Japan priest fights invisible demon: radiation (Reuters)

FUKUSHIMA (Reuters) ? On the snowy fringes of Japan's Fukushima city, now notorious as a byword for nuclear crisis, Zen monk Koyu Abe offers prayers for the souls of thousands left dead or missing after the earthquake and tsunami nearly one year ago.

But away from the ceremonial drums and the incense swirling around the Joenji temple altar, Abe has undertaken another task, no less harrowing -- to search out radioactive "hot spots" and clean them up, storing irradiated earth on temple grounds.

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, some 50 km (31 miles) away, suffered a series of explosions and meltdowns after the massive earthquake and tsunami last March 11, setting off the world's worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl in 1986 and forcing 80,000 people from their homes.

Radiation, carried on winds and by snow, spread far beyond the 20 km (12 miles) evacuation zone around the plant, nestling in hot spots across the region and contaminating the ground in what remains a largely agricultural region.

Many of those who fled have no idea when, if ever, they can return to land held by their families for generations.

"The damage here in Fukushima is different from the destruction caused by the tsunami," Abe said.

"You can't see it. Nothing looks as if it's changed, but really, radiation is floating through the area. It's hard for those hit by the tsunami, but it's hard to live here too."

Last summer, Abe grew and distributed sunflowers and other plants, such as field mustard and amaranthus, in an effort to lighten the impact of the radiation and cheer local residents.

CHANGE OF FAITH

Now he is trading his ceremonial robes for a protective mask, working with volunteers to track down lingering pockets of radiation and cleaning them up.

One participant is Masataka Aoki, a 65-year-old engineer at nuclear plant maker Hitachi for more than 40 years. None of the Fukushima Daiichi reactors were made by Hitachi.

Aoki had long been a believer in nuclear power, but he had a change of faith after the meltdowns and now seeks to assuage a sense of guilt.

"The thing I'd come to believe was good and useful to society turned out to be useless and caused everybody trouble," Aoki said. "I feel a deep sense of remorse."

On a recent weekend volunteers including Aoki looked for radioactive hot spots along a small path which local parents said was mostly used by children on their way to school.

Tests with hand-held Geiger counters yielded results of more than 9 microsieverts per hour, higher than in some areas of the evacuation zone near the plant itself.

Figures from government testing stations within the exclusion zone the same day read between 3.6 microsieverts and 13 microsieverts an hour. A typical chest x-ray is about 20 microsieverts a scan.

Volunteers dig up the earth in any hot spots they find and load the soil into trucks. The surrounding area is then washed down with high-powered hoses.

Abe said he and the other monks are storing the soil on a hill behind the temple as neither the government nor the nuclear plant operator Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) are helping with the clean-up.

"No-one else would take the soil. If there's nobody to take care of it, the decontamination can't get going because there's nowhere to get rid of it," Abe said.

Volunteers have gathered some 400 kg (800 pounds) of radioactive waste.

But it is likely to take years to remove all of the "invisible snow," as Abe describes the radiation -- if that is even possible.

"Real snow is cold but it is much better than the invisible snow. The visible snow will eventually melt away," he said.

(Writing by Elaine Lies; Editing by Michael Perry)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120210/wl_nm/us_japan_disaster_invisible

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What Not to Do on a College Admissions Essays | Articles Observer

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Writing a college essay can be a challenging task, however it may well also be exciting. College essay writing tips usually list hundreds of things you need to do, which may be overwhelming. This list provides you with some ...

Source: http://articlesobserver.com/writing-speaking/what-not-to-do-on-a-college-admissions-essays

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APNewsBreak: Official: 10 states get ed waiver (AP)

WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama on Thursday will free 10 states from the strict and sweeping requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, giving leeway to states that promise to improve how they prepare and evaluate students, The Associated Press has learned.

The first 10 states to receive the waivers are Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Tennessee. The only state that applied for the flexibility and did not get it, New Mexico, is working with the administration to get approval, a White House official told the AP.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the states had not yet been announced. A total of 28 other states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have signaled that they, too, plan to seek waivers ? a sign of just how vast the law's burdens have become as a big deadline nears.

