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Monday, August 27, 2012

'True Blood' finale leaves a big bloody mess

John P. Johnson / HBO

Eric and Sookie watch in shock as Bill dies ... and is reborn.

By Christina Dowling, E! Online

This is it. Season finale time. And if you've been watching "True Blood" for five seasons, you know everything can go to hell in a hand basket in a mere hour. And it sure did. (Spoilers ahead!)

Quick summary: Bill (Stephen Moyer) is a religious nut. Eric (Alexander Skarsgrd) is awesome. But which fan favorite died in the first few minutes?

More from E: Missed last week? Catch up on the big fairies vs. vampire war?

WHAT WE LEARNED?

Goodbye Awesome: R.I.P. Russell Edgington (Denis O'Hare). He was the absolute coolest. Psychotic and power hungry, Russell obviously had to die, but we will miss his perfect speeches and (sometimes) irresistible Southern charm. After some fairy light rays and quick action, Eric finally got his centuries-old vengeance. Eric saves Sookie (Anna Paquin) yet again.?

Father of Fairies: It was only last week that Andy (Chris Bauer) slept with Maurella (Kristina Anapau) and found out that he was going to be a father. In one of the more hilarious ridiculous scenes, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis), Arlene (Carrie Preston) and Holly (Lauren Bowles) are all on hand to witness the miracle of life and Maurella's interesting reaction to birthing and post-labor. Surprise! Andy has four babies and it's the father's job to raise them. Peace out!?

Bill Is the New Lilith: Bill's arc throughout this season has been his path to religious fanaticism. He's slowly and methodically weeded out the competition for top dog in this nuthouse. His final action was poisoning Salome (Valentina Cervi). And if you thought Bill's crazy death explosion was shocking, so was his ascent out of the blood pool.?

HBO

Bill (Stephen Moyer) is reborn.

More from E: 'America's Next Top Model' premieres with crazy coeds?

Shift and Rescue Operation: Adorable puppy Emma needs some rescuing. While Sam (Sam Trammell) tries to appeal to Bill's non-psycho side, Luna (Janina Gavankar) skinwalks into Steve Newlin (Michael McMillian). Good plan, no? No! Steve Newlin is in a bit of hot water for killing some frat boys and has to go on TV to talk himself out of trouble. Meaning Luna does. But remember this shifting into humans is bad for shifters. Season six consequences, y'all.?

Rightful Place: There's a new sheriff in town. Alcide (Joe Manganiello) finally takes his place as pack leader. He's hot and good at making speeches -- he'll definitely do well in his new position. Presuming he doesn't go power hungry like Bill.?

Rewind Moment: After some longing looks and a little banter, Tara (Rutina Wesley) and Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) finally make out. And there was a very brief Pam and Eric reunion. Presuming everyone survives to next season, we need more of our favorite Maker-Progeny. Pam and Eric have been separated far too long this season, it makes us hurt deep in our hearts.?

More from E: Will the 'The Killing' come back from the dead??

ONE-LINERS?

"Well, that felt even better than I thought it would." --Eric?

"If I want to be a fool, then I will be a fool. It's my God-given right as an American." --Jason?

"She's a waitress. A waitress who's saved my life more than once and whose fear vibe very graciously brought me here tonight allowing me to settle an ancient debt. Thank you for that, by the way." --Eric?

"Must all roads lead to f------ Sookie?" --Pam?

More from E: Check out the best moments from 'True Blood's' fifth season?

"That train has already sailed." --Jason

"Who knew that watching an alien give birth could be so comforting?" --Arlene?

"Abjure this." --Alcide?

Did you like this season's crazy finale? Do you think we're all set up for season six? Did they drop the ball on the mysterious other dude after Sookie? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page!

Source: http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2012/08/27/13495583-bill-explodes-in-true-blood-finale?lite

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First Person: Illegal Immigration is the Big Issue in the 2012 Election

Yahoo! News asked voters to pinpoint one single issue they'd like to see addressed at the Republican National Convention. Here are one voter's thoughts.

