Judge rejects Whitey Bulger's 'license to kill' claim

AP file

Boston mob boss James "Whitey

By Denise Lavoie, The Associated Press

BOSTON ? Gangster James "Whitey" Bulger cannot present evidence to a jury about his claim that he was given immunity for future crimes, including murder, a federal judge ruled Monday, calling Bulger's contention that he had a license to kill "beyond the pale."

U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns found that an immunity agreement "cannot as a matter of public policy license future criminal conduct."

"The court concludes that any grant of prospective immunity to commit murder was without authorization and is hence unenforceable under any circumstance," Stearns wrote.

He also wrote, "A license to kill is even further beyond the pale and one unknown even in the earliest formulations of the common law."

Stearns, however, did not immediately rule on Bulger's claim that he received immunity for past crimes.

"Without knowledge of the date of the alleged agreement, however, the court is unable to say whether this determination nullifies defendant's claim of immunity in its entirety (again, assuming proof of its existence)," he wrote.

Stearns gave lawyers additional time to submit written arguments and indicated he will hold a pretrial hearing on Bulger's claim of immunity for past crimes.

Bulger, the former leader of the Winter Hill Gang, is accused of participating in 19 killings. His trial is scheduled to begin June 6.

The ruling was a blow to Bulger's lawyers, who want to use the claim of immunity as their defense during his trial.

They blasted the ruling and said Bulger's right to a fair trial "is at stake by this decision."

Attorneys J.W. Carney Jr. and Hank Brennan said the federal government "has done everything in its power over the past 25 years to cover up the relationship between James Bulger and Federal law enforcement officials."

"The Federal government, including attorneys who worked for the D.O.J. during this period, desperately want to conceal this sordid history from the jury, the victims, and the public," they said in a statement. "Today's decision is another step toward that goal."

Bulger, now 83, was a fugitive for 16 years after fleeing Boston in late 1994 just before he was indicted. He was captured in Santa Monica, Calif., in June 2011.

Bulger, who authorities say worked as an FBI informant while he was committing crimes, claims he received immunity from federal prosecutor Jeremiah O'Sullivan, who died in 2009.

Bulger's lawyers have asked a federal appeals court to remove Stearns from the case.

Carney argues that Stearns has a conflict of interest because he worked as a prosecutor in the U.S. attorney's office in Boston at the same time as O'Sullivan. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has not indicated when it will rule on the request.

In his ruling, Stearns agreed with prosecutors that he should rule on Bulger's immunity claim before trial.

"Resolution of defendant's immunity claim requires an inquiry only into the existence, scope, and validity of the alleged agreement he made with New England Organized Crime Strike Force Chief Jeremiah O'Sullivan," Stearns wrote.

"It does not require the presentation of evidence regarding the commission of any of the nineteen murders or other crimes with which defendant is charged. The government's motion is thus not only appropriately raised, but calls for pretrial resolution."

Stearns noted that Bulger has the right to testify in his own defense at trial, regardless of the court's ruling on his immunity claim. But he also noted that testifying in one's own defense can be limited by rules relating to "materiality and perjury."

Stearns said there has been a "paucity of information" provided by Bulger's defense regarding his claim of immunity. Bulger's lawyers have said only that O'Sullivan ? some time before December 1984 ? promised Bulger immunity from prosecution for all past and future crimes, up to and including murder.

A spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz declined to comment on the ruling.

Bulger's lawyers have argued that if the judge prevents Bulger from presenting a defense based on his immunity claim, it will deprive Bulger of his right to a fair trial.

"Whether or not the defendant was granted immunity is at the core of this case," the defense wrote in a court filing Friday.

Carney recently stunned prosecutors when he said Bulger was never an FBI informant. In documents filed in court Friday, prosecutors said the claim that Bulger was not an FBI informant, but still had immunity is "both strange and unsubstantiated."

In their statement Monday, Bulger's lawyers said Bulger is prepared to testify "how and why he received immunity" from O'Sullivan "for past and ongoing crimes."

? 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/04/17185390-judge-rejects-whitey-bulgers-license-to-kill-claim?lite

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As emotions over US-Russia adoptions intensify, a rift widens into a chasm

Some 20,000 people turned out for a protest in Moscow this weekend over the death of a 3-year-old adoptee in Texas, which was ruled an accident. Russian officials are demanding more evidence.?

