5 car bombs kill 26 in Shiite areas across Iraq

Civilians gather at the scene of a car bomb attack in the southern Shiite city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, April. 29, 2013. Five car bombs exploded Monday in predominantly Shiite cities and districts in central and southern Iraq, killing and wounding dozens of people, police said. (AP Photo)

Civilians gather at the scene of a car bomb attack in the southern Shiite city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, April. 29, 2013. Five car bombs exploded Monday in predominantly Shiite cities and districts in central and southern Iraq, killing and wounding dozens of people, police said. (AP Photo)

BAGHDAD (AP) ? Five car bombs exploded Monday in predominantly Shiite cities and districts in central and southern Iraq, killing 26 civilians and wounding dozens, officials said.

The blasts come amid a week-long spike in sectarian violence following clashes at a Sunni protest camp in the north of the country. No one has claimed responsibility, but coordinated bombings in civilian areas are a favorite strategy used by al-Qaida in Iraq.

Two parked car bombs went off simultaneously Monday morning in the city of Amarah near a gathering of construction workers and a market, killing 13 civilians and wounding 42, according to police.

Another police officer said a parked car bomb exploded near a restaurant in the city of Diwaniyah, killing eight civilians and wounding 25 others. At least three cars were seen charred and twisted outside a two-story building with a blast-damaged facade. Shop owners and cleaners were brushing debris off the bloodstained pavement.

Amarah, some 320 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Baghdad and Diwaniyah, 30 kilometers (80 miles) south of the capital, are heavily Shiite and normally comparatively peaceful.

Hours later, another parked car bomb went off in the Shiite city of Karbala, killing two civilians and wounding 12 others, police said. Two early Islamic figures revered by Shiites are buried in the city, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of Baghdad.

A parked car bomb ripped through a Shiite neighborhood in the otherwise predominantly Sunni town of Mahmoudiya, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) south of Baghdad, killing three and wounding 16, another police said.

Four medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information.

Sectarian violence has spiked since Tuesday, when security forces tried to make arrests at a Sunni Muslim protest camp in the northern city of Hawija. The move set off a clash that killed 23 people, including three soldiers.

The Hawija incident and a spate of follow-up battles between gunmen and security forces as well as other attacks, including Monday's, have left around 200 dead in the last week.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-04-29-Iraq/id-7dbdd1e78abd4f82b4ced565f0ff94c9

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CA-NEWS Summary

Syrian prime minister survives Damascus bombing, six die

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halki survived a bomb attack on his convoy in Damascus on Monday, state media and activists said, as rebels struck in the heart of President Bashar al-Assad's capital. Six people were killed in the blast, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, the latest in a series of rebel attacks on government targets including a December bombing which wounded Assad's interior minister.

Italy's new government begins life in climate of crisis

ROME (Reuters) - New Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta seeks the backing of parliament in a confidence vote on Monday, facing severe political and economic problems that will test the solidity of his broad coalition government in the months ahead. Letta is due to speak in parliament at 3 p.m. (9:00 a.m. EDT) before the lower house confidence vote in the evening, where he will be backed by his center-left Democratic Party and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's center-right People of Freedom.

Lawyers, public chant "hang him" as Bangladesh building owner led to court

DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladeshi lawyers and protesters chanted "hang him, hang him" on Monday as the owner of a factory building that collapsed last week killing nearly 400 people was led into court dressed in a helmet and bullet-proof jacket, witnesses said. The drama came as rescue officials said they were unlikely to find more survivors in the rubble of the building that collapsed on Wednesday, burying hundreds of garment workers in the country's worst industrial accident.

South Africa's Mandela in good health, good spirits: ANC

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela is in good health and good spirits, South Africa's ruling African National Congress said on Monday, in the first update on his condition since he was discharged from hospital in early April. President Jacob Zuma and other party leaders visited the 94-year-old former president at his Johannesburg home.

In changing region, U.S. committed to military ties with Gulf Arabs

DUBAI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington is signaling its military commitment to its Gulf Arab allies at a time of unfamiliar strain in their decades old partnership. Syria's civil war and Iran's nuclear program have led to tensions, with Gulf Arab states willing a more assertive U.S. response to bring Iran to heel and force Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power. Growing U.S. energy independence has further complicated a relationship founded on oil and defense.

Kenya chief justice denies taking bribe in presidential petition

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's chief justice on Monday denied accusations that he had received bribes to rule in favor of President Uhuru Kenyatta in a petition challenging the outcome of last month's election that was the biggest test yet of the newly reformed judiciary. Kenya's Supreme Court, chaired by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, upheld Kenyatta's victory, dismissing a petition by presidential contender Raila Odinga. Former Prime Minister Odinga accepted the verdict, helping douse tensions after tribal violence blighted the previous election five years before.

Dubai court jails Britons for four years on drug charges

DUBAI (Reuters) - A Dubai court sentenced three Britons to four years in jail on drug charges on Monday, a decision that may overshadow a visit to Britain by the United Arab Emirates president because of allegations that the defendants were tortured. The three were convicted a day after British Prime Minister David Cameron voiced concern about the allegations and his spokesman said the case would be on the agenda of his talks this week with UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan.

British voters see more gloom in years ahead: poll

LONDON (Reuters) - Nearly half of Britons expect their living standards to fall further by the time they vote in the next election in 2015, but the opposition Labor Party could still struggle to win if the economy does rebound, a pollster said on Monday. A YouGov poll showed 46 percent of respondents thought they would be worse off in 2015 than now. Only seven percent saw a full recovery in the next two to three years.

Myanmar should deploy more troops in volatile state: commission

YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar must urgently address the plight of Muslims displaced by sectarian bloodshed in western Rakhine State and double the number of security forces to control the still-volatile region, an independent commission said on Monday. Its long-awaited report recommended a mixed bag of humanitarian and security responses to violence last June and October that killed at least 192 people and left 140,000 homeless, mostly stateless Rohingya Muslims in an area dominated by ethnic Rakhine Buddhists.

Car bomb blasts kill 18 in Iraqi Shi'ite provinces

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Car bombs in busy Shi'ite Muslim areas of southern Iraq killed at least 18 people on Monday, medics and police sources said, taking the week's death toll to nearly 200 as sectarian violence intensifies. Militant attacks have increased as the civil war in neighboring Syria puts further strains on fragile Sunni-Shi'ite relations, and tensions are at their highest since U.S. troops left Iraq more than a year ago.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ca-news-summary-014908619.html

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Leadership emerges spontaneously during games

Apr. 29, 2013 ? Video game and augmented-reality game players can spontaneously build virtual teams and leadership structures without special tools or guidance, according to researchers.

Players in a game that mixed real and online worlds organized and operated in teams that resembled a military organization with only rudimentary online tools available and almost no military background, said Tamara Peyton, doctoral student in information sciences and technology, Penn State.

