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রবিবার, ৭ এপ্রিল, ২০১৩
Bible comes to life as locusts swarm Israel
Israeli Jews celebrating Passover will easily relate to their ancestors this year ? the country has been swarmed by millions of locusts, one of the 10 plagues visited on the Egyptians.
Locusts make their way from Egypt just before they land in Kerem Shalom near the border with Egypt, in southern Israel's Negev Desert, March 11.
Ariel Schalit/AP
EnlargeLocusts have descended on Israel this week, just in time for Passover. As millions of Jews commemorate the story of the children of Israel?s exodus from Egypt, including the 10 plagues that afflicted Pharaoh and his people, millions of the crunchy buggers are creeping all over Israel?s southern deserts.
Skip to next paragraph Christa Case BryantJerusalem bureau chief
Christa Case Bryant is The Christian Science Monitor's Jerusalem bureau chief, providing coverage on Israel and the Palestinian territories as well as regional issues.
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This is nothing like the eighth plague of biblical times, in which locusts covered ?the whole face of the earth? in a kind of collective punishment for the Egyptians whose leader refused to let his Hebrew slaves go free.
But this year is the first time since 2005 that modern Israel has had to combat locusts, which can swarm so thickly that drivers can?t see beyond their windshield. Potato farmers bemoaned the detrimental effect of a previous wave of the grasshopper-like insects several weeks ago. The Israeli Ministry of Agriculture, which was on ?locust alert,? has responded quickly to the latest wave with pesticides.?
But it?s not just Israel. Today the Palestinian Authority?s Ministry of Agriculture sprayed pesticides in Hebron, in the southern West Bank. And Egyptian farmers have suffered millions of dollars in damage after a swarm of about 30 million locusts hit Cairo earlier this month.
The most serious situation, however, appears to be in Sudan, where the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) head has warned that immature ?hoppers? are lining up along a 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) stretch of the Nile and could pose a serious threat to Nile Valley crops in May.
OK, so locusts are not your average grasshopper. But still, how can they cause such massive damage?
Consider these arresting facts: They can eat their weight in crops every day; they can fly more than 80 miles a day ? in swarms as dense as 200 million per square mile; and females can lay as many as 1,000 egg pods in roughly 10 square feet, according to an FAO fact sheet.?
To put the threat in practical terms, one ton of locusts (just a fraction of your average swarm) can eat about as much food as 2,500 people can in a day, says FAO.
The Israelis have sought to reverse the food chain this Passover, however, by grilling the kosher insects for a crunchy, high-protein delicacy. And they?re not alone. Locust recipes abound.?
A Mexican version from ?Man Eating Bugs: The Art and Science of Eating Insects,? by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio, calls for roasting locust torsos and sprinkling them on homemade guacamole in a taco shell. Scrap that. Sprinkle and?enjoy, the cookbook says.?
B?tayavon, as the Israelis would say.?Bon app?tit.
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শনিবার, ৬ এপ্রিল, ২০১৩
Workplace Worries: Working with Chronic Conditions ? The Health ...
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We spend more time at work than we do with our families?often eight hours a day, five days a week. It?s no wonder that the health of our coworkers affects us a great deal. In the case of chronic conditions, you may not even know that your co-worker is dealing with one, but it may affect their work lives all the same. These are not likely to be disclosed immediately, and there are privacy regulations about who can disclose them. A supervisor should not be sharing an employee?s diagnoses without his or her permission.Supervisors must take care in sharing private medical information, while also educating employees about what a health condition might mean for certain work situations. Nick Worth, 42, works early mornings for a program that stocks Naval ships with groceries. He has had epilepsy since the fifth grade. ?I was always determined to get ahead, but the seizures have never been under complete control,? he says.
Worth says that he was not afraid of sharing his condition with others, and that he was interested to see how his coworkers would react. ?This job made me aware of the fact that people really care about me on the job. That aspect is lovely. I do believe that I would be miserable if I were not working. I have learned to be more comfortable in my workplace,? he says.
His supervisor at Ship Provision, Allen Bordley, says that although Nick has epilepsy, the team is aware and prepared if he has a seizure on the job.
?With his permission only, we would alert the team members and team leaders assigned with him that day. We have had some medical situations in the past, and what we did is remained calm and contacted medical on the ship for assistance. We also contacted his wife and updated her on his status,? he says.?
The Ship Provision program, through The Arc of the Virginia Peninsula, includes training on working with people with chronic illnesses and disabilities. Bordley says that despite the challenges, there are definitely positives, such as team cohesiveness and the willingness to work together.