What other country in the world would allow someone to enter illegally, lay down roots, use the public systems and deplete taxpayer money? I can't think of one. If a law is broken and the person is not punished, what message does that speak to the next offender? In California, we face overcrowded schools, high unemployment and cities filing for bankruptcy -- yet the government turns a blind eye to those that are here illegally taking up classroom seats, jobs and tax payer money?

-- Sarah Guiza, San Jacinto, Calif.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/first-person-illegal-immigration-big-issue-2012-election-160200526.html

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Nutrition tied to improved sperm DNA quality in older men: Healthy micronutrient intake linked to reduced DNA fragmentation

ScienceDaily (Aug. 27, 2012) ? A new study led by scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) found that a healthy intake of micronutrients is strongly associated with improved sperm DNA quality in older men. In younger men, however, a higher intake of micronutrients didn't improve their sperm DNA.

In an analysis of 80 healthy male volunteers between 22 and 80 years of age, the scientists found that men older than 44 who consumed the most vitamin C had 20 percent less sperm DNA damage compared to men older than 44 who consumed the least vitamin C. The same was true for vitamin E, zinc, and folate.

"It appears that consuming more micronutrients such as vitamin C, E, folate and zinc helps turn back the clock for older men. We found that men 44 and older who consumed at least the recommended dietary allowance of certain micronutrients had sperm with a similar amount of DNA damage as the sperm of younger men," says Andy Wyrobek of Berkeley Lab's Life Sciences Division.

"This means that men who are at increased risk of sperm DNA damage because of advancing age can do something about it. They can make sure they get enough vitamins and micronutrients in their diets or through supplements," adds Wyrobek.

Wyrobek conducted the research with a team of researchers that includes Brenda Eskenazi of the University of California at Berkeley's School of Public Health and scientists from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom. They report their findings in the August 27 online issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility.

Their research comes as more men over 35 have children, which raises public health concerns. Previous research conducted in Wyrobek's lab found that the older a man is, the more he's likely to have increased sperm DNA fragmentation, chromosomal rearrangements, and DNA strand damage. Older men are also more likely to have increased frequencies of sperm carrying certain gene mutations, such as those leading to dwarfism. These findings help explain why aging men are less fertile and are predicted to have more chromosomally defective pregnancies and a higher proportion of offspring with genetic defects.

But until now, researchers haven't understood whether diet can protect against the detrimental effects of aging on the sperm genome.

The scientists studied a group of about 80 men between 20 and 80 years old with an average age of 44. They were recruited several years ago as part of the California Age and Genetic Effects on Sperm Study when Wyrobek was at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Each man who participated in the study filled out a 100-item questionnaire that estimated their average daily vitamin intake, both from food and supplements.

In addition, their sperm DNA quality was assessed via a lab analysis in which a voltage gradient pulls broken DNA strands from intact strands within the sperm nucleus.

Each volunteer's intake of a micronutrient was classified as low, moderate, or high based on how they compared to other participants. The median daily intake, both from diet and supplements, was 162 milligrams for vitamin C, 23.7 milligrams for vitamin E, 2,586 micrograms for ?-carotene, 475 grams for folate, and 12.3 milligrams for zinc. Many participants, even those who reported to be healthy, consumed much less than the recommended dietary allowance for many of the micronutrients.

The scientists analyzed the data several ways and came up with the same result each time: A diet high in antioxidants and micronutrients may decrease the risk of producing sperm with DNA damage, especially in older men.

Why this is so isn't a mystery. Antioxidants scavenge reactive molecules that cause oxidative damage to cells. Studies have shown that dietary supplementation with antioxidants and increased consumption of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables can decrease the amount of oxidative DNA damage.

Based on their results, the scientists believe this same protective mechanism may also be at work in the reproductive tract of older men.

"The different response of the old and young men presents new opportunities for health care, especially for older men planning families," says Wyrobek.

More research is needed, however. Although the scientists found a clear link between higher vitamin intake and improved sperm DNA quality in older men, they don't know whether this link extends to male fertility and the health of offspring.

