Is colony collapse disorder just the visible part of a "global pollinator crisis"? The answer is surprisingly murky. To help answer the question, scientists have created an inexpensive, nationwide wild bee monitoring program
By Sarah Fecht
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May 8, 2012?|
Image: Graham Snodgrass
Bees are making headlines these days, and not in a positive way. Colony collapse disorder has cut through honeybee populations, with some beekeepers reportedly losing up to 90 percent of their stock in recent years. European bee populations are also declining, and so are some species of North American bumblebee. That data is often interpreted to mean that all of the world's 20,000 bee species are in danger, and that we may be in the midst of a "global pollinator crisis." But there's little data to back up those claims, scientists say.
"When you look at what's out there in the public press, the implication is that pollinators are all under threat, that there's some kind of mysterious decline across the board," says Sam Droege, a biologist at U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. "The problem is, there's really no data to show that either way."
View the Native Bee Slide Show.
A new paper, published in the Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, offers a ray of hope for native bee species. In this research, Droege and his colleagues compiled a list of 770 species that are historically native to the eastern U.S. They sent this list to a network of bee experts, asking them to note which species they had found within the past 20 years. The survey revealed that 95 percent of the bee species that lived 150 years ago have not gone extinct. Thirty-seven species were nowhere to be found, but the researchers pointed out that those bees had been rare to begin with and were often subject to taxonomic confusion. The paper offers "a clarification to the 'all pollinators are going to hell' point of view," Droege says.
It is important to understand the health of our native pollinators, because "in the absence of pollination, whole communities could collapse," says USGS ecologist Ralph Grundel. "If plants can't reproduce, you lose the primary producers, and then the species that depend on them." It is also estimated that bees pollinate about a third of the food that we eat, at a value of about $15 billion per year.
Grundel, who was not involved in the research, said that the paper is a good starting point. "It's useful because they've put together this information on what was out there historically, and what still is out there. But the fact that they're not finding mass extinctions is not the equivalent of knowing whether species are declining or in jeopardy."
Droege, too, said that the conclusions are weaker than he'd like. "We'd love to make statements more detailed than, 'Yup, we found 'em!' But if we didn't do this paper, we basically wouldn't know anything at all," he says.
John Ascher, an invertebrate zoologist at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), agreed. He wrote in an e-mail that "we don't even know what native bees exist, as many remain undescribed or unidentifiable. Nor do we know where they live, as even state lists remain highly incomplete despite our best efforts?. As to how the bees are doing?we know even less."
In order to really understand the health of native bees, scientists need to document species' distribution and abundance as well as monitor how those numbers change over time. That's why Droege and several colleagues are working with the U.S. Forest Service to set up a nationwide bee-monitoring program. He recruited 11 experimental forest stations from places as far-flung as Maine, Colorado and Puerto Rico, and has created a standardized, almost foolproof collection strategy.
Planning a living will isnt a thing many people would welcome. Some even dread this process. Theres some thing uncomfortable in pondering of that day when one particular isnt any for a longer time able of deciding, or undertaking things for one self. That is why, a manual inside the kind of a living will kit is incredibly welcome. A residing will package alleviates the unpleasant sensation of struggling with the truth that at some point one is often as helpless for a newborn.
A dwelling will, generally known as an Advance Directive, can be a legal doc that states a persons decisions or selections relating to prolonged or very long time period clinical therapy with the time when he or she is no for a longer time ready to do so. Theres two varieties of living will- the general and statutory residing wills. A normal residing will states that which you would like, with out conforming to any regular. Conversely, a statutory residing will is usually an authorized kind living will that conforms on the necessities of your state law of living wills.
It really is wise to organize a living will when one continues to be nutritious and perfectly. There are numerous online websites that present dwelling will info. You are able to obtain a totally free residing will kind and apply ways to create a living will. Be sure to study and examine with overall health gurus the guidelines you propose to place in the living will.
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one. The necessary dwelling will kinds and paperwork. The types are prepared to use even so the person need to verify if they conform using the form needed from the state he or she is residing in. 2. The treatment how to make a residing will, from the preparation up to the signing with the living will. three. Recommendations on what to do with the achieved living will.
Living wills differ due to the fact its a personal document unique to its maker but you can find essential necessities to produce it authorized, as follows: 1. Authorized competence of its owner/maker to complete a residing will. The qualifications are stated in the kit. 2. Signatures on the maker/owner and two legitimate witnesses. A dwelling will operator thats not able to signal could consult a person else to take action on their behalf. The two witnesses really should be eighteen yrs previous and above and meet the necessities specified by legislation. The one who signed for that maker /owner could not be one of several two witnesses. 3. Date and notarization if needed because of the state. 4. Check in the event the guidelines during the residing will conform into the scenarios or cases that may be legally identified through the state. Commonly, the recommendations must use to conditions wherever the maker/owner with the will features a terminal sickness, has been unconscious for along time that it may be regarded as ?permanent? and any health care therapy would only serve to prolong or sustain the current issue.
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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors brushed off Europe's election results, as the S&P 500 rebounded from early losses to end nearly unchanged on Monday, despite the uncertainty surrounding the euro zone's ability to tackle its debt crisis.
