Monday, October 14, 2013
Half-a-million people have fled their homes in and around the Indian state of Orissa after Cyclone Phailin made landfall.
Wikinews interviewed specialists in meteorology about the devastation the cyclone has caused.
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By James Liu
Owning a dog is a big decision to make, and should never be taken for granted. It’s a commitment that can last for several years – small dogs may live up to eight years, while larger dogs can live twelve or more years. Make sure the dog will fit right into your current living arrangements, or else it’s only going to result in a life of misery for both of you.
Before owning a dog, it’s important to examine your lifestyle, your living accommodations, and what role in your life you have planned for your dog. If you live with other individuals, such as housemates or a family, make sure they’re acquainted with the guidelines listed in this article. This’ll make it easier to split the responsibility of taking care of your dog.
It’s important to know what dog breed would be a good fit into your living arrangements. A large dog won’t stand for being locked in a cage or cooped up in a small apartment, and dogs that shed hair heavily (like German Shepherd Dogs) may quickly make a mess indoors if no one vacuums often enough.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXX9zSx6zas[/youtube]
It’s also important to check which gender you’d like to take in. There aren’t any big differences between the two genders, except that female dogs may go into heat every month and may cause a ruckus with other dogs in the neighborhood.
Puppies should be at least eight weeks old before it could be taken from their mothers. Healthy puppies are outgoing, alert, and energetic. If a puppy is shy, thin, or has obvious health problems (such as unusual discharge from its eyes or nose) may not be the best choice to take into the household.
Never forget that puppies have to be vaccinated to keep you and other individuals in your household safe. Regular visits to the vet should also be in order. All these entail expenses that you might not be able to shoulder, so double-check your financial capabilities before taking in this additional responsibility.
In order to grow up properly, puppies need three daily requirements: plenty of fresh drinking water, suitable amounts of nutrients from food, and adequate exercise. Different dog breeds have different needs. For instance, bigger, more active dogs need more protein-rich food and greater levels of exercise.
Dogs also need shelter from the elements and plenty of shade during the summer months, and indoor pets must have regular access to the outdoors for elimination. Whatever their living arrangements, all dogs require the loving attention of their owners. Make sure they don’t get bored being cooped up in the house or kennel all day. As a rule, dogs need to exercise at least twice a day. Take them out for walks or let them loose to run in the yard.
Finally, grooming considerations vary from breed to breed. Short-coated dogs usually need to be brushed once or twice a week, while long-haired dogs may need daily grooming to prevent the coat from any matting or tangling. Dogs need only be bathed when dirty, and the shampoo used should protect the coat’s natural oils. Grooming also includes attending to the dog’s eyes, ears, teeth, anal glands, and nails. Your dog’s vet can show you the proper way to administer these special grooming practices.
About the Author: Jim Liu is the creator of
Petclips.tv
. He owns a cat named Snowrunt with his family.
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Saturday, November 23, 2019
In findings published Wednesday in Environmental Science and Technology, researchers from the University of Washington and Stanford University reported that premature deaths in the United States attributable to the pollution produced by power plants were disproportionately caused by coal; that race was a significant factor in who was affected; and that a substantial fraction of the deaths were from pollution crossing state lines.
The study focused on particulate matter, or PM2.5, specifically airborne particles under 2.5 micrometers in diameter. To track the movement of these particles across the United States, the research team established a reduced-complexity model, which can complete analyses faster than traditional models, so the team’s study could encompass nearly all the United States’ power plants.
Particulate matter in the air, like that produced at power plants, can cause lung problems, heart attacks and stroke, which then lead to premature death. In the United States alone, particulate matter is indirectly responsible for reportedly upwards of 100,000 deaths annually.
According to the study, in 2014 in the continental United States, roughly 16,000 premature deaths were attributable to power plants, an estimated 91% of those from coal. The researchers also found in 36 states most of the people who died were affected by pollution generated in another state. For example, 37% of the power plant pollution that reaches Ohio comes from plants in nearby Indiana.
The study’s lead author, doctoral candidate Maninder Thind, said, “We looked at emissions from different types of power plants — including coal, natural gas, diesel and oil power plants — and modeled how the pollutants would travel based on things like wind patterns or rain. We also consider how emissions can react in the atmosphere to form fine particle air pollution […] That gave us a map of pollution concentrations across the country. Then we overlaid that map with data from the census to get an estimate of where people live and how this pollution results in health impacts.”