"Our research points to a need for future studies to determine whether increased antioxidant intake in older fathers will improve fertility, reduce risks of genetically defective pregnancies, and result in healthier children," says Wyrobek. "The research also raises a broader question beyond sperm DNA: How might lifestyle factors, including higher intakes of antioxidants and micronutrients, protect somatic as well as germ cells against age-related genomic damage?"

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Thomas E. Schmid, Brenda Eskenazi, Francesco Marchetti, Suzanne Young, Rosana H. Weldon, Adolf Baumgartner, Diana Anderson, Andrew J. Wyrobek. Micronutrients intake is associated?with improved sperm DNA quality in?older men. Fertility and Sterility, 2012; DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.07.1126

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/yAYOTWHQ1C0/120827074843.htm

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Sunday, August 26, 2012

Obama, Aldrin praise 'American hero' Neil Armstrong

President Barack Obama and astronaut Buzz Aldrin led tributes to the famed Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, lauding him as a reluctant but true American hero.

Armstrong, who died from complications following cardiac bypass surgery, was praised for his willingness to embrace and then conquer challenges that had once seemed impossible.

"When he and his fellow crew members lifted off aboard Apollo 11 in 1969, they carried with them the aspirations of an entire nation," said Obama, who was two weeks short of his eighth birthday when the historic mission succeeded.

"They set out to show the world that the American spirit can see beyond what seems unimaginable -- that with enough drive and ingenuity, anything is possible," he added in a statement.

"When Neil stepped foot on the surface of the moon for the first time, he delivered a moment of human achievement that will never be forgotten."

Aldrin, who with Armstrong was watched by an estimated global television audience of 500 million as they gingerly bounced on the moon's surface in their chunky spacesuits, praised his comrade's skill, dedication and selflessness.

"I know I am joined by millions of others in mourning the passing of a true American hero and the best pilot I ever knew," Aldrin said, noting that his thoughts were with Armstrong's devastated but proud family.

"I will miss my friend Neil as I know our fellow citizens and people around the world will miss this foremost aviation and space pioneer."

The third Apollo 11 astronaut -- Michael Collins, the command module pilot who orbited the moon while his crewmates landed -- said Armstrong "was the best, and I will miss him terribly."

Armstrong, a Korean War veteran who was decorated by 17 countries and received a slew of US honors, was never comfortable with the worldwide fame that stemmed from the Apollo 11 mission, and he shied away from the limelight.

"He didn't feel that he should be out huckstering himself," John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth told CNN, recalling Armstrong's legendary humility.

"He was a humble person, and that's the way he remained after his lunar flight, as well as before," the former Ohio senator added.

For the United States, the Apollo 11 mission was a Cold War maneuver, a bid to fulfill the vow made by President John F. Kennedy that NASA could overtake the pioneering Russian space program and put a man on the moon.

And for spellbound audiences around the world, it was also an extraordinary and optimistic voyage of discovery and engineering, whose achievements had a profound effect on space and aviation, said Obama.

"Neil was among the greatest of American heroes -- not just of his time, but of all time," the president said. "Neil's spirit of discovery lives on in all the men and women who have devoted their lives to exploring the unknown."

Obama's Republican challenger for the White House, Mitt Romney, said the space pioneer was an inspiration who now "takes his place in the hall of heroes."

"With courage unmeasured and unbounded love for his country, he walked where man had never walked before," said Romney, who spoke with Armstrong just a few weeks ago. "The moon will miss its first son of Earth."

Republican House Speaker John Boehner said: "A true hero has returned to the heavens to which he once flew."

And US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta bid farewell on behalf of the American military to one of its own.

"As a decorated Korean War veteran, as an astronaut for NASA, and as the first man to walk on the moon, Neil inspired generations of Americans to believe that as a nation we are capable of achieving greatness that only comes with determination, perseverance and hard work," said the Pentagon chief.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Armstrong's death "marks the end of an amazing era in human progress."

