Doctors urged to talk to patients about parking cellphones

Public release date: 30-Jul-2013
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Contact: Bryan Alary
balary@ualberta.ca
780-492-0436
University of Alberta

(Edmonton) Family physicians regularly counsel patients about medical risks associated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes and smoking, and a team from the University of Alberta wants to add cellphone use and driving to the discussion.

Talking on a cellphone while driving raises the risk of collision by four to six timescomparable to getting behind the wheel while under the influence, studies show. Addressing the problem requires educating the public about the risks, and a good place to start is in the doctor's office.

"The evidence is clear and compelling. Epidemiologic, driver simulator and naturalistic studies demonstrate that cellphones and driving are a dangerous combination. Unfortunately, while most drivers view cellphone use as driving as unacceptable, many of them still engage in it," writes Victoria K. Lee, a family medicine resident at the U of A, in a commentary published July 29 in the journal Canadian Family Physician.

Lee co-wrote the article with pediatrics resident Chantelle Champagne and Louis Hugo Francescutti, a professor in the School of Public Health and adjunct professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine.

The trio maintains that physicians have a role in educating patients through open dialogue about their views to see if they're aware of the hazards of talking while behind the wheel. They offer a number of discussion points, from increased odds of a collision to risks associated with talking on a hands-free device (studies show it's just as dangerous), text messaging (collision risk jumps 23 times) and the lack of hard statistics about cellphone-related crashes.

"Once patients are convinced of the risks of cellphone use while driving, help to prevent them from developing the habit or help them change their behaviour," they write, listing the following advice:

• turn off your cellphone when you enter your vehicle or switch it to silent mode and put it somewhere you cannot reach it;
• set up caller ID and a reliable voice mail system that lets callers know you might be driving and will return their call at a later time;
• ask passengers to help by operating cellphones and other electronic devices. If you are the passenger, speak up and offer to help;
• if you need to make an important call, pull over and park in a safe location before reaching for your cellphone;
• do not call your friends, co-workers, clients, or family when you know they are driving.

The U of A team says driver education, workplace restrictions, new technologies, media attention and legislation can all play a role in changing cellphone use behaviours, in addition to primary care physicians.

"Patients regard us as community leaders and experts in health and safety. We are in a unique position to influence the thoughts and behaviour of people regarding their overall health and well-being by educating them about the issue of distracted driving."

###

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 30-Jul-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Bryan Alary
balary@ualberta.ca
780-492-0436
University of Alberta

(Edmonton) Family physicians regularly counsel patients about medical risks associated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes and smoking, and a team from the University of Alberta wants to add cellphone use and driving to the discussion.

Talking on a cellphone while driving raises the risk of collision by four to six timescomparable to getting behind the wheel while under the influence, studies show. Addressing the problem requires educating the public about the risks, and a good place to start is in the doctor's office.

"The evidence is clear and compelling. Epidemiologic, driver simulator and naturalistic studies demonstrate that cellphones and driving are a dangerous combination. Unfortunately, while most drivers view cellphone use as driving as unacceptable, many of them still engage in it," writes Victoria K. Lee, a family medicine resident at the U of A, in a commentary published July 29 in the journal Canadian Family Physician.

Lee co-wrote the article with pediatrics resident Chantelle Champagne and Louis Hugo Francescutti, a professor in the School of Public Health and adjunct professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine.

The trio maintains that physicians have a role in educating patients through open dialogue about their views to see if they're aware of the hazards of talking while behind the wheel. They offer a number of discussion points, from increased odds of a collision to risks associated with talking on a hands-free device (studies show it's just as dangerous), text messaging (collision risk jumps 23 times) and the lack of hard statistics about cellphone-related crashes.

"Once patients are convinced of the risks of cellphone use while driving, help to prevent them from developing the habit or help them change their behaviour," they write, listing the following advice:

• turn off your cellphone when you enter your vehicle or switch it to silent mode and put it somewhere you cannot reach it;
• set up caller ID and a reliable voice mail system that lets callers know you might be driving and will return their call at a later time;
• ask passengers to help by operating cellphones and other electronic devices. If you are the passenger, speak up and offer to help;
• if you need to make an important call, pull over and park in a safe location before reaching for your cellphone;
• do not call your friends, co-workers, clients, or family when you know they are driving.

The U of A team says driver education, workplace restrictions, new technologies, media attention and legislation can all play a role in changing cellphone use behaviours, in addition to primary care physicians.

"Patients regard us as community leaders and experts in health and safety. We are in a unique position to influence the thoughts and behaviour of people regarding their overall health and well-being by educating them about the issue of distracted driving."

###

---

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-07/uoa-dut073013.php

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Evolution of diverse sex-determining mechanisms in mammals

Public release date: 29-Jul-2013
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Contact: Amanda Petrak
amanda.petrak@case.edu
216-368-0345
Case Western Reserve University

Scientists historically have argued that evolution proceeds through gradual development of traits. But how can incremental changes apply to the binary switch between two sexes, male or female? Researchers at Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine have found that a genetic process among the many species of rodents could have significant implications regarding our assumptions about sex determination and the pace of evolution.

"What we addressed is a long-standing puzzle in natural history: why different types of rodents can exhibit profound differences in how male sex is determined in the embryo," said Michael Weiss, MD, PhD, chairman of the Department of Biochemistry, the Cowan-Blum Professor of Cancer Research and a professor of biochemistry and medicine. "Some rodent populations have both XY males and XY females, and in other populations the Y chromosome has disappeared entirely."

In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Weiss and his research team analyzed the Sry gene, which is part of the Y chromosome. This mammalian gene, which steers differentiation in the embryonic gonad toward the development of testes, begins the process leading to the birth of males. For most mammals, including primates, Sry is a conserved feature of the Y chromosome, ultimately giving rise to male anatomy; females generally have two X chromosomes and no Y.

But within anomalous families of rodents, common in South America, activation of the Sry gene may have uncertain consequences. Some of these groups have both XY males and XY females as normal components of the population. Other related species have even lost their Y chromosomes altogether. Without the emergence of compensating ways of specifying sex, the species could not produce malesand would become extinct. For such rodents, therefore, evolution meant inventing entirely different methods of sex determination. These mammals have in essence evolved other ways to play nature's mating game.

