Using Genetics to Heal Your Heart

After age 65 if you are going to spend the night in the hospital, odds are it is because of heart problems. Actually, heart problems, especially heart attacks, are pretty common.

Well, researchers may have stumbled on a finding which may help with recovery from heart attacks and possibly other heart problems as well. A team at Columbia University Medical Center in New York found that by switching on a gene, adult mice were able to fix the damage from a heart attack.

So maybe sometime in the future when Old Joe's heart decides to take a smoke break Doc's will be able to go in, do a few molecular modifications, and help Joe's heart get back to the way it was in the good ole days.

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Gene switch helps mice fix their own broken hearts
Another interesting find
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Free: Super Pool from RealArcade

Fact: Playing sports on a computer is no where near as fun as really playing sports.
Fact: Free stuff doesn't cost any money (up front).
Fact: Right now you can download Super Pool from RealArcade for free.

So if your into playing free sports games on your computer then hit this link as fast as you can. "This offer expires soon... offer not available for Mac"
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Carnival Game Hacks

Make sure you watch this vid, before trying to impress your honey at the next county fair.


P.S. Carnival Games for the Wii comes out in August. Read more for preview links.

New Wii games offer carnival fun
Carnival Games Commercial
Long game play video?
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Are outlet malls worth it?

Outlets are sites where manufactures sell their goods directly to the public. Supposedly, shoppers save by cutting out the middle man. Many times outlet stores cut prices even more by offering goods that are out of style or slightly damaged (stuff that wouldn't make it in a normal department store).

As a special service to humanity, Recueilli's Reporters braved a day at an outlet mall to answer the age old question: Are they worth it?

A day at an outlet mall really depends on who you are and what you have in your wallet. For example, shopaholics might want to leave their plastic at home. LeBron James doesn't even need a wallet. And if your great-grandma would just carry a credit card you would jump for joy.

So, after driving for an hour, our reporters entered the mall carrying a single $100 bill. In less than 10 minutes, that bill was broken for a few shirts over 50% off. Overall our crew spent $80 on shoes, clothes, food, and cleaner. Add a generous $8 for gas and estimated vehicle maintenance, and the total for the day was $88. Compare that to the full (sticker price) total of $179, and the trip to the outlet saved 51%.

Well, sort of.. Don't forget that there was a total gaspillage (waste) of two hours travel time, and time is money (how much money, is up to you).

So our final answer: Yes it's worth it, at least every once in a while.
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KomoRadio ask the same question, and gets the same answer
Outlet Guide
List of some outlets

Have fun, and spend wisely.
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Jump on the (hybrid) bandwagon

Want to build/design a new hybrid car? Well, if you're into that kind of stuff Google is throwing money ($1 million) at it, and has plans on throwing more ($10 million).

From Google.org: "RechargeIT is a Google.org initiative that aims to reduce CO2 emissions, cut oil use and stabilize the electrical grid by accelerating the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid technology."

Right now if Google is doing it, it should turn to gold.

Links: Google, metaefficient, NY Times, and ITworld

Yes, it's true: I love Google.
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Ed Brown

Edward Lewis Brown has decided not to pay income taxes. He says it's not constitutional. He also says he won't come out of his wind and solar powered self-sufficient home alive (that is unless all charges are dropped). Now here's bureaucracy.. instead of reaching into this man's pockets and taking the money they say he owes. The Feds cut off his phones, electricity, and water. His house is surrounded or at least under surveillance, and by the time this thing is over and done with more money will have been spent on making things right than is owed by Mr. Brown (more than $1 million).

According to Wikipedia: "The U.S. income tax was first proposed during the War of 1812, but was defeated.[4] In July 1861, the Congress passed a 3% tax on all net income above $600 a year (about USD 10,000 today). Income taxes were enacted at various times until 1894, but were not imposed after 1895 after an 1894 tax act was found to be unconstitutional. In response, the 16th Amendment was ratified in 1913.[4] Ratification has been unsuccessfully disputed by some tax protestors claiming, among other things, that slight errors in punctuation in the various instruments ratified by the several states invalidates the ratification."

More income tax protestor arguments here. Read more for links.

Links:
ABC News
CBS News
Concord Montior
The blog?

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My Points

So many things in life revolve around points (earning points, making points, taking points, measuring points, pointing, etc). In many ways money is just another point system. You collect enough points, trade them in, and voila the Roles Royce is yours. In sports you get the ball into the net as often as possible to earn the maximum amount of points, in life it's not always that easy, but it's often the same idea.

Over ten years ago a business class started an online company based on points. That company is still alive and kicking today (and buys me dinner about every 3-4 months).

