Pioneering electrical engineering work recognized

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Contact: Sean Nealon
sean.nealon@ucr.edu
951-827-1287
University of California - Riverside

Alexander Balandin is named IEEE Fellow for contributions to the characterization of thermo-electric properties of semiconductor nanostructures and graphene

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) Alexander A. Balandin, a professor of electrical engineering in the Bourns College of Engineering and founding chair of materials science and engineering at the University of California, Riverside has been named an IEEE Fellow for 2013. IEEE is the world's leading professional organization for advancing technology for humanity.

Balandin, who is also the recipient of IEEE Pioneer of Nanotechnology Award for 2011, is being recognized for his contributions to the characterization of thermo-electric properties of semiconductor nanostructures and graphene, a material that could play a major role in keeping laptops and other electronic devices from overheating.

His pioneering studies of the thermal conductivity of graphene led to the creation of a new active graphene thermal field of research with applications in thermal management of advanced electronic and optoelectronic devices. His study of confined acoustic phonons led to better understanding of thermal and electrical properties of semiconductor nanostructures.

The IEEE Grade of Fellow is conferred by the IEEE Board of Directors upon a person with an outstanding record of accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest. The total number selected in any one year cannot exceed one-tenth of one- percent of the total voting membership. IEEE Fellow is the highest grade of membership and is recognized by the technical community as a prestigious honor and an important career achievement. For 2013, 298 individuals have been elevated to IEEE Fellow.

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With 400,000 members in 160 countries, the IEEE is a leading authority on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. Dedicated to the advancement of technology, the IEEE publishes 30 percent of the world's literature in the electrical and electronics engineering and computer science fields, and has developed more than 900 active industry standards.


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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 27-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Sean Nealon
sean.nealon@ucr.edu
951-827-1287
University of California - Riverside

Alexander Balandin is named IEEE Fellow for contributions to the characterization of thermo-electric properties of semiconductor nanostructures and graphene

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) Alexander A. Balandin, a professor of electrical engineering in the Bourns College of Engineering and founding chair of materials science and engineering at the University of California, Riverside has been named an IEEE Fellow for 2013. IEEE is the world's leading professional organization for advancing technology for humanity.

Balandin, who is also the recipient of IEEE Pioneer of Nanotechnology Award for 2011, is being recognized for his contributions to the characterization of thermo-electric properties of semiconductor nanostructures and graphene, a material that could play a major role in keeping laptops and other electronic devices from overheating.

His pioneering studies of the thermal conductivity of graphene led to the creation of a new active graphene thermal field of research with applications in thermal management of advanced electronic and optoelectronic devices. His study of confined acoustic phonons led to better understanding of thermal and electrical properties of semiconductor nanostructures.

The IEEE Grade of Fellow is conferred by the IEEE Board of Directors upon a person with an outstanding record of accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest. The total number selected in any one year cannot exceed one-tenth of one- percent of the total voting membership. IEEE Fellow is the highest grade of membership and is recognized by the technical community as a prestigious honor and an important career achievement. For 2013, 298 individuals have been elevated to IEEE Fellow.

###

With 400,000 members in 160 countries, the IEEE is a leading authority on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. Dedicated to the advancement of technology, the IEEE publishes 30 percent of the world's literature in the electrical and electronics engineering and computer science fields, and has developed more than 900 active industry standards.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/uoc--pee112712.php

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Illinois sets March election to replace Jesse Jackson Junior

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Illinois has set a date of March 19 for a special election to fill the U.S. congressional seat vacated by Democrat Jesse Jackson Jr., who resigned last week amid an ethics investigation and concerns over his health.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced the date in a statement on Monday but said the special election may be delayed a few weeks to coincide with local elections in April.

Quinn also said the primary election for the seat will be held on February 26. The winner of the Democratic primary will be the favorite in the general election because the majority African-American district is solidly Democratic.

Even before Quinn set the dates, a number of people were said to be contemplating a run for the seat, according to local media reports. They include including former U.S. Representative Debbie Halvorson, former Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, Pastor Corey Brooks and lawyer Sam Adam Jr.

