Pot votes in CO, WA raise specter of weed tourism

Marijuana plants flourish under the lights at a grow house in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. Marijuana legalization votes this week in Colorado and Washington state don't just set up an epic state-federal showdown on drug law for residents. The measures also opens the door for marijuana tourism.(AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Marijuana plants flourish under the lights at a grow house in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. Marijuana legalization votes this week in Colorado and Washington state don't just set up an epic state-federal showdown on drug law for residents. The measures also opens the door for marijuana tourism.(AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Marijuana plants flourish under the lights at a grow house in Denver, on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. Marijuana legalization votes this week in Colorado and Washington state don't just set up an epic state-federal showdown on drug law for residents. The measures also opens the door for marijuana tourism. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Marijuana plants flourish under the lights at a grow house in Denver, on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. Marijuana legalization votes this week in Colorado and Washington state don't just set up an epic state-federal showdown on drug law for residents. The measures also opens the door for marijuana tourism. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

A worker inspects a marijuana plant at a grow house in Denver, on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. Marijuana legalization votes this week in Colorado and Washington state don't just set up an epic state-federal showdown on drug law for residents. The measures also opens the door for marijuana tourism. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Vendors work their booths during the National Marijuana Business Conference 2012 at the Sherman Street Event Center on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, in Denver. Colorado voters on Tuesday approved marijuana for recreational use. (AP Photo/The Denver Post, AAron Ontiveroz) MAGS OUT; TV OUT; INTERNET OUT

DENVER (AP) ? Hit the slopes ? and then a bong?

Marijuana legalization votes this week in Colorado and Washington state don't just set up an epic state-federal showdown on drug law for residents. The measures also open the door for marijuana tourism.

Both marijuana measures make marijuana possession in small amounts OK for all adults over 21 ? not just state residents but visitors, too. Tourists may not be able to pack their bowls along with their bags, but as long as out-of-state tourists purchase and use the drug while in Colorado or Washington, they wouldn't violate the marijuana measures.

Of course, that's assuming the recreational marijuana measures take effect at all. That was very much in doubt Friday as the states awaited word on possible lawsuits from the U.S. Department of Justice asserting federal supremacy over drug law.

So the future of marijuana tourism in Colorado and Washington is hazy. But that hasn't stopped rampant speculation, especially in Colorado, where tourism is the No. 2 industry thanks to the Rocky Mountains and a vibrant ski industry.

The day after Colorado approved recreational marijuana by a wide margin, the headline in the Aspen Times asked, "Aspendam?" referring to Amsterdam's marijuana cafes.

Colorado's tourism director, Al White, tried to downplay the prospect of a new marijuana tourism boom.

"It won't be as big a deal as either side hopes or fears," White said.

Maybe not. But many are asking about marijuana tourism.

Ski resorts are "certainly watching it closely," said Jennifer Rudolph of Colorado Ski Country USA, a trade association that represents 21 Colorado resorts.

Any plans for an adults-only apr?s lounge where skiers could get more than an Irish coffee to numb their aches?

"There's a lot that remains to be seen," Rudolph said with a chuckle. "I guess you could say we're waiting for the smoke to clear."

The Colorado counties where big ski resorts are located seem to have made up their minds. The marijuana measure passed by overwhelming margins, with more support than in less visited areas.

The home county of Aspen approved the marijuana measure more than 3-to-1. More than two-thirds approved marijuana in the home county of Colorado's largest ski resort, Vail. The home county of Telluride ski resort gave marijuana legalization its most lopsided victory, nearly 8 in 10 favoring the measure.

"Some folks might come to Colorado to enjoy some marijuana as will be their right. So what?" said Betty Aldworth, advocacy director for the Colorado marijuana campaign.

Washington state already sees a version of marijuana tourism.

Every summer on the shores of the Puget Sound, Seattle is host to "Hempfest," which according to organizers attracted around 250,000 people over three days this year. For those three days, people are largely left alone to smoke publically at a local park, even as police stand by.

"People travel to Seattle from other states and countries to attend Seattle Hempfest every year to experience the limited freedom that happens at the event," said executive director Vivian McPeak. "It's reasonable to assume that people will travel to Washington assuming that the federal government doesn't interfere."

McPeak draw parallels to Amsterdam where an annual "Cannabis Cup" attracts tourists from all over the world and Vancouver, British Columbia, which has lax marijuana rules that have borne marijuana cafes drawing travelers.

Amsterdam's marijuana tourism in a hazy spot these days, though. The incoming Dutch government suggested a national "weed pass" that would have been available only to residents and that would have effectively banned tourists from Amsterdam's marijuana cafes. The "weed pass" idea was scrapped, but under a provisional governing pact unveiled this week, Dutch cities can bar foreigners from weed shops if they choose.

Should the American laws stand, McPeak foresees the same happening to Seattle.

Marijuana "has been an emerging market in some states. It's reasonable to assume that entrepreneurs will try to take advantage of this in a new way."

In Denver, some feared that Colorado marijuana vote could deter tourists, not to mention business visitors.

"Colorado's brand will be damaged, and we may attract fewer conventions and see a decline in leisure travel," Visit Denver CEO Richard Scharf said in a statement before the vote.

Colorado's governor opposed the measure but said after its passage that he didn't envision marijuana tourism materializing.

"I don't think that's going to happen," Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper said.

"They're going to flock here to buy marijuana as if they're going to take it back? On an airplane? That seems unlikely to me. I think those kinds of fears are overblown."

Colorado's measure specifically bans public use of the drug. But guidelines for commercial sales are still to be worked out. The state's 536 medical marijuana dispensaries are banned from allowing on-site consumption, meaning patients have to take the drug home with them. But lawmakers could set different rules for recreational marijuana shops, including the possibility of marijuana cafes.

Marijuana backers downplayed the impact on tourism. Aldworth pointed out that pot-smoking tourists wouldn't exactly be new. Colorado ski slopes already are dotted with "smoke shacks," old mining cabins that have been illicitly repurposed as places to smoke pot out of the cold. And the ski resort town of Breckenridge dropped criminal penalties for marijuana use two years ago.

"Some folks come to Colorado and enjoy some marijuana while they are here today," Aldworth said.