The CWRU team attributed the rapid evolvability of sex determination in rodents to a novel protein domain added to the SRY protein. Scientists knew that this domain existed, but Weiss and his team wanted to understand more about its function in gene regulation and its role in evolution. The team determined that the new protein domain acts as a "genetic capacitor," providing a protective buffer to the Sry gene. This buffer allowed male development even when a mutation occurs elsewhere in the gene that might otherwise cause sex reversalbut the buffer is unstable over generations. Slippage of DNA during the production of sperm can lead to sudden changes in the length of the buffer and the degree of protection. By analogy to a capacitor in an electric circuit, the team suggested that this domain can "discharge" to accelerate the pace of evolutionary change. The idea of a genetic capacitor was pioneered by MIT Professor Susan Lindquist in studies of heat-shock proteins in fruit flies in (Nature, "Hsp90 as a capacitor for morphological evolution") and the present paper extended this idea to the pace of mammalian evolution.

How did the Sry buffer arise? "We discovered that a genetic accident 20 million years ago in an ancestral rodent holds the key to solving this puzzle. A simple DNA repeat sequence (called a 'micro-satellite') invaded the Y chromosome and was incorporated into the Sry gene. This invasion accelerated the evolvability of Sry and probably the Y chromosome in general, enabling this subgroup of rodents to explore new molecular mechanisms of sex determination," Weiss said.

Weiss and his team will continue this research, but believe these initial results may have additional implications for our understanding of human evolution and genetics. Because rodents have higher mutation rates and shorter life spans, they also evolve more rapidly and so provide a natural laboratory for studies of mammalian evolution.

Research last year at MIT has shown that in humans and other primates the Y chromosome has been stable for at least the past 25 million years (Nature, Strict evolutionary conservation followed rapid gene loss on human and rhesus Y chromosomes), which Weiss suggests may reflect the absence of micro-satellite-related slippage in the Sry gene. Yet the transcriptional strengths of the murine and human Sry factors are similar. The research suggests that human SRY and its specification of male development has evolved to be just above a genetic threshold of activity, which may in turn enable human communities to benefit from a diversity of male characteristics and behaviors.

"A key lesson of this 20 million-year history is that maleness is a 'close call' as the Sry protein functions near the edge of ambiguity," Weiss explained. "We think that the 'genetic decision' in an embryo to create a testis (instead of an ovary) is tenuous in all social mammals, including us. The critical next question is why?"

###

About Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Founded in 1843, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine is the largest medical research institution in Ohio and is among the nation's top medical schools for research funding from the National Institutes of Health. The School of Medicine is recognized throughout the international medical community for outstanding achievements in teaching. The School's innovative and pioneering Western Reserve2 curriculum interweaves four themes--research and scholarship, clinical mastery, leadership, and civic professionalism--to prepare students for the practice of evidence-based medicine in the rapidly changing health care environment of the 21st century. Nine Nobel Laureates have been affiliated with the School of Medicine.

Annually, the School of Medicine trains more than 800 MD and MD/PhD students and ranks in the top 25 among U.S. research-oriented medical schools as designated by U.S. News & World Report's "Guide to Graduate Education."

The School of Medicine's primary affiliate is University Hospitals Case Medical Center and is additionally affiliated with MetroHealth Medical Center, the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the Cleveland Clinic, with which it established the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University in 2002. http://casemed.case.edu

---

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 29-Jul-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Amanda Petrak
amanda.petrak@case.edu
216-368-0345
Case Western Reserve University

Scientists historically have argued that evolution proceeds through gradual development of traits. But how can incremental changes apply to the binary switch between two sexes, male or female? Researchers at Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine have found that a genetic process among the many species of rodents could have significant implications regarding our assumptions about sex determination and the pace of evolution.

"What we addressed is a long-standing puzzle in natural history: why different types of rodents can exhibit profound differences in how male sex is determined in the embryo," said Michael Weiss, MD, PhD, chairman of the Department of Biochemistry, the Cowan-Blum Professor of Cancer Research and a professor of biochemistry and medicine. "Some rodent populations have both XY males and XY females, and in other populations the Y chromosome has disappeared entirely."

In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Weiss and his research team analyzed the Sry gene, which is part of the Y chromosome. This mammalian gene, which steers differentiation in the embryonic gonad toward the development of testes, begins the process leading to the birth of males. For most mammals, including primates, Sry is a conserved feature of the Y chromosome, ultimately giving rise to male anatomy; females generally have two X chromosomes and no Y.

But within anomalous families of rodents, common in South America, activation of the Sry gene may have uncertain consequences. Some of these groups have both XY males and XY females as normal components of the population. Other related species have even lost their Y chromosomes altogether. Without the emergence of compensating ways of specifying sex, the species could not produce malesand would become extinct. For such rodents, therefore, evolution meant inventing entirely different methods of sex determination. These mammals have in essence evolved other ways to play nature's mating game.

The CWRU team attributed the rapid evolvability of sex determination in rodents to a novel protein domain added to the SRY protein. Scientists knew that this domain existed, but Weiss and his team wanted to understand more about its function in gene regulation and its role in evolution. The team determined that the new protein domain acts as a "genetic capacitor," providing a protective buffer to the Sry gene. This buffer allowed male development even when a mutation occurs elsewhere in the gene that might otherwise cause sex reversalbut the buffer is unstable over generations. Slippage of DNA during the production of sperm can lead to sudden changes in the length of the buffer and the degree of protection. By analogy to a capacitor in an electric circuit, the team suggested that this domain can "discharge" to accelerate the pace of evolutionary change. The idea of a genetic capacitor was pioneered by MIT Professor Susan Lindquist in studies of heat-shock proteins in fruit flies in (Nature, "Hsp90 as a capacitor for morphological evolution") and the present paper extended this idea to the pace of mammalian evolution.