In his two-page resignation letter on Wednesday, Jackson, 47, who has been treated for bipolar disorder and is reportedly under investigation for possible misuse of campaign funds, acknowledged he was the target of a federal probe and in possible plea talks.

"I am aware of the ongoing federal investigation into my activities and I am doing my best to address the situation responsibly, cooperate with the investigators and accept responsibility for my mistakes," Jackson wrote.

Jackson, who has been in Congress since 1995, easily won re-election earlier this month despite the growing ethics questions.

His resignation did not result in any change in the political balance of power of the U.S. House of Representatives, which has a solid Republican majority.

Jackson was treated for at least six weeks this summer at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, for bipolar disorder, a psychological condition marked by extreme mood swings.

He has also been the subject of a House ethics committee probe over an alleged bribe offered by a Jackson supporter in 2008 to then Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

The bribe was said to be intended to entice Blagojevich to appoint Jackson to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama. Jackson has admitted to lobbying for the seat but denied knowing about any money offered to Blagojevich, who has since been convicted on corruption charges and imprisoned.

According to news reports citing unnamed sources, Jackson is also being investigated by the FBI over possible misuse of campaign money. The FBI has not confirmed the reports.

(Reporting by James B. Kelleher; Editing by Greg McCune and Eric Beech)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/illinois-sets-march-election-replace-jesse-jackson-junior-222705407.html

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Microsoft Touch Cover (for Surface)

The Microsoft Touch Cover, as the name implies, is all about touch. In one instance it's a soft cover for the Microsoft Surface RT tablet ($699.00 direct) touch screen, putting the Surface RT to sleep when closed and waking it back up when opened. But it's also a touch device in its own right, offering a new look at the basic keyboard, with 77 pressure sensitive "keys" and a capacitive touchpad with pressure-sensitive right- and left-click buttons. And finally, when folded around behind the Surface, the Surface switches to touch-only input, disabling the keyboard functions so that the Touch Cover is just a cover again. That's a lot of functionality to fit into a 3-millimeter-thick flap, but the Touch Cover handles it with well-designed aplomb.

Design and Features
The Touch Cover is, first and foremost, a cover for the various Surface tablets. The Touch Cover attaches to the Surface tablet via the magnetic docking connector, snapping into place with a satisfying thunk and seating properly without problems. And because the connection is magnetic, the cover stays securely attached, even when you pick up the tablet and let the cover dangle freely.

Measuring only 0.13 by 10.98 by 7.36 inches (HWD), the slim Touch Cover adds less than half a pound of weight (7.4 ounces) to the Surface, but expands the tablet's productive capability immensely. It also protects the screen while being easy to clean itself. The Touch Cover is spill resistant, and with none of the nooks and crannies of a regular keyboard, it can be wiped down for easy cleaning. The Touch Cover is also something of a fashion statement, available in five eye-popping colors (Black, White, Cyan, Magenta, and Red). This also makes the Touch Cover the prime choice for techie fashionistas, as the similar Microsoft Type Cover is only available in black.

The keyboard itself has no regular keys?no moving parts at all, really?relying instead on a pressure-sensitive layer sandwiched inside. This pressure-sensitive function not only allows you to type on the Touch Cover, but also to rest your hands on the keys as you normally would; the cover can distinguish the difference in pressure between a resting finger and a key press. Because the Touch Cover is so thin, the actual typing feel is a bit like typing on a thin mouse pad, but the responsiveness of the keys makes for a far more usable experience than we anticipated.

Because there is no tactile feedback when typing on the Touch Cover, the Surface adds a small audio cue that sounds quietly whenever a key is pressed. It's a small touch, but it's the sort of detail that makes a difference while using the Touch Cover, provided you don't mute the volume. The Touch Cover may not appeal to touch typists, however, as the flat, unmoving keys of the Touch Cover make it much easier to drift out of position on the keyboard. In an attempt to mitigate this, the usual F and J keys have an added printed accent on each key to indicate the home row, but it's so low profile that it doesn't quite do the trick.

