Schools Are Prisons parents should watch - The Brainwashing Of Youth, of...
new years eve times square 2012 2012 holidays prosperity japan earthquake bosom buddies anderson cooper rodney atkins
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Vonne Monai's Beauty, Health & Fitness Guide: Schools Are Prisons ...
Contests & Awards: Franchising Women, NYTimes Pitch Contest ...
Welcome to a fresh list of awards, contests and competitions for growing companies and entrepreneurs.
There are some great contests and awards in this week?s roundup.
If you?ve entered and won a contest or award listed here, let me know so we can share your news.
This list is brought to you every other week by Small Business Trends and Smallbiztechnology.com.
*****
.Biz 10th Anniversary Contest
Enter by March 31, 2012
Today, there are more than 2.2 million .biz domain registrations and Neustar is taking part in celebrating SMBs that dared to stand out in a crowd.
Businesses can visit http://www.my.biz/10year/ and share how they used .biz to increase the reach of their brand image. Once SMBs have shared their stories, visitors will cast their votes. Winners will receive awards and a Best of .Biz seal to recognize their website.
2012 SCORE Awards
Enter by March 31, 2012
The 2012 SCORE Award categories include Outstanding Veteran-Owned Small Business, Outstanding Minority-Owned Small Business and Outstanding Green Small Business. The SCORE Awards gala will be held in August and will honor successful and innovative entrepreneurs and the small business advocates who support entrepreneurship in America. See website for nomination FAQs and entry details.
BizSugar Small Business Coaching Tips #Contest
Enter by April 5, 2012
The folks at BizSugar would like to hear your coaching tips. What tips or advice can you provide to other small business owners that will enable them to successfully coach new employees, existing employees or potential employees or business associates in a positive and effective manner?
And then ask yourself this question, ?How Coachable Am I?? How do you receive feedback and coaching? Are you open to it? What techniques do you respond to? Taking a look at how you receive it may enable you to better deliver it.
Post your coaching tip (and your Twitter username) by the end of day on April 5, 2012, in the comments section on the blog for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Amazon.
GrowAmerica Springboard Competition
Enter by April 6, 2012
Grow America Springboard events allow entrepreneurs to compete for cash awards and business services to help them create new jobs and lift local economies. Grow America will provide $1,000,000 in cash awards and resources over the course of three events in 2012 and a Utah state championship in January 2013. See website for details and entry rules.
One Woman, One Franchise- #OWOF
OWOF -Franchise contestEnter by April 6, 2012
The One Woman One Franchise contest (#OWOF on Twitter) is for a woman who is interested in purchasing a franchise, but is looking for guidance and support. One winner will receive franchise ownership advice from Joel Libava, the Franchise King, as well as a package of services to get you up and running with a franchise ? including incorporation filing from Corpnet, a press release, a 6-month subscription to LivePlan, a franchise disclosure agreement review consultation by attorney Rush Nigut, online consulting from Matt About Business, and free books by Nicole Fende and Carol Roth. to qualify, you fill out the contest form here indicating in 200 words or less why you want to become a franchise owner.
Leading Moms in Business Competition
Enter by April 16, 2012
Everybody knows one. Like a super hero, she balances running a family with the heroics of running her own business. We?re talking about moms in business, of course. And now, StartupNation is conducting its third annual ranking of these astonishing entrepreneurs and the businesses they run.
Over the next few months, it?ll be your daily votes that determine the top 200 Leading Moms in Business. In addition the judges will determine special awards and accolades for moms within the top 200 who deserve special recognition.
Inc. 500/5000
Enter by April 30, 2012
There are nearly 7 million private, employee-based firms in America. Only the very best are awarded the distinction of being named to the Inc.500 | 5000, the gold standard of entrepreneurial success. You?ll be listed with other leading companies at Inc.com, and your company may be featured in the September 2012 issue.
If you are proud of your company?s growth over the past three years, you owe it to yourself ? and to your employees ? to apply for the Inc.500 | 5000.
BBB Small Business Customer Service Makeover Contest
Enter by April 30, 2012
The contest is open to small businesses headquartered in Eastern Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island or Vermont. The winning business will receive exposure of their business, improved business practices and professional advice. The contest is free to enter and will provide a learning experience for business owner(s) and employees. BBB will provide up to $5,000 in support and material funds. See website for rules and entry details.
Downtown Ithaca?s Race for the Space
Enter by May 1, 2012
Are you an existing or aspiring retailer or entrepreneur? The winner of Race for the Space will win free rent for one year in a prime retail or office space, a one year advertising package in the Ithaca Times, design services for storefront layout and signage and more. The package is worth over $40,000.
See website for details and entry rules.
2012 Lanza Enterprise Awards Program (LEAP)
Enter by May 3, 2012
Informational Teleconference April 5, 2012: (712) 451-6175, PIN-1095742#
WEDC is once again offering the Lanza Enterprise Awards Program (LEAP) to help women entrepreneurs boost their businesses to the next level. Five $5,000 equity awards will be presented to WEDC 15-Week Program graduates or participants who have completed comprehensive business plans and who meet the award criteria.
This program is a collaboration among the Lanza Family Foundation, the Women?s Research and Education Fund (WREF) and the Women?s Enterprise Development Center (WEDC). It is designed to help women who are owners of microenterprises (businesses with five or fewer employees) achieve greater business success.