No Child Left Behind requires all students to be proficient in reading and math by 2014. Obama's action strips away that fundamental requirement for those approved for flexibility, provided they offer a viable plan instead. Under the deal, the states must show they will prepare children for college and careers, set new targets for improving achievement among all students, reward the best performing schools and focus help on the ones doing the worst.

In September, Obama called President George W. Bush's most hyped domestic accomplishment an admirable but flawed effort that hurt students instead of helping them. He said action was necessary because Congress failed to update the law despite widespread bipartisan agreement that it needs fixing. Republicans have charged that by granting waivers, Obama was overreaching his authority.

The executive action by Obama is one of his most prominent in an ongoing campaign to act on his own where Congress is rebuffing him. No Child Left Behind was primarily designed to help the nation's poor and minority children and was passed a decade ago with widespread bipartisan support. It has been up for renewal since 2007. But lawmakers have been stymied for years by competing priorities, disagreements over how much of a federal role there should be in schools and, in the recent Congress, partisan gridlock.

For all the cheers that states may have about the changes, the move also reflects the sobering reality that the United States is not close to the law's original goal: getting children to grade level in reading and math.

Critics today say the 2014 deadline was unrealistic, the law is too rigid and led to teaching to the test, and too many schools feel they are labeled as "failures." Under No Child Left Behind, schools that don't meet requirements for two years or longer face increasingly tough consequences, including busing children to higher-performing schools, offering tutoring and replacing staff.

As the deadline approaches, more schools are failing to meet requirements under the law, with nearly half not doing so last year, according to the Center on Education Policy. Center officials said that's because some states today have harder tests or have high numbers of immigrant and low-income children, but it's also because the law requires states to raise the bar each year for how many children must pass the test.

In states granted a waiver, students will still be tested annually. But starting this fall, schools in those states will no longer face the same prescriptive actions spelled out under No Child Left Behind. A school's performance will also probably be labeled differently.

The pressure will probably still be on the lowest-performing schools in states granted a waiver, but mediocre schools that aren't failing will probably see the most changes because they will feel less pressure and have more flexibility in how they spend federal dollars, said Michael Petrilli, vice president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education think tank.

While the president's action marks a change in education policy in America, the reach is limited. The populous states of Pennsylvania, Texas and California are among those that have not said they will seek a waiver, although they could still do so later.

On Tuesday, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said states without a waiver will be held to the standards of No Child Left Behind because "it's the law of the land."

Some conservatives viewed Obama's plan not as giving more flexibility to states, but as imposing his vision on them. Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., who chairs the House Education and Workforce Committee, said the president allowed "an arbitrary timeline" to dictate when Congress should get the law rewritten and set a dangerous precedent by granting the education secretary "sweeping authority to handpick winners and losers."

Duncan maintained this week that the administration "desperately" wants Congress to fix the law.

In an election year in a divided Congress, that appears unlikely to happen.

A Senate committee last fall passed a bipartisan bill to update the law, but it was opposed by the administration and did not go before the full Senate for a vote.

Kline released a draft of a Republican-written bill to update the law, earning the ire of California Rep. George Miller, the committee's ranking Democrat. Miller said such partisanship "means the end" to No Child Left Behind reform in this Congress. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, who chairs the Senate committee with jurisdiction over education, has said he believes it "would be difficult to find a path forward" without a bipartisan bill in the House.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120209/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_no_child_left_behind

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Video: Low Rates, High Profits?

Rates are at historical lows and even though yields have moved higher since last week's strong employment report, the U.S. economy still faces headwinds and uncertainty in Europe remains a concern, with Brian Edmonds, Cantor Fitzgerald, and Dave Rovell...

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/46316210/

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A Take on Furniture Retailers: Schewel ... - Home Improvement Ideas

Posted: February 8th, 2012 | Author: admin | Filed under: Home Furniture | No Comments ?

