Mr. T - World-of-Newave.info http://answers.world-of-newave.info/mr.-t.htm Latest news and articles about Mr. T en-us Copyright (c)2004-2008.§/Newave SARL. All rights reserved. webmaster@world-of-newave.com (Webmaster) Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:15:51 GMT Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:15:51 GMT Newave Lisa XML Engine v1.0 - http://www.world-of-newave.info/about.htm 60 http://www.world-of-newave.info/images/wi8831.gif World-of-Newave.info - Knowledge and Informational Database http://www.world-of-newave.info/ 88 31 {EUROPE > NEWS AND MEDIA} - Mystery of Mr Seagull highlights tragedy of hundreds of bodies still unidentified http://articles.world-of-newave.info/regional/europe/united-kingdom/news-and-media/mystery-of-mr-seagull-highlights-tragedy-of-hundreds-20081158919.htm http://articles.world-of-newave.info/regional/europe/united-kingdom/news-and-media/mystery-of-mr-seagull-highlights-tragedy-of-hundreds-20081158919.htm Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:02:26 GMT At first glance the object looked like a mannequin that had washed up on the shingle. It was only when the couple taking a wintery walk along Chesil Beach in Dorset came closer and shooed away the seagulls gathered nearby that they realised it was a human body. Six years on the mystery of Mr Seagull, as the dead man was dubbed, remains unsolved. No loved ones have come forward to claim the body and police officers, a coroner and investigators of missing people have been unable to discover the man's identity. The charity Missing People has launched a fresh appeal to try to identify the man, hoping that they can bring closure to a family or friends who must still be wondering what happened to him. But the case has also highlighted the great number of unidentified bodies that are found in the UK each year and the failure so far to keep a nationwide record. The Guardian has learned there are at least several hundred, and perhaps even as many as 1,000, unidentified bodies in churchyards, crematoria and morgues that have been found but not identified in the UK over the past few decades. A new national missing persons bureau opened in April to try to improve the way the authorities manage missing people inquiries. One of its first jobs has been to find out how many unidentified bodies there are - and attempt to match them with records of missing people in Britain and abroad. Early next year, police forces will also be given new protocols on how to deal with bodies that turn up on their patches to make them easier to identify. Cases like that of Mr Seagull are particularly curious because there seem to be enough clues to identify him. The body was found on Chesil Beach on November 3 2002. Initially, he was thought to be a white man aged 30-50, and at least 6ft (1.8 metres) tall. Later DNA tests established he was probably of south-east Asian origin. He had curvature of the spine, which meant he might have walked with a stoop. He had a scar on his top lip and a broken nose. He was wearing Marks & Spencer jeans. It was believed he had died two weeks before his body washed up. Appeals were made at the time of the discovery and then a year later to mark the first anniversary. A sketch was drafted but by the time Mr Seagull's inquest was heard in 2004 he remained unidentified. Recording an open verdict, the West Dorset coroner, Michael Johnston, said it was difficult to understand why he had not been reported missing. He speculated that he may have been pushed overboard from a ship. "But unless something else transpires we shall never know," he said. Another four years on and nothing has transpired. Teri Blythe, head of the Missing People's identification bureau, said it was surprising the case had not been solved, not least because of his distinctive features - including his height. She said: "It is likely that this man will have family and friends out there who do not know his fate."They are not the only family. Missing People's database of unidentified people features more than 100 cases. For some it is clear why nobody has come forward. Witness the case of a man found in south-east London in August last year. He had swallowed 2kg (4lb) of cocaine and is believed to have been a drugs mule. Or an Asian man whose body was found in a service station in Cambridgeshire in 2006. He was trying to smuggle himself into the UK in the back of a lorry. In other cases, though, investigators are disappointed that bodies with distinctive features remain unidentified. For example, a man found dead in woodland in Northampton in 2006 was wearing a bracelet decorated with patterns of wheat and grapes. It was established that he had followed a strict vegetarian or vegan diet. But his identity remains unknown. Blythe said the cases highlighted by Missing People were just the "tip of the iceberg". Until this year there was no genuinely national police missing persons' bureau. Rather, details were collated by Scotland Yard and other police forces collected which stored information in different ways. After a review, the National Police Improvement Agency was given the job of running a national bureau from Bramshill in Hampshire. One of its first jobs has been to try to draw up a list of all unidentified bodies and body parts in the UK. Joe Apps, the manager of the bureau, said it was not yet possible to give a figure but he indicated that it ran into the hundreds. As well as making sure the way police forces collect data is more uniform, the bureau is also trying to forge better links with international police forces and agencies. One of the problems with cases such as Mr Seagull's is that the tidal patterns around the UK, especially in the Channel, mean that bodies could wash in from around the world. The bureau's task is a difficult one. And for now Mr Seagull's body is to be found in a grave in the corner of a cemetery in Weymouth, while somewhere, friends or family wonder what happened to him. ?If you have any information regarding the identity of Mr Seagull or any other of the cases mentioned, call the confidential 24-hour charity Missing People on freefone 0500 700 700 or email identification@missingpeople.org.uk? For more information on Missing People please visit missingpeople.org.ukguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds Guardian.Co.Uk Mystery of Mr Seagull highlights tragedy of hundreds of bodies still unidentified {new window}   Www.Guardian.Co.Uk - At first glance the object looked like a mannequin that had washed up on the shingle. It was only when the couple taking a wintery walk along Chesil Beach in Dorset came closer and shooed away the seagulls gathered nearby that they realised it was a human body. Six years on the mystery of Mr Seagull, as the dead man was dubbed, remains unsolved. No loved ones have come forward to claim the body and police officers, a coroner and investigators of missing people have been unable to discover the man's identity. The charity Missing People has launched a fresh appeal to try to identify the man, hoping that they can bring closure to a family or friends who must still be wondering what happened to him. But the case has also highlighted the great number of unidentified bodies that are found in the UK each year and the failure so far to keep a nationwide record. The Guardian has learned there are at least several hundred, and perhaps even as many as 1,000, unidentified bodies in churchyards, crematoria and morgues that have been found but not identified in the UK over the past few decades. A new national missing persons bureau opened in April to try to improve the way the authorities manage missing people inquiries. One of its first jobs has been to find out how many unidentified bodies there are - and attempt to match them with records of missing people in Britain and abroad. Early next year, police forces will also be given new protocols on how to deal with bodies that turn up on their patches to make them easier to identify. Cases like that of Mr Seagull are particularly curious because there seem to be enough clues to identify him. The body was found on Chesil Beach on November 3 2002. Initially, he was thought to be a white man aged 30-50, and at least 6ft (1.8 metres) tall. Later DNA tests established he was probably of south-east Asian origin. He had curvature of the spine, which meant he might have walked with a stoop. He had a scar on his top lip and a broken nose. He was wearing Marks & Spencer jeans. It was believed he had died two weeks before his body washed up. Appeals were made at the time of the discovery and then a year later to mark the first anniversary. A sketch was drafted but by the time Mr Seagull's inquest was heard in 2004 he remained unidentified. Recording an open verdict, the West Dorset coroner, Michael Johnston, said it was difficult to understand why he had not been reported missing. He speculated that he may have been pushed overboard from a ship. "But unless something else transpires we shall never know," he said. Another four years on and nothing has transpired. Teri Blythe, head of the Missing People's identification bureau, said it was surprising the case had not been solved, not least because of his distinctive features - including his height. She said: "It is likely that this man will have family and friends out there who do not know his fate."They are not the only family. Missing People's database of unidentified people features more than 100 cases. For some it is clear why nobody has come forward. Witness the case of a man found in south-east London in August last year. He had swallowed 2kg (4lb) of cocaine and is believed to have been a drugs mule. Or an Asian man whose body was found in a service station in Cambridgeshire in 2006. He was trying to smuggle himself into the UK in the back of a lorry. In other cases, though, investigators are disappointed that bodies with distinctive features remain unidentified. For example, a man found dead in woodland in Northampton in 2006 was wearing a bracelet decorated with patterns of wheat and grapes. It was established that he had followed a strict vegetarian or vegan diet. But his identity remains unknown. Blythe said the cases highlighted by Missing People were just the "tip of the iceberg". Until this year there was no genuinely national police missing persons' bureau. Rather, details were collated by Scotland Yard and other police forces collected which stored information in different ways. After a review, the National Police Improvement Agency was given the job of running a national bureau from Bramshill in Hampshire. One of its first jobs has been to try to draw up a list of all unidentified bodies and body parts in the UK. Joe Apps, the manager of the bureau, said it was not yet possible to give a figure but he indicated that it ran into the hundreds. As well as making sure the way police forces collect data is more uniform, the bureau is also trying to forge better links with international police forces and agencies. One of the problems with cases such as Mr Seagull's is that the tidal patterns around the UK, especially in the Channel, mean that bodies could wash in from around the world. The bureau's task is a difficult one. And for now Mr Seagull's body is to be found in a grave in the corner of a cemetery in Weymouth, while somewhere, friends or family wonder what happened to him. ?If you have any information regarding the identity of Mr Seagull or any other of the cases mentioned, call the confidential 24-hour charity Missing People on freefone 0500 700 700 or email identification@missingpeople.org.uk? For more information on Missing People please visit missingpeople.org.ukguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Mystery of Mr Seagull highlights tragedy of hundreds of bodies still unidentified | UK news | The Guardian {...} Chesil Beach corpse still not named six years on but Missing People charity aims to solve the riddle {...}
Published: November 17, 2008, 12:02 am - Indexed: November 17, 2008, 12:09 pm - Page Size: 52KB
Category: Regional > Europe > United Kingdom > News and Media

]]> Regional > Europe > United Kingdom > News and Media {LIBRARIES > WEBLOGS} - Say Goodbye to BlackBerry? If Obama Has to, Yes He Can http://articles.world-of-newave.info/reference/libraries/library-and-information-science/weblogs/say-goodbye-to-blackberry-if-obama-has-to-yes-he-can-20081198922.htm http://articles.world-of-newave.info/reference/libraries/library-and-information-science/weblogs/say-goodbye-to-blackberry-if-obama-has-to-yes-he-can-20081198922.htm Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:46:48 GMT NYTimes.com - “Sorry, Mr. President. Please surrender your BlackBerry.” Librarystuff.Net Say Goodbye to BlackBerry? If Obama Has to, Yes He Can {new window}   Www.Librarystuff.Net - NYTimes.com - “Sorry, Mr. President. Please surrender your BlackBerry.”