The New York Enterprise Report 2012 Small Business Awards
Enter by May 21, 2012
The New York Enterprise Report Small Business Awards is the annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of the 500,000+ small businesses throughout the tri-state area. The Small Business Awards will recognize 5 small businesses for their best practices and 3 businesses under the ?Best of the Year Awards? categories.
A panel of experts in the related fields will judge all award packages. Awards will be presented to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages, revenue profits and/or long-term value. Please note the criteria and requirements listed on the awards website.
The New York Times Make Your Pitch Contest
Enter by August 29, 2012
Submit your pitch on video, telling about your product or service, your marketing plans, your customer base. Tell what makes your business different ? why it is one to watch? Do you need capital? If so, how much and what for? Most important, how are you going to make money?
All video pitches that meet the submission guidelines will be featured on The New York Times small-business Facebook page and selected pitches will be featured on the New York Times You?re the Boss Blog.
If you are putting on a small business contest, award or competition, and want to get the word out to the community, please submit it through our Events & Contests Submission Form. (We do not charge a fee to be included in this listing.) Only events of interest to small business people, freelancers and entrepreneurs will be considered and included.
Please note: The descriptions provided here are for convenience only and are NOT the official rules. ALWAYS read official rules carefully at the site holding the competition, contest or award.
[photo credit: Shorts and Longs Flickr]
war in iraq government shutdown iraq war over iraq war over maurice jones drew megyn kelly richard hamilton
Trying To Get Commercial Loans From Businesses And Financial ...
Commercial loan is proved to be lifeline by a good number of businesses, smaller or big and even home based or large manufacturing firms that want added capital to retain their business functioning. Commonly, banks are supplying loans for business. They supply this commercial loan rates to those that can meet their requirements that is an assessment of the loan returning capacity of the borrower. They analyze first the past records, existing liabilities and assets and credit score to determine the ability of the applicant to make repayments prior to they approve the loan quantity.
Banks present fixed loan quantity it doesn?t matter what perhaps necessary because they count on their findings instead of the necessary commitments the money is used for in order to meet. You?ll find also several financial institutions that give business loans other than banks. These commercial lending companies offer you money in hand from the gross monthly income of the enterprise. They?re carefully guided too by a set of specifications but they are much less strict compared to those of banks. Normally, small businesses that were not approved by banks can go to these financial institutions and get the loan using a considerable amount of cash.
These institutions optimize their rules to assist their customers due to the fact they are much more aggressive in providing loans than banks. This really is why virtually all entrepreneurs would like approaching financial institutions than banks when they wish to obtain business loans.
A fast survey of the method of getting business loans from monetary providers and banks would reveal why businesspeople depend upon them for funds. These financial companies have user friendly loan process, nevertheless banks are adhering to harder procedure that?s challenging for some individuals to follow or recognize.
The time it would require the loan processing and approval is vitally important and financial companies score high in this illustration. It might take numerous days or even weeks for banks to create the choice of irrespective of whether the loan might be approved however private corporations affirm that they can give loans in as brief as couple of hours. This is simply because the conditions that commercial lender develop are simpler to meet and are way more recommendable. The interest rate charged of the loan amount by banks and private institutions are a similar.
Related posts:
- Commercial Lending Available For Most Of Modest Businesses
- Several Kinds Of Commercial Lenders And Credit Options They Give
- Getting Suited Commercial Lenders For Your Economic Needs
- Commercial Loans For First Time And Active Organizations
- Right Monetary Selection Using A Good Commercial Lender
black friday news gamestop albert haynesworth banana republic apple store academy barnes and noble nook
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
FTC wants Congress to adopt data security law
14 hrs.
The Federal Trade Commission is asking Congress to pass legislation?to better protect consumers' digital data from being misused or shared without their knowledge.
In a new report released Monday, the agency also calls on businesses to step up efforts to protect consumer privacy, but is not counting on private industry to do so. The FTC's recommendations come?in the wake of months of controversy over the data-sharing features of many mobile apps, data that includes, in some cases, location, text messages, photos and contacts.
"In today?s world of smartphones, smart grids, and smart cars, companies are collecting, storing, and sharing more information about consumers than ever before," the FTC said in the report. "Although companies use this information to innovate and deliver better products and services to consumers, they should not do so at the expense of consumer privacy."
"If companies adopt our final recommendations for best practices -- and many of them already have -- they will be able to innovate and deliver creative new services that consumers can enjoy without sacrificing their privacy," said Jon Leibowitz, FTC chairman.
The FTC?wants companies to make privacy "the 'default setting' for commercial data practices," to give consumers "greater control over the collection and use of their personal data through simplified choices and increased transparency."
"We are confident that consumers will have an easy to use and effective Do Not Track option by the end of the year because companies are moving forward expeditiously to make it happen and because lawmakers will want to enact legislation if they don't," Leibowitz said.
In the report, "Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change: A Proposed Framework for Businesses and Policymakers," the FTC wants Congress to consider "general privacy legislation, data security and breach notification legislation, and data broker legislation," the agency said in a release about the report.
