A lot of people suffer from hair loss or dandruff. It is believed that these problems can occur due to genetics, weather condition, sensitive skin, stress.. However, there is a way to change something and improve the appearance of your hair.
1.To prevent hair loss one should follow a diet that includes a lot of raw foods that are rich in vitamins, enzymes, auxins (organic substances that act on cell growth), and wheat germ.
2. For beautiful and healthy hair drink the juice from young barley, in doses 3 x 50 ml per day. 3. Wash your hair with a natural ?shampoo? which you have prepared yourself. Needed: A young nettle (root) 20g, burdock (root) 20g. Boil? the roots of young nettle and burdock during 10 minutes in 1 litre of water. Strain and wash the hair. After that, rub the hairy skin of the head with the earlier prepared mixture. Leave it in a bottle the following mixture for 10-14 days with daily agitation: 100g of burdock root, 50g of nettles, 50g of birch buds, 200 ml of alcohol (40/70%). Then strain the liquid and massage with it the scalp. This type of massage combats dandruff.
A renewed focus on games, second-screen enhancements and streaming will feature heavily in upcoming consoles. Did Wii U get the jump, or will it be beaten at its own game?
What the competition offers
Sony and Microsoft find themselves in a bit of an odd position right now in terms of convincing their customers that they need a new machine. Firstly, diminishing?returns on the advancement of graphics technology means there will not be such a defined leap between last gen and this one as there was between PS2 and PS3.
Secondly there?s the problem of services. Most the innovation and appeal of current-gen consoles has been in their services, media and social integration. Xbox 360 in particular has become a bona fide part of many people?s lounge rooms, serving up television, sport and movies on demand as well as offering a full complement of web and social services plus all manner of games delivered digitally. That can?t really be improved through new hardware. In fact it could be argued that the vast majority of new customers seen in last gen?s games boom were attracted by features that don?t need iteration, be that ESPN on Xbox 360 or Wii Fit on Wii.
People who bought a new console primarily for those things will not need a new one, no matter what?s offered. So what can Microsoft and Sony offer that will genuinely move units?
Well first of all I think they?ll move a lot less units than everybody?s expecting, at least at first. Just like with PS2, the old consoles will undoubtedly be around and actively supported for many years after the new consoles launch, and with so many people so comfy with their 360s it could be a while before critical mass. Wii U has been taking a lot of flak for its slow rate of sale, but I wouldn?t be surprised to see a similar phenomenon when the other two launch.
That said, Sony has put their flag in the ground and showed off parts of their new system, declaring?unequivocally?that the PlayStation 4 will take the focus off media and connectivity and put it squarely back on games. This is a smart move, since as I mentioned anybody not interested solely in games is likely to stick with the older hardware. Sony?s thrown a ton of technical innovation and smarts at PlayStation 4.
Its x86 processor and PC-like build will mean developers can easily use it as a lead console or port over from virtually anything to PlayStation 4. They?re also supporting self-publishing for indies. The cloud will play a big role too,?although I do sense a great deal of skepticism in the company?s ability to pull off full-game?streaming?to the extent they claim they will. All in all, Sony is making a clear power-play not just to PS3 customers but to all gamers.
No Netflix, no Twitter, no pushing services in your face. Sony wants you to believe that Ps4, like Wii U, will focus on games.
Much is yet to be seen of the PlayStation 4, and virtually all is yet to be seen of the next Xbox, but there are some features that are no-brainers. A more app-store-like online service is obligatory, for example. Nintendo made big claims about this before the launch of Wii U too, saying indies would get full support and set their own prices. The eShop is coming along but Ninty will be in trouble if either of the other two have an online store teeming at launch and ready to release handfuls of smaller titles every week. Sony recently announced that all PS4 games would be available digitally, which is another similarity with Wii U, although with some PlayStation 4 games clocking in at north of 60GB in size, that may not be much of an advantage.
Subscription and loyalty services will also play a part. PlayStation Plus has become a huge hit and will continue on PS4. Microsoft would be smart to drop the pay-for-online model and adopt a similar loyalty program. Either way free-to-play will largely replace game demos and trials, and social connectivity will still play a huge part of both consoles, so each will be looking to build a?dedicated?consumer base.
In all it?s fair to say that Nintendo had its finger on the pulse of what would matter this generation when they designed Wii U, and it absolutely has the potential to compete directly with the two upcoming consoles in many respects. It would appear that Nintendo has failed to live up to that potential somewhat in the early days, but then Nintendo doesn?t exactly colour inside the lines very often, and their social-friendly infrastructure and indie-ready online service is liable to kick off at any time. The most important thing to note here is that Nintendo does not intend to compete with the other two console directly as they compete with each other, however have the ability to successful ensured they appeal to some customers who might only want one console.
Could the new consoles improve Wii U?s fortunes?
It?s well know that stimulation within an industry can work out well for companies across the board. For example the release of a new iPad might result in an increase in interest toward Samsung tablets. Could the release of two new video game consoles result in an increase in Wii U sales?
On one hand the case of iPad vs Android is very different indeed to PlayStation vs Xbox vs Wii U. Nintendo is not seeking to provide an alternative to the other two beefier consoles. As Shigeru Miyamoto once said, the company wants to avoid the industry ?having only ferocious?dinosaurs. They might fight and hasten their own extinction?. Nintendo envisions a market in which the decision to purchase a Wii U is completely?separate?from the ?decision to purchase a PlayStation 4 or next-generation Xbox.
On the other hand, the consoles do all sit next to each other on the department store shelves, they do all offer a broadly similar experience and they do compete for mindshare and the almighty consumer dollar.
Directly following Sony?s PlayStation 4 presentation last week, some analysts were seen to point out a strange happening in the stock prices of Sony and Nintendo. The immediate reaction was that Sony Japan and Sony US dropped in value, while Nintendo Japan and Nintendo US rose in value. The most popular explanation for this is that stockholders were underwhelmed by Sony?s showing and so their confidence in Nintendo?s ability to stay competitive has been bolstered. I personally think something a little different is at play, and I reject the notion that this movement in stocks is even very weird at all. Take a look at this chart comparing some key milestones in the games industry and the simplified movement of stock for Sony and Nintendo.
