May 30, 2013 ? South American rainforests thrived during three extreme global warming events in the past, say paleontologists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in a new report published in the Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Science. No tropical forests in South America currently experience average yearly temperatures of more than 84 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius). But by the end of this century, average global temperatures are likely to rise by another 1 F (0.6 C), leading some scientists to predict the demise of the world's most diverse terrestrial ecosystem.
Carlos Jaramillo, Cofrin Chair in Palynology, and Andr?s C?rdenas, post-doctoral fellow, at the Smithsonian in Panama reviewed almost 6,000 published measurements of ancient temperatures to provide a deep-time perspective for the debate.
"To take the temperature of the past we rely on indirect evidence like oxygen isotope ratios in the fossil shells of marine organisms or from bacteria biomarkers," said Jaramillo.
When intense volcanic activity produced huge quantities of carbon dioxide 120 million years ago in the mid-Cretaceous period, yearly temperatures in the South American tropics rose 9 F (5 C). During the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum, 55 million years ago, tropical temperatures rose by 5 F (3 C) in less than 10,000 years. About 53 million years ago, temperatures soared again.
According to the fossil record, rainforests prospered under these hothouse conditions. Diversity increased. Because larger areas of forest generally sustain higher diversity than smaller areas do, higher diversity during warming events could be explained by the expansion of tropical forests into temperate areas. "But to our surprise, rainforests never extended much beyond the modern tropical belt, so something other than temperature must have determined where they were growing," said Jaramillo.
Jaramillo and C?rdenas' report also refers to findings by Smithsonian plant physiologist Klaus Winter that leaves of some tropical trees tolerate short-term exposure to temperatures up to 122 F (5 C). When carbon dioxide concentrations double, trees use much less water, which is further evidence that tropical forests may prove resilient to climate change.
In a page taken directly out of The National Enquirer, the latest and smallest bit of drama emerged on the release of a song. Apparently, Ciara and Rihanna have been feuding, and a line?? yes, just one ? has stirred the pot.
But take it straight from the horse's mouth, Ms. Nicki Minaj herself (when she made it clear via Twitter), that Ciara's latest single, "I'm Out," is not an attack on Rihanna.
Nicki cleared the air with this lovely message geared to BET on the social network:
"Da&n fam, I wld expect a black channel to actually understand rap bars. Song is a male bashing song. FOH@106andpark @ciara @rihanna?
Rihanna loves Twitter drama >>
Well, now that you are caught up on the drama surrounding Ciara's most recent try at a "Goodies"-level comeback, we can actually focus on what matters??? the music.
So I made a small jab at Ciara's inability to drop a hit similar to her freshman debut, but "Body Party" did do a decent job of coming close. While I'm still not convinced this track will surpass fan's expectations, it is a sassy and fierce track. "I'm Out" appears to be actually less about Rihanna, and more about empowering women post a messy breakup.
Ciara has a "caramel" way of oozing her presence onto a track, doesn't she? She's sensual, but full of sex appeal, and brings a summer-ready single to our doorstep pre-packaged for the club. And while I'm usually ready with an artillery of insults against Minaj, she does come close to killing it on this song.
Nicki may have more time to make music given she may have an expiry date on American Idol >>
Oh, and in case you care, and want to see the famous one line that has got people creating unnecessary and predictable celebrity drama? Nicki raps:
"You gon? play me, on Instagram trying to shade me"
Rihanna reportedly made jabs at Ciara on the picture-sharing network. Wonder what started it? Ciara doesn't seem to know. Maybe Rihanna was annoyed at Ciara's latest pics on what she ate for dinner and lost it? All I know is, I can't keep up. Their feud has been thought to have stemmed from a 2011 comment Ciara made on E!'s Fashion Police, to which Rihanna retaliated with a harsh tweet.
But if you couldn't care less for celebrity gossip and care more for new music, and a possible summer hit, check out the track below!
Care about music? Want to stay updated on all the latest news on new releases? Sign up for our newsletter! >>
Photo courtesy of Brian To/WENN.com
Get that music playlist summer ready with new music! Check out these reviews:
Robin Thicke "4 The Rest of My Life" Kanye West "New Slaves" Emblem3 "Chloe"
By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Madea goes bye-bye? A new petition published on Change.org is demanding that Oprah Winfrey's network remove Winfrey's friend and business partner Tyler Perry from OWN's airwaves, claiming that Perry "perpetuates stereotypes" about the black community. Or, as the petition puts it more whimsically, Perry "is 'malt liquor' for the community!" Perry's new series, "The Haves and the Have Nots," premiered Tuesday night on OWN to record breaking ratings. ...
Who doesn?t like a good game from time to time? We have no idea! That?s why Everfree Northwest is delighted to announce the following gaming events and guests.
- Crystal Games Challenge -
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The Gaming Colts will be hosting their very first game jam?Crystal Games Challenge?in conjunction with Everfree Northwest in order to support and nurture the practice of game development within the My Little Pony fandom.
For those unfamiliar with the term ?game jam?, a game jam is an event where people come together and make a video game or non-digital game like a board or card game. Participants rapidly prototype games and game designs. Everyone involved shares a common theme as well as restrictions with a centralized goal. Developers are asked to create a game from beginning to end in a predetermined amount of time (maximum of 48 hours). While brief, the short time span helps encourage creative thinking resulting in small but innovative and experimental games. Such exercises help introduce new ideas into the gaming industry and help game makers new and old hone their skills.
