Irene Tanner: Leap and the Net Shall Appear: Part Five

At pivotal points in my life, when all avenues for solution to one crisis/dilemma or another seemed closed, a seemingly-random occurrence entered the equation, resolving the situation in such a marvelous way that I can only marvel. I have written four blogs on this subject; there is no guarantee that number five will be the last.

OK, so here I am, well into my golden years, and life keeps on reinventing itself. So I listen to my own advice, follow my leaps of lunacy and expect that trusty net to appear.

It always does -- frequently in the nick of time.

It's been a year since I began writing UniqueU. We (Juan Olmo, my good friend, technical wizard and editor and I), though happy with our reception and readership, pondered on ways to reach a wider audience. Presto! Since last fall I've been blogging about UniqueU for The Huffington Post, and my posts have appeared in the Healthy Living, Culture and Post50 sections -- you don't get better than that! Thank you, HuffPost.

In time there were more than 50 blogs -- enough for a book or blook, to use the latest lingo. The days of finding an agent/traditional publisher are long lost with the advent of the Internet take-over plus new devices for reading. Self-publishing meant entering an arena for which there are risks, expenses and pitfalls. We have insufficient experience to warrant such an undertaking.

You may well ask, "Why venture further, when, at this age I have nothing to prove?" The answer is... to complete my life's purpose and serve as a guide to those in my wake.

Last week I received an unexpected idea. A friend suggested that I would be a good teacher for the Learning Annex here in NYC. The very thought had a ring of authenticity about it -- yes, that's the way to go!

So last Saturday I sent a brief query email asking Learning Annex how to apply to teach a class on positive creative aging -- to be titled UniqueU, of course. I got an immediate reply requesting a paragraph describing the course and another about my background. By Monday morning I was accepted as a premier teacher for a new and expanded program currently in development.

The very ease and speed with which all this occurred is a perfect reflection of how things can flow when all factors are in alignment. There's simplicity about all this complexity that the human mind alone can neither unravel nor understand. The good news is that we don't have to. I have learned to allow life to unfold like the petals of a flower, in its own season and space. When the petals fall, this signals that a new seed is pregnant -- a new blossom is waiting for its moment in the sun.

My new incarnation will continue after a publicity campaign is launched in May. I will keep you informed. In the meantime, here are a few points to keep in mind when processing any problem:

- The river can't be rushed any more than the rose. To quote Eleesha (Twitter: @eleesha), author of "The Soul Whisperer":

This place of joy from
which I came -- contains
the seeds of joy from
which I will grow.

- Don't over-think. Reasoning destroys realization. You may talk yourself out of something wonderful.

- Silence is golden -- unless you have a support system of like-minded travelers as a think tank. Even so, use discretion when incubating precious embryos of inspiration.

- Go with your gut -- your Inner Knowing.

I petition divinity -- I think NEWLY, CLEARLY, TRULY!

(Check out previous blogs on this subject on my UniqueU blogsite):

Leap and the Net Shall Appear: Part One

Leap and the Net Shall Appear: Part Two

Leap and the Net Shall Appear: Part Three

Leap and the Net Shall Appear: Part Four

For more by Irene Tanner, click here.

For more on wisdom, click here.

?

Follow Irene Tanner on Twitter: www.twitter.com/IreneUniqueU

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Orbis, Names of the Latest PlayStation Generation, Equipped with ...

Orbis will reportedly be a name of the next PlayStation generation. The game console is rumored to be equipped with anti-exchange game system.

Orbis will be equipped with a type of detector is embedded into the console, where the detector will prevent a game that was played on another console to play.

To be able to get a new game, users are required to buy it in the form of Blu-ray disc or download it directly via the PlayStation Network. And since Orbis has been equipped with anti-exchange game system, if users choose to buy the game in the form of Blu-ray, then the game will be locked on one PlayStation accounts only, so it is not possible to exchange games with other users.

In addition, Sony also will not provide a way to play PlayStation3 games on the new PlayStation, so all games can be played on Orbis console is a new game that is purchased or downloaded through the PSN network.

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On the Coexistence of Family, Motherhood, and Art | SANDBOX ...

One can either have great art or great life

I?ve spent seven years meditating on this statement, and I always arrive at the same conclusion: it is true.?

It is true because great art and great life both require great sacrifice and, ultimately, every artist will choose whether it is her art or her life which will give way to make the other preeminent.

Twenty years ago, I would easily have given my life for the sake of making great art. I never dreamed of getting married, having children, or working a ?real? job. Creating in the rehearsal room and performing on the stage were the only places I felt at home, the only spaces where I felt alive. My purpose and passion were completely fulfilled in producing art.

But at the age of twenty, I made a life-altering decision (which I will share in a later post)

Nicole, Michael, and Maren

that led to me getting married a year later. It quickly became clear that I needed to focus on my marriage if I wanted it to last. So I walked off the stage for a then-undetermined amount of time that turned into five years of wondering if I would ever have another artistic opportunity.

I?ve now been married for almost twelve years, have a 3-year-old daughter, and am about to give birth to a second child this summer. And I am confident that the sacrifice I made at the beginning was more than worth it. My husband and I counsel couples every year, and I am constantly reminded that great marriages require great effort. I can honestly now say that if I never stepped on stage again, but succeeded as a wife and mother, then I would have no regrets.

Yet, I am somehow, still, an artist. As a member of Sandbox Theatre, I get to participate in making great art. I personally am not great, but because I work with an ensemble, because I rely on the collaborative efforts of a group of artists, I still receive the reward of producing excellent, original, inspiring art.

And I can do all this because I have a husband who is willing to make sacrifices for me. My husband understands that I don?t need to create and perform, but that I love doing it, with this company, towards these ends. Sandbox, too, makes sacrifices for me. Sandbox, too, understands that art is my joy but my family is my life, and that I am unwilling to give up this great life for the sake of art.

So, perhaps, one could say that I am unusually blessed to have both great art and great life, the seemingly impossible coexistence of incredibly difficult realities. And it does require daily sacrifices on many sides, from many people. But I think that this group effort towards greatness, in life and in art, is what makes both so very beautiful. Neither life nor art was ever intended to exist alone.??

-Nicole Devereaux

A?Sandbox ensemble member since 2010, Nicole is the co-project lead for Sandbox?s 2012 production?Beatnik Giselle.

Source: http://www.sandboxtheatreonline.com/family-motherhood-and-art/

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WORLD DEFENSE REVIEW: Choose language Radio Russia World ...

In the end of 2011, Russia and India signed a deal on handing Russia?s Nerpa nuclear submarine to India on a 10-year lease. Now the submarine is on the way to India. Within the Indian Navy the submarine will be given a new name ?Chakra.? The Indian crew of the submarine was trained in the Russian submarine training center. There is also a team of Russian sailors on board of the submarine who could assist the Indian crew if it is necessary.

