Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/273090397?client_source=feed&format=rss
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Thursday, December 27, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
VP says Chavez up, walking; doubts persist
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) ? Vice President Nicolas Maduro surprised Venezuelans with a Christmas Eve announcement that President Hugo Chavez is up and walking two weeks after cancer surgery in Cuba, but the news did little to ease uncertainty surrounding the leader's condition.
Sounding giddy, Maduro told state television Venezolana de Television that he had spoken by phone with Chavez for 20 minutes Monday night. It was the first time a top Venezuelan government official had confirmed talking personally with Chavez since the Dec. 11 operation, his fourth cancer surgery since 2011.
"He was in a good mood," Maduro said. "He was walking, he was exercising."
Yet the statement inspired more questions, given the sparse information the Venezuelan government has provided so far about Chavez's cancer.
Dr. Carlos Castro, director of the Colombian League against Cancer, an association that promotes cancer prevention, treatment and education, said Maduro was providing too few details to paint a clear picture of Chavez's condition following the six-hour Dec. 11 surgery and the complications that followed. Government officials have said the president suffered internal bleeding that was stanched and a respiratory infection that was being treated.
"It's possible (that he is walking) because everything is possible," Castro told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday. "They probably had him sit in up in bed and take two steps."
"It's unclear what they mean by exercise. Was it four little steps?" he added. "I think he is still in critical condition."
Venezuelan leaders have yet to offer information about Chavez's long-term prognosis. Maduro's announcement came a few hours after Venezuelan Information Minister Ernesto Villegas read a statement saying Chavez was showing "a slight improvement with a progressive trend."
Maduro's near-midnight announcement came just as Venezuelan families were gathering for traditional late Christmas Eve dinners and setting off the usual deafening fireworks that accompany the festivities. There was still little reaction to the news on a quiet Christmas morning.
Dr. Gustavo Medrano, a lung specialist at the Centro Medico hospital in Caracas, said if Chavez is talking, it suggests he is breathing on his own despite the respiratory infection and is not in intensive care, details government officials have not discussed. But Medrano said he remained skeptical about Maduro's comments and could deduce little from them about Chavez's prognosis for recovery.
"I have no idea because if it was such a serious, urgent, important operation, and that was 14 days ago, I don't think he could be walking and exercising after a surgery like that," Medrano said.
Over the weekend, Chavez's ally, Bolivian President Evo Morales, made a lightning visit to Cuba that only added to the uncertainty.
Journalists had been summoned to cover his arrival and departure in Havana, but hours later that invitation was canceled. No explanation was given, though it could have been due to confusion over Morales' itinerary as he apparently arrived later than initially scheduled.
Cuban state media published photos of President Raul Castro receiving Morales at the airport and said he came "to express his support" for Chavez, his close ally, but did not give further details. He left Sunday without making any public comments.
At an event in southern Bolivia on Monday, Morales made no mention of his trip to Cuba, even though aides had told reporters that he might say something about Chavez's recovery. Later, Morales' communications minister refused to respond directly to a question about whether the two South American presidents had met face-to-face, saying only that he "was with the people he wanted to be with" and had no plans to return to Cuba.
Morales was the second Latin American leader to visit since Chavez announced two weeks ago that he would have the operation. Rafael Correa of Ecuador came calling the day of the surgery.
The visits underscore Chavez's importance to regional allies as a prominent voice of the Latin American left, as well as how seriously they are taking his latest bout with cancer.
Yet more questions surround Chavez's political future, with the surgery coming two months after he won re-election to a six-year term.
If he is unable to continue in office, the Venezuelan Constitution calls for new elections to be held. Chavez has asked his followers to back Maduro, his hand-picked successor, in that event.
Venezuelan officials have strongly suggested that Chavez will not return in time for his Jan. 10 inauguration.
Opposition leaders have argued that the constitution does not allow the president's swearing-in to be postponed, and say new elections should be called if Chavez is unable to take the oath on time.
But government officials have said new elections will not be called, and Attorney General Cilia Flores insisted Monday that the constitution lets the Supreme Court administer the oath of office at any time if the National Assembly is unable to do it Jan. 10 as scheduled.
___
Associated Press writers Peter Orsi in Havana, Christopher Toothaker and Vivian Sequera in Caracas, Camilo Hernandez in Bogota, Colombia, and Paola Flores in La Paz, Bolivia, contributed to this report.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/vp-says-chavez-walking-doubts-persist-175119675.html
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Syrian rebels fully capture town near Turkey
This Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012 image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Syrians helping a wounded man after a government airstrike hit the Hama Suburb of Halfaya, Syria. A government airstrike Sunday on a bakery in a rebel-held town in central Syria killed tens of people, which left scattered bodies and debris up and down a street, and more than a dozen wounded were trapped in tangled heap of dirt and rubble, activists said. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network via AP video)
This Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012 image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Syrians helping a wounded man after a government airstrike hit the Hama Suburb of Halfaya, Syria. A government airstrike Sunday on a bakery in a rebel-held town in central Syria killed tens of people, which left scattered bodies and debris up and down a street, and more than a dozen wounded were trapped in tangled heap of dirt and rubble, activists said. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network via AP video)
This Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012 image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Free Syrian Army fighters running towards the scene after a government airstrike hit Hama Suburb of Halfaya, Syria. A government airstrike Sunday on a bakery in a rebel-held town in central Syria killed tens of people, which left scattered bodies and debris up and down a street, and more than a dozen wounded were trapped in tangled heap of dirt and rubble, activists said. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network via AP video)
Free Syrian Army fighters walk amid the ruins of a village situated a short distance from an area where fighting between rebels and government forces continues, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Virginie Nguyen Hoang)
BEIRUT (AP) ? Syrian rebels fully captured a northern town near the Turkish border on Tuesday after weeks of siege and heavy fighting, activists said.
The takeover of Harem, a town of 20,000 in northern Idlib province, was the latest in a string of recent rebel successes that include the capture of wide areas along the border with Turkey. Most of those areas have been in northern Aleppo province, where anti-government forces have captured at least three large military bases.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rebels captured Harem in the early hours of Tuesday. Mohammed Kanaan, an Idlib-based activist, said the last post to be taken was the historic citadel, which overlooked the town. The army had turned the citadel into a military post.
"Harem is fully liberated now," Kanaan he said via Skype. He added that as the rebels pounded army posts and checkpoints in Harem, the troops withdrew to the citadel that later fell in the hands of rebels.
Rami-Abdul-Rahman, who heads to Observatory, said nearly 30 soldiers and pro-government gunmen surrendered late Monday. He added that rebels set free all gunmen at the age of 16 or less and referred others to local tribunals.
"Harem was very important because it is one of the towns that was loyal to the regime," Abdul-Rahman said by telephone about the town that is nearly a mile from the Turkish border.
