Part 5: Cost vs Value of Lifestyle Home Renovations

Welcome to this weeks edition of Coffee with Connie. Today is the last in a five-part series about the return on investment for home improvements. Up to this point we have discussed home maintenance, easy do-it-yourself projects, home renovations, and appraisal booster projects. Today I want to get into ?Lifestyle? projects. These are the home projects that you do specifically because you want them ? not necessarily something that the general population wants.

So how much value do home improvements such as swimming pools, home theaters, and wine cellars add to your home. Can you expect to get your investment back when you sell?

Join me in today?s video to find out the answers.

Related posts:

  1. Part 1: Home Remodeling Cost vs Value
  2. Part 4: Home Renovations That Increase the Appraised Value of Your Home
  3. Understanding Closing Cost ? Coffee with Connie
  4. Wow! The cost of bread increases 314% ? the cost of owning a home increases only 1.4%!
  5. Sell Your Home in 28 Days or 303 Days ? You Chose?Part I
-->

Source: http://www.livingincobb.com/blog/part-5-cost-vs-value-of-lifestyle-home-renovations

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Research raises doubts about whether modern humans and Neanderthals interbred

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 13-Aug-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Genevieve Maul
Genevieve.maul@admin.cam.ac.uk
44-122-376-5542
University of Cambridge

Findings point to common ancestry to explain genetic similarities

New research raises questions about the theory that modern humans and Neanderthals at some point interbred, known as hybridisation. The findings of a study by researchers at the University of Cambridge suggests that common ancestry, not hybridisation, better explains the average 1-4 per cent DNA that those of European and Asian descent (Eurasians) share with Neanderthals. It was published today, 13 August, in the journal PNAS.

In the last two years, a number of studies have suggested that modern humans and Neanderthals had at some point interbred. Genetic evidence shows that on average Eurasians and Neanderthals share between 1-4 per cent of their DNA. In contrast, Africans have almost none of the Neanderthal genome. The previous studies concluded that these differences could be explained by hybridisation which occurred as modern humans exited Africa and bred with the Neanderthals who already inhabited Europe.

However, a new study funded by the BBSRC and the Leverhulme Trust has provided an alternative explanation for the genetic similarities. The scientists found that common ancestry, without any hybridisation, explains the genetic similarities between Neanderthals and modern humans. In other words, the DNA that Neanderthal and modern humans share can all be attributed to their common origin, without any recent influx of Neanderthal DNA into modern humans.

Dr Andrea Manica, from the University of Cambridge, who led the study said: "Our work shows clearly that the patterns currently seen in the Neanderthal genome are not exceptional, and are in line with our expectations of what we would see without hybridisation. So, if any hybridisation happened - it's difficult to conclusively prove it never happened - then it would have been minimal and much less than what people are claiming now."

Neanderthals and modern humans once shared a common ancestor who is thought to have spanned Africa and Europe about half a million years ago. Just as there are very different populations across Europe today, populations of that common ancestor would not have been completely mixed across continents, but rather closer populations would have been more genetically similar to each other than populations further apart. (There is extensive genetic and archaeological evidence that population in Africa were 'structured'; in other words, different populations in Africa only had limited exchange through migration, allowing them to remain distinct from each other both in terms of genetics and morphology.)

Then, about 350-300 thousand years ago, the European range and the African range became separated. The European range evolved into Neanderthal, the African range eventually turned into modern humans. However, because the populations within each continent were not freely mixing, the DNA of the modern human population in Africa that were ancestrally closer to Europe would have retained more of the ancestral DNA (specifically, genetic variants) that is also shared with Neanderthals.

On this basis, the scientists created a model to determine whether the differences in genetic similarities with Neanderthal among modern human populations, which had been attributed to hybridisation, could be down to the proximity of modern humans in northern Africa (who would have later gone on to populate Europe) to Neanderthals.

