Everyone Likes a Good Skate

The tiny tot skating class members really force me to think. This week's big question from a little one was "how many kinds of skating do you know?"

Thanks to this job, I have learned that the roller sports disciplines that originally interested me are not the only activities that are called skating, there are many ways to skate and a lot of athletes are called skaters.??The ice skaters inspired a need to skate on dry land, quad skaters have many skating styles, skateboarders usually call themselves skaters ?- and iceboarding, snowboarding, skiing and other snow skating sports call their activities skating even though the equipment used to "skate" over the surface is not a traditional pair of skates.

The list of activities and disciplines included in the inline version of skating continues to grow around the world. Take a look at the new and old roller sports that motivate people to inline skate today:

• Recreational inline skating includes a variety of activities that are suitable for skaters of all ages and many skating levels.
• Inline fitness skating is more goal-oriented skating to achieve medical, mental or physical benefits.
• Street and road skating are organized group events on public thoroughfares and smooth paved roads.
• Speed skating and inline racing are recognized as competitive disciplines around the world.
• Marathon skating events are taking place on every continent.
• Freestyle slalom skating lets you dance and spin around cones.
• Dryland skating or inline figure skating is very similar to ice figure skating.
• Inline hockey skating is a popular year-round sport at amateur, scholastic, and professional levels.
• Inline roller soccer is a unique version of regular soccer.
• Roller cricket athletes play all batting, bowling and fielding positions on roller skates.
• Roll ball is becoming a popular school sport.
• Inline basketball is an easy roller sport to develop.
• Aggressive and stunt skating includes jumps, grinds, slides and flips.
• Urban inline skating is a great activity for young or young-at-heart thrill-seekers.
• Skate cross is an aggressive ramp and obstacle course race on inline or quad skates.
• Off road and all terrain skating combines mountain biking and skiing with inline skating.
• Nordic inline skating is also called cross-skating or Nordic blading.
• Kite skating is an extreme inline-based roller sport.
• Wind skating or skate sailing is a wind powered inline sport.
• Downhill racing is similar to the Alpine downhill ski racing.

Everybody loves a good skate (activity) and wants to be called a skater, even when they are airborne. You can't do them all, but I am sure there is something here for you.

Photo ? Serega, iStockphoto.com

Source: http://inlineskating.about.com/b/2012/10/31/everyone-likes-a-good-skate.htm

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Infrared vision in a cichlid fish

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Biologists from the University of Bonn have discovered that the cichlid fish Pelvicachromis taeniatus can see in the near infrared range; this was thought to be unlikely until now. Seeing in the infrared range is apparently helping fish to hunt in shallow African rivers. The results will be published in the journal "Naturwissenschaften" and are already available online now.

A research team in the work group of Prof. Dr. T. C. M. Bakker at the Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, has been studying the biology of the African cichlid fish Pelvicachromis taeniatus for years.

Researchers conducted a prey choice experiment

Researchers investigated the ability to see in the infrared range using a classical prey choice experiment. P. taeniatus also feeds on small crustaceans, such as freshwater shrimp. These prey animals reflect near infrared radiation. The researchers used this fact to examine the perception of infrared light. In a dark room a prey selection experiment was set up illuminated by infrared lamps. In front of the water basin containing the fish freshwater shrimp were offered in two separate chambers. One of the chambers with the prey was covered with a filter blocking infrared wavelengths. The other chamber was covered with a filter that would let only infrared light pass. "Consequently, the fish were only able to perceive the freshwater shrimp in one chamber in the near infrared range" explains Dr. |Sebastian Baldauf, one of the scientists involved in the study.

Physiologists thought that seeing in the near ir range would be unlikely

The experiment showed that the fish spent more time and were more frequently in front of the chamber that let infrared light pass. "The fish detect their prey based on infrared radiation alone" reports the biologist from the University of Bonn. "Until now, physiologists thought that noise levels in the near-infrared range were too high to allow visual perception." As the experiment has shown, the fish were capable of perceiving prey in a wavelength range above 780 nanometers. It is well-known that snakes can perceive far infrared radiation at longer wavelengths above 2,000 nanometers. "But they don't use their eyes for this purpose; instead they have a heat-sensitive pit organ," says Dr. Baldauf. Human eyes are not capable of seeing infrared radiation.

Seeing infrared is useful in the natural habitat

The advantage of the fish's ability to see infrared may become obvious when you look at its natural habitat. The shallow rivers of West Africa have a relatively large amount of infrared radiation. "That's exactly why it makes sense to use infrared cues for detecting prey organisms," explains Dr. Baldauf. "It is a clear selective advantage if you can perceive additional signals that others cannot perceive." It is quite likely that other animals also have evolved a perception of near-infrared radiation, e.g. for hunting or orientation, such as other fishes or birds. The researchers from the University of Bonn now want to study more closely the physiology of infrared vision, and to what extent infrared radiation is relevant in other contexts.

Infrared radiation in partner selection?

When performing color measurements on these fish the researchers found that certain regions of the cichlid body reflect the light in the near-infared range. "We found that females reflect infrared radiation from their belly region, and males from their fins" says Dr. Baldauf. The female belly is important for mate choice, and the fins are displayed during aggressive encounters between males. "Perhaps near-infrared signals play a role in visual communication in this species" says the biologist. "And that's what we additionally would like to study in further experiments."

###

Denis Meuthen, Ingolf P. Rick, Timo Th?nken, Sebastian A. Baldauf: Visual prey detection by near-infrared cues in a fish, "Naturwissenschaften", DOI: 10.1007/s00114-012-0980-7

University of Bonn: http://www.uni-bonn.de

Thanks to University of Bonn for this article.

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

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/124900/Infrared_vision_in_a_cichlid_fish

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New E-Reader Display Aims at Video and Color

A new prototype e-reader display offers a small window into the future of these evolving devices. It's able to show new pages quickly enough to play videos, and its white background is brighter than a magazine's white pages ? an important component for making color e-readers, says the prototype's lead creator, engineer Jason Heikenfeld.

The prototype paves the way for e-readers that combine the best of readers and tablet computers, along with some abilities neither technology has. E-readers in the future could be very thin and light, show colors and videos, use little battery and be easy to read in sunlight, said Heikenfeld, who leads the Novel Devices Laboratory at the University of Cincinnati and conducts research for an e-reader display company, Gamma Dynamics. [SEE ALSO: Will Tablets Kill E-Readers?]

"If you want to make something like an iPad you can roll up and put in your pocket, this is the type of technology that can enable that type of breakthrough," Heikenfeld told TechNewsDaily.

The prototype Heikenfeld and his Cincinnati colleagues made would still need years of work before it shows up in a roll-able tablet. It usually takes years of continued research and funding from investors to turn a research advance into a consumer product, Heikenfeld said.

In a paper they published today (Oct. 30), Heikenfeld and his colleagues reported on their new display, which shows black-and-white images, is about 6 inches wide and has a resolution of 150 pixels per inch. The most basic Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook display just fewer than 170 pixels per inch.

Whiter and faster

The new e-paper is made with a white, plastic sheet that's 10 times thinner than a sheet of paper. The plastic is coated with aluminum, to help it reflect light better, and it's pricked with pores that are invisible to the naked eye.

To show text or images, the display pushes ink from behind the white sheet, through the pores and onto the front of the sheet. This type of movement is usually much faster than the technology that switches pixels between black and white in Kindles, Nooks and other e-readers on the market, Heikenfeld said. "You typically switch over a 100 times faster over similar distances," he said.

Heikenfeld's display is able to change what it shows about 67 times a second, which is fast enough for videos.

The aluminum-coated plastic sheet also better hides black ink behind it than current e-reader displays. That's the key to its brighter white background. Heikenfeld compared basic e-reader displays to thinly painted white walls that still show some of a darker paint job underneath. "If you have a black wall in your house and you want to paint it white, you know one coat won't do it," he said.

That bright white not only makes for a display that looks more like glossy magazine pages, it could help researchers create e-readers that show color. Of course, the liquid crystal displays on tablets already show color, but they do so by shining colored lights out of the screen. E-readers, on the other hand, create colors by reflecting incoming light. They use much less power, are easier to read in sunlight and are thinner than LCDs.

Adding color inks to e-readers darkens their displays, Heikenfeld explained. By making a whiter display to start with, the Novel Devices Lab's technology builds in a cushion for the darkening effects of color inks, he said.

"Now you're starting to capture a lot of the advantages you have in an iPad screen, but you can see in it in sunlight," Heikenfeld said.

Grayscale and color next

The Novel Devices Lab is now trying to show grayscale images using their new display tech, Heikenfeld said. Gamma Dynamics is working on displaying color.

Another important next step will be to make larger versions of the display. "Our goal is to make this on a roll. We're talking about a roll 8 to 12 inches wide," Heikenfeld said.

He and his colleagues published their work in the journal Nature Communications.

This story was provided by TechNewsDaily, sister site to LiveScience. You can follow TechNewsDaily staff writer Francie Diep on Twitter @franciediep. Follow TechNewsDaily on Twitter, or on Facebook.

