Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Election v. Selection

Justices Barbara J. Pariente, Peggy A. Quince, and R. Fred Lewis.

Florida Supreme Court Justices Barbara J. Pariente, Peggy A. Quince, and R. Fred Lewis

Courtesy Florida Supreme Court.

A Koch Brothers-backed campaign is seeking to vote out three Florida Supreme Court justices. Some states elect judges, some appoint them, and others, like Florida, have hybrid systems. Explainer readers want to know: Are appointed or elected judges better?

Elected judges work harder, but appointed judges work smarter. Elected judges resolve more cases and write more opinions per year than their appointed colleagues, according to research by Stephen Choi of New York University, Mitu Gulati of Duke University, and Eric Posner of the University of Chicago. (The U.S. Supreme Court exemplifies the work rate of appointed judges. The justices? annual output has shrunk by more than 50 percent in the last 30 years, and they now only decide a few dozen cases per term.) Elected judges probably hope that their productivity will impress the voting public. Appointed judges have an entirely different constituency: other judges. Appointees tend to view themselves as more erudite than elected judges?appointees graduate from higher-ranked law schools?and they work to produce opinions that are better written or better reasoned. As a result, judges are more likely to cite an opinion written by an appointed colleague.

So what?s more important: quantity or quality? On a fundamental level, a judge?s job is to resolve disputes between litigants and correct errors made by lower courts. A judge who resolves more disputes and corrects more errors is better than one who does so less often. But quantity and quality aren?t completely separable. Well-reasoned decisions send clear messages to lower-court judges and to private citizens. That means fewer judging errors and probably less litigation to begin with, as people better understand their legal obligations. In the end, there?s no reliable method to measure whether the consistency and quality of appointed judges outweighs the raw productivity of their elected counterparts.

Some scholars have attempted to answer this vexing question by conducting polls. A 2006 study, for example, showed that attorneys at major companies prefer judges who don?t have to stand for partisan election. But there?s something oddly circular about taking a vote on whether voting produces the best results.

Astute readers have noticed that the issue of judicial independence has not yet come up in this discussion. Scholars have difficulty testing the conventional wisdom that appointed judges are more independent, and the results are mixed. In a 2009 study, Joanna Shepherd of Emory University showed that judges beholden to Republican voters take more conservative positions, while those who rely on Democratic constituencies issue more liberal opinions. In contrast, in the study mentioned above, Stephen Choi and his co-authors found that appointed and elected judges were about equally likely to rule on partisan grounds.

Independence is not only difficult to measure, it?s also of questionable value. Although the judiciary is, to an extent, ballast against democratic excesses, contradicting the views of the voting public isn?t always a good thing. A judge can be consistently independent and consistently wrong.

A handful of narrower studies demonstrate some other differences between appointed and elected judges. People who are injured in accidents win bigger awards from elected judges, possibly because enormous verdicts against deep-pocketed corporations give the judiciary a Robin Hood-like appeal. States with elected judges also see more employment discrimination claims, probably for similar reasons.

Got a question about today?s news? Ask the Explainer.

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=681622f991c925628014a966dbbc95ad

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Library Review Announced After Changes In Technology... | Stuff.co.nz

Staff at Invercargill's public library face an uncertain future after the city council announced yesterday that the library's operations would be reviewed to take into account changes in technology.

The council's director of works and services, Cameron McIntosh, said about 55 people were employed fulltime and part-time at the library and the council was seeking their feedback on the review.

He expected several staff and their families to feel unsettled by the process, but gave an assurance they would all be treated with fairness and integrity, and the process would be transparent and robust.

Mr McIntosh said he could not rule out the possibility of some redundancies, but expected most of the staff to be redeployed within the building.

Technology had changed rapidly since the library opened and the council needed to react with the times, he said.

There had been a significant number of new roles created under the new proposal for the Invercargill library, with Mr McIntosh saying those roles better reflected the changing roles of libraries.

One change would allow library users to take out their own books electronically, with the counter staff to be used more in a service and assistance role, he said.

Increasing numbers of library users were getting e-books out, and were using the internet for research, he said.

The number of hard-copy books at the library was likely to decrease in coming years and the number of e-books was likely to increase, he said.

The council's budget for the library would not be changing, he said.

Public Services Association (PSA) national secretary Brenda Pilott said the body represented about 45 of the Invercargill library staff. It was always a difficult time for staff going through restructuring, she said.

"There is some concern and uncertainty."

The PSA was working closely with the council to ensure the restructuring was not about cost-saving and redundancies, but about refocusing jobs so that they were more aligned with new library technologies and the new digital environment, Ms Pilott said.

"It's important that good quality jobs are maintained and Invercargill ratepayers continue to get quality services."

- ? Fairfax NZ News

Comments

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/7890306/Council-to-review-library-operations

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Inventing ...The United Inventors Association: Patent Office Warning

Be aware that private companies not associated with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) often use trademark application and registration information from the USPTO?s databases to mail or e-mail trademark-related solicitations. Trademark applicants and registrants continue to submit a significant number of inquiries and complaints to the USPTO about such solicitations, which may include offers: (1) for legal services; (2) for trademark monitoring services; (3) to record trademarks with U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and (4) to ?register? trademarks in the company?s own private registry.

These companies may use names that resemble the USPTO name, including, for example, the terms "United States" or ?U.S.? Increasingly, some of the more unscrupulous companies attempt to make their solicitations mimic the look of official government documents rather than the look of a typical commercial or legal solicitation by emphasizing official government data like the USPTO application serial number, the registration number, the International Class(es), filing dates, and other information that is publicly available from USPTO records. Many refer to other government agencies and sections of the U.S. Code. Most require ?fees? to be paid.
?
Some applicants and registrants have reported paying fees to these private companies, mistakenly thinking that they were paying required fees to the USPTO. So, be sure to read trademark-related communications carefully before making a decision about whether to respond.?

All official correspondence will be from the ?United States Patent and Trademark Office? in Alexandria, VA, and if by e-mail, specifically from the domain ?@uspto.gov.?

If you receive a trademark-related solicitation that you believe is deceptive, you may file an on-line consumer complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (?FTC?), at www.FTC.gov. Although the FTC does not resolve individual consumer complaints, it may institute, as the nation?s consumer protection agency, investigations and prosecutions based on widespread complaints about particular companies or business practices.
?
If you have received a communication that you believe is misleading, the USPTO encourages you to e-mail us at TMFeedback@uspto.gov. When notifying us, please also:

  1. Include a copy of the communication (including the envelope it came in) if available;
  2. Indicate whether the recipient thought the communication was an official U.S. government communication or had to ask an attorney or the USPTO whether it was legitimate;
  3. Indicate whether fees were mistakenly paid in response to the communication and, if so, provide a copy of the cancelled check. Please also specify what services, if any, were provided in exchange for the payment made.
The following are examples of just some of the non-USPTO solicitations about which we have received complaints within the past several months. None of these are official U.S. government or international governmental notices. Please click on the name below if you wish to see an image of that entity?s solicitation.

