Headline April, 2nd / Chancellors - Crackerists - Chariots

Part 2

Chancellors - Crackerists - Chariots

Respectful Dedication Lars Christian/ CEO Telenor Pakistan 

Mohsen Tavakoli/ President & CEO Ericsson Pakistan

And in India, a group hacked into the country's atomic research center computers to protest against nuclear testing. Warroom Research, USA, a security consulting firm surveyed Fortune1000 companies  and determined that 70percent of the companies had been the target of  'information espionage' with all penetrations through their dial-up connections or the Internet.

The survey also found that none of the companies reported these intrusions to the police because they didn't trust the ability of the law enforcement to investigate the crimes. Haha! That's truly funny!

Now don't get hackers wrong. They have an honourable philosophy. Gleaming as they have themselves called 'White hat' hackers, claim that their interest is only to shame the expensive software, by finding flaws. They consider this an intellectual challenge rather than an illegal break ins. Haha! Fantastic!!? And the fact is that these "Hackers" offer valuable service.

Microsoft has a history of having White Hat Hackers help them. It was these very hackers who helped Internet Explorer,and Windows NT,overcome their loop holes. Thus saving the project users major headaches and problems.

Where do Hackers get this skill from!!? Hahaha! There are many many deeply concealed websites! You can only get to them if you are persistent, brilliant, and get recommended by a person respected by the Hacker community.

Many Hackers have Websites that users and vendors find really helpful. And should you have a trusted persons profile, you will be explained how to hack into different systems. Information systems are getting more and more complex. So Security becomes very difficult. The number of pieces of the puzzle keeps growing.

The bottom line is that Networks are the Weakest in the Chain. But having said that, it is wise and pertinent to remind you that cracking or decoding passwords, the 'Achille heel' off computer security, is the most common security violation. Crackers love nothing more than capturing the password of the ''Super User.'' And be warned that modern cell phones are very vulnerable.

So dear readers don't miss what is to come. We hope to get more specific very soon. Till then, Good night and God bless!!

SAM Daily Times - The Voice Of The Voiceless

Bookreading By Bestselling Author Sarah Vowell Scheduled For April 9

Penn State University

Sarah Vowell, The New York Times’ bestselling author of five nonfiction books on American history and culture, will perform a reading from her most recent book, "Unfamiliar Fishes," at 7:30 p.m. on April 9, in the Auditorium (Room 117) at the HUB-Robeson Center on Penn State's University Park campus. The reading will be followed by a question-and-answer session and book signing.

By examining the connections between the American past and present, Vowell offers personal and often humorous accounts of everything from presidents and their assassins to colonial religious fanatics, as well as thoughts on American Indians, utopian dreamers, pop music and the odd cranky cartographer.

Vowell’s most recent book is an intriguing history of Hawaii, which was annexed in 1898. Replete with a cast of beguiling and often tragic characters, including an overthrown Hawaiian queen, whalers, missionaries, sugar barons, Teddy Roosevelt, and assorted con men, "Unfamiliar Fishes" is another history lesson in Americana as only Vowell can tell it -- with brainy wit and droll humor.

The event is sponsored by the College of Education, the Paterno Fellow Program (in the College of the Liberal Arts), Schreyer Honors College, and the University Park Undergraduate Association.

Press release at University website here.

Four NTU Researchers Named in The Elite List Of Researchers Under 35 Years Of Age

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Technology Review and Cyber Media announced the names of the 12 innovators aged under 35 who had made it to the Technology Review 35 (TR35) list. Their projects were selected from more than 200 submissions from South-east Asia to Australia and New Zealand. Ten out of the 12 did their research here in institutions such as NUS and NTU, with four of the researchers coming from NTU. They are one step closer to attending the Global TR35 Function at the Cambridge-MIT Institute come October, where they can present their projects to more than 400 members of the corporate world to gain larger exposure and funding.

Original source here.

Vietnam: Students’ Rotating Waste bin Wins City’s Youth Contest

The three Ton Duc Thang University coeds who took first prize at HCMC's annual youth contest on Sunday. A group of university students has won first prize at the Ho Chi Minh City’s annual youth creativity contest with their design for a rotating bin supporting waste categorization.

The prize was awarded to three students of Ton Duc Thang University at a ceremony on Sunday, local newspaper Saigon Tiep Thi reported Monday.

A project to recycle wastes in schools, suggested by a group of students from HCMC University of Architecture, won second.

Meanwhile, a pair from HCMC University of Technology scooped the third prize with an initiative to develop an environmental protection volunteer corps. This year’s contest was themed around conservation. Since its April launch, it received 205 ideas from young people across the country, the news source said.

The youngest participant was a seven-year-old student in HCMC.

Original source here.

Japan: High School Texts Bulk Up With 12% More Pages

The average number of pages in high school textbooks to be used from next spring will increase by 11.9 percent compared to those being used now, according to the results of textbook screenings released by the education ministry.

The increase results from the government's new curriculum guidelines, which expand the amount of academic content students must learn while also eliminating a clause that restricted the teaching of higher-level material.

The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry on Tuesday released the results of its screenings of textbooks to be used mainly in the first and second years of high school.

Compared with current textbooks, new ones in mathematics will have 27.2 percent more pages, and science books will have 16.5 percent more. The number of pages in English textbooks, in which the number of words to be learned has increased, rose by 25.2 percent.

Descriptions of the March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake are included in textbooks for geography and some other subjects. The latest screenings covered textbooks for required subjects at high school.

But science and math textbooks for first-year students were already screened last year because the new curriculum guidelines will be implemented for those subjects from this April, ahead of other subjects. Thus, this time's screenings mainly covered textbooks for second- and third-year students.

