Monday 22 July 2013

Too many antioxidants? Resveratrol blocks many cardiovascular benefits of exercise

[unable to retrieve full-text content]In older men, a natural antioxidant compound found in red grapes and other plants ? called resveratrol ? blocks many of the cardiovascular benefits of exercise, according to new research.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/Rm-zQjT9PYs/130722071955.htm

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Panic in China as wheelchair-bound man who says he was paralyzed by police beatdown tries to blow himself up

Chinese airport security officers walk away with a wheelchair at the arrival hall of Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital Airport in the aftermath of an explosion.

WIEBO

BEIJING -- A man in a wheelchair detonated a home-made explosive in Beijing airport on Saturday, injuring himself and sending smoke billowing through the exit area of the international arrivals section of Terminal 3.

There were no other injuries and operations were normal after the blast, the airport said on its microblog.

China's official Xinhua news agency said the man, 34-year-old Ji Zhongxing from the eastern province of Shandong, had detonated the loud device after being prevented from handing out leaflets that drew attention to unspecified complaints.

Some Chinese activists and rights lawyers later posted online what they said was a letter of complaint that Ji had filed regarding a 2005 incident in which he claims to have been partially paralysed after being beaten by police in Guangdong province's manufacturing hub of Dongguan.

Chinese airport security officers walk away with a wheelchair at the arrival hall of Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital Airport in the aftermath of an explosion.

AP

It was not possible to independently verify the letter.

Individual Chinese unable to win redress for grievances have in the past resorted to extreme measures, including bombings, but such incidents are rare amid the tight security of airports.

Chinese airport security officers walk away with a wheelchair at the arrival hall of Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital Airport in the aftermath of an explosion.

AP

Medical workers and policemen work at Terminal 3 at Beijing International Airport after a man set off a homemade bomb

The explosion took place just meters (feet) outside the door from which arriving international passengers depart after picking up their luggage.

An airport spokeswoman declined to speculate about the man's specific motive, saying airport police were still investigating. Police declined to comment. Officials said the bomber was being treated for his injuries.

Chinese airport security officers walk away with a wheelchair at the arrival hall of Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital Airport in the aftermath of an explosion.

EPA

Chinese airport security officers walk away with a wheelchair at the arrival hall of Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital Airport in the aftermath of an explosion.

A Reuters witness said business had returned to normal about 90 minutes after the blast and there were no signs of extra security.

Explosives are relatively easy to obtain in China, home to the world's largest mining and fireworks industries.

Source: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/explosion_police_beijing_airport_T38yH656tePPZ86YhYBHiI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20International

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Monday 17 June 2013

Registration now open for Baseball and Softball Camps | Ashburn ...

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Source: http://ashburn.patch.com/events/registration-now-open-for-baseball-and-softball-camps

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Sunday 16 June 2013

What Japanese fathers want on Father?s Day

Advertisement

With today being Father?s Day in Japan, I present an appropriate survey from goo Ranking looking at what presents Japanese men would be happy to receive on Father?s Day.

Demographics

Over the 4th and 5th of April 2013 1,101 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 50.6% of the sample were male, 23.3% in their teens, 25.2% in their twenties, 25.5% in their thirties, and 26.1% in their forties; there was no-one older than 49 in this sample. Note that the score in the results refers to the relative number of votes for each option, not a percentage of the total sample.

Here?s a picture of number 22, a presentation six-pack of beer featuring a famous character from some businessman manga that I cannot quite recall the title of:

16062009(001)

I?m not sure of the exact context of the question; goo Ranking tends to be multiple choice, so I suspect there might be an element of fathers not wanting to break the family budget by wishing for too much, or perhaps presents that are child pocket-money sized.

Ranking result

Q: What would you be happy to receive on Father?s Day? (Sample size=557, male)

Rank ? Score
1= Necktie 100
1= Wallet 100
3 Wrist watch 93.5
4 Meal at a restaurant 83.9
5 Having a meal made for me 81.7
6 Bag 68.8
7 Belt 66.7
8 Handkerchief 65.6
9= Rare beer 64.5
9= Sweets from a well-known shop 64.5
11= Computer, tablet 62.4
11= Japanese alcohol ? sake, shochu, awamori, etc 62.4
11= Being taken on a trip 62.4
14 Clothes 59.1
15 Wine 58.1
16 Shoes 57.0
17 Handmade sweets 55.9
18= Bouquet of flowers 52.7
18= Travel voucher 52.7
20 A letter 49.5
21 Japanese-style sweets from a well-known shop 45.2
22= Gift-wrapped case of my usual beer 44.1
22= Beer tankard 44.1
24 Socks 41.9
25 Training shoes, walking shooes 40.9
26= Scarf 35.5
26= Coffee, tea set 35.5
28= Training wear 34.4
28= Electronic book reader 34.4
30 Decorative plant 31.2
31 Digital camera 30.1
32 Smartphone 28.0
33 Japanese-style decanter 26.9
34 Scalp care goods 25.8
35 Fitness equipment 22.6
Read more on: fathers day,goo ranking

Permalink

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WhatJapanThinks/~3/7lUXzy12Zts/

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Leaked packaging suggests Xiaomi is working on a 47-inch TV

Leaked packaging suggests Xiaomi working on a 47inch TV

China's Xiaomi has certainly made a name for itself in the smartphone market, but let's not forget that it has other plans as well. For one, there's the Xiaomi Box, which is the company's first foray into the video content world. And according to the above leak, the next step from there appears to be a 47-inch 1080p TV, which is simply branded as "Xiaomi TV" in Chinese (model number L47M1-AA). Like the Xiaomi Box, this TV will apparently feature built-in WiFi and "MiLink" (Airplay, DLNA plus Miracast), as well as audio certification from Dolby and DTS. More after the break.