Say Goodbye to BlackBerry? If Obama Has to, Yes He Can | Library Stuff {...} NYTimes.com - Sorry, Mr. President. Please surrender your BlackBerry. {...}
Published: November 16, 2008, 12:46 am - Indexed: November 16, 2008, 11:16 am - Page Size: 133KB
Category: Reference > Libraries > Library and Information Science > Weblogs

]]> Reference > Libraries > Library and Information Science > Weblogs {EUROPE > NEWSPAPERS} - Profile: Mr Justice Eady defender of the nation's privacy http://articles.world-of-newave.info/regional/europe/united-kingdom/news-and-media/newspapers/profile-mr-justice-eady-defender-of-the-nation-s-20081144217.htm http://articles.world-of-newave.info/regional/europe/united-kingdom/news-and-media/newspapers/profile-mr-justice-eady-defender-of-the-nation-s-20081144217.htm Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:46:16 GMT When Mr Justice Eady retreats to the anonymity of his isolated cottage in Kent this weekend he will no doubt breathe a large sigh of relief at being able to escape the burning heat of a media spotlight which has shone on him like never before. Telegraph.Co.Uk Profile: Mr Justice Eady defender of the nation's privacy {new window}   Www.Telegraph.Co.Uk - When Mr Justice Eady retreats to the anonymity of his isolated cottage in Kent this weekend he will no doubt breathe a large sigh of relief at being able to escape the burning heat of a media spotlight which has shone on him like never before.
Profile: Mr Justice Eady, defender of the nation's privacy - Telegraph {...} When Mr Justice Eady retreats to the anonymity of his isolated cottage in Kent this weekend, he will no doubt breathe a large sigh of relief at being able to escape the burning heat of a media spotlight which has shone on him like never before. {...}
Published: November 13, 2008, 11:46 pm - Indexed: November 14, 2008, 11:07 am - Page Size: 48KB
Category: Regional > Europe > United Kingdom > News and Media > Newspapers

]]> Regional > Europe > United Kingdom > News and Media > Newspapers {NEWS > ALTERNATIVE} - Support Mr. Obama with Family Activism http://articles.world-of-newave.info/news/alternative/support-mr-obama-with-family-activism-20081153612.htm http://articles.world-of-newave.info/news/alternative/support-mr-obama-with-family-activism-20081153612.htm Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:00:01 GMT Obama's calls for individual responsibility mean involving ourselves in a commitment that engages all of us in helping and supporting each other. Alternet.Org Support Mr. Obama with Family Activism {new window}   Www.Alternet.Org - Obama's calls for individual responsibility mean involving ourselves in a commitment that engages all of us in helping and supporting each other.