Copyright 2012 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/e-reader-display-aims-video-color-164838717.html

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Smith almost perfect, 49ers flatten Arizona 24-3

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) ? Three touchdown passes, one incomplete pass.

Not a bad night for Alex Smith, and it could have been better, considering that the one incomplete pass was dropped by a wide-open receiver.

The San Francisco quarterback completed 18 of 19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns ? two to Michael Crabtree and one to Randy Moss ? to help San Francisco flatten the Arizona Cardinals 24-3 on Monday night.

"Eighteen of 19, I have never seen that," 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. "How important for your quarterback to play very well? It is very important and I don't know how you play much better. It was a fantastic game by him."

Arizona defensive tackle Darnell Dockett could hardly believe what Smith had done.

"Everyone's surprised. My 5-year-old son's surprised," Dockett said, "but at the end of the day it wasn't like he had to make the long perfect throws. He had some guys open and we missed some tackles and they made plays."

Smith said he had no idea his stats were that good.

"Which is a good thing," he said. "I don't want to think about my stats or incompletions or anything like that. I was kind of in a good rhythm, the whole offense was. "

Smith has withstood more than his share of criticism he was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft in 2005. He was not interested in calling this a statement performance.

"At this point I don't care," he said. "if you ask me a few years ago, yeah maybe, but at this point I don't really care. I am concerned about winning. The guys in the locker room know what I am about and that is what really matters."

As for reports he had lost his confidence, Smith said, "It was in my closet. I found it."

Smith was 14 of 15 for 146 yards and two touchdowns, both to Crabtree, as the 49ers built a 17-0 halftime lead.

Moss caught a 47-yard TD pass, dodging tacklers down the sideline on a play that seemed to turn back the clock to the receiver's prime. With the catch, he tied Terrell Owens for fourth on the NFL career touchdown list with 156.

Smith, who tied a career high with the three touchdown passes, spread out his completions to 10 receivers. Crabtree led the way with five catches for 72 yards.

Arizona's defense, supposed to be the team's strength, missed tackle after tackle in an embarrassing nationally televised performance at home. The 24 points were the most allowed by the Cardinals this season.

"This was a big test for us, and everyone saw how it went," Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "It was disappointing to say the least."

Quarterback John Skelton called the loss "embarrassing" and "humiliating."

Led by Smith's near-perfect precision passing, the 49ers methodically dominated from the start. He had the best completion percentage of his career, and he would have been perfect had Delanie Walker not dropped the ball when he was wide open on a crossing route in the first half.

A 10-play, 77-yard drive that consumed just over 6 minutes of the first quarter put San Francisco up 7-0. On third-and-goal from the 3, Smith threw a sidelines pass to Crabtree, who outfought Patrick Peterson for the ball and the touchdown.

A flurry missed tackles, most notably an open-field whiff by Sam Acho, helped Ted Ginn Jr. return a punt 35 yards to the Arizona 45 in the second quarter. Daryl Washington sacked Smith to help set up a third-and-23 from the Arizona 46. But Smith found Crabtree over the middle for 22 yards, just a yard shy of the first down. David Akers' 43 yard field goal made it 10-0 with 5:58 left in the half.

Crabtree beat Peterson again for San Francisco's second touchdown. Smith threw over the middle to the receiver, who caught the ball, then fooled Peterson with an inside move into the end zone to make it 17-0 with 1:41 left in the half. The 49ers drove 68 yards in eight plays, again overcoming a sack, this one by Calais Campbell, that made it second-and-goal from the 16. Smith threw 7 yards to Mario Manningham to set up the TD toss to Crabtree.

The Cardinals were booed off the field by the home crowd at the half.

Things didn't get any better for the home team in the third quarter. On third-and-9, Smith threw 30 yards to Crabtree, who evaded a host of tacklers. Then on third-and-8, Smith tossed a short pass to Moss, who sidestepped a series of would-be defenders all the way to the end zone, putting San Francisco ahead 24-0 with 7:27 left in the third quarter.

The Cardinals averted a shutout with Jay Feely's 28-yard field goal

John Skelton, making his second start since Kevin Kolb went down with rib injuries, completed 32 of 52 passes for 290 yards, often overthrowing receivers. The Cardinals rushed for just 7 yards in nine attempts against the 49ers, who entered the game as the No. 1-ranked defense in the NFL, No. 2 against the run.

Arizona's final possession ended when Larry Fitzgerald was stopped at the 1.

Notes: The roof was open at University of Phoenix Stadium, a rarity for Cardinals games. ... San Francisco C Daniel Kilgore left the game in the first quarter with a concussion. ... Washington had two sacks, giving him eight for the season. ... In its two nationally televised night appearances this season, against St. Louis on a Thursday and San Francisco on Monday, Arizona was outscored 41-6. ... The 49ers improved to 3-1 on the road, winning their last two away from home by a combined 55-3. ... Only Jerry Rice (208), Emmitt Smith (175) and LaDainian Tomlinson (162) have more touchdowns than Moss. ... Justin Smith had two of San Francisco's four sacks. ... The 49ers have a bye this week. The Cardinals are at Green Bay on Sunday.

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

___

Follow Bob Baum at www.twitter.com/Thebaumerphx

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/smith-almost-perfect-49ers-flatten-arizona-24-3-034121129--spt.html

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Learn to Love Self Coaching: Self Improvement and Success go ...

Everything that happens to us happens in purpose. And sometimes, one thing leads to another. Instead of locking yourself up in your cage of fears and crying over past heartaches, embarrassment and failures, treat them as your teachers and they will become your tools in both self improvement and success.

I remember watching Patch Adams ? its my favorite movie, actually. Its one great film that will help you improve yourself. Hunter ?patch? Adams is a medical student who failed to make it through the board exams. After months of suffering in melancholy, depression and suicidal attempts ? he decided to seek for medical attention and voluntarily admitted himself in a psychiatric ward.? His months of stay in the hospital led him to meeting different kinds of people. Sick people in that matter. He met a catatonic, a mentally retarded, a schizophrenic and so on. Patch found ways of treating his own ailment and finally realized he has to get back on track. He woke up one morning realizing that after all the failure and pains he has gone through, he still want to become the a doctor. He carries with himself a positive attitude that brought him self improvement and success. He didn?t only improved himself, but also the life of the people around him and the quality of life. Did he succeed? Needless to say, he became the best damn doctor his country has ever known.

So, when does self improvement become synonymous with success? Where do we start? Take these tips, friends?
*Stop thinking and feeling as if you?re a failure, because you?re not. How can others accept you if YOU can?t accept YOU?

*When you see hunks and models on TV, think more on self improvement, not self pitying. Self acceptance is not just about having nice slender legs, or great abs. Concentrate on inner beauty.

*When people feel so down and low about themselves, help them move up. Don?t go down with them. They?ll pull you down further and both of you will end up feeling inferior.

*The world is a large room for lessons, not mistakes. Don?t feel stupid and doomed forever just because you failed on a science quiz. There?s always a next time. Make rooms for self improvement.

*Take things one at a time. You don?t? expect black sheep?s to be goody-two-shoes in just a snap of a finger. Self improvement is a one day at a time process.

*Self improvement results to inner stability, personality development and dig this ?. SUCCESS. It comes from self confidence, self appreciation and self esteem.

* Set meaningful and achievable goals. Self improvement doesn?t turn you to be the exact replica of Cameron Diaz or Ralph Fiennes. It hopes and aims to result to an improved and better YOU.

*Little things mean BIG to other people. Sometimes, we don?t realize that the little things that we do like a pat on the back, saying ?hi? or ?hello?, greeting someone ?good day? or telling Mr. Smith something like ?hey, I love your tie!? are simple things that mean so much to other people. When we?re being appreciative about beautiful things around us and other people, we also become beautiful to them.

*When you?re willing to accept change and go through the process of self improvement, it doesn?t mean that everyone else is. The world is a place where people of different values and attitude hang out. Sometimes, even if you think you and your best friend always like to do the same thing together at the same time, she would most likely decline an invitation for self improvement.

We should always remember that there?s no such thing as ?over night success?. Its always a wonderful feeling to hold on to the things that you already have now, realizing that those are just one of the things you once wished for. A very nice quote says that ?When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.?? We are all here to learn our lessons. Our parents, school teachers, friends, colleagues, officemates, neighbors? they are our teachers. When we open our doors for self improvement, we increase our chances to head to the road of success.

Source: http://learntoloveself.blogspot.com/2012/10/self-improvement-and-success-go-hand.html

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Source: http://allenmohamed9985.typepad.com/blog/2012/10/learn-to-love-self-coaching-self-improvement-and-success-go.html

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Iran orchestra finale rings of hard-line pressure

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ? It was a VIP audience for what was likely the last performance of the venerable Tehran Symphony Orchestra. Watching from the front row in late August was Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in what was seen as an endorsement from the ruling theocracy, which once tried to stamp out all music as a violation of Islamic values.

Just two months later, the musicians are out of work, funding has run dry and a nearly 80-year-old institution that survived wars, coups and the 1979 Islamic Revolution was declared Tuesday in an apparently irreversible "coma" by media.