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Source: Sina Weibo (login required)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/15/xiaomi-tv-leak-47-inch/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Saturday 15 June 2013

Officials: NSA programs broke plots in 20 nations

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Top U.S. intelligence officials say information gleaned from two controversial data-collection programs run by the National Security Agency thwarted potential terrorist plots in the U.S. and more than 20 other countries.

No other new details about the plots or the countries involved are part of newly declassified information released to Congress on Saturday and made public by the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Intelligence officials say that fewer than 300 phone numbers were checked last year against the database of millions of U.S. phone records gathered daily by the NSA. Under the program, the records can only be examined for suspected connections to terrorism.

Also revealed: The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court reviews the two data-collection programs every 90 days, and the data gathered must be destroyed every five years.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/officials-nsa-programs-broke-plots-20-nations-233703820.html

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Tereshkova marks 50 years of her historic flight

MOSCOW (AP) ? It was another Soviet first in space 50 years ago, putting a woman in orbit. And the 26-year old Valentina Tereshkova carried her part with grace, shouting "Take off your hat, sky, I'm coming!" as she blasted off.

President Vladimir Putin praised her during a meeting at his residence Friday, marking the anniversary of her flight. He awarded her the Order of Alexander Nevsky for meritorious public service, one of the highest Russian honors.

Tereshkova's three-day mission instantly made her a global celebrity and a poster image for Soviet space glory following the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin. However, behind the scenes there were strong concerns about the flight and Tereshkova's account of the mission differs dramatically from recollections of other veterans of the nation's space program.

Recalling her flight, the 76-year old cosmonaut says she felt no fear despite what she described as a glitch that might have stranded her in space. Others have faulted her performance and questioned whether she was able to deal with an emergency on descent.

Soviet space officials started considering a space mission by a woman soon after Gagarin's flight in April 1961, seeing it as another chance to advertise the nation's prowess.

To make the mission even more spectacular for propaganda purposes, Moscow decided to score another first by making it the first simultaneous flight of two spaceships. Valery Bykovsky blasted off to space on board the Vostok-5 ship on June 14, 1963 and Tereshkova followed him on June 16.

Tereshkova, who was given the call sign of Chaika (Seagull), blasted off faultlessly and stayed in good shape until day two, when flight controllers noted that she was slow or unable to fulfill their commands and looked tired and unresponsive.

"She sounded apathetic in conversations with ground control," Vladimir Yazdovsky, the chief doctor of the Soviet space program wrote in his memoirs. "She largely limited her movements and kept sitting almost motionless."

Yazdovsky said Tereshkova felt unwell because of weightlessness, and Korolyov was so concerned about her condition that he suggested an early landing. Officials decided, however, to stick to the original plan for a three-day mission.

Korolyov's deputy, Boris Chertok, later recalled in his chronicle of the Soviet space program that worries about Tereshkova were exacerbated by her failure to properly align the ship during a simulation testing her ability to perform a manual landing in case of autopilot failure during descent.

Her ship landed faultlessly in automatic mode on June 19, 1963, but Chertok said that Korolyov and others spent yet another agonizing moment when Tereshkova failed to communicate with ground controllers during the descent.

Tereshkova told reporters last week that engineers made a mistake in designing the ship's controls, which would have left her stranded if she hadn't noticed it in time.

Chertok and other top figures in the Russian space program told a sharply different story, saying that Tereshkova simply couldn't pilot the ship in manual mode during in-orbit training. Chertok recalled Tereshkova emerging teary-eyed from a private conversation during a meeting with engineers focusing on the issue.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tereshkova-marks-50-years-her-historic-flight-144113717.html

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Friday 14 June 2013

Airbus A350 XWB First Flight Video: The Dreamliner's Nightmare Is Real

Airbus A350 XWB First Flight Video: The Dreamliner's Nightmare Is Real

What you're looking at here is history; the triumph of seven years of design and engineering. Today, the Airbus A350 XWB completed its first flight. Here's the video of the mammoth taking to the skies:

Far from just another tin tank, the A350 is a carbon fiber miracle. It's frame is made from 53-percent composite materials (more than any other), which makes it the most efficient large twin-engine bird to ever fly.

The A350 sailed off a runway in Toulouse, France, and completed a four-hour test flight as scheduled early this morning. This is just the beginning of the airplane's one-year, 2500-hour certification process. If all goes well, the airplane could be taking off from an airport near you by 2014.

In other words, Boeing's Dreamliner engineers are having a rough day. [Airbus]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/airbus-a350-xwb-first-flight-video-the-dreamliners-ni-513360748

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Microsoft Office For iOS Is Here

Microsoft Office For iOS Is Here

After plenty of rumor and speculation, Microsoft has quietly launched its version of Office for iOS?but as of yet there's no iPad version.

The app requires an Office 365 subscription, and allows you to view and edit Powerpoint, Excel and Word files which are stored on the cloud or attached to emails. You can also edit recently used files offline, and create Word and Excel documents from scratch on your device.

The app is available for iPhone and iPod Touch, and requires iOS 6.1 or later. iPad support is curiously absent?especially given that it would be a more natural device for document editing?and the app is currently only available in the US. Go check it out on the App Store. [App Store via Engadget]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/microsoft-office-for-ios-is-here-513351040

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Tripping with Andrew Stone at AltWWDC

Tripping with Andrew Stone at AltWWDC

Andrew Stone has seen a lot of changes in the Apple ecosystem - changes he talked about as a featured speaker at AltWWDC, the event that's happening concurrently with WWDC and is only a few blocks away.

AltWWDC is a five-day gathering on the sixth floor of the downtown campus of San Francisco State University. While space is limited, it's absolutely free to attend. The event mixes technical labs with breakout sessions and featured speakers.

Stone's trajectory through the Apple world is the very definition of a long strange trip. An architect by trade, Stone began programming when he was introduced to HyperCard, Apple's landmark visual programming tool. When Steve Jobs started NeXT a few years later, Stone began developing software for it. He's a vanguard of the NeXTStep operating system, the bedrock basis of OS X and iOS. He continues to make his living from that work - his Stone Design makes apps like Twittelator for iOS and Videator, the VJ and video effects tool .

