Why the dino-dolphins got the bends

See a great white shark while scuba diving, and you'll want to flee, even if surfacing quickly may cause decompression sickness ? the bends. In the dinosaur era, marine reptiles had a similar problem.

The dolphins of their day, ichthyosaurs were marine reptiles that breathed air and swam at high speeds. But if they moved from deep to shallow water too fast, dissolved gases in their blood formed bubbles, impeding circulation and causing damage ? evident in their scarred bones.

Ichthyosaurs from the late Jurassic and Cretaceous suffered the bends, says Bruce Rothschild at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, but it was not clear if their Triassic predecessors did too.

Analysing thousands of ichthyosaur fossils from all three periods, Rothschild and his team found that virtually none from the Triassic got the bends, compared with 15 to 20 per cent for the later periods.

Why were later ichthyosaurs more prone to the bends? Rothschild says the rise of big marine predators in the Jurassic could have been to blame: the ichthyosaurs may have got the bends while fleeing for their lives.

Journal reference: Naturwissenschaften, DOI: 10.1007/s00114-012-0918-0

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Wheat jumps again on worries about dry weather

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The Biggest Villains Behind Today's Student Loan Crisis | Kiwi ...

Submitted by Elena Verlee with OnlineColleges.net

Student loan debt has now reached $1 billion, and the situation has gotten so bad that there are Americans who are having their Social Security checks garnished to pay off outstanding loan debt. Meanwhile, recent graduates sit in a precarious position of underemployment, combined with doubling rates and rising monthly bills as their loans are sold from one lender to another. It?s clear that we?ve reached a crisis point. But what got us here?

There are several places where we can lay blame: colleges, for becoming so expensive and ignorant of student finance; the government, for restrictive policies and inflating prices with student aid; private lenders with predatory tactics; and even students for allowing themselves to get in too deep. The fault lies not with just one, but all of these student loan villains, who have all done their part to bring us to a very real point of trouble. Read on to learn in detail how each of these groups has played a role in the destruction of student loans.

Colleges
Although students, Congress, and banks are catching a lot of flack for the student loan crisis, many are pointing out that the high cost of college that creates the need for so many mind-blowing loan bills is the real problem.

Cato Institute research shows it costs just $8,000 a year to educate an undergrad at the average residential college, while most students pay double that: $16,000 at public universities and $37,000 at private ones.

What?s making up this major discrepancy? Multimillion dollar sports programs, glowing recreational facilities, excessive administration, and tenured faculty who may or may not actually be teaching are the most likely culprits.

It seems that colleges can raise their prices because they know they?ll get paid one way or another, whether it?s through grants, scholarships, loans, government contributions, or endowments. Colleges raise tuition, get more aid, and raise tuition again in a vicious cycle that is not at all beneficial to students.

Financial Aid Offices
Whether the heart of the problem lies with price of education or not, it seems that colleges aren?t doing a whole lot to make student loans a responsible process. Financial aid offices aren?t known as places that will gently point out to students that perhaps they?ve gotten in over their heads, even though they often have a full picture of just how bad a student?s financial situation has become.

Financial aid offices are in a great place to assess the financial situations of students and give them a reality check before they get in too deep. But it sure doesn?t seem like colleges want to do that. Some, like NYU?s VP of Enrollment Randall Deike, believe that it would be ?completely inappropriate? for universities to take on such a role, as ?some families will do whatever it takes for their son or daughter to be not just at N.Y.U., but any first-choice college.? Others may be hesitant to point out the problem, as it will likely send students to a different, cheaper college and push down enrollment numbers.

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tom Harkin are working on a solution to this problem, introducing a bill to require that colleges offer counseling to students who are seeking private student loans.

The Federal Government
Government intervention into student finance has been well-intentioned, but produced disastrous results. US News and World Report points out that the federal goals of making a college education within reach, while requiring that debts ultimately be repaid certainly seem reasonable and noble, but have not exactly worked out as planned. Where there was once a $2,500 annual limit on federal student loans, there?s now a $31,000 limit for four years.

As the federal government pumps out more financial aid to help students afford college, colleges find that they can charge more for tuition, making education less affordable. And just about everyone can take out a student loan, giving colleges no incentive to keep costs down while students continue to rack up five-figure loan bills just to get a four-year degree. Even if students declare bankruptcy in the future their student loan debt lives on, as the government has deemed that student loans are not dischargeable.

Beginning in 2014, student loan forgiveness laws will go into effect, capping federal loan payments at 10% of a student?s income, and forgiven after 15 years. This is excellent news for the future, but it doesn?t do a whole lot to help out those who are struggling today. Loans can be deferred, but ultimately, they must be paid.

