Polar bears dying in zoo from virus that jumped from zebras

ScienceDaily (Aug. 16, 2012) ? Zoos bring together different animal species that would never encounter each other in the wild. On occasion, this can have unforeseen consequences. When in 2010 at the Wuppertal Zoo one polar bear died and another fell severely ill, zoo veterinarians were at a loss as to the cause of the symptoms. It has now been shown that the bears were infected with a recombinant zebra-derived virus that had jumped into other species, as reported August 16 by an international team of researchers led by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in the journal Current Biology. Such species-jumping viruses, if not detected, may threaten the conservation mission of zoos.

Keeping animals from around the world is an important component of the mission of zoos to educate the public and preserve endangered species. To date, it has rarely been considered that such a species mix may have unpredictable consequences in terms of transfer of pathogens among zoo animals. Generally, pathogens adapt to a specific host, but some are opportunistic and can spread to new hosts upon encounter.

The study by researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin (IZW), the Freie Universit?t Berlin, the University of Sydney and the Zoological Gardens Wuppertal reports such a case of a virus jumping from one species to another. In 2010 at the Wuppertal Zoo in Germany, a female polar bear, Jerka, died of encephalitis despite the best efforts of the zoo veterinarians to save her. Her male companion Lars exhibited similar symptoms but survived as a result of intervention and long-term veterinary care. Dr. Arne Lawrenz, zoo veterinarian in Wuppertal, describes the situation: "The symptoms were quite shocking, and it was completely unclear at the time what was causing them. We tried to stabilize both animals for days. In the case of Jerka, we were sadly unsuccessful. Fortunately, however, Lars recovered after several weeks and is still alive today."

Encephalitis can be caused by a large number of viruses and bacteria, and identifying novel pathogens in wild animals is a huge, often insurmountable, challenge. However, the intensive investigation of Jerka, Lars and nine additional polar bears yielded a zebra-derived herpes virus as the only candidate pathogen. A surprising find was that polar bear Struppo, which died years earlier from renal failure in a different zoo with no contact to Jerka or Lars, was also positive for the virus. This indicates that this virus has jumped independently before and may continue to do so.

Interestingly, the virus turned out to be a recombinant, i.e. a combination of the genetic material of two different viruses both found in zebras. It originated when the Equine herpesvirus EHV9 transferred a portion of its DNA into the related EHV1. While recombination is not uncommon for herpesviruses, the gene region transferred in this case is notable for its role in causing neurological diseases even in horses. Whether this novel virus emerged recently in the zoo zebra population or a long time ago in Africa, and whether the recombination event is responsible for the ability of the virus to jump to new hosts and cause deadly disease are open questions.

"When we started, there was an overwhelming number of potential pathogens that might have caused Jerka's death," illustrates Prof. Alex Greenwood of the IZW, lead author of the study. "At first it seemed easy, because we quickly got a signal for EHV. But when we looked at the viral DNA sequence, it could have been either EHV1 or EHV9. With more sequence data it became clear that there was one gene that was partly like one virus and partly like the other."

Another open question is how the bears were infected. Polar bears in Wuppertal are not cared for by the same zookeepers as zebras. In addition, the zebras are housed 68 meters away, thus direct contact is unlikely to be the route of transmission. However, bears and zebras are not the only hosts, as the parent viruses were associated with fatal encephalitis in other zoo species such as gazelles and guinea pigs. Prof. Klaus Osterrieder from the Freie Universit?t Berlin explains: "These viruses do not seem to respect species boundaries and in fact, we don't really know whether they have any. One conundrum is that these viruses are not particularly stable in the environment, so it is important to figure out how they move between species." The authors of the study are currently exploring the possibility that transmission could even occur through wild mice or rats.

Being alert to the possibility of pathogen species jumps and their potentially fatal consequences, zoos can serve as sentinels for disease outbreaks and protect their animals. However, this important task will be complex, as pathogens may cause no symptoms in some species or individuals and unexplained mortality in others. For most of the many pathogens that can cause encephalitis or fatality, not much is known about their ability to enter new host species. Further wildlife disease research, better communication between institutions and careful monitoring will be required to ensure the success of the conservation mission of zoos. At least one case has been successfully resolved though, says Dr. Arne Lawrenz of Wuppertal Zoo: "With our colleagues we have screened our polar bears in Wuppertal to make sure they are EHV-free, and we will do so on a regular basis. Now that we are aware of this issue, we are better prepared and can be proactive."

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:


Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. (FVB).

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. Alex?D. Greenwood, Kyriakos Tsangaras, Simon?Y.W. Ho, Claudia?A. Szentiks, Veljko?M. Nikolin, Guanggang Ma, Armando Damiani, Marion?L. East, Arne Lawrenz, Heribert Hofer, Nikolaus Osterrieder. A Potentially Fatal Mix of Herpes in Zoos. Current Biology, 2012; DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.07.035

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/0Nq-eA8kk3Q/120816133403.htm

purim acc tournament big ten tournament big east tournament 2012 solar storm solar flares spanx

Protect yourself from smishing (video)

We've all heard about phishing attacks -- those spammy e-mails you get in your in-box imploring you to divulge your personal information. Now those annoying scams are coming to a cell phone near you -- it's called smishing, or phishing via SMS text message.

Text messaging is the most common nonvoice use of a mobile phone, and scam artists are taking full advantage of that. In fact, according to security firm Cloudmark , about 30 million smishing messages are sent to cell phone users across North America, Europe, and the U.K. Smishing is part of the much larger SMS spam problem. In the U.S. alone, there has been an almost 400 percent increase in unique SMS spam campaigns in the first half of the year.

There are ways you can protect yourself if you get an unsolicited text message. First, don't click any links that are contained in the text. Never give out any sensitive information such as your address, your Social Security Number, or your bank account number. You can also forward smishing texts to 7726 and your cell phone provider will mark them as abuse. If you think you've been a victim of a smishing attack, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov or call 1-877-HELP (4357).

