95% The Sessions

All Critics (146) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (138) | Rotten (8)

Achieves its sunny disposition by pulling punches.

A funny, tender and mostly unsentimentalized movie about physical and emotional triumph.

Forced to do all his acting with his face, Hawkes displays the kind of camera-arresting capability that has earned others Oscar nominations.

This is a crowd-pleaser of the finest sort.

Using only his tilted head, his eyes, nose, and mouth and that quizzical voice, Hawkes brings O'Brien to life.

Deeply moving. The Oscar-worthy (John) Hawkes invests his character with a sense of grace and humor that nullifies any potential pity. This is a great movie for adults and even for older adolescents.

It is rare to watch a movie where sex is treated with maturity, religion is treated with respect and characters are so heart-warmingly written and portrayed.

Raw, unrestrained and sympathetic without giving in to melodrama, 'The Sessions' is about a man facing a physical challenge who decides he wants to become intimate with a woman.

An intelligent, funny, insightful film that offers a frank examination of sex. It's not prurient or titillating, just truthful.

A remarkable actor, John Hawkes, gives a remarkable performance as a remarkable character.

Surprisingly funny and touching.

Presents the sensitive O'Brien as a brave, funny, unselfish and unlikely romantic-fantasy dream hero for disappointed, weary or jaded older female moviegoers.

The uplifting struggle for living a life of dignity for paralyzed from the neck down polio victim Mark O'Brien.

The sex scenes are frank and explicit, but never cheap and exploitative. (Yes, they get naked. Grow up.) The nudity isn't airbrushed pin-up perfection, but raw and real - and all the more lovely and moving because of it.

Taking the good with the bad, this isn't a terrible movie, though it is being rather overhyped. I found myself laughing a lot and enjoying the transformations the actors go through, but an unengaging story only serves to drag it down.

A film, inspired by the life of the late poet-journalist Mark O'Brien, that celebrates the relationship between physical and emotional intimacy.

Not just another weepy drama of overcoming odds, a My Left Foot with a different appendage. The Sessions is often brazenly funny, not from shocking dialogue but characters reacting the way people do, especially with such a flustering subject as sex.

an unusually frank and frequently humorous meditation on the transformative power of connection

Take away the nudity and the frank sex talk and you'd pretty much be left with a high-minded TV movie -- with unusually good actors.

Hunt's tangible disregard for false modesty does justice to the misunderstood surrogacy profession, while Hawkes' committed yet matter-of-fact portrayal of O'Brien masterfully avoids theatricality or sappy heartstring tugging.

Lewin has never had talent like Hawkes, Hunt, and Macy as his instruments before, and he makes the best of them.

Popular sex therapist Dr. Ruth once said that sexual surrogates are "illegal." The Sessions makes them mainstream.

An adult film that approaches the serious subject of sex with refreshingly explicit honesty.

The honest performances and assured direction makes The Sessions an extremely accomplished film that celebrates sexuality.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_sessions/

national weather service kristen stewart Christian Bale Sherman Hemsley Olympics Opening Ceremony abc paris jackson

Pet Facts 101: Saltwater Pets

by Kiara on November 30, 2012

Saltwater pets come in different varieties. They can be fish, corals, invertebrates or plants. Saltwater pets are a great view in your aquarium with their beautiful bright colors! There are a variety of saltwater fish available for sale such as Clownfish, Angel Fish, and Pufferfish. Many people may think that caring for a saltwater fish is more difficult than a freshwater fish, but that?s actually not the case. Because saltwater fish are more sensitive to changes in their environment, this is the reason why taking care of them is so important. There are many basic components to taking care of your saltwater pet to make sure they live in a healthy, and happy home!

For first time owners of saltwater pets, it?s best to go bigger with your aquarium to better control their environment and saltwater fish like long, wide tanks. Other ways to keep your saltwater animals alive and healthy is to keep the aquarium decorated with beautiful displays not just so your pet can lounge in them, but also so they all get them to enjoy happy healthy lives with you. ?Having a saltwater pet can be a beautiful addition to your home, and also a unique conversation starter with guests at your house! Visit Pet Mountain for great deals on d?cor for your aquarium! ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Related posts:

1. Pet Facts 101: Exotic Pets
2. Pet Facts 101: Spoiled Pets
3. Pet Facts 101: Worst Classroom Pets

Tagged as: angelfish, aquarium, clownfish, coral, fish, invertebrates, Online Pet Deals, Pet, pet care, pet facts, pet facts 101, Pet Fun, pets, plants, pufferfish, saltwater, saltwater pets, satlwater pet care

Source: http://www.mypetsavings.com/2012/11/pet-facts-101-saltwater-pets.html

navy jet crash virginia beach crash stephen hawking marion barry virginia beach jet crash ridiculously photogenic guy amanda bynes dui

Young surgeons face special concerns with operating room distractions

Public release date: 29-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Robin Feuerbacher
robin.feuerbacher@osucascades.edu
541-322-3181
Oregon State University

CORVALLIS, Ore. A study has found that young, less-experienced surgeons made major surgical mistakes almost half the time during a "simulated" gall bladder removal when they were distracted by noises, questions, conversation or other commotion in the operating room.

In this analysis, eight out of 18, or 44 percent of surgical residents made serious errors, particularly when they were being tested in the afternoon. By comparison, only one surgeon made a mistake when there were no distractions.

Exercises such as this in what scientists call "human factors engineering" show not just that humans are fallible we already know that - but work to identify why they make mistakes, what approaches or systems can contribute to the errors, and hopefully find ways to improve performance.

The analysis is especially important when the major mistake can be fatal.

This study, published in Archives of Surgery, was done by researchers from Oregon State University and the Oregon Health and Science University, in the first collaboration between their respective industrial engineering and general surgery faculty.

"This research clearly shows that at least with younger surgeons, distractions in the operating room can hurt you," said Robin Feuerbacher, an assistant professor in Energy Systems Engineering at OSU-Cascades and lead author on the study. "The problem appears significant, but it may be that we can develop better ways to address the concern and help train surgeons how to deal with distractions."

The findings do not necessarily apply to older surgeons, Feuerbacher said, and human factors research suggests that more experienced people can better perform tasks despite interruptions. But if surgery is similar to other fields of human performance, he said, older and more experienced surgeons are probably not immune to distractions and interruptions, especially under conditions of high workload or fatigue. Some of those issues will be analyzed in continued research, he said.

This study was done with second-, third- and research-year surgical residents, who are still working to perfect their surgical skills. Months were spent observing real operating room conditions so that the nature of interruptions would be realistic, although in this study the distractions were a little more frequent than usually found.