Because there are many different kinds of chronic illnesses, it?s important to get a basic understanding of the disease. Some conditions, like epilepsy, diabetes, asthma or heart disease can be managed long term. Others are progressive, like autoimmune diseases or dementia. Learning about the condition can be helpful in order to understand what the coworker is going through. If you do read up on your coworkers condition, don?t assume that you can give them medical advice; the purpose would be to help understand what they might be going through.?
The Patient Advocate Foundation in Hampton provides information for patients and Erin Moaratty, Chief of mission delivery, shares tips for those working with a chronic illness or working with someone who has one.?
?A coworker diagnosed will be experiencing a myriad of emotions from shock, worry, fear, anxiety, guilt, loneliness, sadness, helplessness and even anger. On top of their diagnosis and treatment plan decisions they are probably going to face physical pain in addition to the emotional strain of diagnosis. Along with a major diagnosis come other difficulties, such as financial, insurability, fear of losing their job or reduction in income, and/or family strain exacerbating an already difficult situation,? she says.?
She recommends that both supervisors and coworkers create an environment where anyone experiencing a chronic health condition is comfortable sharing their needs. ?Build a program that allows patients to feel as normal as possible and meets their actual needs which may be as simple as including them in the things you used to do,? she says.?
Moaratty says that after you learn of a coworker?s medical condition, you should base your response on your relationship. ?If you are close friends with a coworker and you?ve spent breaks and lunches together for years, that?s bound to be different than what you say to a coworker with whom you wait for the elevator and exchange small talk. Offering to make a dinner, supplementing a gift of flowers or signing a card maybe more appropriate in the case of an acquaintance,? she says.
Sometimes support involves creating an environment that is flexible. John Trindle works as a programmer for Northrop Grumman and was diagnosed with Crohn?s disease over 15 years ago. His immediate supervisors know about his condition?which often includes digestive flare-ups ?and he says they understand his need for flexibility.
?I get plenty of slack from my immediate boss for cutting out of a meeting for 30 minutes, which would be generally unacceptable from someone else,? he says.
Besides dealing with flare-ups, people living with Crohn?s disease often follow a special diet. Trindle says that one of the tricky things that come up in the regular course of business are work meals. ?The working lunch meetings often feature things like pizza or other greasy food which I can?t really eat. The veggie alternative might have too much roughage. So, in the end, I have to take time off to eat outside the ?working lunch? or just skip a meal.? When there?s a group to consider, like a birthday lunch, Trindle says that he tries to read a menu ahead of time to find suitable dietary options.?
Becky Hughson, Trindle?s supervisor, builds a team attitude that everyone will have challenges, but that by working together, they can still get the job done. ?As a mother of young children, I encounter a variety of situations where I have to miss work unexpectedly, probably as often as or more often than anyone battling a chronic condition. From my perspective we all have lives outside of work and that has to be worked around the best we can,? she says.
Hughson says that the office is fairly close-knit and that helps no matter what someone is going through. ?Within our team, at least, I think that everyone is aware of each other?s lives and struggles. We also work with teammates from other offices and companies though. When John, or anyone else, is out for any reason, I simply inform the team that they are unavailable. It doesn?t seem necessary to provide details on why,? she says. ?
This job made me aware of the fact that people really care about me on the job. That aspect is lovely. I do believe that I would be miserable if were not working. I have learned to be more comfortable in my workplace.
In terms of managing workload, Hughson says that she tries to have people who can fill in for each other. ?I have to determine which tasks can wait and which need to be addressed immediately. I think it is good practice to have back-ups for everyone as much as possible, though it can be difficult at times because each person has their own talents. I encourage the team to work together so that if someone is out the other can step in to assist,? she says.
Hughson hopes to continue this team support for people with chronic illnesses or any health challenges. ?We have another coworker battling cancer. We all loved him before he had these problems and continue to support him through his battle. I hope that knowing that he has an extra 30 people ready, willing and able to support him and his family helps him in some way,? she says.
Licensed counselor Don Martin from Optima?s Employee Assistance Program says that it?s common when a person is first diagnosed with an illness for offers of care and support flood in, but this immediate attention often fades over time. With a chronic illness that spans months, if not years, it?s important to offer only what you can commit to. ?Many people need more support later, so if you offer to help, be prepared for the whole duration,? Martin says.
He cautions that knowing a coworker?s health situation shouldn?t change your relationship or how you see them. ?Don?t forget that they are the same person, they are not the disease. It?s important to be careful how we talk about them,? Martin says.?
With good communication and workplace flexibility, people living with chronic conditions can feel supported and able to work with the team to get the job done. As Houghson says, at times, any one of us could need that support or flexibility.