The multipurpose nuclear submarine was built at a ship building facility in the Far Eastern Primorye region. In the early 2011, the submarine underwent all the required sea trials. Technically, the Nerpa submarine is equal to submarines of such class as the US? ?Los Angeles? submarine, Vice President of the Academy of Geopolitical Studies Konstantin Sivkov says:

"No other submarine in the world can be compared to Nerpa in terms of its technical characteristics. British versions are 2nd generation submarines. France?s Rubis class submarines were built in the early 1970s. Our submarines are 3rd generation submarines or 3 plus to be exact, just like American ones. What about lease prices - here we are beyond competition."

Russia and India raditionally had firm ties in defense industry. The influence of the USSR on the international arena had a significant influence on India and helped it to win independence in 1947. The first weapon system of independent India was made in the USSR. Today the Indian Navy has submarines, aircraft carriers, destroyers and missiles boats which were built at Russian shipping yards and Indian plants are producing tanks and armed vehicles under the Russian license, the Deputy Head of the Institute of political and military analysis Alexander Kramchin says:

"India ranks first in the world in terms of imports of weapons and Russia accounts for more than 70 % of these imports."

At the current arms exhibition in Delhi Russia has received orders for the production of military equipment and weapons for $11 billion. The question is - why do we lease but not sell the nuclear submarine to India? The matter is that the world knows no precedents when a country sold its strategic weapons, Vice President of the Academy of Geopolitical Studies Konstantin Sivkov explains:

"Russia sells aircraft up to the class of a bomber aircraft. As a rule, it does not sell strategic long-range bomber aircraft. For example, we leased out Tu 22M aircraft to India."

As early as 1988 the USSR leased its K-43 nuclear submarine to the Indian Navy. It was a second generation submarine. Indian Navy officers now recall that it was a good school for them. Many of the crew members of the submarine later occupied key posts in the commandment of the Indian Navy. The practical experience gained in the period of K-43 submarine?s lease enabled Indian engineers and designers to make significant progress in their own development of nuclear submarines. According to the Daily Times of India newspaper, in April sea trials of India?s Arihant nuclear submarine Arihant will be conducted and in the early 2013 it is expected to be added to the Indian armed forces. If it happens India will become the sixth state which has nuclear submarines in service.

Source: http://world-defece-review.blogspot.com/2012/03/choose-language-radio-russia-world-news.html

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Therapy Newsletter?s Offers Referral Generating Newsletter for ...

Therapy Newsletter?s Offers Referral Generating Newsletter for Private Practices

Physical Therapy Management

Denville, NJ (PRWEB) March 29, 2012

In a series developed by Therapy Newsletter?s Chhoda, practicing physical therapists can find guidance for developing a corporate wellness program, among other physical therapy business steps, by simply taking advantage of resources currently available to them, he said of his new series.

?By simply conducting some basic research to locate local leads and making the appropriate contact, a practice can increase its revenue by as much as $ 8,000 a month,? he said. ?For example, practitioners should consider starting a group fitness class, which allows therapist to generate more revenue by working less. It also allows the patient to pay less and get better results for better health.

?There is a social support component in group training that is reinforced by accountability. When a patient is a part of a team, it is easier to adhere to an exercise and nutrition program,? he added.

Chhoda focuses on improving physical therapists? practices with educational physical therapy marketing newsletter content for patients, while giving businesses, marketing tips and strategies for therapists to help them connect with their patients and grow their practices.

?Improve your own fitness level and demonstrate health, vitality, energy and motivation to patients,? he said. ?Doing so will build your business and improve your professional image,? Chhoda added. ?When doctors and patients see you as fit and healthy, it?s easy to promote your fitness program. This is the single most important component of a cash-based fitness program ad helps improve the health of your business.?

Therapists can also reach out to their patients with his publication, the Therapy Newsletter. The publication gives private practices a resource for connecting with their patients on an engaging level, and also keeping patients abreast of new medical technologies.

Therapy Newsletter is a helpful marketing tool that boosts word-of-mouth referrals from patients by giving newsworthy information to discuss with friends and colleagues. The program is setup to quickly collect email addresses from patients who visit a practice?s website and also provides free eBooks, which can be accessed after entering basic contact information on the physical therapy website. Twice a month, the therapy newsletter system automatically delivers informative magazine-style messages and information to patients and doctors in a medical community, and the practice does not have to do any of the legwork in generating content or keeping an e-mail list.

Chhoda?s office can be reached by phone at 201-535-4475. For more information, visit his website at http://www.nitin360.com.

ABOUT NITIN CHHODA

Nitin Chhoda is a licensed physical therapist, a doctor of physical therapy, and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. He?s the author of ?Total Activation: The New 5 Step Fitness Mantra? and ?Marketing for Physical Therapy Clinics.? He?s been featured in numerous industry magazines, major radio and broadcast media, and is the founder of Referral Ignition training systems, Private Practice Summit, the Private Practice Formula and the Private Practice Mastermind group. Chhoda speaks extensively throughout the U.S., Canada and Asia. He?s the creator of the Therapy Newsletter, along with Clinical Contact, a web-based service that boosts patient arrival rates

?Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Source: http://loseweightbyexercising.com/therapy-newsletters-offers-referral-generating-newsletter-for-private-practices/

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Climate Activist Tim DeChristopher Out of 'Isolated Confinement' (Rolling Stone)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/210158697?client_source=feed&format=rss

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JetBlue pilot's outburst: Could side effects from medications be at fault?

Federal investigators and JetBlue officials poring over Clayton Osbon's medical records are expected to look for clues as to whether medications, or their side effects, might be an issue.

Side effects from sleep and antidepressant medications ? or perhaps even a nutritional supplement ? are possible areas of investigation as officials probe the mystery of a JetBlue pilot's erratic behavior aboard a flight Tuesday, medical experts say.

Skip to next paragraph

Clayton Osbon, who was charged Wednesday with interfering with a flight crew, a felony, reportedly ran up and down the aisle of the plane shouting about Al Qaeda and declaring the plane was going down, even as passengers struggled to restrain him.

The co-pilot landed the Las Vegas-bound flight safely in Amarillo, Texas. Mr. Osbon was taken, strapped to a stretcher, to a local medical facility and later charged.

Yet the 12-year JetBlue captain had been, prior to this episode, a man whom the company's CEO called a ?consummate professional,? rising within JetBlue's ranks to become an exemplary "flight standards captain." Osbon has been reported by news outlets to have been an even-tempered man on good terms with his neighbors and hobby pilot buddies in his hometown of Richmond Hill, Ga.

So what might have stirred this emotional tornado ? described as a "medical situation" by JetBlue officials ? emerge?

Federal investigators and JetBlue officials poring over Osbon's medical records are expected to look for clues as to whether medications, or their side effects, might be an issue in the case, or whether the incident is attributable to a rare case of psychosis or other mental aberration not previously diagnosed.

Experts unconnected with the investigation say several pharmacological issues under scrutiny within the airline industry are likely to get attention in the Osbon case, including the side effects of medicines that pilots sometimes use to fight fatigue and depression.

Was Osbon, for instance, among those pilots newly permitted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to use one of four specific antidepression medications, whose potential side effects are known to include hallucination and panic attacks?