Given that the Touch Cover is made exclusively for Microsoft's Surface tablets, it should be no surprise that Windows 8 (and Windows RT) functionality is built in, with functions from the Charms Bar found in the F1-F12 buttons. These include volume controls, and Charms for Search, Connect, Devices, and Settings. You've also got function keys for Home, End, PgUp, PgDn, and the usual Esc and Del keys. These same Windows 8-specific features can be found on the Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard , so don't think that they're exclusive to the Touch Cover.

The Touch Cover also features a small capacitive touchpad, for those who want a regular mousing experience rather than the pure touch-centric navigation of the Surface RT tablet. If there's a flaw with the Touch Cover, it's the size of the touchpad?a tiny 2.7 by 1.3 inches. The trackpad on the Touch Cover also has the same texture as the rest of the keyboard, which may be uncomfortable for some when trying to scroll or to click and drag. That said, the trackpad on the Touch Cover still provides simple functionality, like left- and right-clicking, two finger scrolling, click and drag, and a two-finger tap brings up the command bar.

Performance
In terms of actual typing speeds, you likely won't be typing at top speed the way you would on a springy mechanical keyboard, but you will be able to do considerably better than you would using the on-screen keyboard alone. Microsoft estimates that typists who type 25 words per minute using an onscreen keyboard will be able to roughly double that with the Touch Cover, but won't be flying at 80 or 90 WPM like they would on a normal keyboard. Our own testing seems to confirms this.

The other issue that came up when testing the Touch Cover was typing fatigue. Your fingers and wrists will tire sooner when using the Touch Cover, and we imagine that the ergonomics of it are far from ideal. For anyone intending to do a lot of typing using their Surface tablet, we'd suggest switching to one of the Windows 8 Bluetooth keyboards.

Typing on the touch cover feels a little bit like typing on a thin mouse pad. The texture is soft and reminiscent of fabric, and the thickness of the cover provides a little bit of cushioning, but not a lot. The repeated impact of typing on a flat, largely ungiving surface isn't always comfortable. The repeated impact on the fingers is far more noticeable than on any standard keyboard, and the Touch Cover is one of the first times I've ever felt anything that could be described as typing fatigue. I can only imagine what the ergonomic implications of using the Touch Cover extensively might be.

I can't seem to get used to the fact that the Touch Cover just feels weird. It's more responsive, yes, but it doesn't provide any tactile feedback, meaning that you'll need to either listen for the audio cues that sound with each keystroke, or closely watch the screen to be sure that every keystroke is registering. Alternately, because you're just tapping on a largely undifferentiated surface, there is a tendency to drift as you type, so you'll need to also watch your keyboard, even if you're normally a touch typist. The result is a keyboard that requires extra attention for what should be one of the most unobtrusive aspects of PC use, typing.

Additionally, as mentioned earlier, typing fatigue is a real issue on the Touch Cover. I regularly spend my days at the keyboard without issue, but I got tired of banging my fingertips in only a few minutes. The bottom line here? The Touch Cover isn't for serious typing, it's for the occasional bit of text entry, like a URL, a search term, or a tweet. It's certainly more comfortable and usable than an onscreen keyboard, but it's no replacement for a regular keyboard. Surface users who expect to get a lot of productive use out of their tablet may be better served by getting the Microsoft Type Cover, or by using the Touch Cover primarily as a cover and buying a mobile keyboard like the Microsoft Sculpt Mobile Keyboard when typing for long periods of time.

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Microsoft Touch Cover (for Surface) with several other keyboards side by side.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/E-6tvdhBUJ0/0,2817,2412308,00.asp

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Shopping and Product Reviews: Will Traditional Shopping Die ...

The popularity of online shopping has been seen by many as a threat to the existence of traditional shopping. Their argument is based on the recent widespread closure of established brands like Sears and Best Buy. But can we really say that traditional shopping is dying?

In 2011, even though the U.S economy was sluggish, shopping grew by 15% over the previous year. In addition, about 35% of Americans now have smartphones which enable them to purchase goods and services over the internet and this figure is expected to rise significantly in subsequent years. In actual fact, about half of smartphone users have used their phones for one purchase or the other. On Christmas day of 2011 alone, about 6.8 million iOs and Android smartphones were activated. Top internet retailer, Amazon, recorded a whooping net sale of $48.08 billion in 2011 which represents 40.6% increase over $32.20 billion recorded in 2010. This figure is expected to rise in 2012 and subsequent years. What then is the implication of all these to physical retailing?