U.S. financial stocks, normally highly sensitive to events that could unsettle the euro zone's fiscal stability, were not only the biggest gainers, but had the heaviest volume.
The S&P 500 financial sector index <.gspf> rose 0.7 percent. Bank of America shares shot up 2.8 percent to $7.96 and Goldman Sachs gained 1 percent to $110.04.
"One positive thing we are seeing out of the elections and we are hearing from the ECB chairman is a focus on growth and that austerity measures alone are not going to get them out of this crisis," said Sean Lynch, global investment strategist for Wells Fargo Private Bank in Omaha, Nebraska.
"So if there are more growth-oriented measures, that could help the banking system and could be a positive for the economy as well."
Analysts pointed to a potential government bailout for troubled Spanish bank Bankia as a boost for the sector.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.dji> slipped 29.74 points, or 0.23 percent, to 13,008.53 at the close. But the Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.spx> inched up just 0.48 of a point, or 0.04 percent, to 1,369.58. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.ixic> added 1.42 points, or 0.05 percent, to 2,957.76.
The election results from Europe initially roiled futures markets on Sunday night, but markets were able to rebound. Greeks voted to cast out ruling parties in elections on Sunday, dealing a blow to the fragile political consensus that has kept Europe's currency bloc intact through more than two years of crisis.
In France, Socialist Francois Hollande won the presidency over incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy, raising pressure on Germany to pursue a more growth-oriented approach to the regional crisis.
In the biotech sector, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc soared 55.4 percent to $58.12 after data from a mid-stage study showed the company's cystic fibrosis drug Kalydeco, when combined with its experimental treatment for the disease, led to significant improvement in lung function. The NYSEArca biotech index <.btk> climbed 3.4 percent.
In addition to the gains in the U.S. financial sector, homebuilders' shares also advanced in Monday's session. The Philadelphia Stock Exchange index of housing-related shares <.hgx> rose 0.9 percent.
As the earnings season draws to a close, 420 S&P 500 companies had reported results as of Monday morning, with 67.6 percent exceeding estimates, according to Thomson Reuters data. In contrast, more than 80 percent had beaten expectations at the start of the season.
Cognizant Technologies Solutions Corp slid 19.2 percent to $56.30 as the biggest drag on the S&P 500, after cutting its profit and revenue outlooks.
PepsiCo climbed 1.1 percent to $66.62 after Morgan Stanley upgraded its view on the U.S. beverage industry to "attractive" and raised PepsiCo Inc to "overweight" from "equal weight.
Volume was 6.28 billion shares on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq and the NYSE Amex, below the daily average of around 6.76 billion.
On the New York Stock Exchange, advancers outnumbered decliners by a ratio of about 8 to 7. On the Nasdaq, nearly 14 stocks rose for every 11 that fell.
(Reporting by Angela Moon; Editing by Jan Paschal)
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Browse > Home / Around Town / See Your Career Soar at the Runway To Business Networking Fair
Some of the positions that may be discussed at the Runway To Business Opportunity Networking Fair include construction, and advertising and car rentals.
Are you looking for the next big career fair or networking event in the Humble ? Houston metro area? ?Have you ever thought about working in the airline industry?
The Annual?Runway To Business Opportunity Networking Fair?(RTBONF) is returning to the Humble Civic Center on Thursday, May 10th for another great event full of fun, flight, and fraternity. Now in it?s 6th consecutive year, the?RTBONF continues the tradition set out by the Houston Airports System?of helping everyone get an equal shot at achieving their career goals.
Possible Houston Airport System positions that may be discussed at the RTBONF this year include?construction, facility maintenance, advertising and car rentals, airport concessions, to name a few.
Its worth noting that even if you?re not looking for a job, this is still a Networking Fair,?and is a great opportunity for you to expand your professional network throughout the Houston metro area.
Suffice to say, dress professionally and bring several up-to-date copies of your resume.
This is a FREE event, but you will need to register online for it.
The Humble Civic Center is?within easy walking distance from your Humble apartments.
WSU researches patterns of heavy alcohol use and life commitments in at-risk young adultsPublic release date: 8-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Julie O'Connor julie.oconnor@wayne.edu 313-577-8845 Wayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research
DETROIT A Wayne State University researcher believes a better understanding of risk factors for excessive alcohol use may one day help at-risk adolescents transition more quickly to healthier and more productive behavior patterns in young adulthood.
To further that understanding, Tim Bogg, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology in WSU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has received a three-year, $731,000 grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health. Through "A Longitudinal Study of Alcohol Dependence in Late Adolescence" he will investigate the influences of conscientiousness-related personality traits, cognitive ability and social investment on patterns of excessive alcohol use over time. He also will examine how specific brain regions might play a role in reward-seeking behaviors.
Recent decades have given rise to what Bogg calls "extended adolescence," an increasingly longer time span when many young people begin making personal and social investments in their education, careers and personal relationships. Such commitments can be affected by excessive alcohol use and related problems, such as drug use, conduct or antisocial personality problems. Research has shown that people with such problems tend to display reduced self-control, responsibility, intelligence, short-term memory, and ability to successfully shift attention.