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Source: http://www.thehealthjournals.com/2013/04/working-with-chronic-illness/
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Obama faces choice on morning-after pill limits
This undated image made available by Teva Women's Health shows the packaging for their Plan B One-Step (levonorgestrel) tablet, one of the brands known as the "morning-after pill." In a scathing rebuke of the Obama administration, a federal judge ruled Friday that age restrictions on over-the-counter sales of the morning-after pill are "arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable" and must end within 30 days. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Edward Korman of New York means consumers of any age could buy emergency contraception without a prescription _ instead of women first having to prove they're 17 or older, as they do today. And it could allow Plan B One-Step to move out from behind pharmacy counters to the store counters. (AP Photo/Teva Women's Health)
This undated image made available by Teva Women's Health shows the packaging for their Plan B One-Step (levonorgestrel) tablet, one of the brands known as the "morning-after pill." In a scathing rebuke of the Obama administration, a federal judge ruled Friday that age restrictions on over-the-counter sales of the morning-after pill are "arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable" and must end within 30 days. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Edward Korman of New York means consumers of any age could buy emergency contraception without a prescription _ instead of women first having to prove they're 17 or older, as they do today. And it could allow Plan B One-Step to move out from behind pharmacy counters to the store counters. (AP Photo/Teva Women's Health)
This undated handout photo provided by Judge Edward Korman shows U.S. District Judge Korman of New York. In a scathing rebuke of the Obama administration, a federal judge ruled Friday that age restrictions on over-the-counter sales of the morning-after pill are "arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable" and must end within 30 days. The ruling by Korman means consumers of any age could buy emergency contraception without a prescription _ instead of women first having to prove they're 17 or older, as they do today. And it could allow Plan B One-Step to move out from behind pharmacy counters to the store counters. (AP Photo/Judge Korman's Office)
PREVIOUSLY OFFERED 021413; chart shows frequency of use of emergency contraception
WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama supports requiring girls younger than 17 to see a doctor before buying the morning-after pill. But fighting that battle in court comes with its own set of risks.
A federal judge in New York on Friday ordered the Food and Drug Administration to lift age restrictions on the sale of emergency contraception ? ending today's requirement that buyers show proof they're 17 or older if they want to buy it without a prescription. The ruling accused the Obama administration in no uncertain terms of letting the president's pending re-election cloud its judgment when it set the age limits in 2011.
"The motivation for the secretary's action was obviously political," U.S. District Judge Edward Korman wrote in reference to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who made the 2011 decision. The FDA had been poised to allow over-the-counter sales with no age limits when Sebelius took the unprecedented step of overruling the agency.
If the Obama administration appeals Korman's ruling, it could re-ignite a simmering cultural battle over women's reproductive health ? never far from the surface in American politics ? sidetracking the president just as he's trying to keep Congress and the public focused on gun control, immigration and resolving the nation's budget woes.
"There's no political advantage whatsoever," said Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf. "It's a side issue he doesn't need to deal with right now. The best idea is to leave it alone."
Still, Obama has made clear in the past that he feels strongly about the limits. And as a politician whose name won't ever appear on a ballot again, it's hard to see the downside in sticking by his principles.
"As the father of two daughters, I think it is important for us to make sure that we apply some common sense to various rules when it comes to over-the-counter medicine," Obama said in 2011 when he endorsed Sebelius' decision.
The Justice Department said it is evaluating whether to appeal. Allison Price, a Justice spokeswoman, said there would be a prompt decision. And the White House said Obama's view on the issue hasn't changed since 2011.
"He supports that decision today. He believes it was the right common-sense approach to this issue," White House spokesman Jay Carney said Friday.
Appealing the decision could rile liberal groups and parts of Obama's political base that are already upset with his forthcoming budget, which includes cuts to programs like Medicare and Social Security. But currying favor with conservatives who want the ruling to stand also is unlikely to do much to help Obama make progress on his second-term priorities.
"It won't help him with Republicans in Congress to get policy matters attended to," Sheinkopf said.
Also weighing on Obama and his aides as he decides how to proceed is the unpleasant memory of previous dust-ups over contraception, including an election-year spat over an element of Obama's health care overhaul law that required most employers to cover birth control free of charge to female workers as a preventive service. That controversy led to a wave of lawsuits that threatened to embroil Obama's health care law, already under fire for a requirement that individuals buy insurance, in even more legal action.
When Obama offered to soften the rule last year, religious groups said it wasn't enough. Obama proposed another compromise on the rule in February to mixed response from faith-based groups.