Based on these real-life scenarios, the researchers used a virtual reality simulator of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy removing a gall bladder with minimally invasive instruments and techniques. It's not easy, and takes significant skill and concentration.

While the young surgeons, ages 27 to 35, were trying to perform this delicate task, a cell phone would ring, followed later by a metal tray clanging to the floor. Questions would be posed about problems developing with a previous surgical patient a necessary conversation and someone off to the side would decide this was a great time to talk about politics, a not-so-necessary, but fairly realistic distraction.

When all this happened, the results weren't good. Major errors, defined as things like damage to internal organs, ducts and arteries, some of which could lead to fatality, happened with regularity.

Interrupting questions caused the most problems, followed by sidebar conversations. And for some reason, participants facing disruptions did much worse in the afternoons, even though conventional fatigue did not appear to be an issue.

"We've presented these findings at a surgical conference and many experienced surgeons didn't seem too surprised by the results," Feuerbacher said. "It appears working through interruptions is something you learn how to deal with, and in the beginning you might not deal with them very well."

###

Editor's Notes: A digital image of a young surgeon performing this simulated surgery is available online: http://bit.ly/QqrXOX

A PDF copy of the journal publication in Archives in Surgery, on which this story is based, is available by contacting Christine Coffin, at 541-322-3152 or Christine.coffin@osucascades.edu

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Public release date: 29-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Robin Feuerbacher
robin.feuerbacher@osucascades.edu
541-322-3181
Oregon State University

CORVALLIS, Ore. A study has found that young, less-experienced surgeons made major surgical mistakes almost half the time during a "simulated" gall bladder removal when they were distracted by noises, questions, conversation or other commotion in the operating room.

In this analysis, eight out of 18, or 44 percent of surgical residents made serious errors, particularly when they were being tested in the afternoon. By comparison, only one surgeon made a mistake when there were no distractions.

Exercises such as this in what scientists call "human factors engineering" show not just that humans are fallible we already know that - but work to identify why they make mistakes, what approaches or systems can contribute to the errors, and hopefully find ways to improve performance.

The analysis is especially important when the major mistake can be fatal.

This study, published in Archives of Surgery, was done by researchers from Oregon State University and the Oregon Health and Science University, in the first collaboration between their respective industrial engineering and general surgery faculty.

"This research clearly shows that at least with younger surgeons, distractions in the operating room can hurt you," said Robin Feuerbacher, an assistant professor in Energy Systems Engineering at OSU-Cascades and lead author on the study. "The problem appears significant, but it may be that we can develop better ways to address the concern and help train surgeons how to deal with distractions."

The findings do not necessarily apply to older surgeons, Feuerbacher said, and human factors research suggests that more experienced people can better perform tasks despite interruptions. But if surgery is similar to other fields of human performance, he said, older and more experienced surgeons are probably not immune to distractions and interruptions, especially under conditions of high workload or fatigue. Some of those issues will be analyzed in continued research, he said.

This study was done with second-, third- and research-year surgical residents, who are still working to perfect their surgical skills. Months were spent observing real operating room conditions so that the nature of interruptions would be realistic, although in this study the distractions were a little more frequent than usually found.

Based on these real-life scenarios, the researchers used a virtual reality simulator of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy removing a gall bladder with minimally invasive instruments and techniques. It's not easy, and takes significant skill and concentration.

While the young surgeons, ages 27 to 35, were trying to perform this delicate task, a cell phone would ring, followed later by a metal tray clanging to the floor. Questions would be posed about problems developing with a previous surgical patient a necessary conversation and someone off to the side would decide this was a great time to talk about politics, a not-so-necessary, but fairly realistic distraction.

When all this happened, the results weren't good. Major errors, defined as things like damage to internal organs, ducts and arteries, some of which could lead to fatality, happened with regularity.

Interrupting questions caused the most problems, followed by sidebar conversations. And for some reason, participants facing disruptions did much worse in the afternoons, even though conventional fatigue did not appear to be an issue.

"We've presented these findings at a surgical conference and many experienced surgeons didn't seem too surprised by the results," Feuerbacher said. "It appears working through interruptions is something you learn how to deal with, and in the beginning you might not deal with them very well."

###

Editor's Notes: A digital image of a young surgeon performing this simulated surgery is available online: http://bit.ly/QqrXOX

A PDF copy of the journal publication in Archives in Surgery, on which this story is based, is available by contacting Christine Coffin, at 541-322-3152 or Christine.coffin@osucascades.edu

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/osu-ysf112912.php

dont trust the b in apartment 23 johnny damon kirk cameron news 10 hillary rosen j.k. rowling j.k. rowling

FounderFuel Offers Up Silicon Valley Office Space And Cross-Pollination Opportunities For Canadian Startups

Montreal-based FounderFuel, one of Canada's leading startup accelerator programs, announced a new plan this week to provide access to free work space at Rocketspace or Plug Snd Play in SF and Silicon Valley for three teams for each of its cohorts for three months. The deal applies retroactively, too, meaning 9 graduated teams get a chance to go south for additional connections.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/ymPEN3FpGKY/

chris hansen ehlers danlos syndrome the closer michael turner thursday night football powerball

With Some Geeky Tweaking, China's Web Users Can Easily Leap ...

While it?s worth remembering that most Chinese web users don?t bother to circumvent the Great Firewall internet restrictions (as folks have ample homegrown social and entertainment services), the WSJ reckons that more people than ever are actually leaping the wall to check out YouTube or Twitter thanks to some fairly simple geeky tweaking.

All it takes is for the ?hosts? file inside a Windows or Mac computer ? or an Android phone ? to be modified with a list of alternative IP addresses for a blocked site you might want to access. This can be done for free. Increasingly, more and more tech-savvy Chinese web users are helping out by maintaining updated lists of which hosts tweaks still work, and then making these lists available online. Right now, these can be found all over the web in Chinese, even on Baidu?s Wenku e-books platform, as pictured here:

Crowdsourced lists of ?host? file tweaks help Chinese web users access blocked sites such as YouTube. Click to enlarge.

One such individual helping his fellow netizens leap the Great Firewall is Felix Hsu, whom the WSJ talked to. He says, ?Lots of netizens are eager to get to know what?s happening behind the wall, but it?s not easy for them.? Felix helps run a site (sadly, no link is given) that collates these workarounds. He explains that the free service they?re providing (which was started in October 2011) saw a massive spike in traffic recently as China?s leadership changeover was met with deliberate throttling and slowing of many Chinese internet services. For one 24-hour period at the start of this month, every single Google service was blocked in China ? before some of them (obviously not the long-blocked ones like G+ or YouTube) became accessible again.