Use of antidepressants had long been considered cause for grounding a commercial pilot. That changed in April 2010, when the FAA announced it would begin to issue medical certificates, or waivers, on a case-by-case basis to "pilots taking medication for mild to moderate depression." Now, pilots taking Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, or Lexapro under doctors? orders are allowed to fly if they have had successful treatment for 12 months.

"He might have a psychosis or some other underlying illness," says Russell Rayman, a board-certified specialist in aerospace medicine and a former director of the Aerospace Medical Association in Alexandria, Va., an organization of physicians and scientists that conducts research on medicine and the aerospace industry.

"But there's also the possibility that [Osbon] had a reaction to some medication he was taking as a prescription ? or even something he just bought in the drugstore," Dr. Rayman speculates. "All three possibilities have to be investigated. Certainly some medications could trigger a bizarre reaction."

The FAA requires pilots under age 40 to receive physical examinations once a year. Pilots 40 and over must have exams twice a year. As part of the checkup, they must submit all medications they are taking or that have been prescribed by doctors.

Medications related to sleeping problems could have been an issue in this case, some aerospace medical experts say. Osbon typically flew jets out of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. He roomed with several other pilots in a small apartment, according to news reports. With fragmented, often-changing schedules, many pilots develop problems sleeping.

Half of all airline pilots "rarely or never get a good night's sleep on work nights," according to a survey released earlier this month by the National Sleep Foundation, an Arlington, Va., organization of health professionals who study the issue.

Last year, the National Transportation Safety Board, responding to a fatal 2008 charter-jet crash in Minnesota, called for changes in rules dealing with how airline pilots deal with fatigue. Failure of pilots to get a good night's rest, undiagnosed sleep disorders, and unauthorized sleep medications were cited in the case.

If a pilot is prescribed a sleeping medication for regular use, it?s possible the FAA might not recertify him to fly at his next physical exam, some medical experts note.

Medications "for sleep ? they all have psychiatric overhangs," says one senior medical expert with knowledge of federal aviation requirements who requested anonymity. "The FAA won't permit the use of sleep medications because the parade of sleepwalking and crazy things happening the next day is just unbelievable."

Instead, the expert says, the agency has tried to address this by changing the work rules. In 2014, the FAA will require 10 hours of rest (up from eight hours currently) between flight duties, with at least eight hours of sleep.

Another problem is that pilots sometimes "self-medicate" to sleep better, some say. And they may not report that.

"I don't think we really know to what extent pilots are self-medicating for sleep problems because of ?the fear of FAA regulations prohibiting sleep medications," says Sanjay Patel, a specialist in sleep medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and a researcher at Harvard Medical School. "If anything, pilots are more likely to be undertreating insomnia for fear of the FAA restrictions."

Dr. Patel adds, ?It would be very rare for something like [the Osbon case] to happen [because of reactions to sleep medications], but you can't completely rule it out without looking for evidence of drug in the person's system."

Finally, there is the question of nutritional supplements. According to his Twitter account, Osbon, in his spare time, was moonlighting as a "regional director" to help market a nutritional supplement aimed at weight loss. Could he have been affected by it?

"There's so much we just don't know," Rayman says. "People walk into a drugstore and buy what they want ? they're self-medicating. Any of those medications could trigger a bizarre reaction in conflict with one another. And we don't know what kind of dietary supplements he was using, if any. It's something that needs to be checked."

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/R-ukeLQzCH8/JetBlue-pilot-s-outburst-Could-side-effects-from-medications-be-at-fault

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Researchers identify mechanism that makes breast cancer invasive

Amplification of the gene for ErbB2 has been linked with aggressive forms of breast cancer and is associated with a poor outcome. Although ErbB2-positive breast cancers are routinely treated with chemotherapy and the ErbB2-targeted drug trastuzumab (Herceptin), this treatment often fails. "Nearly half of breast cancers with high ErbB2 expression are either initially non-responsive or eventually develop resistance to trastuzumab," explains senior study author, Dr. Tuula Kallunki, from the Danish Cancer Society Research Center. "Therefore, a better understanding of the molecular basis of ErbB2-induced malignancy is critical for further development of targeted treatments."

In the current study, Dr. Kallunki and colleagues discovered that ErbB2 induces expression of proteins called cathepsins. Previous work has linked cathepsins with metastasis of pancreatic cancer, specifically with tumor cell invasion of surrounding tissues and with the establishment of tumor blood supply. Using a three-dimensional model system to study ErbB2-induced cellular invasion, the researchers demonstrated that inhibition of cathepsins prevented ErbB2-driven breast cancer invasion. They went on to identify components of the complex signaling network linking ErbB2 and cathepsin expression with cancer invasiveness.

Taken together, the results demonstrate that the invasive behavior of ErbB2-positive cancer cells is dependent on cathepsin activity and uncover a molecular link between ErbB2 and breast cancer invasion. "Our work has introduced a cellular model system to study ErbB2-induced invasion and identified an invasion-promoting signaling network," concludes Dr. Kallunki. "In addition, our findings provide several potential therapeutic targets against ErbB2-driven invasive cancers."

Provided by Cell Press (news : web)

Source: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-mechanism-breast-cancer-invasive.html

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What is the HTC One XL?

We've all seen the HTC One X with the Tegra 3 processor inside, and we've seen the AT&T version with the Snapdragon S4 inside.  What about the One XL?  We heard HTC talk about it a little bit, but what exactly is it?  The easy answer is that it's the AT&T One X without the AT&T branding.  HTC has two different version of the unlocked One X then, one with the Tegra 3 and one with the Snapdragon S4.  But why would they do this?  Why not just have one version?

As other carriers roll out LTE networks they need devices that will work on them.  HTC's answer is the One XL.  It makes sense when you think about.  HTC doesn't want to compromise on battery life or performance.  In order to integrate LTE with the Tegra 3 you have to use a separate chip, which as we've seen hurts battery life.  The Snapdragon S4 integrates LTE so they decided to use that for LTE.  Besides, why make a version specifically for AT&T and not take advantage of it in other parts of the world?

We're not sure why HTC and AT&T decided not to use the One XL name. Maybe it's a branding thing, or for better name recognition in the U.S. Whatever the case, under the glass it's the same phone we'll be seeing worldwide as the HTC One XL.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/7PS6WComKZc/story01.htm

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Families Affected By Autism Face Substantial Economic Hardships

Families who have children with disabilities can be overwhelmed both emotionally and financially. Even the most stable of families can face financial hardships due to the extra needs. A new study notes that families that have children with autism spectrum disorders earn an average of 28% less than those that have children with no health limitations.

Zuleyha Cidav PhD and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia examined data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey which included 261 children with an ASD, 2,921 children with another health condition, and 64,349 children with no health limitations. Overall, families of children with autism earned an average of $17,763 less than those families unaffected by a disability.

For the most part, this was due to one parent ? most often the mother ? who did not work in order to care for the children. Mothers of children with ASD were 6% less likely to work, worked 7 fewer hours and earned 56% less than mothers of healthy, normally developing children. Overall, children with autism were 9% less likely to have both parents working compared to children with no health limitations.