Stone, who lives in New Mexico, talked openly about his use of psychedelic drugs as a consciousness-opening experience. He was also part of lab tests for a psychoactive compound called DMT. Consumed by South American natives as a tea called ayahuasca, the substance is derived from the South American jungle vine caapi. Stone has written about his experience.

And for those who question the use of drugs all together? Stone says that we have the power to create similar experiences ourselves, using nothing more than our minds and more conscious control of our bodies. He led the crowd in a breathing exercise to demonstrate.

Stone's fascinating story captivated the AltWWDC crowd, but he wasn't just there to entertain with the story of his journey, but to act as a teacher and to impart some wisdom. He offered some practical advice born from decades of indie software publishing.

"Small is beautiful, and you, the individual, can make a big difference," Stone said.

"And to witness that, think of all the little indies that have been copied by Apple," Stone joked, getting a wry laugh from the audience. Stone emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive social media presence, encouraging indie developers reach out to their peers.

Stone's final bit of advice: "Feed your head." More specifically, feed the other part of your head that isn't involved in programming and business. Try to have a rich and balanced life wherever it takes you, even a path less traveled like Stone's.

    


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/O6CRxYaV7PQ/story01.htm

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Thursday 13 June 2013

HP revenue growth 'still possible' for fiscal 2014: CEO Whitman

DEAR ABBY: My partner of 12 years and I are well-educated, successful career men. Every few months my mom comes to visit, and we all enjoy spending time together.The last few visits were not so great. We caught Mom snooping in our bedroom and our home office. When we confronted her, she got upset and stormed out of the room in tears. I have asked her to respect our privacy, but her response is that she -- as the mother -- is the one who deserves respect.We recently had some renovations done to the house that included locks on our bedroom and office doors. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hp-revenue-growth-still-possible-fiscal-2014-ceo-131714016.html

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After an ACL tear: Research opens door to new treatments to improve recovery for athletes

June 13, 2013 ? Striking the likes of Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose, L.A. Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez, tears in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are one of the most rampant and serious knee injuries among athletes.

Now, researchers from the University of Michigan Health System have identified a new drug target that may prevent one of the most dreaded consequences of an ACL tear -- the weakening or loss of muscle tissue (muscle atrophy) that can be a career-killer in sports and ultimately develop into osteoarthritis.

A hormone called myostatin that blocks muscle growth appears to play a key role in causing muscle damage after ACL tears, according to a study that appears in the American Journal of Sports Medicine. The findings pave the way for potential treatment preventing muscle loss after an ACL tear and consequent knee replacement, which affects more than 250,000 people a year in the U.S.

"We've had several advances in technology to improve the recovery process for an ACL tear, but most patients still experience 30-40 percent muscle weakness -- and that weakness largely limits the ability to return to the same level of sports," says lead author and athletic trainer Christopher L. Mendias, Ph.D., A.T.C, assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Molecular & Integrative Physiology at the U-M Medical School.

"This is the first study in humans to open the door to a potential therapy to prevent muscle atrophy. We see this as an important step in restoring athletic and functional abilities in the short term, and in preventing osteoarthritis in the long term."

Often dubbed an athlete's worst nightmare, ACL tears usually require surgical repairs and months of intense rehabilitation that force long breaks from playing any sports.

Myostatin has shown promise as a potential drug target for treating other conditions such as muscular dystrophy and cancer, and blocking the protein has led to increased muscle mass and strength.

"In the sports world, there's great concern about the short-term and long-term affect of an ACL tear on not only an athlete's physical skills and ability to return to play, but also the longevity and health of the knee joint," says senior author Asheesh Bedi, M.D., assistant professor in orthopedic surgery.

"This is the first study to look into the biology of muscle tissue involved in an ACL tear and to show how Myostatin affects the muscle damage we see following surgery. We need further studies to examine how these findings may aid in better recoveries following a common and often detrimental type of knee injury for athletes."

Additional authors: Evan B. Lynch, B.S.E.; Max E. Davis, B.A.; Elizabeth R. Sibilsky Enselman, ME.d.,A.T.C.; Julie A. Harning; Paul D. DeWolf, B.S.; Tarek A. Makki, B.S.

Funding: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases grant number AR058920.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/NVvoEW_MAaM/130613104418.htm

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Active coming to AT&T June 21st for $199.99, pre-orders begin tomorrow

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active coming to AT&T June 21st for $199, preorders begin tomorrow

It appears that we were spot-on about yesterday's teaser, as AT&T has officially unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active this morning. Available in stores or online starting June 21st, you'll be able to grab one of your very own for $199.99 on a two-year commitment. As we mentioned yesterday, the "life-proof" IP67-certified handset will come in Dive Blue (pictured above) and Urban Gray; there's no mention of Flame Orange, sadly. As a recap, the Active features Android 4.2, a 1.9GHz quad-core processor, a 5-inch 1080p TFT LCD panel, microSD slot with support for up to 64GB, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage (no word on how much is user-accessible), a 2,600mAh battery and an 8MP rear camera with 2MP front-facing cam. Dimension-wise, the Active measures at 139.65 x 71.25 x 9.1mm and weighs 5.29 ounces (150g) -- not too shabby for a tough device.

While AT&T acknowledged that the device shouldn't be considered "rugged," it's still technically a durable smartphone that takes advantage of a sealed water-resistant cover which will protect the phone in up to one meter of H2O for thirty minutes, and even features a special camera setting called Aqua Mode which is designed to let you take some nifty underwater shots. If you're eager to get the sales process started as soon as possible, AT&T will be offering pre-orders of the device beginning tomorrow.