A total of 275 textbooks--219 for standard high school courses and 56 for special courses--were submitted for the screenings.

All but one of the books passed the screenings. One textbook on a new science subject, "Science and Our Daily Life," was rejected due to numerous inaccuracies.

Based on the new curriculum guidelines, which aim to depart from so-called cram-free education, all of the textbooks have more pages.

Compared with textbooks screened under the cram-free policy for fiscal 2005, the new mathematics textbooks have 48, or 30.4 percent, more pages, and those of science have 124, or 23.6 percent, more pages.

Biology textbooks newly contain descriptions of methods for analyzing base sequences of DNA. The new guidelines increase the number of English words to be learned in three years of high school from 1,300 to 1,800, and stipulate that English classes will have to be held in English in principle.

Some of the English textbooks, such as one produced by Taishukan Publishing Co. for college preparatory schools, are written mostly in English except for a small number of Japanese words about proper nouns and grammar.

Because gaps in academic abilities among students widened during the period of the cram-free policy, many of the textbooks have different versions according to the academic levels of the target students. All five publishing companies for Mathematics B textbooks submitted textbooks for different achievement levels.

A total of 69 textbooks contain descriptions of the Great East Japan Earthquake. These include textbooks for Geography A, which is required by the new curriculum guidelines to cover disaster management. One Geography A textbook carries an aerial photo of Minami-Sanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, which was devastated by the disaster.

Sixteen textbooks describe the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, which began with the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Those for Contemporary Society discuss the incident in relation to "the danger and seriousness of damage if an accident occurs."

Seven textbooks mentioned radiation from the crisis. One physics textbook contains a passage that reads, "Meltdowns occurred and radioactive substances from nuclear reactors were discharged to the outside." One Home Economics textbook introduces temporary limits on radioactive substances in food in a sidebar.

Original source here.

Trinity Students Receive University Colours for Sporting Achievements

The annual celebration of Trinity College Dublin sporting achievements took place this week when a thanksgiving service for sport was held in the College Chapel followed by Sporting Commons during which Trinity sportsmen and women were awarded with the University Colours.

The Trinity Pink, designed to correspond to the Light Blue of Cambridge and the Dark Blue of Oxford, is awarded on individual sporting merit which is generally assessed in terms of outstanding club performance, representative selection or external achievement. This year Pinks were presented to individuals from numerous sports clubs within College including Badminton, Climbing, Football (Rugby) and Ladies Rowing. A number of sports clubs were also recognised on the night for excelling at their sport and winning Intervarsities in their respective sport and these included Ladies Gaelic Football, Mens Gaelic Football, Handball, Lawn Tennis, and Orienteers.

Read article at University website here.

Born in Death by J.D. Robb

From the Publisher:
Eve Dallas has a grisly double homicide to solve when two young lovers--both employees of the same prestigious accounting firm--are brutally killed on the same night. It doesn't leave Eve a lot of leftover time to put together a baby shower for her buddy Mavis, but that's supposedly what friends are for.

Now Mavis needs another favor. Tandy Willowby, one of the moms-to-be in Mavis's birthing class, didn't show up for the shower. A recent emigrant from London, Tandy has few friends in New York, and no family--and she was really looking forward to the party. And when Eve enters Tandy's apartment and finds a gift for Mavis's shower wrapped and ready on the table--and a packed bag for the hospital still on the floor next to it--tingling runs up and down her spine.

Normally, such a case would be turned over to Missing Persons. But Mavis wants no one else on the job but Eve--and Eve can't say no. She'll have to track Tandy down while simultaneously unearthing the deals and double-crosses hidden in the files of some of the city's richest and most secretive citizens, in a race against this particularly vicious killer. Luckily, her multimillionaire husband Roarke's expertise comes in handy with the number crunching. But as he mines the crucial data that will break the case wide open, Eve faces an all too real danger in the world of flesh and blood.

Kimono with attitude at Japan Fashion Week

The traditionally modest and freedom-inhibiting kimono is getting a new lease on life at Japan Fashion Week, with an edge of defiance and seductiveness.

Historically a garment whose multiple layers and tight wrapping have been viewed by some as restricting a woman's mobility and keeping her subservient to men, Jotaro Saito's kimono collection betrays expectations.

The style in his "Futurism" 2012-2013 autumn/winter collection remains graceful and true to form, but it is definitely not modest.

"Jotaro's kimono treads the line between the traditional style and the frisson of the entertainment quarter," said Tokiko Someya, 60, after the show. "That's what makes his kimonos so attractive."




A kimono-clad vocalist sang to pounding techno as models with spiked hair strutted down the runway at Wednesday's show, premiering Saito's chic and modern designs, a highlight of the twice-annual event featuring a range of designers that wraps up this weekend.

Models struck attitude-filled poses and flaunted the lines of their kimono, including an accentuated knot on their back.

The knot, which keeps the garment together, is usually squashed as flat as possible and hidden underneath the "obi", a thick and ornately decorated belt. Saito's obi highlights the knot, proudly pushing it out.

In the "furisode" category, the elegant long-sleeved kimono style traditionally worn by unmarried women, Saito steps away from the usual demure floral patterns, striking out with bright red flowers on a black and silver background.

Where his forebears used pastel shades to denote the changing of seasons, Saito -- who hails from a line of kimono-dying artists in the historical capital Kyoto -- overlays nature with luxuriant geometry: his straight lines and chequered patterns combine with the oversized floral displays.

Saito's bold take is all the more curious in a country where the appearance and way a person wears their traditional-style kimono -- which Japanese have worn for hundreds of years -- is critically important.

The traditional garment was a staple for women and even men before the 20th century with many now wearing them just for special occasions.