How did the Sry buffer arise? "We discovered that a genetic accident 20 million years ago in an ancestral rodent holds the key to solving this puzzle. A simple DNA repeat sequence (called a 'micro-satellite') invaded the Y chromosome and was incorporated into the Sry gene. This invasion accelerated the evolvability of Sry and probably the Y chromosome in general, enabling this subgroup of rodents to explore new molecular mechanisms of sex determination," Weiss said.

Weiss and his team will continue this research, but believe these initial results may have additional implications for our understanding of human evolution and genetics. Because rodents have higher mutation rates and shorter life spans, they also evolve more rapidly and so provide a natural laboratory for studies of mammalian evolution.

Research last year at MIT has shown that in humans and other primates the Y chromosome has been stable for at least the past 25 million years (Nature, Strict evolutionary conservation followed rapid gene loss on human and rhesus Y chromosomes), which Weiss suggests may reflect the absence of micro-satellite-related slippage in the Sry gene. Yet the transcriptional strengths of the murine and human Sry factors are similar. The research suggests that human SRY and its specification of male development has evolved to be just above a genetic threshold of activity, which may in turn enable human communities to benefit from a diversity of male characteristics and behaviors.

"A key lesson of this 20 million-year history is that maleness is a 'close call' as the Sry protein functions near the edge of ambiguity," Weiss explained. "We think that the 'genetic decision' in an embryo to create a testis (instead of an ovary) is tenuous in all social mammals, including us. The critical next question is why?"

###

About Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Founded in 1843, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine is the largest medical research institution in Ohio and is among the nation's top medical schools for research funding from the National Institutes of Health. The School of Medicine is recognized throughout the international medical community for outstanding achievements in teaching. The School's innovative and pioneering Western Reserve2 curriculum interweaves four themes--research and scholarship, clinical mastery, leadership, and civic professionalism--to prepare students for the practice of evidence-based medicine in the rapidly changing health care environment of the 21st century. Nine Nobel Laureates have been affiliated with the School of Medicine.

Annually, the School of Medicine trains more than 800 MD and MD/PhD students and ranks in the top 25 among U.S. research-oriented medical schools as designated by U.S. News & World Report's "Guide to Graduate Education."

The School of Medicine's primary affiliate is University Hospitals Case Medical Center and is additionally affiliated with MetroHealth Medical Center, the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the Cleveland Clinic, with which it established the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University in 2002. http://casemed.case.edu

---

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?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-07/cwru-eod072913.php

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Sunoco Logistics Announces Third Consecutive 5 Percent Quarter over Quarter Distribution Increase and Earnings Conference Call Date

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (SXL) (the ?Partnership?) today announced that Sunoco Partners LLC, its general partner, has declared a cash distribution for the second quarter 2013 of $0.60 per common unit ($2.40 annualized) to be paid on August 14, 2013 to unit holders of record on August 8, 2013. This represents a 5 percent increase over the first quarter 2013 cash distribution of $0.5725 per common unit ($2.29 annualized) and a 28 percent increase over the second quarter 2012 cash distribution of $0.47 per common unit ($1.88 annualized). This represents the thirty-third successive quarter that the Partnership has increased its distribution.

?We are pleased to announce our third consecutive 5 percent quarter over quarter increase in our distribution,? said Michael J. Hennigan, president and chief executive officer. ?We continue to execute our strategy for growth. We are committed to growing stable, ratable cash flow for the Partnership and distributing that cash to our owners.?

The Partnership also announced that it will hold a conference call on Thursday, August 8, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. ET (7:30 a.m. CT) to discuss its financial results for the second quarter 2013. Earnings are expected to be released after the market closes on Wednesday, August 7, 2013.

Those wishing to listen can access the call by dialing (USA toll free) 1-800-369-2171; International (USA toll) 1-517-308-9315 and request ?Sunoco Logistics Partners Earnings Call, Conference Code: Sunoco Logistics?. This event may also be accessed by a webcast, which will be available at www.sunocologistics.com. A number of presentation slides will accompany the audio portion of the call and will be available to be viewed and printed shortly before the call begins. Individuals wishing to listen to the call on the Partnership?s web site will need Windows Media Player, which can be downloaded free of charge from Microsoft or from Sunoco Logistics Partners? conference call page. Please allow at least fifteen minutes to complete the download.

Audio replays of the conference call will be available for two weeks after the conference call beginning approximately two hours following the completion of the call. To access the replay, dial 1-800-406-7489. International callers should dial 1-203-369-3273.

ABOUT SUNOCO LOGISTICS

Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (SXL), headquartered in Philadelphia, is a master limited partnership that owns and operates a logistics business consisting of a geographically diverse portfolio of complementary crude oil and refined product pipeline, terminalling, and acquisition and marketing assets. SXL?s general partner is a consolidated subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (ETP). For more information, visit the Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. web site at www.sunocologistics.com.

This release is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100%) of distributions by Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. to non-U.S. investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, distributions by Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate.

Portions of this document constitute forward-looking statements as defined by federal law. Although Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and necessarily involve risks that may affect the Partnership?s business prospects and performance causing actual results to differ from those discussed in the foregoing release. Such risks and uncertainties include, by way of example and not of limitation: whether or not the transactions described in the foregoing news release will be cash flow accretive; increased competition; changes in demand for crude oil and refined products that we store and distribute; changes in operating conditions and costs; changes in the level of environmental remediation spending; potential equipment malfunction; potential labor issues; the legislative or regulatory environment; plant construction/repair delays; nonperformance by major customers or suppliers; and political and economic conditions, including the impact of potential terrorist acts and international hostilities. These and other applicable risks and uncertainties have been described more fully in the Partnership?s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2013, and in the Partnership?s subsequent Form 8-K and 10-Q filings. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in this release, whether as a result of new information or future events.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sunoco-logistics-announces-third-consecutive-203000576.html

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Fox Exclusive: Chaplain Ordered to Remove Religious Essay From Military Website

A chaplain at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska was ordered to remove a religious column he had written titled, ?No Atheists in Foxholes: Chaplains Gave all in World War II,? because it allegedly offended atheists serving on the Air Force base.

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Lt. Col. Kenneth Reyes confirmed to Fox News that he wrote the original essay that appeared in his ?Chaplain?s Corner? column on the base website.