By Fred Weir,?Correspondent / March 4, 2013

People take part in a rally in defense of Russian children in Moscow, March 2, 2013. Demonstrators walked along Moscow streets to support the new law prohibiting the adoption of Russian children by Americans and to commemorate the adopted Russian-born children who later died in the United States, according to participants. The board displays portraits of boys and read "Maxim Kuzmin" (l.) and "Dima Yakovlev."

Maxim Shemetov/REUTERS

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Angry demonstrators in the streets of Moscow echoed top Russian government officials over the weekend in casting doubt on a Texas autopsy finding that the January death of a Russian-born adoptee, 3-year-old Max Shatto, was an accident.

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In a diplomatic rift that's becoming increasingly shrill, the Kremlin children's rights ombudsman, Pavel Astakhov, who had earlier accused the child's adoptive US parents of "murder," suggested Sunday that the US government was guilty of a cover-up and of whitewashing the case.

The official autopsy report issued Friday, representing the conclusions of three local medical examiners and one outside expert, found that Max, born Maxim Kuzmin in Pskov, Russia, almost certainly died accidentally due to a self-inflicted blow.

Astakhov and other Russian officials are demanding that Max's younger brother Kirill, whose American name is Kristopher, be taken away from the same adoptive family and be repatriated to Russia.

In an interview with the official Voice of Russia radio station, Mr.?Astakhov listed the reasons to doubt the report, including differences with preliminary information, what he described as "rushed forensics," and the fact that Max was buried in Louisiana, not Texas, which he said would make a second autopsy more difficult.

The Russian foreign ministry's human rights commissioner, Konstantin Dolgov, posted a statement Saturday calling the autopsy results "incomplete" and demanding US authorities turn over all relevant documentation to Russia, including the boy's death certificate.

"Only an examination of these documents will enable meaningful conclusions to be reached about the circumstances surrounding the Russian child's death and determine our possible future steps," Mr. Dolgov said.?"We are expecting that the US side will fulfill its obligations on this matter fully and without delay."

Deepest chasm of public misunderstanding

Experts say the emotional nature of the controversy is starting to turn what started out as a diplomatic flap between the US and Russia, including dueling human rights laws, into the deepest chasm of public misunderstanding between East and West since the cold war ended.

"President Vladimir Putin is using populist campaigns like this and aggressive foreign policy positions to strengthen his own legitimacy in the eyes of Russians," says Nikolai Petrov, an expert with the Moscow Carnegie Center.

"This is a very emotive issue, involving allegations of deliberate abuse of Russian children by American parents, and sounds like the Kremlin is standing up for the defense of those children.... ?Astakhov in particular, and the Kremlin in general, also need to keep face, after making a lot of allegations about the death of that little boy before the facts were all in. This is all for domestic consumption, but it has serious implications for Russia's image around the world," he says.

Russia's 'lost children' march

On Saturday, Russian officials got a boost from the streets, as up to 20,000 people marched through downtown Moscow to support the ban on all adoptions of Russian orphans by US citizens passed by the State Duma late last year.

The march was organized by a new pro-Kremlin group called Russian Mothers, which says its goal is to bring home all Russia's lost children and work to find homes in Russia for all the country's approximately 120,000 institutionalized children.

Critics say Russian Mothers is a Kremlin pocket group, and the Russian blogosphere was full of allegations that many of the marchers were paid to come out, or ordered by their bosses in state companies and institutions.

But Irina Bergset, one of the founders of Russian Mothers, says the organization was started a year ago to defend Russian families against what she claims is rampant abuse of Russian children by foreigners.

"We want to draw the world's attention to the forced confiscation of Russian children," Ms. Bergset says.

"Our purpose is to unite all forces and political organizations to protect our children, all political, religious, and other forces who believe that international adoption should be stopped... The mass media is full of stories that show there is an epidemic of violence against children in the US, some 6 million cases per year. We have child abuse in Russia too, but there is no such epidemic. We need to cope with this problem, and quickly," she says.

Cases of neglect

A January poll by the independent Levada Center in Moscow found that about half of Russians approve of the Dima Yakovlev Act, which bans all US adoptions of Russian children, while about 30 percent disapprove.

Bergset, who addressed Saturday's rally, says that Max's case has touched a public nerve in Russia and that people should no longer believe that the US, or Americans, can be trusted.

"We do not believe that the adoptive parents of Maxim are innocent," she says. "We have a different attitude toward children here in Russia, perhaps due to cultural differences, we don't treat them like cats and dogs....? This autopsy verdict is a slap in the face of Russian civil society; we cannot accept it," she says.