"His example of service, accomplishment and modesty... will never die," she added.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-aldrin-praise-american-hero-neil-armstrong-051641543.html

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Standardized Testing - Is it Costing Creativity? - Dad Blunders

When I started elementary school we still had recess, art, music and interaction with our teachers. Kids knew each other and we weren?t afraid about being in school. Our parents could come and pick us up directly from our classrooms without stopping at the office first. I know times have changed, people have changed and our focus on education has changed. I am beginning to question that focus. Schools focus so much on standardized tests I think they have forgotten the true importance of being a child.

Schools standardized testingcan mean empty playgrounds!

School standardized testing is a wonderful thing but at what point do we say enough and remember that creativity and ingenuity are the backbones of our country.?Gawker reported an interesting story today, ?ACT Report only finds 1 in 4 high school graduates actually college-ready.? The ACT is the school standardized testing used in high schools. It shows college readiness across four subjects; science, math, reading and?English. The report, that the ACT released, states that only one?out of four high school graduates are college ready this year.

Schools have changed so much. They fear everything (totally understandable) and accept little from students. They are so hard pressed to meet current standards that they have become out of touch with the world of today. I am from Oklahoma.?Supposedly, I have Oklahoma pride. I can?t say I have that pride when I read about my state being out of touch with the world. Just this week, KJRH out of ?Tulsa reported ?Oklahoma valedictorian?s diploma withheld for cursing?

Kaitlin Nootbaar?referenced?the?popular Twilight movies in her valedictorian speech. In her speech, she spoke about graduating and what she wanted to do with her life after high school. She said, ?How the hell should I know? I?ve changed my mind so many times.? ?It was a reference to the popular movies. The school system didn?t approve and is now withholding her diploma until she writes them a letter of apology.

Schools can make opportunities!!

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Refocus on education

My son is now three-years-old. He will be starting school next year and his future concerns me. Our educational system is focusing more on school standardized testing and less on creativity. I believe creativity is one of our greatest assets. Creativity is what helps us in adulthood find solutions to problems.?Unfortunately, our teachers are hard pressed to even know our children anymore. Many schools across the nation have done away with arts, music and recess. Middle schools and high schools have become nothing more than a holding ground for teens until adulthood. I know standardized testing isn?t the entire problem but it is some of it.

As a father I know, we can?t depend on the schools as the main source of our child?s creativity. Their future success depends on being able to show originality when they are still young. Many parents forget how important it is being creative as a child.

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5 Ways for creativity

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1. Turn off the electronics ? Children spend far too much time in front of the television and video games and need more interactive and creative play.

2. Art supplies ? Get out the crayons, glue, colored paper, glitter, scissors and create something. Ask your child questions about what they are making while they are doing it. Don?t just sit back and watch your child being creative, become creative with them.

3. Hobbies ? Try to include your child in your hobbies, e.g. sports, cars, gardening, cooking and reading. I have enjoyed comic book collecting for a number of a years. I will show my son the comics and read from the comics to him. I will ask him questions about what he sees and what he believes is going to happen (sometimes I think he has a better ending than the comic book does)

4. Make a mess- As adults it?s easy to forget how much fun it is to get messy. Children have to experience some things first hand and that includes messy things. Let them make a mess the next time they ask too. My son recently wanted to finger paint. I got out a big plastic drop cloth and covered the entire kitchen table. We then placed sheets of paper on the table and ?he finger painted himself and the paper.

5. Make believe ? Make it up as you as go along. Creativity is all part of the imagination. If you can visualize it, you can might be able to create it. My son has started telling me what he see?s in clouds. He might see a car or a house. I then will add to it. I find another cloud and tell him what I see. We might even make up a story about it.

I don?t have the answers to change our nation and schools standardized testing policies but all evidence is showing something needs to change.? If we don?t it is possible we will have a lost generation of creativity and ingenuity.Where would we be if we never had another Thomas Edison? I think for now I will continue to work with my son on creativity.

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How do you feel about school standardized testing? Do you think too much emphasize is placed on testing? Does your school system place any emphasize on creativity? Be sure to tell me in the comments.