The apparent tipping point was financial. It could be counted as collateral damage from Western sanctions that have left Iran's economy so stressed that authorities are considering banning exports of staples such as rice and wheat in order to boost emergency stockpiles.

"We are currently facing a financial drought," Parliament speaker Ali Larijani told a group of officials Monday. "We will have a more difficult year ahead."

The full story of the orchestra's demise likely runs deeper. In a time of escalating showdowns with the West over Iran's suspect nuclear program, the opposition of Iran's clerical leadership toward anything deemed as too Western is gaining strength.

"Musicians have had no support in recent years," said Saba Radman, a music journalist and critic. "They feel very disillusioned."

The Tehran orchestra ? by far the oldest and biggest of several concert hall-style ensembles in Iran ? was often an easy target of hard-liners because of its roots during the era of the Western-backed monarchy toppled by the Islamic Revolution. During its heyday in the 1960s and 70s, it hosted performances by world famous musicians such as violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin.

The orchestra fell further from favor during a European tour after the riots triggered by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election in 2009. Opposition supporters in Europe used the concerts as forums to denounce Iran's ruling system and flash the green wrist bands and scarves that symbolized the protest movement.

Meanwhile, Islamic conservatives ? including forces within the powerful Revolutionary Guard ? have reclaimed influence since the widespread crackdowns on reformists and can even exert muscle over Supreme Leader Khamenei. Cultural groups outside direct state control, such as the Tehran orchestra, have often come under suspicion as potential liberal-leaning havens. In January, authorities closed down the House of Cinema, an independent film group that operated for 20 years.

"Many concerts have been canceled by local authorities over the past years, but the Culture Ministry raised no objections," said Radman.

Hamid Shahabadi, the deputy culture minister in charge of artistic affairs, acknowledged some delays in payments for musicians while insisting that the orchestra has not been disbanded, but he indicated that its musicians need to look for work elsewhere.

He suggested some could be absorbed into a planned state-run institution that would oversee all remaining orchestras. Those concentrate heavily on traditional Persian music.

Iran's Islamic authorities tried to ban all music in the early years of the Islamic Revolution, claiming it violated strict Muslim tenets. The clerics eventually relented, but, as recently as 2005, Ahmadinejad tried unsuccessfully to outlaw Western music on state-run television and radio.

At the same time, the Tehran Orchestra performed Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 ? drawing criticism from some conservatives because the piece was associated with liberals and secular groups during the early years of the Islamic Revolution.

A year later, it brought more grimaces from Islamic authorities for its program in Germany that included Tchaikovsky's Overture to "Romeo and Juliet" and Beethoven's Seventh Symphony ? with a snippet of "Dog Breath Variations" by American rock impresario Frank Zappa slipped in.

In late August, the orchestra may have played its last piece ? the Iranian national anthem ? at the opening of the Nonaligned Movement summit, which Iranian officials billed as a world gathering to challenge the economic pressures of the West over Tehran's nuclear program.

Orchestra members told the semiofficial ILNA news agency Monday that they have not rehearsed together or been paid for three months. An experienced musician may receive just 6 million rials, or less than $200 a month at the current exchange rates ? below an average taxi driver's pay ? and must supplement income through other performances or professions.

"Many (Iranian) artists are working as taxi drivers, office secretaries and accountants" rather than focusing on their profession, singer Fazel Jamshidi was quoted by the semiofficial Mehr news agency.

Arsalan Kamkar, a violinist in the orchestra, told The Associated Press on Monday that "only seven or eight members of the orchestra have valid contracts. Unfortunately, the rest have not had contracts over the past months, and it seems unlikely their contracts will be extended."

Kamkar said the shutdown highlights the dislike for Western-oriented culture by Iran's rulers, who are also sitting on one of the world's prized collections of European and American modern art.

In August, the Museum of Contemporary Art displayed about 100 works purchased by the late shah and his family ? including pieces by Andy Warhol, David Hockney and Jasper Johns. But most of the collection ? works by Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Francis Bacon and many others ? remains in vaults and basement storage.

___

Karimi reported from Tehran, Iran.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iran-orchestra-finale-rings-hard-line-pressure-153826315.html

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It's Money-Time! How to Focus on Profit in the Era of Distractions ...

Posted by Carla Young on October 29, 2012 ? Leave a Comment?

Consider how you spend your day, your week, your month. Think about how much of your time is spent on ACTUAL revenue generating activities compared to all the time spent chasing potential opportunities (even better, use a time tracker to document exactly how you spend your time).

Chances are you spend less time than you think.

So where does all the time go? A good guess is a big chunk of it is frittered away with administrative tasks, all the necessary to-do?s that have to get done to keep your business clogs turning. Another huge time-drain is all the activities that lead up to the profit: generating leads, prospecting, working on strategic relationships (and yes, social media).

Now imagine what would happen if you could cut through all the other stuff and focus solely on moneymaking tasks. How much would your business grow if only you had more time to dedicate to pursuing profit? What could you do with a more profitable enterprise?

The purpose of Momentum Monday is to help you focus on momentum building activities. In essence, to energize your week starting every Monday and get you focused on core activities and away from deadly distractions. Nothing is more important to the success of your business than profit.

How to Focus on Profit in the Era of Distractions

The best way to avoid distractions is to know exactly what you need to focus on. Start by establishing a hierarchy of activities to guide how you spend your time, placing revenue-generating activities at the top.

Money Time ? Spend the majority of your time on direct moneymaking activities. What this looks like ultimately depends on your business. For example, if you are a coach or consultant, this is your billable time spent working with clients. If you have a product business, this is the time spent selling.

Handling Billing ? Consider this a close second to money time. This is the time you spend making sure that all the necessary paperwork is in order to get paid. Billing should be your first priority when you aren?t directly working on money time.

Closing Sales ? Getting new customers or clients to sign on the dotted line is your next priority. It?s important not to confuse closing with generating new leads, which comes further down the list. Focus first on the prospects who are almost through your sales funnel and ready to make a decision.

New Proposals ? A step further down the sales funnel, generating new proposals is a key profit activity. Don?t fall the ?Too busy? trap and neglect your proposals. Make the time to get those interested leads pricing information!

Lead Generation ? Bringing new leads into your sales funnel is a key activity; however, beware: it is a very broad category and not every activity counts as true lead generation. Focus first on activities that bring you guaranteed leads, like attending your networking breakfast or reaching out to past clients.

Pursuing Potential ? Creating or pursuing potential opportunities is the last category because it?s the farthest from actual money time. While still important, note that it often turns into a distraction when it comes before other priorities.

About Carla Young
Carla Young, MOMeoMagazine.com Publisher If there?s living proof that women can have it all ? and then some ? it?s Carla Young. Building her multiple businesses on a virtual work-at-home model, Carla is an inspiration to other mothers who want to start a lifestyle business. During her early days as a mom entrepreneur, Carla made every single mistake in the book (and a few new ones for good measure). Realizing that ?doing it all? was unhealthy and unsustainable, Carla started by getting organized to the extreme, developing support systems for both her work and family. After other mothers started asking how they too could enjoy her lifestyle, Carla launched MOMeoMagazine.com to support moms at work, at home and at play (because every mommy deserves a little me-time)!

Source: http://www.momeomagazine.com/its-money-time-how-to-focus-on-profit-in-the-era-of-distractions/

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Weekly Climate and Energy News Roundup | Watts Up With That?

Brought to You by SEPP (www.SEPP.org) The Science and Environmental Policy Project

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Quote of the Week: ?It is in the admission of ignorance and the admission of uncertainty that there is a hope for the continuous motion of human beings in some direction that doesn?t get confined, permanently blocked, as it has so many times before in various periods in the history of man.? Richard Feynman [H/t Roger Cohen]

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Number of the Week: 70%

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THIS WEEK:

By Ken Haapala, Executive Vice President, Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP)

APS: In 2007 the American Physical Society (APS) issued an absolutist statement on Climate Change that greatly disturbed a number of its senior fellows. In 2009, about 300 physicists petitioned the APS petitioned to modify the statement. The statement was not modified, but augmented with a lengthy addition. The turmoil continues. Roger Cohen, a Fellow of the Society has posted on the web site of Anthony Watts his expression of dissatisfaction with the APS. This has led to an exchange with Warren S. Warren. The exchange is an excellent read on what is wrong when a few in a science society take an absolutist position concerning a subject that requires open investigation and debate. Please see links under APS Frontline.

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PBS Frontline: The Public Broadcasting System aired a special on its ?Frontline? series titled ?Climate of Doubt.? The first part consisted of interviews and clips of those who express skepticism to the view that human emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), especially carbon dioxide (CO2), are causing unprecedented and dangerous global warming. This was followed by interviews with alarmists who were presented as the mainstream scientists. Certainly the alarmists are mainstream in that they are the ones who receive extensive government support. Later, in private comments, Fred Singer thought his interview was well presented, especially when compared with presentations in the past. The views of others varied. Roy Spencer was disturbed because part of his head and comments were used in the trailer, but he was not interviewed for the program.