Reyes recounted the origin of the phrase ?There is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole.? Father William Cummings has largely been credited with uttering the phrase in Bataan during World War II.

President Eisenhower referenced the phrase during a speech to the American Legion in 1954, noting ?I am delighted that our veterans are sponsoring a movement to increase our awareness of God in our daily lives. In battle, they learned a great truth that there are no atheists in the foxholes.?

Reyes ended his essay with a reflection on faith.

?Everyone expresses some form of faith every day, whether it is religious or secular,? he wrote. ?Some express faith by believing when they get up in the morning they will arrive at work in one piece, thankful they have been given another opportunity to enjoy the majesty of the day, or express relief the doctor?s results were negative.?

Reyes did not attack or insult atheists or non-believers in his column.

However, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation accused Reyes of going on an ?anti-secular diatribe? and publicly denigrating ?those without religion.?

They fired off a letter to the Air Force base allegedly on behalf of 42 anonymous airmen who allegedly complained.

?In the civilian world, such anti-secular diatribe is protected free speech,? wrote MRFF?s Blake Page in a letter to Col. Brian Duffy, the base commander. ?Beyond his most obvious failure in upholding regulations through redundant use of the bigoted, religious supremacist phrase, ?no atheists in foxholes,? he defiles the dignity of service members by telling them that regardless of their personally held philosophical beliefs they must have faith.?

The Air Force agreed and approximately five hours after the MRFF complained, they removed the chaplain?s essay.

?While certainly not intended to offend, the article has been removed from our website,? Col. Duffy wrote in an email to the MRFF. ?We remain mindful of the governing instructions on this matter and will work to avoid recurrence.?

But that?s not good enough for the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. They want the chaplain punished for what he wrote.

?Faith based hate, is hate all the same,? Page wrote. ?Lt. Col. Reyes must be appropriately reprimanded.?

Duffy?did not respond to an email requesting information on the specific Air Force policies that the chaplain?s essay violated. Ironically, the Air Force left?six complaints about the essay on their website.

Ron Crews, the executive director of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, told Fox News the chaplain was well within his duties to write an article about faith.

?To say ?everyone has faith? is correct,? Crews said. ?For Weinstein to say, ?I do not have faith? must mean he has never flown because to step in an airplane is to have faith in a pilot?s ability and faith that mechanics have properly maintained the plane.?

Crews said the incident is yet another example of chaplains facing attacks for expressing their religious beliefs.

?Chaplains have religious liberty as well to speak to issues,? he told Fox News. ?Mr. Weinstein appears to want to silence any speech of faith in the military. It is a sad day for the Air Force and for our country when officers obey every command from Weinstein to silence even chaplains from talking about their faith.?

Following is the column that the Air Force censored:

?Chaplain?s Corner: No Atheists in Foxholes: Chaplains Gave All in World War II?

By Lt. Col. Kenneth Reyes

Many have heard the familiar phrase, ?There is no such thing as an atheist in a fox hole.?

Where did this come from?

Research I verified in an interview with former World War II prisoner of war Roy Bodine (my friend) indicates the phrase has been credited to Father William Cummings.

As the story goes, Father Cummings was a civilian missionary Catholic priest in the Philippines.

The phrase was coined during the Japanese attack at Corregidor.

During the siege, Cummings had noticed non-Catholics were attending his services.

Some he knew were not Catholic, some were not religious and some were even known atheists.

Life-and-death experiences prompt a reality check.

Even the strongest of beliefs can change, and, I may add, can go both ways ? people can be drawn to or away from ?faith.?

With the pending surrender of allied forces to the Japanese, Cummings uttered the famous phrase ?There is no such thing as an atheist in a fox hole.?

In one of my many discussions with Roy, he distinctly remembered a period on the ?Hell Ships? ? these were ships the Japanese used to bring POWs from the Philippines back to Japan.

They were unmarked and thus ?fair game? for attacks from the allies from the air and sea.

Of the 3,000-plus POWs listed on the ships, only 180 survived the journey.

?When our own planes were attacking us,? Roy said, ?I remember Father Cummings calming us down by reciting the Lord?s Prayer and offering up prayers on our behalf.

For a brief moment I did not hear the yells and screams of dying men as our boat was attacked by our own men.?

He went on to say, ?There was a peaceful quiet during the attack that I cannot explain nor have experienced since.?

Later on during the trip to Japan, Cummings, after giving his food to others who needed it more, succumbed to his own need and died of starvation.

Everyone expresses some form of faith every day, whether it is religious or secular.

Some express faith by believing when they get up in the morning they will arrive at work in one piece, thankful they have been given another opportunity to enjoy the majesty of the day; or express relief the doctor?s results were negative.

The real question is, ?Is it important to have faith in ?faith? itself or is it more important to ask, ?What is the object of my faith???

Roy never affirmed or expressed whether his faith was rooted in religion or not, but for a moment in time on the ?Hell Ships,? he believed in Cummings? faith.

What is the root or object of your faith?

Is it something you can count on in times of plenty or loss; peace or chaos; joy or sorrow; success or failure?

Is it something you can count on in times of plenty or loss; peace or chaos; joy or sorrow; success or failure?

What is ?faith? to you?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FoxNewsInsider/~3/PEhRUBD5igg/fox-exclusive-chaplain-ordered-remove-religious-essay-military-website

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If the order has not been shipped; please contact DinoDirect Live Support for order cancellation.You will get your refund within 24 hours.

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Ford Racing Mobile

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Source: www.behance.net --- Sunday, July 21, 2013
When I created this site I was trying to get my hands on as many mobile projects as possible; this was an opportunity to design and concept a website where content was constantly updated, personalized and exclusive to location. ...

Source: http://appdesignserved.co/gallery/Ford-Racing-Mobile/8013861

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Triathlon: Racequest Travel Offers 2013 Ironman Florida Race Slots, VIP & Travel Packages

2-Time Ironman Florida Champion Jessica Jacobs to guide RaceQuest Athletes

POTOMAC FALLS, VirginiaRaceQuest, a travel and event management company focused exclusively on the training and race travel needs of endurance sports athletes, is offering race entries, VIP packages, and a race week travel support package for 2013 IRONMAN Florida in Panama City Beach.