"The fact that they formed teams and interacted as well as they did may mean that game designers should resist over-designing the leadership structures," said Peyton. "If you don't design the leadership structures well, you shouldn't design them at all and, instead, let the players figure it out."

Peyton, who worked with Alyson Young, graduate student in information systems, and Wayne Lutters, associate professor of information systems, both at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, said that the players quickly adopted a leadership structure that resembled the U.S. military's leadership hierarchy.

"One of the surprising things is that although the people in the game were not related in any way to the military, many of the teams organized along military lines, from designations to filing situation reports," said Peyton.

The researchers, who presented their findings at the 2013 Annual Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Paris today (April 29), examined 54,000 posts of 2,500 players who took part in the I Love Bees game. Microsoft released the game in 2004 as part of a viral marketing campaign to promote the release of the company's Halo 2 video game. The object of the I Love Bees game was to decode messages from a beekeeper's website that was supposedly hacked by aliens. The coded messages revealed geographic coordinates of real pay telephones situated throughout the United States. Players then waited at those payphones for calls that contained more clues.

Because the game did not have a leadership infrastructure, players established their own websites and online forums on other websites to discuss structure, strategy and tactics.

A group of gamers from Washington, D.C., one of the most successful groups in the game, established an organization with a general and groups of lieutenants and privates. The numbers of members in each rank were roughly proportional to the amount of soldiers who fill out ranks in the U.S. military, Peyton said.

The players assigned their own ranks, rather than have ranks dictated to them. The general oversaw the strategy, while lieutenants mostly handled specific tactics for accomplishing the strategy. The privates carried out orders from the lieutenants.

As the game progressed, members researched military terminology and frequently used terms, such as armies, platoons and companies, in their message board posts. Peyton said that the increased militarization after 9/11 may have influenced this choice in terminology.

"The concept of militarization is more of a part of the collective imagination now, post 9/11," Peyton said.

Peyton said the study also shows the power of games to inspire people to work.

"These people did all of this work with no tangible reward, no promise of a free game, or anything," said Peyton. "The strict line between work and leisure is disappearing."

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/living_well/~3/n8n3etHbO7s/130429102413.htm

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Obama and O'Brien Cast Their Versions of D.C. White House Correspondents' Dinner

Both President Barack Obama and Conan O'Brien decided to cast Hollywood versions of D.C. at the White House Correspondents' Dinner this year. Obama's version was directed by Steven Spielberg, O'Brien's starred "Tan Mom" as John Boehner.

With the celebrities having walked the White House Correspondents' Dinner red carpet and the crowd in the Washington Hilton having eaten and schmoozed, it came time for the key parts of the evening: remarks from President Obama and Conan O'Brien. Of particular interest was how the president was going to address the recent bombings in Boston, and, along those same lines, what tone O'Brien will take.

Obama came out swinging with jokes at the ready. One of his opening lines joked about his age: ?I?m not the strapping young Muslim socialist I used to be.? He made light of the frenzy over Michelle Obama's bangs, by explaining his strategy for a second term burst of energy showing a series of pictures with his new hairstyle:

He riffed on topics ranging from his Jay-Z's trip to Cuba ("I?ve got 99 problems and now Jay-Z is one of them") to BuzzFeed ("I remember when Buzzfeed was just something I did at college around 2 a.m.") He even took aim at the much maligned NBC when he talked about how he made only two shots at the Easter Egg Roll: "The executives at NBC asked ?what?s your secret?" But his highlight was a video with Steven Spielberg, about Spielberg's new project: "Obama." Spielberg cast Daniel Day-Lewis as Obama, but in the video shown Obama played Daniel Day-Lewis playing Obama. Tracy Morgan played Joe Biden. Here's that clip:

?

But Obama closed on a more serious note. "These have been some very hard days for too many of our citizens," he said. He also complimented the work of journalists during these days, specifically calling out the Boston Globe and NBC's Pete Williams.

Following Obama Conan O'Brien got his fair share of groans?both in the room and on Twitter?when he took aim at a variety of topics ranging from the Hilton, to dying print media, to Kim Jong-Un. He joked that Arianna Huffington made him watch a 30 second ad before he could say hello to her, and that Matt Drudge wasn't there because he had a "he had a prior commitment to teach a web design class in 1997." There were CNN jokes a plenty, including one about how they ?they replaced the popular Larry King with one of the scheming footman from Downton Abbey.? (That's Piers Morgan, of course.) He explained that the media landscape was like a high school cafeteria with NPR as the table for "kids with peanut allergies." There was also a joke about the time Al Roker soiled himself at the White House.

O'Brien then turned his attention to Republicans, saying that the party refers to Marco Rubio as "our black guy" and joking about Reince Priebus' name. (He was sitting between brothers "Lather Priebus and Repeat Priebus.") He went fairly easy on the president, asking why he was still asking for money, and joking about how old he looks.

Before his final joke he took a moment to address Boston, his hometown, and thank the president for going there, but he ended by casting his version of a dramatized version of the Beltway. There Joe Biden will be played by Bob Barker, Paul Ryan by Mr. Bean, and John Kerry by an Easter Island Head:

O'Brien's performance?in which he talked very loudly into the microphone and occasionally banged a gavel?did not go over entirely well on Twitter.

Note to #WHCD: Maybe we just forget about a "headliner" for the next couple years?

? aarongell (@aarongell) April 28, 2013

Watch Obama's speech here and O'Brien's here.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-obrien-cast-versions-d-c-white-house-234708035.html

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Did Soccer Stud Cristiano Ronaldo Cheat On Model Irina Shayk?

Did Soccer Stud Cristiano Ronaldo Cheat On Model Irina Shayk?

Rumors are swirling that Cristiano Ronaldo cheated on supermodel girlfriend Irina Shayk with “Miss BumBum” 2012, Andressa Urach. The 27-year-old Miss Butt Brazil claims that she hooked up with Ronaldo after chatting online, because “he was obsessed with her butt”. Andressa Urach said she exchanged racy text messages with Cristiano Ronaldo and he revealed he ...

Did Soccer Stud Cristiano Ronaldo Cheat On Model Irina Shayk? Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/04/did-soccer-stud-cristiano-ronaldo-cheat-on-model-irina-shayk/

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LG Optimus G Pro for AT&T detailed: Snapdragon 600, LTE and a Full HD IPS display

There's not much surprise left to LG's Optimus G Pro reveal set for next Wednesday in New York. We've already seen the device slip through the FCC and recently had a previewed glimpse of the potential hardware. But thanks to an anonymous tipster, we now have more insight to the the upcoming AT&T variant's specifications. Based on the official doc we had a look at, LG's managed to keep this US model mostly in line with its global sibling, porting over the same 5.5-inch form factor, 3,140mAh battery, 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 processor paired with 2GB RAM, a healthy 32GB of internal storage (expandable via microSDXC to 64GB), 2.1-megapixel front-facing / 13-megapixel rear cameras, NFC and WiFi a/b/g/n. What has changed is the actual screen technology used, which should find this AT&T G Pro employing a Full HD IPS panel as opposed to the True HD-IPS+ in the original. Additionally, and unsurprisingly, the device's radios have been tweaked, with the AT&T G Pro now supporting the carrier's flavor of LTE (700/1700 MHz), HSPA+21 (850/1900/2100 MHz) and quadband GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz).