Since many people now decide to shop over the internet due to the benefits derivable in doing so like convenience, easy access to market, price comparison, avoidance of crowd, better prices and so on, can we really say that that the traditional way of shopping is being threatened? In my own opinion, technology will enhance the traditional method and not kill it. The popularity of video cassette recorder (VCR) in the 80's was seen by many as a threat to movie theaters then, but today, the film industry has been strengthened by the new technology and the demand for films has increased.

Moreover, when the email became very popular, a lot people thought that the traditional postal service would die, but today, it is waxing stronger. The point I'm driving at here is that, if traditional shop owners can embrace new technology, shopping on the internet would not be a threat to them but a blessing.

If physical retailers can monitor shopping behavior through the use of Wi-Fi signals from smartphones, they would be able to compete favorably in a fast-changing world. They can use technology to measure loyalty, make better staffing decisions, improve store layouts, reduce wait times in checkout lines and so on. Online shopping has come to stay but it is not a threat to traditional shopping because many consumers still value some of its features like quality of customer service, the experience of trying and buying products, how products are displayed and so on.

Olushola Otenaike is an online shopping expert.

Source: http://mysoupbaby.blogspot.com/2012/11/will-traditional-shopping-die-because.html

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Source: http://jaimelloyd.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/shopping-and-product-reviews-will-traditional-shopping-die.html

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Source: http://moseshields5.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/shopping-and-product-reviews-will-traditional-shopping-die.html

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Source: http://cortez1418.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/shopping-and-product-reviews-will-traditional-shopping-die.html

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Source: http://talicskaxxannalisa57.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/shopping-and-product-reviews-will-traditional-shopping-die.html

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Egypt's Mursi to meet judges over power grab

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi meets senior judges on Monday to try to defuse a crisis over his seizure of new powers which has set off violent protests reminiscent of the revolution last year that led to the rise of his Islamist movement.

The justice minister said he believed Mursi would agree with the country's highest judicial authority on its proposal to limit the scope of the new powers.

But the protesters, some camped in Cairo's Tahrir Square, have said only retracting the decree will satisfy them, a sign of the deep rift between Islamists and their opponents that is destabilizing Egypt two years after Hosni Mubarak was ousted.

"There is no use amending the decree," said Tarek Ahmed, 26, a protester who stayed the night in Tahrir, where tents covered the central traffic circle. "It must be scrapped."

One person has been killed and about 370 injured in clashes between police and protesters since Mursi issued the decree on Thursday shielding his decisions from judicial review, emboldened by international plaudits for brokering an end to eight days of violence between Israel and Hamas.

The stock market is down more than 7 percent.

Mursi's political opponents have accused him of behaving like a dictator and the West has voiced its concern, worried by more turbulence in a country that has a peace treaty with Israel and lies at the heart of the Arab Spring.

Mursi's administration has defended his decree as an effort to speed up reforms and complete a democratic transformation. Leftists, liberals, socialists and others say it has exposed the autocratic impulses of a man once jailed by Mubarak.

Mursi's office said he would meet Egypt's highest judicial authority, the Supreme Judicial Council, on Monday, and the council hinted at compromise.

Mursi's decree should apply only to "sovereign matters", it said, suggesting it did not reject the declaration outright, and called on judges and prosecutors, some of whom began a strike on Sunday, to return to work.

Justice Minister Ahmed Mekky, speaking about the council statement, said: "I believe President Mohamed Mursi wants that."

LIBERALS ANGRY

The protesters are worried that Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood aims to dominate the post-Mubarak era after winning the first democratic parliamentary and presidential elections this year.

A deal with a judiciary dominated by Mubarak-era judges, which Mursi has pledged to reform, may not placate them.

A group of lawyers and activists have also challenged Mursi's decree in an administrative court, which said it would hold its first hearing on December 4. Other decisions by Mursi have faced similar legal challenges brought to court by opponents.