Be sure to check out Andi-Roo at?TheWorld4Realz?who is writing about a month of controversy in the?A to Z +1 August blogging challenge?with me! Today is the letter ?S? for School Standardized Testing ? Does it work?.

Tags: act report, college readiness, high schools, oklahoma pride, standardized testing

Source: http://www.dadblunders.com/2012/08/26/school-standardized-testing-is-it-costing-creativity/

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On Original Pilipino Music | The Marocharim Experiment

Don Jaucian is disheartened,?pointing us to the grave of Original Pilipino Music. ?On the other hand, Carlo Casas is pissed, telling us that OPM is alive and well (nevermind that Don?s ?an idiot?). ?Three or four tweets later, I find that whatever my thoughts here are better off blogged? at least kicking off from where Rain Contreras started.

Picking up from a conversation I had with Nan Santamaria: without going through a long laundry list of bands and performers, I think Don?s argument should be taken from the position he takes at the very beginning of the article. ?OPM is not defined as anything proudly Philippine made, as with the logos found in everything from tubs of Star margarine to bottles of Silver Swan soy sauce. ??Original Pilipino Music? was a tag used by the Philippine recording industry to promote their products. ?When the ?Manila Sound? faded into the background in the 1970s, record labels used the OPM tag to create that commercial category of tapes and vinyls and CDs of everything from ASIN to APO to Jessa Zaragoza to Nonoy Zuniga. ?That?was OPM.

Yet the debate is not about that?definition. ?Definitions change with time, and ?OPM? ? as a definition ? is no exception. ?To not acknowledge that this trademark or brand has changed over the years to encompass a wide breadth of artists, styles, genres, and niches: everything from the ASF Dancers to Wolfgang. ?Thanks to indie records and digital downloads, OPM is no longer dependent on whether or not someone signs on to STAR Records. ?OPM is no longer dependent on the whims and demands of record executives. ?What we hear on the radio and see at the shelves of Odyssey, maybe. ?What we enjoy in Saguijo or download on Bandcamp, no.

A key point that we can take away from all of this is that the nuances of OPM are too broad and too far-reaching for us to ignore in favor only of our tastes. ?Whether we like it or not, people like Daniel Padilla and P-Pop acts (whatever the heck that is), the ?fossilized? roster of ASAP mainstays like Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano, and talent contest winners like Jovit Baldivino and Marcelito Pomoy breathe life for record producers and labels. ?They are a slice of that big pie called ?Original Pilipino Music? that happens to be more well-funded than indie labels, the slice that has more mall tours, TV shows, and concerts abroad. ?And I don?t know if this is a fault or an advantage or both, but they breathe the necessary sales needed for our record industry to survive.

And then we have the ?indie? bands and performers where ? I think ? so much of this friction is coming from. ?They don?t have many mall tours, TV shows are very rare blessings, and concerts abroad are dreams: what they ?lack? in laminated plaques presented by Kuya Germs, they have in fans who flock to their gigs in everywhere from multi-purpose halls to bars. ?Everything from RomCom to Ang Bandang Shirley to Cambio to Imago is a slice ? probably smaller ? of that bigger pie called ?Original Pilipino Music.? ?The ones who fuel this industry with the necessary creativity and passion that our musical history needs to thrive.

And even the music of the?masa is part of OPM. ?Oh sure, we can thumb our noses down on the next compositions of Lito Camo and Joey de Leon, but they have the songs that the vast majority of our people enjoy. ?They?re the ones who, unlike many of us here, do not have the privilege of listening to OPM beyond tigli-limang piso?videoke and Willie Revillame CDs. ?Those who don?t have the means for the fare and the round of beers at Freedom Bar or Route 196, who would probably like the things we listen to if they have more access to it. ? Do we exclude Fliptop and Bagtikan battle rap sessions and novelty songs from the big OPM playlist? ?I don?t think so. ?(This is for another blog entry altogether, but for anyone who says that Filipino poetry is dead and relegated to a workshop setting: I give you Gloc-9, I give you Roberto Boy Paoz, I give you Mike Kosa.)

