UN chief presses for major boost in Syrian aid

KUWAIT CITY (AP) ? The U.N. chief appealed Wednesday for a major boost in international relief aid for Syria and called for the fighting to end "in the name of humanity" even as more refugees poured into neighboring Jordan and its leader warned resources were strained to the limit.

The U.N.'s call for up to $1.5 billion in humanitarian assistance at an international conference in Kuwait reflects the deepening civilian crisis inside Syria and the civil war's increasing spillover around the region.

Jordan's economic council said the kingdom had spent more than $833 billion on aid for refugees ? accounting for nearly half the estimated 700,000 people who have fled Syria ? and that it was unable to sustain a financial burden that has so far siphoned off about 3 percent of its GDP.

Some U.N. officials say the refugee figures could approach 1 million later this year if the conflict in Syria does not ease.

Speaking at the U.N.-led gathering in Kuwait, Jordan's King Abdullah II said sheltering and assisting the refugee wave is about the country's "capacity and potenital."

"We have reached the end of the line. We have exhausted our resources," he said.

Last week, the king used the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to amplify his appeal for international help as "the weakest refugees are struggling now just to survive this year's harsh winter" and more cross the Syria-Jordan border at up to 3,000 a day.

In his opening remarks, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon urged all sides "and particularly the Syrian government" to halt attacks in the 22-month-old civil war that the U.N. says has claimed more than 60,000 lives.

"In the name of humanity, stop the killing, stop the violence," Ban told envoys from nearly 60 nations, including Russia and Iran, key allies of Assad's regime.

Aid officials estimate that more than 2 million Syrians have been uprooted or are suffering inside the country as the civil war widens ? including what peace envoy Lakhard Brahimi called "unprecedented levels of horror" in an address to the U.N. Security Council after at least 65 bodies were found Tuesday in a suspected execution-style killing near Aleppo.

Before the latest donors' conference, Ban described the international humanitarian response to Syria as "very much limited" in comments to the official Kuwaiti News Agency.

But the meeting appeared to leverage more pledges. Kuwait's ruler, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, promised $300 million in a move that could prompt other donations from Gulf Arab allies, which are major backers of Syrian rebel factions. On Tuesday, the European Union and the U.S. promised a total of nearly $400 million.

"The situation in Syria is catastrophic and getting worse by the day," Ban told the gathering.

He listed a "cascading catalog of horrors" facing Syrians, including shortages of food and medicine and abuses such as "sexual violence and arbitrary arrests and detention."

Half of public hospitals have been damaged, he added.

"The use of heavy weapons in residential areas has destroyed whole communities and neighborhoods," Ban told delegates.

While international aid channels are open to refugee camps in places such Turkey and Jordan, there is far more limited capacity to organize relief efforts inside Syria because of the fighting and obstacles from Assad's regime.

Paris-based Medecins Sans Frontieres said the U.N. and others need to open more routes for aid to reach rebel-held areas, which now receive only a "tiny share" of international humanitarian help.

"The current aid system is unable to address the worsening living conditions facing people who live inside Syria," said a statement by the group's president, Marie-Pierre Allie.

The escalating hardships in camps outside Syria also can be used by Assad's government as potential fodder in its claims that rebels are responsible for the country's collapse, said Fawaz Gerges, head of the Middle East Center at the London School of Economics.

"The misery of the refugees, their suffering in neighboring countries, provide the ammunition for Assad, who is saying to them, 'See, you have no one else but your country, so come home,'" Gerges said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/un-chief-presses-major-boost-syrian-aid-092441750.html

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Harbaugh brothers a reflection of Father Jack in football philosophy

NEW ORLEANS -- Whichever Harbaugh brother hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy on Sunday will be claiming the family's second national title. Jack Harbaugh got there first by capturing the Division I-AA championship with Western Kentucky in 2002.

Jack did it with strategic creativity, a tough-love approach and some catchy locker room phrases. In short, he did it in a style that will echo throughout Super Bowl XLVII.

"When you see Baltimore and San Francisco - tough, physical teams - you're seeing Jack," said Jason Michael, the quarterback for that Western Kentucky title team. "That's the Harbaugh family message. They're just hard-nosed people who are going to do anything to win, and they make the players feel that way."

You might have heard already that 49ers coach Jim and Ravens coach John are siblings. But only those who played under, or coached alongside, Jack during his 43-year career recognize just how much these Super Bowl teams owe to papa's playbook.

It's not just that the boys have his DNA. They have his Xs and Os.

"I was watching the NFL Network the other day and saw Jim telling his team, 'Who's got it better than us?' and the players saying 'Nobody,'" said David Elson, a Western Kentucky assistant who now is the New Mexico State defensive coordinator. "That just brings it all back to when Jack first said that to me. You see now how it's all been handed down (with) the success of Jim and John. It's just fun to watch."

The brothers often say that their dad has the football brains in the family. They call him for advice, even while going a combined 26-10-1 this season.

"He was a go-getter, the best motivator I've ever heard," John Harbaugh, the older brother, said this week in New Orleans. "He's talked to our team and Jim's team a number of times."

Jack, now 73, was a quarterback and defensive back who played one year at Bowling Green - where he met wife Jackie - and one year in the old AFL before embarking on a nomadic coaching career. He coached two high school teams before landing a string of jobs at college staffs that included a transformative stint under legendary Bo Schembechler at Michigan (1973-79) and a brief stay as Stanford's defensive coordinator (1980-81).

As a head coach, Harbaugh had a combined record of 116-95-3 at Western Michigan (1982-86) and Western Kentucky (1989-02).

His boys were a constant presence at dad's practices in those days, and the influence shows. Jim changed the 49ers' starting quarterbacks at midseason, while John swapped Ravens offensive coordinators. Once upon a time, Jack was so open to change that he scrapped Xenia (Ohio) High's entire offense to implement a power-running game.

"But we still won the championship," said Gregg Cross, the quarterback for Xenia's 8-1-1 team.