Though it would be nice to see LG bump up this Optimus G Pro to a more current version of Android -- namely, 4.2.2 -- the AT&T model will likely ship with the more dated 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. Continuing further down the software track, carrier bloat looks to be at a minimum as only two automobile-specific apps are mentioned in the document: AT&T DriveMode and Navigator. Aside from that, LG's own software suite makes the transition, bringing along QSlide 2.0 (a multiwindow feature), Dual Recording (for the picture-in-picture effect), Tag+ for NFC, VuTalk (a note sharing app), QuickMemo, Notebook and the ability to preset the Home Key's LED. That enough of a preview for you? Stay tuned for the real deal to be unveiled next week.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, AT&T, LG

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

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Bangladesh building tragedy down to West's cost squeeze: NGOs

LONDON (Reuters) - Major western clothing retailers squeezing Asian suppliers and a flawed approach to ensuring even basic working standards are fuelling conditions for tragedies like the latest factory collapse in Bangladesh, NGOs said on Thursday.

At least 260 people, mainly female workers, were killed and more than 1,000 were injured when the eight-storey Rana Plaza factory building in Savar, 30 km (20 miles) outside the capital Dhaka, collapsed on Wednesday.

"What we're saying is that bargain-basement (clothing) is automatically leading towards these types of disasters," John Hilary, executive director at British charity War on Want, told Reuters.

He said western clothing retailers' desire to undercut rivals has translated into increasing pressure on foreign suppliers to reduce costs.

"If you've got that, then it's absolutely clear that you're not going to be able to have the right kind of building regulations, health and safety, fire safety. Those things will become more and more impossible as the cost price goes down."

Hilary said the push for lower costs inevitably led to factories cutting corners. "As a result of that, we see the sort of disaster that happened yesterday," he said.

War on Want and its partner in Bangladesh, the National Garment Workers' Federation, called on major international buyers to be held to account.

"This negligence must stop. The deaths of these workers could have been avoided if multinational corporations, governments and factory owners took workers' protection seriously," NGWF president, Amirul Haque Amin, said in a statement.

Gareth Price-Jones, Bangladesh country director of British charity Oxfam, said western companies had not done enough.

"Western buyers could be doing much, much more, and they have a moral responsibility to do so," he told Reuters. "Western buyers really need to press for decent wages and safe working conditions."

He said Bangladeshi building regulations were not robust enough for construction in an earthquake zone and were, in any case, frequently ignored.

Around 4,500 Bangladeshi factories produce clothes for many of the world's major brands, employing 4 million workers and generating 80 percent of Bangladesh's $24 billion annual exports, making it the world's No. 2 apparel exporter behind China.

People watch as rescue workers continue their operations at the collapsed Rana Plaza building in Savar, 30 km (19 miles) outside Dhaka April 25, 2013. Survivors from the garment factory that collapsed... more? People watch as rescue workers continue their operations at the collapsed Rana Plaza building in Savar, 30 km (19 miles) outside Dhaka April 25, 2013. Survivors from the garment factory that collapsed in Bangladesh killing at least 228 people described on Thursday a deafening bang and tremors before the eight-floor building crashed down under them. REUTERS/Stringer (BANGLADESH - Tags: BUSINESS DISASTER TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) less? But with wages as low as $37 a month for some workers toiling for 10-15 hours a day, and increasing publicity about unsanitary and unsafe working conditions, some retailers were getting worried about their reputation.

AUDITS QUESTIONED

A lot have introduced corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, where they carry out factory audits and inspections and talk to employees about worker conditions.

But War on Want says the CSR processes are often flawed.

"What happens is the workers are trained in what to say, the factories present favorable books and keep back the real books," Hilary said, noting that in countries like China there were courses to coach factories on how to pass an audit without telling the truth.

The Savar disaster came five months after Bangladesh's worst factory fire, which killed 112 people, and another incident at a factory in January in which seven died.

The Ethical Trading Initiative, an umbrella organization that brings NGOs, unions and brands together to try to improve working conditions, said the latest tragedy demonstrated the chronic widespread problems in the sector that affect the most basic of workers' rights.

"These incidents all serve as yet another call to action for the Bangladesh industry, government, retailers, worker representatives and NGOs to work together, to raise workplace safety standards across the country's garment sector," it said.

In Washington, the Asia advocate for the U.S. NGO Human Rights Watch said weak protection of labor rights contributed to the tragedy at Rana Plaza, where none of the factories are unionized.

"Had one or more of the Rana Plaza factories been unionized, its workers would have been in a position to refuse to enter the building on Wednesday morning," said John Sifton.

"The right to organize a union in Bangladesh is not just a matter of getting fair wages, it's a matter of saving lives," he said.

U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters that labor rights in Bangladesh, as well as work conditions, were "something that we've raised in the human rights report, we raised in our bilateral dialogue, certainly directly with the government from our embassy."

The State Department's annual human rights report for 2012, published on April 19, said trade unions in Bangladesh were able to conduct collective bargaining, "but government action made it nearly impossible to form new trade unions in many sectors, for example, in the ready-made garment and shrimp industries."

(Reporting by James Davey, Neil Maidment, and Paul Eckert in Washington; Editing by Will Waterman and Mohammad Zargham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/death-toll-bangladesh-building-collapse-rises-147-015232779.html

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ZyXEL CloudEnabled IP Camera (IPC4605N)

ZyXEL's CloudEnabled Network Pan & Tilt Camera provides some fairly sophisticated network surveillance camera features that can benefit small businesses. Remote camera movement control, bundled Network Video Recorder (NVR) software, and infrared motion detection all make this an attractive and affordable video surveillance solution for a home or small business. But the web-based and bundled software need some significant improvements before the product can be considered a home run. Without robust NVR software, Zyxel's camera is more on par with consumer webcams and, in that space, Logitech's Alert 750n Indoor Master System??is actually a better home IP camera.

Introducing the CloudEnabled Network Pan & Tilt Camera
Without a doubt, many will find that ZyXEL's camera looks like a miniaturized robot or some machine roving the surface of Mars?it's very impressive looking. The camera sits on a base, and a motor moves the camera head so you can position it remotely. You can turn the lens up, down, left, or right while viewing a live feed.

The camera features a 1/3-inch CMOS Megapixel sensor. The lens specs include a focal length of 4.0 mm and a 10x digital zoom.