The sheriff of the county including Aspen was sanguine about the prospects of pot-smoking visitors.

"For me, it's going to be live and let live. If people want to come to Colorado because pot is legal ? and that's the sole reason ? it's up to them," Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo told The Aspen Times. "I am not the lifestyle police."

___

Associated Press reporter Manuel Valdes in Seattle contributed to this report.

___

Find Kristen Wyatt on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/APkristenwyatt

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-11-09-Marijuana%20Tourism/id-f2fe1af6a4e64e9f977f0da9a9830ad3

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Asbestos Exposure | Automotive Brake Specialists

Use of asbestos in the U.S. reached its peak during the 1970s. The material appeared in such a wide range of products, asbestos exposure was a hazard that followed everyday people everywhere, from the insulation in their homes to the vermiculite in their gardens.

As if that weren?t enough, try to imagine having a job in which you had to work with asbestos on a regular basis. To this day, asbestos exposure is still a risk for individuals who work in certain sectors, such as construction.

At Kazan, McClain, Lyons, Greenwood and Harley, we do everything we can to educate people about how to avoid asbestos, particularly if they have regular contact with the material. One group of professionals that may be particularly at risk is automotive brake specialists.

No federal regulations
The physical properties of asbestos once made it a popular component of car brakes in the U.S. However, growing awareness of the relationship between asbestos and potentially fatal diseases such as malignant mesothelioma is driving a phase-out of the material from car brakes.

One team of researchers from California conducted a study in order to determine how many cars had brakes that were made with asbestos. For the experiment, they collected samples of the brake linings from 137 light- and medium-duty vehicles and 54 heavy-duty vehicles. They didn?t find any asbestos within the latter group. Among the light- and medium-duty cars, 3 percent of brake shoes used a chrysotile asbestos-containing model that is currently being phased out.

California law requires that asbestiform be present at only trace levels in brakes by 2014. Similarly, Washington state has the Better Brakes Law, which calls for the gradual elimination of copper, asbestos and heavy metals from brakes sold in Washington. Certification of environmentally friendly products will begin in January 2013.

However, no federal regulations on car brakes exist.

Protection for workers
Whether mechanics are working out of their own home or a commercial garage, they have to be sure to protect themselves from asbestos.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has several tips. Among them:

• Use the low pressure water sprays to wet the brakes and clutch, which can then be wiped with a cloth.
• Use pre-ground, ready-to-install parts whenever possible.
• If drilling, cutting or other methods that can disturb the asbestos are required, use low-speed settings.
• Remove work clothes before going home. Launder these items separately.

For more tips on safety, visit the EPA?s website.

Tagged as: automotive brake specialists asbestos exposure

Source: http://blog.kazanlaw.com/index.php/2012/11/08/automotive-brake-specialists-need-to-be-mindful-of-asbestos-exposure/

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Teaching challenges 2 | dogpossum.org

@robcorr has plopped this interesting quote up on his tumblr:

Vygotsky himself was absolutely clear that students do not learn by rote memorization. He states: ?scientific concepts are not simply acquired or memorized by the child and assimilated by his memory but arise and are formed through an extraordinary effort of his own thought?, and contemporary scholars have argued that Vygotsky did not advocate the use of a simple ?transmission? model of learning. Indeed, if we envision the ZPD [Zone of Proximal Development] not as a static zone to pass through or reach the end of, but rather as the continual unfolding of a zone of development that extends just beyond the growing, ever-developing ALD [Actual Level of Development] of the student, then we are more prone to understand teaching as an active, process-oriented relationship with ebbs and flows, growth and stagnation, leaps and pauses. To envision the ZPD of a student in such a way, a way that embraces learning and teaching as intertwined, dynamic, dialectical processes, does not allow for a simple transmission model of education. Rather, such a pedagogical vision requires that we be student-centered in our understanding ofwhere a student is developmentally, by building our instructional relationships based on that level of development, and by using ongoing, concentric feedback loops for the teacher or more capable peer to continually assess where a given student?s ALD and ZPD may lie. Additionally, we must remember that teachers, as developing individuals themselves, also have their own ALD and ZPD with regard to their understanding of both their teaching practice and their students. To recognize this also challenges the use of transmission models of teaching and learning within Vygotsky?s framework because it assumes that teachers themselves are also learning, developing, and growing. As Freire correcdy argues, such a conception of teaching and learning does not allow for didactic forms of instruction. Because neither teacher nor student are perfectly formed, all involved in educative relationships are in the process of learning and re-learning themselves and each other.
(Wayne Au, ?Vygotsky and Lenin on learning: The parallel structures of individual and social development?, Science & Society, vol 71, no 3
(Source: lchc.ucsd.edu))

Yes, this dovetails nicely with my previous post ?teaching challenges?, but more interestingly (for me), it resonates with criticisms of positivism in research practice. In a positivist research method, the assumption is that a researcher can simply extract ?facts? from the field through objective research.
In contrast, critical theory (especially in reference to the Frankfurt School) makes it clear that we can?t really do objective research in communities and culture, as who we are affects not only the way we interpret data gained in research, but how we collect data and devise research projects and tasks. Instead, it?s much more useful to go into a research project assuming that you?ll be doing subjective research. As a feminist scholar, I?d argue that it?s important that we then also clearly state who we are when we write about our research, and that we work to become aware of our privilege or power or lack thereof.

What does this have to do with drilling as a teaching tool? Drilling assumes that a teacher can just inject information into a student?s head, and that drilling is how we make this information stick. If you follow this thought to its ?logical? conclusion, if the information doesn?t stick, then the student simply hasn?t drilled enough; the fault is with the student.

But teaching isn?t science, and teaching and learning aren?t objective methods. They?re a complex relationship with all sorts of interesting things going on. By embracing diversity in a student cohort, and by embracing the idea of teacher not as objective scientist, we open our learning up to all sorts of happy unexpectedness. Also with the creativity.