But by the early 1990s, the man who had instilled a zest for life into his kids was struggling. The Western Kentucky program was struggling, too, with its budget cut in half, its scholarships slashed by 13 and its coaching staff reduced by two. By 1994, the Hilltoppers had their fourth losing seasons in five years.

"We were in desperate trouble," Jack said last week. "I figured my coaching career was pretty much over. I am sitting in my office. My head down. I am feeling sorry for myself. I am pouting, acting not very professional, I guess."

And in walked Jim. The brothers had a plan. Jim, still an NFL quarterback, became an unpaid assistant. John, then a University of Cincinnati assistant, would help dad by drawing up recruiting lists.

Jim's first recruit was Willie Taggart, a multithreat quarterback - who promptly led a turnaround of the program.

"The thing I remember the most is that Coach Harbaugh had a sign that said, 'Those who stay will be champions,'" said Taggart, now the University of South Florida coach. "And that's what happened. But Coach Harbaugh taught more than football. He changed lives. He really cared about the players and pointed a lot of us in the right direction."

Michael, the quarterback who now serves as a San Diego Chargers assistant, said Jack unleashed his best motivational ploy right before the national title game. Jack showed the team clips of Muhammad Ali's 1967 fight against Ernie Terrell. Every time Ali hit Terrell - who had continued to call him by his given name, Cassius Clay - late in the fight, he taunted, "What's my name?"

"So, Jack made that motto for the national championship game," Michael recalled. "Nobody expected us to be there. So he said we're going to hit them in the mouth and ask them, 'what's our name?' That's why I say I see those things in both how Jim and John approach their jobs."

Western Kentucky beat McNeese State 34-14 for the title. Not long after winning the title, Jack retired.

The brothers have asked Jack to tell that Ali story to both the Ravens and 49ers squads - and, in Baltimore, the Champ himself made an appearance, too.

It's just another example of how, in a manner of speaking, Jack will be on both sidelines come Sunday.

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/31/3209643/harbaugh-brothers-a-reflection.html

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Stimulating the Brain with Microscopic Magnets

Image: GEORGE PAUL iStockphoto (brain); ANDREW DAVEY iStockphoto (spark)

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  Showcasing more than fifty of the most provocative, original, and significant online essays from 2011, The Best Science Writing Online 2012 will change the way...

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Imagine if your biggest health problem could be solved with the flip of a switch. Deep-brain stimulation (DBS) offers such a dramatic recovery for a range of neurological illnesses, including Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and major depression. Yet the metal electrodes implanted in the brain are too bulky to tap into intricate neural circuitry with precision and corrode in contact with tissue, so their performance degrades over time. Now neurophysiologists have developed a method of DBS that avoids these problems by using microscopic magnets to stimulate neurons.

In experiments published in June 2012 in Nature Communications, neurophysiologist John T. Gale of the Cleveland Clinic and his colleague Giorgio Bonmassar, a physicist at Harvard Medical School and an expert on brain imaging, tested whether micromagnets (which are half a millimeter in diameter) could induce neurons from rabbit retinas to fire. They found that when they electrically energized a micromagnet positioned next to a neuron, it fired.

In contrast to the electric currents induced by DBS, which excite neurons in all directions, magnetic fields follow organized pathways from pole to pole, like the magnetic field that surrounds the earth. The researchers found that they could direct the stimulus precisely to individual neurons, and even to particular areas of a neuron, by orienting the magnetic coil appropriately. ?That may help us avoid the side effects we see in DBS,? Gale says, referring to, for instance, the intense negative emotions that are sometimes accidentally triggered when DBS is used to relieve motor problems in Parkinson's.

The micromagnets also solve other problems associated with metal electrodes. The magnetic field easily penetrates the magnets' plastic coating, which prevents corrosion and the ensuing inflammation of brain tissue. ?I've been doing DBS research for 14 years now, and this is a totally different way of thinking about activating the brain for me, which is very exciting,? Gale says.

Although the study focused on stimulating neurons, micromagnets could be used to activate other excitable tissues, such as in the heart, inner ear or muscles in our extremities, as part of a pacemaker or prosthetic device. In humans, the micromagnets would be turned on and off by an external control pack, either wirelessly or by connecting to a wire implanted under the skin. A medical company has acquired the rights to manufacture the micromagnets, and if animal research continues to show them to be safe and effective, these devices could be tested in humans within five years, according to Gale.

This article was originally published with the title Stimulating the Brain with Microscopic Magnets.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=4ab41374d3283ce09b6154d60a74d0eb

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Link found between insulin sensitivity, cells' powerhouses: Mice with mitochondrial mutation live longer, have less fat

Jan. 28, 2013 ? If findings of a new study in mice are any indication, it might be possible to fine-tune cellular powerhouses called mitochondria, tweaking one aspect to increase insulin sensitivity, reduce body and fat mass, and even extend life. Exploiting this target could one day lead to novel treatments for type 2 diabetes -- an endocrine system disease that affects 8 percent of the U.S. population. The research also points to promising new avenues of investigation in the biology of aging.

The study, reported in The FASEB Journal by authors from the School of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio and the university's Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, found that diminished activity of a protein complex involved in mitochondrial function was associated with healthy changes in the mice. The median life span of this strain of mice is 20 percent longer.

Paradoxical

"This is an unexpected finding because you would think that something that decreases mitochondrial function would have a damaging effect, but instead we saw an increase in life span and beneficial metabolic effects," said lead author Deepa Sathyaseelan, Ph.D., research assistant professor of cellular and structural biology in the School of Medicine.

"The most important thing we noticed is reduced body weight and decreased fat mass in the mice," Dr. Sathyaseelan said. "We found that this decreased fat mass is due to increased fat utilization."

Fat utilization

Mitochondria produce an energy source called ATP that is necessary for the functions of life, everything from breathing to thinking. Additionally the cellular powerhouses are a major site of fat utilization, said study senior author Holly Van Remmen, Ph.D., professor of cellular and structural biology. Fat is an endocrine organ that performs many functions, and having it in the correct proportions is important for the body. Too much or too little fat is harmful.

The scientists also observed that mice with the mutation, in contrast to control animals, make greater numbers of new mitochondria. This is important because cells are constantly remodeling themselves, including mitochondrial overhaul.