Support Mr. Obama with Family Activism | Election 2008 | AlterNet {...}
Published: November 11, 2008, 8:00 am - Indexed: November 11, 2008, 11:41 am - Page Size: 37KB
Category: News > Alternative

]]> News > Alternative {EUROPE > NEWS AND MEDIA} - 43 meet 44: Mr Obama goes to Washington http://articles.world-of-newave.info/regional/europe/united-kingdom/news-and-media/43-meet-44-mr-obama-goes-to-washington-20081158116.htm http://articles.world-of-newave.info/regional/europe/united-kingdom/news-and-media/43-meet-44-mr-obama-goes-to-washington-20081158116.htm Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:03:58 GMT When Barack Obama met George Bush for the first time four years ago, it proved an unhappy encounter. Matters were not helped at the start when a presidential aide squirted sanitiser on George Bush's hands before they shook.Yesterday, the 43rd US president met the man who will be the 44th at the White House again in very different circumstances. This time there was to be no sanitiser and none of the condescension that Obama complained of on the first occasion.Obama was at the White House as president-elect to discuss the transfer of power. He was there too as the fulfilment of the dream of Americans who lived through segregation and the 1960s civil rights movement.Like other African-Americans, he is deeply conscious of the White House's alternative history: built by slaves and staffed by slaves throughout its first 50 years and home of repeated racial slights and snubs that lasted into the 1970s.Obama had spoken beforehand of the potency of his presence on the hallowed grounds, and that was confirmed when the long-awaited image immediately went round the world. Speaking during the campaign, he contemplated further images that will help to suggest that America has entered a new era: his daughters, Malia and Sasha, careering round the White House and playing on its famous lawn.He flew to Washington yesterday morning from Chicago, where he had been since last week's election. A black stretch limousine was waiting for him at the capital's Reagan National airport, something he seldom rode in during the long election campaign, not wanting to be seen as presumptive. A further sign of the presidential trappings that will soon be part of his daily life was the motorcade.He and his wife, Michelle, arrived at the White House 14 minutes early. But Bush and his wife, Laura, had been tipped off and were waiting outside for them. Michelle shook hands first with the first lady, who was uncharacteristically flustered, greeting her with "good morning", though it was almost 2pm.Obama and Bush, determined to put on a show of goodwill, shook hands and gave all the appearance of bonhomie. The four posed for a picture, with Laura pausing briefly to check her colours - rust - against Michelle's bright red.After the fleeting stop for pictures, Obama put his hand on Bush's shoulder, a friendly gesture he also made four years ago, but which on that occasion, he joked, made the security men "uneasy".As presidents and presidents-elect before them had done, the two walked together for the cameras down the length of the colonnade into the Situation Room and the Oval Office, for an hour-long private chat.Afterwards, Obama's team put out a statement, echoed by the White House, saying the meeting had been "productive and friendly", thanking the Bushes for their "gracious hospitality".Meetings in the past between an outgoing and incoming president have amounted to little more than reminiscing, accompanied by a little advice on what to expect as US commander-in-chief. But Obama had promised beforehand it would be "substantive", and the two discussed a second economic stimulus package, which Bush opposes, help for the struggling car industry and for mortgage-holders, as well as Iraq and Afghanistan.As the two chatted in the Oval Office, Laura took Michelle on a tour of the White House living quarters, showing her the bedrooms the Kennedy children had occupied, as had her own daughters, Barbara and Jenna. Michelle, who flew to Washington before her husband to check out schools for her daughters, left the White House early. Obama was escorted out by Bush, the two walking down the path to the motorcade, with Bush pointing out various points of interest.At the airport, Obama had another hour-long meeting at the airport's Fire Station 301 with an unnamed figure. Bush's diary is becoming lighter and lighter as he heads towards retirement to his ranch in Crawford, Texas. He feels misunderstood and is bitter about the criticism he attracted on the campaign trail from Obama and John McCain.Dana Perino, the White House press secretary, provided a glimpse of his feelings at the morning briefing when she told journalists. "President Bush has been involved in politics since the mid-60s, when he watched his father run for Congress. Their whole political life has been about a rough and tumble campaign," she said."This president was not involved in the [2008] campaign, we studiously stayed out of it, even when it was very hard for us sometimes to let attacks go unanswered."The visit by Obama was tough for Bush, having to hand over to a Democrat, Obama's presence a flesh-and-blood repudiation by the electorate of Bush's legacy.What made it even tougher was that it came on the day that Obama recorded the most favourable ratings ever for an incoming president, 75%, while Bush finally broke all records, with the most unfavourable ratings ever, at 24% - lower than either Truman or Nixon.Obama White HouseGeorge BushBarack ObamaUnited Statesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds Guardian.Co.Uk 43 meet 44: Mr Obama goes to Washington {new window}   Www.Guardian.Co.Uk - When Barack Obama met George Bush for the first time four years ago, it proved an unhappy encounter. Matters were not helped at the start when a presidential aide squirted sanitiser on George Bush's hands before they shook.Yesterday, the 43rd US president met the man who will be the 44th at the White House again in very different circumstances. This time there was to be no sanitiser and none of the condescension