Among the FTC's specific recommendations:
- ?Privacy by design: Companies should build in consumers' privacy protections at every stage in developing their products. These include reasonable security for consumer data, limited collection and retention of such data, and reasonable procedures to promote data accuracy.
- Simplified choice for businesses and consumers: Companies should give consumers the option to decide what information is shared about them, and with whom. This should include a Do-Not-Track mechanism that would provide a simple, easy way for consumers to control the tracking of their online activities.
- Greater Transparency: Companies should disclose details about their collection and use of consumers' information, and provide consumers access to the data collected about them.
The FTC said it will focus on these five areas during the year ahead:
- Do-not-track policies: The FTC "commends the progress made in this area: browser vendors have developed tools to allow consumers to limit data collection about them, the Digital Advertising Alliance has developed its own icon-based system and also committed to honor the browser tools, and the World Wide Web Consortium standards-setting body is developing standards." The FTC says it will "work with these groups to complete implementation of an easy-to-use, persistent, and effective Do Not Track system."
- Mobile privacy:?The FTC urges companies offering mobile services to work toward improved privacy protections, including disclosures." The agency plans a May 30 workshop "to address how mobile privacy disclosures can be short, effective, and accessible to consumers on small screens."
- Data brokers:? Data brokers should "make their operations more transparent by creating a centralized website to identify themselves, and to disclose how they collect and use consumer data. In addition, the website should detail the choices that data brokers provide consumers about their own information."
- "Large platform providers": The FTC cites privacy concerns about the "extent to which platforms, such as Internet Service Providers, operating systems, browsers and social media companies, seek to comprehensively track consumers' online activities. The FTC will host a public workshop in the second half of 2012 to explore issues related to comprehensive tracking."
- Code of conduct: The agency says it will work with the?Department of Commerce and "industry stakeholders to develop industry-specific codes of conduct. To the extent that strong privacy codes are developed, when companies adhere to these codes, the FTC will take that into account in its law enforcement efforts. If companies do not honor the codes they sign up for, they could be subject to FTC enforcement actions."
Check out Technolog, Gadgetbox, Digital Life and In-Game on?Facebook,?and on Twitter, follow Suzanne Choney.
peyton manning broncos mexico city earthquake stand your ground law dancing with the stars season 14 bethenny frankel david garrard houston weather
Baylor pounds Tennessee 77-58 for Final Four bid
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) ? Top-seeded Baylor rolled through the Des Moines regional with such ease that the only stress the Bears had to endure was a late-game scuffle with Tennessee that saw Brittney Griner ejected.
Baylor can breathe easy knowing Griner won't be suspended for the Final Four.
The Lady Vols have much more to worry about in the weeks ahead.
Brittney Griner had 23 points, 15 rebounds and nine blocks before being bounced with less than a minute left for leaving the bench and Baylor pounded Tennessee 77-58 Monday night to advance to the Final Four.
The Lady Bears (38-0) are back in the national semifinals for the second time in three years and will face Stanford on Sunday night in Denver.
"Definitely happy that we got past this game. It's not over," Griner said. "It gets tougher as you go."
Should Baylor win it all, it'll become the first men's or women's team in NCAA history to finish a year with 40 wins. The powerhouse Bears are the heavy favorites to do just that, having dispatched of Georgia Tech and Tennessee by an average of 17 points.
Neither of those games ever seemed that close, either.
"We're so happy, but you can't relax," Baylor's Destiny Williams said. "We have two more games left."
Jubilation was the last thing on the minds of Tennessee (27-9), whose seniors became its first four-year Lady Vols class not to reach a Final Four.
But that was just a side note considering that their legendary coach Pat Summitt has yet to say if she'll return for a 39th season. She announced in August she'd been diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type.
"This team is about Pat Summitt. This team has battled all year," said Tennessee associate head coach Holly Warlick as she fought back tears. "I'm proud of them. I thought our team and coaching staff obviously was in a difficult situation. But I thought this team was responsive. I wouldn't trade anything that we did this year."
Baylor held Tennessee to just 30.3 percent shooting from the floor. Much of that was because of the inside presence of the 6-foot-8 Griner, who was just one block shy of her fifth career triple-double.
"Defense wins ballgames for you," Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said. "I guess learned from two of the best. I learned from (Summitt) and (former Louisiana Tech coach) Leon Barmore, you better guard people. And these kids are going to guard you."
A rather ugly game for a purist's perspective got even uglier in the final 46.8 seconds.
Baylor's Odyssey Sims, who led the Bears with 27 points, tumbled to the floor, and she and Tennessee's Shekinna Stricklen had to be separated and were each assessed a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct.
No punches were thrown, but Griner and teammates Terran Condrey and Jordan Madden were ejected for leaving the bench. The NCAA says none of the players will be suspended for the Final Four.
"She just took it the wrong way. We had a little talking back and forth," Stricklen said about Sims. "I know Odyssey Sims. We played together on USA Basketball. I apologized after the game if she took it the wrong way. It's just not me. I'm not that type of person."
As for Summitt, she was given a standing ovation from Tennessee and Baylor fans alike when she came out roughly 15 minutes before tipoff. But as defeat became apparent, she sat silently on the bench with her legs crossed.
Summitt has 1,098 wins, more than any basketball coach in NCAA history, but these Lady Bears were too much for her Lady Vols.