The social investment hypothesis Bogg will test holds that individual differences in development during late adolescence and young adulthood are influenced by participating in and committing to normative social roles. Meeting expectations of roles such as college student, employee or romantic partner leads to positive reinforcements that reward more controlled, plan-oriented and reliable behaviors and tendencies.
His current study extends his work at Indiana University, where he earned his doctoral degree in 2006, which also investigated such associations.
"Here we're looking at whether commitment to school, work or a romantic relationship predicts, decreases or even buffers against problems for people who, through personality or reduced cognitive capacity, might be at risk for excessive alcohol consumption," Bogg said.
Over two and a half years, researchers will examine patterns of change associated with social investment. The study also will track the interaction of brain activity and personality traits over time something very few researchers have tried, Bogg said.
A subset of subjects representing a full spectrum of alcohol consumption will complete a computerized balloon inflation task to examine reward-seeking cognitive control. The task requires subjects to decide whether to continue inflating a balloon based on an increasing wager amount. As in real life, the balloon can be overinflated and explode, resulting in a lost wager.
During the task, a magnetic resonance imaging scanner will be used to look at the medial prefrontal cortex of subjects' brains, an area thought to be involved in risk and reward appraisal, as well as performance monitoring, which involves updating future responses based on past outcomes.
"The idea is to see whether there are differences in brain activity depending on alcohol consumption and related levels of conscientiousness, social investment and cognitive ability," Bogg said. "We're also trying to see if we can predict change. The real question is, how do these things influence each other over time?"
The amount of engagement or involvement in normative roles might act as a buffer against alcohol abuse or dependence, he said. Many Wayne State students tend to have more outside commitments than participants in his previous study, and Bogg expects that to be reflected in the results.
The current study also aims to use the data to develop interventions that can help foster maturation by increasing normative social investment. Such interventions could last eight to 10 weeks and include a social cognitive psychology principle called "implementation intentions."
For example, Bogg said, when a student is tempted to go out on a Thursday night before an exam on Friday, that student can be taught to develop their own concrete and specific alternatives, such as planning and committing to study with a friend at a library or cafe.
Interventions also could involve inducements for social investment by clarifying individuals' goals and providing accountability for those goals.
"Some students come in with a good understanding of what it takes to succeed; others with no tools at all," Bogg said, noting that drinking can interfere with poorly formed goals.
"Bringing those goals to the fore can have two benefits," he said. "One is curtailing excessive alcohol consumption; the other is helping the person achieve those personal goals that relate to educational development and career aspirations."
Emerging adulthood is a relatively new life stage in the developed world, Bogg said. It can be a time of personal exploration and trying different roles without many serious consequences. However, as economic conditions stagnate and the job market becomes more competitive, he believes shortening that period could prove useful for some people.
"If maturing out of excessive alcohol use is a developmental process, then providing a little inducement and training to help people further commit to a role in which they're already engaged might help push them toward healthier drinking patterns and increased psychological maturity."
###
Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
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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.
WSU researches patterns of heavy alcohol use and life commitments in at-risk young adultsPublic release date: 8-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Julie O'Connor julie.oconnor@wayne.edu 313-577-8845 Wayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research
DETROIT A Wayne State University researcher believes a better understanding of risk factors for excessive alcohol use may one day help at-risk adolescents transition more quickly to healthier and more productive behavior patterns in young adulthood.
To further that understanding, Tim Bogg, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology in WSU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has received a three-year, $731,000 grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health. Through "A Longitudinal Study of Alcohol Dependence in Late Adolescence" he will investigate the influences of conscientiousness-related personality traits, cognitive ability and social investment on patterns of excessive alcohol use over time. He also will examine how specific brain regions might play a role in reward-seeking behaviors.
Recent decades have given rise to what Bogg calls "extended adolescence," an increasingly longer time span when many young people begin making personal and social investments in their education, careers and personal relationships. Such commitments can be affected by excessive alcohol use and related problems, such as drug use, conduct or antisocial personality problems. Research has shown that people with such problems tend to display reduced self-control, responsibility, intelligence, short-term memory, and ability to successfully shift attention.
The social investment hypothesis Bogg will test holds that individual differences in development during late adolescence and young adulthood are influenced by participating in and committing to normative social roles. Meeting expectations of roles such as college student, employee or romantic partner leads to positive reinforcements that reward more controlled, plan-oriented and reliable behaviors and tendencies.
His current study extends his work at Indiana University, where he earned his doctoral degree in 2006, which also investigated such associations.
"Here we're looking at whether commitment to school, work or a romantic relationship predicts, decreases or even buffers against problems for people who, through personality or reduced cognitive capacity, might be at risk for excessive alcohol consumption," Bogg said.
Over two and a half years, researchers will examine patterns of change associated with social investment. The study also will track the interaction of brain activity and personality traits over time something very few researchers have tried, Bogg said.
A subset of subjects representing a full spectrum of alcohol consumption will complete a computerized balloon inflation task to examine reward-seeking cognitive control. The task requires subjects to decide whether to continue inflating a balloon based on an increasing wager amount. As in real life, the balloon can be overinflated and explode, resulting in a lost wager.