Even after the researchers adjusted their data for economic factors, premature deaths from this type of pollution were stratified by race, with the highest likelihood for black Americans, at a rate of seven per 100,000 people. They were followed by non-Latino white Americans at six per 100,000; for all other racial groups in the country, there were only four premature deaths per 100,000. Income did affect people’s level of exposure but to a far less pronounced extent, a difference of one per 100,000 between annual incomes below US$10,000 versus above $200,000.
Another co-author, civil and environmental engineering professor Julian Marshall, said, “We’ve seen in our previous research that our society is more segregated by race than by income, and now it’s showing up again with air pollution from electricity generation emissions […] These results can help local, state or national governments make more informed decisions that will improve everyone’s air quality and quality of life.”
Marshall noted, “It’s especially relevant these days because of what the federal government is doing — or actually not doing — around air pollution and around these issues in general[.]”
Friday, September 14, 2007
The Kennedy Center announced that its 30th presentation of the Kennedy Center Honors would go to pianist Leon Fleisher, comedian Steve Martin, singer Diana Ross, director Martin Scorsese and musician Brian Wilson. The Center was opened to the public in 1971 and was envisioned as part of the National Cultural Center Act, which mandated that the independent, privately-funded institution would present a wide variety of both classical and contemporary performances, commission the creation of new artistic works, and undertake a variety of educational missions to increase awareness of the arts.
In a statement, Kennedy Center Chairman Stephen A. Schwarzman said that “with their extraordinary talent, creativity and perseverance, the five 2007 honorees have transformed the way we, as Americans, see, hear and feel the performing arts.”
Fleisher, 79, a member of the Peabody Institute‘s music faculty, is a pianist who lost use of his right hand in 1965 due to a neurological condition. He became an accomplished musician and conductor through the use of his left hand. At 67, he regained the use of his right hand. With the advent of Botox therapy, he was once more able to undertake two-hand performances in 2004, his first in four decades. “I’m very gratified by the fact that it’s an apolitical honor,” Fleisher said. “It is given by colleagues and professional people who are aware of what [an artist] has done, so it really is apolitical — and that much more of an honor.”
Martin, 62, a comedian who has written books and essays in addition to his acting and stand-up comedy career, rose to fame during his work on the American television program Saturday Night Live in the 1970’s. Schwarzman praised his work as that of a “renaissance comic whose talents wipe out the boundaries between artistic disciplines.” Martin responded to the honor saying, “I am grateful to the Kennedy Center for finally alleviating in me years of covetousness and trophy envy.”
Ross, 63, was a product of Detroit‘s Brewster-Douglass Projects when as a teeager she and friends Mary Wilson and Florence Ballardis formed The Supremes, a ground-breaking Motown act. She portrayed singer Billie Holiday in the 1972 film Lady Sings the Blues, which earned her an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe award. “Diana Ross’ singular, instantly recognizable voice has spread romance and joy throughout the world,” said Schwarzman. Ross said she was “taken aback. It is a huge, huge honor and I am excited to be in this class of people.”
Scorsese, 64, is one of the most accomplished directors the United States ever produced, whose work includes Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, GoodFellas, Cape Fear, The Last Temptation of Christ and The Departed, for which he won a 2006 Academy Award for Best Director after being nominated eight times. Scorsese said, “I’m very honored to be receiving this recognition from the Kennedy Center and proud to be joining the company of the very distinguished individuals who have received this honor in years past.”
Wilson, 65, along with his brothers Dennis and Carl, formed the Beach Boys in 1961. They had a series of hits that included “Surfin’ U.S.A.” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” Their 1966 album Pet Sounds is considered one of the most influential recordings in American music. “This is something so unexpected and I feel extremely fortunate to be in the company of such great artists,” said Wilson, who is currently on tour.
The Kennedy Center’s board of trustees is responsible for selecting honorees for “lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts.” Previous honorees, including Elton John and Steven Spielberg, also submitted recommendations. A wide variety of people were under consideration, including Emanuel Ax, Evgeny Kissin, Renee Fleming, Laurence Fishburne, Francis Ford Coppola, Melissa Etheridge and Kenny Chesney.
President Bush and first lady Laura Bush will attend the center’s presentation at its opera house on December 2, 2007, which will broadcast on December 26 on CBS.
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By Andy Youtz
So, how does youth self defense keep your child safe and not put them in danger? Read on and find out what is needed to protect your child from your child and everyone else.