But while he flouts the rules, Saito sticks closely to the ethos of the kimono, which refuses all but the briefest glimpse of a woman's skin, revealing only a sliver of wrist or ankle and the neck; the sexuality lying in what cannot be seen, rather than what can.

Saito draws the eye with bright-coloured lining, visible as the wearer's arms swish, or as the hem flicks on the turn.

Kimono doyen Someya said the textiles Saito employs add to the sensuality of the garment.

"The material itself is different," she said. "I like the texture and the quality, which allow the tails to settle beautifully when you walk."

Chiharu Nozaki, 33, said it was the vaguely futuristic patterns that appealed to her.

"I like classic styles of kimono, too, but I would like to wear something a bit different for informal occasions," said Nozaki, who wore an unconventional black leather kimono coat with a leopard pattern scarf.

Apple iPhone 5 to feature advanced 3D camera?

Apple's next-generation handset, the new iPhone 5 could see an advanced 3D camera introduced with the 2013 iPad offering to follow

 

New reports have suggested Apple will introduce a 3D camera to future iterations of its iPhone and iPad devices after a patent from the Cupertino based company emerged outing its work into the compact extra-dimensional snappers.

Far from the first time Apple has been tipped to be working on 3D technologies, the latest reports have suggested the 3D cameras could be introduced to the company’s iOS packing products allowing users to make use of advanced microlenses to add visual depth to extra-dimensional snaps.

The latest patent filing, released by the United States Patent and Trademark Office would not see the 3D tech limited to pocket blowers with Apple announcing such technologies could be introduced to “digital cameras, personal computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile telephones, a standalone camera,” or indeed any device that is capable of processing the resulting image data.

Detailing the true capabilities of the 3D imaging technologies the Apple patent adds that: “A user may take video of a home while walking through the home and the image sensing device could use the calculated depth and surface detail information to create a three-dimensional model of the home. The depth and surface detail information of multiple photographs or video stills may then be matched to construct a seamless composite three-dimensional model that combines the surface detail and depth from each of the photos or video.

Whilst it is not likely that such features will be introduced into devices with the coming months, a number of reports following on from the patent unveiling have suggested the 3D snapper could well be the eventual party piece of the eagerly awaited and heavily rumoured new iPhone 5.

Apple new iPhone 5 Rumours

Far form confirmed the latest iPhone 5 rumours have followed on from a flurry of previous reports that have suggested the iOS touting handset will sport an all new form factor that moves the market leading handset on from the iPhone 4 and 4S design with a Gorilla Glass 2 backing to make the device more life proof.

Originally expected to make its first appearance last year before the somewhat disappointing arrival of the Apple iPhone 4S, the iPhone 5, which has recently been tipped for an October 2012 release, is now expected to land without its numerical branding.

As well as a quad-core ARM A6 processor, a number of iPhone 5 rumours have suggested the next-gen handset will sport an improved camera, increased RAM and larger storage options.

What would you like to see Apple do with its next-generation iPhone be it called the iPhone 5 or simply the new iPhone? Let us know via the T3 Twitter and Facebook feeds.

 

Source: T3

This iPhone Platform Will Change The Way You Shoot Videos

A new Kickstarter project is aiming to redefine how you shoot video with your iPhone. The Galileo is an iOS-controlled robotic iPhone platform that lets you manipulate the angle your iPhone from another iOS device, giving you the ability to adjust your iPhone to almost any angle you could possibly want.

For instance, if you were video chatting with a child who moved out of sight of the camera you could move the platform to follow her using your own device. The platform could also be used in situations like meetings so you can can follow all the action going on in the room. The platform's inventor originally created the device in order to have better chats with his son while he was away on business.

Galileo can be controlled from another iOS device such as an iPad or iPod touch by swiping a finger across the screen, and gives you infinite 360-degree panning and 200-degree tilting. You can see everything around the iPhone and above it, with the only unavailable angle being what's going on below.

The platform is also offering its SDK (software developers kit) for app development, giving app developers the freedom to integrate Galileo functionality into existing apps or create apps and software specifically designed to work with the product.

Galilieo has currently raised close to $270,000 on Kickstarter, and only required $100,000 to go into production. The project will be officially funded on April 21, 2012, after which the device will go into mass production and be sent out to project backers and then likely general consumers.

Source:  mashable

Ayada Maldives makes a splash in the Indian Ocean

Recognised as the World’s Leading New Villa Resort by the World Travel Awards, Ayada Maldives has been making waves since opening last year. Breaking Travel News calls in at what is fast becoming one of the most sought after resorts in the Indian Ocean.
Since opening last year, Ayada Maldives has made a grand impression on the luxury hospitality scene, reflected in its victory at the World Travel Awards Grand Final 2011 when it was voted ‘World’s Leading New Villa Resort’. This was preceded by top honours at WTA’s Africa & Indian Ocean Ceremony in September, when it was named ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading New Resort’.
Owned by Turkey’s Aydeniz Group, the 112-villa resort is located just 30 kilometres from the equator in the Gafuu Dhaalu Atoll and on the previously undeveloped island of Maguhdhuvaa. The location is ideal, with the distance from Maldives capital Malé meaning the resort takes on the feel of an intimate hideaway, with the closest inhabited island more than ten kilometres away. The lack of ambient light also allows for breathtaking star-gazing opportunities.

Amazing villas
Ayada is made up of 62 seafront and 50 water villas, starting from 103 square metres. Each of the sea villas comes with its own private pool and terrace overlooking the tranquil waters of the Indian Ocean. They are positioned so as to capture views of the spectacular sunrise and sunsets with infinite views of the ocean. For a taste of ultra luxury try the outstanding duplex Ayada Royal Ocean Suite.