No I don't have anything to do with Mypoints.com, and they probably don't even realize they are buying me dinner. Here's how you can let them buy you dinner too:

The majority of my points have come from spending less than a minute a day quickly scanning emails that mypoints sends me. For every email they send I get 5pts. If I have a few minutes (usually not) I complete the surveys they send and earn 50pts. If I remember, I make my purchases online through them. I spend the same amount of money as I would otherwise, but I get a few points per dollar.

Overall, I spend very little time with mypoints, and expect very little from them. After a few months of not paying much attention, I notice that I have accumulated enough points for a gift card. I choose where I want to go out to eat, order the gift card, and enjoy.

I've streamlined mypoint emails even more by setting up a filter in gmail. I have the mypoint emails skip my inbox, and straight to a mypoints folder. Then, I take care of the emails all at once, whenever I get around to it (usually once a week).

You can sign up for Mypoints from their website, or I can invite you (members get 100pts per referral).

Just remember don't expect much, don't do much, and enjoy a free dinner every few months.
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Happy Father's Day

Sorry Dad, no poem. Just take this as a good ol' fashioned pat on the back.

Love ya.
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Is it corn or is it oil?

The news has been awash with threats of rising milk, cereal, and meat costs. And the accused terrorist...corn. In fact, some say that milk in Florida will end up over $5 a gallon by September. Ouch.

An increased demand for ethanol has led to increasing demand for corn. This means less corn for the cows and kiddies. And, don't forget the staple of American food, corn syrup.

But, perhaps corn is just a quick throw away, accomplice to a much bigger and more formidable attacker: oil. We all know that oil prices are high, with prices staring us in the face on almost every street corner. It seems now we are staring to see some of the side effects of higher oil. It just may be that corn is only the tip of the iceberg.
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4 Stress Tips You Haven't Heard Before

Like the title says, here are four stress tips you haven't heard before. Why? Cause their mine.. Ok, well at least that is what I like to think. The best tips for relieving your stress are your own!

1. Change your posture - Check out the posture of the guy who's stressed out. Hands are clenched, forehead wrinkled, sitting hunched over with feet together. Now next time you're stressed, think of that guy and do the opposite. Ok, so cavemen needed to hide and protect themselves from ligers by scrunching up and being small, but we're no longer at the bottom of the food chain so open up and relax.

2. Feet up and hands above head - When your on wits end your heart starts beating faster, well put that heart back in it's place by forcing the blood back to your core. You don't need extra blood in your hands and feet. Calm down, kick back, put your feet up, and your hands behind your head.

3. Smile / Show some love - Worried then smile, can't then fake it. Give a loved one a kiss or a hug, or do something nice for a stranger. Not only will you feel better, but you will (hopefully) put things back into perspective.

4. Have a sandwich - And, eat it slowly. Food is usually good, and a comfort food like a homemade sandwich is even better. Eating tells your body it's time to rest and digest, eating slowly adds that little exclamation point.

Any great tips of your own.. please share.
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Lumosity

With age comes beauty, money, and.. forgetfulness. We all know someone who fits, at least, that last category. Luckily, research shows there are ways of clearing a few of those cobwebs from the corners of our minds.

NintendoDS has taken advantage of that fact and has a game that's supposed to help you out. If you don't have a NintendoDS or if you've misplaced your BrainAge game and don't know where to find it, all is not lost!

Some really smart people from Lumos Labs have put together a great program online. Their games are fun to play, and well designed. The program's called Lumosity, and they say after 30 sessions you should experience these types of things:

• Clearer and quicker thinking
• Better memory for names, numbers, directions, etc.
• Increased alertness and awareness
• Elevated mood
• Better concentration at work or while driving

I can't vouch for them yet (did my first session today), but I can say the games are pretty cool in a somewhat brain stretching way.

Here's the link. Hurry though, they make it seem as if they might start charging for the service soon.

Competitive? Read more for my scores (betcha can't beat them!)

My first time playing on level 1:
Birdwatching = 912
Speed Match = 3520 (2nd time playing.. totally messed up the 1st time)
Monstergarden = 2725

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Hot, Hot, Hot!!

Orest Symko a physicist at the University of Utah professes to have found a way to turn heat into sound, and sound into electricity. If their technology holds true it could change the world (remember this is the same university that announced cold fusion and almost 20 years later has nothing to show of it).

Thermal Acoustic Piezo Energy Conversion is a little longer of a name than cold fusion and it seems to be a bit more legit with funding coming from the Army in the form of $2 million bucks.