The rear panel has an Ethernet port, an EXT port, audio out, microphone in, a microSD slot, and a USB port only for connecting the accompanying wireless USB adapter. At first I thought you could add a USB flash drive for storage purposes in the port, but you can't.

The camera ships with a power adapter, Ethernet cable (it can operate wired on a network or wirelessly), a quick installation guide and install CD. The camera can be ceiling or wall mounted?it also comes with a wall mount plate, screws for a ceiling mount, screw anchors, and a camera pad.

Setup
The camera's installation disc has a setup utility, bundled software, and a user manual. I set up the camera following the quick-start guide's instructions. These instructions cover connecting the camera to a router via the Ethernet cable (this must be done for initial setup even if you plan to operate the camera wirelessly).

Once the camera is powered up, its red LEDs light up and the camera rotates on its own with robotic-like movements?making for a very cool boot-up.? ZyXEL's camera also has an additional LED on the front which turns from a psychedelic purple color to solid blue once the power and a network connection is established.

Insert the disc and the "eaZy" wizard launches. The wizard offers a diagram how all the cables connect from the camera to a computer to a router. It then advises that even if you plan to use the wireless, you still have to set up through a wired connection first.?

The LED in the front should be blue, the wizard states, once the power and LAN connections are made.? The software wizard also detected my camera on my network right away and displayed its IP address.? I then gave the camera a name and description, which is optional.

The camera supports DHCP, or you can give it a static IP address. During setup, you also specify how you plan to orient the device, either upright or hanging upside down from a ceiling mount. In the latter case, the video is rotated 180 degrees.

If you plan on operating the camera wirelessly, you can choose that option during setup. The setup software performs a scan of all wireless networks in proximity and you can select one to connect to. The wireless setup is a bit of a hassle, because you have to know what type of encryption the Wi-Fi network you're connecting to uses, and not just the fact it may use WPA2 but whether its AES or TKIP encryption. Ideally, since the software can perform a Wi-Fi survey, it should be able to pick up the encryption method.

The fact that you have to initially set this up on a wired network makes for some potential network conflict once you connect wirelessly if the wireless router is on a different network. I had some difficulty doing this kind of setup. The software doesn't handle the network change well and gives no indication at which point you should disconnect the LAN cable.? I ended up having to use a router that was on the same network as my wired connection?your best bet for the wireless setup. Most SOHO small business users will likely have one network, for wired and wireless, all powered by the same router, but if not the network conflicts are a possibility setting up wireless. Setup wraps up by asking you to create an iSecurity account. This is a cloud service that allows for remotely viewing the camera from a browser or mobile device.

iSecurity
iSecurity provides a live feed from your camera. The interface has arrow buttons that allow you to move the camera at different angles. There are also some configuration options, such as setting the video stream resolution (640x480, 320x240, 160x120), frames per second, and video quality.

It's a decent cloud service, but the free version is very limited. To share camera streams with friends or to access advanced features, you'll have to get a paid iSecurity subscription for $5.99 per month (or $59 per year).

After I activated the paid account, I had some more options such as a sharing tab, which lets you invite friends to view your stream. Just enter in their email address, add a note, and they are sent a link. The invited viewers must also create an iSecurity account (they can view with the free account).

An "events and motion" tab lets you set motion detection sensitivity and enable notifications. With notifications on, an email is sent to an inbox or a notice is sent to a mobile device (if using the iSensitivity mobile app) whenever motion is detected.? With these events, the camera will record images that you can flip through like a slideshow.

The iSecurity interface is easy to navigate, but I found it somewhat lacking. For instance once you log in to the cloud service, the "Login" button remains at the top of the screen. This was confusing as I moved around the interface: Unless I was on the live camera feed page, I couldn't tell if I was logged in or not.?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/0dvVDlHtG24/0,2817,2418140,00.asp

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Jupiter Ocean Front Condos And Short Term Rentals Now Availa

24 Apr, 2013

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JUPITER, Fla., April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ ? Seiss Real Estate Announces Jupiter Ocean Front Condos and Short-Term Rentals Now Available for Immediate Move In

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130424/CG01100)

A media representative for Seiss Real Estate today announced Jupiter ocean front condos and short-term rentals are now available for immediate move in. ; Home buyers are encouraged to visit the Seiss Real Estate Company?s website to view homes for rent and sale in the upscale Florida community.

Jupiter is located on the eastern shore of Florida. ; It is near Palm Beach Gardens and situated between the Jonathan Dickinson State Park and the John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. ; The community offers ocean front condos, waterfront homes for sale, Jupiter luxury real estate and new homes many of which are available for immediate move in. ;

?My agent Anton Seiss did a fantastic job in renting my home. ; Within 2 weeks it was rented. ; His marketing strategy really works. He has a very strong internet presence.? ? ; J. Regalado, Miami Beach

The Seiss Real Estate website provides home buyers with a number of free resources which include a mortgage calculator, a school finder, a home price index, a real estate glossary as well as extensive listings for single family homes and apartment condominiums. ; ;Mr. Seiss, the firm?s founder, is available for private consultations for both home buyers and sellers.

Research shows that now is a good time for homebuyers to purchase a home. ; According to Realtor.com, March 2013 data indicates that while the national housing inventory decreased 15% percent since last year, the number of listings increased 2.36% since February 2013. ;This month-over-month increase indicates a renewed willingness in sellers to put their homes on the market as list prices increased .05% both year-over-year and month-over-month to a national average list price of $190,000.

Home prices are expected to continue to rise as more and more families take advantage of low prices along with a renewed interest in the housing market by mortgage lenders throughout the United States. ; Mr. Seiss said, ?A home that?s being sold today for $190,000 could easily go up to more than $200,000 or higher as offers continue to pour in.?

About

Anton Seiss is a real estate agent who has extensive knowledge of the Jupiter area, the local housing market, ordinances and Palm Beach county schools. ;He?s very good at getting to the closing table fast. ;Mr. Seiss has many years of experience helping clients buy and sell homes in the Jupiter Palm Beach area in Florida.

Contact

Seiss Real Estate
198 Botanica Dr.
Jupiter, FL ; 33458-7120
Email: anton@antonseiss.com
Website: http://www.seissrealestate.com/

Jupiter homes for sale by Seiss Real Estate Jupiter Florida, Call 561-339-7003 now.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/9zb289CkzlY

Media Contact: Anton Seiss Seiss Real Estate, 561-339-7003, aseiss@bellsouth.net

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

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Source: http://latinbusinesstoday.com/2013/04/jupiter-ocean-front-condos-and-short-term-rentals-now-available-for-immediate-move-in/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=jupiter-ocean-front-condos-and-short-term-rentals-now-available-for-immediate-move-in

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Just what makes that little old ant change a flower's nectar content?