All exterior and interior elements have been especially commissioned to use the most durable natural elements and as such there is an abundance of teak, marble and sandstone finishings throughout the property.
Gourmet delights. 

Ayada Maldives offers guests seven vividly enticing outlets, each with its own influence, ranging from exotic Asian flavours to tantalising Mediterranean specialities. The unique ‘Ile de Joie’, for example, offers an extensive selection of quality wines and cheeses with an array of the finest chocolate as well as a humidor stocked with a variety of top quality Cuban cigars. All dining experiences at Ayada Maldives come complete with impeccable service and breathtaking views of the ocean.

World-class watersports
Like much of the Maldives, Maguhdhuvaa is surrounded by pristine waters – perfect for both diving and snorkelling. The onsite dive and watersports centre offers a range of courses and experiences, including anything from professional PADI diving certifications to fun dives, snorkelling, canoeing, wind surfing, catamaran sailing, stand up paddling, and water skiing. Other recreational facilities include a large infinity pool, tennis, mini football, volleyball, badminton and a games room with Xbox, PS3 and pool tables.

The resort also benefits from proximity to the best surfing spots in the Maldives, Kid’s Club and babysitting services. Private events are catered for with ‘The White Room’ offering a venue for a wedding or large scale event with a garden setting for up to 450 people.

Spa heaven
Ayada’s 3,500 square metre AySpa, which is managed by spa consultants ESPA, was designed by leading spa experts and unites the nurturing effects of water with earth’s elements. AySpa boasts the only private hammam in the Maldives and is also the only facility to offer Vichy spa products. At over 3,500 sqm, it is one of the most comprehensive in the Indian Ocean. Guests can try three exclusive signature rituals, all of which have been carefully considered to unite the nurturing effects natural elements as well as three unique AySpa hammam rituals.

Source: Breaking Travel News

5 new facts from James Cameron about making 'Titanic'

He snagged the world record for the deepest solo dive last week in the South Pacific, but James Cameron just can't resist going back to Titanic.

In London for the premiere of his 3-D rerelease of his Best Picture-winning epic about the doomed ocean liner, which is hitting theaters next month in honor of its 15th anniversary, the famed director talked to E! News about the making of "Titanic," the phenomenon it became and casting stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

Here are five new things we learned:

1. Keep Reshuffling Those Deck Chairs: Cameron, 57, admitted he may have bit off more than he could chew with the 1997 melodrama, particularly given the cost overruns that earned Titanic a flood of negative publicity, so much so that it was being heralded as a bomb before it even opened.

"You know it just seemed like we were doomed," the helmer tells E! News, reflecting back at the long shoot and tortuous postproduction process. "The press were just having their way with us...that we were the biggest idiots in history of Hollywood at least since "Cleopatra"...and so it was difficult. You just had to focus on the work and [hope] that all those rounds just go over the top of the bunker."

2. Capturing Lightning in a Bottle: On "Titanic" becoming a box-office phenomenon -- its $1.8 billion in global ticket sales were the highest-grossing film in history until surpassed by his own film, "Avatar" -- Cameron cited as the reason the fact the flick was able to tap into a set of universal emotions, "speaking to people at a deep kind of universal level that just bypassed language and idiom and culture.

" 'Titanic'...says, 'What would you do if you had an hour or two to live? Would you sacrifice yourself? Would you be that hero? Would you be that guy like Jack or some of those men that put the woman and children onto the lifeboats?'" mused the filmmaker.

3. On Winslet's Audition: Cameron was effusive in his praise for his lead actress. "We cast Kate first and she just blew me away at her screen test," he remembered.

4. Enter the Heartthrob: The King of the World Deep instantly knew the chemistry was right when DiCaprio read for him. "I noticed there was something strange when Leo came in for his first meeting and all of a sudden all the women who worked for me in my entire production company were all in the meeting," Cameron said. "I thought well that's a little strange...and then Leonardo walked in and I went, 'Oh I get it I see what's going on.' Even at that age he was just such a remarkable actor and so accomplished."

5. On Leo's Sudden Fame: Lastly, the artist turned pioneering deep sea explorer revealed that DiCaprio ran away from his iconic role post-"Titanic" because he feared being typecast. "I think it was tough on Leo because he had planned a career as an actor," Cameron said. "I mean, he admired De Niro and that ability to just immerse himself in any character and he knew now...with that iconic status of his character Jack in 'Titanic' that he was going to have to fight against that for a while. So I think he kind of distanced himself from the movie...Now he's fine because he's proven himself."

And so has Cameron both on the screen and off...or at least until "Avatar 2" and "Avatar 3' hit theaters in a few years.

Source: MSNBC

Extraordinary ultrasound image shows how mother gave birth to two babies from two separate wombs

When doctors discovered Danielle Young was pregnant they were amazed.

Mrs Young had been diagnosed with having two wombs - a rare condition that makes it difficult to carry a baby to full term.

Furthermore one fallopian tube was completely blocked which means only one of her two wombs were functioning properly.

So they were even more amazed when they made a second startling discovery - that she was pregnant with twins - one in each womb - in staggering odds of five million to one.

Both twins were born safely which amazed medical experts, who warned Mrs Young that it was likely she would lose both babies.

Professor of Obstetrics Andrew Shennan, from Kings College Hospital in London said: ‘An obstetrician will see a case like this once in a lifetime.

‘The egg must have come down the fallopian tube that doctors thought was previously blocked. It is extremely unusual.’

Mrs Young, 29, had defied medical odds already to give birth to her daughter Paige, now five.

She had been diagnosed with a bicornuate uterus at the age of 18. The condition meant her womb was completely split in two and the two halves were sealed off from each other, making two separate wombs.