In his traditional Christmas address, Pope Benedict XVI decried the slaughter of the "defenseless" in Syria, where anti-regime activists estimate more than 40,000 have died in fighting since the uprising against President Bashar Assad's rule began in March 2011.
The pope encouraged Arab spring nations, where long-serving dictators were forced to step down.
In Aleppo province, which neighbors Idlib, local activist Mohammed Saeed said rebels attacked a military base in the town of Mannagh near the border with Turkey. He said it is one of four air bases in the province.
Regime forces have been using helicopters to carry supplies to besieged areas and to attack rebel positions.
The regime has had increasing difficulty sending supplies by land to Aleppo province after rebels captured in October the strategic town Maaret al-Numan. The town is on the highway that links Damascus with Aleppo, Syria's largest city and commercial center and a major battleground in the civil war since July.
"Airplanes and helicopters are the only way to send supplies since the Free Syrian Army controls the land," Saeed said. He added that rebels are also laying a siege to Aleppo's international airport known as Nairab and threatening to shoot down military or civilians planes using it.
In the Damascus suburb of Jaramana, opposition gunmen ambushed the head of military intelligence in the area and seriously wounded him. He later died of his wounds, the Observatory said.
In Israel, top officials said they cannot corroborate Syrian activists' claims that the regime has used chemical weapons against its citizens.
Vice Premier Moshe Yaalon told Army Radio that Israel has "no confirmation or proof" the regime has employed such weapons in the civil war. He says Israel is "monitoring the situation with concern."
Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad told Israel Radio that Syria was closely guarding its chemical weapons stockpiles.
On Monday, the Observatory quoted activists in the central city of Homs as saying that six rebels died in two neighborhoods the day before after inhaling white smoke that came out of shells fired by government troops in the area. Amateur videos released by activists showed men in hospital beds suffering breathing problems as doctors placed oxygen masks over their faces.
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Tuesday, December 25, 2012
GLHFCasting ? Financial Relief With Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy may appear to be a very intimidating word, but it was created to be a benefit to businesses and individuals. The inability to pay your creditors can be lightened with the help of a bankruptcy lawyer. You don?t have to file for bankruptcy alone, prepare for everything with the appropriate assistance. Working with a qualified Law Professionals will provide you with the help you need to successfully manage this entire process. There are many options for filing for bankruptcy and your attorney will help determine the right choice for you. They will also assist you in filling out all the forms and contracts and guide you through all legal proceedings. Reorganize your assets and find financial relief with your qualified and dependable bankruptcy attorney. Family Law Attorney Provo
Source: http://www.glhfcasting.com/financial-relief-with-bankruptcy-3/
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Egypt constitution passes with 63.8 percent
CAIRO (AP) ? The head of Egypt's election commission says the new constitution has passed with a 63.8 percent "yes" vote in a referendum.
According to official results announced Tuesday, 32.9 percent of voters participated.
The announcement turns the Islamist-drafted charter into the country's first constitution after the uprising that forced Hosni Mubarak out of office after nearly 30 years of authoritarian rule.
The opposition had campaigned against the constitution, charging that it will usher in Islamic rule in Egypt and restrict freedoms. It has vowed to challenge the results.
Judge Samir Abou el-Maati, the head of the electoral commission, denied allegations that judicial supervision was lacking in the vote.
The official results closely mirror unofficial results announced by the Muslim Brotherhood, the main group that backed the charter.
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Car Audio History 101 - DIYMA Car Audio Forum
Guys, this is a repost of an article originally posted over on Car Audio Central in May, 2010 by "Glass Wolf", moderator on that forum. It offers some unique insight into the early days of car audio. Not definative by any means but, pretty interesting. My apologies if this has been posted before.
Inside the Daily Grill in Los Angeles, legendary radio disc jockey "Shotgun" Tom Kelly casts a smile from ear to ear as he recalls 1987, the year Wall Street would crash on what would become known as "Black Monday." But the year was anything but black for car audio, as Kelly recalled, stroking his midnight black beard with his eyes peering from underneath his trademark Smokey-the-Bear-like hat.
"What a year," said Kelly, a DJ for Los Angeles " K-EARTH 101, and former spokesman for Alpine Electronics " Car Audio Nationals (CAN). "Thirteen cities promoting car audio. Going city to city, staying at great hotels. It was just amazing."
Car Audio History 101
Inside the Daily Grill in Los Angeles, legendary radio disc jockey "Shotgun" Tom Kelly casts a smile from ear to ear as he recalls 1987, the year Wall Street would crash on what would become known as "Black Monday." But the year was anything but black for car audio, as Kelly recalled, stroking his midnight black beard with his eyes peering from underneath his trademark Smokey-the-Bear-like hat.
"What a year," said Kelly, a DJ for Los Angeles " K-EARTH 101, and former spokesman for Alpine Electronics " Car Audio Nationals (CAN). "Thirteen cities promoting car audio. Going city to city, staying at great hotels. It was just amazing."
Born out of the parts and concepts of pro and home audio, the car audio industry was on the verge of a revolution as it entered the '80s. By the end of the decade, the pounding the industry would make would even reach the footsteps of the Oval Office.
Alpine's CAN was a two-year promotional event that ended in 1988 when it merged with the National Autosound Challenge Association (NACA) to form the International Auto Sound Challenge Association (IASCA). The NACA was another competition organization that fueled the 1980s renaissance of car audio, led by companies such as Rockford, Soundstream, Orion, PPI, a/d/s/ and Mitek. But it would be Kelly who would take it to the highest of offices, a place usually reserved for rock stars, actors and sports teams.
'We had just finished the finals (held at Sea World, San Diego, Calif.),' said Kelly, his excitement peaking as he was about to give his best impersonation of former President Ronald Reagan. 'On my first day back to work that Monday I was told that Congressman Duncan Hunter was trying to get me to see the President. I got this letter saying, 'Your presence with the President is approved.' So there I was, back on a plane two days after finishing this 13-city tour for CAN, headed to Washington (D.C.). So I say, 'Well Mr. President.' And he says, 'Well Mr. Shotgun. I hear you were the MC [for these car audio events.] ' So I told him about CAN, and he says, 'That's great.'
The success the industry would experience throughout the '80s was, by all accounts, held atop the shoulders of the installers. But the vehicle that would showcase these talents would be competition ... or soundoffs.
'Competition really showcased the talents of the installers of that time,' said David Black, who now works for Marine Audio and was instrumental in Alpine's ascent during the 1980s. 'But this was also a time when companies were vying for market share (1986). We saw an idea (soundoffs), but so did the rest of the industry. We were going to have to meet the competition head on and see where it was going to take us.'
How It Came to Be
In between the era of the 23-band CB radio, which characterized the '70s, and the years of security and cell phones, which would take center stage during the late '80s and throughout the '90s, lies the 'Golden Years' of car audio.