that Obama complained of on the first occasion.Obama was at the White House as president-elect to discuss the transfer of power. He was there too as the fulfilment of the dream of Americans who lived through segregation and the 1960s civil rights movement.Like other African-Americans, he is deeply conscious of the White House's alternative history: built by slaves and staffed by slaves throughout its first 50 years and home of repeated racial slights and snubs that lasted into the 1970s.Obama had spoken beforehand of the potency of his presence on the hallowed grounds, and that was confirmed when the long-awaited image immediately went round the world. Speaking during the campaign, he contemplated further images that will help to suggest that America has entered a new era: his daughters, Malia and Sasha, careering round the White House and playing on its famous lawn.He flew to Washington yesterday morning from Chicago, where he had been since last week's election. A black stretch limousine was waiting for him at the capital's Reagan National airport, something he seldom rode in during the long election campaign, not wanting to be seen as presumptive. A further sign of the presidential trappings that will soon be part of his daily life was the motorcade.He and his wife, Michelle, arrived at the White House 14 minutes early. But Bush and his wife, Laura, had been tipped off and were waiting outside for them. Michelle shook hands first with the first lady, who was uncharacteristically flustered, greeting her with "good morning", though it was almost 2pm.Obama and Bush, determined to put on a show of goodwill, shook hands and gave all the appearance of bonhomie. The four posed for a picture, with Laura pausing briefly to check her colours - rust - against Michelle's bright red.After the fleeting stop for pictures, Obama put his hand on Bush's shoulder, a friendly gesture he also made four years ago, but which on that occasion, he joked, made the security men "uneasy".As presidents and presidents-elect before them had done, the two walked together for the cameras down the length of the colonnade into the Situation Room and the Oval Office, for an hour-long private chat.Afterwards, Obama's team put out a statement, echoed by the White House, saying the meeting had been "productive and friendly", thanking the Bushes for their "gracious hospitality".Meetings in the past between an outgoing and incoming president have amounted to little more than reminiscing, accompanied by a little advice on what to expect as US commander-in-chief. But Obama had promised beforehand it would be "substantive", and the two discussed a second economic stimulus package, which Bush opposes, help for the struggling car industry and for mortgage-holders, as well as Iraq and Afghanistan.As the two chatted in the Oval Office, Laura took Michelle on a tour of the White House living quarters, showing her the bedrooms the Kennedy children had occupied, as had her own daughters, Barbara and Jenna. Michelle, who flew to Washington before her husband to check out schools for her daughters, left the White House early. Obama was escorted out by Bush, the two walking down the path to the motorcade, with Bush pointing out various points of interest.At the airport, Obama had another hour-long meeting at the airport's Fire Station 301 with an unnamed figure. Bush's diary is becoming lighter and lighter as he heads towards retirement to his ranch in Crawford, Texas. He feels misunderstood and is bitter about the criticism he attracted on the campaign trail from Obama and John McCain.Dana Perino, the White House press secretary, provided a glimpse of his feelings at the morning briefing when she told journalists. "President Bush has been involved in politics since the mid-60s, when he watched his father run for Congress. Their whole political life has been about a rough and tumble campaign," she said."This president was not involved in the [2008] campaign, we studiously stayed out of it, even when it was very hard for us sometimes to let attacks go unanswered."The visit by Obama was tough for Bush, having to hand over to a Democrat, Obama's presence a flesh-and-blood repudiation by the electorate of Bush's legacy.What made it even tougher was that it came on the day that Obama recorded the most favourable ratings ever for an incoming president, 75%, while Bush finally broke all records, with the most unfavourable ratings ever, at 24% - lower than either Truman or Nixon.Obama White HouseGeorge BushBarack ObamaUnited Statesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
43 meet 44: Mr Obama goes to Washington | World news | The Guardian {...} Obama's presence at the White House was a flesh-and-blood repudiation by the electorate of Bush's legacy {...}
Published: November 11, 2008, 12:03 am - Indexed: November 11, 2008, 1:06 pm - Page Size: 76KB
Category: Regional > Europe > United Kingdom > News and Media

]]> Regional > Europe > United Kingdom > News and Media {NEWS > BREAKING NEWS} - Mr. Know-It-All: How Green Are Rechargeable Batteries? http://articles.world-of-newave.info/news/breaking-news/mr-know-it-all-how-green-are-rechargeable-batteries-2008118618.htm http://articles.world-of-newave.info/news/breaking-news/mr-know-it-all-how-green-are-rechargeable-batteries-2008118618.htm Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:00:00 GMT Dear Mr. Know-It-All Am I doing terribly wrong by the planet if I use alkaline batteries instead of rechargeables? I mean, recharging requires power, right? The disposable-versus-rechargeable battery debate seems ripe for a contrarian conclusion. Sure, a rechargeable can replace dozens of Duracells, but you have to keep plugging it into the power grid, which usually means burning more and more coal. But the fact is, it takes appreciably more energy to extract metal from the earth, making alkaline batteries the clear loser. A 2007 study by Bio Intelligence Service (admittedly sponsored by French rechargeable battery maker UniRoss) asserted that wearing out a single rechargeable has 28 times less impact on global warming than using alkalines. Rechargeables