Chromebook Pixel review: Touchscreen may justify Google's $1,299 laptop

Rosa Golijan , NBC News ? ? ? 13 hrs.

There's something magical about the Chromebook Pixel's display. You're so drawn in by its crispness that you want to press your hand against it. And when you finally give in to that urge ... you discover it's a touchscreen.

Woah.

But does that moment ? that instant when you instinctively touch a screen and it reacts the way your smartphone-obsessed brain expects ? merit paying $1,299 for a laptop that doesn't run Windows or OS X and is essentially just a hyper-evolved Web browser?

I could certainly justify the purchase to myself, because I live my life online. The only moments I truly leave my browser on any given day involve 10 or so minutes inside a proprietary Windows-only application I have to use for work. Otherwise the browser is it for me ? I can even edit photos with Photoshop's online service. And that means Chrome OS, the operating system Google put on the Pixel suits me just fine.

I don't mind if my applications reside on the Web and my data lives in the cloud, but that doesn't work for everyone. Some need software that doesn't have a Web version, some are without data connectivity too often, and so on. The Pixel isn't for those folks ? they can stop reading right here.

Those who prefer swimming in the open Web need to know about the Chromebook Pixel though.

Have I mentioned the screen? There's no photo I can offer that could do justice to the Pixel's screen, but if you've tried a newer iPhone, iPad, or an Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display, you'll understand. There are 239 pixels per inch (ppi) on the Pixel's 12.85-inch display ? which works out to about 4.3 million pixels ? so many that your eyes can't easily differentiate the individual glowing dots. (For comparison, bear in mind that the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display offers 227 ppi, the latest iPad has 264 ppi and the iPhone 5 checks in at 326 ppi.)

A Retina display on a laptop makes sense, but do people really also want multi-touch? Apple's late co-founder said no.

"We've thought about this years ago. We've done tons of user testing on this and it turns out it doesn't work," Jobs explained while a mockup of a MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive display appeared on the screen during a press event on Oct. 20, 2010. "Touch surfaces don't want to be vertical."

"After a short period of time, you start to fatigue. And after an extended period of time, your arm wants to fall off." Jobs added. "It doesn't work. It's ergonomically terrible."

Jobs was right ? I tried using just the touchscreen, no trackpad, and I nearly apologized to my weary limbs ? but Jobs, with all due respect, was also wrong. Using the touchscreen in combination with the trackpad is a fairly pleasant experience. There are moments when touching the screen feels natural. Tapping through photos, scrolling through documents, scrubbing through video, and so on. Once you get acclimated to the fact that your laptop now responds to touch the way a phone or tablet might, you instinctively reach out at certain times. Otherwise, you just stick to the trackpad. It's a great balance.

Mind you, neither the Web nor the browser-based Chrome OS have become finger-friendly overnight. Buttons and links are still itty-bitty. It's a trackpad-and-mouse world and the Pixel just lives in it. I must admit that I have inadvertently scrolled or selected something while simply trying to point out an item on my screen to someone.

Thanks to my habit of alternating between lotions and hand sanitizer, every phone I handle is left with so many smudges on its screen that you'd think it was attacked by a sticky-handed toddler, but, strangely enough, the Pixel's screen seemed to be impervious to smudging during the time I used it.

Like a sneaky gray kitten, the Pixel runs so quietly that you might forget that it's there. And even more importantly: No matter how many tabs or windows are open, the laptop runs smoothly.

The keyboard will feel familiar to those who, like me, are used to Apple's. It is a bit firmer though, in the most satisfying of ways. (And yes, like other Chromebooks, the Pixel's Caps Lock key is replaced by a handy-dandy Search key.)

The Pixel's speakers are surprisingly loud and clear. You wouldn't expect the speakers on a laptop of this size to pack quite so much oomph. The rest of the laptop's body is equally impressive. The Pixel's got an anodized aluminium alloy body and it keeps vents, screws, and speakers as hidden as possible. No distractions ? just a slick, clean exterior hiding a dual-core 1.8GHz processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of solid state storage (64GB if you opt for the LTE-enabled model), a 720p webcam, and all the usual laptop guts.

"If you love the Pixel so much, why don't you just marry it? You could be Rosa Golijan-Pixel," someone out there is shouting at this point. Like I said, buddy, this laptop's certainly not for everyone. Are you able to live in the browser and cloud?

And if you are sold on the Chrome OS, does having a touchscreen with an high pixel-density valuable justify the Pixel's high price? After all, Acer's Chromebook, with its dated hardware and clunky exterior, sells for a budget-minded $199.

Starting at $1,299, the Chromebook Pixel is considerably more of an investment. And you can step up to an LTE-enabled model with 64GB of solid state memory for $1,449. Both models come with one terabyte of Google Drive cloud storage for three years and 12 free GoGo in-flight Internet passes. The LTE-enabled model also comes with a free 100MB of data through Verizon Wireless per month for two years.

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

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/chromebook-pixel-review-sweet-touchscreen-may-justify-googles-1-299-1C8531715

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Pope to be called 'emeritus pope,' will wear white

VATICAN CITY (AP) ? Pope Benedict XVI will be known as "emeritus pope" in his retirement and will continue to wear a white cassock, the Vatican announced Tuesday, again fueling concerns about potential conflicts arising from having both a reigning and a retired pope.

The pope's title and what he would wear have been a major source of speculation ever since Benedict stunned the world and announced he would resign on Thursday, the first pontiff to do so in 600 years.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Benedict himself had made the decision in consultation with others, settling on "Your Holiness Benedict XVI" and either emeritus pope or emeritus Roman pontiff.

Lombardi said he didn't know why Benedict had decided to drop his other main title: bishop of Rome.

In the two weeks since Benedict's resignation announcement, Vatican officials had suggested that Benedict would likely resume wearing the traditional black garb of a cleric and would use the title "emeritus bishop of Rome" so as to not create confusion with the future pope.

Benedict's decision to call himself emeritus pope and to keep wearing white is sure to fan concern voiced privately by some cardinals about the awkward reality of having two popes, both living within the Vatican walls.

[Related: The loneliest pope]

Adding to the concern is that Benedict's trusted secretary, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, will be serving both pontiffs ? living with Benedict at the monastery inside the Vatican and keeping his day job as prefect of the new pope's household.