United States Trademark Registration Office
Patent & Trademark Agency
Trademark Registration and Monitoring Office
United States Trademark Maintenance Service
U.S. Trademark Compliance Service
WDTP
WIPT
TM Collection
TM Edition
Patent Trademark Register
Register of International Patents and Trademarks
Trademark Renewal Service
Trademark Safeguard ? Trademark Monitoring Service
Intellectual Property Agency Ltd.

Source: http://inventoropinion.blogspot.com/2012/10/patent-office-warning.html

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Distinct developmental patterns identified in children with autism during their first three years

ScienceDaily (Oct. 30, 2012) ? In the largest prospective study to date of children with early and later manifestation of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) compared to children without ASD, researchers found two distinct patterns of language, social and motor development in the children with ASD. Published in the journal Child Development, the study found that early in development, children who display early signs of ASD show greater initial delay across multiple aspects of development compared to children whose ASD symptoms emerge later. However at 36 months of age, the early differences between these groups are no longer obvious. By the third birthday, the level of impairment between these symptom onset groups of children with ASD is comparable. Additionally, researchers uncovered a preclinical phase of ASD in which the signs of delay are not easily detected with existing clinical tests.

Previous research by Kennedy Krieger Institute researchers found that approximately half of all children with ASD can be diagnosed around the first birthday, while the remaining half do not show diagnostic indicators until later. The current study builds upon these findings by further evaluating motor and language development in a wider age span of children diagnosed with ASD (6 to 36 months), and examining how development unfolds differently in each group.

"Regardless of diagnosis, the development of children with and without ASD appears similar at six months of age on clinical tests," says Dr. Rebecca Landa, lead author and director of Kennedy Krieger's Center for Autism and Related Disorders. "However, for those children who went on to develop autism, the earliest signs of atypical development were non-specific to autism, such as general communication or motor delay."

About the Study

Participants included 204 infant siblings of children with ASD, who are at a higher genetic risk for developing ASD, and 31 infants with no family history of ASD. The infants were examined at 6, 14, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months of age. Confirmation of ASD classification was made at the 30 or 36 month visit for all participants because diagnosis at this age is considered definitive. At each visit, researchers evaluated the infants for motor, language, communication, social-affective and symbolic abilities, as well as typical symptoms of ASD.

Based on gold standard ASD assessments, infants were divided into three groups: Early-ASD, Later-ASD and Non-ASD. Both ASD groups (54 infants total) were confirmed to have ASD at 36 months; however the Early-ASD group (28 infants) received a clinical judgment of ASD symptomology at 14 months, whereas the Later-ASD group (26 infants) did not. The Non-ASD group (181 infants) did not meet outcome criteria for ASD.

Developmental Patterns

Early-ASD versus Later-ASD

? By 14 months, the Early-ASD group exhibited significantly lower expressive language and shared social smiling scores than the Later-ASD group.

? By 18 months, the Early-ASD group exhibited greater delays in receptive and expressive language development compared to the Later-ASD group.

? At 24 months, this gap between the Early- and Later-ASD groups had closed due to increasing impairment in the later-ASD group.

? At 30 and 36 months, there were no detectable differences between the Early- and Later-ASD groups.

Early-ASD versus Non-ASD groups

? At 6 months, the Early-ASD and Non-ASD groups exhibited comparable development.

? At 14 months, the Early-ASD group diverged from Non-ASD development in all measured aspects of development, except for fine motor functioning.

? These differences were sustained through 36 months.

Later-ASD versus Non-ASD groups

? At 6 months, the Later-ASD and Non-ASD groups exhibited comparable development.

? At 14 months, the Later-ASD group's scores were significantly lower than the Non-ASD group's for fine motor and some language skills.

? At 24 and 36 months, the Later-ASD group performed below the Non-ASD group on all abilities examined except fine motor functioning at 24 months.

Dr. Landa noted that patterns of slowing, plateauing and decline in development in children with ASD occurred within the timeframe when parents report first concerns about children with ASD. The subtlety of early signs and a gradual shift from typical development may not be detected by ASD screeners or by health professionals in a brief office visit. Thus, parent's expression of concern about their toddler's development or behavior requires careful consideration.

"If parents aren't seeing their children steadily develop new skills, they should talk to their pediatrician or contact their local early intervention program," says Dr. Landa. "Results from this study show that communication delays are often present in the second year of life in children with autism, especially involving language comprehension."

Further research is needed with a larger population of children with ASD and using behavioral and biological measures that may detect more subtle indicators of disrupted development in children with ASD in the first year of life. With larger studies, researchers can conduct more detailed analyses of developmental advances in children with ASD, which may facilitate the development of better early ASD screening tools and thereby improving access to earlier intervention. Studies have shown that early intervention improves language, social and cognitive outcomes for children with ASD.

The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institutes of Health, and Autism Speaks.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Kennedy Krieger Institute.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Rebecca J. Landa, Alden L. Gross, Elizabeth A. Stuart, Ashley Faherty. Developmental Trajectories in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorders: The First 3?Years. Child Development, 2012; DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01870.x

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/mind_brain/child_development/~3/LSfg_Xf-y-I/121030062401.htm

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Cassel to start at QB for Chiefs vs Chargers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) ? Matt Cassel is getting another chance to be the Chiefs' starting quarterback.

Cassel will start Thursday night's game at San Diego because Brady Quinn has not been cleared to practice due to a concussion, regaining the starting job ? at least for one week ? that he lost after a dismal five-game stretch to start the season.

Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel announced Tuesday that Quinn will not be available, and that Ricky Stanzi will serve as the backup. Fullback Nate Eachus was also ruled out with a concussion.

"They will continue with their testing and evaluation and will return when the doctor releases them, and lets us know they're OK," said Crennel, adding that doctors haven't told him how long Quinn might be out.

Cassel was scuffling along until he sustained his own concussion a few weeks ago against Baltimore. Quinn took over for a loss to Tampa Bay, and Crennel made the move permanent during the bye week in hopes of igniting a struggling offense.

He never got much chance to see whether it worked.

Quinn was hurt in the first quarter of Sunday's 26-16 loss to the Oakland Raiders, though it's unclear when the injury occurred. He was sacked by Rolando McClain and then took another shot while floating a pass that was picked off by Matt Giordano.