'People were begging us to put Alpine in their car,' said Isaac Goren, owner of Sounds Good, Woodland Hills, Calif., a store that staged the first NACA (1988) and IASCA (1989) events.
Car audio dates back as far as 1929 when American Paul Galvin created the first car stereo. The next big invention for car audio came in 1964 when Bill Lear introduced a cartridge with eight tracks.
Car audio, however, wouldn't become an industry until the 1950s when Al Brotsky (founder of Al & Ed's Autosound) yanked the category out of the dark corners of stores like Federated, and from the back walls of automotive parts stores like Pep Boys. But it wouldn't be until the late '70s that car audio would move beyond deck-and-two installs and 6x9-inch speakers, when companies like Clarion, Nakamichi and Jensen ruled the land.
A movement was started in the late '70s on the West Coast. The industry wanted more, and a group of manufacturers and enthusiasts -- whose ingenuity was matched only by the Jeff Spicoli-like persona that characterized them -- identified this need and began building 12-volt audio amplifiers. These were guys such as Jim Fosgate, founder of Rockford Fosgate, Paul Starry and Rich Coe, founders of Audiomobile, and companies like a/d/s/. These industry pioneers recognized the need for car audio to create sound that rivaled home and pro audio.
This evolution would take years, but this was a time of optimism and passion. America was about to give birth to car audio.
The First Boom Car
The first 'boom car' dates back to the mid 1970s. It was created by Coe, who put down his guitar and his rock 'n' roll career in 1974 to join Audiomobile Inc. -- a company spawned by Paul Starry. Starry and Coe were audiophiles by nature, although Coe was the technical wiz that would make it happen. And they knew that the foundation behind the pro audio industry was the key to the success of car audio. These two were responsible for the first power supply design, an amplifier standard that has stood the test of time.
It was in the mid '70s that Coe and Starry would begin revealing their ideas to the world, behind a 1969 Volkswagen Bug they called Audiomobile 1K VW. Armed with two Philips home audio 15-inch subwoofers, Polydax 5.25-inch speakers and Philips hard-dome tweeters, the vehicle toured Hollywood record companies where crowds of entertainment execs would gather in awe at what Coe and Starry had created. And in 1978, the VW was unleashed on the consumer electronics industry at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show, where people like Gene Czerwinski (founder of Cerwin Vega) would get a glimpse.
'People thought I was freakin' nuts,' said Coe. 'Paul even thought I was nuts.'
Coe and Starry were way ahead of their time, as their designs and concepts wouldn't be realized in the retail shop until the early '80s. Even the installation techniques Coe used in the VW, using fiberglass and other materials, wouldn't become commonplace until later in the next decade.
Red Badges of Courage
The 1970s would provide the foundation for the 12-volt explosion of the '80s, as installers trudged through the era of hole saws, bulky air hammers, and wrist-breaking tin snips.
The vehicles during this period were just as crude. Cars didn't have easy-to-identify speaker, ground and power wires. This was a time when speaker polarity was key and the dash was yet to be explored. Air chisels were commonplace as installers found themselves trimming metal dashboards to mount aftermarket car stereos. Door speakers were just as tough, as air saws were the key to getting speakers into the door.
'In the '70s, I had what I thought was a permanently sprained wrist from when a hole saw caught metal and twisted my arm around,' said Eddie Runner, owner of River Oaks Car Stereo, Houston, Texas. 'Using a one-inch hole saw to install antennas was also an everyday affair. I remember back in the '70s when most cars were purchased without a radio, which meant we were installing radios into blank spaces most of the time.'
According to Runner, when amplifiers started to make their presence felt in the late '70s, most head units didn't have an amp remote wire to turn the amp on when the radio was powered. Most installers, he recalled, were required to install toggle switches up front to make that happen. The more advanced installers figured out how to solder a remote wire directly into the head unit.
When cassette and 8-Track players rose to prominence in the '70s, another problem was created for installers. 'In the old days, many cars that had a radio had just an AM radio, and a lot of the installation consisted of under-dash cassettes and 8-Tracks,' said Runner. 'It was easy enough, but we had to share the antennas with the AM radio. And if we shared speakers we had to wire up what we used to call an isolation switch. This switch allowed us to share the speakers so that the two units driving them would not be on at the same time.'
Then there were the red badges of courage, the cuts and bruises that symbolized the period inside the installation bay. 'With so much metal in the cars, the installer wounds were a lot more fun,' said Runner. 'A group of us installers would go to the pool hall on Friday nights back in the '70s and compare our wounds to see who would pay for the pool.'
The Stage is Set
The 1980s represented the move to 'self': self-improvement, self-motivation, and self-help manuals. It was also the decade of gadgets -- from digital watches to cappuccino machines to cellular phones to personal computers (even though the Commodore 64 was the pinnacle of this computing excellence). 'Yuppies,' an acronym for Young Urban Professionals, was coined in 1984. Designer clothes, high-tech cars and high-speed jobs characterized those that took up this label. Greed was in, and 'work hard, play hard' was the call to arms.
Autosound competition, which hit the mainstream by the mid '80s, was the perfect elixir for this time, as it fed into the attitude the industry was ready to share with the buying public. 'By that time customization was growing,' said Sounds Good's Goren, characterizing the time as high-end audio sold at 40 points, with $3,000 installs being as good as it got. 'But we had no way of promoting it. The soundoffs, they took the egos, that energy and transferred it to the consumer. There was only one problem: we created a need but we had no idea how to price it.'
Autosound competitions grew out of the industry's need to move away from head units and speakers; categories dominated by overseas companies.
'We had to move the emphasis away from head units,' said Ron Trout, managing director for the Rockford Fosgate brand. 'Amplifiers were an afterthought and subwoofers weren't even thought of.'
The early '80s is marked as the dawning of audio amplifiers and subwoofers. But it was also a period when equalizers such as Clarion's EQB100 were king, and the wild and crazy were Pyramid's Mind Blowers (two 6x9-inch speakers attached to an amplifier). And as the mid '80s approached, the industry was in need of something that could bring it all together. The answer would lie in the very thing American companies tried to move away from: head units.
The compact disc was created in 1983 by Sony Corp. and NV Phillips, the same year Installation News was born. By 1984 the car audio industry would begin seeing its first CD head units. And although pricey, these products would pave the way for what was next: competition.
'The year 1984 was the CD revolution,' said Todd Van Zandt, manager of product promotions for Alpine. 'It was like the silver bullet and everyone got behind it.'
The Birth of Soundoffs
The first competition is said to have occurred in 1980 when a Champaign, Ill.-based store called Good Vibes kicked off an event called Car Wars. With the 'Star Wars' theme song as its call sign, these competitions would span over 20 years, and would influence organizations like CAN, NACA and IASCA.