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Source: AT&T

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/13/samsung-galaxy-s4-active-att/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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NRA goes after Sen. Manchin over guns compromise

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) ? After years of showering U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin with stellar ratings and campaign endorsements, the National Rifle Association targeted the West Virginia Democrat with a TV ad launched Wednesday over his continuing push for broader gun buyer background checks.

The new ad urges viewers to phone Manchin's office and tell him "to honor his commitment to the 2nd Amendment." It alleges Manchin "is working" with President Barack Obama, who is deeply unpopular in West Virginia, and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a vocal advocate of gun control laws.

Manchin has co-sponsored a background check measure with Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa. It would apply to buyers in commercial settings such as gun shows and online but exempt non-commercial transactions such as sales between friends and relatives. It failed to advance on an April vote, but Manchin has since sought additional support for the measure while remaining open to revising its provisions to ease concerns of gun rights' backers.

Manchin, a former governor, said the NRA is not being honest about his proposal.

"Unfortunately, the NRA leadership in Washington has lost its way and is more concerned about political power than gun rights and gun safety," Manchin said in a statement. "I am the same proud gun owner and NRA member that I have always been and I believe that criminal and mental background checks are a commonsense approach to protect our neighbors and children without infringing on our 2nd Amendment rights. I think most NRA members agree with me."

The NRA plans to spend $100,000 airing it in West Virginia markets over the next two weeks, spokeswoman Jacqueline Otto said in a statement.

The killing of 20 first-graders and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., by a gunman six months ago this Friday helped spur Manchin's legislation. Representing a state where gun ownership and hunting are long-held traditions, Manchin has said he believes he can credibly provide reasonable proposals to the resulting debate.

The NRA ad contrasts Manchin's proposal with a TV spot from his 2010 Senate campaign. Called "Dead Aim," it shows Manchin loading a rifle as he touts his NRA backing and support of the Second Amendment. He then shoots at a target showing environmental legislation sought by the Obama administration. Manchin won that special election to complete the term of the late Robert C. Byrd and was elected to a full six-year term in 2012.

___

Follow Lawrence Messina at http://twitter.com/lmessina

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nra-goes-sen-manchin-over-guns-compromise-003751151.html

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Scan predicts whether therapy or meds will best lift depression

June 12, 2013 ? Pre-treatment scans of brain activity predicted whether depressed patients would best achieve remission with an antidepressant medication or psychotherapy, in a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

"Our goal is to develop reliable biomarkers that match an individual patient to the treatment option most likely to be successful, while also avoiding those that will be ineffective," explained Helen Mayberg, M.D., of Emory University, Atlanta, a grantee of the NIH's National Institute of Mental Health.

Mayberg and colleagues report on their findings in JAMA Psychiatry, June 12, 2013.

"For the treatment of mental disorders, brain imaging remains primarily a research tool, yet these results demonstrate how it may be on the cusp of aiding in clinical decision-making," said NIMH Director Thomas R. Insel, M.D.

Currently, determining whether a particular patient with depression would best respond to psychotherapy or medication is based on trial and error. In the absence of any objective guidance that could predict improvement, clinicians typically try a treatment that they, or the patient, prefer for a month or two to see if it works. Consequently, only about 40 percent of patients achieve remission following initial treatment. This is costly in terms of human suffering as well as health care spending.

Mayberg's team hoped to identify a biomarker that could predict which type of treatment a patient would benefit from based on the state of his or her brain. Using a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner, they imaged pre-treatment resting brain activity in 63 depressed patients. PET pinpoints what parts of the brain are active at any given moment by tracing the destinations of a radioactively-tagged form of glucose, the sugar that fuels its metabolism.

They compared brain circuit activity of patients who achieved remission following treatment with those who did not improve.

Activity in one specific brain area emerged as a pivotal predictor of outcomes from two standard forms of depression treatment: cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or escitalopram, a serotonin specific reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. If a patient's pre-treatment resting brain activity was low in the front part of an area called the insula, on the right side of the brain, it signaled a significantly higher likelihood of remission with CBT and a poor response to escitalopram. Conversely, hyperactivity in the insula predicted remission with escitalopram and a poor response to CBT.

Among several sites of brain activity related to outcome, activity in the anterior insula best predicted response and non-response to both treatments. The anterior insula is known to be important in regulating emotional states, self-awareness, decision-making and other thinking tasks. Changes in insula activity have been observed in studies of various depression treatments, including medication, mindfulness training, vagal nerve stimulation and deep brain stimulation.

"If these findings are confirmed in follow-up replication studies, scans of anterior insula activity could become clinically useful to guide more effective initial treatment decisions, offering a first step towards personalized medicine measures in the treatment of major depression" said Mayberg.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/mind_brain/depression/~3/3AO1p4bTUIA/130612162358.htm

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Couponcode ? $10 Off from Equestrian Collections | Coupon Codes ...

Couponcode ? $10 Off from Equestrian Collections | Coupon Codes and Offers

Equestrian Collections Coupon Code ? $10 Off

Related posts from the Sports and Recreation category

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Source: http://couponcodesoffers.com/couponcode-10-off-from-equestrian-collections-4/2013/06/12/

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Monday 10 June 2013

Did You Know These Celebrities Have A Twin?

Did You Know These Celebrities Have A Twin?

Linda Hamilton and sister Leslie picsWe’ve all heard of celebrity twins such as Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, Joel and Benji Madden, and Tia and Tamera Mowry. But did you know that supermodel Gisele Bundchen has a twin, as does Ashton Kutcher? Check out the surprising stars with twin siblings you may have never heard about! Gisele and Patricia Bundchen Supermodel ...