Related Links

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/protect-yourself-from-smishing--video-.html

PGA Championship 2012 John Witherspoon hope solo hope solo george michael meteor shower usain bolt

Top 100 Food Bloggers You Should Cater To And Treat to - Sparkah

HuffPost Food HuffPost Food
direct contact
The Huffington Post Food section. Reach us at foodhuffingtonpost.com. Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
direct contact
curious,inquisitive,experimental entrepreneur who cares about the world we live in Food Blogger Recipes Food Blogger Recipes
direct contact
Jeenas Kitchen is a popular food blogging organization. We are all about healthy cooking. We cook healthy recipes daily. Irish Food Bloggers Irish Food Bloggers
direct contact
The IFBA is a new site for Irish and Irish-based food bloggers to discover and connect with each other. Boston Food Bloggers Boston Food Bloggers
direct contact
A resource for Boston food bloggers. We?re just getting started. Meet-ups and more coming soon! (Maintained by blumie) Cooking Light Cooking Light
direct contact
Life Lived Deliciously Austin Food Bloggers Austin Food Bloggers
direct contact
The Austin Food Blogger Alliance (AFBA) was formed in early 2011. We support each other and our community through classes, social events, and philanthropy. Food Bloggers Canada Food Bloggers Canada
direct contact
A community for Canadian food bloggers to come together to share and learn. Founded by mhchipmunk, eatlivtravwrite and EthanAdeland. Tweets from Ethan. Marion Nestle Marion Nestle
direct contact
Paulette Goddard Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health Nate Silver Nate Silver
direct contact
FiveThirtyEight blogger (http://nyti.ms/Qp8cqb). Author, The Signal and the Noise (http://amzn.to/QdyFYV). Sports/politics/food geek. Foodista Foodista
direct contact
The recipe, cooking, and food news source. Founders of the International Food Blogger Conference (IFBC). Josh Ozersk
direct contact
Author, Gastronome, Bon Vivant, Noted Polymath and Deviant Food Blogger Connect Food Blogger Connect
direct contact
#FBC12 Europe?s leading international food blogger?s conference with workshops, talks, demos, tastings & more. 28?30 Sept in London http://fbc12.eventbrite.com FoodNetwork FoodNetwork
direct contact
Welcome to our official page. us to keep up with all things Food Network, from chefs and shows to recipes and events Babette @BakeSpace Babette BakeSpace
direct contact
Founder of: two-time Webby nominee BakeSpace.com, cookbookcafe (1st Social Publishing Platform [ebook & apps]), #techmunch food blogger conference Jenn Oliver Jenn Oliver
direct contact
chemist, gluten free blogger, photographer. Victoria Failla Victoria Failla
direct contact
Editor,cook, & creative director of Poppyseeds & PolkaDots. Popular, award-winning food blogger/photographer Pinch My Salt Pinch My Salt
direct contact
food blogger, coffee drinker, photographer, eater. I talk about food a lot. Maria Lichty Maria Licht
direct contact
Food Blogger, Recipe Developer, Freelance Writer, and Cookie Connoisseur. Visit Two Peas and Their Pod for tasty recipes-our kitchen is always open! Kristen Kristen
direct contact
Freelance Writer, Food Blogger, Mom ? Dishing it up one day at a time! Kalyn Denny Kalyn Denn
direct contact
Proud kid-loving aunt, Food Blogger, passionate cook, South Beach Diet fan, slow cooker devotee, cookbook hoarder, photographer, gardener, and BlogHer lover. Whole Foods Market Whole Foods Market
direct contact
Fresh organic tweets from Whole Foods Market HQ in Austin, TX. Ready to answer your questions Mon-Fri 9am-5pm CST! Carol Cain Carol Cain
direct contact
Formerly tweeting as NYCityMama. PR Pro turned Travel & Food Blogger. Lover of photography & karaoke. Mom of 3 boys. Wife madly in love. Overall happy person. Joan Nova Joan Nova
direct contact
food and travel blogger with a passion for cooking and photography; recipe developer Aran Goyoaga Aran Goyoaga
direct contact
James Beard Award nominated food blogger, stylist & photographer. Look for Small Plates & Sweet Treats out in Oct 2012. Living gluten free. Chef John Chef John
direct contact
Teaching people to cook, one video recipe at a time. Living the dream of full-time food blogger. That whole ?your bliss? thing totally worked Food Blog Alliance Food Blog Alliance
direct contact
Tutorials and Tips by and for food bloggers. Editor-in-Chief Elise Bauer. Jamie Oliver Jamie Oliver
direct contact
The Official Jamie Oliver twitter page Ed Charles Ed Charles
direct contact
Internet consultant, journalist, food blogger. Drinks Chablis, rides exotic bicycles. Pats small dogs and trills at cats. Fringe Food Festival joint founder. Mario Batali Mario Batali
direct contact
Mario Batali believes that food, like most things, is best when left to its own simple beauty. Chris Pople Chris Pople
direct contact
Food blogger, food writer, Londoner, blagger, freeloader and timewaster. Oh, and ESFoodMag and MSNFood contributor Lori Lange Lori Lange
direct contact
Website Founder: RecipeGirl.com-Food Blogger/Writer & Recipe Developer, soon-to-be cookbook author of The Recipe Girl Cookbook, published by Wiley- Spring 2013 Anthony Bourdain Anthony Bourdain
direct contact
Enthusiast. Food Blog Forum Food Blog Forum
direct contact
Forum for food bloggers. Learn about food photography, social media, technology, business of blogging! Mark Bittman Mark Bittman
direct contact
Writer on food for New York Times; author of How to Cook Everything. See also: http://markbittman.com. Note: RT is not an endorsement. Shaina Olmanson Shaina Olmanson
direct contact
I am a freelance writer, recipe developer, food blogger, photographer, mom of four, and cookbook author (Desserts in Jars, June 2012 by Harvard Common Press) Michelle Michelle