?if I had more time and knew anything at all about the stuff in Rob?s quote up there, I?d like to go on and interrogate the concept of ?cultural transmission? in dance. There, the idea is that particular dance steps move between generations within a community, between communities, and across time through a range of unregulated channels. As I said in that last post, utility and cultural relevance determine whether or not a particular dance step is taken up or abandoned. It?s not a neat, clean, process, no matter how much Arthur Murray would have liked to think so. The most robust, socially sustainable dance communities do not centre on formal dance classes, they rely on ? are built on ? unregulated, uninstitutionalised creative practice. This, of course, is where I paint myself into a corner. If I was SRS about jazz dance as a vernacular dance, I wouldn?t teach in formal classes, I?d be all about informal teaching and learning on the social dance floor, in domestic spaces, and so on. I do battle with this tension. But my own way of dealing with it is to encourage our students to teach other people what they?ve learnt. To take their steps to the social floor and lead them, to actively take an hour with friends to show them how a step works, and to choreograph routines that incorporate this material. See one, do on, teach one.
The challenge for me, then, comes when I see other dancers who?ve never come to our classes benefitting from all the hard transcription, practice and teaching preparation we put into our poorly paid classes. Yes, that is the point of it ? to see this stuff spring to life on the social dance floor. But then I?d also kind of like to make a bit of money for all our hard work. This, of course, is where I say to myself, ?Self! Get over yourself! You can?t own a dance! And if you try, you are DOING IT WRONG.? Then I remind myself of Frankie: ?Do it once and it?s yours, do it twice and it?s mine,? and take my sorry arse off to the studio to do some goddamn practice.

(NB this photo is by Helen Levitt, but I?m not sure what year :( )

Source: http://dogpossum.org/2012/11/teaching-challenges-2/

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Charlie Wi takes lead at Disney in PGA Tour finale

Charlie Wi hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals golf tournament in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Julie Fletcher)

Charlie Wi hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals golf tournament in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Julie Fletcher)

Tommy Gainey hits his tee shot on the tenth hole during the first round of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic golf tournament in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Julie Fletcher)

Camilo Villegas, of Colombia, hits his tee shot on the tenth hole during the first round of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic PGA Tour in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Julie Fletcher)

Tommy Gainey putts on the ninth hole during the first round of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic PGA Tour in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Julie Fletcher)

Jonas Blixt, of Sweden, hits his tee shot on the 10th hole during the first round of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic golf tournament in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Julie Fletcher)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) ? Getting off to a quick start is nothing new for Charlie Wi. The hard part is figuring out how to finish.

Wi took the 18-hole lead for the third time this year ? and the eighth time in his PGA Tour career ? by closing with back-to-back birdies Thursday for an 8-under 64 on the easier Palm Course at Disney. That gave him a one-shot lead over Camilo Villegas and Tommy Gainey in the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic.

This is the 184th career start for Wi on the PGA Tour and he's still looking for his first win.

Wi atop the leaderboard was a reminder that there's more at stake in the final PGA Tour event of the year than players trying to keep their jobs. Each event is another opportunity for him to get his first win, and that's would it take for him to have a chance of getting into the top 30 on the money list to earn his first trip to the Masters.

"Top 30 is definitely a goal," Wi said. "I'm not just showing up to play. You've got to have goals. I at least want to give myself a chance."

Gainey doesn't have that opportunity. He won for the first time on tour three weeks ago at Sea Island when he closed with a 60, but he was so far down the money list that even a win at Disney wouldn't be enough for him to get into the Masters.

Even so, Gainey is on a roll. He is 17-under par in his last two rounds, courtesy of the 65 he posted on the Palm.

"My goal is just to win, anyway," he said. "The way I'm playing right now, keep hitting the golf shots and keep hitting it in the fairways, and with the way I'm rolling this putter, it's going to be good by Sunday afternoon."

Villegas was another story.

A rising star in 2008 when he won consecutive FedEx Cup playoff events and rose to No. 7 in the world, Villegas has fallen on tough times. He hasn't won since then, failed to qualify for any of the majors this year, has plunged to No. 214 in the world ranking and is at No. 150 on the money list. Only the top 125 earn their full cards for next year, and if Villegas falls out of the top 150, he'll have to go to the second stage of Q-school.

One thing that has changed is his attitude. Villegas realized he has a great job, stopped getting angry with his golf and decided to start having more fun. It appears to be working, and now the Colombian can only hope the change is not too late.

"Trust me, people remind you, 'Hey, you're 150th on the money list.' And I'm kind of like, 'Life is good. Just keep going.' If you're good at this game, if you're out, you'll be back in. Who knows? Just take it one shot at a time."

The top 12 scores came from the Palm, which played about 1.7 shots easier than the Magnolia, where the final two rounds will be played. Henrik Stenson and Charles Howell III were among five players whose 68 was the best score at Magnolia.

Brian Harman, Scott Stallings and Russell Knox, the rookie from Scotland who is outside the top 150, were at 66. Kevin Chappell, at No. 123 on the money list, overcame an early bogey and was in the group at 67.

"I feel like if you give me enough opportunities, which I've had, I've got to play well at least one week," Chappell said. "If it's the last week of the year, that's great."

Chappell is well aware of his standing on the money list, though he was doing his best to hit good shots and to try to make putts. He changed coaches this year and was making decent progress until getting a six-week break when he failed to get past the first round of the FedEx Cup playoffs.

"I got engrossed with the golf swing, and when I came back to the fall finish, I was playing golf swing. I wasn't playing golf," Chappell said.

The first two days of Disney are a pro-am, and it's common for some players to ask to be paired with friends ? Mike Weir and Dean Wilson, Harris English and Brian Harman. A year ago, the tour put Luke Donald and Webb Simpson in the same group as they battled for the money title.

This year is a little different.

Rod Pampling is at No. 124 on the money list. He was paired with Billy Mayfair, who is at No. 125. Right behind them were Gary Christian and Alexandre Rocha, who are at No. 127 and No. 128 and right in the mix to keep their jobs.

Pampling opened with a 70 and Mayfair a 72. Christian and Rocha each had a 71.

"I was a bit surprised by that," Pampling said, grinning. "We're all grinding. ... You don't need the guys right behind you and next to you. But that's OK. Billy is easy to play with. And it's not going to change anything, anyway."

The biggest change belonged to Villegas. At some point this year, he realized that he played golf for a living and figured it wasn't worth getting overly frustrated about his scores.