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Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/06/did-you-know-this-celebrity-has-a-twin/

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Rain causing problems at Merion

Spectators make their way down a muddy path during practice for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Merion Golf Club, Monday, June 10, 2013, in Ardmore, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Spectators make their way down a muddy path during practice for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Merion Golf Club, Monday, June 10, 2013, in Ardmore, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Spectators make their way down a muddy path during practice for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Merion Golf Club, Monday, June 10, 2013, in Ardmore, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

A course worker clears water from the 16th fairway during practice for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Merion Golf Club, Monday, June 10, 2013, in Ardmore, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Golf fans walk along the 16th fairway as rain falls at Merion Country Club, in Ardmore, Pa., early Monday, June 10, 2013. The 2013 U.S. Open championship will be played at Merion, June 13-16. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar)

Golf fans walk down the 16th fairway as rain falls at Merion Country Club, in Ardmore, Pa., Monday, June 10, 2013. The 2013 U.S. Open championship will be played here June 13-16. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar)

(AP) ? The most popular equipment Merion was not a golf club but a squeegee.

More heavy rain at the U.S. Open flooded a bunker by the 11th green and filled fairways with large puddles and tiny stream. The course was closed for four hours during the first full day of practice, and then shut down for good later in the afternoon.

Brandt Jobe played three holes when he heard a horn to stop play. Jim Herman managed to play one hole. Practice rounds are important because only a dozen or so players have ever seen this 100-year-old course, which has not hosted a U.S. Open in 32 years.

Workers were busy running squeegees across the greens and fairways during the afternoon before another downpour arrived.

"After the rain this morning, it's going to be very sloppy now," Ernie Els said. "You're not going to see a firm U.S. Open this year, I'm sorry. I don't care if they get helicopters flying over the fairways, it's not going to dry up. We're going to have a soft golf course this week ? all week."

The forecast was for mostly dry conditions Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a 40 percent chance of rain on Thursday for the opening round.

Merion received more than 3 inches of rain on Friday, and Monday's downpours ? three of them ? didn't help. The low point on the East course is the 11th hole, and a bunker was filled with water from an overflowing stream.

Course superintendent Matt Shaffer said the base sand was left alone. Workers removed the silt and put about three tons of new sand in the bunker, tamped it down and "we were ready to go."

For now, officials were hopeful.

Shaffer said Merion has had two big rains, and both times 11th green has stayed above water. And while there were tiny streams running through fairways and large pools of water on sections of the greens, the water appeared to drain quickly.

"This golf course is not built on sand, so it's got the heavier soils," USGA executive director Mike Davis said. "But it is maybe the best draining golf course I have ever seen. If you walk this course, you know there's hardly any flat lies at Merion."

Merion is 6,996 yards on the scorecard, the shortest U.S. Open course since Shinnecock Hills in 2004. The rough is thicker than usual compared with most recent U.S. Opens, though soft greens are a recipe for low scoring no matter the golf course.

Congressional was softened significantly by rain, and Rory McIlroy shattered the scoring record at 16-under 268 for an eight-shot win. As for the week, it rained so much at Bethpage Black in 2002 that the tournament barely finished 72 holes on Monday, with Lucas Glover winning.

Els mentioned the firm fairways because that's what can make Merion tricky. Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy were among those who came to Merion early, and they all spoke about the experience necessary to find the right angle off the tee to keep the ball in the fairway. Geoff Ogilvy played Sunday for the first time and mentioned the best driver would fare well ? but not necessarily the straightest driver.

With soft fairways, it becomes more of a target.

"Obviously with it being a little soft, it becomes a little more simple than what it was," Scott said. "The ball is just going to stop where it lands."

Davis said the USGA would try to move the hole locations to some of the higher spots on the greens to avoid standing water if it rains on Thursday. As for the fairways, even with standing water, the U.S. Open could be played as long as players could move the ball to a dry spot that didn't add significant distance to their shots.

The next two days could be crucial.

"We just need a little bit of sunshine," Shaffer said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-06-10-GLF-US-Open-Rain/id-960696d718d8446b8a57f3e980b4e04a

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Senate Candidate @CoryBooker: What We Know And What We Need To Know

Cory_Booker_TwitterDemocratic celebrity Newark Mayor Cory Booker just announced his candidacy for Senate, to be decided in a special election on October 16 to replace the late Senator Frank Lautenberg. We named him one of our Most Innovative People in Democracy?because there's a lot to like: he has pioneered constituent responsiveness through Twitter, he's a startup founder, he rescues people from burning buildings, and he's one of the most gifted political orators of our time.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/QvpckyAQA8U/

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APNewsBreak: Pallone says he's in NJ Senate race

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) ? U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone said Sunday that he's officially in the race to fill the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Frank Lautenberg and can win the Democratic primary against better-known Newark Mayor Cory Booker by running on his progressive congressional record.

Pallone planned to hold a news conference Monday announcing his intentions. He spoke exclusively to The Associated Press on Sunday night.

"At the end of the day, we're all going to run on our records," said Pallone, who has been in Congress since 1989. "I believe my record of 25 years in Congress and the legislation that I've sponsored and the initiatives I've worked on show I'm the best person to get the job done."

Meanwhile, South Jersey political leader George Norcross III put his considerable influence behind Booker Sunday night.

"I think he's a winner," Norcross told The AP. "He represents a new type of Democrat ? fiscally conservative, socially progressive." Norcross and Booker both support the end of lifetime teacher tenure, expansion of charter schools and other urban school reforms.

Pallone, 61, who had banked $3.7 million for a future campaign as of the end of March, said his progressive record on issues such as the Affordable Care Act, mass transportation funding and Superfund cleanups more closely mirrors Lautenberg's positions than his opponents. He and Lautenberg frequently worked together on legislation, with Lautenberg sponsoring a bill in the Senate and Pallone sponsoring it in the House.

He is the third well-funded Democrat seeking to carry on Lautenberg's liberal legacy in a state that has not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate in more than 40 years. Booker, 44, a rising star in the Democratic Party with Hollywood friends like Oprah Winfrey and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, formally declared his candidacy on Saturday. The understated Rep. Rush Holt, 64, a former research physicist, also announced his intention to compete for the seat.

Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver told fellow Democrats at a meeting Sunday night she was planning to run. Her boss, Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo, was in Booker's cheering section at his campaign kickoff in Newark.

Lautenberg, 89, died June 3, setting off a scramble for the seat. A reliably liberal vote, Lautenberg had not planned to seek another six-year term because of failing health and was due to retire in January 2015.

Republican Gov. Chris Christie appointed state Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa to the Senate temporarily and called special primary for Aug. 13 and general election for mid-October for the remainder of the term. Another election will be held in November 2014 for a full six-year term.

The quick election schedule gave candidates only until Monday to enter the race. The only Republican who has announced so far is Steve Lonegan, the 57-year-old conservative former mayor of Bogota who has twice run in his party's gubernatorial primaries.

Pallone begins the race with support from teachers and public-sector and trade unions. He also likely has early organizational support from three of the state's 21 counties, which could be a considerable asset in an accelerated race.

"My hallmark has always been grassroots ? getting out, meeting the people, explaining to the people what my record is and how I'm going to solve problems," Pallone said. "A lot of this will be grassroots."

Holt also has a record of support for environmental initiatives and rail and transit security funding.

The congressman was courted as a late-season addition to the U.S. Senate ballot in 2002 after Sen. Robert Torricelli abruptly dropped out of the race five weeks before the election. Ultimately, Lautenberg came out of retirement to take that spot.

There was scuttlebutt that Pallone was interested in running for governor in 2005, but he was one of the first to publicly endorse U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine for the seat when Corzine announced he was running.

When Corzine became governor, he sought to be appointed to his vacant Senate seat. But Corzine chose Rep. Robert Menendez, and Pallone decided against challenging him in a primary.

Holt had also expressed interest in Corzine's seat.

Pallone served on the City Council in Long Branch, his hometown, and on the state Senate before he ran for Congress in 1988.

He is associated with liberal causes. He has trumpeted his role in helping pass President Barack Obama's 2010 health care overhaul bill, has pushed for beach restoration and has advocated coastal environmental protections. Pallone has also had strong labor support dating to the 1990s when he bucked lobbying from then-President Bill Clinton and voted against the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The labor support helped him defeat tea party candidate Anna Little, who challenged him in 2010 and again last year.

___

Associated Press writer Geoff Mulvihill contributed to this report from Haddonfield.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/apnewsbreak-pallone-says-hes-nj-senate-race-030113405.html

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Sunday 9 June 2013

Mets' Harvey leaves with tightness in lower back

NEW YORK (AP) ? Matt Harvey has left his start against Miami after seven innings with tightness in his lower back.

The New York Mets sensation singled in the seventh Saturday and appeared to run somewhat gingerly to second base on an inning-ending groundout. He warmed up for the eighth, but then there was a mass meeting on the mound that included a trainer, manager Terry Collins and the entire Mets infield.

Harvey finally gave up the ball ? reluctantly, it appeared ? and walked to the dugout. Brandon Lyon was given all the time he needed to warm up.

It was the eighth no-decision in the last nine starts for Harvey, who remains 5-0. He gave up one run and six hits, striking out six and walking none.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mets-harvey-leaves-tightness-lower-back-200135469.html

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Latino 'Class Couple' In Brooklyn Says They Were First Same-Sex Couple To Win (PHOTO)

All is fair in love and war -- and this just may be both.

After Brad Taylor and Dylan Meehan became viral sensations for becoming the first in their high school to win ?Cutest Couple,? another Brooklyn couple wants everyone to know they were first.

Five years ago, Jose Santiago and Osvaldo ?Ozzy? Soto were named ?class couple? at James Madison High School in 2008, according to the New York Daily News. When the Latino couple?s classmates saw Taylor and Meehan?s photo they urged Santiago and Osvaldo to come forth with their own story.

?When your article came out a bunch of our old high school friends contacted us on Facebook and said, no way, you guys were the first!? Santiago told the Daily News.

The two began dating in 2006 and currently live together in Brooklyn. When they look back on the day they received the award they remember laughing at the trophies they were given.

?They had a boy and a girl on top of them,? Santiago told the New York daily. ?So, yeah, that was kind of funny.?

latino cutest couple

The couple said they hadn?t experienced any bullying for their relationship from their peers during High School, which is something else the duo share with Carmel High School?s viral ?Cutest Couple? Taylor and Meehan.

?This whole thing has been a bit surreal for us because we have been raised to believe that love is love,? Taylor and Meehan explained in an email to The Huffington Post. ?We never realized that our happiness and openness would inspire so many individuals. The support we have received from our family, friends, and even strangers has led us to believe that our affection for each other is normal ... When we started dating a year [ago], the thought of a photo of us traveling throughout the world would be a bit frightening, but now we are proud to be part of the LGBT community.?

The discussion concerning which couple was ?first? is not exactly ?war? since both made history at their own high schools, but it certainly seems like there?s plenty of love surrounding the four trailblazers.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/07/same-sex-class-couple-jose-santiago-osvaldo-soto_n_3404132.html

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Saturday 8 June 2013

Redbox opens GamingFuture site to discuss rentals for Xbox One, PS4

Redbox opens GamingFuture site to discuss rentals for Xbox One, PS4

Microsoft revealed some details of how "game licensing" works on its upcoming Xbox One console, and included the tidbit that "Loaning or renting games won't be available at launch, but we are exploring the possibilities with our partners." In response, Redbox has launched a site called GamingFuture.net, which is ostensibly a place for gamers to express what excites or concerns them about next-gen gaming. It should also help provide a base for Redbox to defend its $2 per night videogame rental business. Interestingly, Redbox and Microsoft would appear to already be close "partners", since the former launched an Xbox 360 app for its Redbox Instant service earlier this year.

There are links on the page to various reports about the Xbox One and PS4, plus a simple comment section for the public to chime in. GameTrailers reports the company messaged members of its "Text Club" service an alert about the new site, along with tweeting it from the official account. We've seen similar strategies employed during negotiations over cable channels, we'll find out more this week about what Microsoft and Sony's new hardware means for the game rental market -- and how the public responds.