The event will begin on June 22nd at noon Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) and end on June 24th at noon PDT. All are welcome to join in. The challenge will be run online with details being passed out by the Gaming Colts on theirwebsite,Facebook, andTwitter. Then, working with the Everfree Northwest Gaming Division, The Gaming Colts will showcase many of the submissions from the game jam in the convention?s Game Room during the con.
For more information, check out theGaming Colts website,Facebook, orTwitter, as they will be frequently updated with more information as it becomes available.
- Guests -
Legends of Equestria: A massively multiplayer online role-playing game centered in the land of Equestria, Legends of Equestria is a place where you can play as your very own custom pony, questing and going on adventures with your friends! You?ll be able to fly around, use magic, raise a pet, grow crops, and a whole host of other fun activities. The Legends of Equestria team will be giving a panel presentation going over the ins and outs of their game, so join us and find out all there is to know about this exciting project. ?On top of their panel, the Legends of Equestria team will also give convention attendees an opportunity to play the game in a pre-alpha state, with convention-specific quests!
Panels they?re on: Legends of Equestria and Games that Ponies Play: Making Games that Players Enjoy
My Little Investigations: What do you get when you cross My Little Pony and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney? You get My Little Investigations! Join Twilight Sparkle as she investigates crime scenes for evidence, questions and interrogates ponies, and ultimately confronts the culprit. The developers behind My Little Investigations will be holding a panel, talking to and taking questions from fans about all things MLI. ?Hear from them what it was like developing for the first case and what their thoughts are on the future of the game?and you can expect some teasers for case 2 as well. ?MLI fans won?t want to miss it, and newcomers to the game are welcome too!
Panels they?re on: My Little Investigations and Games that Ponies Play: Making Games that Players Enjoy
Bluescreen Bronies:In a community exploding with talented developers, the Bluescreen Bronies play, review and critique the games these creators design, along with other games popular with the Brony crowd. Part of theEverfree Network line-up, they present the latest in gaming news and game review each week. Join them as they host community game developers for the Games that Ponies Play: Making Games that Players Enjoy panel as they explore the in?s and outs of game creation from start to finish.
Panels they?re on:Games that Ponies Play: Making Games that Players Enjoy
The Gaming Colts: The Gaming Colts are a new group of Bronies dedicated to promoting the development of games by Bronies. They work to support all games created by Bronies and to nurture the community?s creative talent for game design and creation. Before Everfree Northwest, they will host the Crystal Games Challenge, a game jam to promote game development within the Brony community. Come see the games that are created during the jam in our Game Room, where the Gaming Colts will work with Everfree Northwest?s Gaming Division to showcase many of those creations.
Panels they?re on:Games that Ponies Play: Making Games that Players Enjoy
My Little Pony: Roleplaying Is Magic:My Little Pony: Roleplaying is Magic is a pen & paper tabletop RPG that aims to provide a truly unique and fun pen & paper roleplaying experience. Based on freeform roleplaying and concepts from such systems as Dungeons & Dragons, World of Darkness, Mythic, and others, the system is light on strict rules and focuses more on a player?s ability to weave a collaborative tale with narrative-focused mechanics. The project lead and creator of the game, Tall Tail, will be in our Board Game Room on Friday and Saturday. Join in the fun and look for a game or start your own. Come and tell a story with us.
Keep up to date on all of Everfree Northwest?s news and announcements by following us on our website, Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. As a reminder, con pre-registration ends on June 15th. Badges can still be purchased here.
Plants frozen under a Greenland glacier hundreds of years ago are growing again, after rapidly melting glaciers expose them to sunlight and air.
By Liz Fuller-Wright,?Correspondent / May 29, 2013
This moss froze about 500 years ago, when it was covered by an advancing glacier. Now that the glaciers are in retreat, the exposed 'zombie' moss is growing again, in a petri dish in the lab of University of Alberta scientist Catherine La Farge.
Courtesy of the Catherine La Farge / Proceedings of the National Academies of Science
Enlarge
It's like something out of a zombie movie, or at least Encino Man: What was dead and frozen for hundreds of years suddenly sits up, shakes its head a few times, and goes about its business.
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But this is real, and happening with mosses in Greenland. Once buried under thousands of tons of glacial ice, these mosses are green and growing again.
And not just one or two feisty stragglers: Dr. Catherine La Farge and colleagues from the University of Alberta found between 60 and 144 different species of moss that are spontaneously regrowing after centuries on ice.
Glaciers on Ellesmere Island, off the coast of Greenland, are rapidly retreating, like most glaciers around the world. As they pull back, they are uncovering whole ecosystems of mosses that are starting to wake up and blink in the sunlight.
Scientists saw the newly exposed mosses just a few feet from the edge of Teardrop Glacier on Ellesmere, on land that had been covered by the glacier only a year before. Most of the mosses were black, says La Farge, but they were structurally intact, and some looked suspiciously green.
"As I looked more closely I thought, 'Oh my gosh, what's this? Either this has somehow managed to retain a vestige of its original color, or it's just started to grow again after centuries under the ice,'" she told National Geographic. "The thought of that just blew my mind."
Arctic explorers have noticed these glacial-edge mosses before, but always assumed that they were seeing modern mosses that had blown onto the "dead mats," like squatters moving into a long-abandoned building. ?But when Dr. La Farge's team put the moss under a microscope, they saw that the green branches were growing from 500-year-old stems.
They put blackened moss with potting soil under a grow lamp and held their breath. Six weeks later, they had proof: these ancient mosses, frozen since the Middle Ages, were growing again.
These plants froze between 404 and 615 years ago, according to radiocarbon dating, or between 1398 and 1609, during the early part of the "Little Ice Age" that chilled much of Europe. The last time they saw the sun, English speakers were using words like "verily" and "forsooth."