Athletes and their guests who purchase a slot and choose to lodge with RaceQuest for the event will receive a host of race week amenities, race day transport, bike mechanic support and concierge services based at Grand Panama Resort.

For IRONMAN Florida, RaceQuest is offering race slots with complimentary race-specific coaching for $1,495 (U.S.) per person. Additionally, a limited number of VIP Packages are available for $1,995. Details and purchase may be secured by visiting the RaceQuest website, Race-Quest.com.

Professional Triathletes Enhance Race Week Experience
Two-time IRONMAN Florida Champion, Jessica Jacobs, will be staying with RaceQuest and providing athletes with specific race course strategy, advice, and Q&A sessions throughout the week.

RaceQuest Travel shares my desire to really engage with athletes, to support their individual needs. Its a small-group setting by design. For any athlete, this approach really sets you up for success, said Jacobs, now in her seventh season as a professional.

Taking the Headache out of Multisport Travel Our athletes can be assured that they can explore new places for racing and training, and it will be a seamless experience. We are committed to taking care of our athletes and guests in a friendly, first- class manner. We handle the details so they wont have to, added RaceQuest Co-Founder Scott Coey. Coey is a world-class age-group triathlete who has competed in countless ultra-marathons and triathlons including the IRONMAN World Championship and the prestigious Norseman long- distance triathlon.

In addition to IRONMAN Florida, RaceQuest Travel also offers 5-Night Race Week Experiences for IRONMAN Lake Tahoe and a 10-Night package for the 2013 IRONMAN World Championships in Kailua- Kona, Hawaii.

About RaceQuest

RaceQuest was founded by triathletes Krista Baker-Scheyer, Scott Coey, and Kelli Eldridge with the purpose of providing exceptional training and race travel experiences tailored to the endurance sports athlete. With singular focus and passion, the RaceQuest travel team combines years of experience traveling, racing and supporting professional and age-group triathletes around the globe to deliver world-class travel services.

Source: http://www.runnersweb.com/running/news_2013/rw_news_20130723_Race-Quest.html

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NFL roundup: RG3 has date to have knee examined (The SportsXchange)

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://forums.steelersfever.com/showthread.php?t=99338&goto=newpost

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Comic creations cross borders to film, TV, makeup

SAN DIEGO (AP) ? There's no such thing as just a comic book hero anymore. From big-screen films and small-screen animation to books, clothes and makeup, the hero business is big business.

Two decades ago, the only place to find the X-Men was in the pages of comics and on Saturday morning cartoons. Now, they, and others, like Superman, Batman and the zombies from "The Walking Dead" are cultural juggernauts, crossing over into everything.

And nowhere is that more evident than at Comic-Con International.

Once just 300 or so attendees in a hotel, the event now hosts more than 100,000 visitors over four days and is a top destination for film and television companies, not to mention marketers of apparel and other products, too.

Attendees can wear Avengers perfume while walking in Converse high-tops that have the Joker or Batman on the sides. They're buying glass tumblers with Marvel superheroes on them, T-shirts that bear the logo of Green Lantern, and hats with The Flash lightning bolt on the front.

It's no surprise, either, said Rob Salkowitz, a consultant and author of "Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture." Comics have been a foundation of entertainment for decades, but since the 1990s, the advent of better technology in film and TV has seen what was once a staple of four-color comics transform into visual spectacles.

"Superheroes were created because it was a good fit for the print technology in the 1930s and 1940s," Salkowitz said. "What happened in the late 1990s is the technology for video games and movies finally got good enough to realize the imagery of comic books in a satisfying way."

To wit, Bruce Banner's eye-popping transformation into the Incredible Hulk is easy to do, and realistic.

"Of course, the level of visual effects now, anything is possible," said Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios. "I think people, back in the day, would look at a beautiful Jack Kirby drawing and say 'That's beautiful, you could never bring that to life. Now, you can."

Now, there's a demand for content to fill stories of all stripes.

Robert Kirkman's "The Walking Dead" was a black-and-white comic drawing rave reviews. Now it's a top-rated TV show commanding millions of viewers, helping boost sales of collected editions of the graphic novels and driving interest in hiring comic book scribes for television.

Brian Michael Bendis, who writes for Marvel Entertainment, had a pilot shot for his creator-owned "Powers" series that he does with Michael Avon Oeming.

Kirkman is also going into television again with "Clone," a comic series created and written by David Schulner for his Skybound imprint. On Saturday, it was announced that "Clone" had landed a development deal with NBCU.

Schulner credited Kirkman for guidance in doing that, too.

"I knew if I went off the rails too badly, Robert would be there to put me back on track. Now I've been writing the comic for two years ? issue No. 9 comes out next week ? and I just finished writing issue 15, so to be able to turn it into a television show is just icing on the cake.

And it's not just heroes, either. Archie Comics' Sabrina was turned into the popular TV sitcom "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" starring Melissa Joan Hart. It ran for seven seasons.

Salkowitz said comics have "70 years of backstory" and an "emotional resonance" on nearly everyone.

"It becomes a very easy thing for Hollywood and video game manufacturers to plug right in to this existing mythology," he said. "They don't have to invent it all themselves. They don't have to jumpstart universes."

It boils down to loyal, enthusiastic fans, and the comic book companies have that.

"Every brand wants raving fans, they don't want consumers. They want fans, people who are participating," Salkowitz said. "Look around. Comics have fans."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/comic-creations-cross-borders-film-tv-makeup-230847861.html

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What your Facebook profile picture says

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The security of your personal information is important to us. We follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the personal information submitted to us, both during registration and once we receive it. No method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100 percent secure, however. Therefore, though we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

If we decide to change our e-mail practices, we will post those changes to this privacy statement, the homepage, and other places we think appropriate so that you are aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it.

If we make material changes to our e-mail practices, we will notify you here, by e-mail, and by means of a notice on our home page.

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The advertising banners and other forms of advertising appearing on this Web site are sometimes delivered to you, on our behalf, by a third party. In the course of serving advertisements to this site, the third party may place or recognize a unique cookie on your browser. For more information on cookies, you can visit www.cookiecentral.com.