The fact is stock will often drop following a major announcement or release, mainly because stock is usually building up in expectation in the weeks and months before the event (in this case Sony?s US stocks had rocketed a decent 30% in the two months prior to the announcement) and so a small downward adjustment directly afterward makes perfect sense.
But what of the upward swing for the opponent companies? ?Why did Sony gain following Nintendo?s Wii remote demo during TGS 2005? And why did Nintendo rise just recently after the PS4 event?
Put simply, people will always give more value to an?unknown quantity?than they will to a known one. When Nintendo?s Wii U is the only new console out and can only be compared to spectral, exciting, mysterious future consoles, it?s natural to be a little down on Nintendo?s machine. However once Sony?s PS4 starts to take physical shape the effect will begin to reverse itself. Once Sony and Microsoft have both released their consoles and Wii U is no longer solely compared to imaginary machines?of mythical proportions that the consoles themselves will very likely not attain, I think we?re likely to see the company stock and?people?s?opinions of the consoles level out.
5 short-term predictions
So, having said all that, what will the next few months of next-gen fever bring, and what will it mean for Wii U?
The next Xbox will come bundled with a new Kinect and be fundamentally designed to stream to SmartGlass apps on smartphones and tablets. This will mean all three consoles have motion control, off-TV play and asynchronous local multiplayer capabilities.
Wii U will launch its virtual console once the period of 30 cent introductory games is completed, and by the holiday season there will be a decent library of classic games and an entire eShop subsection of indie games. This will be a conscious attempt to combat the digital offerings of the two incoming systems.
As third-parties spend more time with the Wii U dev kits more and more cross-platform games will arrive for the system, and while the two new consoles will be more powerful than Wii U it will become clear that isn?t as big a deal as it was for Wii vs 360 and PS3.
The next Xbox will not be as game-focused as Wii U and Ps4, and will suffer initially as a result.
Once both new consoles are revealed we will see start to see a lot less gloom towards Wii U.
Be sure to make your own predictions in the comments about how the upcoming console launches will affect Wii U.
The Camaro - popularly known as a 'muscle car' - debuted back in 1966 and is now in its fifth generation, which was launched in 2009 with a striking new look.
The new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 - the most technically advanced car ever developed in its class - has arrived in Jaidah Automotive's Doha showroom.
Powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine producing a mammoth 580 horsepower, the Camaro ZL1 is the fastest Camaro ever offered by Chevrolet, with a top speed of 296 km/h, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds (delivered through newly-design, 20-inch forged aluminum wheels).
It is also packed with performance technologies, highlighted by Magnetic Ride Control, and advanced materials such as a vented carbon fiber hood insert.
There is a lot more to the car than just power, though. The ZL1 features technologically-advanced and highly developed chassis and suspension systems that help it deliver balanced, track-ready handling and braking power to complement its high engine output. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. With either transmission, the Camaro ZL1 delivers supercar performance.
The manual transmission has been tuned for improved shift feel, with a dual-mass flywheel, twin-disc clutch, and triple synchros for smooth, precise shifts. Similarly, the '6L90' automatic transmission has been strengthened to handle the torque and horsepower produced by the supercharged engine.
To make the ZL1 perform equally well on street and track, the 6L90 features three distinct drive modes: Drive, where the shift pattern is calibrated for optimal fuel economy; Sport, where the shift pattern is calibrated for more aggressing driving, and Manual, where the 6L90 offers the driver true manual control and maximum performance.
The Camaro ZL1 is the first sports car to feature the third-generation of Magnetic Ride. This advanced suspension system employs valveless damping and Magneto-Rheological (MR) fluid technology to match the suspension firmness to match the road and driving conditions. With Magnetic Ride Control, customers enjoy the best of both worlds: a comfortable ride that makes the ZL1 appropriate as a daily driver and the incredibly precise body control that makes the ZL1 so enjoyable on the track.
Also standard on the Camaro ZL1 is Performance Traction Management, which integrates magnetic ride control, launch control, traction control, electronic stability control and electric power steering response to enhance all aspects of performance.
Everything about the ZL1's visual design is directly related to its technology and performance, especially aerodynamics. Chevrolet's designers' goal was to execute function-oriented design with beautifully sculpted forms, creating an imposing, powerful persona. ZL1's signature from the front is the redesigned fascia and aluminum hood with a raised, carbon fiber insert. The fascia includes a front splitter and new vertical fog lamps, this area includes air intakes designed for brake cooling.
High-intensity discharge headlamps and fog lamps are standard and the rear of the car includes a diffuser and spoiler - functional elements that enhance the car's aerodynamics.
The interior of the Camaro ZL1 features standard leather seating surfaces with suede microfiber inserts and heated, powered-adjustable front seats. Microfiber suede is repeated as an accent on the instrument panel. Standard technologies include a nine-speaker Boston Acoustics audio system; USB and Bluetooth connectivity; and rear-park assist with a rear-view camera display in the 7 inch color touch screen, which is located on the dashboard. Other enhancements include a redesigned steering wheel, alloy pedals and a 'Head-Up Display with unique performance readouts.
Mr Mark Jenkins, General Manager of Jaidah Automotive, commented, "Jaidah Automotive is delighted to bring the new Camaro ZL1 to Qatar. The Camaro ZL1 is an exceptional automobile which is about high-tech performance and design, and is a type of car no one has ever brought to this segment previously. It's a car, in fact, which has never been seen in Qatar before."
"It's the most technically-advanced Camaro ever created and can only be seen in Qatar at Jaidah Automotive showrooms. It's simply stunning to look at - a real head-turner - and the stunning looks are matched by the outrageous performance coming from the 6.2-liter engine, not to mention the raft of technological improvements that have been made to the car," he added.
"Since the Camaro was reborn in 2009 with its incredible new look, the marque has gone from strength to strength, and the ZL represents the pinnacle of this particular model. When I say that the Camaro ZL1 can only be seen at the Jaidah Automotive showrooms that is true - but not for long. We anticipate that a lucky few 'owners to be' will soon be showing off the ZL1 on Doha's streets," he concluded.
"Chevrolet has somehow made what was already a fantastic automobile even better and, as a result, we are certain that there is going to be a huge level of interest in the ZL1. Believe me, when you do see a Camaro ZL1 pass you in Doha, you'll know it," added Mr Jenkins.