Furniture choices can be a very tough ordeal for most homes. There is little doubt about the fact that not every furniture variety may suit the structure and set up of homes. There can be a difference in requirement stemming from the absolute nature of the way, a family lives or uses furniture in general. Again, there is another set of complications, which may arise due to a choice of the other d?cor. The last thing that everyone would want, having to make a choice, which drives him or her to ruing it in the coming time. Hence, it depends greatly on a rather definitive bunch of factors. Equally complicated however is choosing the right brand to go for. If that was not enough for the average home, then the location of a retailer may be an equally tough proposition. The Schewel Furniture Company has a take on the same few problems mentioned above. However, the most important question lies in the introduction of the company in the first place.

The Schewel Furniture Company is a rather big household name in Virginia and the areas around it. What makes it even more coveted as a furniture brand is the fact that it serves the average home with some quality furniture and does the same for the office sector as well. A driving factor, according to the Schewel Furniture Company, for most customers to retain brand loyalty towards a particular brand is the obvious customer service or customer care quality levels. Easy availability of service and the imparting of a round of comfort to a customer or prospective customer becomes a determining factor in the choice that the customer subsequently makes. The initial levels of comfort then need to be supplemented in terms of quality of the product on offer. At the end of the day, if a brand doesn?t make the quality cut for its product, then most customers would tend to stay away from purchasing them.

The Schewel Furniture Company has been surviving over the years as a great brand in Virginia because of the fact that they strive persistently to achieve a balance of both. Be it service before the purchase or service after the same, the brand is sworn over by prospective customers and customers respectively. The experience of the personnel makes them privy to helping customers form a solution of several furniture related queries and doubts. The quality of the product is insurmountable in many respects. Hence, a perfect mix of the three is indeed the key to judging a furniture brand and retailer.


Source: http://ceoswb.org/a-take-on-furniture-retailers-schewel-furniture-company.html

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Student Financial loans without having Cosigner ? A Primary to ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]You will find various economic institutions presenting university student loans. The one situation that a student can come across is considered the demands needed for the personal loan. Usually, creditors will grant financial ...

Source: http://sarticles.in/student-financial-loans-without-having-cosigner-a-primary-to-pursue-education/

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'Drill sergeant' boss is killing my confidence - Business Management ...

Question:? ?For three years, I have worked for an attorney who makes me feel like an idiot. He is a former Marine who still has a drill sergeant mentality. His comments are so cutting that I constantly feel defeated and inadequate. Unfortunately, he is completely set in his ways and is not going to change. All his law partners know that he?s difficult, but they won?t do anything because he?s one hell of a lawyer. I?ve been a successful legal secretary for 25 years, but this man has me doubting my abilities. How can I keep my sanity??? ?Worn Down

Answer:
Your boot-camp boss may be quick to criticize and slow to praise, but if you?ve lasted three years, he must be pleased with your work.? Otherwise, you would have been gone long ago. ?

You?re correct to assume that change is unlikely, because demanding, autocratic managers lack insight and resist feedback.? And since this guy is a highly successful partner in the firm, no one else has the leverage to demand better behavior. ?

If you choose to stay, remember that your boss?s caustic comments aren?t personal.? That?s just the way he talks.? Since you won?t be receiving any accolades from him, look for other ways to bolster your self-confidence. ?

But if working for this sharp-tongued lawyer continues to leave you stressed and depressed, begin searching for a boss who will make you feel valued and appreciated. ?

Having a tough time with your manager?? For coping tips, see Five Types of Difficult Bosses.

Source: http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/30010/drill-sergeant-boss-is-killing-my-confidence

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Tips to Help You Eat for Better Nutrition | New Health and Fitness ...

New Health And Fitness.Org - Health Information You Can Use

Nutrition is a very loaded and undefined word. Good nutritious food doesn?t have to taste bad. In fact, it can be quite tasty! Use this advice to improve your eating habits, which will help you to look your personal best.

If you are drinking whole milk, consider making a change. All milk types have the same amount of minerals and vitamins, they just have less fat depending on which percentage you get. This is why you need to switch to fat-free milk, so you can ensure your body is at its peak.

Are salads a staple of your new diet? Keeping cans of beans in your cupboards will give you plenty of ways to make your salads delicious and interesting. You can use beans like garbanzo, kidney, or cannelloni beans to add some more depth to your salad.