How is this possible?
Moss has a big advantage helping its resuscitation along: its cells can replicate themselves and grow into anything the plant needs. Mosses are essentially built of stem cells, cloning themselves endlessly, without stamens, pistils, or any of the other trappings of sexual reproduction. But while their cloning abilities are well known, no one expected that they'd be able to grow again ? spontaneously, without help ? after spending centuries trapped under thousands of feet of ice.
The successful resurrection of these newly exposed plants raises interesting questions about the role of mosses in periglacial ecosystems, where glaciers advance and retreat over and over again.
Though easily overlooked because of its unimposing stature, moss is vital to permafrost ecosystems ? without it, animals from mice and rabbits to deer and caribou could starve in the frozen north, where few plants thrive.
At the poles and in mountains around the world, most glaciers are retreating faster than ever in recorded history. Will the newly exposed glacial terrain remain frozen and barren, or will these "zombie" mosses rebuild thriving ecosystems in some of the harshest terrain on the planet?
Glaciers beating a hasty retreat
Most glaciers have been shrinking for decades, but what used to be a slow saunter ? moseying back a few feet each year ? is now a sprint. Since 2007, arctic glaciers have retreated about 13 feet (4.1 m) each year, almost three times as fast as the retreat speed of the 1960s and 1970s. That might not sound like much, given the thousands of square miles these glaciers cover, but the rapid acceleration of the melt has caught the attention of scientists and policymakers.
The good news is that we're finding all sorts of fascinating things under the ice, from zombie mosses to still-bleeding mammoths.
The bad news is that when they these landlocked glaciers melt into the ocean, it raises ocean levels. Since about 10 percent of the world's population lives within a few feet of sea level, that's a lot of people contemplating a water-logged lifestyle.
NEW YORK (AP) ? Rob Lowe will portray President John F. Kennedy in a National Geographic film about the former president's 1963 assassination.
The National Geographic Channel said Tuesday that filming for "Killing Kennedy" would begin next month in Richmond, Va. The film is expected to air around the 50th anniversary of the shooting later this year and is based on the book by Bill O'Reilly.
National Geographic already had a hit earlier this year with an adaptation of another of the Fox News Channel anchor's books, "Killing Lincoln."
In addition to Lowe, the movie will feature Ginnifer Goodwin as the first lady and Michelle Trachtenberg as Marina Oswald.
Source: www.nytimes.com --- Tuesday, May 28, 2013 Brian McCann hit two home runs, including a solo shot in the 10th inning that lifted the visiting Atlanta Braves over the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-6, on Tuesday. ? ? ? ? ...
Repix -- one of the more creative photo editing apps available for iOS -- has just seen an update that streamlines its design and adds a handful of new features. Since its launch in March, the app's strongest selling point has been its brushes, which allow you to selectively edit parts of your photos. Sadly, this update doesn't include any new ones, but it does introduce a spotlight filter pack with four options: gallery, slender, stage and disco lighting. The set isn't included in the free download; it can be purchased for $1.99 through the app. Additionally, the adjustment menu has seen a performance-enhancing facelift. The slider at the bottom of the screen allows for straightforward editing of contrast, brightness, vibrance, saturation, temperature and vignette settings. Lastly, the new frame tool offers seven different borders in black or white variants. The new frames and filter aren't overly exciting, but the aesthetic tweaks do freshen up Repix's look while improving functionality. For more info, you can read the full press release after the break.
Recovery of Hawaiian green sea turtles still short of historic levels, Stanford-led study suggestsPublic release date: 29-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: John N. "Jack" Kittinger jkittinger@stanford.edu 831-333-2077 Stanford University
Calls to lift protections for the iconic Hawaiian green sea turtle may be premature, according to a new study led by a Stanford researcher.
Although the number of Hawaiian green sea turtles has increased since 1978 when the species was listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the population may still be only a fraction of historic levels, the research shows.
"It's critical to compare the animal's population level to its historic abundance, not just to recent levels," said study coauthor John N. "Jack" Kittinger, an early career fellow at Stanford's Center for Ocean Solutions (COS).
Kittinger and his collaborators compared contemporary (1973-2012) and historical (1250-1950) nesting records of Hawaiian green sea turtles from fishery logs, archeological sites, Hawaiian-language newspapers and first-hand historical accounts. The researchers also gathered current nesting data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's green turtle field monitoring program run by its Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center.
The work yielded extensive data sets on the occurrence, abundance, geographic distribution and harvest of sea turtles in Hawaii spanning hundreds of years.
Analysis of these records and other archival sources revealed that 80 percent of major historic green sea turtle nesting sites have disappeared and many others have shrunk greatly in size. The only remaining significant nesting site, which accounts for 90 percent of green sea turtle nesting in the Hawaiian Islands, is vulnerable to sea level rise and other threats.
"Hawaiians were able to sustainably coexist with nesting green sea turtles as recently as the early 20th century, when nesting sites could still be found on the main Hawaiian Islands," said Kittinger, a coauthor of the study who conducted much of the research before joining COS as an early career fellow.
"After traditional harvesting restrictions gave way, we see evidence for population depletion" he said. "This needs to be considered for sustainable management of the species moving forward, including a potential harvesting program should the species be delisted."
The green sea turtle is an important cultural symbol in Hawaii and performs vital marine functions such as controlling the spread of algae in coral reefs.