Asked about the potential conflicts, Lombardi was defensive, saying the decisions had been clearly reasoned and were likely chosen for the sake of simplicity.

"I believe it was well thought out," he said.

Benedict himself has made clear he is retiring to a lifetime of prayer and meditation "hidden from the world." However, he still will be very present in the tiny Vatican city-state, where his new home is right next door to the Vatican Radio and has a lovely view of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

While he will no longer wear his trademark red shoes, Benedict has taken a liking to a pair of hand-crafted brown loafers made for him by artisans in Leon, Mexico, and given to him during his 2012 visit. He will wear those in retirement, Lombardi said.

Lombardi also elaborated on the College of Cardinals meetings that will take place after the papacy becomes vacant ? crucial gatherings in which cardinals will discuss the problems facing the church and set a date for the start of the conclave to elect Benedict's successor.

[Related: Feuds, fiefdoms and betrayal await next pope]

The first meeting isn't now expected until Monday, Lombardi said, since the official convocation to cardinals to come to Rome will only go out on Friday ? the first day of what's known as the "sede vacante," or the vacancy between papacies.

In all, 115 cardinals under the age of 80 are expected in Rome for the conclave to vote on who should become the next pope; two other eligible cardinals have already said they are not coming, one from Britain and another from Indonesia. Cardinals who are 80 and older can join the College meetings but won't participate in the conclave or vote.

Benedict on Monday gave the cardinals the go-ahead to move up the start date of the conclave ? tossing out the traditional 15-day waiting period. But the cardinals won't actually set a date for the conclave until they begin meeting officially Monday.

Lombardi also further described Benedict's final 48 hours as pope: On Tuesday, he was packing, arranging for documents to be sent to the various archives at the Vatican and separating out the personal papers he will take with him into retirement.

On Wednesday, Benedict will hold his final public general audience in St. Peter's Square ? an event that has already seen 50,000 ticket requests. He won't greet visiting prelates or VIPs as he normally does at the end but will greet some visiting leaders ? from Slovakia, San Marino, Andorra and his native Bavaria ? privately afterwards.

On Thursday, the pope meets with his cardinals in the morning and then flies by helicopter at 5 p.m. to Castel Gandolfo, the papal residence south of Rome. He will greet parishioners there from the palazzo's loggia (balcony) ? his final public act as pope.

And at 8 p.m., the exact time at which his retirement becomes official, the Swiss Guards standing outside the doors of the palazzo at Castel Gandolfo will go off duty, their service protecting the head of the Catholic Church now finished.

Benedict's personal security will be assured by Vatican police, Lombardi said.

___

Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-called-emeritus-pope-wear-white-120826349.html

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This Stunning Steel Centerpiece Is Made from the Mountain It's Modeled After

Tucked amidst the Mont Blanc Mountain Range, the picturesque Aosta Valley is among the most pristine places on Earth. But rather than trek all the way to the Italian Alps, you can gaze upon the region's natural beauty through this 1:2193 scale stainless steel serving tray from Alessi. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/3ejmBSs7UC0/this-stunning-steel-centerpiece-is-made-from-the-mountain-its-modeled-after

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MEGAN MCARDLE: Could U.S. Debt Reach A Tipping Point? Yes. And while we may hit it later than som?

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Source: http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/163917/

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NBA: Miami 114, Philadelphia 90

Published: Feb. 23, 2013 at 10:59 PM

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Dwyane Wade was deadly accurate Saturday, sinking 14-of-18 shots from the field on his way to 33 points in the Miami Heat's 114-90 win over Philadelphia.

LeBron James turned in a triple-double of 16 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists to help Miami rack up its 10th straight victory.

Mario Chalmers put in another 14 points and Chris Bosh added 13 as the Heat continued their dominance of the 76ers with their 12th consecutive triumph in the series.

The Sixers, meanwhile, dropped their fourth straight overall despite 21 points and six assists from Jrue Holiday.

Nick Young (19 points) and Evan Turner (16, seven rebounds, five assists) also reached double figures for Philadelphia.

Source: http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2013/02/23/NBA-Miami-114-Philadelphia-90/UPI-33861361678365/

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Saakashvili?s party rallies to support Tbilisi mayor

Vano Merabishvili, Secretary General of the National Movement. (DF Watch photo.)

TBILISI, DFWatch?Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava was charged with money laundering and embezzlement of the city?s money, but not detained.

Politicians from the United National Movement party of President Mikheil Saakashvili on Friday hastily left parliament Kutaisi and headed for Tbilisi after the investigation service of the Ministy of Finance issued a statement accusing him for abuse of public funds.

After leaving the office of the investigative service on Saturday, Ugulava said he ?cannot understand what the charges are for?, but he was given ?some papers? which he would read later.

His supporters and members of the UNM had gathered outside the investigative service half an hour before the mayor appeared. Among participants there were leaders of the UNM and former government officials, including Giga Bokeria, Secretary of the Security Council, Vano Merabishvili, Secretary General of the UNM party, MP Goka Gabashvili and others.

Tens of police cars and policemen were posted at the entrance to the building, and in nearby streets, to avoid any incidents.

Ugulava?s lawyer Gogita Gabaidze told journalists that during the questioning his client used his right to remain silent.

Giga Bokeria, Secretary of the Security council, who was present at the gathering of solidarity to Ugulava said that Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Prime Minister, has a ?declared goal? of destroying the opposition.

?Mr Ivanishvili thinks in short-term perspectives and today he tries to destroy the opposition,? he said, adding that this is a very dangerous process, but he is sure that ?this goal can never become true.?

This is the third time parliament members from the UNM have left their work in parliament and gone to the capital to protest against ?political persecution.?

The MPs claim that the government is continuing its ?political terror.? They didn?t specify when they will return to parliament, but in the past their protests have tended to last about a week.

First time they left Kutaisi was after the detention of Bacho Akahalaia, a former defense minister.

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Source: http://dfwatch.net/saakashvilis-party-rallies-to-support-tbilisi-mayor-74321

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XBMC now available for Apple TVs with software update 5.2

Jailbroken Apple TVs with software update 5.2 (iOS 6.1) snagged Bluetooth keyboard compatibility roughly a week ago, and now Cook and Co.'s hockey puck is in store for a heftier perk: support for XBMC. Memphiz, a developer on the entertainment hub project, has managed to tweak XBMC to run on Cupertino's TV box with its latest software release. Ready to load up your hardware with the alternative media suite? Hit the bordering source link for the download and instructions, or check out the "Manage Extras" section if you're running aTV Flash.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Apple

Comments

Via: FireCore (Google+)

Source: XBMC

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/kw8g6w3b-ik/

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Yo! Theo's Here!