By examining the different genetic makeup among modern human populations, the scientists' model was able to infer how much genetic similarity there would have been between distinct populations within a continent. The researchers then simulated a large number of populations representing Africa and Eurasia over the last half a million years, and estimated how much similarity would be expected between a random Neanderthal individual and modern humans in Africa and Eurasia.

The scientists concluded that when modern humans expanded out of Africa 60-70K years ago, they would have brought out that additional genetic similarity with them, making Europeans and Asians more similar to Neanderthals than Africans are on average undermining the theory that hybridization, and not common ancestry, explained these differences.

Dr Manica added: "Thus, based on common ancestry and geographic differences among populations within each continent, we would predict out of Africa populations to be more similar to Neanderthals than their African counterparts - exactly the patterns that were observed when the Neanderthal genome was sequenced; but this pattern was attributed to hybridisation. Hopefully, everyone will become more cautious before invoking hybridisation, and start taking into account that ancient populations differed from each other probably as much as modern populations do."

###

For additional information please contact:
Genevieve Maul, Office of Communications, University of Cambridge
Tel: direct, +44 (0) 1223 765542, +44 (0) 1223 332300
Mob: +44 (0) 7774 017464
Email: Genevieve.maul@admin.cam.ac.uk

Notes to editors:

1. The paper 'Effect of ancient population structure on the degree of polymorphism shared between modern human populations and ancient hominins' will be published in the 13 August 2012 edition of PNAS.

2. The Leverhulme Trust was established in 1925 under the Will of the first Viscount Leverhulme. It is one of the largest all-subject providers of research funding in the UK, distributing funds of some 60 million every year. For further information about the schemes that the Leverhulme Trust fund visit their website at www.leverhulme.ac.uk / www.twitter.com/LeverhulmeTrust

3. About BBSRC - BBSRC is the UK funding agency for research in the life sciences and the largest single public funder of agriculture and food-related research. Sponsored by Government, in 2010/11 BBSRC is investing around 470 million in a wide range of research that makes a significant contribution to the quality of life in the UK and beyond and supports a number of important industrial stakeholders, including the agriculture, food, chemical, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.


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


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 13-Aug-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Genevieve Maul
Genevieve.maul@admin.cam.ac.uk
44-122-376-5542
University of Cambridge

Findings point to common ancestry to explain genetic similarities

New research raises questions about the theory that modern humans and Neanderthals at some point interbred, known as hybridisation. The findings of a study by researchers at the University of Cambridge suggests that common ancestry, not hybridisation, better explains the average 1-4 per cent DNA that those of European and Asian descent (Eurasians) share with Neanderthals. It was published today, 13 August, in the journal PNAS.

In the last two years, a number of studies have suggested that modern humans and Neanderthals had at some point interbred. Genetic evidence shows that on average Eurasians and Neanderthals share between 1-4 per cent of their DNA. In contrast, Africans have almost none of the Neanderthal genome. The previous studies concluded that these differences could be explained by hybridisation which occurred as modern humans exited Africa and bred with the Neanderthals who already inhabited Europe.

However, a new study funded by the BBSRC and the Leverhulme Trust has provided an alternative explanation for the genetic similarities. The scientists found that common ancestry, without any hybridisation, explains the genetic similarities between Neanderthals and modern humans. In other words, the DNA that Neanderthal and modern humans share can all be attributed to their common origin, without any recent influx of Neanderthal DNA into modern humans.

Dr Andrea Manica, from the University of Cambridge, who led the study said: "Our work shows clearly that the patterns currently seen in the Neanderthal genome are not exceptional, and are in line with our expectations of what we would see without hybridisation. So, if any hybridisation happened - it's difficult to conclusively prove it never happened - then it would have been minimal and much less than what people are claiming now."