Perhaps more revealing of the entire episode was a Live Chat on Thursday afternoon with those who organized the program. They were the film?s producer, Catherine Upin, the correspondent, John Hockenberry, and the ?resident expert?, Elizabeth Kolbert, of the New Yorker. Prior to the chat, SEPP submitted three questions on topics covered. One was the frequently cited 97 to 98% percent of climate scientists ?consensus? claims, which are based on extensively manipulated of opinion polls, making the results trivial. The second was on the recent statement from HadCRU that there has been no appreciable increase in temperatures for 16 years, a period in which the models project an increase of about 0.3 deg C (over 0.5 deg F). What would it take for journalists to realize there are major problems with the climate models and the 90 to 99% certainty is based on opinion not rigorous science? The third question focused on the constant, largely unsubstantiated claims that oil companies are funding skeptics and the failure of journalists to report the extent of government funding of the alarmists.

During the Live Chat, SEPP submitted four comments. One on the burden of proof ? climate alarmists have not performed adequate testing of a hypothesis on CO2 caused global warming. A second challenging a statement that the poll appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science was peer reviewed, but it is trivial nonetheless. The third comment challenged the ?resident expert? Elizabeth Kolbert who stated: ?A very interesting look at the connections between the tobacco industry and the climate ?skeptic? industry can be found in the book Merchants of Doubt.? The response challenged Ms. Kolbert to read and comment on Fred Singer?s rebuttal to this book?s ad hominem attacks.

But most revealing was a comment by correspondent John Hockenberry:

?The saddest thing about this story is that we heard mostly absolute certainty and dismissive confidence among our skeptic friends while it was our scientist friends were quick to say that doubt is how science is conducted, people questioning each other?s work all the time. The doubt of the scientists was always real but was always about how much we know about the planet and need to know not about the trend of global warming.

Their search for truth and quest to challenge each other?s findings was exploited as ?debate? and ?uncertainty? by people in the political world. In some ways the scientists didn?t have a chance in this battle? but that is my personal opinion and some of our scientists would not have agreed with me.?

To which SEPP inquired: did you ever ask the climate establishment scientists why the IPCC declared a 90 to 99% certainty in the models and their findings? The 90 to 99% certainty was in the EPA endangerment finding and was accepted by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Given the slow pace, and the long pauses in the program, it was obvious tough questions of these global warming / climate change expert journalists would not be aired. Also, it was apparent the opinion polls weigh heavily on these expert journalists.

The saddest thing about this story is the blatant irresponsibility of PBS to understand the story. Please see links under PBS Frontline.

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ADDENDUM: Months ago Patrick Michaels announced he and a few collogues are preparing a point by point rebuttal to the report by the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP): Global Climate Change Impacts in the US (2009). Along with the 2007 report be the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and a report by National Research Council, the USGCRP report provide the foundation for the EPA questionable finding that GHG, particularly CO2, emissions endanger human life and welfare. Now alarmists are outraged that the advance copies of the new report, ADDENDUM: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States looks like the previous report. The CATO imprint on the back cover is apparently overlooked by the alarmists. Please see link under Challenging the Orthodoxy.

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US Overtaking Saudi Arabia in Oil? Some analysts are projecting that the US will overtake Saudi Arabia in oil production in the near future ? around 2020. Others object to these statements stating they are based on statistical sleights of hand. Whether or not the US (or North America) overtakes Saudi Arabia is not that important. What is important is that thanks to modern hydraulic fracturing of dense shale and offshore drilling (whenever permitted), oil production in the US is expanding greatly. Since production costs in the US remain high, there is doubt if the era of ?cheap oil? will return in the near future. Oil is traded on the global market, and US production influences that market but does not determine it. The lower cost producers that have significant capability of expanding are more influential determinants, such as Saudi Arabia.

Some economists are questioning the belief that affordable energy is vital for economic growth. Certainly, affordable energy is not a sufficient condition for economic growth. That is, other conditions, or components, are needed. For example, oil is heavily subsidized in Egypt and Iran, but they are not experiencing significant growth. But under proper conditions, affordable energy can promote growth. For example, affordable energy is vital to modern agriculture. Modern fertilizers need oil or natural gas feedstock. Areas of the US where natural gas is low cost and appears to be affordable for a long term are experiencing significant growth, which the country as a whole is not.

External costs are other complications added by economists to the issue. Sometimes these are real, such as in cities in the US in the 20s. But, economic growth allowed the country to devote significant resources to clean up these external costs. Now, in the US external costs are largely exaggerated, such as by the EPA. Please see links Energy Issues ? US and Articles # 2 and # 3.

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EPA on the Verge: A number of commentators, including Fred Singer, are expressing concern about the plans of EPA immediately after the election on November 6. It is clear that EPA has held back proposed regulations that are highly controversial. Please see Article #1, #3 and #5, and links under EPA and other Regulators on the March

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Oh? Mann: Michael Mann has sued the National Review Online and the Competitive Enterprise Institute for defamation and ?intentional infliction of emotional distress.? (from the Washington Post.). The complaint states that: ?? Mr. Man and his colleagues were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.? and ?? personal defamation of a Nobel prize recipient.?

The award was given to the IPCC, not personally to Mr. Mann, who was a participant in the IPCC. Some may consider the distinction to be just a technicality, just as some consider the body of research on climate history that was buried Mr. Mann?s hockey-stick as just a technicality. Mr. Mann may find that he will face questions that are a bit more strident than asked by the Penn State officials who he claims exonerated his research. Please see links under Oh Mann!

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Storm?s A?coming: According to forecasts, the Mid-Atlantic States are about to be hit by a large storm with low category 1 hurricane winds. (Category 1 wind speed 75?95 mph (65?82 kts, 33?42 m/s), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffir%E2%80%93Simpson_Hurricane_Scale). The moon is almost full, so tidal areas may experience a strong storm surge on top of spring (flood) tides which could result in significant coastal erosion and flooding. Already some alarmists are associating the storm with global warming / climate change. Please see links under Changing Weather and Below the Bottoms Line.

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Amplifications and Corrections: Tom Sheahen correctly stated that the conversion for PgC/yr to Billions of tonnes of CO2 per year is by multiplying by 3.67. TWTW left out the Billions.

Clyde Spencer correctly suggested that TWTW should not use the term ocean acidity unless the pH is actually below 7. This will be followed to the extent possible.

Norman Kalmanovitch pointed out that the period of no warming in the HadCRU data, as stated in the article by David Rose, started in the year the Kyoto Protocol became effective, 1997. The goal of the Protocol was to stop global warming and it did! If one jumps to causal relationships, one could state the Kyoto Protocol was the most effective international agreement ever.

TWTW incorrectly quoted Angeline Purdy of the Department of Justice as stating: ?The models have been validated.? The quote came from imperfect personal notes. A subsequent check of the transcript (which is not available on the web) failed to reveal such a direct statement. Ms. Purdy argued that the models have been validated, at length, but did not make such as simple statement. TWTW will endeavor not to make such a mistake in the future.

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Number of the Week: 70%. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, in the US the cost of natural gas is about 70% of the cost of manufacturing nitrogen fertilizer. As the cost of this component comes down, its percentage share will come down as well.

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ARTICLES:

For the numbered articles below please see this week?s TWTW at: www.sepp.org. The articles are at the end of the pdf.

1. Obama?s EPA Plans for 2013

By S. Fred Singer, American Thinker, Oct 25, 2012

http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/10/obamas_epa_plans_for_2013.html

2. Cheap Natural Gas Gives New Hope to the Rust Belt

By Ben Casselman and Russell Gold, WSJ, Oct 24, 2012

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444549204578020602281237088.html?mod=ITP_pageone_0

3. The Real Stimulus: Low-Cost Natural Gas

The impact of the U.S. energy revolution is only beginning. It is already providing a foundation for a domestic renaissance in manufacturing.

By Daniel Yergin, WSJ, Oct 22, 2012

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444734804578062331199029850.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion

4. The Obama Storm Tax

The EPA turns its unsubtle charms on cities. Get ready to pay.

Editorial, WSJ, Oct 22, 2012

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444799904578052673425236066.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_AboveLEFTTop

5.EPA, Water and Value for Tax Money

By Grant Weaver, Letter, WSJ, Oct 24, 2012

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204425904578074911131525782.html?mod=ITP_opinion_1

[SEPP Comment: All too often, in its edicts, EPA has no concept of cost.]

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NEWS YOU CAN USE:

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Science: Is the Sun Rising?

NASA Study Using Cluster Reveals New Insights Into Solar Wind

By Karen C. Fox for Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt MD (SPX) Oct 25, 2012

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NASA_Study_Using_Cluster_Reveals_New_Insights_Into_Solar_Wind_999.html

Climategate Continued

Hiding the Decline

By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Oct 26, 2012]

http://www.bishop-hill.net/hiding-the-decline/

[SEPP Comment: Announcing Montford?s new book on the Climategate affair.]