are also easier to recycle, thanks to a federal law designed to keep potentially harmful metals—nickel, cadmium, mercury—out of landfills. If your local electronics retailer won't recycle them, the national Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation will help you find someplace that will. Disposables have their place in mission-critical gadgets used on the go. But in general, on the food pyramid of batteries, alkalines are akin to fats and sweets—enjoy sparingly. I'm convinced that a butterfingered airport security worker damaged my laptop during a search. Can I get Uncle Sam to pay for a fix? There's a straightforward process for getting compensation via the Transportation Security Administration's Web site. But don't expect it to happen fast. You stand the best chance of success if you fill out a claim on the spot. The second you step away from the security area without filing a complaint (which sounds like what you did), your odds of obtaining a settlement drop significantly. Any delay will make it harder to identify the worker involved and establish whether the alleged drop did actually occur. According to Lara Uselding, a TSA spokesperson, the video from security checkpoints is retained for only 30 days. Given that it takes up to three weeks to finally get to TSA's mailroom, you really have only nine days of leeway before all evidence of official clumsiness is deleted. The TSA couldn't give any statistics on how many after-the-fact complaints result in payouts, but Mr. Know-It-All reckons your chances are slim. The next time you suspect a security employee of battering your precious hardware, conduct an inspection before waltzing off to the gate. Illustration: Christoph Niemann A genetic ancestry test revealed that 29 percent of my DNA is Native American, though I look like your basic white dude. Is it OK for me to mark "Native American" on my census form? Or, for that matter, on my grad school application? It's always thrilling to discover that your backstory might be richer than you thought. But temper your excitement with the knowledge that DNA tests have serious limitations when it comes to discerning ancestry. While it's certainly possible that you have a Pequot or Cherokee blood, today's technology can't come close to proving such kinship. Given the way you phrased your results, it sounds like you took an autosomal test, which looks at key markers on chromosomes inherited from both your parents. It is reputedly able to indicate descent from one of four population groups: European, African, East Asian, and Native American. These tests examine a broader swath of the genome than previously available Y-DNA or mtDNA analyses, which check ancestry from either your father or your mother. Still, even autosomal tests have their limits. "Autosomal tests only examine hundreds or thousands of locations out of the billions of bases in the genome," explains Blaine Bettinger, a biochemist and associate editor at the Journal of Genetic Genealogy. So that Native American DNA cited in your results may well be the only such material in your entire genome, which is many million times bigger than what's been analyzed. As Bettinger notes, you could still be 99 percent European. Even more vexing is the imprecision of what "Native American markers" really mean. They tend to show up in the results not only of Native Americans but people of Middle Eastern or Mediterranean extraction. So it could just be that you have a distant Greek forebear rather than a Navajo. You also need to realize that genetic tests have no bearing on tribal citizenship policies. You might (inaccurately) claim to be 29 percent Native American, but no major tribe will enroll you as a member based on DNA alone. You must name an ancestor. And you probably shouldn't mark "Native American" on any official documents, since universities and other institutions may ask for proof of tribal membership. Still, you're well within your rights to use your results as a genealogical starting point for further research. It's a worthwhile pursuit: Our genetic makeups are invariably more complex than conventional racial classifications. You may grumble over being a "basic white dude," but rest assured your ancestors spanned the globe. So even if, in the end, you do not have any Sitting Bull in you, there could be a little Genghis Khan. Need help navigating life in the 21st century? Email us at mrknowitall@wiredmag.com. Wired.Com Mr. Know-It-All: How Green Are Rechargeable Batteries? {new window}   Www.Wired.Com - Dear Mr. Know-It-All Am I doing terribly wrong by the planet if I use alkaline batteries instead of rechargeables? I mean, recharging requires power, right? The disposable-versus-rechargeable battery debate seems ripe for a contrarian conclusion. Sure, a rechargeable can replace dozens of Duracells, but you have to keep plugging it into the power grid, which usually means burning more and more coal. But the fact is, it takes appreciably more energy to extract metal from the earth, making alkaline batteries the clear loser. A 2007 study by Bio Intelligence Service (admittedly sponsored by French rechargeable battery maker UniRoss) asserted that wearing out a single rechargeable has 28 times less impact on global warming than using alkalines. Rechargeables are also easier to recycle, thanks to a federal law designed to keep potentially harmful metals—nickel, cadmium, mercury—out of landfills. If your local electronics retailer won't recycle them, the national Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation will help you find someplace that will. Disposables have their place in mission-critical gadgets used on the go. But in general, on the food pyramid of batteries, alkalines are akin to fats and sweets—enjoy sparingly. I'm convinced that a butterfingered airport security worker damaged my laptop during a search. Can I get Uncle Sam to pay for a fix? There's a straightforward process for getting compensation via the Transportation Security Administration's Web site. But don't expect it to happen fast. You stand the best chance of success if you fill out a claim on the