Banners in Tahrir called for dissolving the assembly drawing up a constitution, an Islamist-dominated body Mursi made immune from legal challenge. Many liberals and others have walked out of the assembly saying their voices were not being heard.

Only once a constitution is written can a new parliamentary election be held. Until then, legislative and executive power remains in Mursi's hands, and Thursday's decree puts his decisions above judicial oversight.

One Muslim Brotherhood member was killed and 60 people were hurt on Sunday in an attack on the main office of the Brotherhood in the Egyptian Nile Delta town of Damanhour, the website of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party said.

The party's offices have also been attacked in other cities.

One politician said the scale of the crisis could push opponents towards a deal to avoid a further escalation. Mursi's opponents have called for a big demonstration on Tuesday.

"I am very cautiously optimistic because the consequences are quite, quite serious, the most serious they have been since the revolution," said Mona Makram Ebeid, former member of parliament and prominent figure in Egyptian politics.

Mursi's office repeated assurances that the steps would be temporary, and said he wanted dialogue with political groups to find "common ground" over what should go into the constitution.

Talks with Mursi have been rejected by members of a National Salvation Front, a new opposition coalition that brings together liberal, leftist and other politicians and parties, who until Mursi's decree had been a fractious bunch struggling to unite.

MILITARY STAYING OUT

"There is no room for dialogue when a dictator imposes the most oppressive, abhorrent measures and then says 'let us split the difference'," prominent opposition leader and Mohamed ElBaradei said on Saturday. He has said he expected to act as the Front's coordinator.

The military has stayed out of the crisis after leading Egypt through a messy 16-month transition to a presidential election in June. Analysts say Mursi neutralized the army when he sacked top generals in August, appointing a new generation who now owe their advancement to the Islamist president.

Though the military still wields influence through business interests and a security role, it is out of frontline politics.

Egypt had hoped to stop the economic rot by signing an initial deal last week for a $4.8 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund. As well as tumbling share prices, yields at a Sunday treasury bill auction rose, putting even more pressure on the government that faces a crushing budget deficit.

"We are back to square one, politically, socially," said Mohamed Radwan of Pharos Securities, an Egyptian brokerage firm.

(Additional reporting by Tom Perry, Patrick Werr and Marwa Awad in Cairo; Editing by Philippa Fletcher and Giles Elgood)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egypts-mursi-meet-judges-over-power-grab-111516181--business.html

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Boise to raise sewer rates | Boise, Garden City, Mountain Home ...

The new rates would increase monthly fees for single-family homes by 70 cents to $23.93, according to an analysis by city staff. The City Council is scheduled to hear a third and final reading of the proposal Tuesday.

In addition to slightly higher residential rates, the city is proposing a onetime $12 fee for new accounts and increased fees for dumping sewage.

If the City Council approves the measure Tuesday, the new fee structure will go into effect Jan. 1.

City staff predicted the fee increases will generate more than $500,000 to the city's yearly budget. That money would help fund upgrades to Boise's sewer treatment plants as the city works toward reducing the amount of phosphorous in the treated wastewater the plants release, spokesman Vince Trimboli said.

Source: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/11/26/2360260/boise-to-raise-sewer-rates.html

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Sweet Krispy Kreme worker surprises man on quest for rejection

A man's quest to overcome his fear of rejection by making at least one crazy request a day for 100 days was throttled last week when a Krispy Kreme employee accepted his order for five doughnuts linked together in the colors and shape of the Olympic symbol.

"It's only my third day and I have already failed," Jia Jiang wrote on his 100 Days of Rejection Therapy blog. "But I did so with such amazement and happiness."

When the 31-year-old approached the register to make his "specialized" doughnut order, Jackie, a shift leader at an Austin, Texas, Krispy Kreme, asked him when he would need it.

"In the next 15 minutes," Jiang replied.

"I was honestly just hoping for a no and go home," Jiang told Yahoo News in an interview on Monday.

(Krispy Kreme)

Instead, Jackie spent several minutes using the back of some receipt paper to diagram the unusual order.