The first national finals, called Thunder on Wheels, was held in 1984 at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. But this was not an idea that was spawned solely by Good Vibes, as the community in Texas was demonstrating to the industry that it was primed for car audio. It is said that the roots of that event came from inside a parking lot located in a small Texas town. It was there that a Rockford rep named George Reed noticed a group of high school kids congregating. Runner remembered the story.
'They called the area White Sign,' said Runner. 'When the CB radio went out, and car audio was in, these guys would start competing to see who had the loudest system. They had this guy standing on the other side of the parking lot while these guys would crank up their stereos. Whoever that guy could hear the loudest, won.'
Reed would take it from there, giving his competition its Thunder on Wheels name and the backing of companies such as PPI, Orion, Rockford, Soundstream and a/d/s/. Reed's events would introduce the industry to a 22-year-old engineering student named Wayne Harris, the founder of dB Drag Racing. Harris would return the favor by introducing the industry to upgraded alternators and stiffening capacitors.
'Those were great times,' Harris said. 'I remember manufacturers showing up with pallets of subwoofers for the competitors to blow up. I guess you can say that those competitions were the beta-testing ground for many of those companies.'
Wayne won the 1984 event with a 1978 Buick Regal he named after a Van Halen song called 'Eruption.' Harris would take it a step further in 1985 when he won again with a new vehicle called 'The Terminator,' one that would go down in car audio lore. Boasting an interior that resembled an airplane cockpit, Harris' 1960 Cadillac hearse utilized an Apple II computer to monitor and activate four 12-inch woofers he installed in a 50-cubic-foot enclosure. It also boasted a navigation system, seven amplifiers, 23 speakers, a mobile phone, VCR, and a CD player.
The Hearse would also lead to a successful career for Harris in the car audio industry, one that started with Orion and ended with Rockford where Harris gave birth to the Hafler MAX-410 electronic crossover (1989) and the Symmetry Mobile Audio Control System (1991).
The Marketing Wars
While Harris was tearing up Reed's Rolling Thunder competitions, a couple of West Coast car audio enthusiasts noticed that installation and sound quality were afterthoughts for Reed's competitions.
'The coolest install I had ever seen was in 1984 when I saw this vehicle owned by this California guy named Scott Schmidt (a Western regional rep for Rockford at the time),' said Harris, who retired The Terminator in 1986. 'The engineering element was something I appreciated, but he had these panel covers that I never thought of using. His system was not only functional and high tech, but it had great cosmetic integration. Compared to his install, mine was primitive. The only reason I won is because mine was louder.'
One of the first retailers to realize this was Sounds Good's Goren, who staged his first sound-quality event, called Autosound Challenge, inside his store's parking lot in June 1986. The year following, Goren would launch a series of events called SoundQuake. 'That was such a beautiful time in my life,' said Goren as he thumbed through a folder of old competition score sheets, providing a story with each name he crossed. And when asked if the energy of that time could ever be relived, his wife Bonnie responded: 'Can you recreate Woodstock?'
Present at Goren's 1986 event were Trout and Schmidt. It was on their plane ride back to Arizona that the two thought up an idea for a sanctioning body for events such as Goren's. At CES the following year, Rockford hosted a meeting with several big-name companies to discuss Trout and Schmidt's idea. And in 1987, at a hotel near the LAX airport, the industry came together to begin planting the seed for an organization called NACA.
Alpine, however, would do its own thing (CAN) for the next two years. The NACA would also go forth. And in a sense, a marketing war was born.
'This was a marketing war,' said Coe, who had since left Audiomobille to join the Alpine team that launched CAN. 'Technology was evolving quickly and companies like Nakamichi and Rockford were handing our butts to us. We were in a fight, and we needed to meet the competition.'
Trout recalled the time fondly. 'It was a healthy competition, and obviously there was tremendous growth,' he said. 'This is when enthusiasts were running the companies, not accountants. It was a fun time and there was passion. Everyone was focused on how to introduce good products. Innovation was high and the camaraderie was high.'
Rockford's marketing strategies also included training, a key element to the rise of car audio. It was also key to Rockford's ascent in the industry, one that would push its competitors even further.
Rockford began touring the country in 1986 behind a program called RTTI. This program would be key to what was seen at the competitions of the late '80s, and would be the main influence for many of today's top installers, such as S&K Audio's Ian Black (Olathe, Kan.).
'I attended my first RTTI in 1995 or 1996,' said Black, who was named Installer of the Year in 2002 by Mobile Electronics magazine. 'There was this guy named Mark Lowe who was building show vehicles for Rockford and leading these seminars. He was doing these things with a router that just blew me away. I owe a lot to that. I would not be where I am today without going to that.'
And while training was a way for companies to gain loyalty inside the bay, competition would be the vehicle to showcase these newfound skills.
'Fosgate did a fabulous job,' said Dave Black, whose Alpine team would follow Rockford's lead with the GAIT (Global Alpine Institute of Technology) program in 1991. 'I think they spent more money on that than we did on CAN. Fosgate's focus was more on the shop. GAIT went into the audio theory.'
Security Hits 12-Volt
The early competitions were dominated by an elite group of retail shops and installers whose cars gained as much notoriety as the guys that built them; names like: SpeakerWorks, Orange, Calif., and its 1986 Buick Grand National; Rich's Car Tunes, Watertown, Mass., and its 'Lil Yellow 1989 Honda CRX; Mark Fakuda's yellow Chevy Blazer; Tommy Clark's 'Rocket Science' Ford Econoline van; and the Florida-based Speaker Warehouse, which would evolve into JL Audio.
These guys took sound to the next level, and their installations would revolutionize the industry.
This was all happening during the late '80s. Installation had finally caught up to sound quality, when guys like Roger Holdaway (SpeakerWorks) introduced the industry to concepts and theories such as path length for improved imaging, kick panels (1980) and Wave Guides (1986). It was also about this time that installers began learning the basics of crossovers, as well as the use of voice coils for subs. Separates were hitting the scene, although most weren't packaged together.
'Soundoffs were a big deal back then,' said Eric Holdaway, one of Roger Holdaway's two sons. 'They ran pretty fairly and pretty smoothly. Of course, we did win everything.' By the end of the '80s, it was clear that something else was needed. But the need for security products was beginning to overshadow car audio. This was a time when BMW became known as 'Break My window.'
Competitions realized this as well. Alpine promoted its CAN events behind security, teaming up Tom Kelly with a career car thief named Don Bledsoe. Kelly, using his celebrity status, would get himself and Bledsoe on major talk shows to talk about vehicle security in hopes of slipping in a few words about CAN.
'I remember when we were in Boston talking to radio host Gene Burns (WRKO),' said Kelly. 'We were supposed to talk about security for an hour. But he became so fascinated that instead of an hour, we went two. And all we talked about for the second hour was car audio.'