Challenging the Orthodoxy

Review of Cato?s ADDENDUM: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Oct 26, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/26/review-of-catos-addendum-global-climate-change-impacts-in-the-united-states/

No Underlying Global Warming in Recent Years

By David Whitehouse, GWPF, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.thegwpf.org/no-underlying-global-warming-in-recent-years/

Defending the Orthodoxy

EU on track for Kyoto and 2020 emissions targets

By Staff Writers, Paris (AFP), Oct 24, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/EU_on_track_for_Kyoto_and_2020_emissions_targets_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Longer recessions result in fewer emissions.]

From Discovery, To Solution, To Evolution: Observing Earth?s Ozone Layer

By Laura Betz for Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt MD (SPX), Oct 26, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/From_Discovery_To_Solution_To_Evolution_Observing_Earths_Ozone_Layer_999.html

Questioning the Orthodoxy

Polar Bear Propaganda in Context: A Useful Tool for the Promotion of Environmental Hysteria and Politicized Science

By Tim Ball, A Different Perspective, Oct 26, 2012

http://drtimball.com/2012/it-occurred-to-me-global-warming-is-another-undelivered-government-promise-polar-bear-propaganda-in-context-a-useful-tool-for-the-promotion-of-environmental-hysteria-and-politicized-science/

?It occurred to me ?.. ? Global warming is another undelivered government promise.

[SEPP Comment: Exposing some of the fears instilled by the global warming alarmists.]

A scientist?s open mind snaps shut

By Tony Thomas, Quadrant, Oct 22, 2012

http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2012/10/a-scientist-s-open-mind-snaps-shut

Climate and State High Temperature Records?Where?s the Beef?

By Steve Goreham, Weissman Report, Oct 24, 2012

http://weissmanreport.com/2011-08-04-18-06-26/item/2321-climate-and-state-high-temperature-records%E2%80%94where%E2%80%99s-the-beef?

IPCC Author Becomes Green Party Apparatchik

A lead author of the IPCC?s ?hard science? section is a Green Party candidate and deputy leader.

By Donna Laframboise, NFC, Oct 26, 2012

http://nofrakkingconsensus.com/2012/10/26/ipcc-author-becomes-green-party-apparatchik/

Overrated: Nicholas Stern

By Myron Ebell, Standpoint, Nov 2012 [H/t Cooler Heads]

http://standpointmag.co.uk/overrated-november-12-nicholas-stern-myron-ebell-stern-review-climate-change

[SEPP Comment: A poor economic analysis continues to distort the current economic picture ? a classic example of what is wrong with the logical fallacy of the appeal to authority.]

Questioning European Green

Lies, Damn Lies And Green Statistics

By Daniel Wetzel, Die Welt, Oct 25, 2012 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.thegwpf.org/lies-damn-lies-and-green-statistics/

Almost all predictions about the expansion and cost of German wind turbines and solar panels have turned out to be wrong ? at least by a factor of two, sometimes by a factor of five.

What Germany can learn from the Nordic Energiewende

By Paul Hockenos, European Energy Review, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.europeanenergyreview.eu/site/pagina.php?email=ken@haapala.com&id_mailing=320&toegang=320722549d1751cf3f247855f937b982&id=3910

[SEPP Comment: The integration of the electricity production and transmission is not easy and requires flexibility.]

Another cost of shale gas denial

By Nick Grealy, No Hot Air, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.nohotair.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2667:the-other-cost-of-shale-gas-denial&catid=172&Itemid=170

Cost of CO2 rules risk more UK energy price hikes

UK carbon costs could top 2 bln pounds in 2013

* Environmental costs to make up bigger portion of bills

By Susanna Twidale, Reuters, Oct 26, 2012 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/26/britian-power-carbon-idUSL5E8LQANM20121026

Questioning Green Elsewhere

Time to embrace climate heresy?

By Des Moore, Quadrant, Oct 24, 2012

http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2012/10/time-to-embrace-climate-heresy

?Sustainability?: Politics Above Both Science and Economics

By Marita Noon, Energy Tribune, Oct 26, 2012

http://www.energytribune.com/64049/sustainability-politics-above-both-science-and-economics

Expanding the Orthodoxy

Climate change threatens marine environment in the Baltic Sea

By Staff Writers, Gothenburg, Sweden (SPX), Oct 23, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Climate_change_threatens_marine_environment_in_the_Baltic_Sea_999.html

[SEPP Comment: More research needed.]

Helping North America?s marine protected areas adapt to a changing climate

By Staff Writers, Tampa FL (SPX), Oct 26, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Helping_North_Americas_marine_protected_areas_adapt_to_a_changing_climate_999.html

[SEPP Comment: They have been adapting to changing climate for millions of years.]

Problems in the Orthodoxy

EU fails to agree Kyoto negotiating position

By Dave Keating, European Voice, Oct 26, 2012 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/2012/october/eu-fails-to-agree-kyoto-negotiating-position/75527.aspx

Seeking a Common Ground

What is Wrong with Embellishing Science?

By Roger Pielke Jr, His Blog, Oct 26, 2012

http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-is-wrong-with-embellishing-science.html

[SEPP Comment: It is becoming more obvious that constant exaggeration is not working.]

Italian seismologists: guilty(?)

By Judith Curry, Climate Etc, Oct 23, 2012

http://judithcurry.com/2012/10/23/italian-seismologists-guilty/#more-10268

Italian scientists sentenced to jail in quake trial

By Staff Writers, L?Aquila, Italy (AFP), Oct 22, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Italy_scientists_sentenced_to_jail_in_quake_trial_999.html

APS Frontline

More turmoil at the American Physical Society over their statement on the global warming issues

By Roger Cohen, posted by Anthony Watts, Oct 22, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/22/more-turmoil-at-the-american-physical-society-over-global-warming-issue/

The APS Topical Group on the Physics of Climate: reply to Roger Cohen

By Warren S. Warren, WUWT, Oct 24, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/24/the-aps-topical-group-on-the-physics-of-climate-reply-to-roger-cohen/

Reply to Warren Warren

By Roger Cohen, WUWT, Oct 25, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/25/reply-to-warren-warren/

PBS Frontline

Climate of Doubt about PBS?s Objectivity

By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Oct 24, 2012

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2012/10/climate-of-doubt-about-pbss-objectivity/

Heartland comments on FRONTLINE ?Climate of Doubt?

By Joe Bast, WUWT, Oct 24, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/24/heartland-comments-on-frontline-climate-of-doubt/

The ?Media Academic Complex? on display at PBS tonight

By Christopher Horner, WUWT, Oct 23, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/23/the-media-academic-complex-on-display-at-pbs-tonight/

PBS Frontline: Climate of Doubt

By Lubos Motl, Reference Frame, Oct 25, 2012

http://motls.blogspot.com/2012/10/pbs-frontline-climate-of-doubt.html#more

Climate of Doubt

Live Chat, Oct 25, 2012,

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/environment/climate-of-doubt/live-chat-2-p-m-et-thursday-inside-the-climate-wars/

Why did PBS FRONTLINE electronically alter the signature of one of the world?s most distinguished Physicists in their report ?Climate of Doubt??

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Oct 25, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/25/why-did-pbs-frontline-electronically-alter-the-signature-of-one-of-the-worlds-most-distinguished-physicists-in-their-report-climate-of-doubt/

Communicating Better to the Public ? Exaggerate, or be Vague?

Scientists Denounce Dubious Climate Study by Insurer

By Axel Bojanowski, Spiegel, Oct 23, 2012 [H/t ICECAP]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/scientists-denounce-dubious-climate-study-by-insurer-munich-re-a-862857.html

Americans use more efficient and renewable energy technologies

Anne M Stark for LLNL News, Livermore CA (SPX), Oct 26, 2012

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Americans_use_more_efficient_and_renewable_energy_technologies_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Higher gasoline prices and the prolonged recession also contribute to less energy use. Compared to that, the increase in renewable use is almost insignificant.]

Communicating Better to the Public ? Make things up.

Oysters? future imperiled as oceans turn more acidic

?Going to be winners and losers ? We?ll have to adapt what we?re eating?

By Katharine Gammon, MSNBC, Oct 11, 2012 [H/t Gordon Fulks]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49378149/ns/us_news-environment/t/oysters-future-imperiled-oceans-turn-more-acidic/#.UIm3YcU1_cg

[SEPP Comment: The upwelling mentioned in the article is a natural process. The oceans are not turning acidic.]

Climate linked to conflict in East Africa, study finds

By Jon Bardin, LA Times, Oct 22, 2012

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-climate-change-linked-to-conflict-in-east-africa-20121022,0,1078149.story?track=rss

Contrary To What You Hear, Global Warming Has Been Good To Africa

By James Taylor, Forbes, Oct 25, 2012

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamestaylor/2012/10/25/contrary-to-what-you-hear-global-warming-has-been-good-to-africa/

[SEPP Comment: See link immediately above. It was during a period of cooling that the Sahara began expanding about 8000 to 5000 years ago.]