"This is not surprising," write the authors. "The mother is generally the primary caregiver and decision-maker as to where and when healthcare services will be obtained and usually also accompanies the child to care."

What is surprising is that families with autistic children earned less than families of children with other disabilities. This could be due to fewer insurance benefits offered for therapies for children with autism as compared to children with other disabilities.

Historically, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), for example, has not been covered by most insurance plans. But as time has proven the therapy to be one of the most effective treatments an ASD, and experts such as the US Surgeon General and the American Academy of Pediatrics endorse the therapy, an increasing number of companies are adding the benefit.

Several states have passed autism insurance reform laws, but there are still states that lag behind in approving such bills. A recent Charlotte Observer article notes that North Carolina is one of these states even though the autism rate is above the national rate ? 1 in 97 versus 1 in 110.

"It is time for the North Carolina legislature to follow the lead of neighboring states like South Carolina and Virginia, and pass the autism insurance reform bills which are languishing in committees (House Bill 826 and Senate Bill 115),? write Bridget Mora, Chapter Board Member of the Autism Society of North Carolina and Robert Weiner, former chief of staff of the US House Health Subcommittee and House Aging Committee.

"An estimated 1.5 million Americans have an autism spectrum disorder ? a lifelong developmental disability that affects brain function, emotional development, and social interaction. It affects every facet of daily living, including the ability to communicate, succeed in school, hold a job, maintain friendships, and live independently. "While autism is not curable, it is treatable, especially with early diagnosis and treatment.?

"Given the substantial healthcare expenses associated with ASD (as much as $3.2 million over a lifetime?, concludes Dr. Cidav, ?the economic impact of having lower income in addition to these expenses is substantial. It is essential to design universal healthcare and workplace policies that recognize the full impact of autism."

The Pacer Center (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights) was created by parents of children and youth with disabilities to help other families facing similar situations. The organizations offers ?Possibilities?, a financial resource for parents of children with disabilities that can help obtain appropriate services and improve outcomes.

Source references:
Cidav Z, et al "Implications of childhood autism for parental employment and earnings" Pediatrics 2012; 129: 617-623; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-2700.
Charlotte Observer, ?NC lagging on insurance for autism?, posted March 28, 2012.

eMaxHealth welcomes your comments and feedback on this story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.

Source: http://www.emaxhealth.com/1506/families-affected-autism-face-substantial-economic-hardships

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Prominent Pakistani acid victim commits suicide

ISLAMABAD?? Pakistani acid attack victim Fakhra Younus had endured more than three dozen surgeries over more than a decade to repair her severely damaged face and body when she finally decided life was no longer worth living.

The 33-year-old former dancing girl ? who was allegedly attacked by her then-husband, an ex-parliamentarian and son of a political powerhouse ? jumped from the sixth floor of a building in Rome, where she had been living and receiving treatment.

Her March 17 suicide and the return of her body to Pakistan on Sunday reignited furor over the case, which received significant international attention at the time of the attack. Her death came less than a month after a Pakistani filmmaker won the country's first Oscar for a documentary about acid attack victims.

Younus' story not only drives home the woeful plight of many women in conservative Muslim Pakistan, it is also a reminder of how the country's rich and powerful operate with impunity. Younus' ex-husband, Bilal Khar, was eventually acquitted, but many believe he used his connections to escape the law's grip ? a common occurrence in Pakistan.

More than 8,500 acid attacks, forced marriages and other forms of violence against women were reported in Pakistan in 2011, according to The Aurat Foundation, a women's rights organization. Because the group relied mostly on media reports, the figure is likely an undercount.

"The saddest part is that she realized that the system in Pakistan was never going to provide her with relief or remedy," Nayyar Shabana Kiyani, an activist at The Aurat Foundation, said of Younus. "She was totally disappointed that there was no justice available to her."

Younus was a teenage dancing girl working in the red light district of the southern city of Karachi when she met her future husband, the son of Ghulam Mustafa Khar, a former governor of Pakistan's largest province, Punjab. The unusual pairing was the younger Khar's third marriage. He was in his mid-30s at the time.

The couple was married for three years, but Younus eventually left him because he allegedly physically and verbally abused her. She claimed that he came to her mother's house while she was sleeping in May 2000 and poured acid all over her in the presence of her 5-year-old son from a different man.

Tehmina Durrani, Ghulam Mustafa Khar's ex-wife and his son's stepmother, became an advocate for Younus after the attack, drawing international attention to the case. She said that Younus' injuries were the worst she had ever seen on an acid attack victim.

"So many times we thought she would die in the night because her nose was melted and she couldn't breathe," said Durrani, who wrote a book about her own allegedly abusive relationship with the elder Khar. "We used to put a straw in the little bit of her mouth that was left because the rest was all melted together."

She said Younus, whose life had always been hard, became a liability to her family, for whom she was once a source of income.

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"Her life was a parched stretch of hard rock on which nothing bloomed," Durrani wrote in a column in The News after Younus' suicide.

Younus' ex-husband grew up in starkly different circumstances, amid the wealth and power of the country's feudal elite, and counts Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar as a cousin.

Bilal Khar once again denied carrying out the acid attack in a TV interview following her suicide, suggesting a different man with the same name committed the crime. He claimed Younus killed herself because she didn't have enough money, not because of her horrific injuries, and criticized the media for hounding him about the issue.

"You people should be a little considerate," said Khar. "I have three daughters and when they go to school people tease them."

Younus was energized when the Pakistani government enacted a new set of laws last year that explicitly criminalized acid attacks and mandated that convicted attackers would serve a minimum sentence of 14 years, said Durrani. She hoped to return someday to get justice once her health stabilized.

"She said, 'When I come back, I will reopen the case, and I'll fight myself,' and she was a fighter," Durrani said.

Durrani had to battle with both Younus' ex-husband and the government to send her to Italy, where the Italian government paid for her treatment and provided her money to live on and send her child to school. Pakistani officials argued that sending Younus to Italy would give the country a bad name, Durrani said.

Younus was happy when Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy won an Oscar for her documentary about acid attack victims in February, but was worried about being forgotten since she wasn't profiled in the film, said Durrani.

Durrani said Younus' case should be a reminder that the Pakistani government needs to do much more to prevent acid attacks and other forms of violence against women, and also help the victims.

"I think this whole country should be extremely embarrassed that a foreign country took responsibility for a Pakistani citizen for 13 years because we could give her nothing, not justice, not security," said Durrani.

___

Associated Press writer Zarar Khan contributed to this report.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46876677/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/

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Choosing The ideal Search engine optimization Business For your ...

Corporations today have become well recognized in the on line society. It?s a great pattern shift because of the influx of individuals using the world wide web daily. As an online company, you desire your organization or group to get on top of the search results webpages. However this is not attainable without employing the works of an Seo or Search engine marketing business. They have all the tools and skills in order to help increase the revenue, income as well as market the website in order that common net customers will visit the web site. This method alone can help convert into revenue.