If the court order issued Friday stands, Plan B One-Step and its generic versions could move from behind pharmacy counters out to drugstore shelves ? ending a decade-plus struggle by women's groups for easier access to these pills, which can prevent pregnancy if taken soon enough after unprotected sex.
Women's health specialists hailed the ruling Friday, arguing there's no reason a safe birth control option shouldn't be available over the counter and dismissing concerns that it could encourage underage people to have sex.
But social conservatives, in a rare show of support for Obama's approach to social policy, said the ruling removes common-sense protections and denies parents and medical professionals the opportunity to be a safeguard for vulnerable young girls.
"The court's action undermines parents' ability to protect their daughters from such exploitation and from the adverse effects of the drug itself," Deirdre McQuade, spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Half the nation's pregnancies every year are unintended. Doctors' groups say more access to morning-after pills ? by putting them near the condoms and spermicides so people can learn about them and buy them quickly ? could cut those numbers.
The morning-after pill contains a higher dose of the female progestin hormone than is in regular birth control pills. Taking it within 72 hours of rape, condom failure or just forgetting regular contraception can cut the chances of pregnancy by up to 89 percent. But it works best within the first 24 hours. If a woman already is pregnant, the pill has no effect.
Absent an appeal or a government request for more time to prepare one, the ruling will take effect in 30 days, meaning that over-the-counter sales could start then.
___
Associated Press writer Larry Neumeister in New York contributed to this report.
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Iran-6-power nuke talks resume, prospects unclear
Iran-6-power nuke talks resume, prospects unclear
AP
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, left, smiles, as Secretary of Iran?s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili walks away, after a photo call at a start of high-level talks between world powers and Iranian officials in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Friday, April 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Shamil Zhumatov, Pool)
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, left, smiles, as Secretary of Iran?s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili walks away, after a photo call at a start of high-level talks between world powers and Iranian officials in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Friday, April 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Shamil Zhumatov, Pool)
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, left, and Secretary of Iran?s Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili pose for photos at a start of high-level talks between world powers and Iranian officials in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Friday, April 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Shamil Zhumatov, Pool)
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, left, pours water in a glass at a start of high-level talks between world powers and Iranian officials in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Friday, April 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Shamil Zhumatov, pool)
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, left, and Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Yerlan Idrisov pose for the press in Almaty, largest Kazakhstan's city on Friday, April 5, 2013 at a start of high-level talks between world powers and Iranian officials. (AP Photo/ Shamil Zhumatov, Pool)
Saeed Jalili, secretary of Iran?s Supreme National Security Council, left, shakes hands with Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Yerlan Idrisov in Almaty, largest Kazakhstan's city on Friday, April 5, 2013 at a start of high-level talks between world powers and Iranian officials. (AP Photo/ Shamil Zhumatov, Pool)
ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) ? Iran and six world powers are meeting for a second day in attempts to find common ground over concerns that Tehran's nuclear program might be used to make weapons.
Chances of progress at Saturday's session are unclear, however, after a first round ended with the two sides unable to reduce substantial differences.
The six insist Iran cut back on its highest grade uranium enrichment production and stockpile, fearing Tehran will divert it from making nuclear fuel to form the material used in the core of nuclear warhead.
Iran insists it has a right to enrich but says it has no interest to use the technology to make weapons. It wants more sanctions relief than the six are offering for any concessions on its part.
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শুক্রবার, ৫ এপ্রিল, ২০১৩
Samsung starts rolling out Android 4.1.2 update to Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus
Good news for Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus owners. According to SamMobile, Samsung has started rolling out the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update to this tablet.
The first country to receive this update is Austria, however, other regions should be getting the updates shortly. As usual, the Jelly Bean update would bring features such as Project Butter, Google Now and several other improvements under the hood.
If you are a Tab 7.0 Plus owner, check to see if the update is available in your region.
Source
Source: http://blog.gsmarena.com/samsung-starts-rolling-out-android-4-1-2-update-to-galaxy-tab-7-0/
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Audi Connect gets new T-Mobile data plans
If a vehicle outfitted with Audi Connect has found its way into your garage, T-Mobile has a pair of new data plans for you to consider. Dropping $450 nets car owners 30 months of "full data services" to power the infotainment system, which packs features including Google Earth, real-time Sirius XM Traffic info and even WiFi for up to eight devices. Drivers who aren't in the market for such a long term commitment can pony up $30 every month instead. Hit the jump for the full press release from Audi and the UnCarrier.
Filed under: Transportation, T-Mobile
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/05/audi-connect-t-mobile-data-plans/
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