Quinn left the field and went down the tunnel leading to the locker rooms, and Crennel said a trainer told him at that point that Quinn had sustained a "head injury" and was unavailable.

Cassel played the rest of way, completing 20 of 30 passes for 218 yards with a touchdown and an interception. It was the 10th pick that he's thrown in parts of six games this season.

"I'm excited to be playing," Cassel said. "As I said last week, my approach doesn't change. I'm going to go out (and) I'm going to work hard. It's unfortunate for Brady, but at the same time, we have to move forward. It's a short week. Preparation has to be put in."

Cassel, who signed a $63 million, six-year deal in 2009, said he doesn't harbor any ill will toward Crennel over his benching. Cassel also said he doesn't find it uncomfortable that he's regained the starting job on a temporary basis almost by default.

"I don't look at it that way," Cassel said. "No matter what my position is, I'm going to be the same guy, and I think that's the reason I was able to go in there and execute at a high level Sunday. I was ready and my approach was the same."

Cassel said he wasn't sure whether coming off the bench changed his perspective, but his coach indicated that the decision may ultimately help Cassel from a mental standpoint.

"Sometimes a second chance energizes a guy," Crennel said. "He wants to do well, and whatever role he was in, he didn't like it, but he said, 'I'm going to do my job. I'm a Chief, and I'm going to be ready if I'm called on."

The Chiefs (1-6) could certainly use a little energy. They've lost four straight overall and still have not led in regulation this season, making them the first NFL team since at least 1940 to play seven games without taking an offensive snap with the lead, according to STATS LLC.

They've also turned the ball over a league-leading 25 times after four turnovers Sunday.

Cassel has responsible for two more on Sunday when he fumbled a snap early in the second half that led to a field goal by Oakland. He's committed 16 turnovers by himself, which puts him ahead of all but three teams in the league: Dallas, Buffalo and Philadelphia.

"He knows he's going to have to play, and he's going to do the best he can," Crennel said. "We have to help him as well, and if we all take the same attitude we'll be successful."

Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll said it helps, given the short week, that Cassel was the starter when the Chiefs played San Diego earlier this season. Cassel committed three turnovers in the game, but he'll be familiar with the Chargers' schemes and personnel.

"He's preparing himself like a pro to be ready to go in this football game," Daboll said. "He's got a good attitude, he's taken Brady being put ahead of him well. If you ask him, I'm sure he's anxious, excited for the opportunity."

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cassel-start-qb-chiefs-vs-chargers-191157752--nfl.html

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Sell Structured Settlement, Sell Annuity Payment, Lump Sum Cash ...

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Source: http://www.social-bookmarking.net/news/sell-structured-settlement-sell-annuity-payment-lump-sum-cash-now-1/

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Overnight Jam: '93 Million Miles'- Jason Mraz, Daryl Hall (Little green footballs)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/259246846?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Fitness Spotlight ? Excellent Fitness Exercises for Healthy Body

People who fail in their attempt to get fit rarely do so because they ineffectively applied their diet or workout plan. What gets people stuck in a rut is no substantial desire or information on how to get in shape. You can find your way to an enjoyable workout routine if you make your workout interesting.

Music has an almost magical quality that gets even the most sedentary people moving. How can you play your favorite energetic tunes without wanting to jump up and dance? You really need to incorporate music you enjoy into your exercise program. Turn up the music and get moving. Music is a powerful motivator and will help you keep at your workout routine and get your body in shape.

TIP! Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. -Albert Einstein

Invite some friends to exercise with you. Working out is a great time to catch up on the latest news. Having a friend to talk to will take your mind off the workout. Some interesting discussions can really pass the time. Having friends to work out with is more fun than you can imagine.

Exercise video games are an excellent way to workout. Time will quickly pass as you work out because you will spend the whole time feeling like you are simply playing an entertaining game. When you don?t focus on paying attention to what your body is experiencing because you are playing a game, you will feel more energetic and be able to work out for longer periods of time.

Buy clothing that looks good on you. This is a great motivator when you start working out. There is a wide selection of workout clothing available. You can have fun choosing an outfit that looks good and expresses your personality while you work out. Workout clothing that suits your style is going to be a great motivating factor.

TIP! In seeking happiness for others, you find it for yourself. -Anonymous

Because boredom is common when exercising, switch up your routine each day. You won?t really want to exercise if you dread doing it, so finding new and interesting ways to exercise is a must. Keep your spirits up. If you lose interest in exercise and stop, you are going to lose your momentum. That will make it hard to get started again.

Treating yourself to something special when you hit an exercise milestone is a terrific idea and one that helps keep your enthusiasm high. The reward doesn?t have to be something really big. It can be something small, such as a small desert or a new pair of shoes. No matter what you choose, try to have fun. It is important to keep yourself motivated to meet your weight loss goals.

Who says a fitness regime can?t be exciting and even enjoyable? Having a good attitude and approaching your workouts the right way will increase your enjoyment of your exercise routine. Use these ideas to improve your mindset and start on your path to success.

Excellent Fitness Exercises for Healthy Body

0 votes, 0.00 avg. rating (0% score)

Source: http://www.fitnessspotlight.net/excellent-fitness-exercises-for-healthy-body/

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NCAA poised to approve new enforcement policies

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ? Rule-breakers are about to find out just how tough the NCAA is going to be.

After debating changes for more than a year, the board of directors is poised to vote Tuesday on an enforcement proposal that would streamline the infractions process, impose harsher sanctions on the worst violators, expand the current two-tiered penalty structure to four and create a more standard set of penalty guidelines.

The details were first released in August when the board endorsed a proposal that has remained essentially unchanged.

"It's something the membership put forward and, ultimately, I think it will be better," Chris Strobel, the NCAA's director of enforcement, told The Associated Press on Monday. "It's allowing the enforcement staff to use its resources on the most severe cases, and it will include stronger and more consistent penalties, so I think it's moving in the right direction."

Strobel would not predict whether the sweeping changes would be approved, though it appears to be a foregone conclusion given the board's previous stance.

NCAA President Mark Emmert also has championed the moves following the series of scandals that rocked college sports in 2011.

At a presidential retreat in August 2011, Emmert asked university officials to take bold action in an effort to end the risk-reward analyses he believes are being used within some programs to determine whether they should abide by the rules.

"I'm extremely pleased with the speed with which we've been able to make progress," Emmert told the AP before the meeting.

If the proposal passes, schools and coaches would not only have to contend with infractions hearings, they could also faces additional charges of aggravating and mitigating circumstances.