"The game comes and kind of bites us, and the last year and a half hasn't been pretty, I can tell you that," he said. "Even though I kept putting in the hours, sometimes it doesn't matter. You put those hours in and if you're not having fun, you're not going to get much out of it. So I've definitely changed a little bit the attitude. And, yes, I've been playing a lot better. ... I've had a great attitude the last few months and I've been really close."

The tough part will be going to the Magnolia course Friday, and that goes for Wi, too.

He opened with a 61 at Monterey Peninsula in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and took a three-shot lead into the final round until he opened with a four-putt double bogey and wound up finishing second to Phil Mickelson. He had the lead at Bay Hill and was tied with Tiger Woods going into the weekend until he faded, and Woods won his first tour event in more than two years.

Mickelson is in Singapore. Woods is taking time off. The biggest name at Disney is Davis Love III, who opened with a 73. Wi still has a long way to go before Sunday.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-11-08-Disney/id-e09660fb087845cb86ae30e2fc95be30

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About the Nephilim

In a world of elves, people know who their mate is by the energy surge they feel from each other. The problem is, one elf feels it from a Nephilim who can't feel her surge.

Owner:

Game Masters:

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

Topic Tags:

Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.
In this thread, yours truly, ZacharyTC, will explain the things you need to know about Nephilim (there is quite a bit of information in the four roleplays this one is based off of that I came up with) so you know what to expect when you make your posts and are familiar with their past.

Because there is so much information, I will explain it in parts when posting here as we move along in this roleplay.

[CENTER]

Monsters create victims. Some victims become monsters to return the favor to the monsters who victimize them.

ZacharyTC

Member for 0 years

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FlightBridge Consolidates Flight-Handling Data | Aviation ...

Improving communications between flight departments and service providers is the goal of FlightBridge, a newly launched company making its NBAA debut. The company?s web-based technology platform was developed to eliminate the many phone, email and fax-based communications that result from changes in travel plans. According to the company (Booth No. 3508), the process of setting up, canceling and modifying arrangements with service providers is much more direct using its?product.

?FlightBridge consolidates all ancillary services such as hotel and car rental bookings, catering, ground transportation and FBO and handler reservations and requests under one platform,? said company president Dudley King. The service offers two-way communication allowing service providers to request clarification and provide customers with service?updates.

?Additionally, FlightBridge supports secure, real-time visibility of relevant information to the flight department, crew, FBO/handler and other service providers,? explained?King.

The platform can integrate with professional flight management (PFM) scheduling software. Any changes made in PFM will automatically generate alerts and notify service providers of those?changes.

Atlanta-based FlightBridge launched in June and in its first 10 weeks it facilitated more than 1,000 service requests across more than 500 trips. On its website?www.flightbridge.com?the company also provides a searchable international database listing FBOs, catering and ground transportation providers by airport.?C.E.

Source: http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/nbaa-convention-news/2012-10-30/flightbridge-consolidates-flight-handling-data

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Anti-Age Your Body | Fashion Style Magazine

These simple adjustments to your lifestyle can really add up. Plus, get the best beauty tips for every age.

WHAT CAUSES AGING?

Like death and taxes, aging is something we all go through eventually?nips, tucks, Spinning classes, and green juices notwithstanding. And yet you can keep the effects of aging at arm?s length, enjoying many more vibrant, healthy years looking fabulous than generations before. The question is not, How will I age? but, How much can I slow it down? From exercise and diet to supplements and brain training, here are the most effective ways to hold back the hands of time.

First, let?s ID the enemy. Scientists are continuing to isolate the main causes of aging (beyond the mere passage of time), and keeping each one in mind as you make daily choices will make a world of difference.

TO START, THERE?S OXIDATION
which occurs when too many free radicals (a normal by-product of metabolism) go unchecked, leading to stressed tissues and weakened organs. Think of oxidation as a bit like rust on a bike. Without proper intervention?like antioxidants?free radicals can make your system rather worn-out and creaky.

NEXT, INFLAMMATION
particularly the whole-body, low-level inflammation that is associated with heart disease, mental decline, and arthritis. Excess weight, stress, and poor diet can all cause inflammation.

THIRD, GLYCATION
a process wherein sugar molecules attach to protein molecules, resulting in damaged, more inflexible tissue. This can not only lead to wrinkles but also hamper the working of internal organs.

FINALLY, LOOK TO YOUR DNA
Specifically, to the very tips of each strand, called telomeres. Emerging science (which garnered the Nobel Prize in 2009) has found a link between short telomere length and increased signs of aging. (Each time a cell divides, the telomeres erode further.) Many factors can hasten the shortening process, but a few habits can help keep strands long and strong.

DIET SECRETS

Certainly you?ve heard about the benefits of a balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. So we?re not going to retread that territory. Instead, here?s some of the newest research on what to eat.

GO EASY ON THE GRILLING
While it?s often thought of as a dieter?s delight (simple, easy, flavorful), grilling is a key factor in glycation, says Janis Jibrin, lead nutritionist for TheBestLife.com, because high heat creates something called an advanced glycation end product (AGE). The more aptly named AGEs in your body, the more potential for cellular damage. Rather, choose lower-heat cooking methods, such as steaming, poaching, or using a slow cooker, says Jibrin. She also notes that marinating meats can cut down on AGEs, particularly if you use a marinade with lemon or vinegar to increase the acidity.

VEGGIES NEED BACKUP
Yes, you know to eat those antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, but when in doubt, add a range of items to your plate, says Jibrin, since each one helps the other in the free-radical cleanup effort. ?Orange, grape, and blueberry together have a more powerful antioxidant effect than if you added up the effect of each,? she says.

ANOTHER PERK TO COFFEE
It?s constantly in the news for something (good, bad, or indifferent), but a recent Finnish study found that people who drank three to five cups of coffee a day had a 65 percent lower risk of Alzheimer?s and dementia. Tea has impressive anti-aging benefits too, says Bob Greene, health expert and author of 20 Years Younger. It?s linked to lower risk of stroke, heart disease, Alzheimer?s, Parkinson?s, and some cancers.