"It's not fun for me to coach against Pat," Mulkey said. "I don't take great pleasure in that. But I have a job to do."
Like most of Baylor's games this season, the Bears regional semifinal was more about dominance than drama.
Baylor led 35-20 at halftime despite a poor start shooting from Griner. Tennessee made a spirited charge to start the second half, highlighted when Glory Johnson scored a second-chance bucket on Griner and simply smiled when Griner tossed her to the floor.
But the Bears are unbeaten because they're much more than Griner.
Sims followed a layup through traffic with a 3 that helped Bears go back ahead 49-38 with 11:12 to go. Tennessee made one final run, cutting a 19-point deficit to 64-53 with 4:48 left, but Griner finished off the Lady Vols with six points in the next minute.
"I thought we did a good job on Griner early, I thought we did a good job on Griner the whole game. The sign of a great team is other players step up and make shots and they did," Warlick said.
Stricklen had 22 points, but she needed 26 shots to get there. Johnson finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds for Tennessee, which had a habit of starting poorly.
But the Lady Vols were ready for this one ? at least for the first few minutes.
Tennessee double-teamed Griner with center Vicki Baugh and help defenders, and Griner hit just three of 10 shots in the first half. But the Lady Vols missed nine shots in a row after an early lead, and Baylor slowly built its edge to 26-16 on three straight buckets by Sims.
The Lady Vols hung close with Baylor in late November before losing 76-67. The rematch wasn't nearly as close, sending the Bears onto Denver and Tennessee grappling with the possibility that Summitt's career is over after 38 seasons and eight national titles.
''Obviously I would want Pat's health to be better. I think like Pat, this team never gave up and they never used it as a crutch for how they were playing and what they did this year," Warlick said.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/baylor-pounds-tennessee-77-58-final-four-bid-012220613--spt.html
brady quinn brady quinn bloom box fat tuesday obama sweet home chicago accenture match play george washington carver
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Hammerhead shark double whammy
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](http://www.eurekalert.org/images/back2e.gif){kind=small}
Public release date: 26-Mar-2012[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Ken Ma
ken.ma@nova.edu
954-621-7961
Nova Southeastern University
New look-alike species may muddy the water for an endangered hammerhead
Identity confusion between a new, yet unnamed shark species, originally discovered off the eastern United States by Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center (NSU-OC) researchers, and its look-alike cousinthe endangered scalloped hammerhead sharkmay threaten the survival of both species.
According to an April 2012 article in the scientific journal Marine Biology, the new look-alike hammerhead species has now been discovered more than 4,300 miles away near the coast of southern Brazil. This confirms that the original finding was not a local oddity and the new species is much wider spread. The look-alike species may face the same fishery pressures as the real scalloped hammerhead, which is being fished unsustainably for its highly prized fins.
"It's a classic case of long-standing species misidentification that not only casts further uncertainty on the status of the real scalloped hammerhead but also raises concerns about the population status of this new species," says professor Mahmood Shivji, Ph.D., who oversaw the new research at the NSU-OC's Save Our Seas Shark Center USA and Guy Harvey Research Institute.
Tens of millions of sharks are being killed for their fins and meat worldwide, resulting in dramatic reductions in shark populations and concerns about the broad scale negative impacts to ocean ecosystems. This has prompted international protection and other management efforts to reduce the unsustainable slaughter of sharks.
"It's very important to officially recognize, name and learn more about this new hammerhead species and the condition of its populations through systematic surveys," Shivji says. "Without management intervention to curtail its inadvertent killing, we run the risk that overfishing could eradicate an entire shark species before its existence is even properly acknowledged."
Shivji's team first discovered the new hammerhead species in 2005 when examining the DNA of sharks thought to be scalloped hammerheads based on their physical appearance. A research team from the University of South Carolina independently confirmed the existence of the new species in 2006.
Combining genetic assessments of NSU and South Carolina researchers shows that at least 7 percent of the sharks in U.S. waters originally thought to be scalloped hammerheads turned out to be the new species. This means that the population of the endangered real scalloped hammerhead in U.S. waters is probably smaller than originally thought.
The status of the scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is currently under review by the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service to determine if it warrants listing as threatened or endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. It's already on the red list of endangered species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The new species is on neither list.
"We hope that during this important scalloped hammerhead status review, the new look-alike species will be recognized, and possible impacts of historical mix-ups between the two species on past scalloped hammerhead stock assessments will be considered," says Shivji.
According to Danillo Pinhal, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the UNESP-So Paulo State University in Brazil who performed the lab work as a visiting graduate student in Shivji's laboratory in 2009, "the finding of this species all the way down in Brazilian waters, where hammerhead sharks are heavily fished, raises concerns about the population status of both species not just in U.S. waters but throughout the western Atlantic. It's an international issue now and it's essential that further research on this new species be conducted in Brazilian waters."
Other than differences in their DNA, the two shark species also differ in their number of vertebrae. The new look-alike species has approximately 20 fewer vertebrae than the scalloped hammerhead, in the range of 170 vs. 190. An analysis of the DNA suggests that the new species and the scalloped hammerhead separated from each other approximately 4.5 million years ago, a surprisingly long time given how similar they look externally.