"Research such as this study, based on historic and socioeconomic data, adds an important perspective that has been missing from population assessments of endangered animals," said Larry Crowder, COS science director and a sea turtle expert, who was not involved in the study. "The paper shows that Hawaii's current green sea turtle population is significantly reduced from historic levels and, due to the conservative approach of these scientists, these numbers may underrepresent that decline."
###
The study was published online May 22 in the journal Ecography. Collaborators conducting the research included Kittinger, NOAA and the NOAA Pacific Sea Turtle Historical Ecology Working Group.
The Center for Ocean Solutions is a collaboration among Stanford University's Woods Institute for the Environment and Hopkins Marine Station, Monterey Bay Aquarium and Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Recovery of Hawaiian green sea turtles still short of historic levels, Stanford-led study suggestsPublic release date: 29-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: John N. "Jack" Kittinger jkittinger@stanford.edu 831-333-2077 Stanford University
Calls to lift protections for the iconic Hawaiian green sea turtle may be premature, according to a new study led by a Stanford researcher.
Although the number of Hawaiian green sea turtles has increased since 1978 when the species was listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the population may still be only a fraction of historic levels, the research shows.
"It's critical to compare the animal's population level to its historic abundance, not just to recent levels," said study coauthor John N. "Jack" Kittinger, an early career fellow at Stanford's Center for Ocean Solutions (COS).
Kittinger and his collaborators compared contemporary (1973-2012) and historical (1250-1950) nesting records of Hawaiian green sea turtles from fishery logs, archeological sites, Hawaiian-language newspapers and first-hand historical accounts. The researchers also gathered current nesting data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's green turtle field monitoring program run by its Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center.
The work yielded extensive data sets on the occurrence, abundance, geographic distribution and harvest of sea turtles in Hawaii spanning hundreds of years.
Analysis of these records and other archival sources revealed that 80 percent of major historic green sea turtle nesting sites have disappeared and many others have shrunk greatly in size. The only remaining significant nesting site, which accounts for 90 percent of green sea turtle nesting in the Hawaiian Islands, is vulnerable to sea level rise and other threats.
"Hawaiians were able to sustainably coexist with nesting green sea turtles as recently as the early 20th century, when nesting sites could still be found on the main Hawaiian Islands," said Kittinger, a coauthor of the study who conducted much of the research before joining COS as an early career fellow.
"After traditional harvesting restrictions gave way, we see evidence for population depletion" he said. "This needs to be considered for sustainable management of the species moving forward, including a potential harvesting program should the species be delisted."
The green sea turtle is an important cultural symbol in Hawaii and performs vital marine functions such as controlling the spread of algae in coral reefs.
"Research such as this study, based on historic and socioeconomic data, adds an important perspective that has been missing from population assessments of endangered animals," said Larry Crowder, COS science director and a sea turtle expert, who was not involved in the study. "The paper shows that Hawaii's current green sea turtle population is significantly reduced from historic levels and, due to the conservative approach of these scientists, these numbers may underrepresent that decline."
###
The study was published online May 22 in the journal Ecography. Collaborators conducting the research included Kittinger, NOAA and the NOAA Pacific Sea Turtle Historical Ecology Working Group.
The Center for Ocean Solutions is a collaboration among Stanford University's Woods Institute for the Environment and Hopkins Marine Station, Monterey Bay Aquarium and Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Amber Carrington channels her inner Adele and Michelle Chamuel puts her 'big voice' on display before two more contestants are eliminated. By Natasha Chandel
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Texas lawmakers sent Governor Rick Perry more than $1 billion in proposed business tax cuts shortly before the end of the biennial legislative session on Monday.
The tax-cut package - the final piece of which was approved by the House and Senate late on Sunday - includes an extension of a business franchise tax exemption for small businesses and a rate cut for businesses of all sizes.
The Republican-majority legislature also approved about $300 million in electricity rebates.
Perry, a Republican, had called on lawmakers to pass tax relief for businesses. Thirty-five states are taking up tax reform in their current legislative sessions, according to a recent survey by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Texas' franchise tax legislation removes inequities and lowers the tax rate for more than 800,000 businesses, according to Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, a Republican.
Passing the proposal "sends a clear message that we are committed to sustaining the country's best climate for job creation and economic growth here in Texas," Dewhurst said.
Dick Lavine, a senior fiscal analyst at the Center for Public Policy Priorities, criticized the tax cuts, in particular a sales tax exemption for businesses buying equipment for research and development.
"As always, it didn't matter what the question was. The answer was, ?Let's cut taxes,'" said Lavine, whose organization advocates for low-income Texans. "It's well known that the best return on investment comes from pre-kindergarten through higher education. Who's going to be doing the research and development if we don't train our students?"
The biennial legislative session that began in January had a decidedly different tone than two years ago, when lawmakers faced a budget crunch and slashed spending.
This year, as the legislature convened, the state comptroller announced that lawmakers would have more revenue to spend than they did in the previous cycle thanks to higher-than-expected tax collections boosted by economic growth.
Texas lawmakers this year passed a two-year budget that restores cuts made to schools in 2011.
They also decided to ask voters this fall to approve $2 billion from the state's rainy-day fund to pay for a loan program for water infrastructure and reduced the number of standardized tests students would have to pass to graduate from high school.
"Texas is significantly closer to having the water supply needed to respond to severe droughts and to encourage private-sector growth," House Speaker Joe Straus said on Monday. "In addition, educators will have the flexibility needed to prepare every student for success while spending less time on standardized tests."
The legislature did not pass a proposal pushed by Perry to ban late-term abortions, and conservative lawmakers are asking the governor to add that and other anti-abortion measures to the agenda if he calls a special session.