She also has a double cervix and a double vagina. But one fallopian tube was completely blocked, which meant that it would only be possible for her to fall pregnant in one womb.

But having two smaller wombs, also meant that it would be difficult for her to carry a baby to full term.

Mrs Young, who lives with her husband Richard, 39, a plumber, in Bridgwater, Somerset, said: ‘I knew that because of my condition it would be unlikely that I would ever be a mum.‘It was devastating because I loved children, but I had to accept that it wasn’t going to happen.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2123496/Mother-defies-odds-million-gives-birth-babies-separate-wombs.html#ixzz1qmufOjUA 

Nasal spray vaccine that stops heart attacks by cutting fat in arteries 'will be here within five years'

Scientists have made a major breakthrough in the prevention of heart attacks after developing a vaccine that dramatically reduces fat in the arteries.

The drug, which can be administered by injection or nasal spray, could be available within five years.

Current treatment involves medication that reduces cholesterol and blood pressure.

But the study by Lund University in Sweden is the first which has targeted the underlying cause of heart disease.

Prof Peter Weissberg, the British Heart Foundation medical director, said the vaccine was 'very promising'.

Fatty deposits can place great strain on the heart by narrowing the arteries and forcing it to pump far harder.

This treatment works by stimulating the body's immune system to produce antibodies which tackle this build-up.

In tests on mice, researchers found that it could reduce plaque by 60 to 70 per cent, it was reported in the Daily Telegraph.

The resulting injection is waiting regulatory clearance to start clinical trials.

A second vaccine has been created as a nasal spray. A trial on 144 heart disease sufferers is under way in the U.S. and Canada.

There are around 2.7million Britons with heart disease, costing more than £3billion in treatment every year.

But Prof Jan Nilsson, professor of experimental cardiovascular research at Lund University, said it was unlikely that the drug would be administered like traditional vaccines in childhood.

'The antibody therapy in particularly is likely to be expensive, so you could probably only afford to give it to high-risk populations rather than everyone,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

Different ways of administering the vaccine are being developed and could be licensed within five years, the Frontiers in CardioVascular Biology conference at Imperial College London was told.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2123490/Heart-attack-breakthrough-Vaccine-years.html#ixzz1qmwSiJ00 

Bees 'Self-Medicate' When Infected With Some Pathogens

Research from North Carolina State University shows that honey bees "self-medicate" when their colony is infected with a harmful fungus, bringing in increased amounts of antifungal plant resins to ward off the pathogen.

"The colony is willing to expend the energy and effort of its worker bees to collect these resins," says Dr. Michael Simone-Finstrom, a postdoctoral research scholar in NC State's Department of Entomology and lead author of a paper describing the research. "So, clearly this behavior has evolved because the benefit to the colony exceeds the cost."

Wild honey bees normally line their hives with propolis, a mixture of plant resins and wax that has antifungal and antibacterial properties. Domesticated honey bees also use propolis, to fill in cracks in their hives. However, researchers found that, when faced with a fungal threat, bees bring in significantly more propolis -- 45 percent more, on average. The bees also physically removed infected larvae that had been parasitized by the fungus and were being used to create fungal spores.

Researchers know propolis is an effective antifungal agent because they lined some hives with a propolis extract and found that the extract significantly reduced the rate of infection.

And apparently bees can sometimes distinguish harmful fungi from harmless ones, since colonies did not bring in increased amounts of propolis when infected with harmless fungal species. Instead, the colonies relied on physically removing the spores.

However, the self-medicating behavior does have limits. Honey bee colonies infected with pathogenic bacteria did not bring in significantly more propolis -- despite the fact that the propolis also has antibacterial properties. "There was a slight increase, but it was not statistically significant," Simone-Finstrom says. "That is something we plan to follow up on."

There may be a lesson here for domestic beekeepers. "Historically, U.S. beekeepers preferred colonies that used less of this resin, because it is sticky and can be difficult to work with," Simone-Finstrom says. "Now we know that this is a characteristic worth promoting, because it seems to offer the bees some natural defense."

Source:Science Daily

WHY DO PEOPLE BULLY?

Why do people Bully? "It provides these kids with a sense of power," said Catherine Bradshaw, a developmental psychologist who studies bullying at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. "It's a way of pulling your core group closer and putting someone else out of it."

"The simple reason is it shows that they have power over others," agreed Marlene Snyder, Development Director for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in the United States, based in Clemson, S.C. "The reason that they do it repeatedly is that they are getting away with it. Nobody is calling them on their bad behavior. When they aren't called on it they think, 'Well, it must be O.K.'"

This power brings popularity and high social status for bullies, Bradshaw said. "But they're also perceived as disliked."

Evidence has shown that bullies often suffer from social and emotional problems, she added. At the same time, "one of the big myths is that bullies bully because they feel bad about themselves," Snyder said. "The research consistently shows that they have average or above average self-esteem."

"For the longest time we thought for sure that these ringleader bullies were socially rejected, that there was no way that you could establish dominance and control by humiliating other kids or tormenting them," said bullying expert Dorothy Espelage, a psychologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "But now we've shown that there is a peer socialization process -- that bullies tend to have more friends."

Indeed, experts agree that peer influence is crucial in accounting for bullying. "If your peer group says that pushing and shoving and spitting on people or spreading lies is O.K., even though you may have been taught differently in your home, you lose your moral compass," Snyder said.

But researchers also emphasize that parents play a role. "If parents are modeling aggression, the kids might learn that," Bradshaw said. "The things they say to their kids about how to handle conflict and the way they handle conflict, are important."

"The reality is we're not talking to kids early enough and long enough about bullying and healthy relationships," Espelage said.