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Source: http://article.wn.com/view/2013/07/21/What_your_Facebook_profile_picture_says/

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Afghan president approves new election law

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? The Afghan president on Saturday approved a new law governing next year's presidential and provincial elections, an important step toward a smooth transition of power in 2014 and the final withdrawal of all remaining foreign combat forces from the country.

Hamid Karzai's office said he signed a decree endorsing the law, which defines the legal framework for the elections and which was approved by parliament earlier this week.

The law is supported by Afghanistan's international sponsors and Karzai's approval was widely expected. Foreign donors have made holding free and transparent elections a key requirement for their continued funding.

In early July, representatives from 40 countries reaffirmed pledges of $16 billion in support for Afghanistan, but cited the approval of two new election laws as a condition.

Last week, Karzai approved another law defining the role and structure of the country's electoral watchdog and election commission. The two laws had been debated in parliament for months and were finally given the green light by a joint commission made up of Afghanistan's upper and lower house.

The balloting for a new president and council members for Afghanistan's 34 provinces will be held April 5. Under the new law, candidates have to submit nominations for the presidential election on Sept. 16.

Karzai, whose second five-year term ends next year, cannot seek a third term under the law. There have been worries that he could delay the laws, either to postpone the election in order to extend his term in office, or to have the polls on his own terms.

The European Union's ambassador to Afghanistan, Vygaudas Usackas, said the new laws show Afghans can take their future into their own hands.

"I am confident that President Karzai as a statesman of his nation will do everything possible to ensure a peaceful transfer of power in 2014 through inclusive and transparent elections," said Usackas, who had strongly lobbied both Karzai and the parliament to approve the legislation.

Karzai, who has the power to reject legislation, has expressed no interest in a third term, insisting he wants to retire after the elections. But it still remains unclear if he may seek to promote his own candidate, including a brother who is active in politics.

"We are encouraged by the adoption of the law," said Nader Nadery, founder and chairman of the Fair and Free Elections Foundation of Afghanistan, a local watchdog.

Nadery said the new law "is going to provide a better base than the previous legal structure" in place during the 2009 presidential elections.

Karzai's re-election was marred by widespread allegations of corruption, vote tampering and election fraud. He denied the charges but the acrimonious aftermath tainted his relationship with the West and the United States.

The U.S. was one of Karzai's most vocal critics and has been dealing with the aftermath of the 2009 vote to this day.

Much of Karzai's bitterness and testy relations with America is thought to stem from his expressed belief that Washington somehow sought to engineer his loss in the polls.

Afghanistan's international financial and military backers have said a smooth transition during the presidential election is necessary to ensure the country's stability once all foreign combat troops leave by the end of 2014.

NATO handed over the lead for security around the country to Afghan forces last June, as part of a phased withdrawal of foreign troops over the next year and a half.

The handover paved the way for the departure of coalition forces ? currently numbering about 100,000 troops from 48 countries, including 66,000 Americans.

By the end of the year, the NATO forces will be halved. At the end of 2014, all combat troops will have left and will be replaced, if approved by the Afghan government, by a much smaller force that will only train and advise the Afghans.

But violence has not abated around the country and the Taliban and other insurgents, emboldened by the withdrawal, have increased attacks against Afghan security forces, especially in places where coalition forces have already withdrawn.

A wave of bombings late Friday in southern Afghanistan killed 15 people, including six members of the country's security services, said Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the governor of Helmand province.

The most deadly of the attacks was when five members of the Afghan intelligence service and a policeman died when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in the Sangin district, Zwak said on Saturday. Deputy head of Sangin's intelligence service was among those killed in the explosion.

Helmand police spokesman Shamim Noorzia said three other bombings killed six civilians and two police officers.

Insurgents have increased attacks in Helmand as foreign forces withdraw from the area.

___

Associated Press writer Rahim Faiez contributed from Kabul and Mirwais Khan from Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Follow Patrick Quinn on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/PatrickAQuinn

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/afghan-president-approves-election-law-111615032.html

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Death of Whitey Bulger trial witness 'suspicious': report

Michael Dwyer / AP

Stephen Rakes smiles after greeting an acquaintance outside the liquor store he once owned in the South Boston neighborhood of Boston. Rakes was found dead Wednesday in a Boston suburb.

By Tracy Connor, Staff Writer, NBC News

A man who had been listed as a witness against James "Whitey" Bulger has been found dead, adding an element of intrigue to a trial that has riveted Boston.

An autopsy found no sign of trauma on Stephen ?Stippo? Rakes, and investigators were awaiting toxicology tests determine the cause of his death, officials said Thursday. Police said they are treating the death as suspicious, New England Cable News reported.

Rakes, 59, claimed that Bulger forced him at gunpoint, while threatening his young daughter, to sell his South Boston liquor store below market value in 1984 so the Winter Hill Gang could use it as a front.

But last week, another witness, former Bulger associate Kevin Weeks, testified that Rakes wanted to sell the shop and tried to shake down the gangsters for more money, sparking a confrontation in which a gun was pulled.

Rakes, 59, was on the prosecution's list of witnesses to testify against Bulger, 83, who is on trial for racketeering and murder after spending 16 years on the lam as one of the nation's most-wanted fugitives.

According to the Boston Globe, though, he was told Tuesday afternoon that he would not be called to the stand, depriving him of the opportunity to rebut Weeks' account. It was unclear why he was dropped from the lineup.

His body was found at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Lincoln, Mass., according to the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office. He did not have a wallet or any identification with him, NBC station WHDH reported.

Rakes had been attending the federal trial, which has featured gory testimony from admitted killers and several outbursts from Bulger, who has cursed at witnesses who say he was an FBI informant.

?The day I see him in a box, not breathing, will be better,? Rakes told the Associated Press after he saw Bulger in the courtroom in the courtroom in April.

Bulger had loomed large in Rakes? life long after whatever transaction transpired in 1984.

He was convicted of perjury in 1998 for lying to a grand jury about the extortion several years earlier. He claimed he was afraid to tell the truth, eventually cooperated and did not go to prison.

He and his ex-wife won a $28 million judgment against Bulger, though a $120 million lawsuit against the FBI for its corruption relationship with Whitey was thrown out.