Perry has not said whether he will bring lawmakers into a special session, but speculation swirled at the Capitol on Monday about whether he might do so, perhaps to address redistricting.
The governor had called for the legislature to pass measures requiring drug tests for applicants for unemployment benefits - which lawmakers did pass - and for welfare, which they did not.
Lawmakers sent the governor a bill that says students and teachers are allowed to say "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Hanukkah." They also sent him a sweet piece of legislation - a proposal to make the pecan pie the state pie of Texas.
(Reporting by Corrie MacLaggan; Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst and Philip Barbara)
Chodziez, Poznan, where my husband?s ancestors were from. They emigrated to New Zealand at the latter part of the 19th century.
Before you start trawling your way through the billions of records on the many websites online, it?s a good idea to organise how you?re going to store and reference your research, as it will help a great deal in future.? I cannot emphasise this enough.? When I first started, I was so excited to get to the 1700s in about 2 hours, that I had to go back another time and tidy up the frenzy!? I hope this doesn?t tame your enthusiasm ? just think of it as laying good solid foundations so you will enjoy your investigating so much more as you jump into the genealogy journey.
So before you get too carried away with those England census records and unsolved family mysteries, here?s where I?d recommend starting.
The marriage of Henry Paxton and Jane Hunter 1838
1) Organisation
Download the ?Personal Ancestral File? (PAF) for free, or sometimes a? software program is free with a family tree magazine.? A popular paid software program is ?Family Tree Maker? available for purchase from ?Ancestry?.? But you could start with the free basic PAF, and if you?d like the increased functionality of other programs, then you can purchase one in future.? Your family tree will be saved as a PAF file, but you can export this as a GED-com file into other programs.
You will also want to have a system for storing the originals of vital records, documents and photos.
Dean Castle, taken in 2009
2) Guidelines for Sharing Online
There are many sites to upload your family tree onto, which will help with sharing research with others who are tracing the same family line.? I could tell you so many stories on my own journey of families reunited, first cousins meeting for the first time in their 80s, and friendships formed after many years of families being out of touch.? It is what I have found the most rewarding.
When uploading your tree, remember to always hide living relatives, especially children, and be sensitive as to what information you share about close relatives, even those who have died.? ??I made some mistakes early on, and also been on the receiving end of other peoples.
3) Sources, verifying others research, and referencing.
Make sure you record the source of your findings, be it a vital document (such as a christening or burial record), or census, word of mouth, or military record.? Your family tree program will have a place to do this for every detail, or else record under your notes.
Keep really good notes in your program, even if your research leads you to a dead end. It?s surprising what you forget when you return a year later to trace a difficult line.
There is the temptation to copy and paste the research from others, as it?s always an exciting find when you discover someone researching the same line.? Sometimes you only need to go back as far as a grandparent, and frequently, as far as a great grandparent.? But there is so much inaccurate research on the internet, much of it people have just taken a guess and connected family trees together.? If you can?t verify with some certainty, then record in your notes and do further research until you can connect a person in.
Smithy where an ancestor, William Loydall, worked in the 19th Century (the individual?s pictured are on cousin lines),
4) Getting Started
Always work backwards from yourself.? Record all your own details and make notes about the places you?ve lived in.? I like to build a timeline under my notes for each individual.
a) Accumulating information and data:
Start with yourself and record all your details, your parents, your grandparents, and as much as you know.? Record even the most far-fetched stories in your notes, as sometimes there is an element of truth in them that may help.
Talk to family members (even siblings) about what they know and what their memories are. Where you can, ask to see certificates, photos (often have information on the back), memorabilia, family bibles, wills.
Has anyone else in your family done any research?? Copy it into your notes and take the time to verify family stories and dates where possible.? Many times someone will have written things down years ago before the internet was available.? This sort of information is often a goldmine to your research.
b) Visit your local library
See what resources they have, especially if your family has been local for more than a generation or two. A good-sized library will also be a treasure trove for reference books and may have a genealogical society that meets regularly.
You might like to purchase your own family history guide, particular those written by reputable authors.? (I have one by ?Collins?). There are some great reference books around.? Check them out the library first to see if you will refer to them often, and only get the most recent ones as information is constantly being added to the internet.? You may also want to wait until you know more about where your family is from to ensure what reference materials will be relevant ? if they?re from the British Isles for instance you?ll have many to choose from.
c) Join your local family history society and/or join mailing lists online for relevant surnames and places.?
Community is a central part of family history research.? Connect with others and share research and tips.? And if you benefit from this, freely give yourself as well.
Holy Trinity Church, Clapham, London, England. One of the ancestral churches where many of my ancestors were christened and buried.**
Next time I post on family research, I?ll write on what sort of records are available where you ancestors may have left footprints.
You may also be interested in these other posts on Family History Research:
[** NB. I downloaded this image many years ago and didn't reference it.? If you know where it has come from, please let me know].
Thanks to PAWS Chicago, the lives of 76 pets (51 dogs and 25 cats) have have been rescued from tornado-torn Oklahoma.
Volunteers with the no-kill shelter set out Friday on the recovery mission to alleviate overcrowding at The Oklahoma City Animal Care & Control (OACC) which had experienced an influx of pets following the devastating tornado that ripped through the area Monday.
Story continues after the slideshow.