A SWEET SIGHT
Dark chocolate makes its own headlines for its heart-healthy antioxidants, but recent studies add improved vision and athletic endurance to the benefits. Look for 50 percent cacao and avoid ?Dutch processed? or ?alkalized? bars, says Jibrin, because these processes can strip antioxidants.

EXERCISE THAT WORKS

The usual suspects?cardio, strength training, and stretching?should be old news by now. By lowering your body weight, achieving a more ideal body mass index (BMI), and increasing your muscle mass, you?ll beat back age-related muscle loss, heart disease, diabetes, insulin resistance, and pretty much every other chronic condition you can think of, says Greene. Exercise is so powerful it can actually lengthen those ever-shortening telomeres that are such an accurate marker of aging.

WORK OUT HARDER, NOT LONGER
While it may be tempting to scrap a workout if you don?t have a full 30 to 60 minutes to spare, a raft of studies have found that the benefits of brief blasts are substantial. You don?t have to sprint until you pass out, but if you?re on the elliptical and reading a magazine, you?d better be dripping sweat on every page, says health psychologist Eli Puterman, who studies the link between exercise and aging at the University of California, San Francisco. ?To get the most benefits, the truth is that exercise should be hard,? says Greene.

SWEAT FOR YOUR SANITY
Exercise also helps squelch depression, reduce stress, boost brain volume, and bolster your memory, says Puterman. In one recent study, researchers saw actual growth in the brain?s memory area among older adults who began an exercise regimen, says exercise physiologist Geralyn Coopersmith, national director of the Equinox Fitness Training Institute.

SHAKE IT
Those hulking Power Plate machines at most gyms just may be the best reason to keep paying your dues, says Coopersmith. Research has shown that ?whole-body vibration? sessions can help grow muscle tissue and balance levels of cortisol and other hormones.,

THE BEST SUPPLEMENTS

No health expert worth his or her salt would deny that the best way to get most youth-enhancing nutrients is the old-fashioned method: through diet. But in some cases, a bit of a helping hand may be warranted. Take a multivitamin and consider the following:

GET EXTRA OMEGA-3S
Unless you?re eating several servings of fatty fish per week, chances are you?re not reaping the benefits of their potent fatty acids. Omega-3 fish oils have been shown to reduce heart disease risk and help fortify the brain, says Jeffrey Blumberg, director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. Aim for 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams per day.

DO D
Unless you live year-round near the equator, eat tons of beef liver, mushrooms, or certain types of fish, or entirely skip sunscreen, you?re probably not getting enough vitamin D, says Blumberg. Adds Greene, ?A dearth of D has been linked to age accelerants, including depression, osteoporosis, weak immunity, and heart disease.? Blumberg advises 1,000 to 2,000 IUs a day.

BEWARE THE HORMONE HYPE
Some aggressive ?antiaging clinics? have begun singing the praises of human growth hormone (hGH) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplements?two substances that our bodies produce in diminishing levels as we age. The theory is, if these hormones define the very essence of our younger years, why not add them back in as time marches on? In fact, there have been some reports of gains in stamina and muscle, and lower body fat, from taking hGH, says endocrinologist John J. Merendino Jr., assistant clinical professor at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C. ?But treated individuals have also had an increase in certain problems, including arthritis and diabetes,? says Merendino. For DHEA, ?most studies have not shown any real improvement in muscle or bone mass or stamina or overall perceived well-being,? he says. In short, it?s risky.

CAN YOU REPAIR YOUR DNA?
Ever since it was discovered that undersize DNA telomeres were implicated in aging, the search has been on for something to help stretch out those strands, namely, to find something to mimic declining levels of the enzyme telomerase. Enter TA-65, the name brand of a molecule extracted from Chinese astragalus root, which seems to lengthen dwindling tips, at least in animal studies. Bottom line: Stick to working out. Coopersmith points to a German study that found vigorous exercisers had the telomeres of people up to 10 years younger.

MIND MATTERS

Cutting stress is easier said than done?and it?s often overlooked as a prime source of aging. But pressures of work, caregiving, and any emotional upheaval can prompt a near-constant flow of the stress hormone cortisol, which, when unneeded, can disrupt sleep, prompt hunger and belly-fat storage, and a host of other toxic effects, Coopersmith says. Her advice to new moms and caregivers for aging parents: Get help. A 2007 study found that people in caregiving roles had accelerated telomere shortening, literally aging faster than those not under pressure.

SLEEP IT OFF
Adequate shut-eye is as important as anything in staying youthful. Sleep is when the body repairs, says Coopersmith, and getting enough keeps stress at bay, your mind sharp, pounds off, and blood sugar stable.

LIGHTEN UP
New research has found a strong link between depression, anxiety, anger, and shorter telomeres, says physician Hilary Tindle, who does research at the Pittsburgh Mind-Body Center. ?We?ve seen that increased optimism and forgiveness can lower blood pressure and heart rate, and reduce depression, which helps tamp down overall inflammation,? adds Tindle.

SEE THE FOREST?AND THE TREES
Find something that injects short bursts of joy and relaxation into your day, says Tindle. Treat yourself to fresh flowers weekly. Or even just align your desk to get a more verdant view. Research shows that people who have a view of nature have lower stress levels than those who don?t. So that beach vacation you?re thinking of taking? Tell your accountant it?s an investment in your health.

Tags: Anti-Age Your Body, Beauty, headline, health

Source: http://www.fashionstylemag.com/2012/beauty/anti-age-your-body/

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Linda Hogan on Hulk Hogan Sex Tape: What an Embarrassment!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/10/linda-hogan-on-hulk-hogan-sex-tape-what-an-embarrassment/

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Painless Tinnitus Research Products | Healthuse - Health & Fitness ...

It is time to take action and get rid of your tinnitus. Perhaps you have not tried doing anything before because this ringing in your ears does not seem to be a serious problem. Actually, tinnitus could be a symptom of a health issue and can be more than just being unpleasant. Read this article to learn more.

There are many natural sleep aids which can help you fall asleep without being harassed by the symptoms of tinnitus. Herbal teas like chamomile are an excellent treatment to start with, but if that doesn?t work you can visit a health product store and they?ll be able to recommend an item which can provide you with some relief.