There have been 19 documented cases of Russian children dying due to abuse or neglect in adoptive American homes, out of approximately 60,000 US-Russia adoptions in the past two decades.

That's a far lower rate than the 1,220 Russian children who've died at the hands of adoptive Russian parents in Russia, out of approximately 170,000 adoptions in the same period.

Experts say rates of child abuse in Russia are extremely high, and efforts to address the problem are hampered by lack of public education, media reluctance to cover the issue, and an unwillingness on the part of authorities and courts to prosecute offenders.

Astakhov has argued that the adoption ban is just the first step toward implementing his Russia Without Orphans program, which he says will eventually provide happy homes inside Russia for all its children.

But Tatiana Tulchinskaya, director of Here and Now, a charity that works with orphanages, says that all the negativity building up around the issue is not helping Russian children.

"I wish I could say that all the discussion around this is a good thing, and will lead us to better understanding of the issues. But it's unfortunate that the starting point was that law banning US adoptions rather than a real conversation about why we have so many orphans in Russia," she says.

"In the specialist community we've been talking about the real problems for a long time before all this hysteria began. Child care specialists are certainly ready to offer serious advise to our authorities, but are they ready to listen?"

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/u-vEyWYMs00/As-emotions-over-US-Russia-adoptions-intensify-a-rift-widens-into-a-chasm

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Does Keystone XL report let Obama off the hook on climate pledge?

The State Department report on the Keystone XL pipeline does not oppose it on environmental grounds. Critics say this allows Obama to back away from his pledge to combat climate change.

By Mark Guarino,?Staff writer / March 4, 2013

A shack stands along highway 14, several miles north of Neligh, Neb., April 2012, near the proposed new route for the Keystone XL pipeline. The original plans had the pipeline stretching along the Ogallala Aquifer, an underground water supply that is the greatest irrigation source for the nation?s farmland, supplying eight states.

Nati Harnik/AP

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A US State Department report released late last week that was noncommittal on the environmental impact of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline is galvanizing opponents of the controversial project who say President Obama is backing away from his commitment to combat climate change.

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In the months leading up to a final decision in late summer, the pipeline?s opponents say they plan to use methods ranging from public hearings to civil disobedience to persuade his administration to stop the pipeline from moving forward.

The 1,700-mile pipeline extension, which needs federal approval because it crosses the border between the US and Canada, is a lightning rod issue among environmental groups who say it is dangerous because it will carry oil extracted from Canada?s oil sands region. The harvesting of such oil, they say, produces up to 30 percent more greenhouses gases than does the extraction of conventional crude oil. There are also worries about potential spills from the pipeline, which is planned to traverse much of the nation?s most sensitive agricultural terrain.

Mr. Obama has tabled the decision twice, citing environmental safety concerns in Nebraska, where the original plans had the Keystone XL stretching along the Ogallala Aquifer, an underground water supply that is the greatest irrigation source for the nation?s farmland, supplying eight states. The president ultimately blocked the pipeline?s approval in January 2012, which allowed TransCanada, the Calgary-based pipeline operator, to draft a new proposal in May.

Accompanying TransCanada?s proposal to build the pipeline were promises of job creation and improved American energy independence that make blanket opposition to the project more politically costly, perhaps, than approving it.

The State Department report, released late Friday, did not endorse a final decision on the matter. Instead, it concluded that, no matter how the oil is delivered to US markets, including by rail or tankers, the environmental impact from tar sand extraction remains relatively the same.

?Approval or denial of any one crude oil transport project, including the proposed Project, remains unlikely to significantly impact the rate of extraction in the oil sands, or the continued demand for heavy crude oil at refineries in the US. Limitations on pipeline transport would force more crude oil to be transported via other modes of transportation, such as rail, which would probably (but not certainly) be more expensive,? the report read.

The report also says that denying the permit will ?likely result in actions by other firms in the United States (and global) petroleum market? to transport the oil through alternative means.

Those conclusions are seen as providing Obama political cover should he approve the project.

The State Department is saying, ?we agree with history,? Kevin Brook, an energy analyst with ClearView Energy Partners in Washington, told NPR this weekend.