Neanderthals and modern humans once shared a common ancestor who is thought to have spanned Africa and Europe about half a million years ago. Just as there are very different populations across Europe today, populations of that common ancestor would not have been completely mixed across continents, but rather closer populations would have been more genetically similar to each other than populations further apart. (There is extensive genetic and archaeological evidence that population in Africa were 'structured'; in other words, different populations in Africa only had limited exchange through migration, allowing them to remain distinct from each other both in terms of genetics and morphology.)

Then, about 350-300 thousand years ago, the European range and the African range became separated. The European range evolved into Neanderthal, the African range eventually turned into modern humans. However, because the populations within each continent were not freely mixing, the DNA of the modern human population in Africa that were ancestrally closer to Europe would have retained more of the ancestral DNA (specifically, genetic variants) that is also shared with Neanderthals.

On this basis, the scientists created a model to determine whether the differences in genetic similarities with Neanderthal among modern human populations, which had been attributed to hybridisation, could be down to the proximity of modern humans in northern Africa (who would have later gone on to populate Europe) to Neanderthals.

By examining the different genetic makeup among modern human populations, the scientists' model was able to infer how much genetic similarity there would have been between distinct populations within a continent. The researchers then simulated a large number of populations representing Africa and Eurasia over the last half a million years, and estimated how much similarity would be expected between a random Neanderthal individual and modern humans in Africa and Eurasia.

The scientists concluded that when modern humans expanded out of Africa 60-70K years ago, they would have brought out that additional genetic similarity with them, making Europeans and Asians more similar to Neanderthals than Africans are on average undermining the theory that hybridization, and not common ancestry, explained these differences.

Dr Manica added: "Thus, based on common ancestry and geographic differences among populations within each continent, we would predict out of Africa populations to be more similar to Neanderthals than their African counterparts - exactly the patterns that were observed when the Neanderthal genome was sequenced; but this pattern was attributed to hybridisation. Hopefully, everyone will become more cautious before invoking hybridisation, and start taking into account that ancient populations differed from each other probably as much as modern populations do."

###

For additional information please contact:
Genevieve Maul, Office of Communications, University of Cambridge
Tel: direct, +44 (0) 1223 765542, +44 (0) 1223 332300
Mob: +44 (0) 7774 017464
Email: Genevieve.maul@admin.cam.ac.uk

Notes to editors:

1. The paper 'Effect of ancient population structure on the degree of polymorphism shared between modern human populations and ancient hominins' will be published in the 13 August 2012 edition of PNAS.

2. The Leverhulme Trust was established in 1925 under the Will of the first Viscount Leverhulme. It is one of the largest all-subject providers of research funding in the UK, distributing funds of some 60 million every year. For further information about the schemes that the Leverhulme Trust fund visit their website at www.leverhulme.ac.uk / www.twitter.com/LeverhulmeTrust

3. About BBSRC - BBSRC is the UK funding agency for research in the life sciences and the largest single public funder of agriculture and food-related research. Sponsored by Government, in 2010/11 BBSRC is investing around 470 million in a wide range of research that makes a significant contribution to the quality of life in the UK and beyond and supports a number of important industrial stakeholders, including the agriculture, food, chemical, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.


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


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/uoc-rrd081312.php

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'Selfish' DNA in animal mitochondria offers possible tool to study aging

Monday, August 13, 2012

Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered, for the first time in any animal species, a type of "selfish" mitochondrial DNA that is actually hurting the organism and lessening its chance to survive ? and bears a strong similarity to some damage done to human cells as they age.

The findings, just published in the journal PLoS One, are a biological oddity previously unknown in animals. But they may also provide an important new tool to study human aging, scientists said.

Such selfish mitochondrial DNA has been found before in plants, but not animals. In this case, the discovery was made almost by accident during some genetic research being done on a nematode, Caenorhabditis briggsae ? a type of small roundworm.

"We weren't even looking for this when we found it, at first we thought it must be a laboratory error," said Dee Denver, an OSU associate professor of zoology. "Selfish DNA is not supposed to be found in animals. But it could turn out to be fairly important as a new genetic model to study the type of mitochondrial decay that is associated with human aging."