Why must you hire Search engine optimization companies? Operating a internet site isn?t simple especially if your aim is to market it and enhance income. You need to be up and running to make it on top of the search engine web sites like Google or Yahoo! a good seo enters into the picture since they do know how you can use the niche market terminology. This can be a phrase utilised within the key phrases, words or terms wherein a regular net consumer type in search engines. All of these search phrases must be found in the website and must be tactically placed so that the content material doesn?t look like a junk. Search engine optimization solutions recognize these key terms or key phrases and work on it for their particular client?s web sites. They are aware of the sources which makes details less difficult to carry out with a excellent end result.

Additionally, an Search engine optimization business also gets things carried out speedily. Since they understand how to take care of every single scenario and they utilize ?cream of the crop? experts, the client?s websites are up, running and building their particular way into the very first 2 pages of each and every online search engine web sites. Their approaches usually are not merely quick nevertheless it also does things within the correct and effective ways. This signifies the web site popularity may also enhance since you will find some websites that have negative PR outcomes.

The way to search for the right Seo organization? Given that Search engine optimization solutions are very in demand as of late, there are numerous Seo businesses that come out of thin air and some of these have negative PR results or supply inadequate companies. You do not want to get entangled with one of these people therefore it?s best to know precisely what you?re seeking in an Search engine marketing business.

1 ? ?They walk the talk? In the event the Seo business guarantees to place your web site on top, it can?t harm requesting the Google Seo variety tips since they know whom offers the top result. By simply researching the firm name any person will know about their accomplishments, the things they?re doing as well as their own costs. Even though the cost of using an Search engine optimization business is costly, the price must simply be just right. Research his or her PR results too. This may help you determine the popularity of the organization which you are eyeing

2 ? Other peoples comments are important The critique and feedbacks from other individuals especially from preceding customers are important to determine the competitiveness along with the outcome of an Search engine marketing company. In the event you don?t know any of their clients, you are able to go to discussion boards and ask about on the internet views that will help you decide whom to hire.

If you?re planning to use a seo service to help enhance your internet site there are many you are able to discover on-line or just go to seoservicesclub.co.uk

Tags: one way links,one way links building,Search Engine Optimization, online marketing, internet marketing, seo companies
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Source: http://www.one-way-links-building.com/choosing-the-ideal-search-engine-optimization-business-for-your-web-site.html

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How to Write Articles ? 3 Rewarding Themes For Writing Articles ...

If you?re wondering where your next article theme?s coming from; you?re not ?sl ?sone; web-site needs to turn out to be lot of other Internet marketers haudio-videoe difficulties churning out blogs day subull crapequently after day on a common bull crapo asis too. Let?s haudio-videoe a short look at their 3 sections of this vso ast market ? sections that their haudio-videoe a new of hungry people ?sl looking for more informat theirion in their niche.

1.PLR Ebooklet writing. May marketers wat their something that their sits in in turn out to between working with someone else?s products; ad haudio-videoi format theirng to credined their own from scrat theirch. This is a instacerohvachl void for PLR eebooklets to fill.smoking articles. They ca come straight off the page from may online sites; for little so as just some dollars. However; for more exclusivity; it?s turn out to better to join a finite memturn out to bership site; on which only sever?s hundred titles may turn out to be sold for ay person title. A few hundred may seem a lot; but only very few buyers usufriend ever fuss to do aything with them; they haudio-videoe them just sitting on their hard drives; kill timeing curiosity ? curiosity they?ll never get. Once you?ve rewritten them; what their abull crapout a perfect way to credined you very own products; complete with sespressoskies pturn out to become older.

2.Online g?mbling is the red hot issue.

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There a lot more tha sever?s sites offering more tha sever?s methods for this ever-popular theme. From horse rhvacing; to card g?mes; from sports g?mbling on to the stock market; one way or a advertisementsvertdition?s ? ad probabull craply unfairly for some sites ? it?s ?sl clbummed so as g?mbling.stop smoking florida. Now there a variety of g?mbling sites whose physic?s exercise hso as leadvertisements to giving badvertisements n?me to the industry; however it is quite possible to source some good; honest sites too. Always try in order to find client reviews.

3.Smoking is a advertisementsvertdition?s huge topic. Those in the medic?s profession haudio-videoe gotten together with other relevat their experts to offer good informat theirion on how to quit the hapart. Over the course of a generat theirion smoking hso as got more ad others of a badvertisements n?me; so as people haudio-videoe re?sized its effect upon our he?sternat theiriveh.

Source: http://www.xiangzhangw.com/posts/how-to-write-articles-3-rewarding-themes-for-writing-articles-about-internet-and-business-online.html

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Twitter Is Trying to Patent "Pull to Refresh" [Twitter]

The Pull to Refresh action is a common gesture for mobile apps—used by the likes of Twitter, Facebook, Tweetbot, and Sparrow for a variety of commands. It may soon be a lot less common if the USPTO grants Twitter's patent request. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/OXBRmGrQwHc/twitter-tries-to-jump-aboard-the-patent-troll-bandwagon-with-a-claim-on-pull+to+refresh

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wivre9077 - Details associated with Game playing Pcs ? What you ...

During this brief health benefits on the basics of video gaming computers, I will describe a couple of ideas which will all players sincerely interested in making and / or creating a very good video gaming computer must learn about. Just what consider

Something you should look at if looking at the latest game home pc is certainly how a game personal pc ranges coming from additional computer systems. Exactly what specific ingredients are crucial in order to my husband and my game playing practical experience, but will allow me to have fun with your video games I?d prefer in the same manner I?d like, together with the images I would like

The principle components that you should contemplate initially are the elements that can have the most reliable impact on the video games undertaking. http://www.funbingosites.com You will find 4 most important electronic factors you need to be aware of: the particular PROCESSOR, video chip, RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY, along with the local disk. (These kind of definitions usually are of the purposes of how they are simply found in a good video gaming home pc and are inside layman?s phrases. )

The COMPUTER, or perhaps Important Absorbing Device, in essence manages exactly how quickly your laptop or computer definately will progression details and exactly how much will be refined at any moment. Your Video Debit card equipment how quickly and exactly what college degree your computer definately will process photos on your projector screen. The particular RAM MEMORY, or Powerful Gain Random access memory, works with data spread as well as has an effect on just how easily your pc are able to process info. The actual Harddrive is certainly in which records is placed on your desktop. Because you goal largely about these kinds of several screws and bolts ingredients, you will find which usually concluding what you require as part of your video games desktop pc can be quite uncomplicated. Finding a machine that may be fast in addition to effective ample to try out the actual game you wish to enjoy is really as simple as discovering if components complement using the considerations. A single previous component you have to keep in mind when deciding upon what you wish inside a gambling computer could be the operating-system bingo sites uk. The actual main system is the basic framework-program you use to perform your pc. Os?s comprise of Windows xp, Home windows Vista, Mac OSX, and there are others. Working out exactly what you need