"Symko expects the devices could be used within two years as an alternative to photovoltaic cells for converting sunlight into electricity. The heat engines also could be used to cool laptop and other computers that generate more heat as their electronics grow more complex. And Symko foresees using the devices to generate electricity from heat that now is released from nuclear power plant cooling towers."

It would be cool to pop one of these puppies on a hybrid car. If your an investor keep your eye on this one.. it's gonna be hot (and noisy).

Photo: University of Utah physicist Orest Symko holds a match to a small heat engine that produces a high-pitched tone by converting heat into sound. Symko's research team is combining such heat engines with existing technology that turns sound into electricity, resulting in devices that can harness solar energy in a new way, cool computers and other electronics, and conserve energy by changing waste heat into power
Link to University of Utah press release.

Go Cougars :)
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Ice Ice Baby

A few days ago the UN released a report on global warming. Just like all politically correct news coming out of the UN, the report stated the obvious: The world's ice is melting.

Yeah, that's the main idea concerning global warming.. a relatively rapid decrease in the polar ice caps. This stuff is serious, but even more disconcerting is what's under and around that melting ice.

Plankton! We all learned in elementary school about the food chain, and hopefully how these funky tiny organisms constituted the bottom of that chain.

Well (like the rest of the world), these creatures are getting lazy. As temperatures in the arctic rise, the plankton store less fat to stay alive. Low fat plankton would be good for an American diet and lifestyle, but it stinks for the fish and animals in the arctic.

So what will be the results of tons of lazy plankton? Who knows, I'd ask the bees, but they seem to be getting lost. Sounds almost like a script from A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy except we're the ones getting ready to bulldoze our own planet.

Image above from UNEP Global Outlook for Ice and Snow
Read more for a lot of links.

Polar Bears in Trouble

Accelerating Climate Change Hurting Canada's Arctic Whales

Rapid changes in Arctic sea ice (NASA)

Bird migration patterns shifting - an early warning of climate change

Warming sea threatens Caribbean corals

Electroplankton!!

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Transformers is gonna be Hot!

If you just can't wait for July 3rd check out more Transformers clips from kooldude88

Here's the official movie site.
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20 quick tips you probably haven't heard before

I got an email the other day with several great, quick tips around the house. Here they are with a few of my own:

1. Homemade foam carpet cleaner - Mix 1tsp vinegar, 1/2tsp ammonia, 3Tbs dish soap, and 1/2 cup water. Beat with and egg beater until foamy. Works just as well as commercial carpet cleaner!

2. Reheat Pizza - Heat up leftover pizza in a non-stick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works. Mona, Orlando, FL

3. Expanding Frosting - When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar/calories per serving. Kathy, Mesick, MI

4. Reheating refrigerated bread - To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster. Dave, Camden, DE

5. Foggy Windshield? - Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth! Alicia, Tampa, FL

6. Conditioner - Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair... Kerry, Canada

7. Broken Glass - Use a dry cotton ball to pick up little broken glass pieces of glass - the fibers catch ones you can't see! Olive, Santee, CA

8. No More Mosquitoes - Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away. Diane, Moran, SC

9. Measuring Cups - Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill it with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry the cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out. Kim, Goldsboro, NC

10. Reducing Static Cling - Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and - voila - static is gone. Pam, Maple Rapids, NH

Read more for 11-20..

11. Flexible vacuum - To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings. Donna, Anderson, SC

12. MINE - If you purchase a new bike for your child, place their picture inside the handle bar before placing the grips on. If the bike is stolen and later recovered, remove the grip and there is your proof who owns the bike. Janet, Carthage, IL

13. Newspaper weeds away - Put layers of wet newspaper around your plants overlapping as you go. Cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers. Linda, Monmouth Jct., NJ

14. Reopening envelope - If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Voila! It unseals easily. Mary, Lockhart, TX

15. Squirrel Away! - To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it. Kathy, Maumelle, AR

16. Goodbye Fruit Flies - To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever! Barbra, Birch Run, MI

17. Get Rid of Ants - Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home," & can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, esp. if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed! Teresa, Mitchell, SD

18. Take baby powder to the beach - Keep a small bottle of baby powder in your beach bag. When your ready to leave the beach sprinkle yourself and kids with the powder and the sand will slide right off your skin.

19. Easy Deviled Eggs - Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up. Janet, Killeen, TX

20. Keep rabbits out of the garden - Sprinkle dried blood around your plants, or mix a tablespoon of dried blood in two gallons water and spray plants. The rabbits and deer will leave your plants alone.

Got a favorite tip? Let's hear it in the comments..
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