DNA is the material that holds the basic genetic code for living organisms, and through complex biological processes guides beneficial cellular functions. Some of it is also found in the mitochondria, or energy-producing "powerhouse" of cells, which at one point in evolution was separate from the other DNA.

The mitochondria generally act for the benefit of the cell, even though it is somewhat separate. But the "selfish" DNA found in some plant mitochondria ? and now in animals ? has major differences. It tends to copy itself faster than other DNA, has no function useful to the cell, and in some cases actually harms the cell. In plants, for instance, it can affect flowering and sometimes cause sterility.

"We had seen this DNA before in this nematode and knew it was harmful, but didn't realize it was selfish," said Katie Clark, an OSU postdoctoral fellow. "Worms with it had less offspring than those without, they had less muscle activity. It might suggest that natural selection doesn't work very well in this species."

That's part of the general quandary of selfish DNA in general, the scientists said. If it doesn't help the organism survive and reproduce, why hasn't it disappeared as a result of evolutionary pressure? Its persistence, they say, is an example of how natural selection doesn't always work, either at the organism or cellular level. Biological progress is not perfect.

In this case, the population sizes of the nematode may be too small to eliminate the selfish DNA, researchers said.

What's also interesting, they say, is that the defects this selfish DNA cause in this roundworm are surprisingly similar to the decayed mitochondrial DNA that accumulates as one aspect of human aging. More of the selfish DNA is also found in the worms as they age.

Further study of these biological differences may help shed light on what can cause the mitochondrial dysfunction, Denver said, and give researchers a new tool with which to study the aging process.

###

Oregon State University: http://www.orst.edu

Thanks to Oregon State University for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/122483/_Selfish__DNA_in_animal_mitochondria_offers_possible_tool_to_study_aging

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Features to look into microphone

Microphone is a sophisticated artifact/tool to convert sound into acoustic signals and vice versa. This device acts as a good transducer or sensor to enhance the conversion of sound to the energy (electric/acoustic) to channelize the sound to the loudspeaker.

Different Types

There are many types of a microphone. Modern microphone is varied in designs. It is a lightweight device with detachable coil for better handling. There is also wireless microphone that is very easy to use.

Technical upgradation has improved the efficiency of a microphone. This is the inseparable device of a musical troupe. The proper classification of a microphone gives benefits to consumers to purchase the suitable and sophisticated voice-transferring device.

There are diaphragms, dynamic; ribbon shaped, condenser, carbon and piezo microphones. Every microphone should be tested several times before usage. A number of companies manufacture various types of ultra modern microphones. The technical features are at variance with the types of models.

Easy to Operate

Dynamic hand held microphone performs through electromagnetic field/induction. This superb less weighty dynamic microphone is not expensive. It also produces clear sound. Dynamic microphone can be wired and wireless. A detachable wire/cable is attached to this dynamic microphone. The strong die-cast frame of the microphone is durable. For instance, the RP-VK45 dynamic microphone has 80Hz - 13kHz frequencies. The brilliant yellowish color windscreen is opal shaped to catch the sound or vibration to transfer it through the induction coil. The built-in sound and power regulating switches of the microphone help users to switch on and off the device quickly after the usage. Safeguards are given to protect the users from electrocution.

Microphones can be attached to audio system, television set, MP3 players and home theaters. When you surf the net, you should be aware of the features of the flexible microphones. The slim model is extremely useful to a person to operate the device comfortably. It can be shifted to a new place on demand. Monaural microphones have thin compartments with wireless operating systems. You can use this one point slim microphone to record music via Dictaphones. One of the extraordinary features of the slim one-point monaural model is that it has the attachment of a flexible clip for fixing the device to the shirt of a user. Excellent plug-in accessories are also included with the microphone kit.