Age-related

Mitochondrial dysfunction occurs with age and is associated with many age-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Dr. Sathyaseelan said the study "opens the door to new clues about how mitochondrial function might modulate insulin sensitivity," representing an important step for diabetes research.

Type 2 diabetes involves abnormalities with insulin, a hormone secreted by beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin helps the body store and use sugar from food, but in type 2 diabetes the body is insulin resistant, that is, it inefficiently responds to the hormone. With time the beta cells in diabetic patients start to die, resulting in less insulin to handle the demands. Levels of the hormone become progressively lower and sugar levels are increased progressively, damaging blood vessels and organs.

Understanding longevity

"I would also like to point out that these mice live longer," Dr. Van Remmen said. "For us they are very important from an aging standpoint. We want to understand how these animals can have added longevity, yet have a 60 percent reduction in a protein complex involved in mitochondrial function."

Dr. Sathyaseelan noted that life extension in association with decrease of the complex's activity is seen across species, including roundworms and flies. Shane Rea, Ph.D., assistant professor of physiology at the Barshop Institute, is one of the first to make this discovery in the worms.

The Barshop Institute team obtained the study mice from an Italian institute where studies are ongoing. Dr. Sathyaseelan recently received a two-year, $140,000 grant from the American Heart Association to understand how mitochondrial dysfunction is related to insulin sensitivity.

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Journal Reference:

1. S. S. Deepa, D. Pulliam, S. Hill, Y. Shi, M. E. Walsh, A. Salmon, L. Sloane, N. Zhang, M. Zeviani, C. Viscomi, N. Musi, H. Van Remmen. Improved insulin sensitivity associated with reduced mitochondrial complex IV assembly and activity. The FASEB Journal, 2012; DOI: 10.1096/fj.12-221879

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/rk2jSNJXv1k/130129100255.htm

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Fujitsu speeds up internet transmissions, declares war on buffering

Fujitsu's engineers, bored of waiting for their movies to download, have cooked up a new data transfer protocol that promises to be 30 times faster than current speeds. Using a proprietary tweak of user datagram protocol (UDP), the software examines the available bandwidth and only uses the optimal amount, rather than trying to load the pipe with more than it can handle. The science, however, lies in its ability to distinguish between packets that haven't arrived and those which are lost -- and only resending the latter. It's hoping to commercialize the software at some point this year, so if your Skype chats suddenly get a lot less laggy, you know who to blame.

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Fujitsu Develops New Data Transfer Protocol Enabling Improved Transmissions Speeds

Software-only approach enables over 30 times improvement in file transfer speeds between Japan and the US, reduces virtual desktop operating latency to less than 1/6 of previous levels

Kawasaki, Japan, January 29, 2013 - Fujitsu Laboratories Limited today announced the development of a new data transfer protocol that, by taking a software-only approach, can significantly improve the performance of file transfers, virtual desktops and other various communications applications.

Conventionally, when using transmission control protocol (TCP)(1)-the standard protocol employed in communications applications-in a low-quality communications environment, such as when connected to a wireless network or during times of line congestion, data loss (packet loss) can occur, leading to significant drops in transmission performance due to increased latency from having to retransmit data.

To address this problem, Fujitsu Laboratories has succeeded at a software-only approach, developing: 1) A new protocol that incorporates an efficient proprietarily developed retransmission method based on user datagram protocol (UDP)(2), an optimized way to deliver streaming media able to reduce latency resulting from data retransmission when packet loss occurs; 2) Control technology that addresses the problem of UDP transmissions consuming excess bandwidth by performing a real-time measurement of available network bandwidth and securing an optimal amount of communications bandwidth without overwhelming TCP's share of the bandwidth; and 3) Technology that, by employing the new protocol, makes it possible to easily speed up existing TCP applications without having to modify them.

Through a simple software installation, the new technology will make it possible to speed up TCP applications that previously required costly specialized hardware, and it can also be easily incorporated into mobile devices and other kinds of equipment. Moreover, compared with TCP, the technology enables a greater than 30 times improvement in file transfer speeds between Japan and the US, in addition to reducing virtual desktop operating latency to less than 1/6 of previous levels. This, in turn, is expected to make it easier to take advantage of various applications employing international communication lines and wireless networks which are anticipated to become increasingly widespread.
Background

With the increased popularity of mobile devices and cloud services in recent years, a wide range of applications have begun to utilize communications capabilities. In many applications, such as file transfer, virtual desktop, and other communications applications, TCP is employed as a standard communications protocol. One issue with TCP is that data loss (packet loss) can occur in low-quality communications environments, resulting in significant drops in transmission performance (reduced throughput and higher latency) due to increased latency from having to retransmit data. In the future, it is expected that there will be greater opportunities to take advantage of international communications lines and wireless networks, making it necessary to ensure that transmission performance does not drop even when connected to a low-quality communications environment.
Technological Challenges

Currently, one well-known method of speeding up application transmission speeds in low-quality communications environments is to employ specialized acceleration hardware. This kind of specialized equipment, however, is expensive and bulky, making it difficult to incorporate into mobile devices. High-speed transmission methods for transferring files using software-based acceleration also exist, but to support a variety of existing TCP applications using these methods, it has been necessary to make modifications to the traffic processing components of each application.
Newly Developed Technology

By developing a proprietary software-based transfer protocol, Fujitsu Laboratories has succeeded in significantly improving the throughput and operating latency of existing TCP applications.

Key features of the new technology are as follows:
1) New protocol improves throughput and latency in low-quality communications environments

Fujitsu has developed a new protocol that incorporates a proprietarily developed and efficient retransmission method based on UDP, a protocol optimized for delivering streaming media. As a result, the new protocol is able to reduce latency resulting from data retransmission when packet loss occurs. The protocol can quickly distinguish between lost packets and packets that have not yet arrived at their destination, thereby preventing unnecessary retransmissions and latency from occurring. By incorporating the new protocol as a software add-on to UDP, it is possible to maintain the high speeds typical of UDP while avoiding packet loss and packets being sent in reverse order, UDP's main weaknesses. This, in turn, has enabled improvements in packet delivery and latency. In a comparison with standard TCP, the new protocol achieved a throughput increase of over 30 times during a simulated file transfer between Japan and the US, and operating packet delivery latency was reduced to less than 1/6 of previous levels.