I get the feeling that most Chinese people who do this are only interested in finding fun things that most of do to pass the time on the web, such as watching kitten videos on YouTube. Nonetheless, Chinese authorities keep a close eye on overseas sites and often block those that are deemed to be carrying news that?s too controversial. That?s why the New York Times is the latest high-profile site to be blocked in the country.

[Source: WSJ China Real Time blog]

Report an error

About Steven Millward

Steven follows the shininess and brilliance of gadgets, social media and other cultural phenomena across Asia. Specialist areas of research include e-commerce, Android, smartphone adoption, and apps in general. He's currently based near Shanghai. If you have any tips or feedback, contact him via email, or on his Weibo or Twitter.

Source: http://www.techinasia.com/china-leap-great-firewall-host-file/

mickelson how to tie a tie sweet potato recipes the sound of music celebration church new york auto show 2012 tulsa

Dying in the Diaspora: A Case of Sikwebela Malitela is a Shame to ...

By Muyeba Muyeba

Death is something that many people have experienced in their families and communities, and will continue to experience long after many readers of this article are long gone. From time immemorial, we as a people from every race on this earth have treated death as a sacred passage from this earth to a resting place, to those who believe in the resurrection until the sound of the second trumpet and to none believers until the soul is reborn in another form of being.? In order to understand how death happens, it is important categorize death in the manner in which one meets his/her end of life.

There are two categories that I would to refer to in this article. The first one is sudden death, which occurs without notice and with very little expectation by those that love the deceased. In this category we have road accidents, asthma attack, suicide, homicide, heart attacks and strokes etc.

The second category comes after a long term illness where relatives and friends wait for a miracle to happen and in most cases the miracles that people see at the end of it all is death. During the period of illness, some people plan for their funeral services in a way such that they go to extent of purchasing and paying for funeral services to avoid leaving behind huge debt for the family. Funeral pre-planning (personal funeral planning) is a wise practice that?s becoming increasingly accepted and appreciated. People are sometimes hesitant to pre-plan a funeral because they think they?re not going to die anytime soon, or they may not like the idea of thinking about their own death and funeral. In many African cultures pre-planning for a funeral was considered a taboo but a lot has changed in recent years. There may even be some superstition that planning your own funeral will somehow bring on a hasty death. However, many people who get over their initial resistance to the idea actually find funeral planning to be a freeing experience. You?re able to make sure things are done in the way you?d like them, and you?ll know that you?re relieving your loved ones of some very burdensome future responsibilities.

You can begin the funeral planning process long before you are even close to death. If you?re ill or in the process of dying, funeral planning can be a proactive way of dealing with the inevitable. This takes place in a form of insurance. Funeral insurance is an insurance policy designed to cover any costs directly related to your funeral. The payer may stipulate what costs are to be covered or the funeral insurance policy may pay out a lump sum. Funeral costs covered may include embalming, other cosmetology, flowers, burial plot (or grave space), grave marker (or other memorial) and more.

This brings me to the discussion currently in the Zambia media over the death of Sikwebela Malitela. Dying in the Diaspora is not cheap and people should not demonize those that die in the diaspora as though they have committed a sin or a crime. Dying in the diaspora is simply dying in a foreign place away from those who mean a lot to you and who may be at hand to give a helping hand. Anyone can die at any given time and from any kind of death. In the case of Sikwebela, it was unfortunately a sudden death that caught everyone in his family by surprise. How then do we come to the aid of a departed friend who may not have had insurance to cover his death?? This is where the culture of help that is embedded in our DNA comes in. Zambians and let me say Africans at large have always been known to help each other in times of need. And funerals stand out as one area among many others where people go out of their way to extend a helping hand in form of finances support, material support, and spiritual support. We as a people cannot divorce ourselves from helping because like Mwata Kazembe XVII alluded to when he ascended to the throne, he called himself Mushindike abafwa tabayishidika, meaning escort those who die to grave because a dead person will never escort themselves to the grave. I agree sincerely with the words of the Mwata. Sikwebela needs to be escorted because no matter what happens, his body will have to be buried by someone who will escort him all the way to the grave.

It is sad to note that some political parties in Zambia want to politicize one among many other deaths that have happened outside Zambia to gain political mileage. This is an acceptable, but if they are doing it without any political motive, well and good. Political parties in whatever form they come should desist from such acts of trying to win popularity through the back door. Funerals ought to be respected and accorded the decency they deserve. Cadre mentality at funerals should be replaced with humility and respect for the deceased. Politicians who try to gain mileage at funerals should to be shown the door and leave the bereaved families and friends to mourn their loved ones in a somber and decent way.

Zambians die every month around the world and in most cases our Embassies never donate a cent towards the cost of repatriating bodies of deceased colleagues back to Zambia. The reason they give is, ?We are not funded to help with funerals.? What then ought we to do? The onus falls on families, friends and the communities in which people live to raise monies to send these bodies back home. In the Midwest of the United States, Zambians have on several occasions been involved in fundraising and arranging for funerals of departed colleagues. It gives me great pride and joy to state that Zambians living in the Midwest States have a very vibrant community system, which has on many occasions rose to the challenge of making sure that no Zambian is left behind. Sending a body from these Midwest States of Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana and Minnesota to Zambia cost a minimum of $12,000. This is no easy amount to come across or a cheap tab for anyone one to pick up given the time limits that funeral homes require of the community to come up with the said amount. Yet Zambians and the communities of Africans come together like it has always been our culture back home in Africa to ensure that the bodies of our brothers or sisters are sent to be buried among their own with respect and dignity.

Some people may argue and say we live in a modern world where everyone should have life insurance.? The answer is yes, everyone is supposed to have life insurance but not everyone has one when they die. When death strikes, it does so at the most critical time of people?s lives. Many that die in the diaspora are either students or just people chasing the dream of success and are struggling to make it from day to day. Hence they may not even have insurance that we all talk so much about. Bear in mind also the confusion that comes with the death of any individual and the arrangements which have to be made for the body to leave for the motherland. Nobody at that particular time ever thinks of the deceased?s life insurance since the paperwork takes long. What is at hand that need urgent attention is to find money to send the body home within the shortest period of time, hence the need to have an organized communication system in place that sets the engine of who we are as Africans, to help one another in time of need rolling.