The best uncomplicated way I?ve found to know precisely what components your current ultimate game playing computer requirements is normally to view certain requirements for that games you desire to enjoy. You can grasp all these methods to be figure out what the PROCESSOR, movie cards, RAM, hard disk, and also operating-system requirements are usually:

a single. Choose a match that you want that can be played. It is best to likely go with a activity containing recently end up, when it comes to recognition the particular hottest games have to do the job correctly, regarding hardware and os bingo sites uk. step 2 http://www.funbingosites.com. Have the the minimum in addition to encouraged routine wants to that video game. Platform wants for almost any given game can easily usually always be come across written around the field the idea grew with, or simply on-line at numerous game-review internet websites. Your minimal system specifications are just what your computer needs to naturally running the experience and possess that functionality; suggested concept would like tend to be and what will make the experience carried out perfectly and / or at optimum point efficiency concentrations using your laptop. These principles are listed in relation to exactly what operating-system, precisely what RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY, what processor, as well as what exactly video clips chip are important for your personal video game to work. Should your private computer comes with these elements, subsequently it all are able to have power over the game bingo sites uk. 3. Make a note of these types of arrangements so you?re able to reference these people later. Manage just what factors the particular game titles you would like to have fun with need. Naturally, all these requirement change using the passing of time; desktops can proceed out-of-date in a short time inside nowadays. Thus, you simply won?t merely want to satisfy, but in addition discuss these kinds of obligations together with your unmistakable game p . c . . Inevitably, you will need schooling which has a hard hitting model (PC), an advanced online card stoock, a bunch of RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY, a difficult use using plenty of zero cost open area (modern-day video game titles use up many gigabytes each and every! ), along with a computer that orthoses a large number of video games.

Source: http://wivre9077.bcz.com/2012/03/27/details-associated-with-game-playing-pcs-what-you-ought-to-recognize/

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The Family Tree | Independent Bookstore in Bethel, CT Byrd's Books

By David McPhail

A man in the 1800s comes upon a beautiful forest and decides to build his home there. When he clears the land, he leaves one special tree to grace his front yard. Over the years, several generations of his family enjoy this tree, but it is endangered by a plan to build a highway. A young boy and his host of animal friends get together to make a stand, and give back to the tree which has given them so much. With lavish illustrations and very few words, David McPhail delivers a timeless environmental message and a heartwarming story for ages 4 to 8.

Source: http://byrdsbooks.com/2012/03/27/the-family-tree/

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Don't Throw The Baby Boomers Out With The Bathwater | Get ...

We all feel like we are part of a generation, and most often that being this one that represents the here and now, and have at some point probably used the phrase ?in this generation? to describe something current that is happening or is known to happen, perhaps more or less than before, in prior ?generations?. But what does the average person really know about generations? Do we know even what generation we fall into, or anything about the other generations and what or who defines them?As average people who may not be presented with a reason to become an expert in this subject, we continue to operate in society without knowledge of the generations, and without the desire to learn. But big businesses don?t have the luxury of not knowing, and billions of dollars have been poured into this field of study for individual companies to obtain for the purpose of leveraging the generations to increase profitability. Here is a crash course on some things you may or may not be aware of.

The most widely accepted names and theories about the generations, is that there are three primary generations. The most widely accepted or known names for those are the ?Baby Boomers, who are composed of everyone born from 1945 to 1964. ?Generation X?, those born between 1965 and 1979. And Millenials, or Generation Y, all those born between 1980 and now. What has been discovered, are the veritable plethora of unique nuances, feelings, attitudes, and behaviors that tend to predominate in each respective generation. Each generation has been found to all have unique, separate ideals and behaviors in areas of work ethic, family life, educational and spiritual values, and most notably to the economy, individual consumer and spending habits.

1. Baby Boomers, born 1945-1964. The generation of post World War II babies that were born in great number after our country settled down and sought the American dream of a big family, home ownership, car ownership, and the white picket fence. This was the generation that was taught that a college education and hard work would almost surely bring about success and happiness, and back then it usually did. It was a pre-information age freshly introduced even to television in their youth. Baby Boomers consumer and spending habits reflect family values, a belief or at least reference for God, pride in ownership, along with trust in the government and the value of the American dollar. Those values did some of them right, and many not. After Nixon took the gold standard off of the American dollar, money became only currency, essentially just print on a piece of paper backed by the good word of ?ol Uncle Sam. Ownership of a home or car became much more challenging with the subsequent inflation in the economy, and many have found themselves selling their old four bedroom and moving into an apartment, applying for Bad Credit Auto Loans and returning or remaining in the work place instead of retiring.

2. Generation X, born 1965-1979. Raised on television programs such as ?The Dukes of Hazzard?, ?The Incredible Hulk? and ?Family ties?, gen X?ers became more individualistic than the prior generation of baby boomers, were the first of the generations to become technologically savvy and proficient , and are said to ?work to live?, not ?live to work? in contrast to baby boomers. Gen X consumer and spending habits are known to be aggressive, and Gen X is known for being equally aggressive in financial pursuit to get what they want-from job or otherwise. Many of Gen X followed the prior generation into the work force and higher education, but this time with very different results. Gen X experienced a greater difficulty in achieving the ?American dream? of a big family, home, car, and the ?white picket fence?. Those that made proportionately the same or more than the prior generation achieved it at a higher cost in terms of financing and hours to obtain the dollar. Subsequently, Gen X has smaller families, less possessions owned outright, and is generally not as involved with family life like its predecessor generation due to the financial and societal demands placed upon them.

3. ?Millenials or Generation Y?, born 1980-now. This generation is the generation representing the new millennium and its ideals. Our society now has more fatherless homes, drastic highs and lows in economic times, and definite shaking of social and religious values held by prior generations. Millenials have experienced the peak of advancement in computer technology throughout their life. Subsequently Millenials are computer literate from a much younger age than any generation, and the latter half of recently born Millenials are computer literate and highly technologically savvy often times as soon as they enter school. Millenials consumer and spending habits are governed by what they have encountered since birth, and research has shown that Millenials have been literally bombarded by advertising. Subsequently, Millenials spending habits are quite different. Millenials think outside the box, seeking and successfully obtaining uniqueness and personal individuality and style. Whatever the Millennial purchases, they definitely want it somehow personalized to them, unlikely to be found driving the same car and same clothes as their neighbor or friend, which was the opposite of the case in generation prior where Americans went with the flow and often thought and acted in groups. The Millennial is way past trust in establishment and especially businesses and sales people wishing to sell them something, and is therefore more likely to spend based on information and research obtained through word of mouth or observation, and exponentially more likely to make most purchases online in an impersonal format. This is a long way from Baby Boomers who all knew their banker, auto salesman, and insurance agent by first name. Millenials are even more slackerish than the prior Gen X?ers, with less good work ethic and a less competitive spirit by nature, because they were taught the ?everyone wins? or ?everyone is a winner? philosophies throughout life. A lesson that many, have had to un-learn to adapt to the world built by Baby Boomers and Generation X before them in order to succeed.

There is much to learn and much to accordingly gain by paying attention to the different traits of these three generations, both professionally and personally. Your approach to this question, says a lot about the generation you are in.

About the author : This article was written by Mike. Mike is a writer for New Start Auto Loans a bad credit auto loans company that assists people with difficult to finance situations in finding a finance program that specializes in bad credit, limited credit, and no credit.