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Via: NeoGAF

Source: GameTrailers, GamingFuture.net

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/08/redbox-gamingfuture-xbox-one-ps4/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Carey Mulligan May Play Hillary Clinton in Upcoming Biopic

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/06/carey-mulligan-may-play-hillary-clinton-in-upcoming-biopic/

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Friday 7 June 2013

The Boomerang Graffito (Or Bad, Bad, Luther B!)

I was standing in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art the other day, where there's a full-sized Egyptian temple, called Dendur. It's housed under a glass roof ...

And standing there, gazing at profiles of Egyptian nobles etched onto the limestone, I noticed a bunch of what we now call "tags" ? basically graffiti, carved by tourists, who back in the early 1800s made a habit of carving their names onto the places they visited. Basically, it's a "Hey, I was here!" thing. Here's the first one I saw, inside Dendur, carved by somebody named "L. Politi" in 1819. And alongside it, in smaller letters just down to the left, is "Drovetti, 1816."

Of course, when you see your first ones, you start looking for more, and because Napoleon brought an army to Egypt, thousands of young guys with bayonets and spare time visited ancient sites. That's why Egyptian artifacts are covered with graffiti. Check just below this guy's beard at Abu Simbel:

But here at the Met, looking for names, I suddenly saw something that made me stop short. "Oh," I thought. "This is very bad luck."

There, sitting right next to a carved Egyptian figure, an obviously important official ? straight in his line of sight ? was a graffito from someone named "L. Brad?" (couldn't read the rest of it) who added "of NY US." The date was 1821. The "2" doesn't look like a "2," but it is.

Think about this. A guy (I figure it was a guy) from New York, heads off to Egypt, makes his way up the Nile to an obscure little temple called Dendur. When nobody's looking (I figure, even in 1821, they didn't allow tourists to carve autographs), he does his dirty little deed and then disappears, going back, we hope, to America. His small indiscretion is a secret. It's one of those "What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas" things ? except for this unfortunate coda.

The tag that he illegally carved ...

And the wall it was carved on ...

And the walls it was attached to, and the roof and the columns ...

In fact, the whole temple, was lifted up, shipped, unpacked and placed smack in the middle of New York City in 1978, in one of the most visited institutions in the world, where tens of thousands, no, hundreds of thousands of people peer at it and discover a homeboy, "L. Brad?" advertising himself.

"L" in his wildest moments couldn't have imagined this. Nobody could. It's embarrassing, in a charming way.

So I wondered, who is this "L. Brad?"? Do we know anything about him? Well, it turns out (thank you, Egle Zygas, press officer at the Met) we do. What I learned made my smile even wider because "L. Brad?" later in life became a Somebody ? who wouldn't want it known that he'd tagged a temple.

According to a scholar named Cyril Aldred, "L. Brad?" was Luther Bradish, who served in the U.S. Army, fought in the War of 1812, became a lawyer and then became an agent ? I think the modern word for it would be spy, sent by President Monroe to Constantinople, to figure out who to talk to about all the pirates chasing American ships in the Mediterranean.

Bradish, it turns out, wasn't very good at intelligence gathering, but somewhere during his stay, he slipped down to Egypt and visited Dendur and carved his name into the limestone. Why a secret agent would do that, I don't know.

But the important thing is, when he returned to New York, Luther Bradish became very, very respectable. He was elected to the New York State Assembly, became its speaker, then became lieutenant governor of New York, ran for governor, lost and spent the later part of his life as ? consider the irony here ? president of the Historical Society of New York ? an organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of old things.

Luther Bradish was buried in Brooklyn, in Greenwood Cemetery. The marker, of course, makes no reference to his travels to Egypt, but I have, at no one's invitation, thought up a a few appropriate lines:

Naughty, Naughty Luther B

Wrote his name illegally.

Wrote It on a Temple Wall,

Then fled the scene that bears his scrawl

But rather than say, Bye, Shalom,

The Wall then followed Luther home

?????????????????????????????????????????-

No doubt some of you know Temple Tagging is still practiced by modern tourists, most recently by a 15-year-old middle school student from Nanjing, China. Ding Jinhao was in Egypt with his parents, and when nobody was looking he scratched "Ding Jinhao was here" onto a 3,500-year-old temple carving at the Temple of Luxor. Another Chinese tourist, Shen Yuwen, noticed and took this picture.

China Stringer Network/Reuters /Landov

China Stringer Network/Reuters /Landov

Last week this photo very quickly went viral. Ding Jinhao was identified online. Thousands of people called him a national disgrace; some sent death threats. Ding's mother told a local paper, "We want to apologize to the Egyptian people and to the people who have paid attention to this case across China." She then added that her son "cried all night." He was so ashamed.

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2013/06/05/188968426/the-boomerang-graffito-or-bad-bad-luther-b?ft=1&f=1007

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Most youth football player concussions occur during games, not practice

June 6, 2013 ? Sports-related concussion has been referred to as an "epidemic" by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Emergency department visits for concussions have increased 62% between 2001 and 2009. Despite the lack of data regarding the rates of concussions in youth football (children aged 8-12 years), concerns have been raised about the sport being dangerous for this age group. In a new study scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics, researchers analyzed the incidence rates of concussion in youth football players in this age group and found a significantly higher incidence during games compared to practice sessions.

Anthony P. Kontos, PhD, and colleagues from the University of Pittsburgh and Cornell University studied 468 participants, 8-12 years of age, from 4 youth tackle football leagues, consisting of 18 teams. Player exposures were recorded for both games and practices. There were 11,338 total player exposures during the study period, with 20 medically-diagnosed concussions involving 20 different participants; 2 concussions occurred during practice and 18 occurred during games. Players aged 11-12 years were almost 3 times more likely to have a concussion than players aged 8-10 years. The majority of concussions involved helmet-to-helmet contact, and 95% involved players in skilled positions (e.g., running back, quarterback, linebacker). The incidence rate during games was approximately 2 times higher than previously reported, whereas the practice rate was comparable or even lower than previous findings. Overall, players were 26 times more likely to suffer a concussion in a game than in practice.