During the task, a magnetic resonance imaging scanner will be used to look at the medial prefrontal cortex of subjects' brains, an area thought to be involved in risk and reward appraisal, as well as performance monitoring, which involves updating future responses based on past outcomes.
"The idea is to see whether there are differences in brain activity depending on alcohol consumption and related levels of conscientiousness, social investment and cognitive ability," Bogg said. "We're also trying to see if we can predict change. The real question is, how do these things influence each other over time?"
The amount of engagement or involvement in normative roles might act as a buffer against alcohol abuse or dependence, he said. Many Wayne State students tend to have more outside commitments than participants in his previous study, and Bogg expects that to be reflected in the results.
The current study also aims to use the data to develop interventions that can help foster maturation by increasing normative social investment. Such interventions could last eight to 10 weeks and include a social cognitive psychology principle called "implementation intentions."
For example, Bogg said, when a student is tempted to go out on a Thursday night before an exam on Friday, that student can be taught to develop their own concrete and specific alternatives, such as planning and committing to study with a friend at a library or cafe.
Interventions also could involve inducements for social investment by clarifying individuals' goals and providing accountability for those goals.
"Some students come in with a good understanding of what it takes to succeed; others with no tools at all," Bogg said, noting that drinking can interfere with poorly formed goals.
"Bringing those goals to the fore can have two benefits," he said. "One is curtailing excessive alcohol consumption; the other is helping the person achieve those personal goals that relate to educational development and career aspirations."
Emerging adulthood is a relatively new life stage in the developed world, Bogg said. It can be a time of personal exploration and trying different roles without many serious consequences. However, as economic conditions stagnate and the job market becomes more competitive, he believes shortening that period could prove useful for some people.
"If maturing out of excessive alcohol use is a developmental process, then providing a little inducement and training to help people further commit to a role in which they're already engaged might help push them toward healthier drinking patterns and increased psychological maturity."
###
Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Say goodbye to swapping out the litany of chargers at your desk or nightstand. It's time to streamline, and the crew at Scosche have a rather nice solution. The company is taking the wraps off of its Revolt H4 USB charger, which offers four 10W (2.1A) USB ports that'll properly (and quickly) reinvigorate up to four smartphones or tablets simultaneously. Sure, it's nothing like the 16 port behemoth of the PowerPad, but this is for home use, and we can't deny -- it's quite the temptress. Consumers may choose between the base model or the Revolt H4 Pro, which offers a micro-USB cable along with an adapter for Apple's dock connector. As another product of interest, Scosche is similarly introducing its 2.1 amp Recoil II car charger, which allows users to cut down on the clutter with its retractable cable while also quickly juicing up a single iOS device -- just hop the break for a peek. Pricing isn't yet available for either, but keep your eye on Scosche's website for the official word. For other charging solutions, you'll find the full PR after the break.
Update: Scosche just got in touch to say the four-port version won't be ready in time for CTIA Wireless, but the two-port Revolt H2 definitely will be, priced at $39.99. We've switched out the PR to reflect this.
People sit down to admire the view on Eiffel tower Paris Monday May 7, 2012, one day after the second round of the Presidential elections. France handed the presidency Sunday to leftist Francois Hollande, a champion of government stimulus programs who says the state should protect the downtrodden, a victory that could deal a death blow to the drive for austerity that has been the hallmark of Europe in recent years. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
People sit down to admire the view on Eiffel tower Paris Monday May 7, 2012, one day after the second round of the Presidential elections. France handed the presidency Sunday to leftist Francois Hollande, a champion of government stimulus programs who says the state should protect the downtrodden, a victory that could deal a death blow to the drive for austerity that has been the hallmark of Europe in recent years. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Paris buildings reflect in a shop window displaying the cover of a magazine with a picture of President-elect Francois Hollande in Paris Monday May 7, 2012. France handed the presidency Sunday to leftist Hollande, a champion of government stimulus programs who says the state should protect the downtrodden, a victory that could deal a death blow to the drive for austerity that has been the hallmark of Europe in recent years. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Greek presidential guards perform ceremonial duties at the monument of the unknown soldier in front of the Greek Parliament in Athens, Monday, May 7, 2012. Bailout-reliant Greece faces weeks of financial turmoil after voters angry at crippling income cuts punished mainstream politicians, let a far-right extremist group into Parliament and gave no party enough votes to govern alone. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
PARIS (AP) ? The day after Francois Hollande rode to power in France on a slogan of "change now," the conversation in Europe was already different Monday: Austerity had become a dirty word.
What replaces it, though, was anything but clear.
The newly powerful in France and Greece want to roll back the spending cuts and tax increases that have defined Europe's response to its 3-year-old debt crisis. But campaign rhetoric is likely to prove more extreme than any real-world reversal of the budget tightening.
World financial markets took Europe's latest round of political upheaval in stride, convulsing early and then recovering. The continent's uncertain future ? including the possibility of Greece leaving the euro ? was causing anxiety but not panic about the threat to the global economy.
But there is hardly unity in Europe.
Sunday night, Socialist president-elect Hollande celebrated his victory over Nicolas Sarkozy by vowing, "Austerity can no longer be inevitable!"
On Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel gently pushed back.