Violators found in a "serious breach of conduct" with aggravating circumstances could face postseason bans of two to four years and fines of millions of dollars from specific events or gross revenue generated by the sport during the years in which rules were broken.

That's exactly what happened to Penn State in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. The NCAA banned the Nittany Lions' football program from postseason play until after the 2016 season and levied a $60 million fine on the school.

Head coaches also will be held more accountable for their staffs. Unless a head coach can prove he or she was unaware of what took place, the most egregious violations could lead to suspensions from 10 percent of the season to a full season.

And what if the new policies don't the stem the tide of rule-breaking? The NCAA could take additional steps.

"We'll continue to evaluate it and if we recognize something is not working in the right area, that's a step we will rectify," Strobel said.

The measure also calls for more standard penalty guidelines. Schools and college fans have long been baffled by NCAA punishments and have called for more consistent standards.

And the sanctions could come sooner than the typical one-year time line.

Under the new proposal, the infractions committee would expand from 10 to up to 24 members who will serve in rotation. The hope is that more panels would break the backlog of cases that has traditionally bogged down the process.

The new guidelines would take effect immediately, though the hearing structure would not change until Aug. 1, 2013.

But schools currently under investigation, such as Miami, could still face the new sanctions ? if the case is not resolved before next August.

"The committee on infractions could proceed under the new standards or could apply the penalties under the old standards, based on whatever is more beneficial to the institution," Strobel said.

Emmert has backed every legislative piece of the reform movement.

Last fall, the governing body passed a measure calling for tougher eligibility requirements on incoming freshmen and junior college transfers; another that tied academic performance to postseason eligibility; a third that give schools flexibility to offer multiyear scholarships or stick with the standard one-year scholarships and it stood up to an override motion; and a fourth that allowed student-athletes to collect stipends of up to $2,000, which was stopped by an override movement.

Emmert wants to bring back the miscellaneous expense allowance, or stipend, though it's unlikely to happen before the board's January meeting.

"The differences being explored right now are whether or not to include a need-based component in it so that students have to have demonstrated financial need before they might get the miscellaneous expense allowance," he said. "There's not a final proposal at this time. I'm sure it'll be hotly debated. It's an issue that provokes a lot of passion on either side of it."

Another committee is trying to shrink the NCAA's massive rule book, but no formal proposal is anticipated before January.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ncaa-poised-approve-enforcement-policies-030415873--spt.html

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DMCC Announces Get Out of Debt Sweepstakes | Debt ...

Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp (http://www.dmcconline.org), a nonprofit organization (DMCC), announces sweepstakes to win $500 towards credit card, student loan or payday loan accounts. Individuals must ?Like? the DMCC Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/dmcconline1 and meet other requirements to be eligible to win. DMCC also provides individuals debt management plans to lower credit card interest rates and help with the repayment of student loans, payday loans, medical debts and federal income taxes.

Lighthouse Point, FL (PRWEB) October 23, 2012

Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp (http://www.dmcconline.org), a nonprofit organization (DMCC), announced today its ?Get Out of Debt Sweepstakes?. Under the terms of the sweepstakes, DMCC will pay Five Hundred U.S. Dollars ($500.00) directly to the credit card, student loan or payday loan account(s) of one lucky Winner. The sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who ?Like? the DMCC Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/dmcconline1, have reached the age of 18, and have credit card accounts, student loans or payday loans in their name with balances totaling at least Five Thousand U.S. Dollars ($5000.00) on the day of the drawing. The Winner will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received and will take place on December 17, 2012. Odds of winning will depend upon the total number of eligible entries received. The official rules are available at dmcccorp.org/official-rules or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to: DMCC Sweepstakes, 3310 N. Federal Highway, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064.

DMCC has been helping consumers get out of debt for over 12 years. Certified credit counselors at DMCC provide consumers free budget counseling and, when appropriate, debt management plans to lower credit card interest rates and payments. DMCC is also able to help individuals setup affordable repayment plans for their student loans, payday loans, medical bills and federal income taxes. ?We are hopeful that this sweepstakes will make more consumers aware of the help that is available to them from our organization?, said Phil Heinemann, DMCC Executive Director. ?We are more than happy to help the Winner reduce their debt by $500?.

About Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp.

DMCC is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization committed to educating consumers on financial issues and providing personal assistance to consumers overextended with debt. Education is provided free of charge to consumers via seminars, workshops, a proprietary financial literacy program, and a vast array of online and printed materials. Free personal counseling is provided to consumers to identify the best options for the repayment of their debt. DMCC is a HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency, is approved by the U.S. Trustee to provide bankruptcy counseling and education, and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

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Ref: http://www.prweb.com/releases/credit_counseling/debt_management/prweb10007012.htm

Source: http://www.dmcccorp.org/dmcc-announces-get-out-of-debt-sweepstakes/

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Grant Will Help Lake County Towns Combat Youth Drug, Alcohol ...

Armed with new resources and ideas, Lake County officials are more determined than ever to reduce drinking and prescription drug abuse among youths.

The Lake County Underage Drinking Prevention Task Force recently secured a $125,000 national Drug Free Communities grant that will help local municipalities raise more awareness in the suburbs and implement programs aimed at easing these problems across the county.

?The ultimate goal is to reduce substance abuse levels in Lake County,? said Kristine Andersen, the Lake County Health Department?s coordinator for alcohol, tobacco and drug prevention. ?There?s no one (effort) that?s going to change it all, but if you have the right tools and use the right tools at the right time, it can make things so much better.?

The funds are provided by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. They are intended to help the Lake County group, composed of law enforcement members, health department employees and community members, grow more collaborative and implement activities to reduce youths? alcohol and prescription drug use.?

?What we want to do is mobilize the community and get more parties knowledgeable about the data,? said Andersen, who served as project director for the grant.

To start, the coalition will invite faith-based organizations to join its efforts. ?We want them to be aware of the situation and then provide some kind of resources for the congregation,? Andersen said.

In addition, she said, the coalition will work to:?

  • Increase the number of municipalities with social host ordinances and raise public awareness about them
  • Increase the number of police departments that conduct periodic compliance checks at businesses selling alcohol
  • Reduce access to prescription drugs?

?We?re going to try to sit down and strategize what would be a more effective way to dispose of prescription drugs that people have turned in,? she said.

That was also a topic of discussion last week among area police chiefs, who asked legislators to look into a solution. Currently, many local departments transport the drugs they collect to Indianapolis.?

The task force is also reaching out to students in its youth division to help raise community awareness about prescription drug abuse.

?Many people think, ?Well, it?s prescribed to my grandma, so it can?t be bad for me,?? Andersen said. ?What we?re talking about with teens is the recreational (drug use) factor. Teens don?t always think it through because their youths.?