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Ants play a variety of important roles in many ecosystems. As frequent visitors to flowers, they can benefit plants in their role as pollinators when they forage on sugar-rich nectar. However, a new study reveals that this mutualistic relationship may actually have some hidden costs. By transmitting sugar-eating yeasts to the nectar on which they feed, ants may be indirectly altering the nectar-chemistry and thus affecting subsequent pollinator visitations.

Many species of plants benefit from interacting with ants, and some even secrete special sugary substances to attract ants. Plants produce sugar, in the form of nectar, and in exchange ants provide services such as pollination or protection from herbivores.

The main components of nectar that attract pollinators include three dominant sugars?sucrose, fructose, and glucose?and amino acids (or proteins). The chemical composition of nectar differs among plant species and has been thought to be a conservative trait linked to pollinator type. For example, plants pollinated by hummingbirds tend to have nectar with high amounts of sucrose. In addition, nectar composition is thought to be regulated by the plant.

"When people think about how flowers are pollinated, they probably think about bees," notes Clara de Vega, a postdoctoral researcher at the Estaci?n Biol?gica de Do?ana, Spain. "But ants also pollinate flowers, and I am interested in the role ants play in pollination since it is still poorly understood."

De Vega joined forces with Carlos M. Herrera, an evolutionary ecologist at the Estaci?n Biol?gica de Do?ana, to investigate the relationship between ant pollinators and nectarivorous yeasts. Nectar-dwelling yeasts, which consume sugars, have recently been discovered in the flowers of many temperate and tropical plant species. De Vega and Herrera have already discovered that some ant species not only carry certain types of sugar-metabolizing yeasts on their bodies, but they also effectively transmit these yeasts to the nectar of flowers they visit.

In their most recent work, published in the American Journal of Botany, De Vega and Herrera investigated whether flowers visited by these ants differed from flowers that were not visited by ants in their sugar chemistry, and whether sugar-chemistry was correlated with the abundance of ant-transmitted yeasts found in the nectar.

By excluding ants from visiting inflorescences of a perennial, parasitic plant, Cytinus hypocistis, and comparing the nectar chemistry to inflorescences that were visited by ants, the authors tested these ideas experimentally.

When the authors compared the sugar content in the nectar of flowers visited by ants versus those enclosed in nylon mesh bags to exclude ants, they found that nectar of flowers exposed to ants had higher levels of fructose and glucose, but lower levels of sucrose compared with the ant-excluded flowers.

Interestingly, in flowers visited by ants, there was a high correlation between yeast cell density and sugar content. Nectar that had higher densities of yeast had more fructose and less sucrose, suggesting that the types of yeasts change the sugar content of the nectar. Flowers that were excluded from ants did not have any yeast in their nectar.

"Our study has revealed that ants can actually change the nectar characteristics of the flowers they are pollinating," says de Vega. "The microorganisms, specifically yeasts, that are present on the surface of ants change the composition of sugar in the flower?s nectar."

"This means that nectar composition is not completely controlled by the flower?it is something created in cooperation with the ants that visit the flower," she notes. "We also think that these ant-transported yeasts might have the potential to affect plant reproduction."

Indeed, if a plant cannot control the sugar content of its nectar, then it may lose some of its target pollinators, which would potentially affect overall seed set and plant fitness.

Moreover, if introducing these yeasts to nectar changes the chemistry of the very components that serve to attract pollinators, then perhaps ants are indirectly changing the foraging behavior of subsequent flower visitors and thereby affecting seed dispersal patterns.

This study has revealed an additional layer in the complex association between ants and flowering plants, as pollinating ants alter sugar-nectar chemistry in flowers via sugar-consuming yeasts. But the story does not end here. De Vega plans to continue researching the role that these nectarivorous yeasts play on the reproduction of plants.

"I plan to study the whole interaction of plants, yeasts, and pollinators?how are they interrelated and what mechanisms shape these relations?"

###

Article: http://www.amjbot.org/content/100/4/792.full.pdf+html

American Journal of Botany: http://www.amjbot.org/

Thanks to American Journal of Botany for this article.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127919/Just_what_makes_that_little_old_ant_change_a_flower_s_nectar_content_

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Hollyweird News Session

Hollyweird News Session

Gwyneth Paltrow Slammed for Selling Little Girls’ Bikinis?[The Frisky] Meet Erika Medina: Actress & Model?[The Blemish] Katy Perry Channels the Smurfs?[HollyWire] Minka Kelly Sexy as a Blonde?[Right Celebrity] Vanilla Ice Going Amish in New Show?[The Celebrity Cafe] Audrey Tautou Flaunts Her Bra Under Lace Top?[The Huffington Post] Rihanna Tips Stripper Thousands of Dollars?[Anything Hollywood] Kelly ...

Hollyweird News Session Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/04/hollyweird-news-session/

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Microsoft announces Xbox event for May 21st

What many suspected was coming has indeed happened: Microsoft just confirmed an upcoming Xbox event on May 21st, which we expect to be focused on the company's next-gen Xbox console (informally codenamed Durango). The company isn't diving into specifics at this stage, but the event is taking place on its own Xbox campus and should offer a "real taste of the future," according to Xbox Live programming director Larry Hryb. Don't worry too much that Microsoft will completely upstage E3, which happens just a few weeks later -- Hryb also promises that his firm will "continue the conversation" at the show, focusing attention on its game lineup. Players will have a chance to stream the event through both Microsoft's services (including Xbox Live) and Spike TV, but you can be sure we'll be on the ground to share the news first-hand.

Ben Gilbert contributed to this report.

Filed under: Gaming, HD, Microsoft

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/24/microsoft-announces-xbox-event-for-may-21st/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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3 Doors Down bassist out of jail on bond

A?photo released by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department is Robert Todd Harrell. Harrell, bassist with the rock band 3 Doors Down has been charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication after an interstate crash claimed the life of another motorist Sunday April 21, 2013, in the Nashville area, police said. (AP Photo/Metropolitan Nashville Police Department)

A?photo released by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department is Robert Todd Harrell. Harrell, bassist with the rock band 3 Doors Down has been charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication after an interstate crash claimed the life of another motorist Sunday April 21, 2013, in the Nashville area, police said. (AP Photo/Metropolitan Nashville Police Department)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) ? The bassist for rock band 3 Doors Down is out of jail after being charged in a fatal interstate crash in Nashville.

Police said 41-year-old Todd Harrell was driving under the influence and speeding Friday night when his car clipped a pickup truck that lost control and flipped, killing the driver.

Police said Harrell acknowledged drinking and taking the prescription drugs Lortab and Xanax.

He is also accused of bringing Xanax, oxycodone and oxymorphone pills into the jail concealed in his sock.

Harrell was released on $100,000 bond Tuesday afternoon. He has a court appearance on Thursday. Charges include vehicular homicide by intoxication.

An attorney for Harrell did not immediately respond to a message left at his office.