2) Communications bandwidth control technology using real-time measurement of available network bandwidth

Fujitsu Laboratories developed a control technology that, by performing real-time measurement of available network bandwidth, can secure an optimal amount of communications bandwidth without overwhelming the share of bandwidth used by other TCP communications in a mixed TCP environment. For example, when other TCP communications are using relatively little bandwidth, the bandwidth share for the new protocol will increase, and when other TCP communications are taking up a higher percentage of bandwidth, the new protocol will use a smaller share.

3) Technology for accelerating existing TCP applications without any modifications

Fujitsu Laboratories has developed a technology that automatically converts TCP traffic standard for a wide variety of applications into the new protocol described in (1) above. This makes it possible to significantly improve the speed of a host of existing applications, including file transfer applications, virtual desktop applications, and web browsing applications, all without the need for any modifications.
Results

The use of the new technology is expected to speed up the performance of a wide range of communications applications employing international communication lines and wireless networks which are anticipated to become widely used more and more. For instance, the technology can help speed up web browsing and file download speeds in mobile communications environments where there is deterioration due to building obstructions or movement. In addition, the technology can improve data transfer speeds between datacenters in Japan and the US. It is also expected to help improve the usability of virtual desktops when accessing a virtual desktop located on a remote server using a low-quality communications environment (Figure 2).
Future Development

During fiscal 2013, Fujitsu Laboratories aims to commercialize the new technology as a communications middleware solution for improving communications speeds without having to modify existing TCP applications.

Filed under: Networking, Internet

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/OKz_B0Cz5G8/

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Could Barbara Walters' Chicken Pox Have Been Prevented?

Legendary broadcast journalist Barbara Walters probably should have been vaccinated against chicken pox, experts say.

Yesterday, it was announced that the 83-year-old, who never had chicken pox as a child, remains hospitalized with the virus. While vaccinating children against chicken pox is routine, the vaccine is also recommended for adolescents and adults who haven't previously had the disease. (The chicken pox vaccine first became available in 1995.)

Dr. Robert Glatter, an attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital's Department of Emergency Medicine in New York City, said adults who aren't sure if they have ever had chicken pox should speak with their doctors about being vaccinated. But he would encourage them to get the vaccine if there's any question that they might be susceptible to the disease.

"There's no downside to it," Glatter said. Older adults who develop chicken pox are at greater risk for complications, including pneumonia, high fever and breathing problems, he added.

The chicken pox vaccine isn't perfect, but studies show that 70 to 90 percent of adults who get the vaccine will be fully protected against the disease, Glatter said. People who develop chicken pox despite receiving the vaccination will typically experience milder symptoms, Glatter said.

Catching chicken pox as an adult is extremely rare; 75 to 90 percent of chicken pox cases occur in children under age 10, Glatter said.

Typically, a person develops chicken pox after coming into contact with an infected person.? It's also possible for people who've never had chicken pox to catch the disease from ?someone who has an active shingles rash, Glatter said. (Shingles, which affects adults, develops when the long-dormant chicken pox virus becomes active again.)

A shingles vaccination, which is recommended for people ages 60 and over, would not necessarily protect against chicken pox, Glatter said.

Pass it on: Chicken pox vaccination is recommended for children, and for adults who've never had the disease.

Follow Rachael Rettner on Twitter @RachaelRettner, or MyHealthNewsDaily @MyHealth_MHND. We're also on Facebook & Google+.

Copyright 2013 MyHealthNewsDaily, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/could-barbara-walters-chicken-pox-prevented-202143088.html

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Book Review: The Digital Dollar: Sustainable Strategies for Online ...

Are you trying to set up an online internet business? If you are, The Digital Dollar: Sustainable Strategies for Online Success is a must read! Joe Wozny lays out a step-by-step strategy to make this possible and to be successful!

Joe Wozny?s book is for our turbulent financial times. He shows the reader how to set up a successful website business, one which will yield consistent customers who are happy and will keep coming back for more products, services, and information. It seems easy to set up an online business nowadays. But to set up a successful online business is anything but easy. It is extremely difficult to create such a business because the consumer is more informed than ever, and makes more professional demands.

Wozny argues that there are many low-cost and no-cost internet marketing opportunities out there. Anyone can set up a website for a niche market. However, in order to be most successful, Wozny believes that we must create an identity which accurately and clearly represents the content of the website, is visible to potential customers, engages the visitor by incentives and information, and engages these people to the extent that they become long-term customers. Only if we ensure that our website meets these core elements can we be successful. This takes a lot of planning and hard work to achieve. By following Joe?s steps, we can successfully set up a website that is lucrative for ourselves.

I found The Digital Dollar to be very important and informative. I will be including information about it on my own writing website as well. Since I am also trying to set up my own online business, the strategies outlined in this book will become my prescription for success.

Joe Wozny is a digital and online media leader, strategist, author, blogger, and international presenter on sustainable online success. He is CEO of Concentric with three decades of experience in digital technologies.

Source: http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-the-digital-dollar-sustainable1/

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Valentine's Day Ideas: Make These Colorful Crayon Hearts

The big day is fast approaching. And we've decided that now's a better time than ever to help you settle into the loving spirit. Today's Valentine's Day idea features a colorful project by Whipperberry that proves this day goes beyond just red and pink.

Though newer crayons are recommended, this project also works perfectly with those extra crayon stubs lying around your home. And with so much room to experiment with color combinations (we love purple and blue or orange and yellow), mold designs, and different embellishments, this craft is a great activity for friends and family to enjoy together.. Visit Whipperberry's website for the list of supplies, a full tutorial, and additional recommendations that help enhance this project.

Also, be sure to check out other great DIY crafts in our Valentine's Day ideas slideshow below.

• DIY Tea Bags

  Make your own adorable tea bags with <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/07/craft-of-the-day-tea-bags_n_1751444.html">decorative tags</a>.