Lenders
The government isn?t the only one handing out student loans like candy. Once students reach the limit on what they can borrow through federal student loans, they can turn to private lenders with much less favorable terms, but the same non-dischargeable debt. This fills the gap between what the government will provide, and what students need to actually pay for school, but it?s a dangerous situation to be in.

Students with private loans are often subject to having their loans sold and terms changed, which can alter their loan payments by hundreds of dollars per month. These loans are convenient for students who need them to get through school, but their existence is highly problematic.

Lenders like Sallie Mae and Wells Fargo have been accused of making subprime loans to student borrowers, not taking into consideration the risks behind these loans. They?ve given money to students attending schools with low graduation rates, students who may or may not actually finish school, get a job, and have the means to pay back their student loan. What happens then? They just sell off the debt, or, get a government bailout to cover the losses.

The five biggest private student loan lenders have made profits reaching well into the billions, but at the same time, were able to get a $112 billion bailout from the government for loans that could no longer be sold.

Students and their families
We hate to blame the victims, but we have to ask: what exactly did students think they were getting into? Why didn?t parents save? Many programs exist. Obviously, many students feel that they don?t have a choice, and student loans, even subprime ones, often mean the difference between getting a college degree and not going to school at all (or worse, dropping out halfway).

With big plans to get a great job after graduation, we?re sure that most students feel confident that they?ll be able to pay their student loan bills off without a whole lot of trouble. But why aren?t students more wary of taking on so much debt, especially with poor job prospects?

We have to point out that there are often situations in which students could have acted more responsibly, and must bear some of the blame for our unfortunate student loan situation. It is possible to graduate college without debt, even if your parents haven?t saved one red cent.

Enrolling at an in-state public college, starting out in community college, hunting down scholarships, picking up part-time work and paid internships, and even living at home are all major ways that students can make their school bills more manageable. Would we be in this situation if more students availed themselves of these options rather than taking a blind leap of faith right into crushing debt?

Ultimately, many parties are responsible for the student loan crisis. As we reach a point of decision, it will be interesting to see if and how colleges, Congress, lenders, and students themselves make a change for the better.

Image Source: Finance Fox

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Romney releases first general election TV ad

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks at the River City Brewing Company, Thursday, May 17, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks at the River City Brewing Company, Thursday, May 17, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

(AP) ? Mitt Romney's first general-election TV commercial promises he would introduce tax cuts and approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline on the first day of his presidency.

The Republican candidate released the ad Friday, coupling it with a fundraising pitch. The 30-spot is upbeat, in contrast to an ad President Barack Obama is running that criticizes Romney as a businessman. Romney has called the Obama ad "character assassination."

In Romney's commercial, his first since becoming the presumptive nominee, an announcer asks: "What would a Romney presidency be like?"

"Day One: President Romney immediately approves the Keystone pipeline, creating thousands of jobs that Obama blocked," the announcer declares, referring to a pipeline Obama has delayed. Republicans insist his decision shows Obama's hostility toward the energy industry.

"President Romney introduces tax cuts and reforms that reward job creators, not punish them," the announcer says, repeating a familiar Republican theme.

Then, in an effort to ease conservative skepticism, the announcer says: "President Romney issues order to begin replacing Obamacare with common-sense health care reform."

As governor of Massachusetts, Romney signed into law a health care overhaul that was a model for Obama's health care law. Conservatives loathe the law's requirement that individuals purchase health insurance or face penalties.

Romney does not speak in the ad. But it shows video and still photos of Romney appearing with U.S. workers, underscoring the campaign's central pitch that Romney is the best candidate to improve the economy.

The ad ignores Congress' role in fulfilling these promises, especially on the health care law. A full repeal would require votes from Republican majorities in both the House and Senate or Democratic support for repeal. Republicans currently control the House and have voted to repeal the law. But Democrats control the Senate, and the balance of power on Capitol Hill would have to shift in order to make Romney's pledge a reality.

Congress also would have to act on taxes. The president cannot set tax rates.

Data provided to The Associated Press from TV stations and media buyers shows Romney is spending $1.3 million to air the ad in Iowa, North Carolina, Virginia and Ohio, all critical battleground states. The campaign also released a Spanish language version of the ad.

The campaign has not aired commercials since Romney's top Republican challenger, Rick Santorum, dropped out of the race for president in April.

Several conservative super PACs have stepped in instead, to air ads attacking Obama.

___

Associated Press writer Beth Fouhy in New York contributed to this report.

Associated Press

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How Many Daily Downloads Does It Take To Reach The Top Of The App Store?

app_store_rankingsIt's hard to underestimate how important ranking in Apple's top 25 in the iTunes store is for mobile app developers. After all, the top 25 is what one of the most important app discovery mechanisms for iOS users. But how many downloads does it take to make it into the top 25? Mobile analytics firm Distimo today published some interesting data that answer just this question. Turns out, in the U.S. store, the answer currently is about 38,400 daily downloads for free apps and 3530 for paid apps. To rank in the top 25 per category, of course, takes significantly fewer downloads, with games?unsurprisingly?being the most competitive category. It takes 25,300 daily downloads to rank in the gaming top 25 for free apps and 2280 downloads for paid apps.