Be curious about your disease! Find out what tinnitus is, what makes it worse, where the sounds come from, and how you can make the symptoms better. Investigate exercises which help, or diet changes which make the ringing quieter. You have to be your own best friend when it comes to finding the treatment which works for you!

Use ?white noise? to help manage tinnitus. If your doctor has looked for and ruled out treatable conditions, you can still minimize the sensation of ringing or whistling in your ears by using external masking sounds such as an electric fan or quiet music. White noise can also help you sleep better, which is good for your overall health.

One tip for managing tinnitus is to visit the dentist and get evaluated for dental problems. Have the dentist check for temporomandibular jaw syndrome and discuss treatments with you if it is needed. If you wear dentures, have the dentist check that they fit you properly. Correcting dental problems may help reduce tinnitus. Visit Click HERE for quality info.

Look into using a hearing aid. If you are getting tinnitus because of an issue with your ears, a hearing aid might help reduce the strain on your ears. It will also help you hear better over the noise known as tinnitus if you experience it frequently enough to keep you from being able to have conversations.

When you start to hear ringing in your ears, it is extremely important to stay calm. It may not mean anything at all, and it usually is not a sign of a serious condition at all. If it does go away on its own, you may want to see a doctor, though it is nothing to freak out about.

As documented above, there are about 50 million people who suffer with tinnitus, and about 12 million who seek a doctor?s help to alleviate the problem. There are methods to deal with it or eliminate it, depending on the cause of it. The tips described in this article will hopefully help you to lessen the effects of tinnitus.

Hop over to our site for up to date guidance on You Could Look HERE & Tinnitus ? an a-z.

Source: http://www.healthuse.com/painless-tinnitus-research-products.html

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UK: Hearing into CIA drones would dent US ties

LONDON (AP) ? Ties between Britain, the U.S. and Pakistan could be jeopardized if a judge grants a request for a court inquiry into the possible role of U.K. spy agencies in aiding covert CIA drone strikes in Pakistan's northwest tribal region, a government lawyer told Britain's High Court on Thursday.

James Eadie, lawyer for Britain's Foreign Office, insisted that intelligence sharing between Britain and the U.S. ? already under strain by previous disclosures made in London courtrooms ? and links between Washington and Pakistan would all potentially be cast into doubt.

Noor Khan, a 27-year-old whose father was killed by a drone strike in northwest Pakistan in March 2011, has asked Britain's High Court to examine whether U.K. intelligence officials assisted the action and may be liable for prosecution.

His legal advisers want a judge to determine whether Britain's secret eavesdropping agency, the Government Communications Headquarters, or GCHQ, has passed location data to guide CIA drones, and whether the U.K. has agreed to a secret policy of assistance to the program of targeting militants.

"Adjudicating on the claim plainly would have significant impact on the conduct of the United Kingdom's relations with both the United States and Pakistan," Eadie told a three-day hearing at the High Court. "It would also be likely to have such an impact on relations between the United States and Pakistan. That impact would be felt in an acutely controversial, sensitive and important context."

Since 2004, CIA drones have targeted suspected militants with missile strikes in the Pakistani tribal regions, killing hundreds of people. The program is controversial because of questions about its legality, the number of civilians it has killed and its impact on Pakistan's sovereignty.

Khan's father, Malik Daud Khan, was attending a meeting of local elders in Datta Khel, in North Waziristan, when it was hit by a missile fired from an unmanned drone, killing around 40 people.

British officials have not commented publicly on their policy toward CIA drone strikes. U.S. officials do not publicly acknowledge the covert program.

Pakistani officials have urged the U.S. to halt its program and to instead relay intelligence gathered by the pilotless aircraft to Pakistani jets and ground forces so that they can target militants themselves.

Kat Craig, legal director of the Reprieve charity, which is representing Khan, said that her client "merely wishes to know what role the British intelligence services play in this game of one-sided Russian roulette."

"He is calling for the veil of secrecy around Britain's drones policy to be lifted so that he can keep his community safe. We share his concerns about the lack of accountability, and the morality of the U.K. being dragged into an illegal attack on a country with whom we are not at war," she said.

Last year, British spy agencies were accused of sharing sensitive information with Moammar Gadhafi's regime in Libya, leading to the torture or rendition of two Libyan men and their families. The case is now the subject of an inquiry by British police.

Previously, intelligence sharing between Britain and the U.S. was put under strain after a London court made public details of abuse that ex-Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed alleges he suffered at the hands of U.S. intelligence officials. Mohamed had accused the British government of complicity in his alleged torture.

Britain's Foreign Office said that a decision on whether to grant Khan a hearing is expected to be handed down by the High Court before the year's end.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uk-hearing-cia-drones-dent-us-ties-132438491.html

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Need Home Improvement Advice? Try Out These Tips - PDF

Need Home Improvement Advice? Try Out These Tips

Learning how to perform home improvements can help reduce many costs of home
ownership if you can perform them properly. This article is a great source to help you
determine which projects you can take on yourself, and which should be delegated to a
professional. When in doubt, hire a professional.

Before you start home improvments you should think about telling your neighbors about it.
Listening to construction all day long is very irritating. Neighbors will appreciate learning
when the greatest disturbance will be and how long it will go on.

When you plan an improvement, allow space for debris to build up. Demolition makes a big
mess that you have to put somewhere. You need to know where you will put all of your
debris so that it is out of the way.

Besides adding easily-changeable color to a room's decor, the right window treatments can
help to make a room more spacious. This can be a huge asset when dealing with rooms that
have cramped-feeling low ceilings. Curtain rods and drapes placed in a higher location can
make ceilings seem higher.

Make sure you do not just hire someone that is offering a low price. You might think you are
saving money, but if he does not ask for a lot he may charge you more in the end. A low
price can indicate the quality of work that will be rendered. Make sure you know exactly what
work needs to be done so you can price it properly and select a contractor from a good base
of understanding.

Install LED lights that are automatic and powered by batteries in your closet spaces. You can
now find these lights at the dollar stores! They are also usually very easy to install, saving
you time and money. Others come with double-sided sticky tape. These lights come on when
the closet door is opened and turn off when it is closed!