With the introduction of the internet came international access to a variety of self defense products and defensive devices to protect all types of men and women. Items such as stun guns, Tasers, pepper spray and expandable steel batons have become a common assistant for many Americans. While these devices are great and most are very effective, they do have one huge drawback they are not for children. So, how do you keep your child safe if they cannot carry the items made to keep people safe? The crazy thing is that children are most vulnerable and perhaps need the devices more than anyone. I guess it would be a bad idea to have millions of children running around with Tasers and big steel sticks, but we need to keep them safe nevertheless. Youth self defense will do just that.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOlRI_Hm1Po[/youtube]
I have been asked many times about youth self defense products. I always reply with just about the same answer. When asked my reply is usually it depends on the age of the child. A teenager can be taught to use a defensive device that is legal for almost anyone such as a kubotans or perhaps they may be served best by a good self defense course. If your child is younger it is best to educate them about the dangers of life including walking home from school and even being home alone. Education and awareness of ones surroundings are the keys for any successful self defense situation regardless of age.
After informing your child of the dangers of the world you may also want to arm them with a personal alarm and/or a quality youth self defense class. There are many personal alarms on the market today that will be an effective tool for children. My personal choice for a child would be the Stun Factory Banshee personal alarm. This devise is very small, comes in bright colors that kids like and is easily activated. When the strap is pulled, a small metal pin is pulled out of the alarm triggering its very loud siren. One of the best features is that when the strap and metal pin pulls out, it does not come out the entire way, preventing your child from losing the trigger strap. Other personal alarms will also be effective for children and some even come with strobe lights and other visual warning signals. Whatever alarm you choose be sure that it is at least 120 Db, any less and it may not be an effective youth self defense device. To find a self defense class for your child you can check your local phone book. There are classes designed just for children of almost any age. I suggest sitting in on a class before signing up to see if the instruction is what you are looking for.
Now you can arm your child without worrying if they will end up shocked, sprayed or knocked in the head by a baton. Using some of these youth self defense tips should provide a good start to protecting your child and keeping them safe from themselves. I must stress again that education and awareness of your surroundings may just be the most important thing you can do to keep them safe.
About the Author: Andrew Youtz is a security expert with years of experience dealing with all types of security from home protection to business surveillance.
Click here to find out more about youth self defense.
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Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The European Commission currently has proposals on the table to extend performers’ copyright terms. Described by Professor Martin Kretschmer as the “Beatles Extension Act”, the proposed measure would extend copyright from 50 to 95 years after recording. A vast number of classical tracks are at stake; the copyright on recordings from the fifties and early sixties is nearing its expiration date, after which it would normally enter the public domain or become ‘public property’. E.U. Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services Charlie McCreevy is proposing this extension, and if the other relevant Directorate Generales (Information Society, Consumers, Culture, Trade, Competition, etc.) agree with the proposal, it will be sent to the European Parliament.
Wikinews contacted Erik Josefsson, European Affairs Coordinator for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (E.F.F.), who invited us to Brussels, the heart of E.U. policy making, to discuss this new proposal and its implications. Expecting an office interview, we arrived to discover that the event was a party and meetup conveniently coinciding with FOSDEM 2008 (the Free and Open source Software Developers’ European Meeting). The meetup was in a sprawling city centre apartment festooned with E.F.F. flags and looked to be a party that would go on into the early hours of the morning with copious food and drink on tap. As more people showed up for the event it turned out that it was a truly international crowd, with guests from all over Europe.
Eddan Katz, the new International Affairs Director of the E.F.F., had come over from the U.S. to connect to the European E.F.F. network, and he gladly took part in our interview. Eddan Katz explained that the Electronic Frontier Foundation is “A non-profit organisation working to protect civil liberties and freedoms online. The E.F.F. has fought for information privacy rights online, in relation to both the government and companies who, with insufficient transparency, collect, aggregate and make abuse of information about individuals.” Another major focus of their advocacy is intellectual property, said Eddan: “The E.F.F. represents what would be the public interest, those parts of society that don’t have a concentration of power, that the private interests do have in terms of lobbying.”
Becky Hogge, Executive Director of the U.K.’s Open Rights Group (O.R.G.), joined our discussion as well. “The goals of the Open Rights Group are very simple: we speak up whenever we see civil, consumer or human rights being affected by the poor implementation or the poor regulation of new technologies,” Becky summarised. “In that sense, people call us -I mean the E.F.F. has been around, in internet years, since the beginning of time- but the Open Rights Group is often called the British E.F.F.“
Friday, June 13, 2008
British drivers have been urged not to panic buy fuel because of the 4-day walkout by delivery drivers working for companies delivering to Shell petrol stations. The 600 workers have walked out over pay disagreements, wanting an increase to their current pay of £36,500, however their union Unite turned down a last-minute offer of £41,500.