"Let me see what I can do," she said.

Fifteen minutes later, she emerged with a Krispy Kreme box with the glazed Olympic ring arrangement inside?and, astonishingly, did not charge Jiang for it.

"Wow, Jackie, I'm a fan," Jiang told her on behalf of everyone in America.

"I was overwhelmed, I couldn't believe it," Jiang said. "I went home and tweeted to Krispy Kreme and blogged about it. I wanted the world to know about what she did."

A campaign to get Jackie a raise and promotion was quickly launched in the YouTube comments section underneath Jiang's video.

"Jackie is awesome," more than one viewer wrote. "The world needs more people like her."

"Yo if Krispy Kreme doesn't promote her to CEO I'm boycotting!" wrote another. "And I love doughnuts."

Jackie did not immediately return a call from Yahoo News seeking comment.

Jiang said he returned to the Krispy Kreme chain on Sunday to thank Jackie for going above and beyond the call of doughnut duty.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/krispy-kreme-donut-order-rejection-video-153858341.html

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Fitness Spotlight ? Reliable Personal Training Exercise Advice For A ...

The key to developing a perfect fitness training program exercise regimen is making it enjoyable, relevant to your goals and easy to do. Creating a personalized workout regimen makes working out far more pleasurable and easier to stay with. Exercising can be interesting if you plan it out correctly. Exercise can be enjoyable, and there are many ways to accomplish this. Keep the following in mind when you plan your workout regimen.

TIP! Fear is what stops you? courages is what keeps you going. -Unknown

Music is a great way of spicing up your workout routine. When you feel the beat of the music and hear the rhythms of the songs you love, you cannot help but get up and get moving. People seem wired to get up and move when they hear music, and taking advantage of that for weight loss purposes is a no-brainer. Play some music while you are working out. It is a wonderful distraction, and the beats will make you want to shake your booty.

Working out with a friend makes exercise so much more enjoyable and interesting. The time you spend exercising will speed by if you are socializing while you work out. If you exercise with someone else, the speed of your weight loss may be startling.

With a good distraction, you can give your exercise routines the illusion of sped-up time. Taking advantage of video games is one secret to making this possible. There are many types of these games. You are likely to enjoy the easy movements of a virtual bowling, baseball, or tennis game. Maybe instead of playing silly games, you would rather slug it out with a virtual boxing opponent? Regardless of which type of workout you prefer, you can easily get lost in a video game.

TIP! Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. -Mahatma Gandhi

When buying great workout clothing, it should make you feel like an athlete and happy. Dressing for success in weight loss follows the same formula as when you are trying to get a new job. Weight loss clothing can help you feel more committed to exercising. Workout clothing can be a little more costly, but the variety of styles and colors available makes it worthwhile and can really add to the fun factor in your workout routines.

Doing the same exercises every day leads to boredom, and it is easy to get discouraged. It?s a necessity to switch things up. If you enjoy going on the treadmill, you might want to consider running outdoors for a change of pace. Switching up your fitness routine gives you the motivation to keep on exercising.

Do not be afraid to pat yourself on the back, you deserve it. After you have attained your first goal, you will probably feel motivated to reach even higher! Buy yourself something nice, say a fitness workout equipment. It will be life long companion.

TIP! Fear is what stops you? courages is what keeps you going. -Unknown

Reliable Personal Training Exercise Advice For A Healthy Life

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Source: http://www.fitnessspotlight.net/reliable-personal-training-exercise-advice-for-a-healthy-life/

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Extreme Winter Sports To Try This Year - Mountain Sports | The ...

You have descended the world?s steepest slopes on skis and snowboard. Yawn. You summited an 8,000-meter peak last January. Extended yawn. What should the over-experienced adventurer do this winter, when resorts are repetitive and remote climbs seem boring? Don?t worry. The universe holds a never-ending supply of Adrenalist-fueled ways to enjoy snow.

Here are five extreme winter sports to try this year.