Hello all! I'm Theodora. Or you could call me Theo as my friends do.

I was introduced to the idea of role playing some years back and since then, I've been doing it fairly often. I love the freedom that a role play grants people so it's even more exciting for me to know that such a large community like this exists for the purpose of role-playing!

I hope to make lots of friends here, and role-play to my hearts content!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/SXdqYLV5UXw/viewtopic.php

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Aaron Swartz Prosecutors Weighed 'Guerilla' Manifesto, Justice Official Tells Congressional Committee

A Justice Department representative told congressional staffers during a recent briefing on the computer fraud prosecution of Internet activist Aaron Swartz that Swartz's "Guerilla Open Access Manifesto" played a role in the prosecution, sources told The Huffington Post.

Swartz's 2008 manifesto said sharing information was a "moral imperative" and advocated for "civil disobedience" against copyright laws pushed by corporations "blinded by greed" that led to the "privatization of knowledge."

"We need to take information, wherever it is stored, make our copies and share them with the world. We need to take stuff that's out of copyright and add it to the archive," Swartz wrote in the manifesto. "We need to buy secret databases and put them on the Web. We need to download scientific journals and upload them to file sharing networks. We need to fight for Guerilla Open Access."

The "Manifesto," Justice Department representatives told congressional staffers, demonstrated Swartz's malicious intent in downloading documents on a massive scale.

Swartz was 26 when he killed himself in January. He had been indicted by federal prosecutors in 2011 for downloading millions of academic journal articles from the nonprofit online database JSTOR using the Massachusetts Institute of Technology computer network. He faced a felony conviction and prison sentence for downloading the articles, though he maintained he had permission to access them.

The briefing for congressional staffers on the House Oversight Committee was led by Steven Reich, an associate deputy attorney general. Reich did not respond to a request for comment.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the leading Republican and Democrat on the committee, are jointly investigating prosecutors' handling of the Swartz case. Family, friends and supporters of Swartz have said they believe the aggressive prosecution played a role in his suicide. The U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, Carmen Ortiz, has defended her staff members assigned to the case.

Reich told congressional staffers that the Justice Department believed federal prosecutors acted in a reasonable manner, according to the sources. He also made clear that prosecutors were in part influenced by wanting to deter others from committing similar offenses.

When considering punishment, courts are supposed to impose an ?adequate deterrence to criminal conduct" under federal statute. Swartz's "Manifesto," prosecutors said they believed, made clear that he intended to share the academic articles widely.

Reich told congressional staffers that prosecutors offered Swartz a plea bargain early in the case that would have given him a three-month prison sentence in exchange for a guilty plea to a felony, according to three sources with knowledge of the briefing who would not agree to be quoted by name. Reich told the staffers that the plea deal would allow Swartz's lawyers to argue to a judge that Swartz didn't deserve a prison sentence.

Some congressional staffers left the briefing with the impression that prosecutors believed they needed to convict Swartz of a felony that would put him in jail for a short sentence in order to justify bringing the charges in the first place, according to two aides with knowledge of the briefing.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/22/aaron-swartz-prosecutors_n_2735675.html

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Football Weekly Extra: Bayern batter beleaguered Arsenal – podcast

*****Try listening to the show on SoundCloud. Go on. Please******

Dave Farrar's back for more pod-based frivolity and he's joined on today's Football Weekly Extra by Raf Honigstein, Barry Glendenning and Jacob Steinberg.

First up on the agenda is the Champions League and Arsenal's mullering by Bayern Munich, an almost embarrassingly one-sided affair. What's next for Arsenal and their embattled professor, M Wenger? A visit from Aston Villa, that's what.

Sticking with the Champions League, we hear from Sid Lowe, who predicted that Barcelona would come a cropper as soon as they faced half-decent opposition. Milan put in fine performance as they saw off Messi and co 2-0 in the first leg.

Finally, we turn our attention to the weekend, which features the Capital One Cup final between Swansea and Bradford, Manchester City v Chelsea in the Premier League, and David Beckham's (possible) debut for PSG as they face Marseille.

AC Jimbo is back on Monday, and there's a very special edition of the European paper review up on Friday morning, hosted by Teutonic housewives' favourite, Herr Honigstein.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/audio/2013/feb/21/football-weekly-extra-podcast-arsenal-bayern-munich

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Behind Incoherent GOP Spin on the Sequester

February 21, 2013 8:33 AM Behind Incoherent GOP Spin on the Sequester

By Jonathan Bernstein

Conservative Byron York today blasts the Republicans, and Speaker Boehner in particular, for incoherent spin on the sequester.

I basically agree with him?the GOP message is that the sequester is (1) terrible and all Barack Obama?s fault; and (2) better than smaller cuts, with or without additional revenues; and, (3) just a small down payment on the size of the cuts that are really needed?basically makes no sense.

The question is: why? And I think the answer is the same as the answer for why Mitt Romney?s campaign was incoherent much of the time: the effects of the GOP-aligned press and the conservative information feedback loop. Basically, it?s just too easy for Republicans. They compose talking points, feed them to Fox News and the rest, and partisan Republicans eat them up. The only real danger is that someone in the GOP press seeking to one-up everyone else will deem the talking points insufficiently conservative. That?s the beauty of the otherwise insipid ?the sequester was Obama?s idea? line: if there?s one thing that?s pretty safe from being labeled ?RINO,? it?s bashing Barack Obama.

Notice that coming up with spin that might be effective outside the conservative loop not only is a lot harder ? but also risks that RINO tag.

But mostly?as I?ve said before, for those who compose the talking points, it must just be so rewarding to decide today that ?the sequester was Obama?s idea? and then in a week see it show up ?spontaneously? in the mouths of rank-and-file Republicans ? in talk-show callers, blog commenters, in letters to your boss, even in regular conversation with your conservative friends and family outside Washington. It must really feel like you?ve accomplished something.

And, in turn, not only does that make picking a message that will be unquestioningly accepted by Rush Limbaugh and the rest of them very tempting, but it also removes most of the incentives for fashioning an actually persuasive message.