• Painted Votive Candles

  A craft project that will help you <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/03/painted-votive-candle-holders-craft_n_2398283.html?utm_hp_ref=craft-of-the-day">unwind</a>.

• Polka Dot Pillowcases

  These <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/craft-of-the-day-polka-dot-pillowcases_n_2088768.html">spotted pillowcases</a> will help add some personal flair to your bedroom.

• Magazine Page Heart Dish

  Reuse old magazines to create an <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/06/craft-of-the-day-magazine-page-heart-dish_n_2083477.html?utm_hp_ref=huffpost-home&ir=HuffPost%20Home">adorable and useful box</a> that holds jewelry or other small items.

• Stiffened Felt Boxes

  Organize your craft supplies or jewelry in these <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/02/craft-of-the-day-felt-boxes_n_1932835.html">bright felt boxes</a>.

• Egg Carton Lights

  Reuse old egg cartons to make these <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/craft-of-the-day-egg-carton-flower-string-lights_n_1870766.html">beautiful string lights</a>.

• Canvas Portrait

  Take your favorite photos and turn them into beautiful <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/13/craft-of-the-day-canvas-portrait_n_1764100.html?1350316023">canvas wall art</a>.

Have something to say? Check out HuffPost Home on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram.

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Do you have a home story idea or tip? Email us at homesubmissions@huffingtonpost.com. (PR pitches sent to this address will be ignored.)

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/28/valentines-day-ideas_n_2550783.html

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PRISMA PI Gabriele Honecker is a German representative in European string theory network

Public release date: 29-Jan-2013
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Contact: Gabriele Honecker
gabriele.honecker@uni-mainz.de
49-613-139-22897
Johannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz

Promotion of networking and international cooperation of European world experts in string theory

Junior Professor Dr. Gabriele Honecker of the Institute of Physics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) takes an active role in the newly established European COST Action "The String Theory Universe." The European framework program COST European Cooperation in Science and Research fosters networking and cooperation among its member countries and involves the large majority of European world experts in String Theory. Honecker, who is also a Principal Investigator at the PRISMA (Precision Physics, Fundamental Interactions and Structure of Matter) Cluster of Excellence at Mainz University, will represent Germany in the COST Management Committee together with her colleague PD Dr. Johanna Erdmenger from the Max Planck Institute for Physics in Munich.

Although String Theory has been around for more than forty years, it has never been so important for physical reality as it is now, also due to its novel outstanding applications to different areas of Physics and Mathematics. While the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) near Geneva narrows down the experimental limits on supersymmetric particles and satellite missions such as WMAP and PLANCK probe the very early universe, the COST Action aims at creating a strong European network focused on fundamental forefront research exploring the role played by String Theory in Particle Physics, Cosmology, and Condensed Matter Physics.

The large majority of European world experts in String Theory will be involved in this Action. This will ensure a top-quality research output, achieved through an intense exchange of expertise, intra-European collaboration, and co-organization of scientific activities. The Action will ensure fair gender representation and simultaneously adopt specific measures for promoting the involvement of women scientists at all levels. It will also foster the active participation of junior excellent scientists. The outcome of the Action is expected to have a positive impact on both science and society at a European level, in line with the strategic priorities of COST.

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Public release date: 29-Jan-2013
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Contact: Gabriele Honecker
gabriele.honecker@uni-mainz.de
49-613-139-22897
Johannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz

Promotion of networking and international cooperation of European world experts in string theory

Junior Professor Dr. Gabriele Honecker of the Institute of Physics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) takes an active role in the newly established European COST Action "The String Theory Universe." The European framework program COST European Cooperation in Science and Research fosters networking and cooperation among its member countries and involves the large majority of European world experts in String Theory. Honecker, who is also a Principal Investigator at the PRISMA (Precision Physics, Fundamental Interactions and Structure of Matter) Cluster of Excellence at Mainz University, will represent Germany in the COST Management Committee together with her colleague PD Dr. Johanna Erdmenger from the Max Planck Institute for Physics in Munich.

Although String Theory has been around for more than forty years, it has never been so important for physical reality as it is now, also due to its novel outstanding applications to different areas of Physics and Mathematics. While the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) near Geneva narrows down the experimental limits on supersymmetric particles and satellite missions such as WMAP and PLANCK probe the very early universe, the COST Action aims at creating a strong European network focused on fundamental forefront research exploring the role played by String Theory in Particle Physics, Cosmology, and Condensed Matter Physics.

The large majority of European world experts in String Theory will be involved in this Action. This will ensure a top-quality research output, achieved through an intense exchange of expertise, intra-European collaboration, and co-organization of scientific activities. The Action will ensure fair gender representation and simultaneously adopt specific measures for promoting the involvement of women scientists at all levels. It will also foster the active participation of junior excellent scientists. The outcome of the Action is expected to have a positive impact on both science and society at a European level, in line with the strategic priorities of COST.

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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/2013-01/jgum-ppg012913.php

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J.J. Abrams And 'Star Wars': What Do 'Star Trek' Fans Think?

'Some fans are upset,' TrekToday.com's Bonnie Malmat tells MTV News about Abrams' other 'Star' franchise.
By Josh Wigler

J.J. Abrams
Photo: Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1700868/jj-abrams-star-wars-star-trek-fan-reactions.jhtml

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Video: Rebranding the GOP

A Second Take on Meeting the Press: From an up-close look at Rachel Maddow's sneakers to an in-depth look at Jon Krakauer's latest book ? it's all fair game in our "Meet the Press: Take Two" web extra. Log on Sundays to see David Gregory's post-show conversations with leading newsmakers, authors and roundtable guests. Videos are available on-demand by 12 p.m. ET on Sundays.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/vp/50606347#50606347

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Clinton coy about political future in joint interview with Obama

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sidestepped questions about whether she would run for president in 2016 in a CBS television interview done jointly with President Barack Obama, her rival in the 2008 race.

Clinton, 65, denied there were any political tea leaves to read in the unusual joint interview for the CBS show "60 Minutes," and acknowledged that she still has "some lingering effects" from a recent concussion and blood clot that she said doctors expect to disappear over time.