?The nice thing about this grant is there are a lot of things we?re going to be doing, but they are tailored by the community, for the community,? she said.?

The funds will cover expenses such as out-of-state trainings, materials and meeting spaces. The grant will also allow the coalition to hire a project coordinator. Andersen said she hopes the new hire will be in place next month.

The grant is renewable for five years. By 2017, Andersen said she hopes new towns will have joined the task force and that all Lake County municipalities are aware of the resources at their disposal. The group will use results from youth surveys conducted in schools every other year to help gauge the impact of their efforts.

?America?s success in the 21st century depends in part on our ability to help young people make decisions that will keep them healthy and safe,? Gil Kerlikowske, director of National Drug Control Policy, said in a statement. ?We congratulate this coalition on its work to raise a generation of young people equipped to remain drug free and ready to prosper in school, in their communities, and in the workplace. While law enforcement efforts will always serve a vital role in keeping our communities safe, we know that stopping drug use before it ever begins is always the smartest and most cost-effective way to reduce drug use and its consequences.?

Lake County is among 60 new communities across the county and one of only two in Illinois to receive a Drug-Free Communities grant. The Office of National Drug Control Policy awarded $7.9 million in new grants this year. More than 600 other U.S. communities received a combined $76.7 million in continuing grants for their prevention efforts.

To better keep up with Deerfield news, follow Patch on?Twitter?and?Facebook.

Source: http://deerfield.patch.com/articles/grant-will-help-lake-county-towns-combat-youth-drug-alcohol-abuse-0a5852d9

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Google reveals Nexus 4, Nexus 10 ... and more Nexus 7

12 hrs.

Google may have canceled the Android event which was scheduled for 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m. ET on Monday morning because of Hurricane Sandy, but that doesn't mean we're being deprived of gadget news. The Mountain View, Calif. company has announced a new LG-made?Nexus smartphone and a 10-inch tablet by Samsung.

As expected, thanks to rumors and leaks, the new Nexus smartphone is dubbed the Nexus 4. It?has a 4.7-inch screen with a "retina"-dense?320 pixels per inch which rivals the 326 ppi found on recent iPhones.?The phone has a powerful?quad-core processor, and will run Android 4.2. (This is still nicknamed Jelly Bean, in case you were tracking those silly things.) It will be available in an 8GB version for $299 and a 16GB version for $349. You can snag it as early as Nov. 13, unlocked and without contract. If you don't mind signing a two-year service agreement, then you can get a 16GB version from T-Mobile for $199.

What Google hasn't mentioned is whether or not there will be an LTE version of the Nexus 4, or?one that would?runs on carriers such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint, which don't support the announced specs. All the models listed are GSM/HSPA+, meaning in the U.S., they'll only run on AT&T and T-Mobile. Hopefully a phone supporting CDMA and LTE will be released in the coming months, so we'll keep asking.

The new Nexus 10 tablet also doesn't come as a surprise to those who have been paying attention to the rumor mill.?The device is a larger version of the popular Nexus 7 tablet. The?Samsung device offers a high-resolution 2560 x 1600 display (that translates to 300 ppi ? more dense than the latest iPad's?264 ppi).?According to Google, the Nexus 10 can handle up to nine hours of video playback and more than 500 hours of standby time on a single charge. ?Like the Nexus 4, it will ship with Android 4.2.?You can snag a 16GB version of the Nexus 10 for $399 and a 32GB version for $499. It will be available through the Google Play Store on Nov. 13.

But wait! There's more! Google also decided to offer up several more Nexus 7 models as well. The smaller tablet will now be available in a 16GB version and 32GB version, priced at $199 and $249, respectively. An additional 32GB model with HSPA+ connectivity will be offered through AT&T for $299, starting on Nov. 13.

Want more tech news?or interesting?links? You'll get plenty of both if you keep up with Rosa Golijan, the writer of this post, by following her on?Twitter, subscribing to her?Facebook?posts,?or circling her?on?Google+.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/google-reveals-nexus-4-nexus-10-more-nexus-7-1B6737539

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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Majority of US drones openly broadcast video feeds (Wired UK)

Four years after discovering that militants were tapping into drone video feeds, the US military still hasn't secured the transmissions of more than half of its fleet of Predator and Reaper drones, Wired.com has learned. The majority of the aircraft still broadcast their classified video streams "in the clear" -- without encryption. With a minimal amount of equipment and know-how, militants can see what America's drones see.

Unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, have become the single most important weapon in America's far-flung pursuit of violent extremists. Hundreds of American Predators and Reapers fly above Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan -- watching suspected enemies, and striking them when necessary. Nearly 3,000 people have been killed in the decade-long drone campaign.

"If somebody could obtain reliable access to real-time Predator or Reaper video -- without attribution or alerting US military -- that would a tremendous intel coup," says Micah Zenko, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. "There is an insatiable demand from Predator and Reaper imagery in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Any reluctance to use those for spying or missile strikes places operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia at some risk."

Military officials have known about -- and mostly shrugged off -- the vulnerability since the development of the Predator in the 1990s. But the problem drew increased attention in 2008, when drone video footage was found on the laptops of Shi'ite militants in Iraq, who were able to intercept the feed using a piece of $26 (?16) software. The Pentagon and the defence industry assured the public that they'd close the hole by retrofitting the robotic aircraft with new communications protocols and encrypted transceivers that would keep the video from being intercepted again.

Four years into the effort, however, only "30 to 50 percent" of America's Predators and Reapers are using fully encrypted transmissions, a source familiar with the retrofitting effort told Wire.com. The total fleet won't see its communications secured until 2014. This source and others who work closely with drone operations say that drones flying overseas are among the first to get the newly secured equipment. They also noted that they are unaware of any incidents of militants using America's unmanned eyes in the sky to their advantage. "But I'm surprised I haven't," the source adds. "And that doesn't mean it's not happening."

This isn't the only vulnerability in the drone fleet. In March of 2011, an unknown software glitch caused a Predator stationed at a US base in Africa to start its engine without human direction. Last October, as Wired.com first reported, Air Force technicians discovered a virus infecting the drones' remote cockpits in Las Vegas. It took weeks of sustained effort to clean up the machines. The aircraft, which rely on GPS to guide them through the air, can run into problems if GPS signals are jammed in a particular area -- something that can be done with cheap, commercially available hardware. Iranian officials claimed they hacked the GPS control signal of an advanced drone, though it's impossible to verify the claim.

No one who works with UAVs is questioning the fundamental integrity of the drone fleet at the moment; it would take an incredibly sophisticated hacker to commandeer a Predator, for example. Nor is anyone pretending that this premiere tool of the US global counterterror campaign is flawless.