There are three well-documented species of large hammerhead sharks (scalloped, great and smooth hammerheads), and their fins have high value in the international shark fin trade. The finding of this new hammerhead now brings the total to four large species with this unique hammerhead shape.
Hammerheads and other large sharks have been overfished for years. Scientists are concerned that further reductions in their numbers and biodiversity may irreversibly alter the ocean's intricate food web and upset ecosystem balance. For example, a high-profile study has shown that the large reduction of sharks off the U.S. East Coast is associated with a huge increase in the population of one of their prey --- the cownose ray --- which in turn has then been responsible for overeating the bay scallop, dramatically reducing the supply of scallops for the fishing industry.
###
About Nova Southeastern University and its Oceanographic Center: Situated on 300 beautiful acres in Davie, Fla., Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is the eighth largest not-for-profit independent institution nationally with more than 28,000 students. NSU awards associate's, bachelor's, master's, specialist, doctoral and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields. Located in Hollywood, Fla., NSU's Oceanographic Center (OC) has been at the forefront of graduate and undergraduate marine science education and oceanographic research for more than 48 years. The OC house several research institutes. One of them, the NSU Guy Harvey Research Institute, provides the scientific information to understand, conserve, and effectively manage the world's marine fishes and their ecosystems. The other, the NSU Save Our Seas Shark Center USA, conducts research, education and conservation projects aimed at identifying and finding solutions to the major threats facing the world's elasmobranch (shark and ray) populations. For more information about the Oceanographic Center and its institutes, visit http://www.nova.edu/ocean.
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Public release date: 26-Mar-2012[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Ken Ma
ken.ma@nova.edu
954-621-7961
Nova Southeastern University
New look-alike species may muddy the water for an endangered hammerhead
Identity confusion between a new, yet unnamed shark species, originally discovered off the eastern United States by Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center (NSU-OC) researchers, and its look-alike cousinthe endangered scalloped hammerhead sharkmay threaten the survival of both species.
According to an April 2012 article in the scientific journal Marine Biology, the new look-alike hammerhead species has now been discovered more than 4,300 miles away near the coast of southern Brazil. This confirms that the original finding was not a local oddity and the new species is much wider spread. The look-alike species may face the same fishery pressures as the real scalloped hammerhead, which is being fished unsustainably for its highly prized fins.
"It's a classic case of long-standing species misidentification that not only casts further uncertainty on the status of the real scalloped hammerhead but also raises concerns about the population status of this new species," says professor Mahmood Shivji, Ph.D., who oversaw the new research at the NSU-OC's Save Our Seas Shark Center USA and Guy Harvey Research Institute.
Tens of millions of sharks are being killed for their fins and meat worldwide, resulting in dramatic reductions in shark populations and concerns about the broad scale negative impacts to ocean ecosystems. This has prompted international protection and other management efforts to reduce the unsustainable slaughter of sharks.
"It's very important to officially recognize, name and learn more about this new hammerhead species and the condition of its populations through systematic surveys," Shivji says. "Without management intervention to curtail its inadvertent killing, we run the risk that overfishing could eradicate an entire shark species before its existence is even properly acknowledged."
Shivji's team first discovered the new hammerhead species in 2005 when examining the DNA of sharks thought to be scalloped hammerheads based on their physical appearance. A research team from the University of South Carolina independently confirmed the existence of the new species in 2006.
Combining genetic assessments of NSU and South Carolina researchers shows that at least 7 percent of the sharks in U.S. waters originally thought to be scalloped hammerheads turned out to be the new species. This means that the population of the endangered real scalloped hammerhead in U.S. waters is probably smaller than originally thought.
The status of the scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is currently under review by the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service to determine if it warrants listing as threatened or endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. It's already on the red list of endangered species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The new species is on neither list.
"We hope that during this important scalloped hammerhead status review, the new look-alike species will be recognized, and possible impacts of historical mix-ups between the two species on past scalloped hammerhead stock assessments will be considered," says Shivji.
According to Danillo Pinhal, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the UNESP-So Paulo State University in Brazil who performed the lab work as a visiting graduate student in Shivji's laboratory in 2009, "the finding of this species all the way down in Brazilian waters, where hammerhead sharks are heavily fished, raises concerns about the population status of both species not just in U.S. waters but throughout the western Atlantic. It's an international issue now and it's essential that further research on this new species be conducted in Brazilian waters."
Other than differences in their DNA, the two shark species also differ in their number of vertebrae. The new look-alike species has approximately 20 fewer vertebrae than the scalloped hammerhead, in the range of 170 vs. 190. An analysis of the DNA suggests that the new species and the scalloped hammerhead separated from each other approximately 4.5 million years ago, a surprisingly long time given how similar they look externally.
There are three well-documented species of large hammerhead sharks (scalloped, great and smooth hammerheads), and their fins have high value in the international shark fin trade. The finding of this new hammerhead now brings the total to four large species with this unique hammerhead shape.
Hammerheads and other large sharks have been overfished for years. Scientists are concerned that further reductions in their numbers and biodiversity may irreversibly alter the ocean's intricate food web and upset ecosystem balance. For example, a high-profile study has shown that the large reduction of sharks off the U.S. East Coast is associated with a huge increase in the population of one of their prey --- the cownose ray --- which in turn has then been responsible for overeating the bay scallop, dramatically reducing the supply of scallops for the fishing industry.