Attendees of the latest TED conference got a look at a futuristic device called SpaceTop where the user views a 3-D workspace through a transparent display, manipulating the on-screen elements with just their hands. It won't be on shelves any time soon, but it does pique the imagination.
The demonstration was by Jinha Lee, an MIT graduate student who undertook an internship at Microsoft's Applied Science group to develop a 3-D desktop. Part of that project was creating a new method for users to interact with the computer.
Mice and touchscreens, of course, really only let one interact along two dimensions ? you can scroll left, right, up, and down, but going in and out must be done with 2-D gestures like pinches, whereas in real life you would just move your hand forward or back.
Lee's work focused on creating an interface though which one could move one's hand naturally and interact with familiar elements like windows and documents. The result is still rather rough, but it's promising.
The transparent display is equipped with a camera that tracks the user's head and adjusts the perspective on the 3-D desktop "under" it. Meanwhile, a second camera watches the user's hands and determines their position in three dimensions.
While it's still limited to a few demo applications, it's fascinating to watch: Grabbing a file from a stack is as easy as plucking it out, and when you need to type, just drop your hands onto the built-in keyboard.
Among the many challenges of developing such a system is that there is essentially no software written for it. Every operating system with which an average user might be familiar is built around the idea of a flat display navigated by a mouse or touchscreen. So Lee's had to be built from scratch.
As such, it's still very much just a concept or work in progress. His original work was done in late 2011, and the "core design and framework" were presented at Microsoft's TechForum in 2012. But this week's TED demonstration was much farther along and the first time it has been shown so publicly.
Whether this kind of interaction becomes commonplace or not (devices like the Oculus Rift and Leap Motion also present alternative input methods and are farther along in development), it's still a thrill to see something like this that seems to be science fiction made fact.
Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. His personal website is coldewey.cc.
Ayla Anderson, clears snow from her vehicle in Denver on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. Anderson just moved to Denver from Florida. A winter storm passed through Colorado on Sunday dumping over a foot of snow in the Denver area. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
Ayla Anderson, clears snow from her vehicle in Denver on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. Anderson just moved to Denver from Florida. A winter storm passed through Colorado on Sunday dumping over a foot of snow in the Denver area. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
FILE - In this Aug. 29, 1991 file photo, former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop speaks in Washington during a conference for preventing transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus to patients during procedures by medical personal. Koop, who raised the profile of the surgeon general by riveting America's attention on the then-emerging disease known as AIDS and by railing against smoking, died Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, in Hanover, N.H. He was 96. (AP Photo/Barry Thumma, File)
A journalist walks past the People of Freedom at party logo at the party headquarters in Rome, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. The prospect of political paralysis hung over Italy on Monday as partial official results in crucial elections showed an upstart protest campaign led by a comedian making stunning inroads, and mainstream forces of center-left and center-right wrestling for control of Parliament's two houses. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Tuesday:
1. WHO WILL FEEL THE AUTOMATIC BUDGET CUTS FIRST
The long-term jobless will see their unemployment checks shrink by about 10 percent.
2. STAKES HIGH FOR NUCLEAR TALKS
Israel has threatened to use all means to stop Iran from being able to build a bomb, raising the specter of a possible Mideast war.
3. HUGE EXPLOSION ROCKS SYRIA'S CAPITAL
Activists say the explosion targeted a checkpoint and killed at least five regime forces.
4. WHAT ITALY'S ELECTIONS MEAN FOR THE ECONOMY
A possible hung parliament and political paralysis has spooked investors and sent the Dow plunging more than 200 points.
5. WHICH CITIES ARE IN A MIDWEST BLIZZARD'S PATH
Kansas City is expected to get a wallop tonight, and Chicago could up to 6 inches of snow on Tuesday.
6. GET READY FOR .APP, .VEGAS, .TECH AND MORE
By year's end, hundreds of Internet address suffixes to rival ".com" should be available for people and businesses to use.
7. HOW A FORMER SURGEON GENERAL SURPRISED CONSERVATIVES
The late C. Everett Koop set aside his personal views on homosexuality and become a leader in sex education to prevent the spread of AIDS.
8. VOTERS TO PICK REPLACEMENT FOR JESSE JACKSON JR.
The Democratic winner of Tuesday's primary is expected to cruise through the April election for the disgraced Chicago congressman's seat.
9. FROM RAGS TO RICHES WITH RETURN OF RING
A homeless panhandler who gave back a woman's lost engagement band receives an outpouring of nearly $150,000 in donations.
10. CAUSE FOR TREKKIES TO REJOICE
With 200,000 votes, William Shatner's "Vulcan" takes the top spot in an online contest to name Pluto's two newest moons.
The Democrats have had their eyes on our 401k and IRA accounts for quite a while. The national debt is $16.5 trillion and growing by the minute. Their appetite for spending is insatiable, and there aren?t enough earners left to tax to pay for it all. But, look at all the money middle class Americans have saved for their retirements. Shortly after the 2012 election the left started referring to 401k?s as subsidies, and at the time I noted:
The main message here is that anyone who worked and saved for what they have didn?t earn it. Your earnings, in their minds, belong to someone else. You may not be rich by anyone?s standards, but if you worked and saved for your whole life, in their minds you?re fair game, because there?s someone out there who didn?t work and save. And now somehow that?s your problem. This is the Obama world. Maybe you worked and saved for your entire life as a middle class American. If the money you saved pushes you into the ?rich? category by their standards you now must be punished.
That?s how they think, but they know they can?t come out and say that. So instead they?re going to ?help you? manage your retirement.
The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is weighing whether it should take on a role in helping Americans manage the $19.4 trillion they have put into retirement savings, a move that would be the agency?s first foray into consumer investments.
?That?s one of the things we?ve been exploring and are interested in in terms of whether and what authority we have,? bureau director Richard Cordray said in an interview. He didn?t provide additional details.
They have such a great track record when they ?foray? into other areas of our lives. Had they not ?forayed? into the mortgage market our retirement accounts wouldn?t have taken such huge hits in 2008. If they haven?t forayed into bank bailouts the taxpayers wouldn?t be giving real subsidies to the Too Big To Fail banks to the tune of $83 billion per year. But we?re supposed to trust them with our retirement accounts? Look at Social Security and the public pensions, they?re all going broke. That?s why they want to foray into our 401k?s.