Hoyer UK, which employs tanker drivers for Shell, said, “We extended our offer to the very limits that our business could sustain.” However Unite said in a press release that, “this dispute could have been resolved if Shell had advanced a fraction of the billions of pounds in profit they make every month”, continuing to say, “one of the world’s richest companies is prepared to play Pontius Pilate and see the British public inconvenienced rather than settle this dispute for a sum smaller than the chairman’s pay increase last year”
Shell admitted that the walkout could leave some of its 1,000 forecourts without fuel, but the UK Petrol Industry Association, which represent oil refiners, said that forecourts would have around 4 days of supply, maintaining usual stocking levels. Shell also commented that the strike impact would be “significant”, as the company runs around 1 in 10 of all petrol stations in the UK.
British Business Secretary, John Hutton, said that “the strike, which will have a disproportionate effect on people in Britain, cannot be justified,” and urged both sides to resume negotiations in order to settle the dispute. “We have been working closely with industry to put in place detailed contingency plans to reduce as far as possible the disruption for the driving public,” he added. Unite’s press release also confirms that “provision has been made for fire, police and the emergency services.”
Tanker drivers on strike have set up picket lines at many of Shell’s UK refineries, including those in Stanlow, Avonmouth, Plymouth, Pembroke, Cardiff, Kingsbury, Basildon, Grangemouth, Aberdeen, Inverness, Jarrow and Luton Airport.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
A pipe has burst in New York City, the largest city in the United States, causing a generator to explode. The explosion occurred in Midtown Manhattan near Grand Central Terminal (GCT) and the Chrysler Building, and approximately at the intersection of 41st Street and Lexington Avenue. Nearby buildings have been evacuated, and a large area has been blocked off. There are reports of a very large crater at the scene.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) has officially ruled out terrorism. Grand Central Station was quickly evacuated soon after the incident. Subway lines 4, 5 and 6 have no service in both directions between the 125th Street Station and the Bowling Green Station. 42nd Street Shuttle service has been shut completely.
The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) received a call at 5:56 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) reporting an explosion. More than 170 firefighters were dispatched to the scene. Witnesses reported that buildings in the nearby area shook. This was a five-alarm response.
At least 20 people have been reported injured, and one woman, Lois Baumerich, died from a heart attack. Two people are currently in critical condition.
There are potentially harmful materials at the scene of the explosion and HAZMAT crews are on the scene to clean up debris. There are reports that pipes were wrapped in asbestos, but the air is being tested, and results should be available late Wednesday night.
ConEdison Workers are on the scene as well, and it appears that they are working nearby.
Emergency workers are reporting that the situation is not under control. They are still unable to confirm why the pipe exploded due to the inaccessible nature of the scene at the source of the explosion. The pressure of steam has subsided and the air appears to have cleared, revealing the crater. Disruption of electricity in the surrounding area is minimal.
GCT is reported to be reopened at this time. An area was cordoned off and people trapped in the vicinity due to fears of asbestos pollution resulting from the explosion.
According to a press conference with the mayor, the pipe involved was built in 1924, and a likely cause of the eruption and explosion was cold water leaking into the pipe, possibly from rain or from a water pipe. A tow truck had fallen into the crater left by the explosion, and the explosion also shattered glass on nearby buildings.
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By Yuri Elkaim
The purpose of this article is not to scare you but to enlighten you, although it may do both. These days the consumption of carbonated beverages (such as soft drinks), especially among our youth, is quite disconcerting when you consider that these beverages are toxic to the human body. The following is a list of some of these toxic compounds: sugar, carbonation, aspartame, food dyes and phosphoric acid.
SUGAR
In 1900, the average consumption of sugar was approximately lb/person/year. Currently, we roughly consume an appalling 180 lbs/person/year! The results on the body speak for themselves. Furthermore, the average soft drink has 10 tsp of sugar per can. No wonder pop is so addictive for so many people.
CARBONATION
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VczxS-q0ih8[/youtube]
Carbonation is created by pumping carbon dioxide into water or other liquid. You may recall that carbon dioxide is a waste product of cellular and food metabolism, as such the body wants to expel it. So why would anyone want to further add a waste product to their body? Carbonated beverages also burden the body by weakening stomach acid, thereby interfering with proper digestion.
ASPARTAME
Aha! But I only drink diet sodas! you say. Unfortunately, eventhough diet sodas have less sugar than regular soda they contain another concern – aspartame. Aspartame is a low calorie artificial sweetener that has the effect of lowering your bodys metabolism. As a result, a 400 calorie meal now becomes an 800 calorie meal! Aspartame has also been linked to convulsions, depression, insomnia, irritability, weakness, dizziness, migraines, and mood changes.