The best way to buy the sophisticated microphone is online shops. Consumers can place the orders to get back the eco-friendly, highly energy efficient and durable microphones. The prices of these electronic devices are affordable. Online closeouts give the extra facilities to buy products at discounts. Check the product details and tech specifications to learn about the features and functionalities of the portable microphones of different shapes. You should avoid the online fake dealers to bring home absolutely hi-tech cost effective microphone sets.

Narayan Shankar is an avid home theatre enthusiast. In this series of articles, he discusses microphones and other accessories like hdmi cable and headphones that can amplify your home theatre experience.

This article has been viewed 9 time(s).

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Arizona Real Estate ? Insurance Quote Monster - best deals on ...

New homes Scottsdale, AZ
Woodside Homes has distinguished itself with its unsurpassed commitment to building greener homes. When building the exterior of a building, we keep the foundation, floors, and doors air-tight so there is minimal air exchange. Your home will also be built with the industry?s highest grade of plumbing and insulation supplies with the most productive cooling and heating systems. Your home?s interior comes standard with compact fluorescent lighting, water-efficient plumbing fixtures, and carpet made from natural materials. Take care of the planet while buying a house that will still maintain a high value. These efficient features are included without compromising the the way your home looks. Choose a house that will last for generations and call Woodside Homes now.

Source: http://www.quotemonster.net/?p=53881

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Ryan seen as Romney's bridge across GOP spectrum

FILE - In this April 13, 2011 file photo, House Budget Committee Chairman, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. On Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney announced Ryan as his running mate. As the chairman of the House Budget Committee, Ryan gives Romney a link to Capitol Hill leadership and underscores Romney's effort to make the election a referendum on the nation's economic course. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

FILE - In this April 13, 2011 file photo, House Budget Committee Chairman, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. On Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney announced Ryan as his running mate. As the chairman of the House Budget Committee, Ryan gives Romney a link to Capitol Hill leadership and underscores Romney's effort to make the election a referendum on the nation's economic course. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2011 file photo, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., gives the GOP response to President Barack Obama's budget submission for Fiscal Year 2012, on Capitol Hill in Washington. On Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney announced Ryan as his running mate. As the chairman of the House Budget Committee, Ryan gives Romney a link to Capitol Hill leadership and underscores Romney's effort to make the election a referendum on the nation's economic course. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE - In this April 5, 2011 file photo, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., touts his 2012 federal budget during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. On Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney announced Ryan as his running mate. As the chairman of the House Budget Committee, Ryan gives Romney a link to Capitol Hill leadership and underscores Romney's effort to make the election a referendum on the nation's economic course. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

(AP) ? Even before Wisconsin sent Paul Ryan to Congress, he was meticulously carving a path that seemed to point only upward.

As a young Capitol Hill staffer, he impressed Republican lawmakers with his hustle and intellectual curiosity. He blended quickly with an elite crop of conservative thinkers. By his 30s, he was a congressman on his way to becoming a GOP name brand with his push-the-edge budget proposals.

Ryan's climb reached new heights Saturday when Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney announced him as his running mate.

"Mitt's Choice for VP is Paul Ryan," said a phone app Romney's team created to spread the word to supporters.

As the chairman of the House Budget Committee, Ryan gives Romney a link to Capitol Hill leadership and underscores Romney's effort to make the election a referendum on the nation's economic course. Romney also could see his standing improve in Wisconsin, a state President Barack Obama won handily four years ago but that could be much tighter this November.

Even so, Ryan has been a double-edged sword for Romney. The congressman's endorsement of Romney came at a critical stage of the GOP primaries, giving him a boost in the Wisconsin race that effectively buried Romney's final threat. But it also meant Romney was embracing the Ryan-sponsored budget proposal that Democrats fiercely target as painful to the poor and elderly.

Still, the square-jawed congressman is viewed as a bridge between the buttoned-up GOP establishment and the riled-up tea party movement.