###
About Nova Southeastern University and its Oceanographic Center: Situated on 300 beautiful acres in Davie, Fla., Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is the eighth largest not-for-profit independent institution nationally with more than 28,000 students. NSU awards associate's, bachelor's, master's, specialist, doctoral and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields. Located in Hollywood, Fla., NSU's Oceanographic Center (OC) has been at the forefront of graduate and undergraduate marine science education and oceanographic research for more than 48 years. The OC house several research institutes. One of them, the NSU Guy Harvey Research Institute, provides the scientific information to understand, conserve, and effectively manage the world's marine fishes and their ecosystems. The other, the NSU Save Our Seas Shark Center USA, conducts research, education and conservation projects aimed at identifying and finding solutions to the major threats facing the world's elasmobranch (shark and ray) populations. For more information about the Oceanographic Center and its institutes, visit http://www.nova.edu/ocean.
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-03/nsu-hsd032612.php
swain match day nene dark shadows trailer nate mcmillan clooney arrested southern miss
Son is headed toward adoption/now in foster -- Having trouble with ...
My husband and I got married two years ago. We had talked around the subject of marriage, but it didn't actually happen until I discovered I was pregnant while I had a visit to my former second home of the crisis ward in the community hospital of my hometown.
My husband had trouble accepting the reality. We both have mental illness, were living in supportive transitional housing programs (his was more permanent but still supportive), and mine... I was trying to find a more long term situation with the same agency, supportive housing on a longtime basis.
I went to crisis house, then started trying to rearrange the furniture -- acting very strangely, and I was afraid to take a shower. Fast forward to when I was finally in the hospital, and I was arguing with the doctor on the subject of medications during pregnancy. I went in to try to stage protest. I thought I would defend myself. He didn't listen at all, and I was afraid he wouldn't let me out if I didn't comply. I suppose I could have stayed in and waited, seen how it went. I wasn't thinking well obviously.
Later on, we looked for a place to stay while I was back at the crisis house. Finally, our social worker referred me to the complex where I live now. I've since moved to a one bedroom from our two-bedroom apartment that we picked out especially to begin the process of raising our son (who will be two years old at the end of April).
Our son is now in foster care. When we first got him home from the hospital, we suddenly got a call from CPS. We hadn't even settled into our home yet, but we were just staying with my mother-in-law when we got the call. They came over, and the investigation began before we even got a chance to breathe.
Our son had a bowel obstruction when he was first born. The doctors performed a procedure to see if they could move the blockage or at least diagnose a way to do so. They ended up rupturing his intestine, came up to get us to allow a colostomy operation, so he had a colostomy bag for the first six months of live.
There were a few other medical needs he had, and we took care of them. My mother-in-law helped with a lot of transportation because we always had to get to the hospital three hours away to stay consistent with appointments, etc.
My husband had a relapse on drugs while I was still at the hospital before our son ever first came home. I wasn't aware until many months later.
The arguments ended up intensifying. My husband went off his medication. The social worker I had then said I had to go stay with the mother-in-law until something was resolved. I felt this was not a good choice, but she threatened to call CPS on us herself if I did not do as she said.
I came back to my husband with the baby just before Christmas 2010. Right after the New Year, the whole thing came to a head. My social worker was supposed to check how things were going with us, but my husband was threatening to leave and go become homeless... I stood in his way, and I know you cannot control people.... I said something terrible, something about our son that I know I'll regret for the rest of my life. My husband hit me, and I know it was in defense of our son.
I called the police right then, and the social worker and police were both at our home. My husband left, went to the crisis house himself, ended up back at transitional housing, and finally I ended up with another meltdown about this time last year over some disagreements I had with my mother-in-law over medical testing for my son.
My son went into protective custody, then with my mother-in-law, then with foster care.
The Family/Children's Services office did psychological tests on us -- two on both of us. They weren't favorable, and we didn't contest. I didn't feel I would get any more support than I had from the beginning. I was nervous, and partly I had decided the things they said about me might be true, so I want my son to have the best possible life -- even if it's not with me.
I don't know what is right. I don't know if I should just accept or even if I have a choice in the matter.
Some people say I should get Chris out of my life completely. Family say that, and my minister's wife from church says that.
I feel like I don't know the right answer. I don't know if I'm blinded and I'm not seeing the events for what they really are. I don't know if I'm being selfish or if I'm giving up too easily.
All I know is I want the best for my son.
The foster/adoptive parents have talked about having it as an open adoption. They would move because the dad is in the Navy, but they have family in the area and would possibly visit with us at different times.
Someone from an agency recommended giving them self-addressed stamped envelopes, etc. We have a Facebook page where we can see photos of him.
Deep inside, I wish it didn't have to be this way. I'm conflicted between the knowledge he is in safe hands (or the assumption anyway) and the desire to be the parental figure, the mother in my son's life.
philadelphia weather the brothers grimm the brothers grimm grimm fairy tales grimm fairy tales gold rush gold rush
Still The Man To Beat (talking-points-memo)
Available Modded PS3 Controller For The Gamer | Stamp Out Piracy
Modded PS3 controller is the controls that are used in the play station games. This is a game that is known for the ability of the user and the people playing the game to have fun and also enjoy. The controls are easy to use and above all are flexible. Flexibility of the control is important in any game. modded ps3 controller
The gaming community is one that keeps growing with the introduction of new games in the market. Gaming companies therefore have a way to make money through the provision of the gaming facilities that are required. Each game will come with its own set of gaming needs.