Even Goren's SoundQuake events began molding in security competitions. 'Soundoffs introduced the concept of separates and playing loud,' he said. 'It also introduced the concept of security. It was about doing 99 different things with your remote.'
Calling the Fish
Cellular would have the same effect during the late '80s and into the '90s. But inside the install bays, installers were honing their skills, exploring new and exotic materials like Formica. Vinyl, during this time, was what fiberglass is today. Even product was beginning to move toward aesthetics with gold- and chrome-plated amps hitting the competition scene. The industry was getting ready for the '90s. 'This was when people started putting fish tanks in their cars,' said Goren.
And along came a loud-mouthed, merengue-listening installer named Dave Rivera. He entered the scene in 1990, but would mark his territory in 1991 when he won the IASCA finals and gained the nickname 'Fishman.' He did this behind a 1989 Toyota Corolla that featured, among other things, a fish tank.
'When I came onto the scene, the only car that blew me away was Mark Fakuda's,' he said. 'The JL Audio cars were cool, but to me, Fakuda set the pace.'
Rivera would be the impetus behind several creations during the 1990s, and much of what he did for the industry is still felt today. Many say that today's big installs, such as Alpine's Civic Si, combine what was learned during the '80s with what Fishman introduced in the '90s.
'I am a fabricator, not an installer,' said Rivera. 'I am just really good with my hands. As a kid growing up in Puerto Rico, I was poor and I didn't have money for toys. I had to build them myself.'
In the New Millennium
From the 6x9s of the 1970s to 5.1 surround sound processors of today, the industry has come a long way. But no longer is this industry about hardware; it's about software.
The industry's destiny rests in how well it overcomes obstacles such as vehicle integration. But one thing is for sure: car audio is in the right place to tackle what lies ahead. 'We had no idea the industry would grow the way it is today,' said Coe, who now works for Eclipse. 'I can honestly say that car audio is an American invention. It started here, man.'
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Simple, Easy Tips For Home Improvement Projects | Home ...
TIP! Shop around for the best estimates and compare your contractor candidates carefully. Have a list of things you want replaced or repaired, and let each contractor give you an estimate for the same job.
Difficulty doesn?t have to be associated with home improvement. If you plan ahead and maintain a flexible attitude, you will be able to do your home improvement projects in a timely and cost effective manner. The following article gives many tips and techniques concerning home improvement.
TIP! When you are doing home improvements, you will be wise to spend the money on high quality materials instead of being sorry down the line. Those are the things that add value to the property.
To save money, refinish dreary cabinets in lieu of replacing them. Adding a fresh coat of paint and new hardware can quickly make them look new again. Your kitchen will look modern and new, but you won?t have to spend a lot of money.
TIP! Protect floors and other surfaces when you are painting, replacing cabinets or demolishing walls. Cover surfaces to avoid creating more work from damage.
Instead of a granite slab, consider granite tiles. A whole slab of granite cut to fit is expensive, typically $5,000 or more. Tiles are much cheaper and are generally around three hundred dollars. You will get that nice granite look without having to break the bank to do so.
TIP! If your roof is in need of repairs due to cracking, try getting a roll of aluminum tape, three inches wide. Make sure that the surface is dry and clean, and then simply peel back the tape and press it on there like you?re using duct tape.
If you mount your TV using a wall bracket, you?ll be able to free up a great deal of space. Even if you still need a TV stand, you?ll be able to store something else on the surface you?ve cleared. The best part is, if all the directions are followed closely, this could be accomplished in about a half hour.
TIP! To keep the outside of your home looking fresh and clean, add a bright new coat of paint. This can increase the value of your home because it makes it look better.
A chandelier is a great touch, even in a modest home. You can pick one up for less that 500 dollars, and install it in your den or dining room. Look for a chandelier with total wattage in the 200 to 400-watt range to achieve maximum light and sparkle.
TIP! Finding a trustworthy roofer is very important whenever you need work on on your roof. Researching the company is important before signing a contract.
Peepholes are a great addition for your exterior doors. Know who is knocking on the door without having to open it! This easy-to-install project is an inexpensive home improvement. You just need a little time and a good drill. A peephole will offer you some peace of mind when someone is knocking at your door.
TIP! You can change the appearance of your appliances in the kitchen more affordably than you might think. Is the style of your otherwise amazing refrigerator annoying you because stainless steel is where it is at? Just purchase spray paint for your appliances and color them the color of your choice.
Dealing with home improvement projects efficiently is a great goal. All houses need to be repaired and maintained. Making improvements to one?s home is rewarded with an increase of the home value, as well as a more comfortable living environment. There is always more to learn, so keep educating yourself.
By Stephanie Martin
Take Care of Your Property with Our Mold Remediation and Home Reconstruction Services!
Get reliable mold remediation and home construction services from our team in Metro Atlanta, Georgia. Martin Home Inspections is proud to supply home restoration, mold remediation, and general contractor services to homeowners and real estate owners. By going with our services, you can impress your neighbors and improve your property value.
After doing construction work for many other organizations, Martin Home Inspections was established in 2008 to offer trustworthy home rehabilitation services to the area. We feature a crew that has more than 25 years of home reconstruction and mold remediation services. We do not sub-contract our services, which makes costs low and reliable. Our company are accredited and insured in the state of Georgia.
Enhance Your Property with Mold Remediation Services!
Count on the personnel at Martin Home Inspections to supply you with excellent mold remediation and general contractor services. Our company go to your residential property , get rid of mold, and can fix your property.
MOLD REMEDIATION
Martin Home Inspections is ready to tackle mold in your residence. We do mold testing and total remediation services to remove the mold. If there are any reconstruction services required, we will work with you and describe the next measures to cease any further mold concerns.
HOME RECONSTRUCTION
If your house has been damaged by water or fire, we offer household reconstruction services. We will work with insurance companies and adjusters to furnish them with an estimate. The staff at Martin Home Inspections will fix your entire property or perform minor work, as well as remodel rooms. The crew that initiates each job will be there each and every time.
Source: http://www.homeinspectionlocustgrovega.com/simple-easy-tips-for-home-improvement-projects/
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Monday, December 24, 2012
Michelle Obama Reads ''Twas The Night Before Christmas' At Children's National Medical Center, Bo Steals The Show (VIDEO)
First Lady Michelle Obama recently took some time to read the holiday classic "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" to kids at Children's National Medical Center. But one creature was stirring, and it was the Obama family dog, Bo.
Just as the FLOTUS was getting ready to start, the large Portuguese Water Dog jumped into her lap and made himself comfortable for the remainder of the reading.
"This is exactly what he does at home," said the First Lady. "He tries to beat Malia and Sasha to my lap."