Consider upgrading appliances as a simple home improvement option, in order to save
money on utility bills. If you upgrade those older appliances to newer energy-saving models,
the savings on your utility bills could pay for the upgrade itself over time. It is pretty easy to
install appliances, making this project a smart, efficient method of home improvement.

Now that you have read the article, you are armed with some serious DIY advice and tips.
Tackle the big jobs, or make some simple changes based on the principles of feng shui!
Following the ideas of feng shui can be an economical home improvement that improves the
aesthetics of your home. Shop The Bargain Paint Racks For Thrifty Home Improvement
Quick Advice From One Handyman To Another Quick Advice From One Handyman To
Another

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Source: http://pdfcast.org/pdf/need-home-improvement-advice-try-out-these-tips-2

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Tip has Mobilicity's 21Mbps HSPA+ network going live next week with throttling after 6GB

Mobilicity's much-needed 21Mbps network upgrade may be almost at hand... with a catch. A leak to MobileSyrup reportedly has the HSPA+ network arriving sometime next week in tandem with an $80 Huawei E366 USB modem to exploit the new speeds. However, the Canadian carrier might just slap an asterisk on the end of that "unlimited" tag it's been using so far. Current customers may be relegated to a Basic Unlimited Data tier where any use past 6GB is potentially throttled; anyone needing full speed beyond that would have to either slap on a $20 Premium Data add-on or switch outright to a comprehensive $50 data plan, with both plans bumping the ceiling to 20GB. The two could remain better deals than for the major carriers, at least if you don't mind eschewing LTE. Nonetheless, any truth to the offerings might take away one more choice for truly unlimited data in the True North.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

Tip has Mobilicity's 21Mbps HSPA+ network going live next week with throttling after 6GB originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 19:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  MobileSyrup  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/JdwgLoKjmzI/

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Quotations of the day

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C?est difficile: Researchers develop cocktail of bacteria that eradicates Clostridium difficile infection in mice

ScienceDaily (Oct. 25, 2012) ? In a new study out today, researchers used mice to identify a combination six naturally occurring bacteria that eradicate a highly contagious form of Clostridium difficile, an infectious bacterium associated with many hospital deaths. Three of the six bacteria have not been described before. This work may have significant implications for future control and treatment approaches.

The researchers found that this strain of C. difficile, known as O27, establishes a persistent, prolonged contagious period, known as supershedding that is very difficult to treat with antibiotics. These contagious 'supershedders' release highly resistant spores for a prolonged period that are very difficult to eradicate from the environment. Similar scenarios are likely in hospitals.

C. difficile can cause bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain and is a contributing factor to over 2,000 deaths in the UK in 2011. It lives naturally in the body of some people where other bacteria in the gut suppress its numbers and prevent it from spreading. If a person has been treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic such as clindamycin, our bodies' natural bacteria can be destroyed and the gut can become overrun by C. difficile. The aggressive strain of C. diff analysed in this study has been responsible for epidemics in Europe, North America and Australia.

"We treated mice infected with this persistent form of C. diff with a range of antibiotics but they consistently relapsed to a high level of shedding or contagiousness," says Dr Trevor Lawley, first author from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. "We then attempted treating the mice using faecal transplantation, homogenized faeces from a healthy mouse. This quickly and effectively supressed the disease and supershedding state with no reoccurrence in the vast majority of cases."

"This epidemic caused by C. diff is refractory to antibiotic treatment but can be supressed by faecal transplantation, resolving symptoms of disease and contagiousness."

The team wanted to take this research one step further and isolate the precise bacteria that supressed C. diff. and restored microbial balance of the gut. They cultured a large number of bacteria naturally found in the gut of mice, all from one of four main groups of bacteria found in mammals. They tested many combinations of these bacteria, until they isolated a cocktail of six that worked best to suppress the infection.

"The mixture of six bacterial species effectively and reproducibly suppressed the C. difficile supershedder state in mice, restoring the healthy bacterial diversity of the gut," says Professor Harry Flint, senior author from the University of Aberdeen.

The team then sequenced the genomes of the six bacteria and compared their genetic family tree to more precisely define them. Based on this analysis, the team found that the mixture of six bacteria contained three that have been previously described and three novel species. This mix is genetically diverse and comes from all four main groups of bacteria found in mammals.

These results illustrate the effectiveness of displacing C. diff and the supershedder microbiota with a defined mix of bacteria, naturally found in the gut.

"Our results open the way to reduce the over-use of antibiotic treatment and harness the potential of naturally occurring microbial communities to treat C. difficile infection and transmission, and potentially other diseases associated with microbial imbalances," explains Professor Gordon Dougan, senior author from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. "Faecal transplantation is viewed as an alternative treatment but it is not widely used because of the risk of introducing harmful pathogens as well as general patient aversion. This model encapsulates some of the features of faecal therapy and acts as a basis to develop standardized treatment mixture."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Trevor D. Lawley, Simon Clare, Alan W. Walker, Mark D. Stares, Thomas R. Connor, Claire Raisen, David Goulding, Roland Rad, Fernanda Schreiber, Cordelia Brandt, Laura J. Deakin, Derek J. Pickard, Sylvia H. Duncan, Harry J. Flint, Taane G. Clark, Julian Parkhill, Gordon Dougan. Targeted Restoration of the Intestinal Microbiota with a Simple, Defined Bacteriotherapy Resolves Relapsing Clostridium difficile Disease in Mice. PLoS Pathogens, 2012; 8 (10): e1002995 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002995

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/_svVk_0hgFQ/121025174629.htm

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Amazon reports weak results, shares slip

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc reported weak quarterly results on Thursday as the world's largest Internet retailer spent heavily and suffered from an economic slowdown in Europe.

Amazon shares slipped slightly to $220.48 in after-hours trading after the results.

The company said its third-quarter net loss was $274 million, or 60 cents a share, versus net income of $63 million, or 14 cents a share, in the third quarter of 2011. Part of the loss related to an impairment charge from Amazon's investment in daily deal company LivingSocial.

Third-quarter revenue was $13.81 billion, up 27 percent from a year earlier, Amazon also said.