spot. The second you step away from the security area without filing a complaint (which sounds like what you did), your odds of obtaining a settlement drop significantly. Any delay will make it harder to identify the worker involved and establish whether the alleged drop did actually occur. According to Lara Uselding, a TSA spokesperson, the video from security checkpoints is retained for only 30 days. Given that it takes up to three weeks to finally get to TSA's mailroom, you really have only nine days of leeway before all evidence of official clumsiness is deleted. The TSA couldn't give any statistics on how many after-the-fact complaints result in payouts, but Mr. Know-It-All reckons your chances are slim. The next time you suspect a security employee of battering your precious hardware, conduct an inspection before waltzing off to the gate. Illustration: Christoph Niemann A genetic ancestry test revealed that 29 percent of my DNA is Native American, though I look like your basic white dude. Is it OK for me to mark "Native American" on my census form? Or, for that matter, on my grad school application? It's always thrilling to discover that your backstory might be richer than you thought. But temper your excitement with the knowledge that DNA tests have serious limitations when it comes to discerning ancestry. While it's certainly possible that you have a Pequot or Cherokee blood, today's technology can't come close to proving such kinship. Given the way you phrased your results, it sounds like you took an autosomal test, which looks at key markers on chromosomes inherited from both your parents. It is reputedly able to indicate descent from one of four population groups: European, African, East Asian, and Native American. These tests examine a broader swath of the genome than previously available Y-DNA or mtDNA analyses, which check ancestry from either your father or your mother. Still, even autosomal tests have their limits. "Autosomal tests only examine hundreds or thousands of locations out of the billions of bases in the genome," explains Blaine Bettinger, a biochemist and associate editor at the Journal of Genetic Genealogy. So that Native American DNA cited in your results may well be the only such material in your entire genome, which is many million times bigger than what's been analyzed. As Bettinger notes, you could still be 99 percent European. Even more vexing is the imprecision of what "Native American markers" really mean. They tend to show up in the results not only of Native Americans but people of Middle Eastern or Mediterranean extraction. So it could just be that you have a distant Greek forebear rather than a Navajo. You also need to realize that genetic tests have no bearing on tribal citizenship policies. You might (inaccurately) claim to be 29 percent Native American, but no major tribe will enroll you as a member based on DNA alone. You must name an ancestor. And you probably shouldn't mark "Native American" on any official documents, since universities and other institutions may ask for proof of tribal membership. Still, you're well within your rights to use your results as a genealogical starting point for further research. It's a worthwhile pursuit: Our genetic makeups are invariably more complex than conventional racial classifications. You may grumble over being a "basic white dude," but rest assured your ancestors spanned the globe. So even if, in the end, you do not have any Sitting Bull in you, there could be a little Genghis Khan. Need help navigating life in the 21st century? Email us at mrknowitall@wiredmag.com.
Get Wired's take on technology business news and the Silicon Valley scene including IT, media, mobility, broadband, video, design, security, software, networking and internet startups on Wired.com {...}
Published: November 10, 2008, 5:00 pm - Indexed: November 17, 2008, 12:06 pm - Page Size: 52KB
Category: News > Breaking News

]]> News > Breaking News {EDUCATION > BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY} - So which stars ARE voting for McCain?-Mr Left ... http://articles.world-of-newave.info/reference/education/colleges-and-universities/north-america/united-states/utah/brigham-young-university/so-which-stars-are-voting-for-mccain-mr-left-2008118259.htm http://articles.world-of-newave.info/reference/education/colleges-and-universities/north-america/united-states/utah/brigham-young-university/so-which-stars-are-voting-for-mccain-mr-left-2008118259.htm Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:51:32 GMT Posted on Thu 6 Nov 2008. Follow the link for the full question & answer. Theboard.Byu.Edu So which stars ARE voting for McCain?-Mr Left ... {new window}   Theboard.Byu.Edu - Posted on Thu 6 Nov 2008. Follow the link for the full question & answer.
Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. -W.J. Cameron {...}
Indexed: November 7, 2008, 9:51 am - Page Size: 16KB
Category: Reference > Education > Colleges and Universities > North America > United States > Utah > Brigham Young University

]]> Reference > Education > Colleges and Universities > North America > United States > Utah > Brigham Young University {EUROPE > COMPUTERS AND INTERNET} - Shawshank thesp erased from NY voter rolls http://articles.world-of-newave.info/regional/europe/united-kingdom/business-and-economy/computers-and-internet/shawshank-thesp-erased-from-ny-voter-rolls-20081152813.htm http://articles.world-of-newave.info/regional/europe/united-kingdom/business-and-economy/computers-and-internet/shawshank-thesp-erased-from-ny-voter-rolls-20081152813.htm Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:19:38 GMT Mr. Susan Sarandon fears nationwide election meltdown USA '08 Susan Sarandon's common law hubby was miffed this morning when election officials at his local polling station couldn't find his name.? Theregister.Co.Uk Shawshank thesp erased from NY voter rolls {new window}   Www.Theregister.Co.Uk - Mr. Susan Sarandon fears nationwide election meltdown USA '08 Susan Sarandon's common law hubby was miffed this morning when election officials at his local polling station couldn't find his name.?