Rakes told the Boston Herald last month that he was eager to testify.

?I?m not afraid of him anymore. I can?t wait to get on the stand and look him right in the eyes,? he said. ?I come here to represent the victims that are afraid to come here. My friends...There?s hundreds. And they?re still afraid. Some of them, 40 years later, they?re still afraid," he said.

"I tell them, ?Are you going to let him kick us around or are we going to kick him around?? They took everything from me. They don?t care about nothing. They don?t care about what they take from you.?

Then, he added, ?At least I?m still alive. I?m alive and I?m grateful for that.?

Then came the testimony from Weeks, who portayed Rakes as the bad actor in the liquor-store deal, saying he reneged on an agreement to sell it for $100,000.

"He was trying to shake us down," Weeks said, recounting how he pulled out a gun but then put it away when Rakes? daughter, being bounced on Bulger?s lap, went to touch it.

"We didn't go to him to buy the store. He came to us. It wasn't your regular extortion," Weeks said.

Rakes said it was a pack of lies.

"My liquor store was never for sale -- never, never, never," he told the Associated Press.

As a medical examiner tried to determine how Rakes died, the Bulger trial marched on in Boston federal court.

The man prosecutors say was Bulger's top lieutenant, Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, briefly took the stand Thursday and will be back on Friday.?Flemmi, who has admitted to 10 murders and is serving life in prison, mouthed a curse at Bulger from the witness box.

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This story was originally published on Thu Jul 18, 2013 11:24 AM EDT

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/663306/s/2ee27cb8/l/0Lusnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A70C180C195411220Edeath0Eof0Ewhitey0Ebulger0Etrial0Ewitness0Esuspicious0Ereport0Dlite/story01.htm

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Video: Peltz and Pepsi

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Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/cnbc/52513482/

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Senators ready to restore lower college loan rates

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Senators are ready to offer students a better deal on their college loans this fall, but future classes could see higher interest rates.

The Senate could vote as early as Thursday on a bipartisan compromise that heads off a costly increase for returning students. The compromise could be a good deal for students through the 2015 academic year, but then interest rates are expected to climb above where they were when students left campus this spring.

Under the deal, all undergraduates this fall would borrow at 3.85 percent interest rates. Graduate students would have access to loans at 5.4 percent and parents would be able to borrow at 6.4 percent. Those rates would climb as the economy improves and it becomes more expensive for the government to borrow money.

The deal was described by Republican and Democratic aides who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing negotiations by name.

Undergraduates last year borrowed at 3.4 percent or 6.8 percent, depending on their financial need. Graduate students had access to federal loans at 6.8 percent and parents borrowed at 7.9 percent.

The interest rates would be linked to the financial markets, but Democrats won a protection for students that rates would never climb higher than 8.25 percent for undergraduates. Graduate students would not pay rates higher than 9.5 percent and parents' rates would top out at 10.5 percent.

The bipartisan agreement is expected to be the final in a string of efforts that have emerged from near constant work to undo a rate hike that took hold for subsidized Stafford loans on July 1. Rates for new subsidized Stafford loans doubled from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, adding roughly $2,600 to students' education costs.

Lawmakers from both parties called the increase senseless but differed on how to restore the lower rates. Republicans have pushed for a link between interest rates and the financial markets. Obama included that link in his budget proposal, as did House Republicans. Democrats balked, saying it could produce government profits on the backs of borrowers if rates continued to climb.

Leaders from both parties, however, recognized the potential to be blamed for the added costs in the 2014 elections if nothing were done.

Senate aides said a vote on the agreement could come as early as Thursday, although it could be pushed back to the middle of next week.

The House has already passed student loan legislation that also links interest rates to the 10-year Treasury note. The differences between the Senate and House versions are expected to be resolved before students return to campus this fall, and Obama is expected to sign the bill.

Few students had borrowed for fall classes. Students typically do not take out loans until just before they return to campus, and lawmakers have until the August recess to restore the lower rates. The students who had borrowed for summer programs since July 1 would have their rates retroactively reduced.

The deal was estimated to reduce the deficit by $715 million over the next decade.

Lawmakers and their top aides have been tinkering with various proposals ? nudging here, trimming there ? trying to find a deal that avoids added red ink for students and the government alike.

Democrats and Republicans met with Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday at the White House. An outline of an agreement seemed to be taking shape Tuesday, with follow-up meetings Wednesday in Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin's office yielding a final agreement.

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina were the main negotiators, with Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Durbin filling the role of mediators.

___

Follow Philip Elliott on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/philip_elliott

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/senators-ready-restore-lower-college-loan-rates-072515654.html

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Monsanto drops GM crop plan in EU

18 July 2013 Last updated at 09:30 ET

Biotechnology giant Monsanto is scrapping plans to win approval to grow new types of genetically modified crops in the European Union.

It says the move is due to the lack of prospects for cultivation in the EU.

Monsanto produces GM crops and agro-chemicals which are in wide use in the US and in other parts of the world.

In Europe there have been concerns about the use of GM food products, and approval for GM crop cultivation can take years to obtain.

The Monsanto decision related to pending requests to grow genetically modified maize, soybean and sugar beet.

It comes just days after the EU began talks with the US on a wide-ranging trade deal, with agriculture likely to be one of the toughest issues.

The company said it would now concentrate on growing its conventional seeds business in Europe.

It will also look to get EU approval to import its genetically modified crop varieties from the US and South America into Europe.

In 2012, Germany's BASF halted the development of genetically modified crops in Europe and moved its European research operations in this area to the US.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23356054#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

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The Science of the Perfect Golf Shot

Athletes in the zone tend to report exaggerated perception: The baseball looks to be the size of a grapefruit as it's coming toward the plate, or the basketball hoop appears to be a foot wider than it truly is. It's no different for golfers. Smith cites a study showing that golfers scoring lower (better) perceive the 4.24-inch-diameter hole to be bigger than its true size, whereas struggling players saw a much tinier target on the green.