direct contact
Food blogger doing the baking, photography & writing thing. When not covered in flour, I?m watching Penguins hockey or obsessing over my fantasy football team. ErinsFoodFiles ErinsFoodFiles
direct contact
Video Editor & Food Blogger. I tweet about things to eat, about Nashville, and about my crazy adorable mutt Jesse. :) Michael Pollan Michael Pollan
direct contact
Author of Food Rules; In Defense of Food; The Omnivore?s Dilemma; The Botany of Desire; A Place of My Own and Second Nature. annie food blogger
direct contact
Home cook. Food blogger. Lover of pink anything, wannabe It Girl. Natalie Natalie
direct contact
Food blogger, true metal warrior, amateur arm wrestler & friend til the end. me, I am slightly fantastic. SugarSlam2012.com IFBC IFBC
direct contact
The International Food Blogger Conference, hosted by Foodista and Zephyr Adventures. epicurious epicurious
direct contact
The ultimate food site for people who love to cook, eat, and dine out by tanyasteel siobhanster sarabonisteel laurensalkeld essny carosconcoction & others Heidi Larsen Heidi Larsen
direct contact
Loving food bloggers, their recipes & photos and stuff that?s savory, sticky & sweet. Check out my online mag http://www.foodiecrush.com/online-magazine Slashfood Slashfood
direct contact
All food, all the time. See us at our new home at HuffPost Food: OC Weekly Food
direct contact
Stick a Fork In It food bloggers amandahesser amandahesser
direct contact
Food columnist at the New York Times; author; a founder of Plodt.com and food52.com; mother of twins; I live in Brooklyn. Mids Food Bloggers Mids Food Bloggers
direct contact
News and views from the Midlands Food Bloggers community. Tweets from Jos_Kitchen and comidayvida Jenny F. Jenny F.
direct contact
Food blogger and author of Picky-palate.com where you?ll find my own original recipe creations & food photography. Picky Palate Cookbook avail Fall 2012! Dara Michalski Dara Michalski
direct contact
Food blogger, recipe developer and freelance writer. I am a Canadian living in the U.S. Cultures happily colliding. Giada De Laurentiis Giada De Laurentiis
direct contact
Food Network #Chef, #Author, #Mother and Paddle Surfer! Jen Yu Jen Yu
direct contact
freelance photographer. food blogger. colorado mountain living. we own you like siegfried owns roy. Jessica Lee Binder Jessica Lee Binder
direct contact
Food Blogger on a self-granted maternity leave?married to lonbinder and we have a new baby: www.cayabinder.com Andrew Zimmern Andrew Zimmern
direct contact
Chef, Writer, Traveler, Host of Bizarre Foods & MSN?s Appetite for Life. Catch New Episodes of Bizarre Foods America Mon. Nights 9pm E/P on Travel Channel! Giulia Scarpaleggia Giulia Scarpaleggia
direct contact
Food blogger. Food writer. Food photographer. Tuscan located, world oriented. Simple and sunny, with an insane passion for cooking. Frank Bruni Frank Bruni
direct contact
New York Times Op-Ed columnist, food lover and author of several books, including the family and diet memoir Born Round Gordon Ramsay Gordon Ramsay
direct contact
Somewhere always near food. tami hardeman tami hardeman
direct contact
food and words from an Atlanta-based food blogger & stylist Traca Savadogo Traca Savadogo
direct contact
Food for thought, served family style. Co-founder of the International Food Blogger Conference. Author of Seattle Tall Poppy. ivn
direct contact
Consistently avoiding death since 1971 Everyday Health Everyday Health
direct contact
Everyday Health is here to help you take better care of yourself & your family through powerful weight-loss tools, expert advice & health news and information. Robin Robin
direct contact
Mom ? food blogger, recipes, autism & social media/ brand ambassador. DIY decor & renovations. Zagat Zagat
direct contact
Restaurant news, events, and reviews. ZagatNYC for New York City-centric information and add us to your circles on Google+ at http://zagat.com/plus janemaynard (twfd) janemaynard (twfd)
direct contact
I?m a wife and mom, food blogger, graphic designer, lover of life?and chocolate. Member of MarthasCircle, Editor of http://moms.dailybuzz.com Good Bite Good Bite
direct contact
Delicious Made Easy ? we?re a new cooking video site, featuring deliciously awesome food bloggers with top notch taste. Alton Brown Alton Brown
direct contact
Culinary loner. Paula Deen Paula Deen
direct contact
Cooking and family are the greatest gifts. Love and Best Dishes, y?all! Bobby Flay Bobby Flay
direct contact
Chef, Native New Yorker This is a no-hater zone Tom Colicchio Tom Colicchio
direct contact
This is my real twitter page. All others are bogus. Sam Sifton Sam Sifton
direct contact
National Editor, The New York Times Julie Niesen Gosdin Julie Niesen Gosdin
direct contact
Cincinnati food blogger. Cocktail obsessed. Education pro by day. Bon vivant. Traveler. Geek. Deeba Rajpal Deeba Rajpal
direct contact
Passionate baker, Food blogger, Daring Baker, Food stylist, Foodographist, Camera trigger happy ? AssocofFoodBloggers AssocofFoodBloggers
direct contact
Directory of Ethical Food Bloggers| Resource for Social Media / Writing Tips for #FoodBloggers | Restaurant Industry News | Rachel L. Blumenthal Rachel L. Blumenthal
direct contact
Contributing writer for EaterBoston, food blogger (http://forkitoverboston.com + bostonfoodblogs), musician in MJEML, photographer. Carla Carla
direct contact
Food blogger, Jedi, practical, allergic to caffeine, swears a lot, Paname?a. Ok, and a little Italian too. Jiewa Vieri Jiewa Vieri
direct contact
Food Blogger, Food Photographer, avid traveller & full time dreamer. Winner of Pesta Blogger Award 2009. Pecinta Wisata Kuliner Surabaya & Indonesia rachael ray rachael ray
direct contact