To Minister Given Lubinda, I respectfully urge you to do some serious soul searching before you make those painful statements, which hurt close families. I don?t care who dies whether it is a destitute Zambian or whatever position the person held in society, death is painful and no body plans to die in the manner our brother Sikwebela died. The bottom line is he is Zambian and he deserves better. The death of Sikwebela Malitela should not be treated lightly as he was first and foremost a child of some parents who loved him dearly, secondly a Zambian and above all someone who died under mysterious circumstance. Minister Lubinda?s Ministry should have sent investigators to find the cause of his death than to speculate on reports from Embassy Officials who are not forensic experts.

What I expected from my political colleague Lubinda was to rise to the challenge and set into motion the fundraising wheels to get Sikwebela?s body back to Zambia as soon as possible. I recall 5 years ago when the then Zambia?s Ambassador to United States Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika came to the rescue of one Zambian lady who died in the Midwest (Name and State with-held). While the Embassy did not donate money as an institution, she made sure that she sent the Second Secretary to help with the paperwork to have that individual?s body shipped to Zambia in the shortest possible time. This is what is expected of Embassy and Foreign Affairs staff, to have the Zambian people at heart. Our friends from countries like Kenya even hold Funeral Harambees to help raise money for funerals and their Embassy officials are always on top of such issues.

Another example that comes to my mind happened under my watch in 1996 at Lusaka International Airport. The time was 1546 hours and we had just boarded Z9-640 to Johannesburg. There was a delegation of women from the African Methodist Church in the United States of America visiting Zambia who came late to the airport and were rushing to get on the flight onward to the United States. One of them collapsed and died at Lusaka International airport in the departure lounge. The American Embassy was contacted, and immediately they sent an official to make arrangement to have the body taken to St. Anne and three days later shipped to the USA even when the trip was not sponsored by the US government. But just because she was an American, they showed responsibility of coming to the aid of one of theirs. This is how a sympathetic and responsible government works. There is no need for Minister Lubinda to make such disparaging statements over a matter that can be handled by the Director at the European Union desk in his ministry. Can you imagine Secretary Clinton making a statement of an American dying at the Victoria Falls? Where are his diplomatic etiquette and moral obligations?

My caution to Minister Lubinda is that, as Zambians become part of the global village spread all around the world, there is need to understand that these deaths will occur on a regular basis and he should know the ramifications of neglecting his own people. I understand that the government cannot repatriate every one that dies in the diaspora but a loving sympathetic word to the family of Sikwebela from a high ranking official such as the position he holds would make a difference than adding salt to injured hearts of relatives and friends that are mourning a departed friend. When we sing our national anthem; as proud and free Zambians, we must live and walk with joy and pride where ever we are as Zambians knowing that we have a caring and loving Minister who has our interests at heart, no matter our circumstances and position we hold in society.

Let me remind fellow Zambians spread around the globe on the need to take stock of our own responsibilities of ensuring that we set aside some reserve for rainy days. People?s pockets are getting tight and not many are willing to stretch that hand of help sighting their own issues that they have to deal with such as accumulated bills. We need to start planning for our end time passage from this earth. And the answer is Insurance, Insurance Insurance.

All sentiments expressed in this article are those of the author who stands responsible to its publication. Any constructive comments on this article are welcome and should be sent to Muyeba@hotmail.com

Posted by Editor on November 28, 2012. Filed under POLITICS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Source: http://tumfweko.com/2012/11/28/dying-in-the-diaspora-a-case-of-sikwebela-malitela-is-a-shame-to-pf-govt-who-issued-a-painful-denial-statement-to-his-family/

david bradley david foster wallace pinterest attwireless taylor swift zac efron the scream stephen colbert

NASA seeks concepts for innovative uses of large space telescopes

ScienceDaily (Nov. 28, 2012) ? NASA is exploring options for innovative and imaginative uses of two large space telescopes recently transferred to the agency. In a request for information (RFI) published Monday, NASA seeks information about system concepts and architectures that would take advantage of these assets to address NASA's goals in astrophysics, heliophysics, planetary sciences, and human spaceflight.

"Because there are two telescopes, there is room for projects that span the gamut of the imagination," said Michael Moore, a senior program executive at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "They range from simple balloon flights to complex missions in science using new technologies under development and the capabilities available with the International Space Station and our commercial space flight partners."

The telescopes are equivalent to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope in aperture, but designed to have a much wider field of view. They already are being studied for possible use as a wide field infrared survey observatory, which would address the top priority recommendation in the National Research Council's 2010 Astrophysics Decadal Survey. NASA is seeking alternative goals and unique approaches in order to expand the range of concepts for use of this capable hardware.

The RFI invites interested parties to provide an outline of their concept in enough detail for a next-step assessment by NASA as it prepares for future investments in diverse areas of science and technology. Respondents who submit the most interesting concepts will be invited to present their ideas at a workshop in Huntsville, Ala., in early February 2013.

"We will give all ideas equal consideration and choose the most promising for further study," said Marc Allen, acting deputy associate administrator for research in NASA's Science Mission Directorate. "We want to tap into innovative ideas wherever we can find them in order to optimize use of these telescope assets."

For more information about the RFI, NASA goals and objectives, details on the telescopes, and other supporting information, visit: http://science.nasa.gov/salso

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by NASA.

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

---

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/space_time/nasa/~3/d_xXm1Xrgac/121128070705.htm

andy reid Sanya Richards Ross decathlon Honey Boo Boo Child marilyn monroe Nathan Adrian London 2012 Synchronized Swimming

Bodies of 11 Skinned Puppies Found Near Pennsylvania Park - Fox 4

Posted on: 7:17 pm, November 26, 2012, by Jason M. Vaughn, updated on: 07:20pm, November 26, 2012

PHILADELPHIA ? Authorities say that they are investigating after the bodies of 11 puppies were found skinned near a Pennsylvania park.

According to the Associated Press, a woman walking her dog in a park in Lower Macungie Township near Allentown on Friday found the bodies in or near a bag that had been torn open, likely by an animal.

Authorities say that DNA tests will be done to determine if the puppies are dogs or coyotes or some other kind of domestic or wild animal, while necropsies will be performed to see how the animals died.

The Lehigh County Humane Society says that they aren?t optimistic that they will be able to determine who dumped the bodies, or why they did it.

?It could have been kids or some whacked-out person who found an abandoned litter of puppies or coyotes and just thought they?d have some fun,? said Cary Moran, the county humane society?s shelter manager. ?That?s what?s so scary about not being able to (solve) these cases, and find out what happened, because you don?t know who?s out there. Because, unfortunately, animal abuse is a precursor to harming (people).?

Click here for more on this story from the Associated Press.