The red line in the graph above shows how scores climb as perceived hole size shrinks. So if you hit the links and start seeing a 3-inch hole, it might be best to call it a day and head to the clubhouse.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/recreation/the-science-of-the-perfect-golf-shot?src=rss

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Google Maps Updated for Summer Travels With Incident and Traffic Alerts

You're not the only one who's preparing for some summer travels. In the past few weeks, Google has updated its Google Maps apps with new features, including live incident reports on road closures and new ways to find places to eat and visit.

The features are now available for Android phones and tablets, the iPhone and the iPad.

All the apps offer the usual reliable maps and navigation with a common design and experience, but also now include more traffic data. Incident warnings will appear on the map where there is traffic, road closures and construction. It will also alert you if there immediately becomes a better route to avoid traffic.

Google bought Waze, a popular social traffic app, in June. Google did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for clarification on whether Waze's traffic data is incorporated yet into this version of the Google Maps app.

In addition to avoiding traffic, the new app also lets people avoid bad places to eat or stay. A new Explore feature displays eat, drink, sleep and shop cards. Tap on those and Google will return some of the best locations to do those respective things. There is also a new five-star rating system that shows you how your friends have rated those spots. Offers and coupons are also integrated into the app now.

Google Street View Captures Man with Horse Head and More

Google updated its Android phone apps with these features and released a new dedicated Android tablet app last week. On Tuesday night it released those features for the iPhone app, as well as a dedicated iPad app.

The Android tablet and iPad versions don't just expand the phone apps. Instead, they have tailored layouts for the bigger screen and offer a more immersive Street View perspective.

Google has maintained a strong mapping lead over competitors like Apple and Microsoft in the past few years, partly because of its cross-platform support. While Apple has improved its native map app, which was released last year with the iPhone 5, and plans to bring it to the Mac later this year, Google has maintained a strong alternative on Apple products. It has also worked to improve and update all its apps, including the Web version, at the same time.

Australian Police Urge Motorists to Turn Away From Apple Maps

"They're in a favorable position because they were an early free option on Android, which, of course, became very popular, and was the default mapping option on iPhone for many years," Ross Rubin, principal analyst at Reticle Research, told ABC News. "It has remained popular on iOS not only because of Apple's mapping missteps but because it is tied into other Google services on the desktop, just like Chrome on iOS that competes with the competent Safari."

Apple, however, isn't sitting still. Its forthcoming iOS 7 software for the iPhone and iPad will have an improved Maps app that integrates with Siri and with some cars.

But for the summer, Google's got a clear lead. The updated Google Maps apps are available now as updates in the Google Play Store for Android phones and in Apple's App Store for the iPhone and iPad.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/google-maps-updated-summer-travels-incident-traffic-alerts-194528963--abc-news-tech.html

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National Zoo taking no chances of another escape

WASHINGTON (AP) ? A red panda's escape and wanderings through residential sidewalks and backyards last month has prompted a new plan to inspect trees, bushes and other vegetation around every exhibit at the National Zoo.

An investigation determined Rusty the red panda likely climbed out through the trees in his exhibit. Now the limbs have been cut back, and the zoo has two cameras aimed at the red panda yard around the clock.

According to a zoo report on the escape obtained by The Associated Press following a public records request, the zoo has been investigating and observing Rusty ever since he was found in a nearby Washington neighborhood June 24.

The zoo's investigation found Rusty likely escaped late June 23 or early June 24 through tree limbs hanging low in his exhibit after a rain. No red panda tracks were found outside the exhibit, the report noted, so the exact route of his escape couldn't be determined.

Animal keepers have kept watch on Rusty's activity by day and night as an extra precaution. He returned to his public exhibit July 9 and spent the night outside for the first time Monday night with two keepers on duty to observe his behavior. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, a spokeswoman said.

"We identified and solved the problem that allowed Rusty to get out," the report noted. As of July 1, "we are confident that the exhibit can contain him."

The incident prompted the zoo to begin regular checks of all vegetation around enclosures to ensure animal containment is secure. There has been increased trimming throughout the zoo, said spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture sent an inspector to the zoo following the escape, and a copy of the brief inspection report was provided to the AP. On June 27, veterinarian Gloria McFadden found "an appropriate corrective action plan" had been developed following the escape.

Rusty was born in July 2012 at the Lincoln Children's Zoo in Lincoln, Neb. He was transferred to the National Zoo in April under breeding recommendations from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. He was moved into his exhibit in June after time in quarantine.

Less than a month later, the young, curious male was found exploring his new city in the Adams Morgan neighborhood. Residents snapped pictures of him along sidewalks and homes before zoo keepers cornered him in a tree and snagged him a net nearly ? of a mile from the zoo.

Following the escape, the zoo has removed bamboo ? a favorite food for red pandas ? around the re panda exhibit. The plants had grown high and likely helped create a "vegetative bridge" out of the enclosure. The idea of a snack may have drawn Rusty out for a treat, the report noted.

"Horticulture staff regularly trim vegetation in animal habitats to make sure containment is not compromised," said Baker-Masson, the zoo's spokeswoman. "In this case, zoo staff underestimated the growth brought about by perfect weather conditions (weeks of consistent rain)."

Hotwire lines that carry an electric current in the enclosure also were assessed and upgraded. A new visitor wall was added to create more tree-free space.

According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums guidelines for red pandas, enclosures must be created with the species' mobility in mind.

"Red pandas are excellent climbers, but poor jumpers, so dry-moated enclosures contain them well," according to an excerpt from the association's manual in the zoo's report. "Do not let the branches of climbing trees overhang the boundary fence."

It hasn't been determined if hotwire is an effective barrier, but it is sometimes used to keep wildlife from entering the exhibit. Hotwire should be considered a secondary barrier, according to the zoo association.

The National Zoo uses hotwire throughout the zoo as a deterrent in conjunction with walls, fences or other barriers, Baker-Masson said.

Unlike giant pandas, red pandas are not members of the bear family. They are slightly larger than a domestic cat and look similar to a raccoon. Red pandas are vulnerable in the wild and are native to Asia. Scientists believe about 10,000 of them remain.

___

National Zoo: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/

___

Follow Brett Zongker on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DCArtBeat

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/national-zoo-taking-no-chances-another-escape-184224405.html

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