"The president and I care deeply about what's going to happen for our country in the future. And I don't think, you know, either he or I can make predictions about what's going to happen tomorrow, or the next year," Clinton said, according to a transcript of the interview, which was taped at the White House on Friday and aired on Sunday.

Obama beat Clinton in a bitter Democratic primary campaign to run for president in 2008. He surprised many by choosing her as his secretary of state, a job she said she initially turned down.

Clinton traveled to a record 112 countries as secretary of state. She has said she wants to take a break from public life, but has not said she will retire.

Democratic Senator John Kerry, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2004, is expected to be confirmed as Obama's new secretary of state as early as this week.

After Obama heaped praise on Clinton's diplomatic achievements, he chided the show's host, Steve Kroft, who asked about "the date of expiration on this endorsement" of Clinton.

"You guys in the press are incorrigible. I was literally inaugurated four days ago. And you're talking about elections four years from now," Obama said.

'LINGERING EFFECTS' FROM FALL

Clinton has been in the public eye for 34 years, since her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was governor of Arkansas.

Her cautious answer about her future on Sunday was less definitive than one she gave in an ABC interview in December, when she said in reference to another bid for the presidency: "I've said I really don't believe that that's something I will do again."

Many Democrats hope that Clinton will run in 2016. Vice President Joe Biden's name has also been frequently mentioned among Democrats. He has said he has not decided whether to run.

Clinton also addressed a recent health issue: a concussion and blood clot that sent her to the hospital.

"The doctors tell me that that will all recede. And so thankfully I'm, you know, looking forward to being at full speed," she said.

She said she had since been wearing glasses instead of contact lenses because of "lingering effects" from the concussion "that are decreasing, and will disappear."

Clinton returned from a European tour on December 7 suffering from a stomach virus. On December 15, the State Department announced she had become dehydrated, fainted and suffered a concussion.

During a check-up afterwards, she was diagnosed with the blood clot, hospitalized and treated with blood thinners.

(Additional reporting by Paul Eckert; Editing by David Brunnstrom)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/clinton-coy-political-future-joint-interview-obama-000240225.html

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Couponfreestuff: Ancestry.com 25% off Family Tree Maker

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I love Ancestry.com and have been a member for years. I have researched both sides of my family and made family trees. It is so exciting to see where you come from! Right now you can get the Family Tree maker software by your choice of download or shipped for 25% off. Original price is 39.99 and it is now just 29.99! There is no expiration date on the deal posted so I don't know how long it will last.

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Trent Williams Hurt in Nightclub Assault, To Miss Pro Bowl

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Chandigarh Hotels: Quality Property At Cost-effective Price

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About the Author:
Chandigarh is India's first developed city and thus its new resorts, radiant cafes, fully air-conditioned hang-out places, clean roads and extensive shopping attracts number of young guests each period.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Chandigarh-Hotels--Quality-Property-At-Cost-effective-Price/4401547

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Violence returns to Tahrir as Egypt marks revolution

Thousands of anti-government protesters gathered in Tahrir Square to mark the 2011 uprising that led to Egypt's change in power. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.?

By Ahmed el-Shemi and Tom Perry, Reuters

CAIRO -- Youths fought Egyptian police in Cairo and Alexandria on Friday on the second anniversary of the revolt that toppled Hosni Mubarak and brought the election of an Islamist president whom protesters accuse of riding roughshod over the new democracy.

The Jan. 25 anniversary showcased the divide between the Islamists and their secular foes that is hindering President Mohammed Morsi's efforts to revive an economy in crisis and reverse a plunge in Egypt's currency by enticing back investors and tourists.

Inspired by Tunisia's historic popular uprising, Egypt's revolution spurred further revolts across the Arab world. But the sense of common purpose that united Egyptians two years ago has given way to internal strife that has only worsened and last month triggered lethal street battles.

Opponents of Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood allies massed in Cairo's Tahrir Square Friday to revive the demands of a revolution they say has been betrayed by Islamists.

Ed Giles / Getty Images

An Egyptian protester runs with a live tear gas canister during clashes with riot police around Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday.

"Our revolution is continuing. We reject the domination of any party over this state. We say no to the Brotherhood state," Hamdeen Sabahy, a popular leftist leader, told Reuters TV as he made his way to the square for the rally.

"The people want to bring down the regime," declared banners in the square. "Save Egypt from the rule of the Supreme Guide," said another, a reference to leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Badie.

Police battled protesters who threw petrol bombs and firecrackers as they tried to approach a wall blocking access to government buildings near the square in the pre-dawn hours.

PhotoBlog: Protesters fill Tahrir Square on anniversary of Egyptian revolution

Clouds of tear gas fired by police filled the air. At one point, riot police used one of the incendiaries thrown at them to set ablaze at least two tents erected by the youths, a Reuters witness said.

Yuka Tachibana / NBC News

A boy is draped in the Egyptian flag as protesters gather in Tahrir Square in Cairo on Friday. Despite clashes around the square, the atmosphere inside was festive at times.

Clashes between stone-throwing youths and the police continued in streets near the square into the day.

Ambulances ferried away a steady stream of casualties. The health ministry said 25 people had been injured since Thursday in fighting around the square.

Morsi, in a speech on Thursday marking the Prophet Mohammad's birthday, called on Egyptians to mark the anniversary "in a civilized, peaceful way that safeguards our nation, our institutions, our lives."

"The Brotherhood is very concerned about escalation. That's why they have tried to dial down their role on January 25," said Shadi Hamid, director of research at the Brookings Doha Center.

"... I don't see anything major happening that is going to fundamentally change the political situation," he said of the protests.

Discontent
Morsi faces discontent on multiple fronts.

His opponents say he and his group are seeking to dominate the post-Mubarak order. They accuse him of showing some of the autocratic impulses of the deposed leader.

Asmaa Waguih / Reuters

On the second anniversary of the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, hundreds of youths clash with police.

Six months into office, Morsi is also being held responsible for an economic crisis caused by two years of turmoil. The Egyptian pound has sunk to record lows against the dollar.