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Who is responsible for Information Risk Management? | Ascentor

Who is Responsible for Information Risk Management?

Good question.

Information risk is the classic slopey shoulder issue ? the corporate ?hot potato? that is often lobbed at the IT department when the risks go far beyond their remit.? This approach can leave an organisation vulnerable, with the result that information risks are not really managed at all.

So, who should be responsible for Information Risk Management? The short answer in our view is ?everybody?. In a well-implemented Information Risk Management system, everyone has responsibility to ensure this is applied and effective: from IT to HR, from finance to individual business managers and staff on the ground.

But the ultimate responsibility must surely lie with the Board. Even though information risk affects all areas of a business it is often not prioritised at top level. It?s the Board?s duty to weigh up the corporate risks and benefits, aligning the goals of IT and the business for a balanced information risk management stance and approach.

We urge every business to see Information risks as business risks, with a top-down mandate and company-wide control.

Responsibilities of the Board

So if the Board is going to own information risk what steps do you need to take?

  • Make a firm commitment to managing information risk: develop an information risk management strategy that sets out principles, roles, responsibilities and a sound system of internal controls (your ?security architecture?).
  • Prepare an Information Risk Register: a good mechanism for identifying and treating risks.
  • Provide policies (as required by international security standards) to give direction to employees. These policies will define your position on all aspects of information security and these policies are at the heart of your management of risk.

If your organisation is serious about protecting its valuable information have a look at the Ascentor Information Risk Action Plan.


Article by?Dave James, MD of Ascentor

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Twitter Now Honors Mozilla?s Do Not Track Feature

twitter logoMozilla's Do Not Track feature, which allows users to tell websites that they would like to opt-out of being tracked by third parties, is starting to gain some traction among both users and publishers. According to new data shared by Mozilla today, 8.6% of Firefox desktop users and 19% of mobile users now turn this opt-in feature on. The latest company to announce?that it will honor Do Not Track is Twitter.

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Team Building Activities ? Enhance Employee Determination ...

In the corporate world, the most pressing issue is employee attrition. People are switching their jobs quickly. From a firm?s point of view, this is rather detrimental to progress. It is because over a period of period, you usually invest a lot in terms of coaching and tacit expertise in an worker. Thus, as he leaves your company, you get rid of a valuable source. Also the dilemma arrives if you want to hire fresh employees to switch the elderly ones. They?re going to have to be appointed, selected, trained and then used on various obligations. All these stuff has a cost that come with them. This is why firms these days are endeavoring very hard to improve the motivation levels among staff, and to ingrain in them a feeling of loyalty and belongingness towards the company.

Corporate events for team building

Corporate events are all about this specific these days. Should your company is intending to organise several, you must ensure that they are performed extremely smoothly, without any snags. This is the reason the reason why you must take into account hiring the help of a good event management company. These companies are usually professionals within organising different corporate team building events. These kind of events provide your employees a break from the work they have to perform routinely. Additionally, they teach staff the value of doing its job a crew, and ingrain in them a feeling of loyalty and trust for the company.

Team development activities

Team development exercises organised by these companies aim at inculcating one of many teams a feeling of commitment and understanding. These kind of exercises help members of a new team make new friends between them, and understand each other better. Additionally, they help staff understand the worth of working as a new team, and what can occur if folks give their individual egos and needs more relevance. This is accomplished with many amazingly inventive team building issues, like barrier courses which in turn teams ought to accomplish collectively. Only when they work together and synergise, they will be capable to win. It?s a lot of fun, and your staff will enjoy each and every minute as they definitely learn a great deal.

Fun team building games and parties

Team development games, which in turn mainly purpose towards glaciers breaking and try to teach staff the importance of successful communication, are loved simply by all kinds of staff. Your employees will likely be asked to enjoy simple video games and execute group routines which will require them to work collectively. Some examples because of this include making a collage. A business team building exercising like this is quite effective, for the innovative and non-pressurising, non-boring style.

The most loved are usually themed events. Simple themes or templates may be directed at employees, which are hilarious and fun. These kind of parties help employees be comfortable with their superiors, and enjoy several light occasions. These task days will likely be extremely well cherished by your staff, and they will anticipate it each year. With such revolutionary team building ideas, you can help the productivity of the employees really greatly.

Gavin Evans has been a professional coach for 11 years & been studying expert improvements with things to do in dublin as part of his involvement from Creative Ideas Group ,a new innovative team for creative people. Read more about his things to do in dublin website to find out about his corporate team building activities tips over the years.

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