Changing Weather

Frankenstorm Sandy Approaches

By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Oct 26, 2012

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2012/10/frankenstorm-sandy-approaches/

Hurricane Sandy (Atlantic Ocean)

NASA Sees Hurricane Sandy as the ?Bride of Frankenstorm? Approaching U.S. East Coast

By Rob Gutro, Hal Pierce, & Marshall Shepherd, Press Release, NASA, Oct 26, 2012 [H/t WUWT]

http://www1.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/archives/2012/h2012_Sandy.html

Monster Halloween Storm in the cards ? second year in a row

By Joseph D?Aleo, ICECAP, Oct 25, 2012

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joes-blog/monster_halloween_storm_in_the_cards_second_year_in_a_row1/

Where did that El Nino go? Wiped out by unprecedented cool shift?

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Oct 25, 2012

http://joannenova.com.au/2012/10/where-did-that-el-nino-go-wiped-out-by-unprecedented-cool-shift/#more-24435

UK experiences ?weirdest? weather

By Roger Harrabin, BBC, Oct 18, 2012 [H/t Rob Sheldon]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19995084

[SEPP Comment: Could it be that new schemes for flood defenses generate more demands for these defenses?]

Heatwave kills thousands of birds ? this was climate change in 1932

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Oct 23, 2012

http://joannenova.com.au/2012/10/heatwave-kills-thousands-of-birds-this-was-climate-change-in-1932/#more-24413

Changing Sea Ice

Opposite Behaviors? Arctic Sea Ice Shrinks, Antarctic Grows

By Staff Writers, Science Daily, Oct 23, 2012 [H/t Anne Debeil]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121023172212.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+?+Top+Environment%29

[SEPP Comment: Lack of uniformity is not a sufficient reason to dismiss global warming. But the lack of uniformity was one reason the IPCC dismissed the Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age.]

Antarctic weight loss seems to be in the eye of the beholder

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Oct 22, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/22/antarctica-weight-loss-program-seems-to-be-slowing/

New understanding of Antarctic?s weight-loss

By Staff Writers, Newcastle UK (SPX), Oct 23, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/New_understanding_of_Antarctics_weight_loss_999.html

Changing Earth

2012 Antarctic Ozone Hole Second Smallest in 20 Years

By Staff Writers, Greenbelt MD (SPX) Oct 25, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/2012_Antarctic_Ozone_Hole_Second_Smallest_in_20_Years_999.html

Agriculture Issues & Fear of Famine

Rice agriculture accelerates global warming

By Staff Writers, Davis CA (SPX), Oct 25, 2012

http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Rice_agriculture_accelerates_global_warming_999.html

Overall, the rice paddy experiments revealed that increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere boosted rice yields by 24.5 percent and methane emissions by 42.2 percent, increasing the amount of methane emitted per kilo of rice.

Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC

For a full list of articles see www.NIPCCreport.org

How Earth?s Coral Reefs Respond to Atmospheric CO2 Enrichment

Reference: Hughes, T.P., Baird, A.H., Dinsdale, E.A., Moltschaniwskyj, N.A., Pratchett, M.S., Tanner, J.E. and Willis, B.L. 2012. Assembly rules of reef corals are flexible along a steep climatic gradient. Current Biology 22: 736-741.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2012/oct/23oct2012a2.html

[SEPP Comment: Life is flexible, not fixed.]

2000 Years of Extra-Tropical Northern Hemispheric Temperatures

Reference: Christiansen, B. and Ljungqvist, F.C. 2012. The extra-tropical Northern Hemisphere temperature in the last two millennia: reconstructions of low-frequency variability. Climate of the Past 8: 765-786.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2012/oct/23oct2012a3.html

Environmental Change and Potential Trophic Mismatches

Reference: Appelhans, Y.S., Thomsen, J., Pansch, C., Melzner, F. and Wahl, M. 2012. Sour times: seawater acidification effects on growth, feeding behavior and acid-base status of Asterias rubens and Carcinus maenas. Marine Ecology Progress Series 459: 85-97.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2012/oct/24oct2012a1.html

The Impact of Atmospheric Aerosols on North Atlantic Climate

Reference: Booth, B.B.B., Dunstone, N.J., Halloran, P.R., Andrews, T. and Bellouin, N. 2012. Aerosols implicated as a prime driver of twentieth-century North Atlantic climate variability. Nature 484: 228-232.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2012/oct/24oct2012a2.html

[SEPP Comment: Questioning the certainty of IPPC?s 90 to 99 % certainty.]

The Political Games Continue

US presidential debates? great unmentionable: climate change

No mention of global warming for the first time since Congress was briefed on the threat in 1988

By Suzanne Goldenberg, Guardian, UK, Oct 23, 2012 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/oct/23/us-president-debates-climate-change

Presidential candidates right to ignore climate change

By Tom Harris, Canada Free Press, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/50497

Obama energy team circulates memo to greens on climate

By Ben Geman, The Hill, Oct 23, 2012

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/263339-memo-to-activists-were-talking-about-climate-

Will The Election Continue To Give Our Fossil Energy Industries A Big Bird?

By Larry Bell, Forbes, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2012/10/23/will-the-election-continue-to-give-our-fossil-energy-industries-a-big-bird/

Litigation Issues

Legal Liability for Bad Scientific Forecasts in the United States

By Roger Pielke Jr, His Blog, Oct 24, 2012

http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2012/10/legal-liability-for-bad-scientific.html

Mischaracterizations of the L?Aquila Lawsuit Verdict

By Roger Pielke Jr, His Blog, Oct 22, 2012

http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2012/10/mischaracterizations-of-laquila-lawsuit.html

Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Taxes

Pollution tax stokes Australian inflation

By Staff Writers, Sydney (AFP), Oct 24, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Pollution_tax_stokes_Australian_inflation_999.html

Carbon Tax: Will Tweedle Dum Snatch Defeat From the Jaws of Victory?

By Marlo Lewis, Forbes, Oct 25, 2012

http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/10/25/carbon-tax-will-tweedle-dum-snatch-defeat-from-the-jaws-of-victory/

EPA and other Regulators on the March

The EPA Is Moving The Goalposts, Even After The Game Has Started

By Merrill Matthews, Forbes, Oct 18, 2012

http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2012/10/18/the-epa-is-moving-the-goalposts-even-after-the-game-has-started/

Political, legal problems for next president piling up at the EPA

By Mark Tapscott, Washington Examiner, Oct 25, 2012, [H/t Cooler Heads]

http://washingtonexaminer.com/political-legal-problems-for-next-president-piling-up-at-the-epa/article/2511714?utm_source=Washington%20Examiner:%20Opinion%20Digest%20-%2010/26/2012&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Washington%20Examiner:%20Opinion%20Digest#.UI

Levin Legal Group Sues EPA For Records Of Controversial Regs Delayed Until After Election

By David James, CNS News, Oct 23, 2012 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://cnsnews.com/blog/david-james/levin-legal-group-sues-epa-records-controversial-regs-delayed-until-after-election

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The EPA?s Planned Destruction of the U.S. Economy

By Alan Caruba, Warning Signs, Oct 23, 2012

http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-epas-planned-destruction-of-us.html

EPA grapples with climate effects of palm oil in fuel

By Ben Geman, The Hill, Oct 24, 2012

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/263867-epa-grapples-with-climate-effects-of-palm-oil

[SEPP Comment: To meet US greenhouse standards, EPA will determine permitted palm oil standards!]

EPA anti-energy regulations killing jobs

Bogus green schemes harm Americans

By Paul Driessen, Washington Times, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/23/epa-anti-energy-regulations-killing-jobs/

Energy Issues ? Non-US

Alberta to monitor oil sands

By Staff Writers, Edmonton, Alberta, (UPI) Oct 19, 2012

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Alberta_to_monitor_oil_sands_999.html

The Green Pipeline: U.S. donors pump hundreds of millions into Canadian groups opposed to the Keystone XL pipeline

By Brian Seasholes, Capital Research, Oct, 2012 [H/t Cooler Heads]

http://www.capitalresearch.org/2012/09/the-green-pipeline-u-s-donors-pump-hundreds-of-millions-into-canadian-groups-opposed-to-the-keystone-xl-pipeline/

Perverse environmentalist oil sands ethics

By Paul Driessen, Canada Free Press, Oct 24, 2012

http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/50548

China rare earths giant halts output for a month

By Staff Writers, Shanghai (AFP), Oct 24, 2012

http://www.spacemart.com/reports/China_rare_earths_giant_halts_output_for_a_month_999.html

Energy Is Everywhere

By Kenneth P. Green, The American, Oct 24, 2012

http://www.american.com/archive/2012/october/energy-is-everywhere

Energy Issues ? US

US may soon become world?s top oil producer

By Jonathan Fahey, AP, Oct 23, 2012

http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-10-23-US%20Oil%20Boom/id-15afe4569b714cb680b0f3fe2be4fbeb

US to Overtake Saudi Arabia? Skewing the Oil Stats

By Jen Alic, Oil Pirce, Oct 25, 2012

http://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/US-to-Overtake-Saudi-Arabia-Skewing-the-Oil-Stats.html

[SEPP Comment: See link immediately above.]

America at Energy Crossroads, Part 2

By Donn Dears, Power for USA, Oct 26, 2012

http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/america-at-energy-crossroads-part-2/

IHS report: Unconventional oil & gas to be economic driver

By Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Fuel Fix, Oct 23, 2012

http://fuelfix.com/blog/2012/10/23/ihs-report-unconventional-oil-gas-to-be-economic-driver/

[SEPP Comment: IHS is a global consulting firm.]