According to the official White House Blog, "paying a visit to the young patients at the Children's National Medical Center is a holiday tradition that dates back to the 1950s, when Bess Truman was First Lady."
Bo seems to be in the holiday spotlight this year. On Sunday, President Barack Obama's official Twitter account posted the following image of the First Dog frolicking in the snow:
Watch video of the First Lady, with Bo in her lap, at the top of this entry (via The White House).
Also on HuffPost:
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LG 2013 Google TVs controlled like Siri, Wii
9 hrs.
In 2012 LG began selling Google HDTV with just two models. For 2013 LG?s Google TV lineup updates and expands with two series (GA 7900 and GA 6400) consisting of seven models in five screen sizes.? Major new features include a second generation Magic Qwerty remote, the ability to voice search programs and a near borderless screen.
The GA 7900 series (pictured) includes 47 and 55-inch?edge lit LED LCD screen sizes. The Google graphic user interface?permits Internet browsing as well as access to movie services from Netflix and Amazon Instant, apps and premium TV video-on-demand such as HBO GO (provided you have the corresponding subscriptions).
The GUI can be navigated by voice, or tilting the LG Magic Remote control (like a Wii controller). The remote?s built-in microphone allows you?Siri-like control. Say ?go to ABC? and the LG Google TV will change channels. Or speak a search term like ?romantic comedy? and the LG Google TV will provide an on-screen list of programs available in that genre. In addition, LG?s PrimeTime Quick Guide permits browsing of more than 100,000 movies and Tv programs.
Other features in the include the ?Home Dashboard? which offers folders LG calls ?cards? to display apps and other content. For example, the ?My Interest? card can display customized weather and news information.
LG also includes the OnLive app preinstalled which turns the TV into a gaming platform without a separate console. This app offers hundreds of video games available instantly from the Internet cloud.
Have a question for the HD Guru? Send an?email.
More?from HD Guru:
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Re: Glitch in Generations Display? - Family Tree Maker software ...
When you are in People there is a chart of three or four generation displayed at the top for the husband or wife whichever is high lighted. When you click the other person their tree for the the same number of generation is displayed. After a little getting use to this is my primary way of navigating through the family.
If you are having items mixed up in one part of your tree, you need to start with the main person in the mixup, and check the relationship for each.
You can check the relationships in People, Person and click the relationship Tab on the upper right of the main window. In the pane immediately below the Tree are all of the people associated with the person you clicked. It list each person and their relationship.
If you highlight any person shown, you will see the relationship to the primary individual in the right pane. In the right pane you can change the type of relationship for each person shown.
When you find a wrong connection you can detach the person and attach them to the correct person. You attach and detach people from the main menu (File, edit, view, etc) in the Person options Attach/Detach person
Source: http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/topics.software.famtreemaker/9261.1/mb.ashx
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Sunday, December 23, 2012
From Web Designer To Internet Marketer
Internet is full of opportunities, especially if you're in web design and development business. Everyone needs a website, and plenty of people don't know how to make it. That's when those who know how to do it often get started with their business of building sites for others. It can be a cosy job - you can do it from home, without boss, and be well paid if you have good clients, but also, it can be a stressful job - clients that don't know what they want, but always ask for changes while building site, tight deadlines and unslept nights of work. As many jobs, it has it's upsides and downsides. But the bottom line, in most cases, is - you get paid for the project once, and that's it. It's basically an earned income - active income.
Most of web designers and developers have to be good at that field anyway, to make good sites for their clients, but, they're probably unaware of the way they can use their talents to make residual, long-term online income. The business of internet marketing involves site building, and it can be a real bonus if you're professional in it, but is focuses around giving reasons for site's visitors to want to know more and eventually buy products, if you're in affiliate marketing, which is the easiest internet marketing segment to reach into.
Affiliate marketing is a business you'll enjoy doing once get into it, because it allows you to easily merge your favorite hobbies and passions with earning money. Main story of success behind it is quite simple; choose a niche you love and enjoy working with, build up a site about that niche, or a product within it, then learn to promote the site to get traffic and earn from commissions when visitors opt in from your affiliate link.
For example, if you enjoy photography, you can start a website talking about something related to photography - you'll have to choose a niche that has enough demand by surfers and low competition. Then write and/or let others write for the site and create enough ideal content. Put your affiliate links and affiliate products on your site, also related to the topic you'll work with. Then get free traffic from link building, article marketing, or search engine optimization. You'll get surprised with the financial potential of this type of work. If your site has good enough conversion rate, you can profit a lot from just 100 visitors a day. You can easily replicate the process with other niches. The more successful sites you'll have, the better of your bank account will get.
Among all the reasons to get in the internet marketing, or joining valuable affiliate marketing communities, is that it's a permanent residual income opportunity, meaning, your links remain online always, so there will always be a chance that someone opts in from them.
You'll find plent of reasons to do this type of job along the way, but at least learning more about it is a good step, to get another benefit from your web development talent.
Source: http://www.streetarticles.com/affiliate-revenue/from-web-designer-to-internet-marketer
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Homes For Sale Fioli San Ramon CA November 2012 Market ...
New construction of homes for sale in Fioli in San Ramon CA was completed in 2010 and all have been sold including the models and we are now seeing the re-sale market begin to grow. All of the homes for sale in Fioli in San Ramon CA are townhome-style condominiums in the master-planned community of Windemere, and they were built by Centex/Pulte between 2008 and 2010.
Homes For Sale in Fioli in San Ramon CA Currently on the Market*
Listings of homes for sale in Fioli in San Ramon CA, sorted by newest listing date first, are displayed below.
None on December 22, 2012
Homes For Sale in Fioli in San Ramon CA Monthly Trends
Shown below are Fioli in San Ramon CA real estate trends* in charts for the year to date history of Single Family Homes For Sale in Fioli CA, Pending and Sold by month as well as the single family Median Home Price in Fioli CA and Average Days on Market data. (See Note at bottom for Data Assumptions.)
Homes Sold data through end of November 2012. Homes For Sale and Pending Sale data as of December 22, 2012
Homes Sold in Fioli CA in November 2012
None in November 2012
Homes Sold in Fioli in San Ramon CA Past Five Years
Click here to receive ongoing monthly market snapshots for Homes for sale in Fioli
How to get there?
Homes for sale in Fioli in San Ramon CA are accessible fromIvy Hill Rd. off of Albion Rd.
Click on Map for a Larger Interactive View
Click here for an archive of Real Estate Market Updates on Homes for Sale in Fioli in San Ramon CA
Click here to search for San Ramon CA homes for sale
*Based on information from the Contra Costa Association of REALTOR?S? MLS (for the monthly period from the first through the last day of the month). Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS.
Homes For Sale Fioli San Ramon CA November 2012 Market Snapshot Fioli San Ramon CA December 22, 2012
Copyright ? 2012 Vickie Nagy
All Rights Reserved
?