Source: http://fox4kc.com/2012/11/26/bodies-of-11-skinned-puppies-found-near-pennsylvania-park/

soylent green phil davis george st pierre aldon smith friday night lights nick santino bruce arians

Vitamin D linked to lower rates of tooth decay

ScienceDaily (Nov. 27, 2012) ? A new review of existing studies points toward a potential role for vitamin D in helping to prevent dental caries, or tooth decay.

The review, published in the December issue of Nutrition Reviews, encompassed 24 controlled clinical trials, spanning the 1920s to the 1980s, on approximately 3,000 children in several countries. These trials showed that vitamin D was associated with an approximately 50 percent reduction in the incidence of tooth decay.

"My main goal was to summarize the clinical trial database so that we could take a fresh look at this vitamin D question," said Dr. Philippe Hujoel of the University of Washington, who conducted the review.

While vitamin D's role in supporting bone health has not been disputed, significant disagreement has historically existed over its role in preventing caries, Hujoel noted. The American Medical Association and the U.S. National Research Council concluded around 1950 that vitamin D was beneficial in managing dental caries. The American Dental Association said otherwise -- based on the same evidence. In 1989, the National Research Council, despite new evidence supporting vitamin D's caries-fighting benefits, called the issue "unresolved."

Current reviews by the Institute of Medicine, the U.S. Department of Human Health and Service and the American Dental Association draw no conclusions on the vitamin D evidence as it relates to dental caries.

"Such inconsistent conclusions by different organizations do not make much sense from an evidence-based perspective," Hujoel said. The trials he reviewed increased vitamin D levels in children through the use of supplemental UV radiation or by supplementing the children's diet with cod-liver oil or other products containing the vitamin.

The clinical trials he reviewed were conducted in the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Austria, New Zealand and Sweden. Trials were conducted in institutional settings, schools, medical and dental practices, or hospitals. The subjects were children or young adults between the ages of 2 and 16 years, with a weighted mean age of 10 years.

Hujoel's findings come as no surprise to researchers familiar with past vitamin D studies. According to Dr. Michael Hollick, professor of medicine at the Boston University Medical Center, "the findings from the University of Washington reaffirm the importance of vitamin D for dental health." He said that "children who are vitamin D deficient have poor and delayed teeth eruption and are prone to dental caries."

The vitamin D question takes on greater importance in the light of current public health trends. Vitamin D levels in many populations are decreasing while dental caries levels in young children are increasing.

"Whether this is more than just a coincidence is open to debate," Hujoel said. "In the meantime, pregnant women or young mothers can do little harm by realizing that vitamin D is essential to their offspring's health. Vitamin D does lead to teeth and bones that are better mineralized."

Hujoel added a note of caution to his findings: "One has to be careful with the interpretation of this systematic review. The trials had weaknesses which could have biased the result, and most of the trial participants lived in an era that differs profoundly from today's environment. "

Hujoel has joint appointments as a professor in the University of Washington School of Dentistry's Department of Oral Health Sciences and as an adjunct professor of epidemiology in the UW School of Public Health. His research has concentrated on nutrition with a focus on low-carbohydrate diets, harmful effects of diagnostic radiation, and evidence-based methodology and applications.

His research has also covered sugar substitutes, the use of antibiotics in the treatment of periodontal disease, and cleft lip and cleft palate. He has also studied the link between dental disease and systemic disease, as well as trends in disease prevalence.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Washington, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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

---

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/yr3Kl6SXLuk/121127130321.htm

cnn news MBTA Cnn Live Garcinia Cambogia Little Things One Direction Bob Ross Hurricane Categories

Letters: Safeguarding Subways (1 Letter)

To the Editor:

Re ?Holding Back Floodwaters With a Balloon? (Nov. 20): Reading the article, I recognized an idea I?d seen before. United States Patent 940,323, ?Bulkhead for Tunnels and the Like,? was granted to George W. Jackson on Nov. 16, 1909. Mr. Jackson built Chicago?s freight subway and needed a way to protect it from flooding. His patent covers a portable bulkhead with ?a hollow flexible rim which is adapted to be expanded against the inner walls of the tunnel to form a watertight joint.?

Sadly, both the tunnels and Mr. Jackson?s concern with flooding were forgotten by the time of the Chicago flood of 1992. His idea can certainly be applied to modern subway tunnels as well.

Douglas W. Jones

Iowa City

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/27/science/safeguarding-subways-1-letter.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

cher morgellons nhl all star draft seal team 6 touch nitrous oxide rihanna thug life tattoo

ChannelAdvisor reports faster holiday sales growth on eBay

'Tis the season of giving, and a grocery-store owner is doing just that. Joe Lueken, who owns and manages two grocery stores in Bemidji, Minnesota, and one in Wahpeton, North Dakota, is retiring at age 70. Instead of selling his stores to the highest bidder, though, he will transfer ownership to the stores' 400 or [...]

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/channeladvisor-reports-faster-holiday-sales-growth-ebay-175200006--sector.html

Voter registration snl Election Election results 2012 exit polls Presidential Polls California Propositions

China's First Aircraft Carrier Claims Its First Victim (Sort Of)

Our frenemies across the Pacific are now a naval superpower, having successfully landed a Chinese jet on a Chinese aircraft carrier for the first time. And it's lethal—the guy in charge dropped dead in the middle of it. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/VRRmZRIfbJI/chinas-historic-aircraft-carrier-claims-its-first-victim-sort-of

leon russell meredith vieira prop 8 maria menounos proposition 8 ricky martin larry bird

Crystal Dynamics reveals more Tomb Raider details - Video Games ...

Karl Stewart, global brand director for Crystal Dynamics, took to Twitter to reveal some new details of the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot. The details are a response to the numerous fans queries about the game.

When asked about the length of the Tomb Raider reboot, Karl Stewart tweeted that the game will be 12 to 15 hours long depending on the player?s play style. He also said that Lara would have a regenerative health system, a feature found in most games today.

The combat system of the game too has been improved and will be better than Tomb Raider: Underworld. When asked is the game would have a sequel, Karl Stewart replied, ?why, of course?. Lara also has the ability to swim, but not in this reboot game.

Tomb Raider as a franchise goes way back and we would be shocked if this was the last game in the series. The franchise has seen some horrible games in its lifetime. Remember Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness? Nonetheless, the franchise has also enjoyed tremendous success from the good old days of the PS1.

Tomb Raider was one of the highlights at E3 2012 and we saw quite a few gameplay features of the game. From what we gather, the reboot of the franchise borrows elements from some of the most successful franchises to deliver a cohesive overall package. The cinematic nature of the gameplay however, is a clear inspiration from the Uncharted franchise, the popular adventure/exploration game.