Shawshank thesp erased from NY voter rolls ? The Register {...}
Published: November 5, 2008, 12:19 am - Indexed: November 5, 2008, 10:22 am - Page Size: 21KB
Category: Regional > Europe > United Kingdom > Business and Economy > Computers and Internet

]]> Regional > Europe > United Kingdom > Business and Economy > Computers and Internet {SYSTEMS > NEWS AND MEDIA} - The Back Page - Rob Enderle Compares Apple's "I'm a Mac" Commercials to Republican Attack Ads http://articles.world-of-newave.info/computers/systems/apple/macintosh/news-and-media/the-back-page-rob-enderle-compares-apple-s-i-m-a-mac-2008119653.htm http://articles.world-of-newave.info/computers/systems/apple/macintosh/news-and-media/the-back-page-rob-enderle-compares-apple-s-i-m-a-mac-2008119653.htm Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:35:00 GMT Speaking of politics, today we have Mr. Enderle comparing Apple's attack ads to negative campaigning from Senator John McCain. In a grand moment of rhetorical flourish, Mr. Enderle posits that Apple's negative campaigning will eventually come back to haunt the company in the same way that Mr. McCain's negative campaigning has apparently hurt his own standing in the polls Macobserver.Com The Back Page - Rob Enderle Compares Apple's "I'm a Mac" Commercials to Republican Attack Ads {new window}   Www.Macobserver.Com - Speaking of politics, today we have Mr. Enderle comparing Apple's attack ads to negative campaigning from Senator John McCain. In a grand moment of rhetorical flourish, Mr. Enderle posits that Apple's negative campaigning will eventually come back to haunt the company in the same way that Mr. McCain's negative campaigning has apparently hurt his own standing in the polls
The Back Page - Rob Enderle Compares Apple's "I'm a Mac" Commercials to Republican Attack Ads || The Mac Observer {...}
Published: November 3, 2008, 8:35 pm - Indexed: November 4, 2008, 12:11 pm - Page Size: 59KB
Category: Computers > Systems > Apple > Macintosh > News and Media

]]> Computers > Systems > Apple > Macintosh > News and Media {LIBRARIES > WEBLOGS} - Meeting Mr. McFeely http://articles.world-of-newave.info/reference/libraries/library-and-information-science/weblogs/meeting-mr-mcfeely-2008117351.htm http://articles.world-of-newave.info/reference/libraries/library-and-information-science/weblogs/meeting-mr-mcfeely-2008117351.htm Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:25:35 GMT Last Saturday, I went to "Make a Difference Day" with my wife and two sons on the Central Michigan University campus. It was a literacy event with free books, free foods, and activities. Also in attendence was Mr. McFeely from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.We collected our free books and also stood in life so that the clowns could make us animals from balloons. However, I was most intertested in meeting Mr. McFeely. I grew up watching Mr. Rogers' and I was eager to meet the Speedy Deliveryman.We stood in line a long time. It became apparent why in no time. Mr. McFeely spent a lot of time talking with each young fan (and parent!) who came up to him. After about thrity minutes, we finally made it to the front.My two boys (10 and 5) had not seen much Mr. Rogers'. The show has had no new episodes in many years since Mr. Rogers died. PBS still runs it but not as frequently. Both boys were vaguely familiar with the show and Mr. McFeely and were polite as he signed a picture for each of them.Then Julie and I got to speak with him. I thanked him for coming to CMU and for the years of work he had done on the show. I told him he had made a difference. He lighted right up and offered to sign a picture for Julie and I as well. The picture is above!Mr. McFeely also shared with us that he has a movie coming out. It is Speedy Delivery: The Movie. In real life, Mr. McFeely is David Newell. He is now the Director of PR for Family Communications. He is a nice guy and I am glad I got to meet him. Information-literacy.Net Meeting Mr. McFeely {new window}   Www.Information-literacy.Net - Last Saturday, I went to "Make a Difference Day" with my wife and two sons on the Central Michigan University campus. It was a literacy event with free books, free foods, and activities. Also in attendence was Mr. McFeely from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.We collected our free books and also stood in life so that the clowns could make us animals from balloons. However, I was most intertested in meeting Mr. McFeely. I grew up watching Mr. Rogers' and I was eager to meet the Speedy Deliveryman.We stood in line a long time. It became apparent why in no time. Mr. McFeely spent a lot of time talking with each young fan (and parent!) who came up to him. After about thrity minutes, we finally made it to the front.My two boys (10 and 5) had not seen much Mr. Rogers'. The show has had no new episodes in many years since Mr. Rogers died. PBS still runs it but not as frequently. Both boys were vaguely familiar with the show and Mr. McFeely and were polite as he signed a picture for each of them.Then Julie and I got to speak with him. I thanked him for coming to CMU and for the years of work he had done on the show. I told him he had made a difference. He lighted right up and offered to sign a picture for Julie and I as well. The picture is above!Mr. McFeely also shared with us that he has a movie coming out. It is Speedy Delivery: The Movie. In real life, Mr. McFeely is David Newell. He is now the Director of PR for Family Communications. He is a nice guy and I am glad I got to meet him.
Indexed: November 1, 2008, 11:25 am - Page Size: 1KB
Category: Reference > Libraries > Library and Information Science > Weblogs

]]> Reference > Libraries > Library and Information Science > Weblogs