At 42, Ryan has spent almost half of his life in the Washington fold, the last 14 representing a southern Wisconsin district that runs from the shores of Lake Michigan through farm country south of Madison.

Ryan grew up in Janesville and still lives just down the block from where he spent his boyhood. During summers in college, Ryan was a salesman for Oscar Mayer and once drove the company's famed Wienermobile.

Ryan's father, a lawyer, died of a heart attack when Ryan was a teenager. It's why Ryan is a fitness buff, leading fellow lawmakers through grueling, early-morning workouts and pushing himself through mountain climbs.

That same intensity propelled him on the political front, too.

He was first exposed to Congress as a summer intern to former Sen. Robert Kasten, R-Wis. With an economics degree in hand, Ryan worked his way through committee staff assignments, a prominent think tank and top legislative advisory roles until opportunity arose with an open seat from his home turf. He leveraged Washington connections, local ties forged through the family construction business and the backing of anti-abortion groups en route to his surprisingly comfortable victory.

As a 28-year-old, Ryan entered Congress brimming with idealistic views about forcing government to become leaner and less intrusive, principles he thought even fellow Republicans were abandoning too readily.

"One of the first lessons I learned was, even if you come to Congress believing in limited government and fiscal prudence once you get here you are bombarded with pressure to violate your conscience and your commitment to help secure the people's natural right to equal opportunity," Ryan wrote in a 2010 book.

Critics question Ryan's own consistency. They note that he backed a costly prescription drug benefit during Republican George W. Bush's presidency that added strain to the Medicare budget, which Ryan touted at the time as "one of the most critical pieces of legislation" enacted since he joined Congress. He said in a June interview with The Associated Press that he took a "defensive" vote to ward off a more expensive Senate version. More recently, Ryan served on a bipartisan presidential debt commission but balked at its report because a tax increase was on the menu of options.

He is a disciple of and past aide to the late Rep. Jack Kemp, once a GOP vice presidential nominee himself who effusively promoted tax cuts as a central tenet for economic growth.

From the title page of his idyllic "Path to Prosperity" budget plan down to the most scrutinized fine print, Ryan is adept at framing proposals in the most pleasant terms.

Ryan's opponents charge that his call to open Medicare to more private competition is too risky even if implementation would be a ways off; he counters that the latest version was fashioned in consultation with prominent Democrats in hopes of heading off an all-out program collapse that would devastate the financial security of future retirees. Foes say his plans to scale back food stamps and housing assistance are mean-spirited; Ryan describes the moves, which would allow states to further customize their welfare programs while imposing tougher time limits and work requirements, as empowerment for the downtrodden who he argues are being lulled into lives of complacency and dependency.

It took time for Ryan's own party to get fully behind his ideas. A few years ago, when Ryan first proposed dramatic changes to entitlement programs like Medicare some in the GOP were skittish because Democrats pounced on the plans as undermining the health program accessed by millions of retirees.

Kasten said Ryan's refusal to back down paid off politically.

"If all the sudden you become the dartboard for everyone on the left and you are willing to stand there and take the heat and the darts, you develop a tremendous amount of respect even from those who are throwing the darts," Kasten said. "In the beginning it's a grudging respect. It grows into a true respect."

Ryan has let opportunities to advance come and go, most recently when he opted not to seek an open U.S. Senate seat. His young family factored into his considerations; he and wife, tax attorney Janna, have a daughter and two sons, ages 10, 8 and 7.

___

Associated Press writers Steve Peoples and Matthew Daly in Washington and Kasie Hunt in Norfolk, Va., contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-08-11-Paul%20Ryan-Profile/id-0332b4865db04507bcca7bc1d5d900bb

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Report: Racial profiling alleged at Boston airport

NEW YORK (AP) ? Transportation Security Administration officers at Boston's Logan International Airport are alleging that a program intended to help flag possible terrorists based on passengers' mannerisms has led to rampant racial profiling, a newspaper reported Saturday.