Other sources of friction abound. Activists are impatient for justice for the victims of political violence perpetrated over the last two years. Little has been done to reform brutal Mubarak-era security agencies.

A spate of transport disasters on roads and railways neglected for years is further feeding discontent.

The parties that called Friday's protest list demands including a complete overhaul of the Islamist-tinged constitution that was fast-tracked into law by Morsi in December, a move that fuelled street violence.

Its critics say the constitution, which was approved in a popular referendum, offers inadequate protection for human rights, gives the president too many privileges and fails to curb the power of the military establishment.

The Brotherhood dismisses such criticism as unfair. It accuses its opponents of failing to respect the rules of the new democracy that put the Islamists in the driving seat by winning elections.

Morsi's supporters say enacting the constitution quickly was crucial to restoring stability, and that the opposition is making the situation worse by perpetuating unrest.

Related:

PhotoBlog: Egypt riot police set fire to protest tents in Tahrir Square, witness says

Egyptians fear decades of Muslim Brotherhood rule, warn Morsi is no friend to US

'Egypt is free,' crowds cheer after Mubarak quits

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/25/16692054-violence-protesters-return-to-tahrir-square-as-egypt-marks-revolution?lite

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In New Orleans, an unwelcome mat for Goodell

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? An effigy of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell dangles from the front porch of a New Orleans home that is otherwise festively decorated with Saints paraphernalia.

With restaurants and bars gearing up for an influx of Super Bowl XLVII visitors, the "Refuse to Serve Roger Goodell" page on Facebook had 107 likes as of Friday.

A portrait of Goodell covers the bull's-eye on the dart board at Parkview Tavern.

And floats in the unabashedly lowbrow Krewe du Vieux parade in the French Quarter last weekend displayed larger-than-life likenesses of Goodell in acts that defy polite description.

New Orleans is celebrating the return of Saints coach Sean Payton after a season of NFL banishment as a result of the "bountygate" scandal ? when the team ran a pay-for-hits program. But Goodell, who suspended Payton and other current and former Saints players and coaches last year for their roles in the system, is being ridiculed here with a vehemence usually reserved for the city's scandal-scarred politicians.

"They believe he completely used the Saints as an example of something that was going on league-wide," said Pauline Patterson, co-owner of Finn McCool's, an Irish Bar in the Mid-City neighborhood where the words "Go To Hell Goodell" are visible over the fireplace.

Some of Goodell's critics say the disarray resulting from what they believe were unfair suspensions led to the Saints' 7-9 performance this year ? and a missed chance to make history.

"We had a real shot of being the first team in history to host the Super Bowl in our own stadium," Parkview Tavern owner Kathy Anderson said. "He can't give that back to us."

Goodell suspended the coaches and players after an investigation found the Saints had a performance pool offering cash rewards for key plays, including big hits. The player suspensions eventually were overturned, but the coaches served their punishments.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu is among those saying that people in this city, known for its hospitality and history, should mind their manners and remember the not-too-distant past.

"Roger Goodell has been a great friend to New Orleans, and it's a fact that he's one of the people instrumental to making sure that the Saints stayed here after Hurricane Katrina," Landrieu said in a statement. It was a reference to the days after the storm, when 80 percent of the city was underwater and the damaged Superdome became a shelter for thousands of the displaced.

Then-Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and his second-in-command, Goodell, are credited with working to keep the team from abandoning New Orleans for San Antonio.

"If not for Roger Goodell, we would not have this Super Bowl," Landrieu added. "And we will need him since we want to host another one."

Saints quarterback Drew Brees said the game is validation of everything the city's gone through to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.

"There's no question, yeah. And I think people will see that when they come down, as soon as people come down that haven't been there in a while," Brees said Friday while in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl. "The city knows how to entertain, knows how to treat people right. The tourism industry's huge, so we're excited to host this big game. Obviously it's the biggest sporting event in the world, and the city will be ready for it."

But some are in no mood to back off when it comes to Goodell.

Anderson said she understands city leaders' desire to put their best foot forward, but that it also is important for Saints fans to be able to vent.

"Whether I have Roger Goodell's face on my dart board is not going to change anybody's mind about the Super Bowl," Anderson said.

People should not take the barbs too seriously, said Lynda Woolard, a Saints fan who has been tracking some of the barbs on social media. "Nobody's saying there should be violence against the man," Woolard said.

"It's tongue-in-cheek," Patterson agreed.

Still, some diehards are ready to put it all behind them.

Patrick Brower, owner and manager of the Dirty Coast T-shirt shop, said Friday that he's pushing black-and-gold wear at his shop, choosing to unify Saints fans without bashing the commissioner.

"We've got to look forward here," Brower said. "The more time we spend in the past, it's just not beneficial."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/orleans-unwelcome-mat-goodell-150657033--spt.html

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Obama chooses trusted adviser and national security aide Denis McDonough as chief of staff (Star Tribune)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/279488290?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Dot Earth Blog: The Changing Newsroom Environment at The New York Times

| Several updates below |There?s been a flurry of blog, Facebook and Twitter shock and anger following Katherine Bagley?s exclusive report for Inside Climate News on the decision by The New York Times to shut down its standalone environment ?pod? and redistribute that able team of reporters and editors to other desks (not necessarily other duties).

In the piece, top Times editors insist that this move will not diminish or dilute the paper?s commitment to sustained, effective environmental coverage.

I believe them (with a caveat; see below). In a century when the roots of environmental problems often lie half a planet away (consider the ivory trade, or the contribution of greenhouse gases and soot to Arctic ice melting) what?s needed most is collaborative post-departmental journalism, not individual desks and editors competing for the front page.

Others with lots of journalism experience have different views. My friend Dan Fagin, who teaches journalism at New York University after a long career at Newsday, posted this reaction on my Facebook item on the development this morning:

[W]ithout a designated staff your editor would have to rely completely on borrowing reporters from other desks, and editors on those desks would get no credit from management for any environmental stories their borrowed reporters produce. Meanwhile, the reporters themselves would feel the pressure from their desk editors ? the editors who do their evaluations ? to stay on their own desks. It sets up an adversarial system that has already failed in many newsrooms. The best solution is what the Times has sadly dismantled: a small dedicated staff with diverse skills AND the ability to tap other expert writers when appropriate.