Vickie Nagy: (925) 407-7987 or email: Vickie@VickieSellsHomes.com
Steve Nagy: (925) 407-7853 or email Steve@BestTriValleyHomes.com Vickie and Steve Nagy are available to help you with all your real estate needs, including relocation to San Ramon CA, Dublin CA, Pleasanton
CA, Danville CA & nearby.
? Free Home Evaluation
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? Market Reports in Real Time. Listed by city and by neighborhood.
Vickie Nagy CA DRE Lic. # 01363932 * Steve Nagy CA DRE Lic # 01863790 BMC Real Estate | 4115 Blackhawk Plaza Cir, Suite 100, Blackhawk, CA 94506
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Obamas Wish Special Holiday Homecoming for Troops
During the first holiday season with the U.S. military out of Iraq and winding down in Afghanistan, President Obama today wished a special homecoming for American troops in his weekly address.
"This weekend, parents are picking up their kids from college and making room for all that laundry they bring with them," he said. "Children are counting down the hours until the grandparents arrive, and uncles, aunts and cousins are all making their way to join the family and share in the holiday spirit.
"And this year," he said, "that's especially true for some of our military families."
The president and first lady Michelle Obama reflected on Americans reuniting with their loved ones, including those coming from abroad.
"After a decade of war, our heroes are coming home," Obama said. "And all across America, military families are reuniting. So this week, let's give thanks for our veterans and their families. And let's say a prayer for all our troops - especially those in Afghanistan - who are spending this holiday overseas, risking their lives to defend the freedoms we hold dear."
PHOTOS: Military Heroes Return Home
Released after a tense week of "fiscal cliff" negotiations, gun control discussions, and new staff appointments, the president made no mention of party politics in the video statement. Rather, he and the first lady asked for support for the Joining Forces program, which focuses on employment, charity and other opportunities for U.S. service members and their households.
"Our military families sacrifice so much on our behalf, and Barack and I believe that we should serve them as well as they serve this country," the first lady said. "That's why Dr. Jill Biden and I started Joining Forces - an effort to rally all Americans to honor and support our veterans and military families."
President Obama reflected on the holiday season as it pertains to the Christian faith and volunteer efforts.
"Every year, we commit to love one another, to give of ourselves, to be our brother's keeper, to be our sister's keeper," he said. "But those ideas are not just part of our faith. They're part of all faiths. And they unite us as Americans. "
The two concluded by thanking national volunteers dedicated this season to those "most in need," including Americans picking up the pieces from Hurricane Sandy and the grieving neighborhoods of Newtown, Conn.
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Saturday, December 22, 2012
Macklemore 'Pops Some Tags' While Thrift Shopping
'Thrift Shop' isn't just a song to rapper Macklemore; it's a way of life.
By Natasha Chandel
Macklemore
Photo: MTV News
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1699304/macklemore-thrift-shop.jhtml
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Remembering Ramanujan: India Celebrates Its Famous Mathematical Son
India, home of the number zero, ends a yearlong math party in unique fashion
PORTRAIT OF A GENIUS: Srinivasa Ramanujan, Indian mathematician, was born December 22, 2012. Image: Konrad Jacobs, Oberwolfach Photo Collection
December 22, 2012, marks the 125th anniversary of the birth of legendary Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. An intuitive mathematical genius, Ramanujan's discoveries have influenced several areas of mathematics, but he is probably most famous for his contributions to number theory and infinite series, among them fascinating formulas ( pdf ) that can be used to calculate digits of pi in unusual ways.
Last December Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared 2012 to be a National Mathematics Year in India in honor of Ramanujan's quasiquicentennial. Ramanujan's story is dramatic and somewhat larger than life. It is even the subject of an opera by Indian-German composer Sandeep Bhagwati, a novel and two plays . Largely self-taught, he dropped out of college, took a job as a clerk in Madras and attracted the attention of British mathematician G. H. Hardy through written correspondence in 1913. Although Ramanujan's mother believed that as a Brahmin (the highest class in the Indian caste system, which was in place at the time) he should not travel overseas, Ramanujan, aged 27, went to England in 1914 and spent the ensuing war years working with Hardy and other mathematicians? at the University of Cambridge. He grew quite ill in England, and in 1919 he returned to India where he died in 1920. Since his death at age 32 mathematicians have analyzed his notebooks ( pdf ), which are full of formulas but light on justification. Most of the formulas have turned out to be correct, and researchers continue to learn from his work while trying to understand and prove them.
India's mathematical heritage extends far beyond Ramanujan's time. The nation is considered home of the concept of zero. Babylonians had used a space as a placeholder (similar to the role of "0" in the number 101), but this space could not stand alone or at the end of a number. (In our number system, as in theirs, this could be problematic; imagine trying to tell the difference between the numbers 1 and 10 by context alone.) In India, however, zero was treated as a number like any other. India is also the home of our decimal numeral system.
Indian government and mathematical societies pursued several projects to celebrate their year of mathematics, from enrichment programs for students and teachers to the "Mathematical Panorama Lectures" that occurred around the country. This series of 20 short lecture courses, which will continue into 2013, brings prominent mathematicians from different fields to Indian universities to deliver five or six lectures. M. S. Raghunathan, president of the Ramanujan Mathematical Society and chair of the organizing committee for the National Mathematics Year, wrote in an e-mail that he hopes the lectures will facilitate an infusion of Indian talent into fields that lack it right now.
Indeed, a primary purpose of the year of mathematics is to reinvigorate mathematical education in India. In his speech announcing the event, Prime Minister Singh said that although India has produced many distinguished mathematicians, "for a country of our size, the number of competent mathematicians that we have is badly inadequate." He mentioned concerns about the rigidity of India?s academic system, which some believe might squelch rather than nurture mathematical curiosity and achievement. "A genius like Ramanujan would shine bright even in the most adverse of circumstances, but we should be geared to encourage and nurture good talent which may not be of the same caliber as that of Ramanujan," he said. Singh also mentioned the need to prevent attrition of mathematically interested people. "There is a general perception in our society that the pursuit of mathematics does not lead to attractive career opportunities," he said. "This perception must change." Lectures for undergraduates, camps for motivated youngsters and educational programs designed to acquaint teachers with new topics and pedagogical ideas have all been part of the attempt to nurture mathematical interest at all levels.
Two longer-term projects begun this year could help as well: a documentary on the history of Indian mathematics and a mathematics museum in Chennai. Raghunathan hopes that the documentary will be available in 2014 and the museum will open its doors in 2015.