That article linked above is a Bloomberg article from about a month ago. Zero Hedge picked up on it earlier this month, and recently American Thinker had a lengthy article on the subject and today Maggie?s Notebook covered it. But I haven?t heard much about it in the rest of the media. Be sure to follow the links, they all have a lot more information. ?And the idea of the government raiding our retirement accounts isn?t new, they?ve been talking about it since at least 2008 ? see here, here and here. I?m sure they?re just waiting for the right crisis to come along so they can justify their actions.
Update: Here?s an angle I hadn?t thought of before. Do you think the Democrats float these ideas so people get nervous and withdraw funds from their 401k?s prematurely so the government will get a tax windfall?
Bill Gates and Steven Chu have a "fireside" chat at the 2012 ARPA-e summit. Courtesy of Department of Energy.
The future of energy will be on display at the fourth annual summit of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy, or ARPA?e. But which future?
Energy innovators from start-ups, the national laboratories, universities and even oil companies will gather for three days to hear from the nation?s best about the future of energy. ?The confab this year will feature talks from the likes of natural gas pusher T. Boone Pickens and climate savvy mayor Michael Bloomberg as well as panel sessions on everything from how to build a business to a panel on the energy-water nexus (I?ll be moderating that one).
This will be a year of big changes. Founding director Arun Majumdar has moved on to Google.org. Guiding light Secretary of Energy Steven Chu will soon step down. There have been a host of changes in program directors and programs as the outfit?s first three-year research and testing cycle draws to a close.
The summit last year showcased the programs successes?a new battery technology that might finally make long-range electric cars affordable?but also the juvenile agency?s susceptibility to political winds?a new program to help take advantage of newly abundant supplies of natural gas. Even four years in, it still remains very much to be seen whether ARPA?e will be enough to keep the U.S. at the forefront of global innovation in energy technology, or whether a fresh influx of domestically produced fossil fuels will again displace alternative energy as happened in the past.
I?ll be attending the summit to see how ARPA?e might change during the second Obama administration. To figure that out, I?ll be attending sessions like ?Are There Military Applications in Your Future?? to determine who, if anyone, will benefit from ARPA?e successes as well as listening to a ?fireside chat? between Chu and electric car visionary Elon Musk to see how that government-backed effort may fare in future.
One thing that remains the same is that energy research remains a focus for the Obama administration. President Obama has called for the federal government to invest far more money in science than it is today?an amount equivalent to the billions of dollars spent on the space program in the 1960s. That may or may not happen but the money already invested in ARPA?e could pay off big with something as world-changing as what its much older sibling?the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA?has yielded. DARPA, after all, gave us the Internet, originally known as ARPA-net, among other things.
Is ARPA?e on track to deliver a similar breakthrough? Chu seems to think so. Here?s how he put it in his farewell letter to Department of Energy employees: ?In the first few years, 11 of the companies funded with $40 million have attracted more than $200 million in combined private investment. While it is too early to tell if we have home runs like ARPA-net, there are a number of investments that have certainly rounded second base.?
Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop speaks during a press conference on Nov. 27, 2001, in Washington, D.C.
By Hasani Gittens, News Editor, NBC News
Charles Everett Koop, who raised the profile of the surgeon general by riveting America's attention on the then-emerging disease known as AIDS and by railing against smoking, has died in New Hampshire at age 96.
?Dr. Koop passed peacefully at home this afternoon,? Susan Willis, a spokeswoman at Koop?s Dartmouth Institute in Hanover, N.H., told NBC News. She declined to give a cause of death but noted Dr. Koop's age.
Koop changed the previously low-profile position of surgeon general into a bully pulpit for seven years during the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations.
Yet, as an evangelical Christian, he surprised conservatives when he endorsed condoms and sex education ? in order to stop the spread of AIDS, which blossomed into a national epidemic on his watch.
He also embarked on a mission to end smoking in the United States ? his goal had been to do so by 2000. A former pipe smoker, he said cigarettes were as addictive as heroin and cocaine.
Koop, who served as surgeon general between 1981 and 1987, became an aggressive advocate for AIDS education and prevention and was the first truly public surgeon general of the modern era. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
Even though the surgeon general has no real authority to set government policy, Koop described himself as "the health conscience of the country."
"My only influence was through moral suasion," Koop said just before leaving office in 1989.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Oct. 14, 1916, Koop graduated from Dartmouth College in 1937 with a degree in zoology and received his M.D. degree from Cornell Medical College in 1941, according to a release from Darthmouth.
"Dr. Koop did more than take care of his individual patients ??he taught all of us about critical health issues that affect our larger society," said Carol L. Folt, the president of Dartmouth College, where Koop later established an institute named after him.
"Through that knowledge, he empowered each of us to improve our own well-being and quality of life. Dr. Koop's commitment to education allowed him to do something most physicians can only dream of: improving the health of millions of people worldwide."
In the latest high school prom-related kerfuffle to make a national splash, a cross-dressing Texas high school student is at odds with school officials because he wants to wear a red dress, black heels and a blond wig to the big dance.
The student, senior Tony Zamazal, says he feels more comfortable wearing women?s clothing. He wants to make a dashing debut on Spring High School?s biggest stage, reports KHOU, the local CBS affiliate.
However, Zamazal says, the assistant principal at the high school in the suburbs of Houston quickly put the kibosh on the idea.
?He told me it just wasn?t in the dress code. [He said] women wore dresses, and men wore tuxedos,? Zamazal the CBS affiliate.
A school district representative was unable to verify that the school actually has such a dress code. However, the official told the station that Zamazal can appeal the assistant principal?s denial to the principal.
It?s not clear if Zamazal has made such an appeal.
?If I do get to go as a woman, I will be ecstatic,? the senior told KHOU. ?If I don?t, it would be devastating, because I put myself out there.?
?It?s not okay to just tell people, they can?t be the way that they are,? he added.
This case of cross-dressing is at least the third prom-related brouhaha to surface in the United States in the last few weeks.
A group of parents and students in rural Sullivan, Indiana made news for their attempt to raise money for a private prom which would exclude gay students.
Diana Medley, a teacher at a nearby school who was involved in that effort, was suspended from her job for telling a local television station that gays have no purpose in life.