Predators and the larger, better-armed Reapers transmit video and accept instructions in one of two ways. The first is via satellite, to remote pilots and sensor operators who are often on the other side of the planet; these satellite communications are encrypted, and are generally considered secure.

The second is through a radio frequency signal called the Common Data Link, which is used to share the drone's video feed with troops on the ground. The CDL's carrier signal -- its specific pattern of frequencies, in a given order and for a given length of time -- tells both transmitter and receiver on how to function. The problem is that the Predators' version of the CDL carrier signal (also known as a "waveform") didn't include an order to encrypt the signal. So neither the transmitter on the drone nor the receivers that troops used on the ground employed encryption, either.

There were reasons for this. The original Predator, just 8 metres long, was little more than a scaled-up model plane with an 85-horsepower engine. It had a payload of just 450 kg for all its fuel, cameras and radios. And encryption systems can be heavy. (Big crypto boxes are a major reason the Army's futuristic universal radio ended up being too bulky for combat, for example.) With the early Predator models, the Air Force made the conscious decision to leave off the crypto.

The flying branch was well aware of the risk. "Depending on the theatre of operation and hostile electronic combat systems present, the threat to the UAVs could range from negligible with only a potential of signal intercept for detection purpose, to an active jamming effort made against an operating, unencrypted UAV," the Air Force reported in 1996." The link characteristics of the baseline Predator system could be vulnerable to corruption of down links data or hostile data insertions."

The Predator models steadily grew in power and payload, and took a big leap in dimensions and capability with the 11-metre-long Reaper version introduced in 2007. The Reaper has a 950-horsepower engine and a nearly 1,814-kilogram payload -- more than enough capacity for crypto-enabled systems which, like all electronics, had shrunk in size and weight.

The problem was that, by then, the military had rushed to the battlefield hundreds of Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receivers, or Rovers -- rugged, laptop-sized receivers with screens for watching drone footage. And those early version of the Rovers were developed and distributed so fast, the military once again left the crypto off. "It could be both intercepted (e.g., hacked into) and jammed," emails an Air Force officer with knowledge of the program.

Which mean the Pentagon was stuck, for a time. The military couldn't replace the old CDL waveform with something encryptable until the Rovers -- and the radio transmitters aboard the Predators -- could handle such a signal.

Eventually, the Rovers began to be swapped out for newer models. The latest version, the " Tactical Rover," (.pdf) is about the size of an old-school mobile phone. It can use both the Advanced Encryption Standard and the triple-Data Encryption Standard to secure video feeds. There are now about a thousand of the units in the military's hands.

And now, the Predators and Reapers are starting to get enhanced radios, too. "The fleet-wide upgrade begins later this year and carries on for several years," says Maj. Mary Danner-Jones, an Air Force spokesperson. The service is spending $12 million (?7.4 million) on crypto-enabled Vortex transceivers (.pdf).

That's allowing a new, hardened waveform to be introduced throughout the Predator and Reaper fleet. The Air Force recently gave Predator-maker General Atomics Aeronautical Systems a $26 million (?16 million) contract to retrofit its drone cockpits to accept the carrier signal, among other enhancements.

The question is why hasn't this happened sooner. After all, the Navy installed multiple layers of encryption in their 'bots some time ago. Navy spokesman Jamie Cosgrove tells Wired.com that "the vast majority" of naval drones are encrypted -- "and have been since development."

One source who works on developing Navy UAVs, but is not authorised the speak on the record, explains why: "Standard unencrypted video is basically a broadcast to whoever can figure out the right carrier frequency, so essentially, we are simulcasting to battlefield commanders and the opposing force. If that opposing force knows we can see them and from where, they can take better evasive manoeuvres."

It's possible that none of the militants America is trying today are as sophisticated as the ones who intercepted that drone video in 2008. It's possible that the value of such footage-from-above is so fleeting that opponents have never again bothered to grab it. But it's worth noting that Predator and Reaper video is considered by the US military to be classified information. And when US commanders on the ground get into a firefight, the first call they usually make is for a drone, so they can take a look at the battlefield through the eyes of a drone.

Source: Wired.com

Source: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-10/30/drone-open-feeds

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Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra - "The Killing Type ...

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/164897-amanda-palmer-the-grand-theft-orchestra-the-killing-type-video/

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Faulkner estate sues over quotes in movie, ad

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) ? William Faulkner wrote that the past is never dead. His heirs say their copyright to that phrase is very much alive.

The author's literary estate is suing Sony Pictures Classics for using a paraphrase of that line in Woody Allen's 2011 film, "Midnight in Paris." It's also suing Northrop Grumman Corp. and The Washington Post Co. for using a Faulkner quote in a newspaper ad by the defense contractor.

The first lawsuit says Sony infringed on the copyright when actor Owen Wilson slightly misquoted the line from Faulkner's "Requiem for a Nun." He said, "The past is not dead! Actually, it's not even past." The lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court in Oxford, Miss.

The second lawsuit, filed Friday in Jackson, Miss., makes similar claims about the ad.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/faulkner-estate-sues-over-quotes-movie-ad-194512988.html

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Internet Retailing ? Ecommerce growth prompts ?75m Parcelforce ...

The Parcelforce Worldwide depot network is to expand as part of a four-year, ?75m investment programme that will equip it for a future in which online sales will continue to grow.

The investment in the UK express parcels business will create 1,000 new jobs in the UK, its owner Royal Mail said, in a market currently worth ?5.8bn a year and predicted to grow as ecommerce flourishes.

The expansion will see a new parcel processing centre open in Chorley next autumn, new depots in Cornwall and Hampshire, and the expansion or relocation of nine further depots over the next four years. Royal Mail will also invest in Parcelforce?s IT in order to replace legacy systems.

Making the announcement, Royal Mail cited Boston Consulting Group figures that suggest online retailing will account for 12.4% of UK GDP and 23% of overall retail spending by 2016. UK consumers spent around ?76bn online in 2011-12, according to the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, which represented growth of 20% on the previous year.

?Our ?75 million investment is part of Royal Mail Group?s strategy to grow its parcels businesses in the UK and overseas,? said Royal Mail Group?s chief executive Moya Greene. ?Our strategy is to convert the rise in parcel volumes in to profitable growth. That means becoming a much more customer-focused company being run on commercial lines and investing in new, vital technology.

?The investment will enable Royal Mail Group?s express parcels business to
meet the rapid growth in demand in the business-to-business,
business-to-consumer and consumer-to-consumer markets.?