In the US, approximately 3 million youth participate in tackle football. In light of concerns regarding concussions, Pop Warner, the largest organized league with 425,000 participants, recently limited contact practice time to reduce concussions. However, contact practice time is when proper tackling technique can be taught and reinforced in a controlled environment. According to Dr. Kontos, "Limiting contact practice in youth football may not only have little effect on reducing concussions, but may instead actually increase the incidence of concussions in games via reduced time learning proper tackling in practice." A better approach to reducing concussions in youth football may be to focus on awareness and education among youth football administrators, coaches, parents, and players.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Elsevier Health Sciences.

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Journal Reference:

  1. Anthony P. Kontos et al. Incidence of Sport-Related Concussion among Youth Football Players Aged 8-12 Years. The Journal of Pediatrics, 2013 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.04.011

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/living_well/~3/3Eef4qVrzuU/130606101722.htm

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IRS official apologizes for lavish CA conference

WASHINGTON (AP) ? An Internal Revenue Service official whose division staged a lavish $4.1 million training conference and who starred as Mr. Spock in a "Star Trek" parody shown at the 2010 California gathering conceded to Congress on Thursday that taxpayer dollars were wasted in the episode.

"We're now in a very different environment" with new IRS spending curbs, Faris Fink, who was a top deputy in the agency's small business division at the time, told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Fink, who now heads that 24,000-employee division, said he believes many of the expenditures "should have been more closely scrutinized or not incurred at all and were not the best use of taxpayer dollars."

The mea culpa by Fink was echoed by new acting IRS chief Danny Werfel as the embattled agency struggled to contain public and congressional ire over its targeting of conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status and its spending of $49 million on 225 employee conferences over the past three years.

Werfel called the 2010 gathering in Anaheim, Calif., "an unfortunate vestige from a prior era" and said IRS spending on travel and training has fallen 80 percent since then.

"Our work in this area is one part of a much larger effort to chart a path forward in the IRS. This is obviously a very challenging time for the agency," Werfel said.

Werfel, who testified after Fink had left the committee room, became acting commissioner last month after President Barack Obama forced Steven Miller out of the job.

Werfel appeared a day after putting two IRS officials on administrative leave for accepting free food at a party in a private suite at the Anaheim conference.

Fink insisted that his agency followed federal guidelines in planning the gathering for 2,600 IRS workers in Anaheim. He said the conference was justified because at the time, around 30 percent of its managers were new and the agency was facing increased security threats.

Sitting at the same witness table was J. Russell George, the Treasury inspector general whose scathing reports on the IRS' targeting of conservatives and conference spending have rocked the agency. George said he uncovered no criminal violations involving the conference.

Those comments didn't shield Fink from a three-hour tongue-lashing from the panel.

Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., called the spending for the California conference "at best maliciously self-indulgent."

Top panel Democrat Elijah Cummings of Maryland said he viewed the "Star Trek" video at 3 a.m. Thursday and said, "I tried to get to the redeeming value. Can't get there." And Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., called the video "an insult to the memory of 'Star Trek.'"

Fink sat stoically as TV screens in the hearing room showed excerpts of that nearly six-minute video, in which he and other IRS employees wore "Star Trek" uniforms on a set resembling the bridge of the series' Starship Enterprise and Fink sported pointy ears and a black wig.

"It's embarrassing and I apologize," he told the lawmakers. He called the video "a well-intentioned way to use humor to open the conference."

George's report concluded that rather than saving money by negotiating lower room rates with the three Anaheim hotels, the IRS paid a standard government rate of $135 per room but accepted perks in return.

Asked why the IRS didn't negotiate for lower room rates, Fink said, "I was not aware we had the ability to do that."

The perks included some tickets to Los Angeles Angels baseball games and free upgrades for some executives to fancy suites that normally cost up to $3,500 per night and included wet bars and billiard tables. The report said 132 IRS employees got room upgrades.

The report found the IRS used two private event planners whose commissions were based on the hotel bills and therefore had no incentive to save money; spent $50,000 on the "Star Trek" video and another showing IRS employees line dancing; and paid $135,000 to 15 outside speakers.

It also spent $35,800 for IRS workers to make three planning trips to the conference site; paid $30,000 for 45 IRS workers in local offices to stay in hotels and collect per diem expenses from the government; and spent more than $64,000 for gifts including bags and journals with the conference logo.

The conference included two dozen workshops, including one led by IRS officials entitled, "Political Savvy: How Not to Shoot Yourself in the Foot."

Fink left the hearing with companions and ignored reporters' questions as the group walked briskly away from the hearing room.

Meanwhile, Werfel said he would encourage another IRS official, Lois Lerner, to appear before the Oversight committee as it investigates the agency's screening for conservative groups from 2010 to 2012.

Lerner, who has headed the IRS unit that targeted tea party and other conservative groups seeking tax exemptions for close scrutiny, cited her constitutional right against self-incrimination when she declined to answer questions from the committee last month, though she also proclaimed her innocence. A day later, she was placed on paid administrative leave.

After being repeatedly pressed by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Werfel said, "I encourage anyone, including Miss Lerner, to come in front of this committee, to cooperate with the Justice Department, to cooperate with the inspector general."

The IRS was screening the groups' applications because agents were trying to determine their level of political activity. IRS regulations say tax-exempt social welfare organizations can engage in some political activity but the activity cannot be their primary mission. It is up to the IRS to make that determination.

___

Follow Stephen Ohlemacher on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stephenatap

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/irs-official-apologizes-lavish-ca-conference-204824516.html

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