I recognize these points, but still disagree. The Times excelled at environmental coverage before there was an environment pod, continued during that phase, and, I predict, will do so going forward, within the financial constraints facing all journalism. Editors like Dean Baquet and Glenn Kramon (both quoted in the Inside Climate News post) are masters of marshaling inter-disciplinary teams to tackle complicated, persistent questions. I know they recognize the importance of global warming, the erosion of the world?s biological riches, the impacts of pollution on people and ecosystems.

On the environment beat, look back at ?The Big Melt? series in 2005 (along with the prize-winning ?Arctic Rush? Discovery-Times documentary) and the 2006-7 ?Energy Challenge? reports. Both involved reporters with foreign, business, political and science specialties.

Some of the paper?s most important environmental projects, including the prize-winning ?Choking on Growth? series on China?s pollution crisis, Charles Duhigg?s 2010 series, ?Toxic Waters,? Jeff Gettleman?s 2012 reports on links between insurgent forces and Africa?s elephant slaughter, originated on different desks. A shift in desks is not going to prevent Elisabeth Rosenthal from covering the unanticipated impacts of the biofuel boom or the amazing benefits of distributed solar power in rural Africa.

That?s not to say all?s well. And here?s the caveat. What?s happening in the paper?s newsroom (and much more so in other newsrooms!) is not specific to the environment. As today?s post noted, the religion and education desks have had a smilar fate.

Revenues for conventional news operations are bound to keep shrinking. The best view of how this plays out may well be the documentary ?Page One: Inside The New York Times,? which chronicles a pivotal year, 2009, when 100 newsroom positions were eliminated (I took a buyout at the end of that year and write on a contract through the Op-Ed desk now). Thirty more positions are being eliminated now.

These background financial pressures, building around the industry the same way that heat-trapping greenhouse gases are building in the atmosphere, are what will erode the ability of today?s media to dissect and explain the causes and consequences of environmental change and the suite of possible responses.

There are tough times ahead, one way or the other. Having fewer standalone desks does not necessarily matter as long as there is a commitment high in a newsroom (and ownership) to covering the stories that matter most on a turbulent planet dominated by a young, amazing species in full sprint mode.

There?s much more to ponder, of course.

I?ve long thought, for example, that it?d be better in Washington to have reporters cover risk and regulation instead of having single reporters cover particular agencies (think of cross-cutting issues like genetically modified foods, the health impacts of pollution?).

But I?ll leave more to Twitter (follow my relevant conversations there at this link), or in the comment stream.

1:59 p.m. |Update

Joe Romm, whose dad was a newspaper man, has weighed in with a comprehensive piece at Climate Progress. Here?s an excerpt:

Anyone who follows climate science, solutions, and politics knows that climate change is in the process of emerging as the story of the century ? and that?s only if every major country pulls together to rapidly transform the global economy to avoid catastrophe. If the climate silence and inaction continues, it may well be the story of the millennium ? see?NOAA: Climate change ?largely irreversible for 1000 years,? with permanent Dust Bowls in Southwest and around the globe.

So?I also think that, as the still-influential ?paper of record,? it sends a very bad message to the rest of the media.

One focal point of his piece is recent comments by Times assistant managing editor Glenn Kramon, who (as I said above) was a central force behind the paper?s sustained focus on energy and climate since the ?Energy Challenge? series began in 2006. What?s notable, and disturbing, is the recent New York Magazine article on the troubles facing The Times, which discloses that Kramon ?is moving to San Francisco to become the new technology editor.?

With Kramon out of the newsroom, my caveats above gain more weight.

Jan. 13, 1:12 p.m. |Update

Bora Zivkovic, the blog editor at Scientific American (and much more), posted a must-read analysis of the shift at The Times, noting the importance of sustaining the paper?s Green Blog. One administrative issue, of course, is who would manage that blog without a desk? In my reply to his post, I said that all roads lead to the Science desk. In a comment, Dan Fagin of New York University predicted that the paper, due to ?organizational culture and especially economics,? was unlikely to adopt Zivkovic?s prescription. I hope you?ll explore the conversation and join in, there or here.

(There is one odd element there, a posted comment that was removed and replaced with this note: ?This comment removed by blog owner, due to inclusion of a link to ideologically-motivated anti-science site What?s Up With That.? If I censored every comment on Dot Earth that had an ideological framing, or was in some way anti-scientific ? think GMO debates, nuclear power, etc. ? there wouldn?t be a lot left. I know that leads to frustration and some noise, but I err on the side of free speech. On a related front, I?ll be writing up a piece this week on research finding that incivility in comments amplifies polarization.) [1:55 p.m.:?I asked Bora about the comment policy. His reply is in a comment below. 5:25 p.m.: Bora has posted a comment on his blog that explains his "my blog, my rules" approach to comments.]

3:53 p.m. |Update

Margaret Sullivan, the Times Public Editor, posted ?Keeping Environmental Reporting Strong Won?t Be Easy.? Here are some snippets:

Dean Baquet told her this about?the Green blog: ?If it has impact and audience it will survive.?

She sought input from Elisabeth Rosenthal:

?The pro is that you give specific attention to a subject that needs it,? she said. ?The con is that it takes the subject out of the mainstream of news flow.?

Sullivan closed with her own view:

Symbolically, this is bad news. And symbolism matters ? it shows a commitment and an intensity of interest in a crucially important topic.

In real life, it doesn?t have to be bad news. A pod?s structure, outside the major desks ? Foreign, Business, National and Metro ? by its nature means that the coverage is not integrated into the regular coverage of those desks, which have their own space in the paper and their own internal clout.

If coverage of the environment is not to suffer, a lot of people ? including The Times?s highest ranking editors ? are going to have to make sure that it doesn?t.

Source: http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/11/the-changing-newsroom-environment/?partner=rss&emc=rss

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