Now: all that said, as you may suspect I still don?t think it matters very much. If the sequester hits, most of the political effect will not be determined by who has the most coherent spin. But as far as it goes, that sure seems to be what?s at work.

[Cross-posted at A plain blog about politics]

Jonathan Bernstein is a political scientist who writes about American politics, especially the presidency, Congress, parties, and elections.

Source: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/ten-miles-square/2013/02/behind_incoherent_gop_spin_on043126.php

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Sony Announced PlayStation 4!

Feb 21, 2013

Yesterday, Sony hosted a live press conference online and announced that they will be bringing in the PlayStation 4 as their entry into the next generation of gaming. The new console is due to come out during the winter holiday season this year!

Similar to how Nintendo's Wii U is a fairly simple improvement on the Nintendo Wii, the PlayStation 4 seems to be a fairly straightforward upgrade on the PlayStation 3. The processor is more powerful, sixteen times moreso than the PlayStation 3, allowing for amazing graphics and realistic characters faces.

Also similar to the Wii U is the new controller being introduced with the PlayStation 4. The DualShock 4 will have the familiar button layout and rumble that you are used to, but will also include a touch pad in the middle, a share button, and a headphone jack. Also included is a light bar that will track your controller movement similar to the PlayStation Move, meaning motion control is built into the PlayStation 4! If you are worried about sharing the TV, Sony also provides a solution with the PS Vita, allowing live streaming straight to the handle. Sony has stated that their goal is to have every single PlayStation 4 title be playable on the Vita as well.

Missing in Action?

Strangely missing from all this excitement is the actual console itself. Sony has decided to not release any pictures of the console, perhaps to save something to show for this year's E3. Meanwhile, developers, such as Capcom and Quantic Dreams, have demos up already, showing that they already have their hands on the new technology and are making games for the new console. Unfortunately, the PlayStation 4 will not have backwards compatibility with PlayStation 3 games. However, Sony will be introducing the PlayStation Cloud, which will allow streaming access to old games.

Have Your Say!

Are you more interested in the Wii U or PlayStation 4? What do you think Microsoft will bring to E3 this year? Post your thoughts in the comments section below and discuss with other Kidzworld members!

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Source: http://www.kidzworld.com/article/27931-sony-announced-playstation-4

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Pistorius' uncle: Olympian is in 'extreme shock' but 'will bounce back'

The prosecution is challenging Oscar Pistorius' testimony about what happened on the night his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp was killed. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.

By Tracy Connor, Staff Writer, NBC News

Oscar Pistorius' uncle says the Olympic sprinter is in "extreme shock" -- barely eating and spending his time reading the Bible -- but will "bounce back and be greater than ever" when his murder case is over.

In an interview that aired Wednesday night on the South African television network eNCA, Arnold Pistorius called his nephew a "soft person" and said he's certain he is not guilty of charges he intentionally killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

"Oscar will survive. He will have a tough time going forward, but he is a survivor," the uncle said.

"Nobody can be the same ever again if such a tragedy comes over your life but he will bounce back and be greater than ever.?

His prediction came after the athlete's lawyers and prosecutors faced off in a South African courtroom for the second day of a hearing that will determine if the 26-year-old runner gets bail or sent to prison until a trial. The hearing continues Thursday.

Pistorius, the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics, has been in custody since the Valentine's Day shooting at his Pretoria home.

"He spent a lot of time reading, especially reading his Bible...His mother was extremely religious," Arnold Pistorius said, adding that his nephew had only started eating again Tuesday night.

Pistorius, who claims he thought a prowler was in his house when he shot through a locked bathroom door and killed his model girlfriend, has sobbed through some of the court proceedings.

"He's grieving. He is in extreme shock. I don't expect it to get over it even soon," the uncle said, but added that the Olympian's life and career are far from over.

"I can tell you that Oscar, with his character, is able to work through this," he said. "He will bounce back and be greater than ever."

During Wednesday's hearing, Pistorius' lawyer subjected a police official to a tough cross examination in which he admitted a witness who heard an hour of screaming before the shooting was a thousand feet away from the apartment.

Warrant Officer Hilton Botha disputed Pistorius's version of the shooting, in which he claimed to have opened fire after rushing to the bathroom on his stumps in a panic.

He said the downward trajectory of the shots suggested Pistorius had on the artificial legs that gave him the nickname Blade Runner and aimed at someone on the toilet.

"I believe he knew she was in the bathroom," Botha testified.

Related:

Oscar Pistorius in court: Defense exposes cracks in police evidence

Pistorius: I felt 'sense of terror' on night I mistakenly shot girlfriend

Sportscaster: Pistorius was 'jumpy' about safety

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Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/20/17034178-pistorius-uncle-olympian-is-in-extreme-shock-but-will-bounce-back?lite

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PS4 Is Sony?s Last Stand, And It?s Wasting It On A Tired Strategy That Ignores How The Gamer Is Changing

Sony's PlayStation 4 made its grand debut today in a presentation with all the theatrical flair to be expected from an electronics company that's also a media company that's also a producer and publisher of blockbuster video games. But the pomp hides a hurting heart, and it didn't show off anything that resembles medecine for the company's ailments at today's show.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/6-BWJUrYOvQ/

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Google?s Project Glass developer foundry pictures emerge

A couple of weeks ago we reported on a Google hackathon event where developers would be getting their first chance to try out and enjoy the upcoming Project Glass. Google made no secret about it, but we quickly learned everyone would be tied to a strict agreement and couldn?t share any details from the exciting event. Well, now Google?s sharing details themselves.

We were extremely excited about the Google Glass hackathon, as we?ve pre-ordered a few pairs ourselves. Sadly it was strictly for developers and Google had everyone agree to some pretty strict terms and kept all the details hush hush. It was called the ?Glass Foundry? and took place in San Fransisco and New York, and today we?re getting pictures.

It basically goes like this. Tons of nerds, developers, and Googlers all were enjoying a good time hosted by the folks at Google. Enjoying project glass and brainstorming great ideas on how these connected smart glasses can be used in the real world. Sounds like a blast right? Apparently they had some pretty neat ideas too, but we?ll be waiting a little while longer before we get any details.

