Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/175108833?client_source=feed&format=rss
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Friday, December 16, 2011
First Android Dedicated GPS Unit Actually Looks Pretty Decent
Considering Android is getting on in age, it's surprising it hasn't been featured on more "miscellaneous" devices. Phones and tablets, sure, but we haven't seen many, say, DVD players or PMPs using the OS. And certainly not GPS devices, whose proprietary libraries and interfaces were developed at great cost, leading the companies that made them working desperately to squeeze every last penny out of them. But perhaps we're about to see that change. GPS maker Holux and sporting map app company SatSki have put out the All Sports GPS, a handset-like unit that has multiple sports-related mapping tools, lots of live maps (Google of course, OVI, OpenStreetMap, and more), and a location and distance-focused interface. Average speed, altitude changes, all that stuff.Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/EIWPllTBOn8/
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Wednesday, December 7, 2011
How Music Affects the Brain and How You Can Use it to Your Advantage [Music]
Music can often make or break a day. It can change your mood, amp you up for exercise, and help you recover from injury. But how does it work exactly, and how can you use it to your advantage?
Photo by JT Theriot.
Recently, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords used music therapy to help her learn to talk again. The still unproven theory revolves around the idea that music is represented in multiple parts of the brain and therefore accesses deeper pathways between neurons. Music then helps patients connect the stored knowledge of words through songs and helps create the new connections needed for speech. This same idea has been used for stroke victims in the past, and has been referred to as the Kenny Rogers Effect.
You don't need to have suffer from brain damage to get the benefits though, lets take a look at how music affects the brain in a more casual sense, and how you can use it to enhance your day-to-day.
Recall Memories
You might remember reports back in the 1990s that said that studying while listening to Mozart increases the likelihood of performing well on a test, but that has been disproven, and in turn, studies have shown some music has a negative affect on fact retention if you're studying numbers or lists. Still, performing music has been proven to increase memory and language skills, but for listeners, it's better used as a means to recall memories. It has been shown in Alzheimer's patients to help with memory recall, and even restore cognitive function. It works for Alzheimer's patients in the same way it works in everyone else.
When you listen to music you know, it stimulates the hippocampus, which handles long-term storage in the brain. Doing so can also bring out relevant memories you made while listening to a particular song. So, even though the Mozart-effect has essentially been disproven, the idea that forming a new memory with music, and then using the same music again later to recall the memory still appears to be a sound idea. If you're having trouble remembering something, you might have better luck if you play the same music you were listening to when you first made the thought.
Photo by David Mican.
Boost Your Immune System
The idea that listening to music can boost your immune system might sound a little crazy on the surface, but the science is backs it up. Soothing music is known to decrease stress, and when it does that, it decreases the level of the stress hormone cortisol. It's not just soothing music though, even upbeat dance music is known to increase the level of antibodies in your system. Dr. Ronny Enk, who lead the recent research about music's effect on the immune system suggests, "We think the pleasant state that can be induced by music leads to special physiological changes which eventually lead to stress reduction or direct immune enhancement."
Now the cold season has set in, it's a good idea to keep this in mind throughout the day. If you're feeling stressed out or if you're starting to feel ill, listening to music might be the extra help you need to stay well. If you're having trouble finding something soothing to listen to, our collection of work sounds are a good place to start. If you prefer the upbeat method, any fast and upbeat dance song will do the trick.
Photo by sunshinecity.
Enhance Your Exercising
As we've previously covered, music has a positive effect on exercising. In a recent study, researchers found a positive correlation between fast paced music and exercise. While it's nothing too surprising, music works to increase exercising strength by distracting attention and pushing the heart and muscles to work at a faster pace. Not much is known about how or why it works, but it's thought it eases exercise.
The best music to listen to is between 120-140 beats per minute, which also happens to be the standard tempo for upbeat dance music, meaning you'll be increasing your immune system and helping you exercise at the same time.
Keep Yourself from Choking Under Pressure
We've heard before that humming a tune decreases anxiety and the same goes to prevent choking. In a study of basketball players who were prone to failing at the free throw line, researchers found they could improve the player's percentage if they first listened to catchy, upbeat music. Listening to the Monty Python song, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," caused the basketball players to lose focus and execute their free throws with minimal involvement from the prefrontal cortex.
If you're prone to getting anxious, worried, or choking in meetings or presentations, throwing on a humorous, light-hearted song before you go in might help distract your brain enough to keep you from failing. The above mentioned "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," is a great example, but we're sure tracks from the likes of Jonathan Coulton, They Might Be Giants, Weird Al Yankovic, or any other comedy focused song will work just as well.
Photo by Ludie Cochran.
Fight Fatigue and Increase Productivity
The effect of using music to increase productivity is still inconclusive, even though a few studies were done on the subject. Regardless, it certainly doesn't hurt, and it seems the best option might be to use music without words so it doesn't have affect the language parts of your brain. The theory is similar to the exercise one above, faster music might keep you and your brain working hard.
That said, if you have a monotonous job, music is a great way to increase your mood while performing boring work. For the same reasoning it helps with exercising, it can also help with fighting fatigue, especially if you change up the music often. Studies have also shown that almost all music increases your mood, because it causes a release of dopamine, so if you're feeling tired, bored, or depressed, a good pop song might be the cure you need.
Music is a motivator and a great means to keep yourself in your good mood, and while a number of the effects are still unproven, listening to music certainly doesn't hurt. Do you have a particular song that always puts you in a good or productive mood?
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Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Sri Lanka media group challenges websites blocking (AP)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka ? A media rights group has filed a court challenge over the Sri Lankan government's blocking of five news websites for content that was deemed insulting, a spokesman said Tuesday.