The Myth of Affordable Energy ? Interview with Ed Dolan

By James Stafford, Oil Price, Oct 16, 2012

http://oilprice.com/Interviews/The-Myth-of-Affordable-Energy-Interview-with-Ed-Dolan.html

Return of King Coal?

Powering Buildings ? A Tale of Two Paradigms

By Mark Mills, Energy Facts Weekly, Oct 22, 2012

http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=29bc7d5d85828d574f86c157a&id=254db64c81&e=

[SEPP Comment: Trying to save energy consumption in a data center is vastly different than trying to save energy in a commercial office building.]

Oil Spills, Gas Leaks & Consequences

Microbes and Nature

American Academy of Microbiology, 2011 [H/t Dennis Ambler]

FAQ: Microbes and Oil Spills, 2011

[SEPP Comment: Is it not time to develop this natural resource to be available for any future oil spills?]

Nuclear Energy and Fears

Radiation and risk

By Martin Livermore, Scientific Alliance, Oct 26, 2012

http://www.scientific-alliance.org/scientific-alliance-newsletter/radiation-and-risk

[SEPP Comment: To many, the actual deaths from the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami are insignificant compared with the suggested deaths from radiation from the nuclear power plants.]

China to resume nuclear power construction

By Staff Writers, Beijing (UPI), Oct 25, 2012

http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/China_to_resume_nuclear_power_construction_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Construction of plants, already started, never stopped. Now new construction will begin.]

Fuel loading at Ningde 1

The first core of nuclear fuel is being loaded at China?s newest power reactor, Ningde 1 in Fujian province. Construction on the unit began less than four years ago.

By Staff Writers, WNN, Oct 19, 2012

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN_Fuel_loading_at_Ningde_1_1910121.html

[SEPP Comment: From start of construction to operation in less that four years is quite an achievement.]

Queensland lifts uranium mining ban

Uranium mining will be allowed in the Australian state of Queensland after the state government overturned 23 years of prohibition. The state has not produced uranium since 1982.

By Staff Writers, WNN, Oct 22, 2012

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-Queensland_lifts_uranium_mining_ban-2210127.html

Virginia can mine uranium safely, responsibly

By Jack Spencer and Katie Tubb, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Oct 15, 2012 [H/t Randy Randol]

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/oped/2012/oct/15/tdopin02-spencer-and-tubb-virginia-can-mine-uraniu-ar-2282660/

Alternative, Green (?Clean?) Solar and Wind

After Federal Jolt, Clean Energy Seeks New Spark

By John Border, NYT, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/business/energy-environment/future-of-american-aid-to-clean-energy.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[SEPP Comment: $90 Billion over 3 years is not enough?]

U.S. Wind Industry Continues to Expand

By Staff, Department of Energy, Oct 23, 2012

http://energy.gov/articles/us-wind-industry-continues-expand

[SEPP Comment: A government agency shamelessly promoting an industry using information from the industry?s lobbying group.]

Study: Wind Generates Electricity When We Need It Least

By Jack Thorlin, Institute for Energy Research, Oct 24, 2012 [H/t Randy Randol]

http://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/2012/10/24/study-wind-subsidies-disproportionately-produce-electricity-when-we-need-it-least/

[SEPP Comment: The weaknesses of wind power uncovered in Europe and elsewhere applies to the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley as well.]

NRG Gets DOI Lease for Wind Farm Offshore Delaware Coast

By Sonal Patel, Power News, Oct 24, 2012

http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/5080.html?hq_e=el&hq_m=2548950&hq_l=5&hq_v=5e660500d0

[SEPP Comment: Would they deliver the goods in the current forecast of a Frankenstorm?]

Layoffs, failures test Colorado?s ?new energy economy?

By Steve Raabe, Denver Post, Oct 22, 2012 [H/t Cooler Heads]

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_21825181/layoffs-failures-test-colorados-new-energy-economy

Twenty Bad Things About Wind Energy, and Three Reasons Why

By John Droz, Jr, Master Resource, Oct 24, 2012

http://www.masterresource.org/2012/10/20-bad-things-wind-3-reasons-why/

[SEPP Comment: An update on the slogans used to sell wind power. Some of the language is imaginative if not accurate, such as ?component liberation? as a term for a blade flying off.]

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Solar Industry Meltdown ? Intersolar China 2012 Tradeshow CANCELLED Due To ?Difficult Market Conditions?!

By P. Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Oct 24, 2012

http://notrickszone.com/2012/10/24/solar-industry-meltdown-intersolar-china-2012-tradeshow-cancelled-due-to-difficult-market-conditions/

[SEPP Comment: Oops!]

Solar power said viable in snowy regions

By Staff Writers, Houghton, Mich, (UPI) Oct 25, 2012

http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Solar_power_said_viable_in_snowy_regions_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Technically viable is significantly different than economically viable.]

Alternative, Green (?Clean?) Energy ? Other

Biodiesel back from the dead as EU drops ILUC factors

By Sonja van Renssen, European Energy Review, Oct 18, 2012 [H/t Anne Debeil]

http://www.europeanenergyreview.eu/site/pagina.php?email=lars.myren@skynet.be&id_mailing=320&toegang=320722549d1751cf3f247855f937b982&id=3908

Commissioners Hedegaard and Oettinger admitted the proposals were ?not perfect? but emphasised the 5% cap on food-based biofuels that did make it into the final proposal. This is supposed to cap conventional biofuel production at current levels. The problem is that this cap is not really a cap, at least not on the production of these biofuels. It is a reporting cap under the EU?s renewable energy directive: member states will only be able to use (and subsidise) food-based biofuels to meet half of a 10% target for renewable energy in transport by 2020.

[SEPP Comment: The clarity of bureaucracy.]

Large-scale production of biofuels made from algae poses sustainability concerns

By Staff Writers, Washington DC (SPX), Oct 25, 2012

http://www.biofueldaily.com/reports/Large_scale_production_of_biofuels_made_from_algae_poses_sustainability_concerns_999.html

Health and Science

Bad ?science? from Harvard

By Staff Writer, ACSH, Oct 25, 2012

http://www.acsh.org/bad-science-from-harvard/

[SEPP Comment: Admirable courage to pull back the study immediately before the press conference.]

Replication, Replication, Replication

By Staff Writers, ACSH, Oct 25, 2012

http://www.acsh.org/replication-replication-replication/

Malaria study challenges warmer world predictions

By Shaoni Bhattacharya, New Scientist, Oct 24, 2012 [H/t Climate Change Weekly]

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22419-malaria-study-challenges-warmer-world-predictions.html

Oh Mann!

Penn State climate professor sues think tank, National Review

By Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/penn-state-climate-professor-sues-think-tank-national-review/2012/10/23/27b92a86-1d4f-11e2-9cd5-b55c38388962_story.html

Professor Mann claims to win Nobel Prize; Nobel Committee says he has not

By Thomas Richard, Washington Examiner, Oct 26, 2012 [H/t Cooler Heads]

http://www.examiner.com/article/professor-mann-claims-to-win-nobel-prize-nobel-committee-says-he-has-not

Breaking: Mann has filed suit against NRO (now the laughing begins)

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Oct 23, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/23/breaking-mann-has-filed-suit-against-nro/

Michael Mann ? never fully investigated, thus never exonerated

By Christopher Horner, WUWT, Oct 23, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/23/michael-mann-never-fully-investigated-thus-never-exonerated/

Environmental Industry

Ocean-fertilization project off Canada sparks furore

Bid to boost salmon stocks relied on hotly debated science and dubious carbon credits.

By Jeff Tollefson, Nature, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.nature.com/news/ocean-fertilization-project-off-canada-sparks-furore-1.11631

A Rogue Climate Experiment Outrages Scientists

By Henry Fountain, NYT, Oct 18, 2012 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/science/earth/iron-dumping-experiment-in-pacific-alarms-marine-experts.html?ref=science&_r=0

Other News that May Be of Interest

Water extraction helped trigger deadly quake in Spain: scientists

By Staff Writers, Paris (AFP), Oct 21, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Water_extraction_helped_trigger_deadly_quake_in_Spain_scientists_999.html

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BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:

Media bozos buy ?cancer bra? hype

By Staff Writers, ACSH, Oct 22, 2012

http://www.acsh.org/media-bozos-buy-cancer-bra-hype/

Speed limits on cargo ships could reduce their pollutants by more than half

By Staff Writers, Washington DC (SPX) Oct 26, 2012

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Speed_limits_on_cargo_ships_could_reduce_their_pollutants_by_more_than_half_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Sailing ships could pollute less.]

Frankenstorm: God?s Latest Warning?

By Ted Glick, Grist, Oct 26, 2012

http://grist.org/article/frankenstorm-gods-latest-warning/

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Source: http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/29/weekly-climate-and-energy-news-roundup-68/

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Long-oppressed Kurds get taste of freedom

Danny Gold

A new member of the Kurds' Popular Protection Units (YPG) stands in front of a crowd waving Kurdish flags in Qamishli, Syria. The Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the world without a homeland, totaling more than 30 million people.