The developers paired up in teams and Google?s reporting around 80 solid ideas were thought up on new ways the public could use Project Glass in their daily lives. Apparently a few lucky developer teams even got a pair for free, and Google rewarded multiple people with a nice set to take home themselves from the event. For now all the details and the Glass API is still a pretty big secret, but more details and pictures are available from the via below. We can?t wait to see more, and hopefully Google shares all the details at Google I/O later this year.

[via Google+]

Source: http://androidcommunity.com/googles-project-glass-developer-foundry-pictures-emerge-20130215/

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Mind matters at Nottingham Trent University

Thursday 14 February 2013

Mind matters at Nottingham Trent University

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Sharing ideas for looking after emotional wellbeing on NTU?s Mindapple Trees

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An annual event will help students in Nottingham focus on their mental health and raise awareness of activities they can do to look after their emotional wellbeing.

University Mental Health and Wellbeing Day is being hosted at Nottingham Trent University on Wednesday 20 February to recognise that mental health is as important as physical health to the overall wellbeing of students and staff in higher education.

As part of a national campaign the event aims to encourage students to share their ideas for looking after their emotional wellbeing and find out information about services provided locally and by the University.

Sarah Bustard, health promotion specialist at Nottingham Trent University, said: "We all have mental health and there is no doubt that the pressures of student life are very significant. Many people know what to do to look after their physical health, but do they know how to look after their mental health??

"1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year and students are no different. We want Nottingham Trent University to be a place where all students are supported and able to talk about their health, including mental health without stigma."

Notes to editors:

Press enquiries please contact Kelly Dove, Press Officer, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8785 or via email, or Therese Easom, Press and Internal Communications Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8774 or via email.

---

Source: http://www.ntu.ac.uk/apps/news/135535-15/Mind_matters_at_Nottingham_Trent_University.aspx

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Bloomberg adds plastic-foam packaging to hit list

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg (Mario Tama/Getty Images)New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg called for a citywide ban on plastic-foam packaging used for coffee cups and food containers as part of a sweeping new recycling effort he hopes to implement before he leaves office.

Bloomberg made the proposal in his annual State of the City address on Thursday, his 12th and final such speech as mayor. The proposal comes on the heels of other ambitious citywide regulations Bloomberg has implemented while in office, including a ban on smoking in the city's bars, restaurants, and parks; limits on the sales of sugary sodas and a requirement that fast food eateries post the fat and calorie counts of the meals they serve.

The mayor likened the dangers of? plastic-foam packaging to lead paint, insisting it puts the city's environmental future at risk.

"Something that we know is environmentally destructive and that may be hazardous to our health, that is costing taxpayers money and that we can easily do without, and is something that should go the way of lead paint," Bloomberg said. "We can live without it, we may live longer without it, and the doggie bag and the coffee cup will survive just fine."

Speaking to a large crowd at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, a new arena that opened last fall, Bloomberg used his 12th and final State of the City address to tout the progress that New York City has made under his watch. He pointed to major developments, including the Barclay's Center, as proof of the city had persevered during a difficult economy and was on the upswing again.

But Bloomberg pointed to the New York's continuing efforts to rebuild in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy as the "single most important piece of unfinished business" of his tenure. In his 320 days left in office, the mayor vowed to deliver and begin to implement a plan that would keep protect the city from future storms--though he refused to abandon development along the city's waterfront, calling it the life of the city.

In doing so, Bloomberg took a shot at Robert Moses, the man credited with being the "master builder" of New York City, saying he had made a "mistake" in not developing the city's waterfront earlier.

"We are a coastal city so we cannot and we will not abandon the waterfront," Bloomberg declared. "We will not cut our city off from the natural asset that has made us great. That was the mistake Robert Moses made--and one that we have been working so hard to undo... We will build back stronger. We will build back safer. We will build back there."

The mayor also touched on several issues he's championed during his tenure at City Hall, including immigration reform and efforts to implement new gun control laws. While he expressed hope that progress may be finally being made on those issues, he called on New Yorkers to step up pressure on Congress to pass new laws.

"Tell Congress to stop scapegoating immigrants and coddling criminals," the mayor declared.

But Bloomberg's most ambitious new policy in the speech was his proposal to ban plastic-foam packaging as a way of ensuring a cleaner New York City. His push comes after several other major cities?including San Francisco, Seattle and Portland, Ore.?have passed similar bans on plastic-foam packaging?which is more expensive to recycle and is considered harmful to the environment.

Rumors that Bloomberg would push for a plastic-foam ban have been rampant for weeks at City Hall. The ban would require approval from the City Council if it is to be implemented.

The proposal is likely to face considerable push-back from the city?s restaurant and convenience store industries?which are already angsty about a citywide ban on sales of cups of soda larger than 16 ounces set to go into effect Mar. 1. (Diet soda is exempted.)

The foam packaging ban is part of a larger recycling initiative that Bloomberg outlined. The mayor also proposed putting one thousand new recycling bins on city streets and announced the city will open a new recycling center in Brooklyn. He also announced a pilot program that would allow New York City residents to recycle food waste by composting?again following the lead of other major cities, including San Francisco. The mayor's office said the composting plan will initially launch on Staten Island and, if successful, will expand to the entire city.

He also unveiled a new plan to put more electric cars on the streets in hopes that New York City could become a "national leader" in environmentally friendly transportation and improve its air quality at the same time.

"Remember, clean air means you live longer," Bloomberg said.

It was Bloomberg's last State of the City address before he leaves office later this year, and the event included plenty of pomp and circumstance.

Ahead of his speech at the Barclay's Center, the audience was entertained by a pumping soundtrack of dance music familiar to anyone who watched MTV in the early 1990s. And just before Bloomberg took the podium, the Brooklynettes, the dance team of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets who play at the arena, performed a routine to a remix of Aretha Franklin's "Respect."

Concluding his speech, Bloomberg again reminded his audience that he only has 320 days in office.

"We have promises to keep and miles to go before we sleep," he said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/bloomberg-push-ban-plastic-foam-packaging-052641304--politics.html

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Under pressure, David Fisher attacks my mental health via Twitter ...

David Fisher is supposed to be ?a decent journalist, trained and skilled? and yet he fails to find any empathy or understanding about mental health issues.

Instead he uses my public honesty and discussions about depression and the battles I have had and continue to have as a weapon against me.

He is meant to be a journalist, at a newspaper of record, and yet he sees fit to attack my mental health as some sort of public way to get at me.