?They?re saying the oil would have gone to market anyway. The facts are the oil is in the ground in Canada isn?t going to stay there if there?s a buyer,? Mr. Brook said. ?And there is a buyer. The buyer?s here in the US right now, and the oil is coming here by train, by truck and in some cases by barge.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/Kx-ye8EWPno/Does-Keystone-XL-report-let-Obama-off-the-hook-on-climate-pledge

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ScienceDaily: Living Well News

http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/living_well/ Stories about health and wellness, lifestyle issues and trends, family concerns and other topics about everyday life.en-usMon, 04 Mar 2013 22:26:02 ESTMon, 04 Mar 2013 22:26:02 EST60http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gifhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/news/living_well/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130304151807.htm A new mother may constantly worry and check to see if her baby is breathing. Or she may obsess about germs. A new study found postpartum moms have a much higher rate of obsessive-compulsive symptoms than the general population. This is the first large-scale study of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in new moms. The symptoms could result from hormonal changes or be adaptive, but may indicate a psychological disorder if they interfere with a mother's functioning.Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:18:18 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130304151807.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130304151805.htm For the first time ever, a research team is able to explain why our brains feel tired when we exercise. By mapping the mechanism behind so-called central fatigue, the researchers are hoping, among other things, to learn more about how to identify doping use.Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:18:18 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130304151805.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130304123551.htm Exercise can affect your sleep. The results of the National Sleep Foundation's 2013 Sleep in America? poll show a compelling association between exercise and better sleep.Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:35:35 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130304123551.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130304123549.htm A new study shows that alcohol is now the third leading cause of the global burden of disease and injury, despite the fact most adults worldwide abstain from drinking.Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:35:35 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130304123549.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130304123540.htm Debtors who apologized were seen as more remorseful and were expected to manage their finances more carefully in the future compared to debtors who did not offer an apology, finds a new study.Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:35:35 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130304123540.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130304105658.htm Eating your greens may be even more important that previously thought, with the discovery that an immune cell population essential for intestinal health could be controlled by leafy greens in your diet. The immune cells, named innate lymphoid cells, are found in the lining of the digestive system and protect the body from 'bad' bacteria in the intestine. They are also believed to play an important role in controlling food allergies, inflammatory diseases and obesity, and may even prevent the development of bowel cancers.Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:56:56 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130304105658.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130304105531.htm Studies finding that grandmother's smoking habit may cause her grandchild to have asthma suggest environmental factors experienced today can affect families' health for generations to come.Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:55:55 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130304105531.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130301123312.htm While those active on social media aren't shy about expressing opinions on their Facebook pages, how much do their "Likes" really reflect the quality of an organization? A new study shows that Facebook "Likes" were indeed an indicator of hospital quality and patient satisfaction.Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:33:33 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130301123312.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130301122306.htm A new study of women's feet during and after pregnancy shows that arch height and arch rigidity decrease significantly from early pregnancy to five months after childbirth, causing corresponding increases in foot length that appear to be permanent.Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:23:23 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130301122306.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130301034833.htm Researchers have found that healthy adolescent females have predetermined expectations for becoming parents in the future, but have concerns about fertility and childbearing should they develop a life-threatening illness, such as cancer.Fri, 01 Mar 2013 03:48:48 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130301034833.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130228194659.htm Want to know what you are eating? DNA barcodes can be used to identify even very closely related species, finds a new article. Results from the study show that the labelling of game meat in South Africa is very poor with different species being substituted almost 80 percent of the time.Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:46:46 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130228194659.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130228124142.htm Most serious traffic accidents occur when drivers are making a left-hand turn at a busy intersection. When those drivers are also talking on a hands-free cell phone, "that could be the most dangerous thing they ever do on the road," said an expert.Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:41:41 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130228124142.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130228124132.htm Much to the chagrin of parents who think their kids should spend less time playing video games and more time studying, time spent playing action video games can actually make dyslexic children read better, new research suggests. In fact, 12 hours of video game play did more for reading skills than is normally achieved with a year of spontaneous reading development or demanding traditional reading treatments.Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:41:41 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130228124132.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130228103458.htm Having more control in the workplace can have negative consequences for individuals, but it depends on the form of job control. Having control over one's work schedule and job autonomy are associated with lower levels of job pressure.Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:34:34 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130228103458.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130228103443.htm A healthy diet during pregnancy is critical to the future health of your children. New research suggests that pregnant mothers who consume junk food cause developmental changes of the opioid signaling pathway in the brains of their unborn children. Consequently, these children are less sensitive to opioids released upon consumption of foods high in fat and sugar, and need to eat more to achieve a "feel good" response.Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:34:34 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130228103443.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130228080547.htm Although the long-term consequences of childhood obesity are well documented, some school districts have reduced physical education classes to devote more time to the three Rs in education -- reading, writing, and arithmetic. However, there is new evidence that leaving out an important fourth R -- aerobics -- could actually be counterproductive for increasing test scores. A new study studied the associations between aerobic fitness, body mass index, and passing scores on standardized math and reading tests.Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:05:05 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130228080547.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130228080135.htm Researchers have discovered that acne bacteria contain "bad" strains associated with pimples and "good" strains that may protect the skin. The findings could lead to a myriad of new therapies to prevent and treat the disfiguring skin disorder.Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:01:01 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130228080135.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227225636.htm The perennial stress-buster -- a deep breath -- could become stress-detector. According to a new pilot study, there are six markers in the breath that could be candidates for use as indicators of stress.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:56:56 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227225636.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227183526.htm New research reveals that individuals at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes would benefit from being told to sit less and move around more often -- rather than simply exercising regularly. The experts suggest that reducing sitting time by 90 minutes in total per day could lead to important health benefits.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:35:35 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227183526.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227183458.htm Sports-related head injuries are a growing concern, and new research suggests that even less forceful actions like 'heading' a soccer ball may cause changes in performance on certain cognitive tasks, according to new research.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:34:34 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227183458.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227183456.htm Higher humidity levels indoors can significantly reduce the infectivity of influenza virus particles released by coughing, according to new research.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:34:34 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227183456.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227183316.htm Praising children, especially those with low self-esteem, for their personal qualities rather than their efforts may make them feel more ashamed when they fail, according to new research.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:33:33 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227183316.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227151258.htm Research indicates that half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, well before adulthood. Three new studies investigate the cognitive, genetic and environmental factors that may contribute to mental health disorders in adolescence.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:12:12 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227151258.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227151254.htm A 98-year-old researcher argues that, contrary to decades of clinical assumptions and advice to patients, dietary cholesterol is good for your heart -- unless that cholesterol is unnaturally oxidized (by frying foods in reused oil, eating lots of polyunsaturated fats, or smoking).Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:12:12 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227151254.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227134342.htm Does your neighborhood really define health? Most of us make a choice between suburbs, countryside, or city and settle down. But others, particularly those living in poverty, don?t always get to make that choice ?- the choice that could actually determine our quality and length of life. So how does this choice affect our health?Wed, 27 Feb 2013 13:43:43 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227134342.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227121903.htm While water bottles may tout BPA-free labels and personal care products declare phthalates not among their ingredients, these assurances may not be enough. According to a new study, we may be exposed to these chemicals in our diet, even if our diet is organic and we prepare, cook, and store foods in non-plastic containers. Children may be most vulnerable.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 12:19:19 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227121903.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227113100.htm New research is the first to systematically examine the role of trust in biasing memories of transgressions in romantic partnerships. People who are highly trusting tended to remember transgressions in a way that benefits the relationship, remembering partner transgressions as less severe than they originally reported. People low on trust demonstrated the opposite pattern, remembering partner transgressions as being more severe than how they originally reported.?Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:31:31 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227113100.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227113058.htm Researcher says terms such as "normal," "healthy" or "successful" aging can prejudice our views of seniors.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:30:30 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227113058.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227102940.htm Most parents would agree that raising a generous child is an admirable goal -- but how, exactly, is that accomplished? New results shed light on how generosity and related behaviors -- such as kindness, caring and empathy -- develop, or don't develop, in children from 2 years old through adolescence.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:29:29 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227102940.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227102100.htm Same-sex couples who live together have worse health than married opposite-sex couples and similar health as opposite-sex couples who are living together (after adjusting for socioeconomic differences), according to a new study.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:21:21 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227102100.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227101929.htm Older people who have low expectations for a satisfying future may be more likely to live longer, healthier lives than those who see brighter days ahead, according to new research.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:19:19 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227101929.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227085840.htm Advertisers who put images of female celebrities and models next to their products spark scorn rather than shopping, according to new research.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:58:58 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227085840.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227085838.htm Pregnant women should avoid taking vitamin D supplements, new research suggests. Substitution appears to raise the risk of children developing a food allergy after birth.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:58:58 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227085838.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227085706.htm Same-sex cohabitors report worse health than people of the same socioeconomic status who are in heterosexual marriages, according to a new study, which may provide fuel for gay marriage proponents.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:57:57 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227085706.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226194006.htm A study finds an increased risk of narcolepsy in children and adolescents who received the A/H1N1 2009 influenza vaccine (Pandemrix) during the pandemic in England.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:40:40 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226194006.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226141235.htm Fingers are one of the first body parts to suffer from the cold and popular fingerless texting gloves can lead to frostbite and in worst cases, amputation, says an expert.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:12:12 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226141235.