There are various types of controls. There is the basic control kit, the custom kit and the programmable kit. The programmable one is for the gamer who would like to change the way they play the games. They make the controls more user friendly to them.
Online shops are the best for any type of shopping. One is able to order to the controls that they feel they can use comfortably. They also get to choose the color and the design that they would like the control delivered in. This is all done online.
Verifying the authenticity of any controller pads is a must. It is the only way to avoid experiencing problems with the pads once one has started playing. Faulty pads may cost more in the long run. Authentic products will last longer than any other products.
Modded PS3 controllers are just a way to enable the gaming community have fun playing games. Games are not for children or teenagers alone. There are games that the adult male would have fun with and not feel child like when playing. Innovations have made this possible. Each gamer has something to enjoy.
Learn more here: modded ps3 controller
Source: http://www.stampoutpiracy.com/software/available-modded-ps3-controller-for-the-gamer
auld lang syne end of the world 2012 pink martini times square 2012 predictions new years eve ball drop new years eve times square 2012
Wall Street rallies after Bernanke comments
[ [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 16]], 'http://yhoo.it/GSvEsj', '[RELATED:?It?s going to be a circus?: Activists begin protests outside Supreme Court]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 8]], 'http://yhoo.it/GE6jSh', '[RELATED: Obama?s health care law passed 2 years ago, but where are we now?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Witnesses said the gunman pulled up on a black scooter', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GzwOIW', '[Related: New York police tighten security at Jewish sites]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['test Zimmerman for alcohol or drugs', 11]], 'http://yhoo.it/Gzn6VF', '[Related: White House says Trayvon Martin is local issue]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 12]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/tea-party-activists-defy-rain-to-rip-obama-health-care-law-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/4/31/431f2f4f7ed388d5bc5557b0a76267fa.jpeg', '450', ' ', 'Reuters/Jonathan Ernst', ], [ [['associated with such a small earthquake', 4]], 'http://yhoo.it/GTco9z', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/0/b4/0b493c1a47b6e3f97f8f48a2b251d7d4.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger', ], [ [['Fox News host Geraldo Rivera sparked outrage', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GKMVTk', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/2/7c/27c7367bc512d233ae1790b320a5e92c.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['The charges signed against Bales include', 1]], 'http://yhoo.it/wZT5zV', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/7/a0/7a07c51b2aa0f39b1a23355046d13870.jpeg', '512', ' ', 'AP Photo/DVIDS\, Spc\. Ryan Hallock\, File', ], [ [['George Zimmerman, if I had a son', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/thousands-protest-fla-teen-death-1332387124-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/22/d761a49f3fcc99080a0f6a70670053cd-jpg_150905.jpg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['Mohamed Merah', 10], ['prosecutor Francois Molins', 5]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/four-dead-in-french-jewish-school-shooting-1332173151-slideshow', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120321/2012_03_21t151508z_425380421_gm1e83l1sqs01_rtrmadp_3_france_shootings_raid.jpg', '630', ' ', 'REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier', ], [ [['Shortly after he wrapped up his victory remarks', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['best understands the problems of average Americans', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GB2RVy', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/20/photo-1332257995646-4-0-jpg_171722.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AFP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
[ [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/stock-index-futures-signal-slight-gains-082049094.html
knicks vs heat ash wednesday kate walsh cnn debate equatorial guinea marine helicopter crash chicago weather
New home market stalling? ? Hot Air
posted at 6:30 pm on March 25, 2012 by Jazz Shaw
After showing some fresh signs of life in recent months, new home construction took a bit of a tumble this past week. As Joe Weisenthal reports, construction starts had been climbing for some time, but at least one major builder ? KB Homes ? suddenly turned in a worse than expected earnings report.
So what explains the stumble?
On Friday, shares of one major homebuilder, KB Homes, fell 8.5% after disappointing earnings.
Why the huge whiff?
We read the earnings conference call transcript at SeekingAlpha, and it makes for some interest reading for anyone interested in thes tate of the housing market.
The story spelled out by CEO Jeffrey T. Mezger is not a bad one. The company is seeing more traffic and a change in buyer confidence. In some zip codes, Metzger is confident that the market has turned around.
But there?s one thing that really slaughtered KBH this quarter: A surge in cancellations of previously placed orders, almost all due to denials by mortgage companies.
As Joe goes on to explain, KB had a sizable number of orders for new home construction on the books, but an unexpectedly large number of the prospective buyers failed to qualify for their loans from lenders other than KB?s preferred lender, MetLife. Further, in January, MetLife ?suddenly? announced that they were immediately shutting down their retail mortgage lending business which further complicated the positions of buyers.
The conclusion to the article indicates what appears to be something of a dichotomy in the housing market. Consumer confidence is improving in terms of belief that home prices have finally begun to stabilize and will not plummet further. But at the same time, lender confidence appears to remain shaky at best, with mortgage brokers keeping a tighter hold on investments. I asked one of our contacts in the banking industry (who wished to comment anonymously for professional reasons) what could explain this apparent disparity.