The local Free Media Movement filed a fundamental rights application in the Supreme Court on Monday on the basis that the blockade breaches the people's right to information and freedom of expression, the group's convener, Sunil Jayasekara, said.
The Information and Media Ministry ordered the sites blocked last month, saying they committed character assassination and insulted people including key political leaders.
The sites blocked are http://www.lankaenews.com, srilankamirror.com, srilankaguardian.com, paparasinews.com, gossip9.com and http://www.lankawaynews.com.
Rights groups criticized the move as undemocratic. Sri Lankan laws do not restrict the press from criticizing leaders, but media can be charged for defamation.
The ministry has also asked websites to register, a new requirement for websites, while older media formats such as newspapers, radio and television already have to register before they start opertating.
Of the five sites, lankaenews is highly critical of the government and has been blocked once previously and been subjected to violence and threats. A columnist for the website has been missing for nearly two years and is believed to have been abducted. Its office was set on fire earlier this year and lankaenews blamed the government for the attack.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo has called on Sri Lankan authorities and telecommunications firms "to stop activities aimed at blocking free access in Sri Lanka to all legitimate media websites, including Lanka-e-News."
Reporters Without Borders said it was appalled by Sri Lanka's decision to block the sites and urged it be lifted and the new registration requirement rescinded. It also called on commercial telecom companies to stop blocking sites at the government's behest.
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Celtic escapes penalty for fans' pro-IRA chanting
Associated Press Sports
updated 1:36 p.m. ET Dec. 5, 2011
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) -Celtic will face no punishment from the Scottish Premier League following an investigation into the singing of offensive Irish political songs by a section of the club's fans in October.
The SPL says the Glasgow club has been cleared of breaching league rules because it took "all reasonable steps to minimize the ... unacceptable conduct" by supporters who chanted pro-IRA songs during the 0-0 home draw with Hibernian on Oct. 29.
The league welcomed Celtic's condemnation of the chanting and its ongoing work to ensure similar incidents don't happen again.
Fans of Celtic are predominantly Catholic while those of fierce city rival Rangers are mostly Protestant. Both clubs have traditionally sung about Irish religious history.
? 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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More newsAFP - Getty ImagesMessi, Ronaldo, Xavi nominated
Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez will be up against Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo for the FIFA world player of the year award.
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45556405/ns/sports-soccer/
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Monday, December 5, 2011
Va. inmate appeals dismissal of sex change lawsuit
FILE - In this March 9, 2011 photo Ophelia De'lonta speaks during an interview at the Buckingham Correctional Center in Dillwyn, Va. DeLonta is appealing the dismissal of her lawsuit seeking a sex change operation, saying a jury should decide whether hormones and other therapies she receives are adequate or whether she should get the surgery. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
FILE - In this March 9, 2011 photo Ophelia De'lonta speaks during an interview at the Buckingham Correctional Center in Dillwyn, Va. DeLonta is appealing the dismissal of her lawsuit seeking a sex change operation, saying a jury should decide whether hormones and other therapies she receives are adequate or whether she should get the surgery. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) ? A transgender Virginia inmate has appealed the dismissal of her lawsuit asking the state to pay for her to have a sex change operation, saying a jury should decide if hormones and other therapies she receives are adequate.
U.S. District Judge James Turk tossed out Ophelia De'Lonta's lawsuit in October, saying the state was adequately treating her gender identity disorder, a mental diagnosis in which people believe they were born the wrong sex. Turk said courts have ruled that inmates are guaranteed only minimum care, not preferred therapies.
De'Lonta, who was born a man, claims her disorder causes her to attempt castration and that the surgery is the only thing that will make her stop. In an appeal to the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals filed last week, she cites established treatment guidelines that say the surgery is needed in severe cases.
"Whether treatment is adequate is a question properly left to a jury," De'Lonta argues. "... The court seems to be saying that the fact that a prisoner is receiving any treatment at all precludes her demanding adequate treatment and forecloses altogether any argument on the level of care required."
In 2004, De'Lonta won the right to hormone treatment, psychotherapy and other allowances, such as requiring prison officials to address her as a woman and allow her to wear some female clothing. The hormones have caused her to develop noticeable breasts and other feminine features.
But De'Lonta says the therapy no longer works and that she can't control the urge to mutilate her genitals. In interviews with the AP, De'Lonta has said she will continue to cut herself unless she gets the $20,000 surgery.
Turk, however, cited federal court rulings that say there is nothing cruel and unusual about denying inmates treatments "that only the wealthy can afford." He wrote that De'Lonta was not being denied medical care, only her preferred treatment ? surgery.
The Attorney General's Office does not comment on pending litigation, spokeswoman Caroline Gibson said.
De'Lonta is serving more than 70 years for robbery, drugs and other charges. She was hoping to become the first inmate in the nation to receive a state-funded sex change operation. Similar lawsuits have failed in a handful of other states, and lawmakers in some states are trying to ban the use of taxpayer money for the operations. Inmates in several other states have sued and won the right to hormone treatments.
The lawsuit's dismissal is unlikely to affect the ongoing case in Massachusetts of convicted murderer Michelle Kosilek ? born Robert ? who argues her surgery is a medical necessity. She says state officials have violated her constitutional rights by refusing to provide the operation.
Kosilek has received hormone treatments and lives as a woman in an all-male state prison.
De'Lonta also is housed in a men's prison but demanded in her lawsuit to be moved to a female facility. Turk, however, said the state is right to treat her as it does any other inmate with male genitalia.
___
Associated Press Writer Dena Potter can be reached at www.twitter.com/DenaPotterAP
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