This yearlong fete is culminating in "The Legacy of Srinivasa Ramanujan," a conference at the University of Delhi from December 17 to 22. Included are technical lectures on mathematics influenced by Ramanujan's work, public presentations on Ramanujan's notebooks, dance performances and a film about Ramanujan's life. The annual SASTRA Ramanujan Prize, which recognizes a mathematician age 32 or younger who works in a field influenced by Ramanujan, will be awarded as well. The awardee this year is Zhiwei Yun of Stanford University, whose work lies at the intersection of geometric representation theory, algebraic geometry and number theory.
Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=d93e661617fbd9499d38ff569ee6d316
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Friday, December 21, 2012
Apple has achieved its highest ever smartphone share in U.S.
Though Robert Pattinson stuck by her, Ben Affleck has left Kristen Stewart?in the dust. Citing a schedule crunch, the actor has backed out of?Focus, a con-artist movie set to costar Stewart and begin filming this spring. Stewart had just said in a recent interview that she was excited to start shooting, but now who knows what will happen. "Hi Kristen. We know that you were excited about working with Ben, but he dropped out, so we got you a replacement," a producer says to her the day she arrives on set. ...
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/apple-achieved-highest-ever-smartphone-share-u-163314808.html
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Do palm trees hold the key to immortality?
Thursday, December 20, 2012
For centuries, humans have been exploring, researching, and, in some cases, discovering how to stave off life-threatening diseases, increase life spans, and obtain immortality. Biologists, doctors, spiritual gurus, and even explorers have pursued these quests?one of the most well-known examples being the legendary search by Ponce de Le?n for the "Fountain of Youth." Yet the key to longevity may not lie in a miraculous essence of water, but rather in the structure and function of cells within a plant?and not a special, mysterious, rare plant, but one that we may think of as being quite commonplace, even ordinary: the palm.
As an honors botany student at the University of Leeds, P. Barry Tomlinson wrote a prize-winning essay during his final year titled, "The Span of Life." Fifty years later, Tomlinson (now a Distinguished Professor at The Kampong Garden of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Miami, FL) teamed up with graduate student Brett Huggett (Harvard University, Cambridge, MA) to write a review paper exploring the idea that palms may be the longest-lived tree, and whether this might be due to genetic underpinnings. Having retained his essay in his personal files, Tomlinson found that it provided an excellent literature background for working on the question of cell longevity in relation to palms. Together, Tomlinson and Huggett published their review in the December issue of the American Journal of Botany .
A component of an organism's life span that biologists have been particularly interested in is whether longevity is genetically determined and adaptive. For botanists, discovering genetic links to increasing crop production and the reproductive lifespan of plants, especially long-lived ones such as trees, would be invaluable.
In their paper, Tomlinson and Huggett emphasize that in many respects, an organisms' life span, or longevity, is determined by the period of time in which its cells remain functionally metabolically active. In this respect, plants and animals differ drastically, and it has to do with how they are organized?plants are able to continually develop new organs and tissues, whereas animals have a fixed body plan and are not able to regenerate senescing organs. Thus, plants can potentially live longer than animals.
"The difference in potential cell longevity in plants versus animals is a significant point," states Tomlinson. "It is important to recognize that plants, which are so often neglected in modern biological research, can be informative of basic cell biological features in a way that impacts human concern at a fundamental level."
The authors focused their review on palm trees because palms have living cells that may be sustained throughout an individual palm's lifetime, and thus, they argue, may have some of the longest living cells in an organism. As a comparison, in most long-lived trees, or lignophytes, the main part, or trunk, of the tree is almost entirely composed of dead, woody, xylem tissues, and in a sense is essentially a supportive skeleton of the tree with only an inner ring of actively dividing cells. For example, the skeleton of Pinus longaeva may be up to 3000 years old, but the active living tissues can only live less than a century.
In contrast, the trunks of palms consist of cells that individually live for a long time, indeed for the entire life of an individual.
Which brings up the question of just how long can a palm tree live? The authors point out that palm age is difficult to determine, primarily because palms do not have secondary growth and therefore do not put down annual or seasonal growth rings that can easily be measured. However, age can be quite accurately assessed based on rate of leaf production and/or visible scars on the trunk from fallen leaves. Accordingly, the authors found that several species of palm have been estimated to live as long as 100 and even up to 740 years. The important connection here is that while the "skeleton" of the palm may not be as old as a pine, the individual cells in its trunk lived, or were metabolically active, as long as, or longer than those of the pine's.
Most plants, in addition to increasing in height as they age, also increase in girth, putting down secondary vascular tissue in layers both on the inner and outer sides of the cambium as they grow. However, palms do not have secondary growth, and there is no addition of secondary vascular tissue. Instead, stem tissues are laid down in a series of interconnected vascular bundles?thus, not only is the base of the palm the oldest and the top the youngest, but these tissues from old to young, from base to top, must also remain active in order to provide support and transport water and nutrients throughout the tree.
Indeed, the authors illustrate this by reviewing evidence of sustained primary growth in two types of palms, the coconut and the sago palm. These species represent the spectrum in tissue organization from one where cells are relatively uniform and provide both hydraulic and mechanical functions (the coconut) to one where these functions are sharply divided with the inner cells functioning mainly for transporting water and nutrients and the outer ones for mechanical support (the sago palm). This represents a progression in specialization of the vascular tissues.
Moreover, there is evidence of continued metabolic activity in several types of tissues present in the stems of palms, including vascular tissue, fibers, ground tissue, and starch storage. Since the vascular tissues in palms are nonrenewable, they must function indefinitely, and Tomlinson and Huggett point out that sieve tubes and their companion cells are remarkable examples of cell longevity as they maintain a long-distance transport function without replacement throughout the life of the stem, which could be for centuries.
Despite several unique characteristics of palms, including the ability to sustain metabolically active cells in the absence of secondary tissues, seemingly indefinitely, unlike conventional trees, in which metabolically active cells are relatively short-lived, the authors do not conclude that the extended life span of palms is genetically determined.
"We are not saying that palms have the secret of eternal youth, and indeed claim no special chemical features which allows cells in certain organisms to retain fully differentiated cells with an indefinite lifespan," states Tomlinson. "Rather, we emphasize the distinctive developmental features of palm stems compared with those in conventional trees."
Tomlinson indicates that this reflects the neglect of the teaching of palm structure in modern biology courses. "This paper raises incompletely understood aspects of the structure and development of palms, emphasizing great diversity in these features," he concludes. "This approach needs elaborating in much greater detail, difficult though the subject is in terms of conventional approaches to plant anatomy."
###
Tomlinson, P. Barry and Brett A. Huggett. 2012. Cell longevity and sustained primary growth in palm stems. American Journal of Botany 99(12): 1891-1902. DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1200089
http://www.amjbot.org/content/99/12/1891.full.pdf+html
American Journal of Botany: http://www.amjbot.org/
Thanks to American Journal of Botany for this article.
This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.
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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126006/Do_palm_trees_hold_the_key_to_immortality__
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