She rejected Hollande's call to renegotiate a treaty signed last month on tougher action to control government deficits. "We in Germany, and I personally," she said, "believe the fiscal pact is not up for negotiation."
Still, she stressed the importance of French-German cooperation ? and her willingness to meet soon with Hollande.
Economists said that while the anti-austerity winds are bound to stir up short-term political instability, especially in Greece, they could eventually bring some financial calm.
"This is going to force some rethinking" all across Europe about how to manage the debt crisis, said Laura Gonzalez, a finance professor at Fordham University in New York. "That is good for everybody."
Greece remains the focus of Europe's financial and political unease. Political parties that made gains by rejecting belt-tightening still have to assemble a majority coalition in Parliament before they can begin governing. The conservatives got the first try Monday but failed ? leaving a new left-wing, party to take its turn. If no party can assemble a coalition, the country will need to hold new elections, probably in June.
The main stock index in Greece plunged almost 7 percent. France's CAC-40 ended 1.7 percent higher.
The Dow Jones industrial average in the United States fell as much as 68 points early Monday but recouped its losses and ended the day down 30 at 13,008.
The biggest fear was that Greece's new leadership would renege on commitments made to secure the country's massive rescue loans ? or even leave the euro. Merkel pressed Greek leaders on Monday to stay the course. "Of course, the most important thing is that the programs we agreed with Greece are continued," she said.
Greece wasn't the only problem. The 17 countries that use the euro ? and nine other European countries ? agreed in March to the fiscal compact that seeks to make countries balance their budgets. But bailout fears have intensified in recent months as Spain, Italy and other governments face rising borrowing costs on bond markets, a sign that investors are nervous about the size of their debts relative to their economic output. Austerity was intended to address these jitters by reducing their government's borrowing needs, but there has been a negative side effect: As economic output shrinks, the debt burden actually looks worse.
As Europe's economy got weaker, the public and politicians grew weary of the budget-cutting required to make the fiscal compact work. Across Europe, austerity meant layoffs and pay cuts for state workers, scaled-back expenditures on welfare and social programs, and higher taxes and fees to boost government revenue.
Hollande says he intends to renegotiate the fiscal treaty so that it places an emphasis on growth and not just deficit reduction. He says governments should actually increase spending now, while economies are so weak.
Merkel and the European Central Bank have instead stressed deeper, long term fixes such as reducing red tape for small businesses, making it easier for workers to find jobs across the eurozone and breaking down barriers that countries have created to protect their own industries. Those changes involve challenging unions and other powerful constituencies ? and they can take years to have an effect.
The anti-austerity sentiment appears to be picking up strength.
In Italy on Monday, several candidates in local elections who oppose the deficit-cutting promoted by Premier Mario Monti had a strong showing. And the head of the International Monetary Fund ? one of the institutions that designed the Greek bailout and the austerity measures that go with it ? warned that Europe has to be careful about pushing austerity too far. Christine Lagarde said European countries should reduce their budget deficits gradually to avoid further damage to their economies.
Eight of the 17 eurozone nations are already in recession and unemployment across the bloc rose to 10.9 percent in March ? its highest ever.
The European commission called upon Greece to make "full and timely" implementation of its budget cuts. Those include ?11.5 billion in new cutbacks that must be found in June to make sure Greece keeps getting money under the terms of its second, ?130 billion bailout.
Economist Christoph Weil at Commerzbank said that if aid is cut off, Greece would be unable to pay its debts by autumn, leading to a second default following a writedown of ?107 billion in March.
"There is certainly room for negotiations that could save face for both sides," Weil said. But "patience is wearing thin" with Greece and "I would not count on this happening."
The U.S. and European financial systems are so intertwined that a loss of confidence in Europe could cloud the U.S. economy.
But there were few expectations that the votes in France and Greece would have much immediate effect in the U.S.
Still, they make it more likely that Greece will have to abandon the euro, roiling world markets, said Jacob Kirkegaard, research fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Sarkozy and Merkel were the architects of the European austerity plan ? so close they were known as "Merkozy." The big question now is if there will be a "Merkollande" in Europe's future.
Hollande's plans to jump-start the French economy by investing in infrastructure and buoying small businesses will determine how bumpy the road ahead is.
He has promised to keep the deficit in check by raising taxes on the wealthy and closing some corporate loopholes ? but some investors say that will kill the very growth he hopes to foster.
If he does start wildly increasing spending, France will no doubt see its borrowing costs rise ? which could make his policies untenable and prompt a shift back to austerity. It was those rising borrowing costs that eventually forced fellow eurozone nations Greece, Ireland and Portugal to seek bailouts.
Some are hoping that Hollande will turn out to be more pragmatic.
"Adieu, election campaign. Bonjour, reality," read an editorial in Germany's daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
___
McHugh contributed from Frankfurt. Juergen Baetz in Berlin, Nicholas Paphitis in Athens and Paul Wiseman in Washington also contributed to this report.
FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2009 file photo, the AT&T logo is on display at a RadioShack store in Gloucester, Mass. AT&T Inc. will start selling home automation and security services nationwide, taking on incumbents led by Tyco International Ltd.?s ADT. The installations and services will be sold in AT&T stores, starting with a trial this summer in Dallas and Atlanta. (AP Photo/Lisa Poole, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2009 file photo, the AT&T logo is on display at a RadioShack store in Gloucester, Mass. AT&T Inc. will start selling home automation and security services nationwide, taking on incumbents led by Tyco International Ltd.?s ADT. The installations and services will be sold in AT&T stores, starting with a trial this summer in Dallas and Atlanta. (AP Photo/Lisa Poole, File)
NEW YORK (AP) ? AT&T Inc. will start selling home automation and security services nationwide, taking on incumbents led by Tyco International Ltd.'s ADT.
The installations and services will be sold in AT&T stores, starting with a trial this summer in Dallas and Atlanta.
Several of AT&T's competitors, including cable TV company Comcast Corp. and phone company Verizon Communications Inc., have ventured into the home automation and security field. Dallas-based AT&T is showing more ambition with its stated goal of selling nationwide, rather than sticking to its landline service territory, as Verizon does.
Steven Winoker, an analyst at Sanford Bernstein, said about 23 percent of U.S. homes have security systems, so there's plenty of room to grow. Even fewer have automation systems for controlling appliances, lights, heating and cooling.
The biggest player in the field is ADT, but it has only 25 percent of the market. Many smaller companies make up the rest, according to Winoker.
It's a very profitable business, Winoker said, but it's not big enough to significantly affect the earnings of a company of AT&T's size even if it's successful, given that it's a relatively small market.
AT&T's technology comes from Xanboo, a company it bought in late 2010. Its central control panel can connect wirelessly with cameras, thermostats, appliance controls, lights and sensors for doors, windows, smoke and carbon monoxide. Through the panel, home owners can then control their home from their cellphones.
It's highly recommended that the control panel is connected to wired broadband, but it doesn't have to be service through AT&T, said Glenn Lurie, AT&T's president of emerging devices. As a backup, the panel can connect to AT&T's wireless data network.
AT&T didn't say what its services would cost.
AT&T made its announcement on the eve of the U.S. cellphone industry's annual trade show, which starts Tuesday in New Orleans.
Targeted attacks on organizations and Web-born infections like the recent Flashback outbreak on Macintosh computers will continue to poison the security landscape in 2012, according to John Harrison, Symantec group product manager for endpoint threat protection and security technology and response.
There are many effective businesses that are way and out of the spare bedroom of the owner?s home. Normally, the owners of these businesses left the security of working for someone else to follow their dream to develop their own property-based enterprise opportunity.
There?s a lot to be said about a individual who has began and operated their own enterprise for any length of time. Several of the abilities and talents to run a business are also essential to several businesses really should you want to get yet another job in the future. Take into account these abilities that are demonstrated by developing your own a home based company chance
1. Initiative. Nothing says success like a individual who is willing to location themselves at risk to obtain one thing crucial. Taking the chance to construct or develop your own property-based business says a lot about a person
2. Organizational skills. All home-based organization opportunities are typically started by just a single entrepreneur with a dream. They ought to have fantastic time management and organizational abilities to be productive
three. Discipline. In contrast to a job had been there?s a boss to maintain you focused on track, running your own company demonstrates your capacity to get up every morning and get the job completed with out constant supervision.
4. Financial management. Success or failure of any little enterprise opportunity is based upon your capability to to successfully manage capital.
Just these four points demonstrate really essential skill sets that most established companies look for in new employees. It is not a negative on your resume to have taken some time off to establish your own work from house organization chance.
Rather, I suggest that the skills learned and developed during a period of self-employment can in fact be considered a main benefit over a person who has simply remained employed.
So when he waiting for? There are practically unlimited home-based business opportunities and suggestions that you can use to develop your dream. Being self-employed right after a lengthy period of working in corporate America can not only be refreshing but in the end, make you a far better employee, should you wish to return.
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He can almost pull it off because married the world's richest supermodel and has played in five Super Bowls (losing the last two to the superior New York Giants), but NFL star Tom Brady debuted a ridiculous new hairstyle Monday.
With Gisele Bundchen doing her best Anja Rubik-Angelina Jolie leg pose, Brady walked the red carpet with an off-centered, quasi-mohawk that defies description. Dude probably dropped $450 at some trendy salon for the "fashion forward" look too.
How does one even leave the house looking like that? Oh yeah, with Gisele on his arm, and in his bed later. You win Tom. But you still look absurd.
Vote below: What do you think of Tom Brady's new hairstyle?
LOS ANGELES (AP) ? The Walt Disney Co. is looking to avenge the loss it took on the blockbuster bomb, "John Carter." What better way than to ramp up its investment in the superhero megahit "The Avengers."
Disney said Tuesday that net income in the first three months of the year grew 21 percent even as it took a $200 million loss on "John Carter." Better performance from pay TV network ESPN and its theme parks offset the studio problems.
The company now looks set to benefit from the Marvel movie franchise, whose latest installment has reaped $702 million from box offices worldwide.
Merchandise related to the Marvel movie was sold out in many locations following its April 25 release overseas, the company said. The movie shattered U.S. opening weekend records after it opened on Friday.