The superintendent of a tiny school district in southeast Missouri said the local high school would yield to a gay male student?s request to bring his boyfriend to the prom after the Southern Poverty Law Center threatened legal action.
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Comparing 18 iPad weather app current weather screens
Earlier in the week I compared the current weather screens of 27 popular iPhone weather apps, and in the spirit of equal time for expansive interfaces, here's the same thing for 18 popular iPad weather apps. The reason for the lower number is that not all of the iPhone apps had iPad versions, or build in iPad interfaces -- Apple's own iOS weather app included! While some of the iPad versions are just bigger, others take advantage of the larger screen and broader aspect ratio to show not just bigger but more.
Like before, I used the exact same location and page, whenever possible, for each app. I paid for full versions of in-app purchases to disable ads when I could, and when it worked. If extended forecasts could be brought up on the same screen, I brought them up. I made them as comparable as possible.
Here they are, in order, from top left to bottom right, are:
The current weather screen isonly one aspect of a weather app, and doesn't cover features like radar, videos, etc. so as the title says, consider this only a glance at different design approaches. For more on the individual apps, check out our weather app review series.
That being said, which weather apps do you use, and are they the same ones that appeal to you most in the comparison above? Any of the weather screens attractive enough they encourage you check out an alternative app?
De camerabril Google Glass werkt samen met zowel Android- als iOS-apparaten. De bril is volgens Google eind dit jaar te koop voor consumenten.De Google-bril Gass is volgens Google nog dit jaar voor consumenten te koop. De camerabril communiceert draadloos met zowel Android- als iOS-apparaten, stelt Google tegenover The Verge, dat de bril al even mocht proberen. De exacte prijs wil het bedrijf nog niet kwijt, maar de bedoeling is dat Glass voor minder dan 1500 dollar verkrijgbaar zal zijn.... lees verder >>
Redmond (dpa) - Nach Facebook und Apple ist auch Microsoft Opfer eines Hacker-Angriffs geworden. Einige Computer seien mit Schadsoftware infiziert worden, teilte Microsoft mit. Es gebe aber keine Hinweise darauf, dass Kundendaten betroffen gewesen seien.
5 von 5 Sternen bei 1 Bewertungen
Testen Sie Ihr Wissen von George Washington bis Barack Obama. >
A61: Falschfahrer wird verd?chtigt, seine T?chter get?tet zu haben. >
Spekulationen ?ber die wahren Gr?nde des R?cktritts von Papst Benedikt. >
Marodes Atomlager in Niedersachsen soll komplett geleert werden. >
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) ? For nearly 40 years, Sen. Pete Domenici's reputation was that of a well-respected ? some might say staid ? conservative Republican and honorable family man.
But the 80-year-old New Mexico political giant's persona was shaken Wednesday with the revelation that he had an out-of-wedlock child in the 1970s and became embroiled in what might be described as an inside-the-Beltway soap opera.
While his wife Nancy was raising their eight children, Domenici had the affair and secret child with a woman about half his age ? and who happened to be the daughter of one of his Senate colleagues. The woman raised the child on her own, became a prominent lobbyist, Republican activist and political commentator, and their 30-something son has since gone on to build an impressive Washington resume himself.
The saga shocked people in New Mexico who viewed Domenici as a man of honesty and integrity during his six terms and 36 years in the Senate that ended in 2008.
"I deeply regret this and am very sorry for my behavior," Domenici said in his statement. "I hope New Mexicans will view that my accomplishments for my beloved state outweigh my personal transgression."
Domenici and the mother of the child, Michelle Laxalt, went public this week, she said, out of fear someone was about to release the information in an attempt to smear Domenici and his "extraordinary wife." They issued a statement revealing the story to the Albuquerque Journal.
They identified their son as Nevada attorney Adam Paul Laxalt, a former U.S. Navy officer who served in Iraq.
It was just the latest in a seemingly endless stream of politicians being forced to reveal secret children, from one-time Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards to former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Just last week, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee acknowledged that he's the father of a 24-year-old woman after the two were seen communicating on Twitter during the State of the Union address.
Domenici was known for his unflagging support of the state's national laboratories and military installations, and he became a power broker for his work on the federal budget and energy policy.
Domenici voted for the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton in 1998 after his affair with Monica Lewinsky, but his floor statement focused on the fact that Clinton had lied under oath, noting that the trial "has never been about the President's private sex acts, as tawdry as they have been."
But in the same speech, he cited the value of "truthfulness" and how it's the first pillar of good character.
Reached at his home in Washington on Wednesday, Domenici said he had nothing more to say. Domenici and his wife have been married more than 50 years and have eight children.
Michelle Laxalt was an up-and-coming Washington figure when she and Domenici had an affair. Laxalt, then in her 20s, is the daughter of former Nevada Gov. and Sen. Paul Laxalt, who served two terms beside Domenici.
In 2008, Domenici was reprimanded by the Senate ethics committee for his involvement in a scandal over the Bush administration's firing of eight U.S. attorneys.
At the time, Laxalt defended Domenici's integrity on CNN, calling him an honorable man who was supporting "no fewer than eight children."
The website for Adam Laxalt's law firm said he is a former U.S. Navy officer and lawyer who served in Iraq. He also worked for then-Sen. John Warner, R-Va., and as a special assistant to an undersecretary of state, according to the website.
He has also written a number of conservative columns against policies like the Obama health care plan and the lifting of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays for publications like The National Review Online, American Spectator and the Las Vegas Review-Journal. And he serves on the board of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada.
Domenici said he was sorry that he caused hurt and disappointment for his wife and other family members. He said he disclosed the situation to his family several months ago.
"I have apologized as best as I can to my wife, and we have worked together to strengthen our relationship," Domenici said.
Domenici told the Journal his son participated in the drafting of his statement, but it was unclear if the two had a prior relationship.
The Laxalts did not immediately respond to emails and phone calls seeking comment.
In New Mexico, political leaders said they were surprised, but they doubted the revelation would negatively impact the Domenici legacy.
"It is going to make his legacy a little bit more colorful because he is not exactly the kind of guy you expect that from," said Maurilio Vigil, a political science professor emeritus at Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M.
"It is surprising because he was always an upstanding type of fellow, a family man, and that was his image."