By Danny Gold

DERIK, Syria -- From the roof of the new home he is building on the outskirts of the Kurdish controlled city of Derik in northeast Syria, Bashir Said Mohammad can count a dozen or so other structures in different stages of completion. "All this building has happened after the revolution," he says. "Before we were not able to build. You would go to the regime and they would say no, because we are in the Kurdish areas."

In the Kurdish areas of Syria, known as Rojava, people have wasted little time seizing on the opportunities a tentative retreat by President Bashar Assad's government forces three months ago has afforded them. But while a burgeoning civil society independent of Assad's regime continues to grow, the Kurds are desperately trying to avoid the devastating violence that has battered cities like Aleppo and Homs.

The Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the world without a homeland, totaling more than 30 million people. Spread out between parts of Iraq, Syria, Iran and Turkey, they have been subjected to decades of oppression aimed at erasing their cultural identity in all four regions. Kurds make up around 10 percent of the population in Syria, totaling about 2 million, but have been treated as second-class citizens for generations.

In July, Assad forces made a hasty retreat from a number of Kurdish cities and towns in northeastern Syria. Despite a few skirmishes, the situation has remained relatively peaceful.

Though prices have risen, Derik's cafes are still full and people linger in the streets with little fear. Kurdish flags now fly from shops and houses, Kurdish police forces known as Asayish patrol the streets and community organizations known as People's Houses, "mala gels" in Kurdish, have been set up to solve disputes and act as de facto government institutions.

The Kurdish language, which as little as two years ago was forbidden, is now taught in state schools. Delkesh Resol, a 22-year-old former door-to-door salesman, was preparing one recent Sunday morning to teach a Kurdish language lesson to high school students despite a warning from the regime that language classes were to have stopped the previous Thursday.

'Studying in secret'
His act of defiance, which prior to the revolution would have led to a prison sentence and possible torture, did not concern him. "I'm not worried, there is no fear when you're doing something from your heart," Resol said. "Before this we knew there would come a day when we could do this (teach Kurdish in the schools), so we were studying in secret. If we need to teach Kurdish in the streets, we will."

Danny Gold

High school students in a classroom in Derik, Syria, listen to a teacher giving Kurdish lessons. Teaching the Kurdish language was previously forbidden.

The mala gel in Derik is made up of 40 members, and resolves disputes on everything from agriculture to the distribution of donations received from Kurds in Iraq. There is even a member who specializes in divorces. Additional "houses," such as the Women's House and the Youth House, handle more specialized disputes.

Despite Resol's confidence, it is still necessary to be wary of Assad Mukhabarat, or secret police, in Derik. Though the city is described as liberated, plainclothes intelligence officers still lurk the streets. Just exactly who is in power, and how much power they have, is vague.

The lack of heavy conflict and continued presence of Assad men in some of the cities have led to accusations that the Kurdish leadership arranged a secret deal with the regime, where they were allowed to take over certain areas in exchange for not forcing a third front. Others have argued that the Kurds are simply acting practically.

"The regime has not subjected the Kurdish regions to the same level of violence that it has directed against other parts of Syria,"?said Thomas McGee, a researcher on Syrian Kurds at Britain's University of Exeter, who spent two years living in the region and was there for the first eight months of the revolution.?"Kurds have not gone out of their way to bring this upon themselves, learning from the regime's brutal reaction to the 2004 Kurdish uprising." ?In 2004, Kurdish protests that began at a soccer game led to an assault by regime forces that ended with over 30 Kurdish citizens killed.

"The fact that neither the regime nor Kurds en masse have actively declared war on the other need not mean that there is collusion. Each side has their interests and is pursuing this," McGee added. "Kurds, for their part seek stability and wish to avoid escalation."

NBC News

People resisting the army of President Bashar al-Assad in northern Syria cope with loss and prepare for fighting.

Both sides in the Kurdish areas walk a tenuous line, in some areas existing side-by-side while trying to avoid direct conflict that seems inevitable. Regime buildings are still occupied by officials, but the people inside are said to be powerless. In Derik -- which is 90 percent Kurdish -- the mala gel is housed in a building formerly used by a youth committee of Assad's ruling Baath party. It is now adorned with photos of Syrian Kurdish martyrs and Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) who is jailed in Turkey. According to the State Department, "PKK terrorist activity has been responsible for the deaths of more than 30,000 Turkish citizens."

It is also next door to a local headquarters for the Baath party, where spray-painted photos of Assad family members dot the perimeter walls. In other parts of the city, these images have been defaced, as have representations of the Syrian flag.

The small city of Girke Lege, another liberated Kurdish area, lies adjacent to the oil city of Rmeilan, which is heavily fortified with Assad troops. A large Kurdish flag welcomes visitors to the city, but after a ten-minute drive down the road, an Assad flag waves above a fortress-like encampment.

'It feels like a new place'
Kana Berakat, 43, a member of the People's House in Girke Lege, recalls the two times he was imprisoned for Kurdish rights activism. At Aleppo University in 1990, he tried to organize a Newroz celebration and spent 70 days in jail. In 2009, he spent a week in jail after attending a Kurdish rights demonstration. That time, Berakat was arrested because he did not have identification papers. Berakat is one of hundreds of thousands of Kurds in Syria who had their citizenship removed in 1962 and are currently stateless.

"It feels like a new place. Before when I went shopping to get tomatoes, I was very afraid," he said. "I thought the regime would take me. Now I walk around not worried, like I am a free man, but I am worried for the future."

One street in Aleppo: Life goes on as death lurks around every corner

Berakat, though enjoying his newfound freedom, is concerned that as the regime continues to falter, it may one day grow desperate and unleash the troops next door. By then, though, he hopes the Kurdish militia will be strong enough to defend the Kurdish people.

Danny Gold

Bashir Said Mohammad surveys construction on a new home he began building in Derik, Syria, after the revolution started. He had been previously been denied permission because he is a Kurd.

The Kurds' Popular Protection Units (YPG)?patrol the borders and act as a deterrent to both Assad forces and the rebel Free Syrian Army. Established by the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the most powerful Syrian Kurdish political group, the YPG is now distancing itself and trying to be seen as the universal defenders of the Syrian Kurds instead of the party's military wing.

Videos of YPG forces training have shown a noticeable lack of heavily artillery, but the troop numbers are said to be growing every day. The formation of a fourth brigade was just announced.

More Syria coverage from NBC News

The YPG has not hesitated to attack the regime if provoked, and has sought to prevent both the FSA and the regime from entering Kurdish neighborhoods in more contested areas like Kobane and Efrin. After a Kurdish neighborhood in Aleppo was bombed in late July resulting in the death of 21 civilians, YPG forces killed three regime soldiers and captured a number of others.

Machine guns operated by motorcycle brakes? Get a glimpse at the rebels fighting against Assad's forces in Syria's mountainous Jabal al-Zawiya area.

Last week, Assad's forces bombed a Kurdish area in Aleppo. The FSA and the YPG also clashed, reportedly leaving about 20 fighters dead.

At a recent demonstration in the city of Qamishli, 50 or so new recruits lined up for military exercises. They stood silently, faces covered in scarves as to obscure their identities and surrounded by a crowd of thousands chanting slogans of support. Old women clad in hijabs and young girls in Western-style clothing waved flags, singing and dancing to songs of Kurdish freedom.

The demonstration came a few days after a car bomb exploded outside an Assad base in the city, killing four soldiers. The bombing was later claimed by Jabhat Al-Nusra, a shadowy jihadist organization with ties to al-Qaida that is fighting against the regime. The night before had seen a gunbattle at the airport between the FSA and the regime. These incidents heightened fears that the war was encroaching into Kurdish territory.

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A look back at the violence that has overtaken the country

Some Kurds believe the FSA means to lure the Kurds further into the conflict, forcing Assad to open up another front and possibly using the Kurdish issue to persuade Turkey to further involve itself. Others think that the regime will grow weary of the Kurdish push for more rights and eventual autonomy, and look to reassert control.

Turkey has leveled accusations that the PYD is simply a front for the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), which has been engaged in a guerrilla war against the Turkish government for 30 years. Turkey has threatened to invade the Kurdish areas to root them out. PYD categorically denies that it is simply a front for the PKK, saying that they share ideology but do not take orders.

NYT: Syria rivals in deadly game of cat-and-mouse

Saleh Muslim Mohammed, the leader of the PYD,?also expressed fear of the Islamist brigades and extremists said to be fighting alongside the FSA.

For now, the Kurds appear intent on staving off escalating conflict while attempting to build up enough strength to protect their newfound rights and eventually obtain a level of freedom that has eluded them in Syria.

"Violence is the last choice, but if anything happens here the YPG will answer," said Mohammed Saeed, a PYD official in Derik. "Every family here has weapons. All the Kurdish, not only the YPG, will defend themselves. Without Kurdish rights, there will be no stability."

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Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/29/14756648-after-decades-of-oppression-kurds-get-taste-of-freedom-as-assads-troops-flee?lite

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