TV Personality, author and cook Rachael Ray?s official Twitter Feed Gail Simmons Gail Simmons
direct contact
Always Hungry. The official Twitter page for Gail Simmons. Hélène Péloquin H?l?ne P?loquin
direct contact
I?m a foodie. I am a food blogger and love baking. Other passions are yoga, photography, travelling, hiking, outdoor. ?picurienne, aime le vin et desserts. Bon Appetit Magazine Bon Appetit Magazine
direct contact Rick Bayless Rick Bayless
direct contact
Chef/Owner of Frontera Grill, Cookbook Author, Host of Mexico-One Plate at a Time Jancis Robinson Jancis Robinson
direct contact
Wine-, food-, words- + family-loving workaholic Jason Perlow Jason Perlow
direct contact
ZDNet Senior Technology Editor, Tech Broiler Blogger, Food Blogger at OffTheBroiler.com Sarah Matheny Sarah Mathen
direct contact
Lucky wife, determined mom, joyful food blogger and veg cookbook author. Laugh with your mouth full. peasandthankyou.com Tyler Florence
direct contact
Chef, Restaurateur, Wine Maker, Cookbook Writer, Shop Keep, Product Designer, Dad. Slow Food USA Slow Food USA
direct contact
Building a good, clean and fair food system Kim Severson Kim Severson
direct contact
Atlanta bureau chief for the New York Times and food enthusiast. Jennifer Hess Jennifer Hess
direct contact
Used to be that food blogger. Mom to Julian, married to dietsch. Aviva Goldfarb Aviva Goldfarb
direct contact
Cookbook author, CEO of The Six O?Clock Scramble healthy and seasonal family dinner planning system, food blogger for PBS Parents?, and devoted mom. Louisa Chu Louisa Chu
direct contact
Chef/Writer/Adventurer (WBEZ food blogger) Megan Chromik Megan Chromik
direct contact
Food blogger, food lover, and food editor. Also planning my wedding! Chris Cosentino Chris Cosentino
direct contact
i like to cook and eat pig. Julie Deily Julie Deil
direct contact
Java Software Engineer | Food Blogger ? The Little Kitchen | Baker | Pet Owner | Volunteer | http://whateverjulie.com #NASATweetup #STS134 #fbcookieswap RichardBlais RichardBlais
direct contact
I?m obsessed with sports, Fly kicks, clever T shirts, running 26.2 miles, creating restaurants, & making food TV interesting. Jessica Meyer Jessica Meyer
direct contact
Founder of LocateSpecDiet, Co-Founder/CEO of Careio_Cares, Entrepreneur, Nutritionist (M.S.), Food Blogger (http://atxglutenfree.com/) Gretchen Glasscock
direct contact
My foodie credentials include helping launch the wine industry in TX & owning a wine restaurant Jodi Bart Jodi Bart
direct contact
Food blogger. Adventurer. Maple Syrup Booster. Engaged/Married to adamholz, mom of lucybart. A voice of atxfoodblogs + solarwinds. Tony Gebely Tony Gebely
direct contact
Spreading well-researched #tea information. teaspoons & petals teaspoons & petals
direct contact
alexis. tea writer and consultant. creator of haiku teaware line teaspoonsandpetals.etsy.com Green Tea Green Tea
direct contact
Musical medicine for the soul..have a cup! www.greenteasoul.com teapigs teapigs
direct contact
Join teapigs on our DRINK REAL TEA mission. teapigs was launched two years ago to put whole leaf, real tea back in the mugs of tea drinkers. www.teapigs.co.uk ESP Emporium ESP Emporium
direct contact
Loose leaf tea retailer which specializes in green tea, black tea, blended tea, herbal tea, Rooibos, wellness tea, organic tea, fruit tea, iced tea, tea gifts.. ITO_EN ITO_EN
direct contact
World?s Leading Supplier of Green Tea Leaves and authentically brewed bottled teas Current TV
direct contact
The Young Turks with Cenk Uygur 7/6c ? Viewpoint with Eliot Spitzer 8/7c ? The War Room with Jennifer Granholm 9/8c Honest Tea Honest Tea
direct contact
The nation?s top-selling organic bottled tea company. Nature Got It Right. We Put It In A Bottle. Honest. Greta Van Susteren Greta Van Susteren
direct contact
Greta Van Susteren ? Host of ON THE RECORD ? Weeknights at 10p & 1a ET on Fox News Channel / RT not mean endorsement Vinod Khosla Vinod Khosla
direct contact
entrepreneurship zealot Tea Hacker Tea Hacker
direct contact
Life Hacking meets tea. Nicholas Kristof Nicholas Kristof
direct contact
New York Times columnist, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, co-author Half the Sky, http://www.facebook.com/kristof Zagat Zagat
direct contact
Restaurant news, events, and reviews. TEAVANA TEAVANA
direct contact
Official twitter of TEAVANA. Opening the Doors to Health, Wisdom and Happiness. | Teavana offers over 100 different selections of loose-leaf tea & tea products. Tea Leaf Green Tea Leaf Green
direct contact
Welcome to our Twitter account. We are on tour now! http://tealeafgreen.com/shows Andrew Weil, M.D. Andrew Weil, M.D.
direct contact
Dr. Weil?s official Twitter ? daily information on integrative medicine, nutrition, natural health and wellbeing. Get healthy on the go! Rishi Tea Rishi Tea
direct contact
Award-winning Organic and Fair Trade loose leaf tea, fresh each season & direct from origin. Bigelow Tea Bigelow Tea
direct contact
Bigelow Tea is America?s #1 specialty #tea company, family owned & operated since 1945. Tweets supported by BT Consumer Svc & creativeconsult brett susalla brett susalla
direct contact
A daily or weekly show on tea! Heritage Foundation Heritage Foundation
direct contact
A think tank devoted to the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. The Republic of Tea The Republic of Tea
direct contact
Leading Purveyor of Premium Teas steaz steaz
direct contact
Our Steaz is to create products that do good things for the mind, body, soul ? and the planet. Is your Steaz anything like that stashtea Stash Tea
direct contact
We aspire to create unique, high quality specialty teas and products that delight tea drinkers. Kevin Rose
direct contact