"We are hard at work replenishing stuff on our shelves," Chief Executive Bob Iger said.
Disney bought Marvel for $4.24 billion in December 2009 as it sought to build up its appeal with boys.
The company plans an Avengers sequel sometime after the release of "Iron Man 3" and "Thor 2" next year and "Captain America 2" in 2014. The company has been working for a year to develop "Avengers" attractions at theme parks, although a prior arrangement with Universal prevents such attractions at its parks in Orlando, Fla., Iger said.
"We fully intend to continue to fuel the marketplace with Marvel's 'Avengers'-related stories and characters so that the momentum continues," Iger said.
Prior to the film's release, net income for the fiscal second quarter rose to $1.14 billion, or 63 cents per share, from $942 million, or 49 cents per share, a year ago.
Earnings came to 58 cents per share after excluding one-time items, including a $184 million non-cash gain related to Disney acquiring a controlling stake in Indian media company UTV. That topped the 55 cents expected by analysts polled by FactSet.
Revenue rose 6 percent to $9.63 billion from $9.08 billion. That also beat the $9.57 billion expected.
Disney's stock rose 60 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $44.90 in after-hours trading after the release of results. Shares are up 20 percent since the start of the year.
Disney's movie studio lost $84 million, which was on the low end of the $80 million to $120 million range that the company forecast based on the box office performance of "John Carter." Revenue fell 12 percent to $1.2 billion. Disney is looking for a successor to studios chairman Rich Ross, who quit last month in a move seen as taking responsibility for the troubles.
Gains elsewhere undid the damage.
Revenue from pay TV operations including ESPN and Disney Channel rose 12 percent to $3.2 billion as fees from distributors and advertising sales grew. ESPN ad sales rose 14 percent, or 6 percent when excluding the timing of events such as the Rose Bowl and the impact of the NBA lockout.
Broadcast TV revenue from its ABC operations rose 2 percent to $1.5 billion as network ad revenue rose 6 percent, but ad revenue at the eight TV stations it owns fell 8 percent.
Parks and resorts revenue grew 10 percent to $2.9 billion as attendance and spending grew in the U.S. Gains at overseas parks in Tokyo and Hong Kong were partially offset by a decrease in Paris.
The company is in the midst of a multi-year peak in what it spends developing its parks and resorts business. It launched a new cruise ship, the Disney Fantasy, in March and will open the 12-acre Cars Land expansion at Disney's California Adventure in June.
The gradual roll-back of recession-induced discounts is helping results.
Consumer products revenue rose 8 percent.
Its interactive media division saw revenue rise 13 percent while trimming its losses. The interactive unit is still on pace to be profitable by 2013 as the company prioritizes social and mobile games over expensive-to-produce games for video game consoles like the Xbox 360.
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The ESA has given the go-ahead for a solar-powered space probe that will examine the icy Jovian moons of Ganymede and Europa, along with Jupiter's upper atmosphere.?
The European Space Agency has given the go-ahead for an exciting mission to explore the icy moons of Jupiter, as well as the giant planet itself.
Skip to next paragraph This movie shows Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon, as it ducks behind the giant planet. Astronomers combined a series of images taken with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 aboard NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to make the 18-second movie. The 540 movie frames were created from Hubble images taken over a two-hour period on April 9, 2007.
credit: NASA, ESA, E. Karkoschka (University of Arizona), and G. Bacon (STScI)
JUICE???JUpiter?ICy moons?Explorer ? will consist of a solar-powered spacecraft that will spend 3.5 years within the Jovian system, investigating Ganymede, Europa and the upper atmosphere of Jupiter. Anticipated to launch in June 2022, JUICE would arrive at Jupiter in early 2030.
As its name implies, JUICE?s main targets are Jupiter?s largest icy moons ? Ganymede and Europa ? which are thought to have liquid oceans concealed beneath their frozen surfaces.
The largest moon in the Solar System, Ganymede is also thought to have a molten iron core generating a magnetic field much like Earth?s. The internal heat from this core may help keep Ganymede?s underground ocean liquid, but the dynamics of how it all works are not quite understood.
JUICE will also study the ice-coated Europa, whose cueball-smooth surface lined with cracks and jumbled mounds of frozen material seem to be sure indicators of a subsurface ocean, although how deep and how extensive is might be are still unknown ? not to mention its composition and whether or not it could be hospitable to life.
?JUICE will give us better insight into how gas giants and their orbiting worlds form, and their potential for hosting life,? said Professor Alvaro Gim?nez Ca?ete, ESA?s Director of Science and Robotic Exploration.
The JUICE spacecraft was originally supposed to join a NASA mission dedicated to the investigation of Europa, but NASA deemed their proposed mission too costly and it was cancelled. According to Robert Pappalardo, study scientist for the Europa mission based at JPL,?NASA may still supply some instruments for the spacecraft ?assuming that the funding situation in the United States can bear it.?
JUICE will also capture images of Jupiter?s moon Callisto and search for aurorae in the gas giant?s upper atmosphere, as well as measure the planet?s powerful magnetic field. Once arriving in 2030, it will spend at least three years exploring the Jovian worlds.
Read more in today?s news release from?Nature, and stay tuned to ESA?s JUICE mission page?here.