Edward Lujan, former chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, said he had heard rumors about the child years ago, but "I didn't pay much attention. I didn't care. Those kinds of things honestly are between the families and has nothing to do with how he did his job."
"I don't think there was anything hypocritical about anything," Lujan said. "I admire him as much today as I did yesterday and the day before."
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez said her "thoughts and prayers are with the family.
"It's a difficult time," she said, "but Sen. Domenici's work is a very separate and distinct issue. I think he's done great things for the state and I don't think anyone will ever forget the hard work and all that he brought to New Mexico."
Others weren't as strong in their defense of Domenici and sizing up how the revelations would affect this legacy.
"I'll leave that for historians and other people to judge," said former Gov. Toney Anaya, a Democrat who ran a close race against Domenici in 1978.
___
Associated Press writers Russell Contreras and Barry Massey contributed to this report.
VATICAN CITY (AP) ? Pope Benedict XVI is clearing the decks of his pontificate, making last-minute appointments and tweaking the rules of the conclave and religious rites used to launch the next papacy once he has resigned.
The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano said in its late Friday editions that Benedict had signed a decree earlier in the week making changes to the papal installation Mass, separating out the actual rite of installation from the liturgy itself.
He is also studying the text of a separate document governing the rules of the conclave, though it's not known if it will address the thorny issue of whether the election can begin earlier than March 15, by some interpretations the earliest day stipulated under the current rules.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) ? A Kenyan official says gunmen have opened fire at a mosque in Kenya's east, killing seven people.
Maalim Mohammed, the county commissioner of Kenya's Garissa county, said Thursday that about eight gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles shot at a mosque in the village of Malele near the Kenyan-Somali border.
Mohamed says the motive of the attack is not clear. The region has been a hotspot of attacks blamed on al-Qaida-linked militants from Somalia. Somalia's al-Shabab militants have vowed to carry out attacks on Kenyan soil in retaliation for Kenya's military push into Somalia in late 2011.
Thursday's attack comes less than two weeks before Kenya holds nationwide elections. There are fears al-Shabab-affiliated militants may try to disrupt the election with attacks.
Five weeks after launch, Facebook gave reporters a 'State Of Graph Search' today at its Menlo Park HQ. It's been rolled out from the original 100,000 users to "hundreds of thousands", and now a news feed story is appearing to lure people's friends to sign up for the early access wait list.
Pitt study examines cost-effectiveness of medicare drug plans in schizophrenia and bipolar disorderPublic release date: 20-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Cristina Mestre MestreCA@upmc.edu 412-586-9776 University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 19, 2013 A new study published online today in the American Journal of Managed Care found that in Medicare Part D, generic drug coverage was cost-saving compared to no coverage in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, while also improving health outcomes. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the Pitt Graduate School of Public Health, and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC note that policymakers and insurers should consider generic-only coverage, rather than no gap coverage, to both conserve health care resources and improve health.
Medicare Part D offers prescription drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries and since the program's inception in 2006, many enrollees have benefited from improved drug coverage and increased medication use. However, a major concern is the large coverage gap in the standard Part D design, where beneficiaries pay 100 percent of medication costs out-of-pocket. About one-third of all Medicare beneficiaries enter this coverage gap each year, and once there, they often reduce medication use, which may lead to increases in hospitalization and medical spending.
"This coverage gap is an even larger concern for Medicare beneficiaries with severe mental disorders such as bipolar and schizophrenia," said Kenneth J. Smith, M.D., M.S., associate professor of medicine and clinical and translational science at the University of Pittsburgh, and lead author of the study. "Our cost-effectiveness analysis of Part D plans is an unconventional yet instructive way to inform managed care decision-making."
Added concerns for mental health patients include:
Mental health patients are much more likely to enter the "gap:" 62 percent of Medicare beneficiaries with bipolar disorder and 56 percent of those with schizophrenia entered the gap in 2007.
If they discontinue psychotropic medications, they may relapse to more severe episodes and require psychiatric hospitalization.
They experience high rates of comorbid chronic physical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, which can be exacerbated by untreated mental illness and increase morbidity, medical spending and mortality.
The standard Part D benefit in 2007 included four phases: (1) an initial $265 deductible; (2) a period in which beneficiaries paid 25 percent of drug costs between $265 and $2,400; (3) a coverage gap in which they paid 100 percent of costs between $2,401 and $3,850, where they reached their total out-of-pocket spending catastrophic limit; and (4) a catastrophic coverage period where they paid 5 percent of costs.
Although the standard Part D benefit includes these four phases, some companies offering Part D drug plans modified the design and offered either "actuarially equivalent" or enhanced plans. In 2007, for example, 72 percent of stand-alone Part D plans had the standard coverage gap, 27 percent offered coverage for generic drugs used in the gap, and fewer than 1 percent offered coverage for both brand-name and generic drugs.
"Our objective was to examine differences in health outcomes and costs between coverage groups in patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia," added Smith. "We were most interested in differences between the no-gap and generic coverage groups because policies governing the plans' availability and affordability could affect health costs and outcomes for beneficiaries entering the coverage gap."
Of the more than 180,000 patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia that were evaluated, 14.6 percent had no gap coverage, and 7.1 percent had generic coverage. The remainder had low-income subsidies with more generous coverage, and therefore, were not strictly comparable to the other two groups. When comparing the no-gap coverage and generic gap coverage groups, patients with generic coverage had better health outcomes and reduced total medical costs as follows:
In disabled recipients with bipolar disorder and no coverage, costs were $570 per person more than generic coverage ($25,090 annually for no gap coverage compared to $24,520 for generic coverage)
In an aged recipient with bipolar disorder and no coverage, costs were $563 more per year than generic coverage
In a disabled recipient with schizophrenia and no coverage, costs were $1,312 more per year than generic coverage
In an aged recipient with schizophrenia and no coverage, costs were $1,289 more per year than generic coverage
Costs were lower with generic coverage due to fewer hospitalizations when this coverage was in place. The authors conclude that generic coverage in the gap is cost-saving compared with no-gap coverage (the standard part D design) and improves health outcomes.
###
Collaborators on this study include Seo Hyon Baik, Ph.D., Charles F. Reynolds III, M.D., Bruce L. Rollman, M.D., M.P.H., and Yuting Zhang, Ph.D., all of the University of Pittsburgh.