Is OPM dead? ?No, it?s not: OPM ? that all-encompassing term for music played by and from the Filipino people ? is here to stay. ?But let this not be a recommendation for stagnation or complacency. ?Just because our definition for OPM has widened doesn?t mean that things should remain as they are. ?If our tastes do not appeal for the same crooning on TV every Sunday afternoon, then we should support the music we like. ?Creativity and passion needs money to thrive, and a well-funded machine needs all the creativity it can get to churn out more products worthy of what we think is OPM.

Some two years ago, I wrote this piece as a reaction to President Aquino?s call to implement Executive Order 255:

I am an avid listener of Pilipino music; if need be, I am here to spread the message and to spread the word about the beauty of our music, and the skill of our artists and the Pilipino music industry in general.? However, our personal tastes and preferences to music are mere suggestions to others who also have their preferences and are willing to listen.? I believe that revitalizing OPM could only happen when it has a strong foundation; if the government would invest in its own radio stations and play OPM.? Especially if it?s the first patron of the industry.? With quality radio stations, with state-of-the-art equipment and experts in operations, we can effectively share to the public the beauty of our songs, and talent of our singers, composers, and lyricists in the music industry; whether they?re just starting out or are legends in the field.

I think it rings true?(so to speak) today. ?And if anything,?that is what we should be debating on.

Source: http://marocharim.com/2012/08/26/on-original-pilipino-music/

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Usher Granted Sole Custody In Finalized Divorce

Singer's divorce from Tameka Foster ends in sole custody of two children Friday (August 24).
By Kara Warner


Usher and his ex-wife Tameka Raymond
Photo: Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1692558/usher-divorce-sole-custody.jhtml

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Saturday, August 25, 2012

Apparently The Purpose Of Copyright: Keeping Our Ancestors ...

One would think that an article written by the CEO of something called the First Amendment Center in Tennessee would have, at the very least, something of a nuanced opinion when it comes to the intersection of copyright and the First Amendment in the digital era. We are constantly hearing about the new ways people are discovering art, and we are hearing about how more and more works are being created while more money is being made by artists. If you're a supporter of ?free expression,? you'd think this would be something to celebrate. Similarly, when you hear of stories of how over-aggressive copyright enforcement is being used to censor speech or shut down criticism, you would think that the head of the ?First Amendment Center? would express concern about the attacks on free speech and the First Amendment.

Well, apparently that's not the case. Meet Ken Paulson, aforementioned CEO of the FAC, who last made an appearance on Techdirt way back in 2009 exhorting the virtues of newspapers over internet news organizations. This time, he's back at USA Today to explain to us all what the real cost of pirating media is, and he does so with the kind of revisionist history and myopic thinking world dictators have long dreamed of harnessing. Take, for instance, the outstanding un-logic of his opening in the article.

Nashville's Craig Carothers is a singer-songwriter whose livelihood depends on concerts and CD sales. Yet sometimes, his biggest fans make that job tougher.

?I've had the experience more than once of having someone come up to me and ? completely pure of heart ? excitedly tell me they bought copies of my CDs when I was last in town and they enjoyed them so much they made copies for 15 or so of their friends,? said Carothers.

There goes the revenue stream.

Let me see if I've got this right. Paying customers express to the artist that they enjoyed his music so much that they chose to introduce 15 of their friends to it, thereby widening the fan-base that can then go on to, oh, I don't know, buy more music, go to concerts, and all the rest?and this is a bad thing? This is the myopia of the hardline anti-sharing crowd: all they can see is that someone listened to some music without paying for it. But so what? Before the sharing occurred, these potential fans/customers ostensibly didn't know who Craig Carothers was! This isn't some devil you have to legislate against; it's your market growing. Even as a song writer, who may not get much of a cut of concert or merchandise sales, this is a can't hurt situation. New people are being introduced to the music and those new customers can then be sold to. You simply don't have to make money on every listen for you to reap the benefits of sharing.