On Monday, the band canceled its U.S. appearances for April and May.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-04-23-3%20Doors%20Down%20Bassist/id-b9113af82318454d832006aa206dd556

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As Boston buries its dead, more evidence gathered

Mourners hug as they depart St. Patrick's Church in Stoneham, Mass., following a funeral Mass for Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer Sean Collier, Tuesday, April 23, 2013. Collier was fatally shot on the MIT campus Thursday, April 18, 2013. Authorities allege that the Boston Marathon bombing suspects were responsible. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Mourners hug as they depart St. Patrick's Church in Stoneham, Mass., following a funeral Mass for Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer Sean Collier, Tuesday, April 23, 2013. Collier was fatally shot on the MIT campus Thursday, April 18, 2013. Authorities allege that the Boston Marathon bombing suspects were responsible. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

FILE - This combination of undated file photos shows Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, left, and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19. The FBI says the two brothers are the suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing, and are also responsible for killing an MIT police officer, critically injuring a transit officer in a firefight and throwing explosive devices at police during a getaway attempt in a long night of violence that left Tamerlan dead and Dzhokhar captured, late Friday, April 19, 2013. The ethnic Chechen brothers lived in Dagestan, which borders the Chechnya region in southern Russia. They lived near Boston and had been in the U.S. for about a decade, one of their uncles reported said. Since Monday, Boston has experienced five days of fear, beginning with the marathon bombing attack, an intense manhunt and much uncertainty ending in the death of one suspect and the capture of the other. (AP Photo/The Lowell Sun & Robin Young, File)

Pallbearers carry the casket of fallen Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer Sean Collier into St. Patrick's Church before a funeral Mass, in Stoneham, Mass., Tuesday, April 23, 2013. Collier was fatally shot on the MIT campus Thursday, April 18, 2013. Authorities allege that the Boston Marathon bombing suspects were responsible. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officers march as they depart St. Patrick's Church in Stoneham, Mass., following a funeral Mass for MIT police officer Sean Collier, Tuesday, April 23, 2013. Collier was fatally shot on the MIT campus Thursday, April 18, 2013. Authorities allege that the Boston Marathon bombing suspects were responsible. Law enforcement official at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Mourners enter St. Patrick's Church in Stoneham, Mass., before a funeral Mass for Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer Sean Collier, Tuesday, April 23, 2013. Collier was fatally shot on the MIT campus Thursday, April 18, 2013. Authorities allege that the Boston Marathon bombing suspects were responsible. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

BOSTON (AP) ? The Boston area held funerals for two more of its dead Tuesday ? including an 8-year-old boy ? as evidence mounted that the older Tsarnaev brother had embraced a radical, anti-American strain of Islam and was the driving force behind the Boston Marathon bombing.

Younger brother Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's condition was upgraded from serious to fair as investigators continued building their case against the 19-year-old college student.

He could face the death penalty after being charged Monday with joining forces with his brother, now dead, in setting off the shrapnel-packed pressure-cooker bombs that killed three people.

In Washington, Senate Intelligence Committee member Richard Burr, R-N.C., said after his panel was briefed by federal law enforcement officials that there is "no question" that Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, was "the dominant force" behind the attacks, and that the brothers had apparently been radicalized by material on the Internet rather than by contact with militant groups overseas.

Martin Richard, a schoolboy from Boston's Dorchester neighborhood who was the youngest of those killed in the April 15 blasts at the marathon finish line, was laid to rest after a family-only funeral Mass.

"The outpouring of love and support over the last week has been tremendous," the family said in a statement. "This has been the most difficult week of our lives."

A funeral was also held for Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer Sean Collier, 26, who authorities said was shot to death by the Tsarnaev brothers three days after the bombing. A memorial service for Collier was scheduled for Wednesday at MIT, with Vice President Joe Biden expected to attend.

More than 260 people were injured by the bomb blasts. About 50 were still hospitalized.

Authorities believe neither brother had links to terror groups. However, two U.S. officials said Tuesday that Tamerlan Tsarnaev ? who died last week in a gunbattle ? frequently looked at extremist websites, including Inspire magazine, an English-language online publication produced by al-Qaida's Yemen affiliate. The magazine has endorsed lone-wolf terror attacks.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly.

On Capitol Hill, members of the Senate Intelligence Committee were briefed by the FBI and other law enforcement officials at a closed-door session Tuesday evening.

Afterward, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., described the two brothers as "a couple of individuals who become radicalized using Internet sources."

"So we need to be prepared for Boston-type attacks, not just 9/11-style attacks," Rubio said, referring to lone-wolf terrorists as opposed to well-organized teams from established terror networks.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., said law enforcement officials have gotten "minimal" information from Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and are still looking into whether the brothers had training or coaching from a foreign group.

The brothers' parents live in Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim province in Russia's Caucasus, where Islamic militants have waged an insurgency against Russian security forces for years.

Family members reached in the U.S. and abroad by The Associated Press said Tamerlan was steered toward a strict strain of Islam under the influence of a Muslim convert known to the Tsarnaev family only as Misha.

After befriending Misha, Tamerlan gave up boxing, stopped studying music and began opposing the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to family members, who said he turned to websites and literature claiming that the CIA was behind 9/11.

"Somehow, he just took his brain," said Tamerlan's uncle, Ruslan Tsarni of Montgomery Village, Md., who recalled conversations with Tamerlan's worried father about Misha's influence.

"You could always hear his younger brother and sisters say, 'Tamerlan said this,' and 'Tamerlan said that.' Dzhokhar loved him. He would do whatever Tamerlan would say," recalled Elmirza Khozhugov, the ex-husband of Tamerlan's sister. He spoke by telephone from his home in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The brothers, who came to the U.S. from Russia a decade ago, were raised in a home that followed Sunni Islam, the religion's largest sect, but were not regulars at the mosque and rarely discussed religion, Khozhugov said.

Then, in 2008 or 2009, Tamerlan met Misha, a heavyset bald man with a reddish beard. Khozhugov didn't know where they met but believed they attended a Boston-area mosque together.

Hoping to learn more about the Tsarnaev brothers' motives, U.S. investigators traveled to southern Russia on Tuesday to speak to their parents, a U.S. Embassy official said.

A lawyer for the family, Zaurbek Sadakhanov, said the parents had just seen pictures of the mutilated body of their elder son and were not up to speaking with anyone.

In Massachusetts, the state House turned aside a bid by several lawmakers to reinstate the death penalty in certain cases, including the murder of police officers. In a 119-38 vote, the House sent the proposal to a study committee rather than advance it to an up-or-down vote.

In another development, April Walton, the manager of Phantom Fireworks of Seabrook, N.H., said Tamerlan Tsarnaev bought 48 mortar shells at the store in February.

Company Vice President William Weimer said FBI agents visited the store on Friday, interviewed staff and checked its computers. He said the amount of gunpowder that could be extracted from the fireworks would not have been enough for the Boston bombs.