Royal Mail said that ecommerce growth had already seen its UK parcels business grow revenues by 10% and volume by 6% in 2011-12. In its last reported financial year, Royal Mail Group?s parcels businesses turned over ?4.2bn, 48% of total revenues, excluding Post Office Ltd.

Parcelforce Worldwide is one of three Royal Mail Group parcels networks in the UK. The others are Royal Mail?s UK parcels operation, which also works with a range of online retailers, and Royal Mail Specialist Services.

No related posts.

Source: http://internetretailing.net/2012/10/ecommerce-growth-prompts-75m-parcelforce-expansion/

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Google unveils another phone, larger Nexus tablet - seattlepi.com

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Google is cramming a few more gadgets on to already crowded holiday shopping lists.

The devices announced Monday include the latest in Google's line of Nexus smartphones and a larger version of the 7-inch Nexus 7 tablet, which the company began selling in July. It's also adding cellular capabilities to the Nexus 7 and doubling the capacity of existing models.

The Nexus 4 smartphone is being made by LG Electronics Inc. and features a minor update to Google's Android operating system, which now powers more than 500 million devices worldwide. A more comprehensive makeover, known as Key Lime Pie, is expected next year. The version of Android affected by these changes is known as Jelly Bean.

The larger Nexus tablet is being made by Samsung Electronics Co. and features a display screen that measures about 10 inches diagonally, about the same size as Apple Inc.'s top-selling iPad.

With these additions to its product lineup, Google joins a procession of companies selling a gamut of sleek and powerful computing devices in different shapes and sizes. Some are smartphones and others are tablet computers, but they all aim to cater to people's growing interest to have easily portable devices that can be used to connect to the Internet, take pictures, watch video, play games and read books, magazines and newspapers.

Google's Nexus devices will be competing with gadgets from such companies as Apple Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Barnes & Noble Inc., Samsung and Microsoft Corp. Microsoft released a new tablet called Surface last week and launched new software for phones on Monday.

The array of phones and tablets hitting the market underscores how much mobile computing is shaking up the technology industry. The shift has undercut sales of desktop and laptop computers, decreasing the amount of revenue that Microsoft gets from licensing Windows and hurting companies such as Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc. that make the machines.

Although Android has ensured that Google's search engine and other services play a prominent role in mobile computing, Google also is experiencing some short-term pain because the advertising rates on phones and tablets so far haven't been as high as the prices on desktops and laptops. Advertising accounts for most of Google's revenue.

Google's introduction of a larger tablet comes less than a week after Apple announced it's making a smaller, less expensive iPad, with a 7.9-inch display, to compete with the Nexus 7 and Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle Fire. The iPad Mini will be available in stores Friday.

Some analysts have questioned whether consumers will balk at the iPad Mini's $329 price for a device with 16 gigabytes of storage. Google is widening the price difference between the iPad Mini and its smaller tablet by cutting $50 off the price of a comparable, 16-gigabyte Nexus 7, to $199. The 8-gigabyte version, which had sold for $199, will be discontinued. A Nexus 7 with 32 gigabytes of storage is being introduced for $249 in an apparent effort to discourage even more people from buying the iPad Mini. The cheapest Nexus 7 is still pricier than the Kindle Fire, which starts at $159 for a no-frills model.

The Nexus 7 tablets will continue to be sold at Google's Play store online as well as such retailers as GameStop, Office Depot, Office Max, Staples and Wal-Mart.

Analysts estimate Google has sold several million Nexus 7 tablets so far. Google declined to disclose how many units have shipped. The tablet "has been an amazing success," said Hugo Barra, Android's director of product management. "We had to work extra hard to meet demand."

Nexus 7 owners have been buying and looking at so much content on the tablet that Google decided to create a larger version with Samsung, Barra said. The Nexus 7 is made by AsusTek Computer Inc.

The Nexus 10 tablet with 16 gigabytes of storage will sell for $399. That's $100 less than the comparable version of the latest iPad, though the older iPad 2 is still available at that price. The Nexus 10 goes on sale in Google's online store Nov. 13.

Both the Nexus 10 and the new Nexus 7 models will allow multiple users to create separate personal profiles on the devices by using different account names and passwords.

The Nexus 4 phone boasts a 4.7-inch screen, larger than Apple's recently released iPhone 5 and just slightly smaller than Samsung's flagship phone, the Galaxy S III. A 16-gigabyte model of the Nexus 4 will sell for $199 with a two-year contract to buy phone service and Internet access from T-Mobile. A contract-free version is available for $299 with 8 gigabytes of storage and $349 for the 16-gigabyte model. Google is touting the Nexus 4's wireless charging capability as a major selling point.

Microsoft entered the tablet fray last week with the Surface. The initial model runs Windows RT, part of the Windows 8 family of operating systems. Microsoft has radically redesigned Windows to appeal to people who want the utility of a personal computer coupled with the convenience of smaller mobile devices that rely on touch controls. More than 1,000 PCs and other devices are expected to run on Windows 8.

Microsoft launched its version of Windows 8 for smartphones in San Francisco at an event Monday that included an appearance by actress Jessica Alba. Google had hoped to upstage Microsoft's celebration by rolling out its latest gadgets at an event a few hours earlier in New York, but that got canceled because of Hurricane Sandy. The company, which is based in Mountain View, Calif., instead released details about the devices in a blog post.

Besides adding more hardware to its online store, Google is expanding its music library to include Warner Music Group's catalog. Warner had been the only holdout among the major music labels when Google began selling music a year ago to compete with Apple's iTunes stores. The company also said it will begin selling music in Europe beginning Nov. 13.

The Android update includes a feature called Gesture Typing, which tries to anticipate what words a user wants to enter as they are entering text. The guesses are based on an analysis of typical sentence structures and users' past entries.

Another new feature called Photo Sphere stitches together 360-degree pictures of rooms and landscapes. The high-resolution photos created with this tool are similar to the shots shown in Google's Street View feature in its online maps.

Source: http://www.seattlepi.com/business/technology/article/Google-unveils-another-phone-larger-Nexus-tablet-3990471.php

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Ashley Greene Bikini Photos: THG Hot Bodies Countdown #55!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/10/ashley-greene-bikini-photos-thg-hot-bodies-countdown-number-55/

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Are Flat-Earthers Being Serious?

Members of the Flat Earth Society claim to believe the Earth is flat. Walking around on the planet's surface, it looks andfeels flat, so they deem all evidence to the contrary, such as satellite photos of Earth as a sphere, to be fabrications of a "round Earth conspiracy" orchestrated by NASA and other government agencies.