Well I am tougher than that. I pity David Fisher that his life and his newspaper are so shallow that he feels the need to use my health as a point of attack.

It belittles him and belittles his paper.

I would now be very wary as indeed should everyone else who he approaches to do stories that he lacks the?necessary?empathy?to even speak with?sufferers?of depression and other mental illnesses.

I wrote about those topics so that I amy help others, now David Fisher uses that against me as a weapon. What a shameful, sad and dishonest little man.?

How can anyone struggling to understand depression, especially men, ever get up the courage to discuss the issues if pathetic humans like David Fisher will use that honesty against them.

David Fisher disgusts me. He is even trying to mount a campaign to deny me access to my chosen sport. He professes to know more than my GP, my Psychiatrist, the Forensic Psychiatrist the Police made me go see, my wife and the Police, al;l of whom signed me off for my firearms?licence.

@ Got a mental health contact to read your blog. Their most urgent question: How does he have a gun licence? http://t.co/bmyb2YJL

I will continue to work with Mike King and Boris?assessing?and enabling people to overcome mental illness.

I wonder what David Fisher thinks of their work? I wonder what David Fisher thinks of John Kirwan?

We know now with the way he has attacked me using my honesty over my battles with ?depression. He thinks it is all a big joke, some laughs.

@ Sorry, I?m done. Laughing too hard to engage any more. Go sort your life out, sell some papers and stop being so awful. #whalefail

I wonder what his editor, Shayne Currie thinks about their shameful employee.

David Fisher is as far from ?a decent journalist, trained and skilled? that you can get.

Source: http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2013/02/under-pressure-david-fisher-attacks-my-mental-health-via-twitter/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=under-pressure-david-fisher-attacks-my-mental-health-via-twitter

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EU, U.S. fire starting gun for free trade talks

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The United States and the European Union agreed on Wednesday to push for the launch by the end of June of talks to create the world's biggest free trade alliance, which could be a benchmark for global competitors to follow.

Such a deal would be most ambitious attempted since the founding of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1995, encompassing half the world's economic output and a third of global trade flows.

"These negotiations will set a standard, not only for our future bilateral trade and investment, including regulatory issues, but also for the development of global trade rules," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told a news conference.

Speaking after the release of a joint U.S./EU report recommending the start of talks, Barroso said the two were expected to launch negotiations in the first half of the year.

The report sees a deal boosting the EU's economy by around 0.5 percent and the U.S. economy by around 0.4 percent by 2027, with 86 billion euros ($115.80 billion) of added annual income for the former and 65 billion euros for the latter.

The report's release comes a day after U.S. President Barack Obama threw his weight behind a potential deal in his state of the union address, saying it would support millions of good-paying American jobs.

Jobs and growth provide the rationale for an alliance, given both economies are struggling to break free from almost five years of downturns and stunted recovery as well as rising competition from China and other emerging economies.

EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht has warned that the talks will be tough, with no "low-hanging fruit". Import tariffs between the two are already low - at an average of 4 percent.

Negotiations will focus on harmonizing standards, from car seat belts to household cleaning products, and regulations governing services.

Ideally, De Gucht said, the negotiations should be wrapped up in two years.

Before talks can start, the U.S. Congress must be notified and the European Commission needs approval from EU member states. It will present draft negotiating directives in March, no doubt prompting debate.

EU trade ministers took four months to overcome resistance from the car industry to start negotiations to create a free-trade pact with Japan.

AGRICULTURAL MUD

One of the key sticking points is likely to be agriculture. When a transatlantic trade deal was suggested in 1998, it was shot down by France, which feared the European Union could be forced into concessions on farm trade.

The United States has long been frustrated with EU restrictions on U.S. farm products such as genetically modified (GMO) crops, poultry treated with chlorine washes and meat from animals fed with growth stimulant ractopamine.

In an early sign of EU reticence, Barroso said the negotiations would not compromise consumer health.

"We will not negotiate changes that we do not want of the basic rules on either side, be it on hormones or GMOs," he said.

The United States does not want a repeat of the Doha round of world trade talks, which began in 2001 and have never come to a conclusion, a point made by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in a speech earlier this month about EU-U.S. negotiations.

"If we go down that road, we should try to do it on one tank of gas and avoid protracted rounds of negotiations," he said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said in a statement he would use Britain's chairmanship of the G8 this year to help break down trade barriers and secure a comprehensive deal.

The EU-U.S. negotiation is unlikely to have any direct impact on the biggest and longest-running dispute in the WTO's history, the battle over subsidies for Airbus and Boeing. But it could help improve the mood and could be a prelude to a settlement in the aircraft dispute.

The EU too would like an agreement, but there are widely differing views between the broadly free-trade northern countries and the more hesitant southern countries hit hardest by the euro zone debt crisis.

Brussels is negotiating possible free-trade agreements with more than 80 countries, with some successes, such as a recent deal set to be struck with Singapore, but some talks, such as with India, showing no signs of ending.

Talks that began with Canada in 2009 have also failed to settle differences over agricultural exports, intellectual property and public procurement, despite two high-level efforts to break the deadlock.

(Reporting By Philip Blenkinsop, Robert-Jan Bartunek, Adrian Croft and Ethan Bilby; Additional reporting by Tom Miles in Geneva; Editing by Peter Graff)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/eu-u-free-trade-talks-start-june-barroso-114535996--sector.html

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Sennheiser HD 280 Pro

The Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, a $99.95 (direct) headphone pair designed for professional studio use, was released in 2003, before I began writing for PCMag. However, I often use it as something of a standard to A-B test similar types of pairs with, so it seemed appropriate to give a proper full-length review. A no-frills, exceedingly comfortable pair, the powerful and accurate HD 280 Pro is ideal for recording and mixing applications. It proves the term "flat response" doesn't mean "no bass." There's plenty of rich, articulate low frequency response here, but the entire frequency range is dutifully represented. At this reasonable price, this is where your search for a pair of studio headphones should begin. It may well end here, too.

Design
For a recording studio headphone pair, the single most important design element, after the drivers that produce the audio, is long-term comfort. Sessions last a long time. People sweat, gravity presses headbands into skulls. The HD 280 Pro?does an admirable job of keeping long-term sessions more or less fatigue-free.?Sure, if you don't take them off for hours at a time, you can expect some sweaty ear cups, perhaps, or some minor discomfort along the headband. But as someone who wears these headphones on a more or less daily basis, I can tell you they fit securely and comfortably for long sessions.