STi certified tea master. Tea links & videos from around the web. siptea.net siptea.net
direct contact
the art + science of tea your online source for organic tea Foodista Foodista
direct contact
The recipe, cooking, and food news source. Founders of the International Food Blogger Conference ( IFBC). Starbucks Coffee Starbucks Coffee
direct contact
Freshly brewed tweets from Brad, Lee, and Paige at Starbucks. Drink Craft Beer Drink Craft Beer
direct contact
Everything Craft Beer. Beer reviews, pairings and home brewing tips. We?re slightly obsessed, so you don?t have to be! World Food Programme World Food Programme
direct contact
The official World Food Programme Twitter page ? fighting hunger worldwide. If you?re reading this? you can help! Go to http://www.wfp.org/get-involved Green Mtn Coffee Green Mtn Coffee
direct contact
Serving up a Revelation In Every Cup. Slow Food USA Slow Food USA
direct contact
Building a good, clean and fair food system Tim Ferriss Tim Ferriss
direct contact
Author of #1 NY Times bestsellers, The 4-Hour Body and The 4-Hour Workweek, Japanophile, tea drinker, tango world record holder, language learning fanatic. NYT Green Blog NYT Green Blog
direct contact
Green: A Blog About Energy and the Environment from The New York Times Little Yellow Teapot Little Yellow Teapot
direct contact
I?m a little yellow teapot that likes to try new teas and write reviews of them, with the help of my humans, of course! Mountain Rose Herbs Mountain Rose Herbs
direct contact
The Official Mountain Rose Herbs Twitter Page ? An Herbs, Health, and Harmony Company, Supporting Organic Agriculture since 1987. Cato Institute Cato Institute
direct contact
Check out the full list of Cato Twitter feeds: http://bit.ly/Adyx6F Macho Matcha Macho Matcha
direct contact
I?m Matthew. We hope to be a decent source for info on matcha green tea and much more. Live long, be healthy! Check out the blog! I?m also matthewtburgess Whole Foods Market Whole Foods Market
direct contact
Fresh organic tweets from Whole Foods Market HQ in Austin, TX. Ready to answer your questions Mon-Fri 9am-5pm CST! Adam from Twibes Adam from Twibes
direct contact
A twibe is a twitter group. me to meet other people with similar interests Erik Kennedy Erik Kennedy
direct contact
One chap, tweeting the talk of the tea rooms. Van Jones Van Jones
direct contact
Dad. Co-founder of RebuildTheDream.com ( RebuildDream). Wrote NYT bestseller: Green Collar Economy. Love Ctr 4 Am Progress, Ella Baker Center + Green For All. Masahiro Kakizaki Masahiro Kakizaki
direct contact
Green Tea Lover in Japan. My tea-drinking-history is more than 20 years. I tweet about how to enjoy good tea and authentic Japanese tea. Jamie Oliver Jamie Oliver
direct contact
The Official Jamie Oliver twitter page TreeHugger.com TreeHugger.com
direct contact
Links, Ideas and Conversation from the TreeHugger hive mind, the latest in modern green. Tara Austen Weaver Tara Austen Weaver
direct contact
Writer procrastinating on her deadlines, 140 characters at a time: food, sarcasm, life, wonder, books, boats, travel, photography, tea. No coffee. Michelle Malkin Michelle Malkin
direct contact
American. Conservative. Mom. Wife. Blogger. Tea Guy Tea Guy
direct contact
Life?s short. Drink good tea. Freelance journalist | blogger | social media specialist. S.E. Cupp S.E. Cupp
direct contact
Co-host of MSNBC?s The Cycle at 3pm ET, author of Losing Our Religion, NYDN columnist and The Blaze contributor. LeafSpa Organic Tea LeafSpa Organic Tea
direct contact
Offers USDA certified organic tea, organic tea blends, and organic spa products all made with the finest tea leaves on the planet Samovar Tea Lounge Samovar Tea Lounge
direct contact
Slow Down. Disconnect. Drink Tea. Sarah Brown Sarah Brown
direct contact
mum, charity campaigner, writer, enthusiastic chirper, believer in good things TeaTalk TeaTalk
direct contact
Ocean Lover! ? Tea Junkie and a Lookie Loo Artist, Capturing Tea Culture One Blog at a Time, Obscure Photographer and Catholic Geek (Warning:Baseball Mom) Numi Organic Tea Numi Organic Tea
direct contact
100% Real Ingredients. Nothing Else. Loose Tea Review Loose Tea Review
direct contact
Reviewer of loose leaf teas, specialty teas, tisanes and tea related accessories that span across the entire globe. TED News TED News
direct contact
ALL the news from #TED: TEDTalks, TED Conferences, the TED Prize and more. The Green Room The Green Room
direct contact
Created by Actress /Producer Terri J. Vaughn, The Green Room is a new specialty bookstore, coffee/tea lounge and entertainment/arts community haven in Atlanta. Deborah Lee Deborah Lee
direct contact
Mummy, photographer, designer, craftaholic, yoga bunny, tea drinker, red lipstick wearer, staunch supporter of British enterprise and industry. AdagioTeas AdagioTeas
direct contact Bill McKibben Bill McKibben
direct contact
Author, Educator, Environmentalist and Founder of 350.org Dan Bolton Dan Bolton
direct contact
Editor/Publisher of World Tea News (headquarters in Las Vegas) Tea Escapade Tea Escapade
direct contact
What can I say I love tea and a few other things. Like reading, writing, music, dance, and most of all my family. L.A. Times Health L.A. Times Health
direct contact
Health and medical news from latimes. Lindsey Goodwin Lindsey Goodwin
direct contact
Tea writer, educator, consultant USDA Food Safety USDA Food Safety
direct contact
Food Safety and Inspection Service educates consumers about the importance of safe food handling and reducing the risk of foodborne illness Yoga Journal Yoga Journal
direct contact
Yoga Journal magazine has been the go-to guide for yoga practitioners from all walks of life for more than 30 years. BHG BHG
direct contact
Inspiring ideas for home, gardening, food, holidays, and living well. BHG?it?s where life happens. FEMINIST HULK FEMINIST HULK