___

Associated Press writers Bridget Murphy and Bob Salsberg in Boston, Lynn Berry in Moscow, and Adam Goldman, Eric Tucker, Matt Apuzzo, Kimberly Dozier and Eileen Sullivan in Washington contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-04-23-US-Boston-Marathon-Explosions/id-10352b4b48854384936eb05775e98147

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AWRI researcher honored for Lake Michigan outreach efforts

Public release date: 23-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Nate Hoekstra
hoekstna@gvsu.edu
616-318-3673
Grand Valley State University

Janet Vail, associate research scientist at Grand Valley State University's Annis Water Resources Institute in Muskegon, will be given the prestigious 2013 Jack Vallentyne Award by the International Association for Great Lakes Research.

Vail, who has worked for AWRI since 1990, is being recognized for her efforts to inform and educate the public and policymakers on Great Lakes issues, along with raising awareness and support for Great Lakes protection and restoration.

As a researcher at AWRI, Vail handles several tasks, including the "Making Lake Michigan Great Tours" that she has led on AWRI research vessels since 1998. Vail also organizes ongoing education programs, and organized three State of Lake Michigan conferences. She is the co-chair of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lake Michigan Forum, which serves as a link between the governmental agencies involved in Lake Michigan's health and the stakeholders who are affected by the well-being of the lake.

Vail will receive the 2013 Jack Vallentyne award at the IAGLR annual conference at Purdue University in June. She will also present a paper, "Coordinated On-board Education and Outreach Project," which will focus on vessel-based outreach that AWRI has been doing in association with the Inland Seas Education Association, BaySail, and Michigan Sea Grant. The project has been funded by the EPA through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Alan Steinman, director of the Annis Water Resources Institute, said he's proud of Vail's work on behalf of the institute. "Dr. Vail is an incredibly hard working, self-motivated, talented, and motivational educator, whose professional talents are complemented by a winning personality and collaborative spirit," Steinman said, "She has made a positive impact in the lives of literally tens of thousands of students and adults in the Great Lakes."

The Vallentyne award holds meaning for AWRI Dr. Jack Vallentyne (aka Johnny Biosphere) was featured at AWRI's Grand River Workshop at Grand Valley's Eberhard Center in 1992.

###

For more information on AWRI or Vail's work, visit gvsu.edu/wri.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 23-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Nate Hoekstra
hoekstna@gvsu.edu
616-318-3673
Grand Valley State University

Janet Vail, associate research scientist at Grand Valley State University's Annis Water Resources Institute in Muskegon, will be given the prestigious 2013 Jack Vallentyne Award by the International Association for Great Lakes Research.

Vail, who has worked for AWRI since 1990, is being recognized for her efforts to inform and educate the public and policymakers on Great Lakes issues, along with raising awareness and support for Great Lakes protection and restoration.

As a researcher at AWRI, Vail handles several tasks, including the "Making Lake Michigan Great Tours" that she has led on AWRI research vessels since 1998. Vail also organizes ongoing education programs, and organized three State of Lake Michigan conferences. She is the co-chair of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lake Michigan Forum, which serves as a link between the governmental agencies involved in Lake Michigan's health and the stakeholders who are affected by the well-being of the lake.

Vail will receive the 2013 Jack Vallentyne award at the IAGLR annual conference at Purdue University in June. She will also present a paper, "Coordinated On-board Education and Outreach Project," which will focus on vessel-based outreach that AWRI has been doing in association with the Inland Seas Education Association, BaySail, and Michigan Sea Grant. The project has been funded by the EPA through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Alan Steinman, director of the Annis Water Resources Institute, said he's proud of Vail's work on behalf of the institute. "Dr. Vail is an incredibly hard working, self-motivated, talented, and motivational educator, whose professional talents are complemented by a winning personality and collaborative spirit," Steinman said, "She has made a positive impact in the lives of literally tens of thousands of students and adults in the Great Lakes."

The Vallentyne award holds meaning for AWRI Dr. Jack Vallentyne (aka Johnny Biosphere) was featured at AWRI's Grand River Workshop at Grand Valley's Eberhard Center in 1992.

###

For more information on AWRI or Vail's work, visit gvsu.edu/wri.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/gvsu-arh042313.php

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Baby Shower Ideas | Shannon Miller Lifestyle

Posted In: All About Baby Blog, Pregnancy : 4/23/2013

Author: Staff Writer

Planning a baby shower?

What about Dad?

So often while expecting a new baby, everything is centered around Mom. While that is great, sometimes that leaves Dad feeling a little left out. We went to Daddy Nickell, parenting expert, columnist, media personality, and father of 7, for some baby shower ideas and advice on the best ways to celebrate both Dad and Mom. In addition to offering parenting advice, Daddy Nickell, has hosted several baby showers and daddy showers for celebrity moms and dads to be, including Antonio Sabato Jr., Sarah Drew, Christie Lynn Smith, Dean McDermott, JR Martinez, Tina Campbell, Kelly Stables and more.

Shannon Miller Lifestyle :What are the first things to consider when planning a baby shower?

Daddy Nickell: Before you start planning a baby shower you should consider the following:

• Who will attend the function i.e. couples, ladies only, men only, etc.
• Who will help plan and host the shower ? a close friend or a family member.
• A convenient time to throw the shower ? not too close to the due date ? those babies don?t always come when expected.
• What size budget do you have?
• Will you serve food? If so, will the event be catered, or will it be a potluck?
• Possible locations to host the event.
• Will the event have a theme? Dadchelor Party, wine tasting, Vegas get away, parents house.

SML: What are some different kinds of parties to throw for the expecting parents?

DN: There are many different options for parties, and it really just depends on your taste and lifestyle.

• One expectant couple might like a coed, backyard BBQ shower
• Other expectant moms might prefer a quiet, family-only shower at home
• Others might enjoy the event at their favorite spa.
• For dad ? more and more couples are opting for a Dadchelor Party for the new daddy to be.

Multiple parties are a common trend.? Possible variations include: one for mommy and close friends, one for mommy and family members, and one for couples.? Be sure to include one for daddy with his guy friends.

SML: Who should be the host of the baby shower?

DN: Choose a close friend of family member or two who are organized and who have extra free time on his or her hands. Utilizing a small team prevents putting too much pressure on one person.? Showers can be expensive. I would recommend the including mommy or daddy in the decision making and budgeting process. ?Most showers are not surprise events, so input from family and friends can be helpful when it comes to costs and who will be responsible.

SML: When is the typical time in the pregnancy to throw a baby shower?

DN: A baby shower is best held during the end of the second trimester or the beginning of the third. Of course, you can have the shower whenever is convenient for you and your guests. Be aware of conflicting events like the Super Bowl, holiday celebrations or school vacation times, etc. Be careful not to plan it too close to the expectant mom?s due date. Like I said before, those babies don?t always stay put as long as they?re supposed to.