The belief that the Earth is flat has been described as the ultimate conspiracy theory. According to the Flat Earth Society's leadership, its ranks have grown by 200 people (mostly Americans and Britons) per year since 2009. Judging by the exhaustive effort flat-earthers have invested in fleshing out the theory on their website, as well as the staunch defenses of their views they offer in media interviews and on Twitter, it would seem that these people genuinely believe the Earth is flat.

But in the 21st century, can they be serious? And if so, how is this psychologically possible?

Through a flat-earther's eyes

First, a brief tour of the worldview of a flat-earther: While writing off buckets of concrete evidence that Earth is spherical, they readily accept a laundry list of propositions that some would call ludicrous. The leading flat-earther theory holds that Earth is a disc with the Arctic Circle in the center and Antarctica, a 150-foot-tall wall of ice, around the rim. NASA employees, they say, guard this ice wall to prevent people from climbing over and falling off the disc. Earth's day and night cycle is explained by positing that the sun and moon are spheres measuring 32 miles (51 kilometers) that move in circles 3,000 miles (4,828 km) above the plane of the Earth. (Stars, they say, move in a plane 3,100 miles up.) Like spotlights, these celestial spheres illuminate different portions of the planet in a 24-hour cycle. Flat-earthers believe there must also be an invisible "antimoon" that obscures the moon during lunar eclipses.

Furthermore, Earth's gravity is an illusion, they say. Objects do not accelerate downward; instead, the disc of Earth accelerates upward at 32 feet per second squared (9.8 meters per second squared), driven up by a mysterious force called dark energy. Currently, there is disagreement among flat-earthers about whether or not Einstein's theory of relativity permits Earth to accelerate upward indefinitely without the planet eventually surpassing the speed of light. (Einstein's laws apparently still hold in this alternate version of reality.)

As for what lies underneath the disc of Earth, this is unknown, but most flat-earthers believe it is composed of "rocks." [Religion and Science: 6 Visions of Earth's Core]

Then, there's the conspiracy theory: Flat-earthers believe photos of the globe are photoshopped; GPS devices are rigged to make airplane pilots think they are flying in straight lines around a sphere when they are actually flying in circles above a disc. The motive for world governments' concealment of the true shape of the Earth has not been ascertained, but flat-earthers believe it is probably financial. "In a nutshell, it would logically cost much less to fake a space program than to actually have one, so those in on the Conspiracy profit from the funding NASA and other space agencies receive from the government," the flat-earther website's FAQ page explains.

It's no joke

The theory follows from a mode of thought called the "Zetetic Method," an alternative to the scientific method, developed by a 19th-century flat-earther, in which sensory observations reign supreme. "Broadly, the method places a lot of emphasis on reconciling empiricism and rationalism, and making logical deductions based on empirical data," Flat Earth Society vice president Michael Wilmore, an Irishman, told Life's Little Mysteries. In Zetetic astronomy, the perception that Earth is flat leads to the deduction that it must actually be flat; the antimoon, NASA conspiracy and all the rest of it are just rationalizations for how that might work in practice.

Those details make the flat-earthers' theory so elaborately absurd it sounds like a joke, but many of its supporters genuinely consider it a more plausible model of astronomy than the one found in textbooks. In short, they aren't kidding. [50 Amazing Facts About Planet Earth]

"The question of belief and sincerity is one that comes up a lot," Wilmore said. "If I had to guess, I would probably say that at least some of our members see the?Flat?Earth?Society and?Flat?Earth?Theory as a kind of epistemological exercise, whether as a critique of the scientific method or as a kind of 'solipsism for beginners.' There are also probably some who thought the certificate would be kind of funny to have on their wall. That being said, I know many members personally, and I am fully convinced of their belief."

Wilmore counts himself among the true believers. "My own convictions are a result of philosophical introspection and a considerable body of data that I have personally observed, and which I am still compiling,? he said.

Strangely, Wilmore and the society's president, a 35-year-old Virginia-born Londoner named Daniel Shenton, both think the evidence for global warming is strong, despite much of this evidence coming from satellite data gathered by NASA, the kingpin of the "round Earth conspiracy." They also accept evolution and most other mainstream tenets of science.

Conspiracy theory psychology

As inconceivable as their belief system seems, it doesn't really surprise experts. Karen Douglas, a psychologist at the University of Kent in the United Kingdom who studies the psychology of conspiracy theories, says flat-earthers' beliefs cohere with those of other conspiracy theorists she has studied.

"It seems to me that these people do generally believe that the Earth is flat. I'm not seeing anything that sounds as if they're just putting that idea out there for any other reason," Douglas told Life's Little Mysteries.

She said all conspiracy theories share a basic thrust: They present an alternative theory about an important issue or event, and construct an (often) vague explanation for why someone is covering up that "true" version of events. "One of the major points of appeal is that they explain a big event but often without going into details," she said. "A lot of the power lies in the fact that they are vague."

The self-assured way in which conspiracy theorists stick to their story imbues that story with special appeal. After all, flat-earthers are more adamant that the Earth is flat than most people are that the Earth is round (probably because the rest of us feel we have nothing to prove). "If you're faced with a minority viewpoint that is put forth in an intelligent, seemingly well-informed way, and when the proponents don't deviate from these strong opinions they have, they can be very influential. We call that minority influence," Douglas said.

In a recent study, Eric Oliver and Tom Wood, political scientists at the University of Chicago, found that about half of Americans endorse at least one conspiracy theory, from the notion that 9/11 was an inside job to the JFK conspiracy. "Many people are willing to believe many ideas that are directly in contradiction to a dominant cultural narrative," Oliver told Life's Little Mysteries. He says conspiratorial belief stems from a human tendency to perceive unseen forces at work, known as magical thinking. [Top Ten Unexplained Phenomena]

However, flat-earthers don't fit entirely snugly in this general picture. Most conspiracy theorists adopt many fringe theories, even ones that contradict each other. Meanwhile, flat-earthers' only hang-up is the shape of the Earth. "If they were like other conspiracy theorists, they should be exhibiting a tendency toward a lot of magical thinking, such as believing in UFOs, ESP, ghosts, the Devil, or other unseen, intentional forces," Oliver wrote in an email. "It doesn't sound like they do, which makes them very anomalous relative to most Americans who believe in conspiracy theories."

Follow Natalie Wolchover on Twitter @nattyover?or Life's Little?Mysteries @llmysteries. We're also on?Facebook?&?Google+.

Copyright 2012 Lifes Little Mysteries, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/flat-earthers-being-serious-121746396.html

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The Nexus 7 Is Now Just $200

Google just took the lid off a 32GB Nexus 7 tablet, and dropped the price of the 16GB model from $250 to $200. The bigger version is $249. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/mTQbuY-hPV8/the-nexus-7-is-now-just-199

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