There are pairs with more plushness to the ear pads, like the?NuForce HP-800, but the HD 280 Pro is unlikely to be described as uncomfortable by many users, and it passively blocks out up to thirty decibels of ambient/room noise. If you blast these while recording near a mic, there will be some sound leakage, but they don't bleed like an open pair would?their circumaural (around the ear), snug fit prevents most sounds from escaping, provided you listen at moderate levels. The ear cups are swivel-mounted, which allows for an even more secure fit as they adjust automatically to the shape of your head. The headband is easily adjustable and stays in place.

Unlike the NuForce HP-800, the HD 280 Pro lacks a detachable cable. The HP-800 is a newer design, in an era when detachable cables are becoming more and more a design staple, so it's hard to knock the HD 280 Pro too hard for not having one. But it would be a welcome update on Sennheiser's part, as a detachable cable can extend the life of your headphones significantly. Cables are the most common culprit when a headphone pair begins to malfunction, and replacing the cable instead of replacing or repairing the whole thing is a far more affordable option.

The non-removable cable features a thick coil, and it terminates in a 3.5mm connection. The sole included accessory is a ?-inch adapter for larger headphones jacks. A carrying pouch would be nice.

Performance
Lest this review begin to sound like a love letter, let me be clear about one thing: The HD 280 Pro is far from my favorite pair of headphones. I've heard options, like the Grado GS1000, that have made me giddy with excitement?until I realized the price was, well, a bit out of my budget. But the real difference we're talking about here is not price?it's application. The HD 280 Pro is a professional studio headphone pair?basically, a measurement tool for recording, mix, and mastering engineers, as well as performers.

A pair like the aforementioned Grado offers a sound signature and a wide, deep stage that makes the music feel almost palpable. The precision of a pair like the HD 280 Pro is more surgical than magical, but here is where it separates itself from the typical, flat, light-on-bass studio reference pair. The HD 280 Pro packs plenty of low-end. Its impedance of 64 Ohms means that, depending on your sound source, it may not get brain-meltingly loud (but this is a good thing). This fact, combined with the superb quality of the drivers, means distortion will also be a rarity.

Can the HD 280 Pro distort? Sure, but it is very unlikely to happen before your ears start to bleed. Even at very high, unsafe levels, from a variety of sound sources, like a Marantz PM7001 stereo receiver, a Digidesign Digi 003 recording interface, and an iPhone 4S, the HD 280 Pro can handle extremely deep bass without any hints of distorted crackle. If you want to pulverize the headphones and your eardrums, yes, you can achieve distortion, but not at levels you will ever want to actually listen at.

Some headphone pairs manage to avoid distortion on deep bass by, well, avoiding deep bass itself. But the HD 280 Pro's frequency response starts at the sub-bass realm of 8Hz. Many headphones and earphones don't start until 15 or 20Hz. What's more?you can actually hear the presence of these low frequencies. Even better: They are present, but not boosted weirdly. They don't overtake the mix. On the Knife's "Silent Shout," the powerful thump of the kick drum loop is conveyed cleanly and accurately?the Knife mixed it so that you would hear tremendous low frequency content here?but not in a manner so over-the-top that it dominates the rest of the frequency range.

Classical tracks like John Adams' "The Chairman Dances" sound a little less enthralling than they might sound on a pair with more low and low-mid presence to compliment the lower register strings, like the Yamaha PRO 500. But again, we are talking about the difference between a pair to enjoy music on and a clinical tool to make music on. The idea behind this approach has always been: If you can get your mixes to sound exciting and balanced on an accurate pair that doesn't enhance the sound at all, it'll likely sound good on the more sculpted consumer options as well. So, while orchestral tracks like this one may not pack the excitement they do on a pair like the Yamaha PRO 500, they are conveyed cleanly and accurately, so the mastering engineer can get a handle on what the actual stereo recording sounds like.

Modern pop, hip-hop, and rock tracks sound excellent on the HD 280 Pro. You almost forget that you're listening to a pair that doesn't really sculpt the sound. When mix engineers add a little bass thump to the mix, as many modern producers and engineers often do, the HD 280 Pro handles it beautifully?you hear and feel it, and yet it's never booming.

On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," the kick drum loop's attack packs all the treble edge it should, while the coinciding thump of the drum's muffled resonance implies power, but doesn't overwhelm the mix. When the sub-bass synth hits come in after a few measures, they catch your attention?there's some serious low end here, but it sounds natural, even in a song built on samples and electronic patches. Vocals shine, front-and-center, and the entire mix feels in focus.

If I'm gushing, it's because I truly have come to rely on the HD 280 Pros for creating and mixing music in my own home studio. You learn to trust a pair like this?if these babies distort at a reasonable listening level, you know you have a problem with your mix. If things sound sibilant here, you had better cut some of the high-mids on your vocal tracks. If the bass sounds smooth and subtle here, it won't sound crazy and muddy on your stereo system.

If you want something that sounds similar to the HD 280 Pro, but offers more features, like a detachable cable, the slightly more expensive Shure SRH1440 is an excellent studio option. Also at the higher end of the spectrum, the aforementioned Yamaha PRO 500 offers deep bass and an excellent overall response. The aforementioned NuForce will distort on deep bass tracks at higher volumes, but at modest volumes, and on genres that lack deep bass, it offers a similarly winning combination of accuracy and clarity without making things sound boring. But for $100, it's very hard to top the HD 280 Pro?it's a modern classic from a company that has been in the recording business for quite some time, and although it arrives about ten years late, it easily wins our Editors' Choice award.

More Headphone Reviews:
??? Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
??? Skullcandy PLYR 2 Gaming Headset
??? Mad Catz F.R.E.Q. 5 Gaming Headset
??? Munitio SV
??? TDK BA100
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/XPKTJ1wZIFg/0,2817,1828798,00.asp

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Grab 50GB of Box Online Storage Free for Life

Need more cloud storage space? Box (formerly Box.net) is back with a new 50GB promotion, so you can store and share your files online?and now easily sync them across your devices.

Box works on mobile devices and syncs with Mac and PC. The business-friendly cloud service also handily integrates with several applications, such as Microsoft Office and Google Docs. You'll find finer sharing and security controls on Box than on many competitive services, including Dropbox.