"As you age, you understand the consequences of your behavior," she added. "I don't think high-schoolers understand that they can be prosecuted."

Snyder emphasized that the definition of bullying is important: "It is not just kids being kids," she said. "A person who bullies intentionally picks out someone that they know is weaker than themselves so that they can intimidate, harass or humiliate them to do their bidding. It is a misuse of their power. This behavior is usually repeated and of course this power differential is there."

"It's not just a conflict," she said. "In a conflict the kids are of equal power. They are still supported by their friends. It's important to understand that bullying is abuse."

Discovery News

LED HANDLEBARS ILLUMINATE BIKE SAFETY

When it comes to bike safety, there is no shortage of illuminating reflectors, clamp lights and frame lights to make night riding less of a dark peddle down the road of hazard.

Yet the newest addition to hop on that saddle entirely does away with the need for fastening anything to your bike. Instead, Mitchell Silva has created GLOBARS and they perform just like they sound. They're handlebars integrated with LED lights.

"My idea was to create a bicycle light that could be easily used, and offer the same user friendliness of integrated bicycle lights, while remaining at a significantly lower price point," Silva wrote on his website.

For his prototype, Silva cut long strips out of the bars and installed plastic tubing on the inside to keep them rigid.

"I then installed approximately 40 high-efficiency LED bulbs into the inner plastic tubing, and installed a momentary actuator button on the back of the bars," Silva explained. "The whole system runs off a watch battery."

Silva envisions his GLOBARS benefiting those who face the most danger: urban cyclists. In 2009, 630 cyclists were killed in the United States alone and 51,000 were injured. Of those accidents, 70 percent occurred in urban areas.

Besides their safety attributes, GLOBARS are super bright and, not to mention, really cool-looking. And who wouldn't want to ride around the city streets at night gripping a pair of glowing-bull-horn handlebars?

Discovery News

DOGS MAKE GOING TO WORK MORE FUN

It's long been known that owning a pet can be good for your mental and physical health, but new research indicates that it can also make your office a much happier and productive place.

That's the finding of a first-of-its kind study, which looked at the effects that man's best friend has on employees. In that research, dogs were demonstrated to have many positive benefits in the workplace, most notably that they reduce stress and make working more satisfying.

"Although preliminary, this study provides the first quantitative study of the effects of employees' pet dogs in the workplace setting on employee stress, job satisfaction, support and commitment," said principal investigator Randolph Barker, professor of management in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business. "Dogs in the workplace can make a positive difference. The differences in perceived stress between days the dog was present and absent were significant. The employees as a whole had higher job satisfaction than industry norms."

To prove this, Barker, along with fellow VCU professors Janet Knisely, Sandra Barker, Rachel Cobb and Christine Schubert of the Air Force Institute of Technology, examined workers at a North Carolina company for one week. The company, which has 550 employees, also has between 20 and 30 dogs, brought by employees, on any given day.

Workers reported that the dogs were a "great bonus for employee morale" and "a great stress relief," while also being an aid in "increasing co-worker cooperation." The stress relief that dogs provide, however, has manyadditional benefits since reduced stress consequently leads to reduced absenteeism and burnout, while also improving productivity.

"The effect of pets in reducing the impact of stress and enhancing communication found in other settings may extend to the workplace," Barker said. "Pet presence may serve as a low-cost, wellness intervention readily available to many organizations and may enhance organizational satisfaction and perceptions of support. Of course, it is important to have policies in place to ensure only friendly, clean and well-behaved pets are present in the workplace."

This research was published in the March issue of the International Journal of Workplace Health Management.

Drag Me to Hell (2009)

Drag Me to Hell is a 2009 supernatural horror film, directed by Sam Raimi, with a screenplay by Sam and Ivan Raimi. The plot focuses on loan officer Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), who tries to impress her boss by refusing to extend a loan to a gypsy woman by the name of Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver). In retaliation, Ganush places a curse on Christine that, after three days of escalating torment, will plunge her into the depths of Hell to burn for eternity.

Raimi wrote Drag Me to Hell with his brother, Ivan, prior to working on the Spider-Man films. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was released to wide critical acclaim. It was also a box office success, making $90.8 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. Drag Me to Hell won the award for Best Horror Film at the 2009 Scream Awards and the 2010 Saturn Awards.

Cast:

• Alison Lohman as Christine Brown: A young mild-mannered bank employee who desires the position of assistant manager. After turning down Sylvia Ganush's request for a third extension on her mortgage, she is cursed by her and attacked by a demon called the Lamia.

• Justin Long as Professor Clayton "Clay" Dalton: Christine's boyfriend who is a college professor born to a wealthy family. Clayton is skeptical about Rham Jas's help and the existence of the demon.

• Lorna Raver as Mrs. Sylvia Ganush: An elderly Hungarian woman who attacks Christine Brown and places a curse on her. Ganush dies the day after the attack, but her spirit constantly haunts Christine throughout the film.

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

How to Train Your Dragon is a 2010 3D computer-animated action/adventure film by DreamWorks Animation loosely based on the English 2003 book of the same name. The film stars the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wiig, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score at the 83rd Academy Awards, but lost to Toy Story 3 and The Social Network, respectively. The movie also won ten Annie Awards, including Best Animated Feature.

The story takes place in a mythical Viking world where a young Viking teenager named Hiccup aspires to follow his tribe's tradition of becoming a dragon slayer. After finally capturing his first dragon, and with his chance at finally gaining the tribe's acceptance, he finds that he no longer has the desire to kill it and instead befriends it.

The film was released March 26, 2010 to positive reviews. The film grossed nearly $500 million worldwide and became DreamWorks Animation's fifth most successful film in the United States and Canada (behind the Shrek film series).