PAWS Chicago's Oklahoma Pet Rescue
PAWS Chicago's Oklahoma Pet Rescue
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PAWS Chicago's Oklahoma Pet Rescue
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PAWS Chicago's Oklahoma Pet Rescue-1
After the eight-car caravan departed Friday for Oklahoma, the shelter gave an update via Facebook Saturday afternoon:
"Each pet that is coming to Chicago was a part of the shelter's pre-existing population of homeless pets. By transferring these pets to PAWS Chicago, we are enabling the shelter to take in and care for the more than 150 animals who have been displaced as a result of the recent tornado and will give them a chance to be reclaimed by their owners."
The PAWS Chicago volunteers now plan to head back north to prepare the animals for adoption.
All pets rescued from Oklahoma will be available for adoption at PAWS' 1997 N. Clybourn Ave. shelter in River North on Monday, Memorial Day.
Cis-1,4-Polybutadiene It?s rubber with a memory. This polymer?s chain of repeating units are cis-linked?connected on the same side of a carbon-carbon double bond. Once molded into a shape (like a ball), the material returns to that shape whenever it gets ...
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) ? A 37-year-old man was arrested Wednesday after a pair of letters containing the deadly poison ricin were discovered in Washington state last week.
A grand jury indictment accuses Matthew Ryan Buquet of mailing a threatening communication to U.S. District Judge Fred Van Sickle at the federal courthouse on May 14.
The indictment did not say anything about ricin. However, the U.S. Postal Service said last week that two letters were discovered ? one addressed to the courthouse and the other to the downtown post office ? and they contained ricin in a crude form that did not immediately pose a threat to workers.
Buquet appeared in federal court in Spokane after the FBI said agents arrested him Wednesday afternoon. He pleaded not guilty.
If convicted of mailing a threatening communication, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
Ricin is a highly toxic substance made from castor beans. As little as 500 micrograms, the size of the head of a pin, can kill an adult if inhaled or ingested.
There were no reports of illness connected to the Spokane letters.
Investigators in hazardous materials suits spent most of Saturday executing a search warrant at a three-story apartment building in downtown Spokane. Witnesses reported that agents escorted a man from the building.
The Spokane investigation comes a month after letters containing ricin were addressed to President Barack Obama, a U.S. senator and a Mississippi judge. A Mississippi man was arrested in that case.
___
Associated Press writer Gene Johnson in Seattle contributed to this report.
driving FORWARD: Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon launched their economic report at Alexander Dennis coach builders in Falkirk. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell
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Magnus Gardham political editor
In a clear warning, the First Minister said he regarded sterling and the Bank of England as assets to be shared between the UK and a go-it-alone Scotland.
He said an independent Scotland would not take on a portion of the UK's trillion-pound national debt unless Westminster agreed to a currency union ? a move Chancellor George Osborne has described as "unlikely".
The tornado that hit the Oklahoma city of Moore ? its fourth in 15 years ? brought destruction but also brought out well-learned examples of resiliency, hope, and calm.
By the Monitor's Editorial Board / May 21, 2013
A rescuer recovers a horse from the remains of a day care center and barn May 20 in Moore, Okla.
Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman/AP Photo
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Since 1998, the Oklahoma city of Moore has experienced four tornadoes. Monday?s storm, which packed winds of as much as 200 miles per hour, perhaps brought the worst devastation, leaving more than 50 dead, including schoolchildren, and a need for healing from its grief and loss.
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But the giant twister also brought out the best in a community that has learned, perhaps more than others, that it needs far more than warning systems and storm shelters.
New technology and hardened structures certainly help those caught in a tornado?s path. But as disaster experts now know, people in natural disasters need an inner hardiness that keeps them emotionally calm and mentally alert. One unfazed Moore resident, Renee Lee, told reporters, ?You just do what you gotta do. It?s part of living here.?
Teachers at Moore?s two elementary schools certainly had to keep themselves calm as they corralled kids into safe areas. The city?s mayor, Glenn Lewis, huddled with others in the vault of his jewelry shop. After having experienced a tornado that struck Moore in 199 when he was also mayor, Mr. Lewis was well prepared to take action in the wake of this latest one. ?We?ve already started printing the street signs,? he said soon after the storm destroyed many street markers.
Signals of hope and resilience quickly emerged in the 20-mile swath of wreckage as Moore residents responded to those in need or helped those mourn for lost loved ones. Others who know Moore well tried to help. ?Rise again Moore Oklahoma. Godspeed,? tweeted country singer Toby Keith, a native of Moore. Rep. Tom Cole (R), whose congressional district includes Moore, cited prayer as the top item on his list of what the city needs.
Among disaster experts, the concept of resilience is now a popular focus. The Obama administration issued a policy directive in February that pushes agencies dealing with the effects of extreme weather to emphasize resilience. President Obama?s budget includes $200 million for such efforts.
One expert on resilience, Andrew Zolli of PopTech in Camden, Maine, told the Monitor last year: ?If you believe that the world is a meaningful place, and you have a meaningful place within it; if you believe that you have agency within the world, that your actions have meaning ... that successes and failures are put in your life to teach you things, and that they?re not just random acts of chance, then you have a much higher degree of resilience in the face of trauma.?
Such experts say communities with individuals who are spiritually grounded form bonds that help them through a crisis. Robert Sampson, a Harvard sociologist who has studied poor neighborhoods in Chicago, writes about well-connected communities, which create feelings of belonging that provide a protection against the ?steady drip? of challenges.
After its 1999 tornado, Moore was able to clean up in 61 days and then start rebuilding the city. Perhaps the cleanup this time will be shorter, not only because of the residents? learning curve but also because Moore is better connected ? even to other storm-hit places. The Missouri city of Joplin, which was hit by a 2011 tornado, immediately sent assistance to Moore.
Places hit by tornadoes find their people often have one thing in common. Their calm before a storm helps bring a calm after a storm.
Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 By Mitchell Clark, B.Comm. for Profit Confidential
The action in the stock market continues to amaze.
When stocks go up on bad news (like last week?s higher initial claims for jobless benefits and lower-than-expected housing starts), you know you don?t want to be short.
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ/CSCO) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and for such a mature technology stock, it recently reported a very solid quarter.
In its fiscal third quarter (ended April 27, 2012), Cisco announced sales of $12.2 billion, for a net gain of five percent over the comparable quarter. It was the company?s ninth consecutive quarter of record sales.
Earnings grew 14.5% to $2.5 billion, while earnings per share grew 15% to $0.46 per share, beating consensus estimates.
John Chambers, Cisco?s CEO, noted improving signs in the U.S. economy and other markets. Business conditions for the company are also improving.
Like many cash-rich, large corporations, Cisco recently repurchased 41 million shares of its own common stock, spending $860 million.
This, of course, is a pittance. The company finished its latest quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $47.4 billion.
Wall Street boosted the company?s earnings estimates and share price target.
Cisco is ripe for more gains on the stock market because of its valuation.
The company also offers a dividend yield of 3.2%, which is attractive in this market. The company?s huge cash hoard also makes it highly likely that at some point this year, the company will issue another dividend increase.
All institutional investors want to see in this stock market is stability and certainty.
Cisco provided that certainty in its latest earnings report, and this is the reason why the company has leapt upward by over 10% on the stock market.
Still, the positive trading action is truly astonishing.
If there was ever a case to be made that the stock market is a leading indicator, recent action proves it. This market is way ahead of fundamentals.
Cisco hasn?t done anything for years on the stock market, although it has been slowly growing its revenues.
The company?s latest earnings report really was decent in terms of the competition and maturity in the networking and communication devices subsector.
The broadening of the blue chip breakout into the NASDAQ Composite is confirmation of the uptrend. But it is becoming even more difficult to be a buyer in this stock market when you see the key stock indices going up on bad news.
The appetite that institutional investors have to be buyers is stunning.
A majority of companies beat consensus earnings in the latest quarter. But only half of all companies in the S&P 500 beat consensus on revenues.
This is why big investors are now chasing stocks like Cisco. Top-line growth remains elusive.
More severe weather expected today and tonight following yesterday?s horrific tornado that devastated an Oklahoma City suburb.
Update: If you?re wondering about the geoengineering angle of this, Dutchsinse has put up his confirmation that this event did directly follow the path of directional radar pulses, HAARP rings and scalar squares which he tracts persistently.
Go HERE for his report.
If this is new information to you, explore his site as there?s a wealth of information on this. While SuspiciousObservers (below) does some great compiling of information, he?s weak on the geoengineering aspect, relying quite heavily on mainstream resources and interpretations, although he does buck them with some good stuff like the electric universe and spacewater.
And yes, the sick Powers That Be do cause severe weather of all sorts on purpose. This is one of the main uses of chemtrails, as the metallic particles are then subject to steering by these electromagnetic and scalar pulses. That have many facilities similar to the large HAARP array in Alaska around the world, as well as in space, and relay or other types of emanaters spread throughout the US and the world, including floating at sea.
We?re dealing with mad, murdering power freaks probably justifying all this as more experiments for national defense or some such nonsense to get others to play along with it. All part of the wake up, folks. ? Zen
Last year, Twitter announced something it called the Innovator's Patent Agreement (IPA), which would keep patents in the hands of the designers and engineers that came up with the technology behind them. What this agreement serves as is a promise to only act on a patent for "defensive purposes." Anything outside of that scope would need to be signed off on the creator of the patent itself.
The day I returned from inpatient therapy, my Lab-Chow mix cuddled up to me on the bed as I cried. She looked into my defeated gaze and licked my tears.
I was astounded that this creature was capable of the empathy that I so craved in my closest friends and relatives. It was like she could read the pathetic and sad thoughts that disabled me and wanted me to know I was lovable in the midst of my suffering.
She continues to be a supportive presence in my life, especially on the days that I grow weary of trying on ? and throwing out ? every mindful exercise and cognitive behavioral strategy? the hours where staying positive seems impossible. She gets it. I know she does.
Every week I hear tales of four-legged creatures becoming angels in times of terrifying darkness. Indeed, a substantial body of research indicates that pets improve our mental health.
How? Here are a few ways.
1. Pets offer a soothing presence.
Studies indicate that merely watching fish lowers blood pressure and muscle tension in people about to undergo oral surgery. That?s why all the aquariums in dentists? offices! Think of the behavior Darla in Disney Pixar?s ?Finding Nemo? would have exhibited without the fish tank.
Other research shows that pet owners have significantly lower blood pressure and heart rate both before and while performing stressful mental tasks ? like, say, performing a family intervention or supervising kids? homework. Finally, persons recovering from heart attacks recover more quickly and survive longer when there is a pet at home. It seems as though their mere presence is beneficial.
2. Pets offer unconditional love and acceptance.
As far as we know, pets are without opinions, critiques, and verdicts. Even if you smell like their poop, they will snuggle up next to you. In a Johns Hopkins Depression & Anxiety Bulletin, Karen Swartz, M.D. mentions a recent study where nursing home residents in St. Louis felt less lonely with some quiet time with a dog alone than a visit with both a dog and other residents.