direct contact
HULK SAYS FUCK PATRIARCHY. HULK HERE TO SMASH GENDER BINARY. PBS PBS
direct contact
PBS invites you to explore new ideas and discover new worlds. Join us here for conversation and sharing. ecomagination ecomagination
direct contact
A forum for fresh thinking and conversation about clean technology and sustainable infrastructure. Dunkin' Donuts Dunkin? Donuts
direct contact
Tweeting to you from the DD Mothership. America Runs on Dunkin?. DunkinDonuts Runs on You. Pat Canella Pat Canella
direct contact
TeaCast is a weekly podcast that reviews a brand of tea and gives an honest, in depth review! Sometimes we give stuff away :) American Cancer Soc American Cancer Soc
direct contact
The official American Cancer Society Twitter stream. Together we?re helping you stay well, get well, by finding cures and fighting back. 1-800-227-2345 Kirstie Mary Allsopp Kirstie Mary Allsopp
direct contact
A working Mum who?s against homework & for family time; Re-use, recycle, love, laugh & Keep Britain Tidy! Tara Tara
direct contact
Author of Biofriendly Blog and freelance online marketer/writer. I?m interested in environmental/green issues, my kids, family, enjoying life & animal welfare. The Hungry Mouse The Hungry Mouse
direct contact
I?m Jessie Cross & I run The Hungry Mouse, a visual guide to food & cooking, featuring 450+ step-by-step photo recipes. Check out my first cookbook, Slushed! Joyce Cherrier Joyce Cherrier
direct contact
Misplaced Maui Girl ? THEN: Health Food Store owner/Pro Windsurfer NOW: mom, soul surfer, green, CPT | Sears? #FitStudio Team | Verizon? #VZWbuzz Ambassador Kaushika Patel Kaushika Patel
direct contact
Mompreneur, MBA, Food & Biz Blogger. Startup Coach. Passionate about health & wellness. Tea Lover! Founder CatalystGourmet (gluten-free, natural products) innocent drinks innocent drinks
direct contact
innocent by nature ONE Coconut Water ONE Coconut Water
direct contact
Making a positive difference through our business & our products is critical to our mission. We produce ?America?s Healthiest Beverage? ? O.N.E. Coconut Water. inhabitat inhabitat
direct contact
good design will save the world! Dr. Mercola Dr. Mercola
direct contact
I am an osteopathic physician, health activist and founder of the #1 natural health site Mercola.com. I advocate dietary and lifestyle approaches to health. Ree Drummond Ree Drummond
direct contact
I?m The Pioneer Woman. Desperate Ranchwife. Mother of Four. Lover of Butter. Amen. CamMi Pham CamMi Pham
direct contact
Tweeter-in-Chief ThumbleApp, Fashion Blogger http://cammilicious.com,Married to Twitter,having an affair with G+,Host of #RBChat,Teaholic,Will work for shoes paul steele paul steele
direct contact
Enjoying the outdoors, mountains challenges. Sharing Travel, photography, and more. Travel Blogger at BaldHiker.com and VisitBritain. Contributor at HuffPost Fair Trade Certified Fair Trade Certified
direct contact
Fair Trade USA (formerly TransFair USA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States. Tammy Bruce Tammy Bruce
direct contact
Independent Conservative, Author, Talk Show Host, Columnist, Political & Cultural Critic Foodimentary Foodimentary
direct contact
Twitter?s ShortyAwards winning & 1st to Tweet Food, Facts, & Fun. Guaranteed to pepper your day with fun food facts! Impress others with your food knowledge! Open Culture Open Culture
direct contact
The best FREE cultural & educational media on the web. We make a wealth of serious thinking available online, says The New York Times. Edited by Dan Colman. ThinkProgress ThinkProgress
direct contact
Hard-hitting political news and analysis. Tweets by JuddLegum w/ OkieCaitlin | jlegum amprog.org Corey Wells Corey Wells
direct contact
I send out daily Motivational and Famous Quotes. I?m involved in coaching and success training? and I love Rooibos tea. World Tea Media World Tea Media
direct contact
Dedicated to providing business solutions to the global tea industry. We are World Tea Expo, World Tea East, North American Tea Championship & World Tea News. Bella Bella
direct contact
Just A Girl With A Dream! Obsessed Blogger,I tweet about what I love: fashion, glamour, celebrity, make-up & SHOES! Opinionated !!! aprile(????) aprile(????)
direct contact
Orchestration.Harmony and Lied. Passionate about photo(Landscape,Science : pics & vids ) Green Living Green Living
direct contact
Easy Green Living Tips To Go Green, Eco Friendly Natural Safe And Healthy Home Architectural Record Architectural Record
direct contact
Architecture Design for Architects by MHConstruction. Jennifer Grayson Jennifer Grayson
direct contact
Freelance eco-journalist, host and HuffingtonPost green advice columnist (#ecoetiquette). Former opera singer, future PCT thru-hiker and full-time nerd mom. Jaden, SteamyKitchen Jaden, SteamyKitchen
direct contact
Food columnist Discovery Health; Tampa Tribune; TV chef Daytime Show, publisher SteamyKitchen.com FoodBlogForum.com; NewAsianCuisine.com; Cookbook Author Dave Zinczenko Dave Zinczenko
direct contact
Editor-in-Chief, Men?s Health & Women?s Health; author of Abs Diet and Eat This, Not That! series & Today Show contributor. TONS OF USEFUL TWEETS! 101 Cookbooks 101 Cookbooks
direct contact
Heidi Swanson from 101Cookbooks.com ? Healthy, vegetarian recipes made from natural foods and seasonal produce. Sustainable Table Sustainable Table
direct contact
Sparking conversation about sustainable food. By GRACE Communications Foundation, home of SustainableTable.org, EatWellGuide.org & TheMeatrix.com. Stonyfield Organic Stonyfield Organic
direct contact
Everything you want, and nothing you don?t! Fresh, organic tweets from the world?s leading organic yogurt maker. Leslie Quigley