Instead of red meat, adding fish to your diet twice weekly is a nutritionally sound choice. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are required for the best brain and blood health. You should try to stay away from certain fish, such as king mackerel, swordfish, shark and tilefish, due to high levels of mercury.

Avoid starting your day with high calorie, sugar-laden baked goods. Instead, opt for healthy alternatives such as hot cereal, whole grain toast or fruit. At breakfast, the old statement ?You are what you eat? really comes into play.

To focus on proper nutrition and feeling healthy, you should not follow diets that restrict the intake of carbohydrates. In fact, carbs are very important for your body?s wellbeing. It is not bad to eat carbohydrates in moderation. If you eat enough carbs, you will feel satisfied and not be tempted to eat again.

A good way to hide veggies is to shred them into other food, such as casseroles or lasagna. Shredded carrots, squash and zucchini add fiber, vitamins and minerals, but these veggies do not change the flavor of your dish. Your family will never know that you are increasing the nutritional value of their meals.

A little creativity in the kitchen can go a long way in teaching children the importance of nutrition. For example, you can cut healthy foods into fun shapes with them using cookie cutters. Your child will appreciate and enjoy eating the food they help prepare more, and they?ll have fun in the process. A child-friendly trail mix is easily concocted by mixing their favorite low-sugar cereal with some dried fruit and nuts.

Kids are notorious for not wanting to eat their vegetables. There are plenty of tricks to get your kid eating healthier foods. One way to get your kids to try them is to offer up veggies they haven?t yet tasted. If they?ve tried carrots and realized they don?t like them, offer something new that they may have not tried yet. Try taking your child with you to the grocery store, and involve him in selecting the vegetable for mealtime. You can also get veggies in your child?s stomach by including them in other foods, such as putting tomatoes and lettuce into a sandwich.

Though toddlers can sometimes be picky eaters, they can still have their daily requirement met if nutritional food is hidden into food they do like. You can use fruits and vegetables in cookies, pancakes and other kid-friendly foods. You can even sneak a few extra servings of vegetables into your child?s meals using juice.

Bib Steele is a well-known author, He used to write the articles and blogs on different topics like health, nutrition, supplements,diet, exercise etc . Checkout his article on MonaVie Review and MLM Lead System Pro

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Source: http://newhealthandfitness.org/2012/02/07/tips-to-help-you-eat-for-better-nutrition/

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Source: http://cofynypov.posterous.com/tips-to-help-you-eat-for-better-nutrition-new

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[OOC] The Demon Descendants

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This topic is an Out Of Character part of the roleplay, ?The Demon Descendants?. Anything posted here will also show up there.

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--> Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.
This is the auto-generated OOC topic for the roleplay "The Demon Descendants"

You may edit this first post as you see fit.

-melle[darkesthour]

User avatar
asylumoftears
Member for 2 years



I would like to reserve a spot if that is feasible' I'm working on stuff right now but I'd like to take a Fallen Angel descendent spot

User avatar
jericho193
Member for 3 years


Are we allowed multiple characters?
If so I'd like a male and female spot reserved please :)

User avatar
Bootsie
Member for 1 years



all reserved:]
^ & Jericho you can make whatever character you want

User avatar
asylumoftears
Member for 2 years


Awesome, thanks so much! I'll have my character in by tomorrow at the latest.

User avatar
Bootsie
Member for 1 years


I'll have my character in today!~

Just editting her pic a bit. :3 To make her seem more boy-ish.

User avatar
KuruLesperance
Member for 1 years



may I reserve a male spot? incubus...

User avatar
blackwolf
Member for 1 years



Post a reply

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Average Maine heating oil price rises 1 cent (AP)

AUGUSTA, Maine ? The average price for home heating oil in Maine has risen one cent from last week to $3.72 a gallon.

The results of the weekly survey were released on Monday.

Statewide, prices ranged from a high of $4.07 in central Maine to a low of $3.48 in the southwestern and western part of the state.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/energy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120207/ap_on_bi_ge/us_heating_oil_prices_maine

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