Amazon was expected to lose 8 cents a share in the third quarter on revenue of $13.9 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Before Thursday's report, Amazon had generated 18 straight quarters of net income, according to BGC Partners.

For the crucial fourth-quarter holiday shopping period, Amazon forecast revenue that missed analysts' expectations. The company also gave a wide forecast for operating income in the period - and the mid-point of the range was lower than some analysts' estimates.

"There's increased competition from mass merchants and big box retailers embedded in that guidance," said RJ Hottovy, an equity analyst at Morningstar. "There's a lot of competition this holiday, and it's not clear how this will play out, even for smart operators like Amazon."

Amazon is facing more competition this holiday season from big retailers such as Target Corp and Best Buy Co Inc, which are planning to match some of the company's prices online.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world's largest retailer, is also testing same-day delivery in some cities this holiday, while Target is selling more exclusive products that cannot be bought at lower prices online.

Amazon is also spending heavily on new distribution warehouses and technology to support its cloud-computing businesses, Amazon Web Services. It is also investing hundreds of millions of dollars a year on digital content to sell through its Kindle tablets and e-readers.

Amazon Chief Financial Officer Tom Szkutak said the company will continue investing heavily in technology and infrastructure and digital content.

The Kindle gadgets are being sold at cost, pressuring earnings in the short term. Amazon hopes to make money when customers use them to buy more physical and digital products from the company.

Amazon launched new Kindle Fire tablets in September and CFO Szkutak said demand has been "fantastic."

Chief Executive Jeff Bezos said in a statement that the new $199 Kindle Fire HD, the new Kindle Paperwhite e-reader and the entry-level $69 Kindle e-reader are the top three best-selling products on Amazon, based on unit sales.

Szkutak said Kindle Fire tablet users are purchasing a lot more digital content through the devices, as well as watching free video content.

The introduction of new tablets and e-readers should be good for digital content sales going forward, he added.

Europe's sovereign debt crisis and recession is reducing consumer demand, sparking concern that even fast-growing Internet companies may be affected.

EBay Chief Financial Officer Bob Swan said last week that the company expected an "OK" holiday season, partly because of macro pressure in Europe.

Amazon said on Thursday that revenue from North America was $7.88 billion, up 33 percent from a year earlier. International sales, including Europe, totaled $5.92 billion, up 20 percent from the same period in 2011.

(Reporting By Alistair Barr; Editing by M.D. Golan)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/amazon-reports-big-quarterly-net-loss-201043409--sector.html

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Helping You Keep an Eye on the Fees That Can Eat Away at Your ...

October 21-27 is National Save for Retirement Week and this is a great time to stop and assess your retirement goals and savings strategy, and to see where you are by checking your retirement benefit statements.

By now you and the nearly 72 million American workers in 401(k) type plans across the country may have received a very important document in the mail from your employer. ?This document concerns your 401(k) account, and the fees you pay for it.

A new rule enacted by the Department of Labor went into effect this summer which required that many private sector employers begin disclosing those fees to workers by August 30. This is the first time that employers who sponsor retirement plans have been required to disclose this type of fee information. Some have called it the biggest thing to happen to the 401(k) since these plans were created.

Many recent surveys have shown that most workers with 401(k) and similar accounts are unaware that they pay any fees for them. The truth is that retirement savings plans aren?t free. And it?s why we issued new fee disclosure rules to help you understand what you?re being charged to invest in such a plan.

No matter how generous your employer is in helping you save for the future, your retirement plan isn?t free ? you?re paying for it ? and as a consumer you?re entitled to know what you?re being charged. Our new rules are designed to increase transparency and ensure your hard-earned savings are not diminished by hidden costs and excessive fees.

Specifically, there are investment management costs which primarily consist of what a fund company charges to manage the funds in which you?re invested. There are also administrative costs for retirement plans such as costs for recordkeeping, accounting and legal services. We estimate that paying just 1-percent more in fees can cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in retirement savings over the course of a career.

Assume that you are an employee with 35 years until retirement and a current 401(k) account balance of $25,000. If returns on investments in your account over the next 35 years average 7 percent and fees and expenses reduce your average returns by 0.5 percent, your account balance will grow to $227,000 at retirement, even if there are no further contributions to your account. If fees and expenses are 1.5 percent, however, your account balance will grow to only $163,000. That 1 percent difference in fees and expenses would reduce your account balance at retirement by 28 percent. That?s a big deal? and a lot of money for anybody to lose to fees.

I can?t stress enough how important it is for you to open these disclosure documents. This is not just another piece of mail in the pile. The information it contains has the potential to make a real difference in your retirement savings.

You can use the information to ask better questions, weigh options, and make smarter investment decisions. You can also encourage your employer to consider making changes to the plan and to shop around for a lower cost service provider. It would not only benefit you and your fellow workers, but could also benefit your employer.

If you don?t remember seeing these disclosures? and you work for a private sector employer (public plans and church plans are not covered by these rules), go back through the mail and look for them, or ask your employer if your plan is one for which such disclosures are due later this year.? And, keep a lookout for the quarterly statements most of you will receive by November 14. These statements will detail charges deducted from your individual account from July through September.

We at the labor department know that saving money for retirement can be challenging in these tough economic times. And every dollar counts. But you can ensure that you have as much as possible in your nest egg by keeping an eye on the fees you?re paying.

Finally, if you are a worker, spouse or family member who has questions about your retirement plan benefits, please feel free to contact one of our Benefits Advisors.? Visit our participant assistance website at www.askebsa.dol.gov? or call us at 1-866-444-EBSA (3272). ?

For more information about fees for saving in 401(k)-type retirement plans, please visit:

Understanding Your Retirement Plan Fees Http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/understandingretirementfees.html ]

Tips on Using Fee & Investment Information from Your Retirement Plan http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/feedisclosuretips.html ]

Phyllis C. Borzi is the assistant secretary of labor for employee benefits security.

Tagged as: 401(k), DOL Working for You, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), fee disclosure, National Save for Retirement Week, Phyllis Borzi, retirement, retirement plan, Retirement Security, Workplace Rights

Source: http://social.dol.gov/blog/helping-you-keep-an-eye-on-the-fees-that-can-eat-away-at-your-401k/

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