The New York Times (http://nyti.ms/P2enzf ) reported on its website that in interviews and internal complaints it has obtained, more than 30 officers involved in the "behavior detection" program at Logan contend that the operation targets not only Middle Easterners, but also passengers who fit certain profiles ? such as Hispanics traveling to Miami, or blacks wearing baseball caps backward.

The TSA told the newspaper on Friday that it is investigating the officers' claims. At a meeting last month with the agency, officers provided written complaints, some of them anonymous, from 32 officers.

The officers said their co-workers were increasingly targeting minorities, believing the stops would lead to the discovery of drugs, outstanding arrest warrants and immigration problems, in response to pressure from managers who wanted high numbers of stops, searches and criminal referrals, The Times reported.

"The behavior detection program is no longer a behavior-based program, but it is a racial profiling program," one officer wrote in an anonymous complaint The Times obtained.

The program, which has been billed as a model for other airports across the country, is intended to allow officers to stop, search and question passengers who seem suspicious. Specially trained "assessors" observe security lines for unusual activity and speak individually with each passenger, looking for inconsistencies in the passenger's responses to questions and behavior such as avoiding eye contact, fidgeting or sweating.

Passengers considered suspicious can be taken aside for more intensive questioning.

At least one passenger has filed a formal complaint with the TSA. Kenneth Boatner, a black psychologist and educational consultant who was traveling to Atlanta on business last month, said he was detained for nearly half an hour as agents examined his belongings, including his checkbook and his patients' clinical notes.

In an interview with The Times, Boatner said he felt humiliated, and that the officers never explained why they were singling him out, but he suspected it was because of his race and attire. He was wearing sweat pants, a white T-shirt and high-top sneakers.

"I had never been subjected to anything like that," Boatner said.

The TSA said the program at Logan "in no way encourages or tolerates profiling," and that passengers cannot be subjected to behavior assessments based on their nationality, race, ethnicity or religion.

"If any of these claims prove accurate, we will take immediate and decisive action to ensure there are consequences to such activity," the agency said in a statement.

The TSA said it did not compile information on passengers' race or ethnicity and could not provide a breakdown of passengers who may have been stopped on either basis through the program.

___

Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/report-racial-profiling-alleged-boston-airport-011708310.html

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Food Recipes Guide: Five Most Popular Office Coffee

By Muriel Noel

The beauty of the different types of Houston office coffee is that it can be served hot or cold. This beverage is one of the heavily consumed beverages of all time. The beans where the beverage is made out of is the second most traded thing after oil. Clearly, the world has been captivated by its richness and aroma.

Sleepy heads rejoice when a shot of this flavorful espresso hits the nostrils. It is characterized by its small servings and the dark brown liquid which is usually thick. It is claimed by many brewers to help the person stay awake on to the wee hours of the morning. Many college students swore to its miraculous effects.

Cappuccino is comprised of the most common ingredients found in many variations of drink. It is made of espresso topped with milk and foam. It was said that the drink was invented during the seventeenth century. The origin of the drink remains to be in dispute until today.

Cafe Americano is a type of drink that consists of a full bodied espresso with water that is seven times more than the amount of espresso that has been put. It originated with American soldiers during the two world wars who prefer a watered down version of the espresso. The name is said to be an insult to the Americans who cannot drink a full espresso.

One of the most common drinks ordered by women in cafes is the Cafe Latte. It has less of the bitterness or strength of most of these types. This makes it the perfect beverage choice for women in popular cafe.

Cafe au lait is popular both in the United States and European nations. It is related in consistency as the popular white variation of it. However, the method used in this drink is a French method of making the drink.

One of the reasons why many people drink houston office coffee is that it is a refreshing drink. Scientists found that this drink has a lot of antioxidants. The making and trading of this drink has resulted in almost a decade old industry.

Source: http://filipinofoodsrecipes.blogspot.com/2012/08/five-most-popular-office-coffee.html

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