Snowkiting

Skis and snowboards only allow you to go in one general direction: downhill. Not so with a snowkite, which can propel riders any which way ? not to mention sweep them hundreds of feet in the air. A close cousin of the water sport kiteboarding, snowkiting allows for skiing or snowboarding on frozen lakes, snow-laden clearings and yes, mountains. The added dimension of soaring up and down lends kiteboarding a syncopated rhythm. A skilled snowkiter can change direction in the most unpredictably elegant ways.

Snowkiting is an awesome way to spice up your snow life, but it takes a measure of commitment to learn. As every kiteboarder knows, mastering the kite ??being able to make it grab the wind or go slack on command ? is the crux. Proficient as you may be on a board or skis, you won?t go anywhere (not comfortably, anyway) until you control the swoop of the kite and the intense force generated when it suddenly fills with air. But when you do, you?ll have opened the door to some pretty sweet winter recreation.

Glissading

If you have ever skidded on slushy snow, then, strictly speaking, you have glissaded. Glissading, if it can be called that, is nothing more than sliding down a snow slope either standing or sitting. Mountaineers take advantage of mountains? gravity, steep slopes and soft snow to zip hundreds or thousands of feet down in a controlled way.

In groups, the first person to glissade a slope in a sitting position will carve a deep rut resembling a bobsled track for their followers to?rocket down. But refined climbers will stay on their feet, making sure to lean forward and bend slightly at the knee. For stabilization in this upright position, one foot is placed slightly ahead of the other. This movement looks a lot like telemarking, but it isn?t nearly as difficult. If the snow is particularly slushy and the slope not too pitched, glissading becomes like running, where the mountaineer takes long strides that carry him for 20 or 30 feet. The trick is to balance with your legs spread apart?and to react quickly. After reaching a difficult summit, there is no better way to reverse course than to slide back down. And, let?s face it, learning to glissade is easier (and way more fun) than schlepping skis up there with you.

Mixed Climbing

Mixed climbing is a hardcore?sport in which any combination of frozen water and rock are scaled with ice axes and crampons. The upshot of climbing rock with axes is that the metal picks allow for passage on the tiniest of holds. Unlike a sport climber, who must hold onto razor-thin edges with naked fingertips, the mixed climber comfortably grips an ergonomic handle, allowing for marathon routes up blank faces and impossibly steep overhangs. So, while ?mixed? refers to the blend of rock and ice sought, it applies more accurately to the odd amalgamation of techniques and equipment. In fact, some sport climbers, frustrated by infinitesimally small holds, have used ice axes to ascend super-hard rock climbs. This hybridized version of climbing, called ?dry tooling,? is one more type of mixed climbing. (It?s also a reminder that creative rule-breaking is always a game-changer.)

True mixed climbing beginners will want to start on vertical cliffs, probably with a guide, testing the picks on short bands of rock. But sporty climbers accustomed to steep terrain may require only a bit of ice climbing before launching into full-on mixed climbing. With some practice, the forced hiatus of winter will transform into a season of new opportunities and expeditions. At some point, every experienced climber will come across a terrain of snow, rock and ice that defies any description other than ?mixed.? When that time does come, all their initial practice on cliffs and cave walls will come in very handy.

Snow Mountain Biking

Strap on some spiked tires and take to city streets, downhill courses or the backcountry?on a mountain bike. During winter. Snow mountain biking, reportedly born in the late 1980s as a companion sport to the Iditarod, exists as a chilly alternative to every form of mountain biking: freestyle, downhill, extreme and touring. If you?re into 360ing off snowy ski jumps, you can spin your heart out at many resorts with freestyle courses that allow bikes. When that gets old, find some mountains. Be advised: snow makes for added fitness, so pedaling in the snow, however short your ride, is a killer workout.

First time snow mountain bikers quickly learn that a set of subtle tricks is needed to successfully take up this activity. Here?s a primer: Make sure to ride your tires at low pressure, as with any mountain biking on loose terrain. Slow down the cadence of your pedaling and generally eliminate jerky motions so as to avoid burying your front tire sideways in the snow. Those tips will take you far, along with learning how to layer your clothing to stay warm but not get too sweaty.