The Good Guy by Dean Koontz

From the Publisher:
Timothy Carrier, having a beer after work at his friend's tavern, enjoys drawing eccentric customers into amusing conversations. But the jittery man who sits next to him tonight has mistaken Tim for someone very different--and passes to him a manila envelope full of cash.

"Ten thousand now. You get the rest when she's gone."

The stranger walks out, leaving a photo of the pretty woman marked for death, and her address. But things are about to get worse. In minutes another stranger sits next to Tim. This one is a cold-blooded killer who believes Tim is the man who has hired him.

Thinking fast, Tim says, "I've had a change of heart. You get ten thousand--for doing nothing. Call it a no-kill fee." He keeps the photo and gives the money to the hired killer. And when Tim secretly follows the man out of the tavern, he gets a further shock: the hired killer is a cop.

Suddenly, Tim Carrier, an ordinary guy, is at the center of a mystery of extraordinary proportions, the one man who can save an innocent life and stop a killer far more powerful than any cop...and as relentless as evil incarnate. But first Tim must discover within himself the capacity for selflessness, endurance, and courage that can turn even an ordinary man into a hero, inner resources that will transform his idea of who he is and what it takes to be The Good Guy.

Marie-Antoinette Mules Fetch Thousands at an Auction

A pair of silk mules believed to have belonged to Marie-Antoinette fetched over 43,000 euros at an auction of French Revolution era artefacts on Saturday.

The white silk shoes decorated with tricolour pleated ribbons date back to 1790 and are size 36.5, which corresponds to Marie-Antoinette's shoe size, the organisers of the auction said.

They went under the hammer in the French city of Toulon for 43,225 euros (over $57,000), vastly exceeding the expected sale price of between 3,000 and 5,000 euros.


Organisers said the shoes may have been worn by the Austrian-born Marie-Antoinette, the Queen consort of Louis XVI, at national day celebrations on July 14, 1790.

Marie-Antoinette, the subject of deep resentment in France for her legendary extravagance, was executed by the guillotine in October 1793 for treason following the revolution.

South Africa's Car Guard Song becomes internet hit

A spoof song celebrating South Africa's ubiquitous, fluorescent-jacketed car guards and highlighting their chagrin at poor tips from motorists has become an internet sensation.

Accompanied by a video, the Car Guard Song is based on the Rihanna/Eminem collaboration, Love the Way You Lie, and is the work of Capetonian comedy duo Nic Smal and Gareth Allison.
It focuses on the lives of the mostly black, informal workers who have become a common sight on South Africa's crime-ridden streets, watching motorists' cars and helping them park when they arrive and pull out safely when they leave in return for small change.

Self-appointed, unarmed and equipped only with a cheap fluorescent jacket to set them apart, little formal research has been done into how much of a deterrent to serious criminals the car guard is. As a result, they are seen as little more than an annoyance by many South Africans, who will often plead a lack of change or simply ignore their outstretched hands when they return to their car.

But their fortunes may have changed with the arrival of the Car Guard Song, which looks at the trade from their perspective. The lyrics include lines such as: "It is my duty to keep danger at arm's length. Come rain or shine, I will protect using my own strength. When I put on this vest, I'm like a superhero fighting crime.


Telegraph

How bees fight fungus!

(LiveScience)When they get sick, bees raid their own "medicine cabinet," researchers have found. Specifically, when infected with fungi, they collect loads of antifungal plant extracts and coat their hives with them.

The mix of plant resins and wax that the bees usually use to line their hives, called propolis, have antifungal properties.

The new research could help beekeepers ward off fungal infection in their colonies, Michael Simone-Finstrom of North Carolina State University said in a statement. "Historically, U.S. beekeepers preferred colonies that used less of this resin, because it is sticky and can be difficult to work with," he said. "Now we know that this is a characteristic worth promoting, because it seems to offer the bees some natural defense."
The researchers studied 23 colonies, 12 of which had hives coated with "natural" amounts of resin, and 11 with the low amounts normally used in beekeeping. They then challenged the colonies with fungal and bacterial infections, and analyzed how many bees went out to fetch resin for the propolis in each hive, to see if the hive was sending out more foragers to get resin.

The researchers found that when facing a fungal threat the bees brought in 45 percent more of the waxy creation to line their hives, and physically removed fungally-infected larvae from their area. Interestingly, that means they have a better grasp of the germ theory of disease than humans did before the 19th century — things that come into contact with microbes tend to cause further infection, the researchers noted.

"The colony is willing to expend the energy and effort of its worker bees to collect these resins," Simone-Finstrom said in a statement. "So, clearly this behavior has evolved because the benefit to the colony exceeds the cost."

The bees were even aware of which fungi were harmful and which weren't. When infected with fungus that didn't cause disease, the bees didn't ramp up their propolis deposition in response.

Though this waxy substance can also defend the hive against bacteria, the bees don't seem to use it to the same advantage. The researchers saw what looked like a small increase in propolis in the hives infected with disease-causing bacteria, but the effect wasn't significant. "There was a slight increase, but it was not statistically significant," Simone-Finstrom said. "That is something we plan to follow up on."

The study was published March 29 in the journal PLoS ONE.

Dead stars 'to guide spacecraft'

Stellar beacons for navigation

Spacecraft could one day navigate through the cosmos using a particular type of dead star as a kind of GPS.

German scientists are developing a technique that allows for very precise positioning anywhere in space by picking up X-ray signals from pulsars.

These dense, burnt-out stars rotate rapidly, sweeping their emission across the cosmos at rates that are so stable they rival atomic clock performance.

This timing property is perfect for interstellar navigation, says the team.