Tomb Raider will hit store shelves on March 5, 2013 for the Xbox 360, PS3 and the PC.

Those of you that haven?t seen the game in action can take a look at the E3 2012 demo of the game below.

Source: Game Examiner

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Gaming/Crystal-Dynamics-reveals-more-Tomb-Raider-details_11497.html

aaliyah Empire State Building shooting Republican National Convention Karlie Redd guild wars 2 adrian gonzalez Jerry Nelson

Top Gifts for Craft and DIY Bloggers | Type-A Parent

The holidays are upon us and to tell you the truth, we craft and DIY bloggers started preparing for this weeks ago. ?In the craft and DIY world we have to start early to give our pals time to gather their supplies and get their projects done. ?Why? ?Because handmade gifts take time. ?Time and a lot of thought and preparation?oh, and supplies and tools!

Just incase you are needing a little help finding the perfect gift for the craft and DIY blogger in your life, I?ve put together a list of things that are on our list. ?I?ve talked to my friends at?The Southern Institute community and they?ve chimed in with what?s on their wish lists too. ?These are not in any particular order, by the way.

The Sony Bloggie Live HD Camera?(Pictured above): ?I?ll admit that this is at the top of my list as a craft blogger. ?More and more, craft and DIY bloggers are posting tutorial videos and this camera is perfect. ?It boasts full HD 1080p video, 12.8 megapixel stills, MP4 video format, and it?s WIFI enabled, making it a snap to upload video. ?It even has live streaming! ?Any blogger would love to find this under the tree!

The Silhouette Portrait: The Portrait is Silhouette?s newest electronic cutting tool. ?It?s like a home printer, plugging into your PC or Mac, but instead of printing it uses a small blade to cut paper, fabric, vinyl and more! ?This is the little sister to the Silhouette Cameo and comes in at a lower price point. ?It makes a great gift!

A Pick Your Plum Gift Card: ?Pick Your Plum is an online daily deals site for crafters. ?Monday through Friday they post a steal of a crafty deal, but you have to grab it before it?s gone! ?Gift cards can be bought in $10, $25, or $50 amounts. ?If the crafter in your life already knows about Pick Your Plum they will love you for this! ?If they don?t they will love you for introducing them to Pick Your Plum! ?Really any kind of gift card will be appreciated. ?Whether is Michael?s, Hobby Lobby, or Joann?s, you cannot go wrong giving a blogger money to blow on craft supplies!

Silk Screen Printing Kit: Silk Screen kits are a lot of fun and Martha Stewart makes a really nice one for someone who wants to try it out. ?I have this at home, and I?m excited to try it! ?The supplies are high quality and the projects are beautiful!

Cross Stitch iPhone Case: ?This is super fun! Again, I have this at home and have yet to make it? but I?m going to! ?Why buy a craft blogger an iPhone case? ?Because this is super awesome!! ?You get to get crafty on your iPhone and totally represent when you?re out and about! ?How cool is that?

Self Healing Cutting Mat: A self healing cutting mat is a must have for the craft and DIY blogger. ?This allows her/him to cut just about anything without risking ruining the table. ?The mat can take a licking and always looks as good as new. ?Everyone should have one of these.

Chalkboard labels and chalk pens (for organizing): Every crafty person and DIYer has a ton of supplies, and a lot of them are small. ?Organization is a must and chalkboard labels are a great way to do it. ?Buy your blogger some of these and watch a smile spread across their face.

I hope this helps you while you?re creating your shopping lists this holiday season! ?

VN:F [1.9.20_1166]

Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)

VN:F [1.9.20_1166]

About the author: Jenny Yarbrough (1 Posts)

Jenny is a wife, mother, sister, friend, writer, blogger, and encourager. The thing that warms her heart is making people feel like they are welcome. A visit to The Southern Institute will leave you feeling just that way! For lots of creative inspiration visit her at?The Southern Institute.

Source: http://typeaparent.com/top-gifts-for-craft-and-diy-bloggers.html

laurent robinson dantoni gillian anderson leah remini desean jackson kyle orton kyle orton

andyhearn70: the most recent mobile phone depicts a colourful ...

Samsung Z560: Excitement Begins Now?

By: Torie Wilson

Torie Wilson is associated with Three Cell phones UK. He holds a bachelor?s degree in electronics and communication from MiddleSex University. To understand more about contract cell phone, three mobile, three mobile network, three mobile deal, three cell phone tariff, three contract cell phone check out threemobilephones.uk

Dressed in beautiful attire, an attractive lady may take away the notice of each and every individual assembled inside a party. This is a natural phenomenon of life as the femininity is portrayed as mark of attraction, love and peace. Similarly, cell phone is personified denoting woman exposing her beauty to lure a mans counterpart. Undoubtedly, the most recent mobile phone depicts a colourful touchscreen burberry sale, sophisticated mega pixel camera, high quality stereo system and mobile Internet to download and transfer mobile contents then a spacious keypad to manipulate its functionalities mark the indicating attraction. The design and technology of the latest mobile phone are praiseworthy however the services delivered by the phones gadgets would carry higher prices as phone bills leaving consumers far behind to use mobile technology. Gradually Online Outlet Store, the system has been changing with the emergence of online cell phone shops and retailing sites in the united kingdom providing consumers flexibility in making use of cell phones as well as their services. Three Mobile Deal is a specimen and services information offered by the retailing sites to limit the telephone bills.
Three, the biggest 3G network provider in the united kingdom has brilliantly introduced communication, media and entertainment and information in a single mobile phone to make communication entertaining and informative. Additionally, it has provided various deals to downsize the phone bills. Three Mobile Deal is classed directly into Payg, Pay Monthly Cell phone ghd straighteners nz, Contract Cell phone and Twelve months Free Line Rental. The classification is based on the choice of users accessing to some kind of deal that may suit the requirements. Three mobile deal is available in Nokia, Sony ericsson smartphone, Motorola, Samsung, LG, Siemens and much more. You do require to go in in a contract with Three network for any certain time period to access to Three Mobile Deal. The accessibility to the offer means you are availed using the latest benefits of mobile media which would curtail the extra service taxes in the actual phone bills to make it affordable. The benefits of Three Mobile Deal include free text and multimedia messages, free roaming facility, free cell phone accessories moncler jackets, free late night call charges, subsidized in Internet charges lead to the decrease in downloading and transferring charges and many more.
In short, Three Mobile Deal functions as a platform for that cell phone users to learn the use of technical gadgets included in the mobile phones for effective and seamless communication. Interestingly, additionally, it makes you to learn the way to restrict your phone bills despite losing any service of mobile media.