Obviously every case is unique and we can?t speak to the specifics of what?s going on with KB?s individual customers. But in general terms, lenders have specific criteria they examine when deciding to approve a mortgage. Two of the big ones you need to consider are employment and the debt load being carried by the applicant. We?re coming out of a period of high unemployment, so many of these people applying for a mortgage may have a job now, but not a long history on that particular job. Also, people sustaining long periods out of work can run up a lot of empty debt, and until that gets paid down, it could be seen as a negative by a lender.
Add those factors together and you could have a surge in confident buyers who are looking to build new homes, but on paper they may not be passing muster. In this way, recovery in the new housing market can easily be seen as lagging behind consumer confidence, so it will take a while before the market evens out to earlier loan approval rates and new housing starts.
So what does this mean for the coming year? (I?m honestly asking here because I?m obviously no economist.) Is housing in a sustainable period of recovery and this month?s plunge is just a glitch? Or is the market going back into retreat?
Source: http://hotair.com/archives/2012/03/25/new-home-market-stalling/
dark shadows st. bonaventure ira glass march madness swain match day nene
Rare Sighting Of Dashing, Two-Legged Hairy Sprinting Crab?
In Latin it's called Thaumoctopus mimicus, but I'd call it The Master. It's Meryl Streep in octopus form. There are ocean animals that can change shape, imitate plants, rocks, flora, and I've blogged about some of them. But this octopus is special. It seems to study other creatures and then imitate them, copying their moves and their bodies. It can do sea snakes, lion fish, flatfish, giant crabs, seashells, stingrays, jellyfish and weird beings that have no name, and maybe no earthly existence. Is it imagining? I don't know, but no scientist has ever seen a shaggy sprinting bipedal crab ? until our octopus decided to be one.
The mimic octopus lives in bays off Indonesia and Malaysia. It was discovered by some fishermen very recently, in 1998. I'm not sure how they recognized it when it can change any time it likes, but here it is, in this video, showing off ...
halftime super bowl 2012 super bowl score madonna super bowl performance superbowl commercials best superbowl commercials madonna half time m.i.a
Monday, March 26, 2012
US, Turkey agree 'non-lethal' aid for Syria rebels
[ [ [['Witnesses said the gunman pulled up on a black scooter', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GzwOIW', '[Related: New York police tighten security at Jewish sites]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['test Zimmerman for alcohol or drugs', 11]], 'http://yhoo.it/Gzn6VF', '[Related: White House says Trayvon Martin is local issue]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['associated with such a small earthquake', 4]], 'http://yhoo.it/GTco9z', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/0/b4/0b493c1a47b6e3f97f8f48a2b251d7d4.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger', ], [ [['Fox News host Geraldo Rivera sparked outrage', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GKMVTk', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/2/7c/27c7367bc512d233ae1790b320a5e92c.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['The charges signed against Bales include', 1]], 'http://yhoo.it/wZT5zV', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/7/a0/7a07c51b2aa0f39b1a23355046d13870.jpeg', '512', ' ', 'AP Photo/DVIDS\, Spc\. Ryan Hallock\, File', ], [ [['George Zimmerman, if I had a son', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/thousands-protest-fla-teen-death-1332387124-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/22/d761a49f3fcc99080a0f6a70670053cd-jpg_150905.jpg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['Mohamed Merah', 10], ['prosecutor Francois Molins', 5]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/four-dead-in-french-jewish-school-shooting-1332173151-slideshow', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120321/2012_03_21t151508z_425380421_gm1e83l1sqs01_rtrmadp_3_france_shootings_raid.jpg', '630', ' ', 'REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier', ], [ [['Shortly after he wrapped up his victory remarks', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['best understands the problems of average Americans', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GB2RVy', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/20/photo-1332257995646-4-0-jpg_171722.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AFP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
[ [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-turkey-agree-non-lethal-aid-syria-rebels-151407198.html
fidel castro gilbert arenas dexter dexter facebook timeline kim jong il kim jong il
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Food firms to aid calorie battle | Flu Symptoms, Treatment, Cold ...
24 March 2012
Last updated at 01:00 ET
There are calls for better labelling on food to help people consume less calories
Food and drink companies have promised to cut calories in their products to help tackle obesity in the UK.
The 17 firms, which include Coca-Cola, Subway and Tesco, have signed up to the government scheme.
The Department of Health says England has one of Europe?s highest obesity rates and that consuming too many calories is the root of the problem.
Among ideas to help consumers will be resealable packaging on many chocolate bars, including Cadbury?s Dairy Milk.
Under the new scheme, every chocolate bar made by Mars will have a cap of 250 calories, while the UK arm of Coca Cola says it will introduce a 30% reduction in some of its soft drinks by 2014.
And some supermarkets, such as Asda, will develop a new low calorie brand.
But Labour says the scheme is not the change needed in the nation?s diet, favouring instead better food labelling and shielding children from adverts for junk food should be the starting point.
Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-17496660
Related posts:
- New food advice for under-fives
- Offer removal, implant firms told
Source: http://flusymptomsfever.com/food-firms-to-aid-calorie-battle
lettuce recall zanesville ohio zanesville ohio light field camera world series game 1 exotic animals exotic animals
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)