This research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health grant RC1MH088510; the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality grant R01HS018657; and the University of Pittsburgh Central Research Development Fund.
About the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
As one of the nation's leading academic centers for biomedical research, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine integrates advanced technology with basic science across a broad range of disciplines in a continuous quest to harness the power of new knowledge and improve the human condition. Driven mainly by the School of Medicine and its affiliates, Pitt has ranked among the top 10 recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1997. In rankings recently released by the National Science Foundation, Pitt ranked fifth among all American universities in total federal science and engineering research and development support.
Likewise, the School of Medicine is equally committed to advancing the quality and strength of its medical and graduate education programs, for which it is recognized as an innovative leader, and to training highly skilled, compassionate clinicians and creative scientists well-equipped to engage in world-class research. The School of Medicine is the academic partner of UPMC, which has collaborated with the University to raise the standard of medical excellence in Pittsburgh and to position health care as a driving force behind the region's economy. For more information about the School of Medicine, see www.medschool.pitt.edu.
http://www.upmc.com/media
[ | 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.
Pitt study examines cost-effectiveness of medicare drug plans in schizophrenia and bipolar disorderPublic release date: 20-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Cristina Mestre MestreCA@upmc.edu 412-586-9776 University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 19, 2013 A new study published online today in the American Journal of Managed Care found that in Medicare Part D, generic drug coverage was cost-saving compared to no coverage in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, while also improving health outcomes. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the Pitt Graduate School of Public Health, and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC note that policymakers and insurers should consider generic-only coverage, rather than no gap coverage, to both conserve health care resources and improve health.
Medicare Part D offers prescription drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries and since the program's inception in 2006, many enrollees have benefited from improved drug coverage and increased medication use. However, a major concern is the large coverage gap in the standard Part D design, where beneficiaries pay 100 percent of medication costs out-of-pocket. About one-third of all Medicare beneficiaries enter this coverage gap each year, and once there, they often reduce medication use, which may lead to increases in hospitalization and medical spending.
"This coverage gap is an even larger concern for Medicare beneficiaries with severe mental disorders such as bipolar and schizophrenia," said Kenneth J. Smith, M.D., M.S., associate professor of medicine and clinical and translational science at the University of Pittsburgh, and lead author of the study. "Our cost-effectiveness analysis of Part D plans is an unconventional yet instructive way to inform managed care decision-making."
Added concerns for mental health patients include:
Mental health patients are much more likely to enter the "gap:" 62 percent of Medicare beneficiaries with bipolar disorder and 56 percent of those with schizophrenia entered the gap in 2007.
If they discontinue psychotropic medications, they may relapse to more severe episodes and require psychiatric hospitalization.
They experience high rates of comorbid chronic physical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, which can be exacerbated by untreated mental illness and increase morbidity, medical spending and mortality.
The standard Part D benefit in 2007 included four phases: (1) an initial $265 deductible; (2) a period in which beneficiaries paid 25 percent of drug costs between $265 and $2,400; (3) a coverage gap in which they paid 100 percent of costs between $2,401 and $3,850, where they reached their total out-of-pocket spending catastrophic limit; and (4) a catastrophic coverage period where they paid 5 percent of costs.
Although the standard Part D benefit includes these four phases, some companies offering Part D drug plans modified the design and offered either "actuarially equivalent" or enhanced plans. In 2007, for example, 72 percent of stand-alone Part D plans had the standard coverage gap, 27 percent offered coverage for generic drugs used in the gap, and fewer than 1 percent offered coverage for both brand-name and generic drugs.
"Our objective was to examine differences in health outcomes and costs between coverage groups in patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia," added Smith. "We were most interested in differences between the no-gap and generic coverage groups because policies governing the plans' availability and affordability could affect health costs and outcomes for beneficiaries entering the coverage gap."
Of the more than 180,000 patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia that were evaluated, 14.6 percent had no gap coverage, and 7.1 percent had generic coverage. The remainder had low-income subsidies with more generous coverage, and therefore, were not strictly comparable to the other two groups. When comparing the no-gap coverage and generic gap coverage groups, patients with generic coverage had better health outcomes and reduced total medical costs as follows:
In disabled recipients with bipolar disorder and no coverage, costs were $570 per person more than generic coverage ($25,090 annually for no gap coverage compared to $24,520 for generic coverage)
In an aged recipient with bipolar disorder and no coverage, costs were $563 more per year than generic coverage
In a disabled recipient with schizophrenia and no coverage, costs were $1,312 more per year than generic coverage
In an aged recipient with schizophrenia and no coverage, costs were $1,289 more per year than generic coverage
Costs were lower with generic coverage due to fewer hospitalizations when this coverage was in place. The authors conclude that generic coverage in the gap is cost-saving compared with no-gap coverage (the standard part D design) and improves health outcomes.
###
Collaborators on this study include Seo Hyon Baik, Ph.D., Charles F. Reynolds III, M.D., Bruce L. Rollman, M.D., M.P.H., and Yuting Zhang, Ph.D., all of the University of Pittsburgh.
This research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health grant RC1MH088510; the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality grant R01HS018657; and the University of Pittsburgh Central Research Development Fund.
About the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
As one of the nation's leading academic centers for biomedical research, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine integrates advanced technology with basic science across a broad range of disciplines in a continuous quest to harness the power of new knowledge and improve the human condition. Driven mainly by the School of Medicine and its affiliates, Pitt has ranked among the top 10 recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1997. In rankings recently released by the National Science Foundation, Pitt ranked fifth among all American universities in total federal science and engineering research and development support.
Likewise, the School of Medicine is equally committed to advancing the quality and strength of its medical and graduate education programs, for which it is recognized as an innovative leader, and to training highly skilled, compassionate clinicians and creative scientists well-equipped to engage in world-class research. The School of Medicine is the academic partner of UPMC, which has collaborated with the University to raise the standard of medical excellence in Pittsburgh and to position health care as a driving force behind the region's economy. For more information about the School of Medicine, see www.medschool.pitt.edu.
http://www.upmc.com/media
[ | 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.
Two men dressed in tinfoil stand in the French village of Bugarach. The mountain near Bugarach was touted as a haven from the Maya apocalypse last December. The mountain survived, as did everything else.