SML: How should a theme be chosen?

DN: Let the expectant parent?s personality be your guide. If the dad is into sports consider throwing a Dadchelor Party at a local sports bar. Recently, people have begun to be much more creative. If the mom loves the beach, and you live close to one, throw a baby shower beach bash and picnic for the mommy-to-be.

You can really go as big or as small as you want. But, remember when choosing the theme it?s important to stay true to the expecting parent?s personalities.

SML: What are some classic themes that you just can?t go wrong with?

DN: For the traditional baby shower, I suggest themes including: A Spa Shower, A Beach Bash, A Pool Party, Picnic in the Park, or a Tea Party theme. For the Dadchelor Party, I would suggest: A Poker Party, A Sports Bar Party, A Tailgate Party, A Fishing Party, A Campout, A Golfing Party, or perhaps A Beer Tasting Party. Whatever you do, keep in mind the purpose of the gathering ? to celebrate the arrival of a baby ? and you can?t go wrong.

SML: What are some of the most creative,innovative, or memorable themes you have done?

DN: Dean McDermott?s ?All American Daddy? themed Dadchelor Party was one of the most memorable events.? He hosted the event at a skeet shooting range in California. We had a group of about 15 men who came together to bond and support Dean McDermott who was expecting his fifth child.? Some of the dads even brought their sons. After some lessons we had a shoot off contest ? what?s a men?s event without a little friendly competition? After the shooting match we enjoyed beer and a tri tip sandwich while we took turns giving toasts of congratulations, humor, and advice. A few guys brought gifts, but mostly we just a fun time celebrating the new addition to Dean?s family.

SML: What are the top 4 things to avoid when hosting a baby shower?

DN:

1. Making the invitation list without consulting mommy. She should have the final say on who is invited.? You won?t want to forget any out of town friends or family.
2. Alcohol ? To serve or not to serve.? This is a personal preference that should be respected.
3. Creating the invitation and not allowing the mommy-to-be to proof prior to sending.
4. Hosting a late night event.? Mommy gets tired and needs time to rest and relax in the evening.

SML: What are the top 4 things avoid when attending a baby shower?

DN:

1. Don?t mention weight gain.? Be respectful of the mommy-to-be; she is still getting used to the baby weight.
2. Don?t react in a negative way to name choices.? If the mommy says the baby name ? keep your comments positive.
3. Don?t consuming a lot of alcohol.? Don?t bring alcohol or champagne unless you have asked permission.
4. Do not bring your kids or babies unless the invitation indicates ?kids welcome?.

SML: What are some favorite favors to give away to guests?

DN: From my experience you can?t go wrong with edible favors. I suggest something simple like cookies or cupcakes.

SML: What are some great ways to include dad?

DN: More and more, dads are being included in showers via coed or couple?s showers. Baby showers aren?t just for women! Make sure you invite both mom?s and dad?s friends if you?re planning a couple?s shower.
Additionally, I?ve mentioned the Dadchelor Party which is an increasingly popular idea. A Dadchelor Party is kind of the expectant dad?s last hurrah with the guys before baby comes. Ask each guy guest to bring a box of diapers and let the men have a cookout in the backyard to celebrate daddy hood and the new daddy-to-be.

SML: What are some great money saving tips baby shower ideas for the host?

DN: Decorations and location. If you?re looking to save money, find a free location to host the shower, and don?t splurge on decorations ? keep it simple. Additionally, you don?t need to feed everyone. Host a potluck and ask each guest to bring something small or just grab a few snacks. Schedule the shower at 1:30, so guests will have eaten lunch prior to attending.

SML: What are some great foods for the party that you can?t go wrong with?

DN: Women tend to enjoy healthier choices like fruit kabobs and veggie platters while men at a Dadchelor Party prefer nachos and chicken wings. Have fun with the food!!

SML: What are some great types of venues for a baby shower?

DN: I?d look into local parks, restaurants or spas. You don?t necessarily have to host a baby shower in someone?s home; however, backyard BBQ showers can be a ton of fun!

SML: What are some great games to include, if any?

DN: Games are great ? whether you?re hosting a traditional shower or a Dadchelor Party.

• I suggest the bottle chug where you fill baby bottles with sparkling cider and the guests ?chug? them as fast as they can (at a Dadchelor Party substitute the sparkling cider for beer ? it?s a crowd pleaser).
• Guests also enjoy stroller Olympics.
• ?Blind diapering? is always fun for participants and spectators alike.
• Measure the belly ? guess how many sheets of toilet paper it will take to wrap about momma?s belly at the biggest point.
• Name the baby
• Connect baby pictures ? Ask each guest to provide a baby picture then match each person?s baby photo with how they look today.
• Guess the size and weight of baby at birth

SML: What kind of planning goes into a celebrity baby shower event? Is it more elaborate?

DN: The celebrity baby shower events we?ve hosted and sponsored have varied greatly.? It all depends on the celebrity?s vision for the event.? Sometimes the parties are elaborate, other times they are intimate family-only events. Basically we take the same things into consideration ? often on a larger or grander scale. And, just as any other shower, the actual details vary too depending on the expectant couple?s preference for games, activities and food.

SML: Do you typically work directly with the celebrity mom-to-be herself or is a professional planner involved?

DN: We usually work with celebrity planners who communicate with the celebrity parent in order to determine parameters when it comes to selecting a style, theme, or venue.

About Daddy Nickell:

Robert P. Nickell graduated with a degree in pharmacy from the University
of the Pacific School of Pharmacy (1981). He lives in Hermosa Beach with his wife, Katy, their two sons, Lincoln and Carter, daughter, Tessa, and their dogs, Max and Ruby. Robert also enjoys a wonderful relationship with his four older children Austin, Paige, Hayden and Kennady.

?Daddy Nickell? is the founder of DaddyScrubs.com, delivery room duds, along with gifts and apparel for dads designed to celebrate dad-to-be. He also writes the Daddyscrubs Blog where he covers topics about parenting and the latest baby and kids gear, all from a Dad?s perspective. He writes from a father?s perspective and keeps dad engaged throughout his children?s lives. He also contributes to national talk shows and daytime television shows including ?Good Morning L.A.,? ?Good Morning Texas,? ?Daytime TV,? ABC15 Phoenix, MSNBC, WZZM 13, San Antonio Living, Fox Las Vegas, and KSBI TV, and as a syndicated columnist for national newspapers, parenting magazines and websites including Baby Couture Magazine, Oh Baby! Magazine, City Parent Magazine, Parenthood, The Bump, ModernDayMom, AKAMomMagazine, and Homeschooling Parent.

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Source: http://shannonmillerlifestyle.com/pregnancy-and-motherhood/pregnancy/baby-shower-ideas-from-daddy-nickell

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