Source: http://www.getfinancialfreedomtips.com/2012/03/dont-throw-baby-boomers-out-with.html

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'Game Of Thrones' Season Two: Meet The New Blood

A would-be king and a mysterious sorceress are just two of the brand-new characters you'll meet in the 'Thrones' premiere.
By Josh Wigler

Carice van Houten as Melisandre in season two of "Game of Thrones"
Photo: HBO

"Sad" and "shocking" are easy words to use when considering the death of Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell. "Awesome" is a less-used word, but it's no less valid; not only did his death set the standard for the twists and turns that "Game of Thrones" consistently makes from that point forward, it also paves the way for new memorable characters to fill the sizable void Ned's left behind.

Countless new heroes and villains will make their grand Westeros debuts over the course of season two, with no less than eight of them showing up in the first episode premiering this coming Sunday (April 1). From a would-be king to an incestuous wildling, here are eight new characters you'll meet in the "Game of Thrones" season-two premiere. A word of warning: Some mild spoilers lie ahead.

Stannis Baratheon
One of the five men vying for the Iron Throne, Stannis is the younger brother of late king Robert and elder brother to would-be-king Renly. It's often said the Dragonstone-based lord, a hard man and brilliant tactician, will break before he bends; his refusal to align with his brother Renly against the other competing kings is a testament to this fact. Stannis isn't without his fair of share of eccentricities, either, with his latest quirk coming in the form of his newfound faith — a faith that spawns from his new relationship with ...

Melisandre
The red priestess from Asshai is Stannis' newest and most powerful adviser. She champions R'hllor, the Lord of Light, a fiery deity foreign to Westerosi more accustomed to the faiths of the Seven and the First Men. But Melisandre's beliefs, however strange and unfamiliar they may be, aren't without foundation: The scarlet woman proves her "god-given" gifts as a sorceress on more than one occasion. Recently, Melisandre came to Stannis' home on Dragonstone to offer her support; she believes the middle Baratheon to be Azhor Azhai reborn, a prophecy-fulfilling hero of yore. Whether her beliefs pan out in reality remains to be seen.

Davos Seaworth
Another of Stannis' closest advisers is Davos, a former pirate turned knight in Stannis' service. Davos is completely and unwaveringly loyal to Stannis and is among the first to take his side in the proposed war against the Lannisters and others challenging the Iron Throne of Westeros. But Davos isn't without some doubts, either — namely, he's not quite sure what to make of Melisandre, who has made a very clear impact on Stannis and his ego since her arrival. Regardless of his feelings, Davos' primary concern is furthering Stannis' agenda — for now, at least.

Maester Cressen
Rounding out the initial Dragonstone cast is Cressen, a maester of the Citadel who has been in the Baratheon family's service since before Robert, Stannis and Renly's parents died at sea in their childhood. Now in his twilight years, Cressen wants nothing more than to continue aiding Stannis and his cause — but given his training as a maester, he cannot abide Melisandre's unusual influence over the hopeful king. Like Davos, Cressen has his doubts about the red priestess. Unlike Davos, however, Cressen is more than willing to act upon his suspicions.

Ser Dontos Hollard
Not all knights are best when armed with swords and shields; some warriors prefer a good horn of ale. Enter Ser Dontos, an absolute master when it comes to being a lush. He's come a long way since serving as a squire in King's Landing, and not in a good way: Less a knight and more a joke, the drunken Dontos could hardly harm a fly. When his drunken antics catch the attention of King's Landing's current ruler, however, it'll be Dontos in desperate need of a knight in shining armor — though a fair-haired queen-to-be will do in a pinch.

Janos Slynt
After making a brief appearance in the first season of "Game of Thrones," Slynt comes back with a more pronounced role in season two. As Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing, Slynt was partially responsible for the downfall of Eddard Stark, pledging his support to the Lord of Winterfell only to withdraw it when he was most needed. But the role Slynt had to play in Ned's death is nothing compared to the future atrocities he'll commit in King Joffrey's service.

Craster
As Jon Snow and the sworn brothers of the Night's Watch proceed beyond the Wall, they'll find themselves face to face with numerous wildlings — some fearsome, some harmless and some that are just flat-out disgusting. Craster falls into that last category. The master of Craster's Keep, this guy makes Jaime and Cersei Lannister's incest look positively pure: Craster prides himself on his many wives, who, in actuality, are his daughters. He continuously breeds with these women to produce more and more "wives." Pretty gross, right? Don't even ask what he does with his occasional sons.

Gilly
One of Craster's many wives/daughters, Gilly is a sweet-faced wildling who longs for freedom. Currently pregnant with one of Craster's children, Gilly fears that her offspring will be a boy, an outcome that would not fare well in Craster's eyes. To save herself and her unborn child from her grim fate, Gilly turns to the one man on the Night's Watch who's probably more terrified than she is: the craven Samwell Tarly.

Which new "Thrones" characters are you most excited to meet? Let me know in the comments section below or on Twitter @roundhoward!

Related Photos

• 'Game Of Thrones' Season Two

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1681827/game-of-thrones-new-characters.jhtml

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US consumer confidence is roughly flat in March

Henry Rice, of Atlanta, pumps gas Friday, March 16, 2012, at a station in Atlanta. Gasoline prices rose again Friday and are now averaging more than $4 in six states plus Washington, D.C. Retail gasoline prices were up a penny on Friday to a national average of $3.831 per gallon, according to AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Henry Rice, of Atlanta, pumps gas Friday, March 16, 2012, at a station in Atlanta. Gasoline prices rose again Friday and are now averaging more than $4 in six states plus Washington, D.C. Retail gasoline prices were up a penny on Friday to a national average of $3.831 per gallon, according to AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Americans' rosy outlook about the U.S. economy remains resilient as they focus on the good in the barrage of conflicting economic news.

A widely watched barometer of consumer confidence barely budged in March after last month hitting the highest level it had been in a year. Americans continued to be upbeat in March despite mixed economic signs. The stock market is up, but gas prices are, too. Unemployment is falling, but home prices also are declining.

Lynn Franco, director of private research group The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, said consumers "feel the economy is not losing momentum."

The Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index fell slightly to 70.2. That's down from a revised 71.6 in February ? the highest level it's been since the same month in 2011.

Consumer confidence has made a recovery since it fell to an all-time low of 25.3 in February 2009. But the March reading is below the 90 reading that indicates a healthy economy. The index hasn't been near 90 since December 2007.

Economists watch consumer confidence closely because Americans' spending on things from clothing to health care accounts for about 70 percent of the nation's economic activity.

One gauge of the Consumer Confidence Index, which measures how shoppers feel now about the economy, rose to 51.0, from 46.4 in the previous month. That measure now stands at the highest level in more than three years. But the other barometer, which assesses shoppers' six-month outlook, declined to 83.0 from 88.4 in February.

"The moderate decline was due solely to a less favorable short-term outlook, while consumers' assessment of current conditions, on the other hand, continued to improve," Franco said.