There is a major downside, however: File upload size is limited to 250MB, so if you have large files to store, you'll need to use a different service for those.

Still, 50GB is a good deal of space to play with (and a big upgrade from the standard 5GB). This offer is valid for new customers only (or you can use the multiple Gmail alias trick by adding a period in your username). While it's a targeted Dell offer, Slickdeals user Requies has nicely shared it for all to use and spread themselves.

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Name-brand or generic? Your political ideology might influence your choice

Feb. 12, 2013 ? Conservatives and liberals don't just differ when it comes to politics, they may also make different purchases at the grocery store, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

Psychological research has shown that conservatives and liberals differ on basic personality traits such as conscientiousness, tolerance for uncertainty, and openness to new experience. Researcher Vishal Singh of New York University Stern School of Business and colleagues hypothesized that the conservative tendency to prefer tradition and convention would be reflected in conservatives' purchasing behavior, leading them to choose established name-brand products over generic brands or new products.

The researchers analyzed weekly sales data from over 1,800 supermarkets in counties across the United States, spanning the years from 2001 to 2006. Using data on voting history and religiosity -- factors that are independently correlated with conservative values -- they were able to determine the level of conservatism in each county.

After accounting for factors such as income and education, the researchers found that the market share for a wide variety of generic products was lower in more conservative counties than in more liberal counties. Similarly, uptake of newly launched products was systematically lower in more conservative counties. These data suggest that conservative ideology may be associated with reliance on established national brands.

"These tendencies are consistent with traits typically associated with conservatism, such as aversion to risk, skepticism about new experiences, and a general preference for tradition, convention, and the status quo," Singh and colleagues write.

According to the researchers, this research provides the first evidence for a relationship between political affiliation and buying behavior, suggesting that ideological differences are reflected in daily behavior, even at the unconscious level.

Along with Singh, authors include Romana Khan of the Graduate School of Business at Ozyegin University and Kanishka Misra of the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Association for Psychological Science.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. R. Khan, K. Misra, V. Singh. Ideology and Brand Consumption. Psychological Science, 2013; DOI: 10.1177/0956797612457379

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/mind_brain/consumer_behavior/~3/xCywC82GbDI/130212131953.htm

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New strategy prevents rheumatoid arthritis in mice

Monday, February 11, 2013

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists have demonstrated a new strategy for treating autoimmune disease that successfully blocked the development of rheumatoid arthritis in a mouse model. They say it holds promise for improved treatment of arthritis and other autoimmune disorders in people.

The scientists report in the Journal of Clinical Investigation that infusing a highly specific type of cell that regulates immune responses into arthritis-prone mice shut down the cascade of inflammation that damages tissues and joints.

The method worked best when the infusions of CD8+ Treg cells were given at the same time that the animals were injected with a protein that triggered the arthritis-causing autoimmune reaction. "We found we could almost completely inhibit the disease in this setting," said Harvey Cantor, MD, chair of the Department of Cancer Immunology and AIDS at Dana-Farber and the study's senior author.

Even when administered weeks after the disease was initiated, CD8+ Treg infusions combined with low doses of methotrexate ? a commonly used drug for rheumatoid arthritis ? were able to significantly slow the arthritis process, the scientists reported.

The new strategy also blocked disease progression when the scientists injected peptide antigens to expand the rodents' own pool of CD8+ Tregs, rather than infusing them from outside. Overall, the results "suggest that [these] strategies represent a promising therapeutic approach to autoimmune disorders," the researchers wrote.

The human immune system is a network of cells, tissues, and organs that, when functioning normally, attacks and destroys infections, viruses, parasites, and other foreign "invaders."

In autoimmune disorders, however, parts of the immune system attack the individual's own healthy cells and tissues ? the result of the immune forces failing to recognize "self" identifying tags on the body's cells.

An estimated 50 million American suffer from autoimmune disorders, which include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and celiac disease. At least 100 different autoimmune diseases have been identified, and are more common among women. The incidence of these diseases is rising in the United States for unknown reasons.

Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammation throughout the body, attacking many tissues, especially the joints, frequently causing painful and deformed fingers and hands. About 1.5 million Americans are afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis. Drugs of several types, including corticosteroids, are given to reduce inflammation and slow the disease. The newest treatments are biologic agents, which block secreted chemicals called cytokines that carry out the misguided attacks. However, even with these agents ? which can have serious side effects ? rheumatoid arthritis treatment is often not optimal, said Cantor.

In contrast to these "downstream" players in the complex autoimmune cascade, the strategy described in the new report is aimed "upstream," where the attacks begins with overactive immune fighters, called T follicular helper cells, that mistakenly respond to "self" markers on healthy cells. These T cells can become chronically overactivated, spurring a continuous attack by antibodies on the body's tissues.

"Current treatment strategies that inhibit cytokines such as TNF or IL-1 production spare the upstream initiating events that continuously induce new effector T cells and cytokine secretion," noted Cantor. "We believe that targeting the CD4 T cells that initiate this cascade may be a more effective approach to rheumatoid arthritis therapy."

T regulatory cells, or Tregs, play an important role in turning off an immune response when it's no longer needed, such as after the body has repelled viral or bacterial invaders. Cantor previously found that certain Tregs, known as CD8+ Tregs, can recognize and eliminate overactive CD4 T helper cells that display a marker called Qa-1 in mice; the human equivalent is HLA-E.

In the new experiments, Cantor's team showed that these Qa-1-recognizing CD8+ Tregs could be recruited to kill off the subset of the harmful T helper cells causing arthritis "and exert strong inhibitory effects on disease progression." They found that CD8+ Tregs that recognized an Hsp60 molecule on the Qa-1 T helper cells were the most effective in eliminating the overreacting T cells. The researchers showed that administering the Hsp60 antigen to the mice triggered expansion of the CD8+ Tregs already present in the animals and slowed or stopped disease development.

Moving closer to clinical relevance, the researchers will test this approach in mice carrying human immune cells that provoke an autoimmune response.

Cantor said they are also studying the possibility of using nanoparticles coated with Qa-1/Hsp60 molecules to expand CD8+ Tregs as a more practical method that might be used someday for human therapeutic tests.

###

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: http://www.dfci.harvard.edu

Thanks to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126715/New_strategy_prevents_rheumatoid_arthritis_in_mice

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