Source: http://tessnice.techmaza.in/2012/11/24/the-most-recent-mobile-phone-depicts-a-colourful-touchscreen/

dallas mavericks washington capitals amare stoudemire tallest building in the world the pitch brandon inge freedom tower

Source: http://molinarojustin8.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/the-most-recent-mobile-phone-depicts-a-colourful-touchscreen.html

epidemiology total eclipse of the heart jionni lavalle earthquake san francisco donald payne elizabeth berkley lenny dykstra

Source: http://andyhearn70.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-most-recent-mobile-phone-depicts.html

hocus pocus hocus pocus mta schedule PECO chris christie Hurricane Sandy update weather channel

France: Sarkozy's party battles to save itself

FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2012 file photo, former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, left, and French conservative party UMP secretary general Jean-Francois Cope pose for photographers before a televised debate in Saint Denis, outside Paris. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative party is holding emergency meetings Sunday to try to figure out who?s in charge, after a disputed election for its new leader that could reshape French politics. After a decade at the helm of one of the world?s leading economies, the Union for a Popular Movement party is now in shambles and may fall apart altogether. Central to the troubles is a debate among conservatives over immigration and Islam in France. The election a week ago split party members into those leaning toward the anti-immigrant far right, represented by Jean-Francois Cope, and those hewing to more centrist views, supporting Francois Fillon. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2012 file photo, former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, left, and French conservative party UMP secretary general Jean-Francois Cope pose for photographers before a televised debate in Saint Denis, outside Paris. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative party is holding emergency meetings Sunday to try to figure out who?s in charge, after a disputed election for its new leader that could reshape French politics. After a decade at the helm of one of the world?s leading economies, the Union for a Popular Movement party is now in shambles and may fall apart altogether. Central to the troubles is a debate among conservatives over immigration and Islam in France. The election a week ago split party members into those leaning toward the anti-immigrant far right, represented by Jean-Francois Cope, and those hewing to more centrist views, supporting Francois Fillon. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

PARIS (AP) ? Parents struggle to explain it to their kids. Ambassadors struggle to explain it to their governments. The only thing that's clear is that French politics is a mess.

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative party led one of the world's biggest economies for a decade and now, in the space of a week, has melted down into something that may never be put back together again.

A mediation effort Sunday failed to reconcile the Union for a Popular Movement party or figure out who's in charge, seven days after a disputed election for a new party leader. The conflict looks headed now for the courts. The outcome could reshape France's political landscape and eventually weigh on Europe's direction too.

Central to the dispute is debate among French conservatives over immigration and Islam in the country with Western Europe's largest Muslim population. The election a week ago split party members into those leaning toward the anti-immigrant far right, represented by Jean-Francois Cope, and those hewing to more centrist views, supporting Francois Fillon.

Cope, who led France's push to ban face-covering Islamic veils and talks of anti-white racism, was initially declared winner of the Nov. 19 election.

Then uncounted votes were discovered that could swing the vote in Fillon's favor.

Accusations of fraud swirled. Insults flew. The week wore on, and the party still had no clear leader.

On Sunday, a UMP commission that handles vote disputes met, then broke up in acrimony, the Sipa news agency reported.

Hope turned to former Prime Minister Alain Juppe, who said the dispute has been "irresponsible and disastrous" and convened both candidates Sunday night to try to mediate and keep the party he founded in one piece.

After the meeting, he tweeted, "The conditions for mediation are lacking. My mission is over."

Cope said the party commission should examine the complaints and declare a winner.

Fillon, whose supporters say that commission is too Cope-friendly, said he'd go to court instead to uncover "the truth of the results and return the voice to the party members." In a statement, he said Cope rejected the mediation effort and called him responsible for the party's "failure."

Cope and Fillon want to lead opposition to Socialist President Francois Hollande ? and run for president themselves in 2017. Since Sarkozy lost elections in May in a wave of anti-austerity sentiment in May, France's presidency, parliament and most regional governments have all been under Socialist control.

The UMP fiasco has worried officials beyond France's borders as well. Sweden's ambassador, Gunnar Lund, tweeted, "I'm trying to explain to my government what's happening at the heart of the UMP. Not easy!"

In the European Union, Hollande's Socialists have pushed against public spending cuts for indebted countries that use the shared euro currency, and battled Britain over cutbacks in the EU budget.

A UMP collapse would benefit the Socialists in the short term. But some French commentators have expressed concern that the Socialists ? who long suffered their own divisions and who still lack cohesion ? need a robust opposition to focus their energies at a time when they need to be making tough decisions. Hollande's popularity is weak six months into his term, as the economy struggles and one in 10 workers is looking for a job.

Meanwhile, France's far right National Front is hoping to capitalize on the UMP's troubles and bring in new support from the more hard-right members of the conservative party. And a new centrist party, UDI, says it has already reaped benefits, winning new members over the past week amid increasing disillusion with the UMP.

All this means nostalgia for the charismatic but divisive Sarkozy is on the rise, with many conservatives hoping he returns to politics. In a sign of how low things have sunk in French politics, support for Sarkozy resurfaced even as he was named special witness in an investigation involving alleged illegal campaign cash that could see him face charges.

As the UMP's troubles dominated French media, the Europe-1 radio website published a guide Sunday for parents trying to explain it to their kids. One bit of advice: how to answer if your child asks, "Is the UMP a mafia?"

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-11-25-EU-France-Conservatives/id-f71dbbfcacfc49b69b6dc691f5e236b2

the flintstones etta james ufc on fox evans vs davis fast times at ridgemont high fast times at ridgemont high soylent green

Bangladesh garment factory fire kills at least 120

DHAKA (Reuters) - At least 120 people were burnt to death as a fire swept through a garment factory on the outskirts of Bangladesh's capital, the chief of the fire brigade said on Sunday.

The fire at the nine-story factory in the Ashulia industrial belt started on the ground floor late on Saturday and quickly spread, trapping hundreds of workers.

"This morning we have recovered 120 dead bodies and the death toll could rise," Abu Nayeem Mohammad Shahidullah, director general of the fire brigade, told reporters.

Bangladesh has around 4,500 garment factories that make clothes for brands including Tesco, Wal-Mart, JC Penney, H&M, Marks & Spencer, Kohl's and Carrefour.