By Stephanie Pappas LiveScience
Y2K? A bust. Judgment Day 2011? As quiet as a mouse. The Mayan apocalypse? Certainly not now.
As they have throughout history, failed doomsday predictions come and go. But with the Pope resigning, an asteroid whizzing near the planet Friday?and a completely unrelated space rock exploding over Russia, it seems a good time to ask: What's next?
Plenty, as it turns out. Previous failures have in no way shut down doomsday predictors, and dates are set for possible apocalypses in 2020, 2040, 2060 and 2080 (zeros have an appeal, apparently). One of these doomsdays was even predicted by Sir Isaac Newton himself.
"It's clear that these kinds of scenarios return over and over and over again," said John Hoopes, an archaeologist at the University of Kansas who has studied doomsday predictions.
The end is nigh Doomsday prophecies date back thousands of years. The ancient Persians kicked off the hobby of apocalypse predictingin the Western world, Saint Joseph's University professor Allen Kerkeslager told LiveScience in December 2012. When the Zoroastrian Persians conquered the ancient Jews, they passed their end-of-the-world beliefs into Jewish culture, which subsequently handed them to Christianity. Now, everyone from Protestant preachers such as Harold Camping, who predicted Armageddon in 2011, to UFO cultists and New Age mystics occasionally jump on the doomsday train.?
The most recent apocalypse prediction was tied to the Mayan calendar, even though actual Mayans and scholars who study ancient Maya culture pointed out repeatedly that the calendar was never meant to predict the end of the world. The appointed day (Dec. 21, 2012) came and went without fire and brimstone.
But failures haven't stopped aspiring doomsday prophets in the past. In one of the most notorious apocalypse failures ever, American Baptist preacher William Miller predicted the return of Jesus Christ on March 21, 1844. Nothing happened, so Miller and his followers revised the prediction to Oct. 22. When that day, too, passed without incident, it was dubbed the Great Disappointment. [Oops! 11 Failed Doomsday Predictions]
Likewise, Camping predicted the Rapture three times in 1994 before his 2011 predictions.
The Pope's doomsday So it should come as no surprise that doomsday believers have plenty of dates to fixate on in the future. Friday's ultimately harmless asteroid flyby may trigger more anxiety about world-ending asteroid impacts in the near future, Hoopes told LiveScience. A Friday morning meteor explosion that shattered windows and injured more than 1,000 in Russia is likely to do the same.
The surprise announcement of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI last week has also triggered doomsday chatter.
In 1595, a Benedictine monk published a series of prophecies he claimed came straight from the pen of a 12th-century archbishop, Saint Malachy. The prophecies are short phrases, each said by future interpreters to match up with a particular pope. For example, the phrase "out of the guardian goose" has been linked to Pope Alexander III (1159-1181), because his family coat of arms sported an image of a goose.
Pope John Paul II (1978-2005) is said to match the 110th phrase on the list, "from the labor of the sun," because he was born and entombed on days when there were solar eclipses. That makes Benedict XVI number 111, "the glory of the olive." A monastic order founded by the saint from whom Benedict took his name has a branch known as the Olivetans, though Benedict himself is not one of them.
Here's where the prophecies ? which are completely discredited by the Catholic Church and suspected to be forgeries ? get fun. Line 112 reads, "In the extreme persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will sit Peter the Roman, who will nourish the sheep in many tribulations; when they are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The end." [End of the World? Top Doomsday Fears]
So is the next Pope the last before the apocalypse? History may not bear out any doomsday predictions, but prognosticators such as Thomas Horn and Cris Putnam, authors of "Petrus Romanus: The Final Pope is Here" (Defender, 2012) certainly think this one has legs. The theory has the advantage of involving the Catholic Church, an institution often accused of conspiracy. Conspiracy theoriesare often a component of popular doomsday theories, Hoopes said.
Successful predictions have to "hook into some deeper fears," he said.
Any day now If the Pope prophecies don't pan out, there's plenty more to see. Numerologists have placed bets on both 2040 and 2080, interpretations that come from the Jewish text the Talmud and the Islamic holy book the Quran.
Psychic Jeane Dixon, who became famous through her newspaper astrology column and who often touted herself as having predicted John F. Kennedy's assassination, claimed that Armageddon would come in 2020. But though Dixon did occasionally make predictions that seemed to pan out, she was frequently wrong, as a 1980 article in the Lakeland Ledger pointed out. For example, Dixon predicted that Fidel Castro's days were numbered in 1968 (Castro is still alive and remained in office until 2011). She also said the two-party system of government would vanish from the United States by 1978, which would come as news to today's Democrats and Republicans.
Dixon, who died in 1997, was so famous that Temple University mathematician John Allen Paulos named the phenomenon of someone advertising correct predictions while ignoring many more failed ones the "Jeane Dixon effect."
But Dixon's fame has nothing on Sir Isaac Newton, the famed mathematician who figured out the principals of gravity. Newton had a side interest in apocalypse speculation, it turns out. A devout Christian, Newton was wary of human fallibility in interpreting prophecies, according to Stephen Snobelen of the University of King's College in Nova Scotia, who has researched Newton's writings. But he did muse in private about the date of doomsday, adding up important biblical numbers to arrive at 2060.
On the other hand, Newton would not have wanted a reputation as a doomsday predictor, Snobelen wrote in a statement. In his musing on 2060, Newton wrote, "It may end later, but I see no reason for its ending sooner. This I mention not to assert when the time of the end shall be, but to put a stop to the rash conjectures of fanciful men who are frequently predicting the time of the end, & by doing so bring the sacred prophesies into discredit as often as their predictions fail."
Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitter @sipappasor LiveScience @livescience. We're also on Facebook? and? Google+.
Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Five weeks after launch, Facebook gave reporters a 'State Of Graph Search' today at its Menlo Park HQ. It's been rolled out from the original 100,000 users to "hundreds of thousands", and now a news feed story is appearing to lure people's friends to sign up for the early access wait list.![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vndMz0oNpKqAPQTX8jylInFOdBPk_ikMtyKiXJVGebUme9y6wmZ8MH6jSOpCvcR-F3pi84gWYLs3PR4G3F73QiEws2QBZPkdTxgg5fABY=s0-d){kind=small}
Public release date: 20-Feb-2013
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