But we aren't done.

Virtually every entertainment and media company has been buffeted by the digital revolution, but the music industry was the first to see major economic consequences and a dramatic shift in the buying habits of a new generation. Despite growth in iTunes and other digital sales, many young people continue to see ?free? as the appropriate price tag on music.

Let's point out a few things here. First, the ?music industry,? and the entertainment industry as a whole,?are doing wonderfully, particularly in a down global economy. Some specific big record labels may be floundering due to the fact that it isn't 1990 anymore, but that isn't the entire music industry. Secondly, it's an interesting method of logic to acknowledge that the most popular platform on which to purchase digital music is growing in sales and then conclude that people just want free music. I may as well use that logic to my own end, so here we go: as I've gotten older, despite the fact that I've gained some weight and worked out less, I'm even more of a man-hunk than before. Doesn't make sense, right? God I wish it did, though.

In any case, the article then wastes some more words-without-logic before admonishing the general public with these little nuggets of shame.

Noah Webster would not have been amused. Primarily known for his early and influential dictionary, Webster campaigned in the 1780s for copyright laws to protect American authors from theft of their content by printers. The printers of the 1780s were not large corporations. They were small shops that made their living largely by stealing the content of books published in Europe. Webster wanted to make sure his work would not be published without compensation.

Sept. 5 marks the 225th anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution's copyright clause. Advocates argued that ensuring authors were paid would encourage literary arts, lead to a body of truly American literature, unify the nation and demonstrate that the U.S. could be a leader in creativity. This notion of building a haven for creative people was so important that it was ratified as part of the Constitution in 1789, two years before ratification of the First Amendment, which gave us freedom of expression.

I love these two paragraphs so, so much, because of how awesomely pitiful they are. First, chiding the general public by holding up Noah Webster, (that's right, history buffs, his first name wasn't Merriam), is pointless because he lived in a time when rifles were less deadly than mosquitoes. Things may just have changed a bit since the 17-freaking-hundreds. Add to that the fact that the purpose of copyright had nothing to do with making the U.S. a leader in ?creativity.? This is pure revisionism. The purpose was to encourage learning. The ?science? in the ?promoting the progress? clause was a synonym for learning, not creativity. That's why the original Copyright Act of 1790 in the US only covered ?maps, charts and books.? Notice something missing? Oh, right: music. So, if we're going to go all the way back to the original intent and all, shouldn't that mean music doesn't get copyright?

Oh, and that talk about printers ?stealing content of books published in Europe,? and the claims that Webster wanted to make sure ?that his work would not be published without compensation,? it's got nothing to do with anything. As we were just discussing, American printers still figured out ways to pay foreign authors, even without copyright. Furthermore, studies have shown that it was the cheap books that American printers were able to make that helped to spread culture and literacy around the US ? which is what we were supposed to be ?encouraging? with copyright law anyway.

Finally, I note that last little bit about how the Constitution's copyright clause was written two years prior to the First Amendment. Maybe someone can help me here, but I cannot fathom any reason for making this point beyond associating some kind of dominant weight to the former because it came before the latter. This is an interesting way to view Constitutional amendments, in that it's completely wrong. By this logic, I mean, yeah we repealed prohibition, but prohibition came first, so we should still have it?or something. Along those same lines, some have argued it's quite reasonable to assume that the later clause, the one promoting free expression, supersedes the earlier clause. Though, the real story is that since copyright was really designed to be narrowly focused on promoting one aspect of learning, it had little conflict with free speech. It's only since (due to exaggerated claims like the ones found in this article) copyright expanded massively, as did the tools of production, that we've created a monster in which nearly every written or recorded thing is covered by copyright that the two have obviously come into conflict.

Obvious, that is, unless you're the apparently oblivious head of the clearly misnamed ?First Amendment Center.?

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Source: http://www.phphosts.org/blog/2012/08/apparently-the-purpose-of-copyright-keeping-our-ancestors-promise-to-noah-webster/

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