Monoskiing

The monoski is what it sounds like: a single ski used alone rather than in concert with a second. From there, things get complicated because there are two basic variations, one executed while standing, the other sitting. The basic idea is to face forward with your legs together and poles in hand and point downhill. Learning either variation is a worthwhile endeavor, whether as a diversion if you?re an experienced skier or boarder or an introduction to snow if you?re a newbie. Luckily, for competent skiers, the monoski is a breeze. And for first-timers, it?s no more difficult than learning to ski or snowboard as long as you follow the mantra of monoski instructors: Keep your knees together.

The sweeping 8?s made by monoskis are bigger than those produced by normal downhill skis. This languid, flowing style made monoskiing popular with the surfers who invented it and became its first disciples. Since its founding in the 1960s, monoskiing has become a mainstay in Europe. It hasn?t been nearly as popular in the U.S. (thanks to snowboarding) but it is seeing a resurgence. Seated monoskiing has been popularized by the X-Games and?an explosion of adaptive outdoor sports equipment that has made the mountains accessible to those lacking legs or the ability to stand. Those who want to try monoskiing will find the equipment they need in any serious mountain town.

Cover Photo Credit: ottawaws ? flickr.com

Source: http://www.theadrenalist.com/extreme/extreme-winter-sports-to-try-this-year/

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Pakistan plans to hold national elections in May

ISLAMABAD (AP) ? Pakistan plans to hold landmark national elections in May, the country's information minister said Tuesday. The vote would mark the first time a civilian government completed a full five-year term in the country and transferred power through the ballot box.

Previous governments have either been deposed in army coups or dismissed by presidents allied with the generals. That history has led to fervent speculation in the past few years about whether the government would make it to the finish line this time around.

Despite repeated predictions that the government would be forced to call early elections because of political pressure, it now appears the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party will serve out its full term, which expires in March.

Elections must be held within 90 days after the end of the term under the guidance of an interim government installed by the ruling coalition.

"God willing, the elections will be held in May," Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told reporters in the eastern city of Lahore.

The government has repeatedly said elections will be held on time, but Kaira's comments were the first indication of an actual timeframe.

The army remains the most powerful institution in Pakistan, but the past few years have seen an erosion of its authority as it has been bogged down in a bloody war against the Pakistani Taliban. The country's civilian politicians and judges have taken advantage of this scenario to carve out more power for themselves ? a struggle that has often been accompanied by controversy.

An international human rights organization criticized Pakistan's top judges on Tuesday for trying to prevent media criticism of the judiciary by threatening contempt of court proceedings, which can bring prison terms.

"Judges sworn to uphold the rule of law should not be using their broad contempt powers to muzzle criticism by the media," said Brad Adams, Asia director at U.S.-based Human Rights Watch.

"Judges have no special immunity from criticism. Unless they want to be seen as instruments of coercion and censorship, they should immediately revoke these curbs on free expression," Adams said.

Private media outlets have mushroomed in Pakistan in recent years, bringing greater criticism of all branches of government.

The high courts in Islamabad and Lahore have both issued orders to stop the broadcast of television programs critical of the judiciary within the past two months, said the New York-based group.

"No branch of government, including the courts, should be immune from public opinion in a democratic society," Adams said. "Pakistan's judges have demonstrated the independence to hold the government accountable. But their credibility will be lost so long as they fight against scrutiny and accountability of the judiciary itself."

The Pakistani Taliban have also targeted the media.

The militant group claimed responsibility Tuesday for a failed assassination attempt against a prominent Pakistani TV anchor. Taliban spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan said the group targeted Geo TV's Hamid Mir because he was "promoting secular forces."

The bomb was found underneath Mir's car in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, on Monday and was defused by police.

The Taliban threatened Mir and other journalists last month because the group was unhappy with their coverage of a schoolgirl activist shot by the militants.

The Taliban shot 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai in the head for criticizing the militants and promoting girls' education. She is currently recovering in Britain.

Ahsan, the Taliban spokesman, said they will target Mir again and other journalists opposed by the militants. He spoke to The Associated Press by telephone from an undisclosed location.

____

Associated Press writer Rasool Dawar in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pakistan-plans-hold-national-elections-may-104225289.html

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