Jason Major is a graphic designer living in Dallas, Texas. He writes about astronomy and space exploration on Universe Today and also on his blog?Lights In The Dark, Discovery News and National Geographic News.
Connect me on?Facebook?|?Twitter?|?Google +?|?Website
Baltimore Orioles' Adam Jones hits a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Boston, Saturday, May 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Baltimore Orioles' Adam Jones hits a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Boston, Saturday, May 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Baltimore Orioles' Jason Hammel pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Boston, Saturday, May 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Baltimore Orioles' Mark Reynolds (12) can not catch a foul ball in in the stands during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Boston, Saturday, May 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Red Sox's Aaron Cook pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Boston, Saturday, May 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Baltimore Orioles' Mark Reynolds (12) heads to the dugout after hitting a three-run home run that also drove in Wilson Betemit (24) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Boston, Saturday, May 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
BOSTON (AP) ? Jason Hammel learned a valuable lesson the hard way last year. Now, he's taken that knowledge and turned it into early-season success.
Hammel continued his strong start this season by going 6 2-3 solid innings and Mark Reynolds hit a 3-run homer, helping the Orioles send the Boston Red Sox to another Fenway Park failure with an 8-2 win on Saturday.
"I really decided that end of last year it was really time to make an adjustment," said Hammel, acquired from the Colorado Rockies in an offseason trade. "I was getting my teeth knocked in for about four years straight and I decided it was time to make an adjustment. I went down to the bullpen in Colorado and focused on pitching there, learned how to pitch."
Hammel (4-1) limited the Red Sox to a pair of first-inning hits and held them scoreless until he gave up two runs in the seventh. The right-hander gave up two runs, four hits, struck out eight and walked one, slightly raising his impressive ERA to 2.09 from 1.97.
"Boy, he pounded the strike zone with good stuff," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. "He's doing the things that give him a chance to win the game."
Last year, Hammel made 25 starts before being demoted to the bullpen in mid-August, but in September he gave up only four earned runs in 20 innings.
On Saturday, Hammel retired 16 of 17 batters, allowing only David Ortiz's fourth-inning walk after the hits in the first before Adrian Gonzalez reached on an infield hit and scored on Ryan Sweeney's RBI double.
Adam Jones added a two-run homer for Baltimore, which won its fourth straight and 10th in the last 12 games.
Baltimore goes for the three-game sweep against the Red Sox on Sunday after taking two of three from the Yankees in New York.
"These last few years teams have always taken advantage of us," Jones said. "Now, we've got a series, but I think we need to sweep. We need to be hungry, keep the momentum going."
Gonzalez had three hits for Boston, which lost its fourth straight and has dropped nine of its last 10 games at Fenway.
"We've just got to come back and play better," Ortiz said. "It's not magical."
The Orioles knocked out starter Aaron Cook (0-1) after 2 2-3 innings and built an 8-0 lead after three. Cook, signed as a minor league free agent in January, was making his first start after Josh Beckett was skipped due to soreness.
Cook suffered a cut on his left knee in the second inning, covering the plate on a passed ball, but stayed in.
"I thought about taking him out immediately. I brought in the guy from the bullpen," Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said. "The medical staff said he'd be fine. ... I told him, 'Cookie it's on you, man.'"
Cook said he got 11 stitches after he came out.
In four of his five previous starts, Hammel was lifted with Baltimore having scored three runs or fewer. His last start was a 2-1 loss at the New York Yankees on Monday.
The Orioles gave him plenty of run support this time.
Leading 1-0, six of eight batters collected hits and another walked as Baltimore chased Cook with six runs in the third. The two outs came on Robert Andino's liner to left and Endy Chavez being caught on the front end of a double-steal attempt at third.
Nick Markakis had an RBI single before Jones belted a homer over the Green Monster seats and completely out of Fenway. Wilson Betemit, the last batter Cook faced, had an RBI single after Matt Wieters doubled and Chris Davis singled, making it 5-0.
Clayton Mortensen relieved and Reynolds homered into the Monster seats. Reynolds also hit his first home run of the season in Friday's win.
Baltimore took a 1-0 lead in the second when Davis scored on Jarrod Saltalamacchia's passed ball. Cook was spiked by Davis' slide as the pitcher came sliding knees-first trying to block the plate. Cook was looked at by a Red Sox trainer on the field then headed down the dugout steps and Mortensen came trotting in from the bullpen before Cook came back out and the reliever headed back to the pen.
NOTES: Showalter said before the game that veteran infielder Miguel Tejada will report to the team's spring training facility in Sarasota, Fla., on Monday to take a physical. ... Showalter also said that LHP Zach Britton, rehabbing from left shoulder inflammation, threw 47 pitches in Sarasota and he "felt good." ... Valentine said before the game that 3B Kevin Youkilis, on the 15-day DL with a strained lower back, had an MRI today. Valentine did not know the results. ... Boston 3B Will Middlebrooks was a late scratch with a sore left hamstring. ... Mortensen went 3 1-3, giving up two hits and striking out five. ... Cook was 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA with Triple-A Pawtucket.
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Image: Graham Snodgrass
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Public release date: 8-May-2012
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