If a spacecraft carried the means to detect the pulses, it could compare their arrival times with those predicted at a reference location. This would enable the craft to determine its position to an accuracy of just five kilometres anywhere in the galaxy.

"The principle is so simple that it will definitely have applications," said Prof Werner Becker from the Max-Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching.

"These pulsars are everywhere in the Universe and their flashing is so predictable that it makes such an approach really straightforward," he told BBC News.

Prof Becker has been describing his team's research here at the UK National Astronomy Meeting in Manchester.

The proposed technique is very similar to that employed in the popular Global Positioning System, which broadcasts timing signals to the user from a constellation of satellites in orbit.

But GPS only works on, or just above, the Earth so it has no use beyond our planet.

Currently, mission controllers wanting to work out the position of their spacecraft deep in the Solar System will study the differences in time radio communications take to travel to and from the satellite. It is a complex process and requires several antennas dotted across the Earth.

It is also a technique that is far from precise, and the errors increase the further away the probe moves.

For the most distant spacecraft still in operation - Nasa's Voyager satellites, which are now approaching the very edge of the Solar System, some 18 billion km away - the errors associated with their positions are on the order of several hundred km.

Even for a probe at the reasonably short separation of Mars, the positioning uncertainty can be about 10km.

It is unlikely though that navigation by pulsar beacon will find immediate use.

The telescope hardware for detecting X-rays in space has traditionally been bulky and heavy.

Engineers will need to miniaturise the technology to make a practical pulsar navigation unit.

"It becomes possible with the development of lightweight X-ray mirrors," said Prof Becker.

"These are on the way for the next generation of X-ray telescopes. Current mirrors have a 100 times more weight and would be completely unusable.

"In 15-20 years, the new mirrors will be standard and our device will be ready to be built."

The scientist believes his navigation solution will certainly find use on Solar System probes, providing autonomous navigation for interplanetary missions and perhaps for future manned ventures to Mars where high performance systems will be an absolute requirement for safety reasons.

But he also likes the idea of humanity one day pushing out across interstellar space.

"You know for GPS that if you go to another country, you have to buy the maps for your device. Well, we were joking with our students in Garching about selling maps for different galaxies for ships like Enterprise [on Star Trek]." (BBC)

Study: Coffee may make you lazy

Depending on your personality, your morning cup of Joe may be counterproductive.  Though the caffeine will certainly wake you up, it may also dampen your desire to work hard, rather than spur you to action.

The study, published online today in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, found that “worker” rats, those that naturally wanted to work harder for greater rewards, were more likely to avoid hard work when given amphetamine or caffeine.  Only “slacker” rats, those that don’t rise to challenges and aim for small rewards, were motivated by the stimulants.

Researchers from the University of British Columbia set out to examine what motivates people to put out either a lot of effort or a little.

“The degree of effort that we are willing to expend for a goal has far-reaching consequences for our economic and personal success,” the researchers wrote.

For example, if you’re deciding whether to simply punch the clock at work or to go the extra mile, you weigh the cost of the effort with the potential reward.

The study found that rats fell into two groups: “worker” rats and “slackers,” based on how often they gravitated to high-effort, high-reward activities versus low-effort, low –reward activities.  Humans, too, can fall into these groups, and certain health conditions cause a lack of motivation, including depression and ADHD.

“I think the most important thing to take away from the worker/slacker distinction is that we don't all make decisions in the same way,” said Jay Hosking, lead author of the study and PhD candidate.  “Some of us are happy to put in the extra effort in hopes of a promotion, while others may be satisfied to earn their wages and do the bare minimum at work.”

What was perhaps more surprising was that stimulants may have a beneficial effect on “slackers,” and a subduing effect on “workers.” That may mean the people who know they suffer a lack of motivation could benefit from coffee.

The bottom line: If you tend towards low energy, caffeine may boost you into a more goal-oriented category, but if you’re already a hard worker, you may want to cut back on that afternoon cup of coffee.

“I think this is already somewhat understood in everyday life; for some of us, coffee really does the trick for those long hours in the middle of the day, but for other people it makes them too jittery or aroused to concentrate on their work,” Hosking said.  (Foxnews.com)

General Motors belives Climate Change 'is real'

Car giant, General Motors, has decided that Climate Change is real and has broken their 20-year relationship and support with Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based nonprofit well-known for attacking the science behind global warming and climate change.

The automaker told the Heartland Institute last week that it won't be making further donations, spokesman Greg Martin said. At a speech earlier this month, GM CEO Dan Akerson said his company is running its business under the assumption that climate change is real.

"We applaud GM's decision and the message it sends -- that it is no longer acceptable for corporations to promote the denial of climate change and that support for an organization like Heartland is not in line with GM's values," said Daniel Souweine, campaign director for Forecast the Facts, a group that urges meteorologists to talk more openly about climate change.

Internal documents leaked in February showed that the General Motors Foundation -- which the automaker runs separately from its business -- donated to the institute $15,000 in 2010 and again in 2011, with another $15,000 expected to be gifted this year.

The thinktank has long been an incubator of ideas casting doubt that the world is warming as a result of man-made pollution. In 2009 it held a conference in New York under the title "Global warming: was it ever really a crisis?"

Kert Davies, head of research for Greenpeace US that tracks the Heartland Institute, lauded the GM move. "It is a further indication that the Heartland Institute's misinformation about climate change is not something that corporations want to have anything to do with. It has become toxic."

In its response, the Heartland said that it regretted the loss of GM's support and called on liberal advocacy groups such as Greenpeace and the Huffington Post to stop "attacking scientists who question the theory of man-made global warming and corporations and foundations that are willing to fund open debate on this important public policy issue".