FOOD DYES
Many carbonated beverages contain food dyes that are unfit for human consumption. Many of these artificial colourings have been connected to ailments such Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and, according to Dr. Walkers book Water Can Undermine Your Health, more than a million children today are afflicted with cerebral lesions caused by soft drinks!
PHOSPHORIC ACID
This is the substance that causes the soft drink to bubble and fizz. Being an acid, phosphoric acid burns your insides but more importantly upsets your bodys delicate phosphorus-calcium balance. You may recall that calcium can be released from the bones to restore proper pH balance in the blood. As a result, the presence of phosphoric acid can lead to the weakening of the skeletal structure and hence osteoporosis. In 1994, The Journal of Adolescent Health, reported a strong association between cola beverage consumption and bone fractures in girls. Numerous studies have confirmed this result.
So the next time you reach for the soft drink or sparkling water, I urge you to think twice. Think about what this fizzy acidic liquid will be doing to your internal environment. If you have the choice go with purified water that will replenish and revitalize your body!
About the Author: Yuri Elkaim is the author of Eating for Energy,a guide to healthy eating that has awaken the world to the power of natural living foods. It includes 120 recipes, a 12-week meal plan, and more great nutritional tools for living the best life ever! For more information, visit
eatingforenergy.ca
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009
The prime minister of Israel, Binyamin Netanyahu, told a news conference earlier today that there will be a ten-month stop in the construction of new settlement housing in the West Bank. The Israeli cabinet approved the move by a margin of eleven to one.
“We have been told by our friends that once Israel takes the first meaningful steps towards peace, the Arab world and the Palestinians will follow,” said Netanyahu following the cabinet’s endorsement of the move. “Well, the government of Israel has taken a very big step towards peace today, and I hope the Palestinian and the Arab world will work with us to forge a new beginning for our children and theirs.”
The freeze was made “out of broad national interests with the aim of encouraging negotiations with our Palestinian neighbours,” he continued. “When the period of freeze ends my government will return to the previous policy of building in Judea and Samaria [the Jewish name for the West Bank].”
“This is a far-reaching and painful step […] We hope that this decision will help launch meaningful negotiations to reach an historic peace agreement that will finally end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians,” Netanyahu later said.
Under the plan, construction permits for new residential buildings would be put on hold for ten months. The government said that “natural growth” — characterised by the construction of homes by young people, who were raised in the settlements and want to build houses for their own families — would be exempt from the freeze. Parts of the West Bank that Israel annexed to the Jerusalem municipality would also be excluded from the freeze. The building of schools and places of worship, which will enable settlers to live what Netanyahu described as “normal lives”, will also continue.
“We will not halt existing construction and we will continue to build synagogues, schools, kindergartens and public buildings essential for normal life in the settlements,” he commented.
The prime minister added that there would be no change to Israel’s existing policy on the issue of Jerusalem. “Regarding Jerusalem, our sovereign capital, our position is well-known. We do not put any restrictions on building in our sovereign capital,” he said.
Several members of the Israeli cabinet expressed their disapproval at the proposal, with the conservative, ultra-Orthodox Shas party boycotting the cabinet meetings.
“I think it’s a complete crumbling of Netanyahu’s position and is contrary to all of his electoral promises. He promised an end to unilateral steps, and here we see him after only a few months in office giving up, even though there is no reciprocity from the Palestinians,” said the head of the main settler lobby, Danny Dayan, to the Christian Science Monitor. We are 300,000 citizens, living in 150 communities. It is impossible to freeze us. I don’t how it will happen, but we will break this freeze.”
Many Palestinians also criticised the proposal, mainly because East Jerusalem was not included in the settlement freeze. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a Palestinian spokesman, said to the Wafa news agency that Palestine “rejects returning to peace talks without the complete cessation of settlement activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem.”
Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad also rejected the plan. “The exclusion of east Jerusalem is a very, very serious problem for us. We are not looking for the resumption of the process just for the sake of it, for it to falter a week or two down the road,”
Israel captured East Jerusalem from Jordanian control, following Israel’s victory in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. The Jewish state annexed that part of the city in a move that was not recognized by the international community.
Earlier this week, on a visit to Argentina, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stepped up his campaign to put international pressure on Israel to stop building on lands that Palestinians say are their own. Abbas urged US president Barack Obama, as well as leaders of other nations that support Israel, to press the Jewish state to end its construction of settlements on occupied lands.
Netanyahu has in the past offered to restrain settlement growth, but today’s announcement was the first time that he set a clear timeframe.