(Reporting by Ruma Paul ; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bangladesh-garment-factory-fire-kills-120-042747909.html

annalynne mccord billy the kid neville neville george lucas numerology the game

Director, HCCTV Communications - HigherEdJobs

Responsibilities: Direct daily operations, including scheduling, programming, production, programming ingestion, and development activities.

Manage a creative staff of 5+ employees.

Forecast, prepare, and manage a $100,000+ budget.

Develop policies and standards for services rendered.

Conceptualize potential programming ideas and bring them to fruition.

Other duties may be assigned.

Education Requirements: Bachelor's degree required in Communications, Radio/Television, Journalism, Business Administration, Educational Administration, or a related field.

Master's degree in any of the above mentioned fields preferred.

NOTE: If you are selected for hire, an official transcript is required at that time. If you have any questions, you may contact Employment Services at (713) 718-8565.

Experience Requirements: Minimum of seven (7) years management experience required, working in a media or higher education setting, directly related to media operations or cable television management.

Demonstrated experience in current cablecast/broadcast technology, delivery systems, program distribution and FCC guidelines required.

NOTE: Part-time experience will be counted as half of full-time experience; for example, two (2) years of part-time experience will equal one (1) year of full-time experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Working knowledge and experience in running a TV station and/or television production and programming

Knowledge of the new media as related to multi-media dynamics

Ability to work in a team environment for successful outcomes

Strong leadership, organizational and motivational skills

Excellent communication skills, both oral and written

Proven problem-solving and decision-making ability

Ability to develop policies and standards for services rendered

Ability to conceptualize potential programming ideas and bring them to fruition

Demonstrated decision-making ability

Ability to utilize the computer for word processing and management information systems

Ability to work within an educational community with unique internal culture

Source: http://www.higheredjobs.com/details.cfm?JobCode=175695823

sundance film festival victoria azarenka the flintstones etta james ufc on fox evans vs davis fast times at ridgemont high

US library pulls diaries, letters from Civil War

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Letters and diaries saved for 150 years from those who lived through the Civil War offer a new glimpse at the arguments that split the nation then and some of the festering debates that survive today.

The Library of Congress, which holds the largest collection of Civil War documents, pulled 200 items from its holdings to reveal both private and public thoughts from dozens of famous and ordinary citizens who lived in the North and the South. Many are being shown for the first time.

Robert E. Lee, for one, was grappling with divided federal and state allegiances. He believed his greater allegiance was to his native Virginia, as he wrote to a friend about resigning his U.S. Army commission.

"Sympathizing with you in the troubles that are pressing so heavily upon our beloved country & entirely agreeing with you in your notions of allegiance, I have been unable to make up my mind to raise my hand against my native state, my relatives, my children & my home," he wrote in 1861. "I have therefore resigned my commission in the Army."

Lee's handwritten letter is among dozens of writings from individuals who experienced the war. They are featured in the new exhibit "The Civil War in America" at the library in Washington until June 2013. Their voices also are being heard again in a new blog created for the exhibition.

For a limited time in 2013, the extensive display will feature the original draft of President Abraham Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Proclamation and rarely shown copies of the Gettysburg Address.

Beyond the generals and famous battles, though, curators set out to tell a broader story about what Lincoln called "a people's contest."

"This is a war that trickled down into almost every home," said Civil War manuscript specialist Michelle Krowl. "Even people who may seem very far removed from the war are going to be impacted on some level. So it's a very human story."

Curators laid out a chronological journey from before the first shots were fired to the deep scars soldiers brought home in the end.

While some still debate the root causes of the war, for Benjamin Tucker Tanner in 1860, the cause was clear, as he wrote from South Carolina in his diary.

"The country seems to be bordering on a civil war all on account of slavery," wrote the future minister. "I pray God to rule and overrule all to his own glory and the good of man."

A personal letter from Mary Todd Lincoln in 1862 was recently acquired by the library and is being publicly displayed for the first time.

In the handwritten note on stationery with a black border, Mary Lincoln reveals her deep grief over the death of her son Willie months earlier. Krowl said Mary Lincoln's grief is also evident in the new movie, "Lincoln."

"When you read this letter ... you just get a palpable feeling of how in the depth that she's been and she's now finally coming out of her grief, at least to resume public affairs," Krowl said.

All the documents in the exhibit are original. They include a massive map Gen. Stonewall Jackson commissioned of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley to prepare for a major campaign.

The library also is displaying personal items from Lincoln, including the contents of his pockets on the night he was assassinated, and the pocket diary of Clara Barton who would constantly record details about soldiers she met and would later create the Bureau of Missing Soldiers.

Some of the closing words come from soldiers who lost their right arms or hands in battle and had to learn to write left-handed. They joined a left-handed penmanship contest and shared their stories.

"I think this exhibition will have a lot of resonance for people," said exhibit director Cheryl Regan. "Certainly soldiers returning home from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are going to be incredibly moved by these stories."

___

Civil War in America: http://myloc.gov/exhibitions/civil-war-in-america/

___

Follow Brett Zongker on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DCArtBeat

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-library-pulls-diaries-letters-civil-war-153600719.html

best picture 2012 oscar winners channel 3 news j lo j lo sacha baron cohen ryan seacrest octavia spencer

Window Cleaning, a Simple and Effective Home Improvement Project

Our company provides a wide spectrum of services, all at the highest level of performance. To guarantee both clean and safe windows, we only use the best biodegradable cleaning solutions. We are able to clean windows of every size in both commercial and residential locations. Our friendly staff can work with you to schedule a deep one-time cleaning or a regular scheduled cleaning. Instead of being a dirty, grimy embarrassment, your windows will offer great views and bring more sunlight into your house. Give us a call now for the best local window cleaners you can find anywhere. Residential Window Cleaning Salt Lake

This entry was posted on Friday, November 23rd, 2012 at 5:01 pm and is filed under Cleaning. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Source: http://cinebombs.com/window-cleaning-a-simple-and-effective-home-improvement-project/

qnexa kingdom of heaven national enquirer whitney houston arizona republican debate arizona debate enquirer national inquirer

Egypt's president grants himself far-reaching powers

Hellooo, Amanda. While her fellow ?Mean Girls? co-star, Lindsay Lohan, flounders around in regrettable TV movies, Amanda Seyfried?s career is taking off. On deck: playing Cosette??Les Miserables,??porn star Linda Lovelace in ?Lovelace,? and a saucy Vanity Fair spread to promote both roles. She poses in...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egypts-president-issues-constitutional-amendments-granting-himself-far-160954879.html

dst friends with kids pacific standard time northern mariana islands summer time coolio ricky rubio