The study enrolled 37 nursing home residents who scored high on a loneliness scale and who were interested in receiving weekly half-hour visits from dogs. Half of the residents had quiet time alone with the pooches. The other half shared the dog with other nursing home residents. Both groups said they felt less lonely after the visit, but the decrease in loneliness was much more significant among the residents that had the dogs all to themselves. In other words, at times we prefer our four-legged friends to our mouthy pals because we can divulge our innermost thoughts and not be judged.
3. Pets alter our behavior.
Here?s a typical scenario. I come through the door in the evening and I?m annoyed. At what, I don?t know. A million little snafus that happened throughout the day. I am dangerously close to taking it out on someone. However, before I can do that, my Lab-Chow walks up to me and pats me, wanting some attention. So I kneel down and pet her. She licks my face, and I smile. Voila! She altered my behavior. I am only agitated a little now and chances are much better that someone will not become a casualty of my frustrations. We calm down when we are with our dogs, cats, lizards, and pigs. We slow our breath, our speech, our minds. We don?t hit as many people or use as many four-lettered words.
4. Pets distract.
Pets are like riveting movies and books. They take us out of our heads and into another reality ? one that only involves food, water, affection, and maybe an animal butt ? for as long as we can allow. I?ve found distraction to be the only effective therapy when you?ve hit a point where there is no getting your head back. It?s tough to ruminate about how awful you feel and will feel forever when your dog is breathing in your face.
5. Pets promote touch.
The healing power of touch is undisputed. Research indicates a 45-minute massage can decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol and optimize your immune system by building white blood cells. Hugging floods our bodies with oxytocin, a hormone that reduces stress, and lowers blood pressure and heart rates. And, according to a University of Virginia study, holding hands can reduce the stress-related activity in the hypothalamus region of the brain, part of our emotional center. The touch can actually stop certain regions of the brain from responding to threat clues. It?s not surprising, then, that stroking a dog or cat can lower blood pressure and heart rate and boost levels of serotonin and dopamine.
6. Pets make us responsible.
With pets come great responsibility, and responsibility ? according to depression research ? promotes mental health. Positive psychologists assert that we build our self-esteem by taking ownership of a task, by applying our skills to a job. When we succeed ? i.e., the pet is still alive the next day ? we reinforce to ourselves that we are capable of caring for another creature as well as ourselves. That?s why chores are so important in teaching adolescents self-mastery and independence.
Taking care of a pet also brings structure to our day. Sleeping until noon is no longer a possibility unless you want to spend an hour cleaning up the next day. Staying out all night needs some preparation and forethought.
????Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 17 May 2013 ????Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.
APA Reference Borchard, T. (2013). 6 Ways Pets Relieve Depression. Psych Central. Retrieved on May 19, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/05/19/6-ways-pets-relieve-depression/
Music is significant in getting attention from a large group of people. Music soothes the soul in ways that even the experts cannot explain.This is the main reason why you would find people opting for music lessons simply to ease their life stresses. Music is a course that is offered in almost all the universities all over the world. The good thing about this course is that it is not demanding. Certainly, you would not compare medicine to music. Music is something that you engage yourself fully into it to make certain that you achieve the desired results. Research also proves that most individuals taking up music lessons have the passion to listen to music. So, why should you take up music lessons?
It is a career opportunity
Who said that you cannot earn a living if you took up music lessons as your career path? Many have done it and hence you would also make it in being the best. The fact that it is offered by universities means that there is an opportunity for you to exploit fully. The good thing is that, the market is quite rewarding due to music lovers out there. Hence, marketing your skills would not be a tough task for you.
Entertainment
It is fun to take up music lessons as it would be a good way to entertain yourself as you learn. There are wide arrays of music genre that you would entertain yourself with. From the classic genres to the modern music you would learn al this. This would be a good way to entertain yourself. After all, life is not all about being serious.
Self discipline
Yes music lessons are easy but if you would be taking up lessons on how to play certain instruments, you would have to be disciplined to ensure that you get what is taught. This is a virtue that you get from taking up music lessons. You would know the importance of keeping time and doing homework in knowing hoe to play certain instruments to perfection. Without a doubt, after 3-4 years of doing this, you would emerge a different person that can transform the society positively.
Get to learn about different cultures
In the music lessons that you take up, you would have to learn more about the history of music. In doing this, you would be getting to know more of cultures out there and the instruments that they use to compose their own music. This is a good way to appreciate ones culture and getting to know how other people view your culture from their own perspective.
Lastly, life is always about learning new things on a regular basis. Thus, taking up music lessons even for fun would not be a bod idea after all. You would have something to be proud of knowing that you spent time to learn how to play a certain instrument. Just as the experts would say; learning never comes to a stop. Thus, you should always be ready to learn new things as life moves on.
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David Beckham got emotional after playing his final home game for Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.
The legendary footballer announced his retirement earlier this week.
As the PSG captain departed the field, the stadium erupted in applause. When he embraced his teammates, he began to cry.
Later, he admitted that the game had been difficult one for him.
"To end my career in front of a crowd like that, with players like that, it's very special," he said. "It started about 20 minutes before that, to be honest. I started thinking and then, you know, I couldn't concentrate by then, and it was difficult. You know, you try to hold the emotion back because it is what it is, but it's difficult."
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Public release date: 29-May-2013
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The action in the stock market continues to amaze.
Last year, Twitter announced something it called the Innovator's Patent Agreement (IPA), which would keep patents in the hands of the designers and engineers that came up with the technology behind them. What this agreement serves as is a promise to only act on a patent for "defensive purposes." Anything outside of that scope would need to be signed off on the creator of the patent itself.
The day I returned from inpatient therapy, my Lab-Chow mix cuddled up to me on the bed as I cried. She looked into my defeated gaze and licked my tears.