Source: http://sparkah.com/guerrilla-marketing-strategies/top-100-food-bloggers-you-should-cater-to-and-treat-to-expensive-pu-ehr-tea/

kellen moore guy fieri ryan braun bryce harper may day stoudemire jordan hill

Online Security?How Concerned Should Preppers Be? | Survival ...

Now and then I hear from readers who are concerned about online security. How concerned should preppers be about being tracked online? They wonder whether it?s safe to make purchases from my site or other prepper sites. In fact, is it even safe to view such sites?

I?ve assured readers that, to the best of my knowledge, any tracking being done is by advertisers who are more interested in their buyng habits than the government is in gathering data. Of course, that may not always be the case.

The main thing is to practice common sense by not deliberately revealing too much about yourself online.

Back in the spring I interviewed Riverwalker for DestinySurvival Radio on the subject of OP SEC and how preppers can practice discretion to protect themselves and their families. I wrote a post asking the question, Are you protecting one of your most valuable assets?

The asset I was referring to is personal privacy. I?m a firm believer in exercising discretion online. For example, if you look up my personal Facebook page, you?ll learn very little about me personally. In fact, if it weren?t for using Facebook as a tool to drive traffic to this site, I wouldn?t have a Facebook page at all.

But is my aloofness online enough?

Not according to Conrad Jaeger. He?s written an e-book called Deep Web Secrecy and Security ? Everything to stay one step ahead of the Bad Guys. I?ve chosen it as a DestinySurvival Amazon Pick because he makes an important contribution to privacy issues for preppers.

The other day I received a press release about Deep Web Secrecy and Security, and I want to share its most important content with you. Draw your own conclusions and see if this e-book is for you.

?

* * * * * *

You probably wouldn?t submit to having your home searched without a court order, so why allow the authorities to read your emails and monitor everything you do on-line?

If you are buying survival supplies on the Internet and looking up firearms then you are almost certainly on a watch list. These days everybody is a suspect and all our on-line activities are being logged somewhere.

And if things are bad now, just wait until the Utah Data Center comes on-stream in 2013 when absolutely everything you say or do on the Internet will be logged and analyzed and used to profile you the way they do in the movie Minority Report.

From totalitarian regimes to outwardly democratic governments, there is a growing demand for access to people?s personal data. They want to read your emails and they want to know who your friends are.

Personal information is a commodity today. It?s bought and sold and analyzed, and then it?s used to profile you for advertisers, campaign organizers, governments and criminals, stalkers and trolls. But none of this need happen.

Curiously, one might wonder why governments and the like are going to all the trouble of tracking us and storing our data, especially when they are ostensibly trying to catch pedophiles and terrorists.

As it happens, the really bad guys are not using the Surface Web to communicate. They are already very Deep and well ahead of the game. A cynic might wonder if there were ulterior motives in wanting to keep such tight tabs on us all.

But you don?t have to be up to no good to want to keep your on-line activities to yourself. Why can?t ordinary people be anonymous, too?

?Deep Web Secrecy and Security? uses the secrets of the Deep Web to protect you and your family, your private and business interests, your views and your freedoms.

?The Internet was never conceived to be the preserve of commercial interests. It should not be a hunting ground for law enforcement. The time has come to take back control,? says the book?s author Conrad Jaeger.

This Inter-active e-book with direct links to Surface and Deep Web will show you in simple terms how to:

  • Travel the Deep Web
  • Protect Yourself On-line
  • Set up Secure Communications
  • Avoid Unwanted Attention
  • Blog and Post Anonymously
  • Access Banned Websites
  • Erase & Protect your Activities
  • Upload and Download Secretly
  • Hide and Encrypt Anything
* * * * * *

?

You should be aware that, in my opinion, Deep Web Secrecy and Security gets technical and recommends fixes which may be beyond the skill level of many of us. On the other hand, you may be all right if you apply adequate time and thought to following directions. Or you may want to recruit help to implement several of the recommendations.

But this e-book also contains simple suggestions nearly everyone should be able to perform. For example, it?s a must to install and regularly use good antivirus and anti-spyware software.

Deep Web Secrecy and Security is available from Amazon for Kindle. You can get your copy by clicking on the image of the e-book below. You?ll be taken to the page where it?s featured. Add it to your cart to start the order process.

If you don?t have a Kindle, you can order a PDF version through DeebWebGuides.com

?

?

I?m planning to have Conrad Jaeger on as a DestinySurvival Radio guest in the next few weeks to talk about online security. It?s an issue that needs clarification and perspective.

What do you think? How concerned are you about your privacy online? What steps are you taking to insure Internet security? Leave a comment and let?s discuss it.

?

Source: http://destinysurvival.com/2012/08/15/online-security-how-concerned-should-preppers-be/

dick cheney hcg drops reason rally mad hatter azerbaijan ryan howard ps i love you

Ancient seal mimics biblical Samson tale

An ancient seal slightly smaller than a penny apparently depicts a man fighting a lion, which archaeologists believe could be an early reference to the biblical tale of Samson.

The find doesn't prove that the legendary strongman, who was said to have torn apart a lion as if it were a "young goat," actually lived, but it does "anchor the story in an archaeological setting," said Tel Aviv University archaeologist Shlomo Bunimovitz.

The seal was found at Beth Shemesh, an archaeological site between the ancient cities of Zorah and Eshtaol, about 12 miles (20 kilometers) west of Jerusalem. Archaeologists date the seal to the 12th century B.C.

"If we are right and what we see on the seal is a representation of a man meeting a lion, it shows that the Samson legend already existed around the area of Beth Shemesh during that time period," Bunimovitz said in a statement. "We can date it quite precisely."

  1. Science news from NBCNews.com

    1. Researchers crack retinal code?for artificial vision

      Cornell University researchers have devised a new method for restoring human vision by looking into the way retinal cells communicate with the brain and each other. The result, they claim, is an enormous leap in quality over existing visual prosthetics.

    2. Your dog's no dummy about shaking himself dry
    3. Secret to squid's skin with bling discovered
    4. US population is pi high: 3.14 hundred million

Samson's tale, told in the Book of Judges, is one of cross-border communication and conflict.

According to legend, Samson was of the Dan tribe of Israelites, born near where the Israelite, Philistine and Canaanite borders met. Samson seeks a wife among the Philistine people and is on his way to secure the marriage when he meets the lion and kills it with his bare hands. The marriage engagement goes sour due to a feud between Samson and the bride-to-be's relatives, and ends with Samson slaughtering multiple Philistines and setting fire to their crops using torches tied to the tails of foxes. That story has been depicted in a mosaic dating back to A.D. 400 or 500.

These stories represent the anxiety people felt about the fuzzy borders between their civilizations, according to Zvi Lederman, who co-directs the Beth Shemesh excavations with Bunimovitz.

"When you cross the border, you have to fight the enemy and you encounter dangerous animals. You meet bad things," Lederman said in a statement. "These are stories of contact and conflict, of a border that is more cultural than political."

Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitter @sipappas ? or LiveScience @livescience.? We're also on Facebook ? and Google+.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48661204/ns/technology_and_science-science/

lotto numbers susan powell megamillions winners university of louisville louisville ky final four lotto winners

Paul Ryan's Favorite Band: Rage Against The Machine?

GOP's VP candidate is an avowed fan of fiercely political leftist band, proving that powerful music can be a universal language.
By Gil Kaufman


Paul Ryan and Rage Against The Machine's Zack de la Rocha
Photo: Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1691687/paul-ryan-rage-against-the-machine.jhtml

nick swisher jaco san jose sharks humber perfect game ufc 145 fight card ufc145 chimpanzee

Personal Health: Iron Deficiency and Iron Overload

Iron, an essential nutrient, has long been the nation?s most common nutritional deficiency. In decades past, many parents worried that children who were picky eaters would develop iron-deficiency anemia. My mother boiled meat I refused to eat and fed me the concentrated broth in hopes I?d get some of its iron.

Now baby foods, infant formula and many other child-friendly foods, like breakfast cereals, breads, rice and pasta, are fortified with iron. Today iron deficiency is more likely in infants who are exclusively breast-fed, young children who consume too much milk, menstruating and pregnant women, vegans and strict vegetarians, and people who take medications that cause internal bleeding or interfere with iron absorption.

These days, more attention is being paid to the opposite problem: iron overload, which studies indicate can damage internal organs and may increase the risk of diabetes, heart attack and cancer, particularly in older people.

In examining more than 1,000 white Americans ages 67 to 96 participating in the Framingham Heart Study, researchers found that only about 3 percent had deficient levels of iron in their blood or stored in their bodies, but 13 percent had levels considered too high.

The authors concluded that ?the likely liability in iron nutriture in free-living, elderly white Americans eating a Western diet is high iron stores, not iron deficiency.?

Iron is an essential part of the proteins that transport oxygen in the body. Hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells, accounts for about two-thirds of the body?s iron supply. Smaller amounts are found in myoglobin, the protein that supplies oxygen to muscles, and in enzymes needed for various biochemical reactions.

In addition, a varying amount of iron is stored in proteins that release it to the blood when needed. The more iron that is absorbed from the diet, the higher the level of stored iron. About one person in 250 inherits a genetic disorder called hemochromatosis that increases iron absorption and results in a gradual, organ-damaging buildup of stored iron, although symptoms of the problem usually don?t become apparent until midlife or later.

An Array of Symptoms From Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency can result in a confusing array of symptoms, including fatigue and weakness, poor work performance, increased risk of infections, difficulty keeping warm, lightheadedness, rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath with exercise. Population studies have suggested that people who engage regularly in strenuous exercise, especially adolescents and vegetarians, are at increased risk of developing iron-deficiency anemia.

Iron deficiency is rare in men and postmenopausal women, and most should avoid supplements containing iron to reduce the risk of organ damage from too much iron. Also, if a routine blood test (advisable at least every two years) indicates low iron, experts warn against simply taking an iron supplement. Rather, a doctor should first check for hidden blood loss or impediments to iron absorption resulting from diet habits, medications or chronic health conditions, like colitis or the aftermath of weight-loss surgery.

There are two kinds of dietary iron, heme and nonheme. Heme iron, found only in meat, fish and poultry, is much better absorbed that the nonheme iron found in vegetables, fortified foods, supplements and acidic foods cooked in cast-iron pots. Whereas 15 to 30 percent of heme iron consumed is absorbed, only 5 percent of nonheme iron gets into the blood. To assure adequate iron absorption, some vegans and vegetarians may need to take a supplement.

Various factors can impair or enhance iron absorption. Some vegetables, like spinach (Popeye notwithstanding), contain oxalic acid, which interferes with iron absorption. High-fiber foods like whole grains that contain phytates and foods high in calcium (hence the problem with too much milk) also diminish the amount of iron that enters blood. But the vitamin C and other acids naturally present in fruits, fruit juices and some vegetables increase iron absorption.

In a subsequent study by the Framingham researchers, men and women ages 68 to 93 had the highest levels of stored iron if they consumed red meat four or more times a week, took more than 30 milligrams of an iron supplement daily, or ate more than 21 servings of fruit each week. However, levels were much lower among those who consumed more than seven servings of whole grains each week.

Hazards of Iron Overload

Earlier this year, Nutrition Action Healthletter, published by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, summarized the latest evidence for the effects of excess iron stores.

The problem with too much stored iron is that, short of bleeding, the body can?t easily get rid of it. Menstruating women are unlikely to have a problem, but for others with high stores the recommended treatments include phlebotomy and frequent blood donation. Without these measures, excess iron gets deposited in the liver, heart and pancreas, where it can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, cardiac arrhythmias and diabetes.

These health consequences can develop even in people without hemochromatosis, the genetic disorder, who accumulate very high levels of stored iron. For example, among 32,000 women followed for 10 years in the Nurses? Health Study, those with the highest levels of stored iron were nearly three times as likely to have diabetes as those with the lowest levels. Likewise, among 38,000 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, those who consumed the most heme iron had a 63 percent greater risk of developing diabetes.

Other studies have shown that when people with high levels of stored iron donate blood regularly, their insulin sensitivity and risk of diabetes diminishes.

While the risk of cancer from too much iron is uncertain except in people with hemochromatosis, the known links between high levels of red meat consumption and cancers of the colon and prostate are highly suggestive of an increased risk associated with excessive consumption of heme iron.

As for heart disease, the link found in some studies to high levels of heme iron consumption may reflect the effect of saturated fats from red meat, the richest source of heme iron, more than that of iron itself.

High levels of iron have been found in the brains of people with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer?s, Parkinson?s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig?s disease). But sick brain cells accumulate abnormal levels of minerals like aluminum, so iron in these cases may be an effect of brain disease rather than its cause.

Nonetheless, there are ample health and environmental reasons to limit consumption of red meat to no more than two or three times a week and to focus more on poultry, seafood and plant sources of protein (dried beans and peas, nuts and foods made from them).

Source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=db106a42fe00f8899909afd2a73837fd

x factor results the hobbit movie trailer xfactor frankincense cloudy with a chance of meatballs the hobbit movie hanukkah