The preliminary survey of consumers, conducted from March. 1 through March 15, showed shoppers' worries about inflation rose to the highest level in a year. as gas prices rose. In fact, the nationwide average for a gallon of gas reached $3.90 on Monday, which is now less than 10 cents away from last year's high.

The price typically climbs in the weeks ahead of Memorial Day weekend ? the traditional kickoff of the summer driving season. The national average peaked last year in early May at an average of $3.98 per gallon. The record high of $4.11 was set in July 2008.

But steady improvement in other areas of the economy is offsetting worries about gas prices. The economy expanded at an annual rate of 3 percent in the final three months of last year. That was better than the 1.8 percent rate in the previous quarter. Most economists expect growth to slow in the current quarter to below 2.5 percent, despite more hiring.

Companies also are adding workers as the economy picks up. The economy has added an average of 245,000 jobs per month from December through February. The unemployment rate has declined to 8.3 percent, the lowest in three years.

Still, a job market recovery has a long way to go. According to Conference Board survey, shoppers' assessment of jobs was mixed.

Those saying jobs "are plentiful" increased to 9.4 percent from 7.0 percent, while those stating jobs are "hard to get" also rose, to 41.0 percent from 38.6 percent. Additionally, consumers' six-month outlook for the labor market was less upbeat: Those anticipating more jobs in the months ahead declined to 17.3 percent from 18.8 percent, while those anticipating fewer jobs increased to 18.3 percent from 16.4 percent.

Adding to that, a continued drop in home prices suggests the housing market remains weak, even after the best winter for home sales in five years and steady improvement in the job market.

A widely watched home price index showed that home prices fell in January for a fifth straight month in most major U.S. cities, as modest sales increases have yet to boost prices. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home-price index released Tuesday showed that prices dropped in January from December in 16 of 19 cities tracked.

----------------

AP Real Estate Writer Derek Kravitz contributed to this report in Washington.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-03-27-Consumer%20Confidence/id-da66977aec974f45a2fd5a8926d41bfb

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Aide says Cheney had heart transplant

FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2011 file photo, former Vice President Dick Cheney is interviewed in New York. Former Vice President Dick Cheney is recovering after having a heart transplant. That's according to his office. It released a statement Saturday, March 24, 2012 disclosing the surgery, and saying that Cheney has been on the transplant list for more than 20 months. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2011 file photo, former Vice President Dick Cheney is interviewed in New York. Former Vice President Dick Cheney is recovering after having a heart transplant. That's according to his office. It released a statement Saturday, March 24, 2012 disclosing the surgery, and saying that Cheney has been on the transplant list for more than 20 months. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Former Vice President Dick Cheney had a heart transplant Saturday, after five heart attacks over the past 25 years and countless medical procedures to keep him going. Cheney, 71, waited nearly two years for his new heart, the gift of an unknown donor.

An aide to Cheney disclosed the surgery after it was over, and said the ex-vice president was recovering at a Virginia hospital.

"Although the former vice president and his family do not know the identity of the donor, they will be forever grateful for this lifesaving gift," aide Kara Ahern said in a written statement that was authenticated by several of the Republican politician's close associates.

Cheney was recovering Saturday night at the intensive care unit of Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Va., after surgery earlier in the day.

More than 3,100 Americans currently are on the national waiting list for a heart transplant. Just over 2,300 heart transplants were performed last year, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. And 330 people died while waiting.

According to UNOS, 332 people over age 65 received a heart transplant last year. The majority of transplants occur in 50- to 64-year-olds.

The odds of survival are good. More than 70 percent of heart transplant recipients live at least five years, although survival is a bit lower for people over age 65.

The former vice president suffered a heart attack in 2010, his fifth since the age of 37.

That same year, he had surgery to have a small pump installed to help his heart keep working.

Called a "left ventricular assist device," or LVAD, that device took over the job of the heart's main pumping chamber, powered by special batteries worn in a fanny pack. It helps a person live a fairly normal life while awaiting a heart transplant, although some people receive it as permanent therapy. It was one of the few steps left, short of a transplant, to stay alive in the face of what he acknowledged was "increasing congestive heart failure."

In January 2011, Cheney said he was getting by on the battery-powered heart pump, which made it "awkward to walk around." He also said he hadn't made a decision yet on a transplant, but that "the technology is getting better and better."

Cheney said then that he'd "have to make a decision at some point whether I want to go for a transplant."

By that point, Cheney had been dealing with cardiovascular problems for more than two decades.

In 1988, he had quadruple bypass surgery, two artery-clearing angioplasties and the operation to implant a pacemaker, a device that monitored his heartbeat.

In 2005, Cheney had six hours of surgery on his legs to repair a kind of aneurysm, and in March 2007, doctors discovered deep venous thrombosis in his left lower leg. An ultrasound a month later showed the clot was getting smaller.

In July 2007, he had had a minor surgical procedure to replace the pacemaker.

Cheney served as former President George W. Bush's vice president for eight years, from 2001 until 2009. Cheney was a lightning rod for criticism during Bush's presidency, accused by opponents of often advocating a belligerent U.S. stance in world affairs during wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, wished Cheney a "fast and full recovery" in a post on Twitter. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Romney's chief challenger, sent a written statement wishing Cheney and his family well and offering his thoughts and prayers.

Like 5 million other Americans, Cheney has had congestive heart failure, meaning his heart had become too weakened to pump properly. That can happen for a variety of reasons, but Cheney's was due to cumulative damage from his multiple heart attacks.

Heart failure kills 57,000 Americans a year and contributes to many more deaths.

Shortly after Cheney's surgery was disclosed, one prominent cardiologist ? Dr. Eric Topol of Scripps Health in La Jolla, Calif. ? raised the issue of whether someone so old should have received a new heart.

"The ethicists will get into this case," he wrote on Twitter.

Others disagreed.

"It is not too old. Age is really not a factor," said Dr. William Zoghbi of Methodist Hospital's DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center in Houston. He is incoming president of the American College of Cardiology, and he spoke from the group's annual conference in Chicago on Saturday.

Zoghbi said Cheney may even fare better than younger people whose immune systems more actively fight new organs, raising concern about rejection.

"I don't see any ethical issues here," Zoghbi said, because a transplant is clearly indicated for someone whose heart is as weak as Cheney's was.

A heart transplant is a race against time. Doctors look to the waiting list for the next qualified candidate who is a good match to the newly donated heart, which typically comes from an accident victim. The patient must get to the operating room quickly, as a newly donated heart stays fresh for only about four to six hours.

During a heart transplant, a mechanical pump keeps blood flowing through the body while surgeons remove the diseased heart ? and in Cheney's case, the previously implanted LVAD ? and connect the new one.

Patients must take immune-suppressing medication for life, to keep their body's immune system from attacking the new, foreign organ. They typically stay in the hospital for a week or two, and require intensive cardiac rehabilitation.

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Associated Press writers Nancy Benac and Will Lester and AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard, and AP Chief Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione in Chicago contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-03-24-Cheney-Heart%20Surgery/id-d7e65e734e8348d5b7c26b839393e2c3

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