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226101259.htm Orthopedic surgeon, spine specialist says excessive leaning head forward and down, while looking at a phone or other mobile device could result in what some people call ?text neck.?Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:12:12 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226101259.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081155.htm During sleep, our brains store what we have learned during the day a process even more effective in children than in adults, new research shows.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:11:11 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081155.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225181536.htm Results of a major study aimed at assessing the efficacy of the Mediterranean diet in the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases show that such a diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or tree nuts reduces by 30 percent the risk of suffering a cardiovascular death, a myocardial infarction or a stroke.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:15:15 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225181536.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225162229.htm Giving back through volunteering is good for your heart, even at a young age, according to researchers.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:22:22 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225162229.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153046.htm Targeting CPR education in high-risk neighborhoods could increase the number of bystanders giving CPR and decrease deaths from cardiac arrest, according to a new statement.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:30:30 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153046.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153029.htm The idea that boys are better at math and in competitions has persisted for a long time - primarily because of the competition format. A new study shows that competitions that extend beyond a single round result in parity between the sexes.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:30:30 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153029.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225131541.htm A newly released international study reveals that the issue of climate change is not a priority for people in the United States and around the world. The surveys showed that when asked to rank priority worries, people were five times more likely to point to the economy over the environment.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:15:15 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225131541.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225131532.htm People become more politically liberal immediately after practising a spiritual exercise such as meditation, researchers have found.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:15:15 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225131532.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225122047.htm New research highlights a memory strategy that may help people who suffer from depression in recalling positive day-to-day experiences.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:20:20 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225122047.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225112320.htm All employees are accountable for something, but very few fully understand exactly what they are accountable for, according to a new study.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 11:23:23 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225112320.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225092248.htm A new study suggests troubling perceptions exist when it comes to women involved in disputes at work.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 09:22:22 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225092248.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225092246.htm New research shows that most babies who are slow to put on weight in the first nine months of life have caught up to within the normal range by the age of 13, but remain lighter and shorter than many of their peers. There are significant differences in the pattern of "catchup," depending on the infant's age when the slow weight gain occurs.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 09:22:22 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225092246.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130222083127.htm Parents know that one day they will have to talk to their children about drug use. The hardest part is to decide whether or not talking about ones own drug use will be useful in communicating an antidrug message. Recent research found that children whose parents did not disclose drug use, but delivered a strong antidrug message, were more likely to exhibit antidrug attitudes.Fri, 22 Feb 2013 08:31:31 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130222083127.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130222083125.htm In Jan. 2012, the United States Department of Agriculture passed a series of regulations designed to make school lunches more nutritious, which included requiring schools to increase whole grain offerings and making students select either a fruit or vegetable with their purchased lunch. However, children cannot be forced to eat these healthier lunches. In a new study, researchers determined that small, inexpensive changes to school cafeterias influenced the choice and consumption of healthier foods.Fri, 22 Feb 2013 08:31:31 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130222083125.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221194241.htm Virologists have discovered a new class of molecular compounds capable of killing the influenza virus. Working on the premise that too much of a good thing can be a killer, the scientists have advanced previous researchers' methods of manipulating an enzyme that is key to how influenza replicates and spreads. The new compounds will lead to a new generation of anti-influenza drugs that the virus' strains can't adapt to, and resist, as easily as they do Tamiflu.Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:42:42 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221194241.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221143946.htm Scientists have found compelling evidence that older adults can eliminate forgetfulness and perform as well as younger adults on memory tests. The cognitive boost comes from a surprising source -- a distraction learning strategy.Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:39:39 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221143946.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221143912.htm Preliminary research findings suggest learning to use Facebook may help give adults older than 65 a cognitive boost. The study shows that seniors who learned to use Facebook saw improvements in their ability to continuously monitor and quickly add or delete the contents of their working memory.Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:39:39 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221143912.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221141604.htm Damage to muscles and the skeleton is the frequent consequence of carrying heavy backpacks and occupational gear on our backs. New research confirms that damage to the nerves that travel through the neck and shoulders is also a serious risk.Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:16:16 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221141604.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221115801.htm New research suggests the growing number of workers who are single and without children have trouble finding the time or energy to participate in non-work interests, just like those with spouses and kids.Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:58:58 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221115801.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221104357.htm Feeling good about spending money on someone else rather than for personal benefit may be a universal response among people in both impoverished countries and rich nations, according to new research.Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:43:43 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221104357.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221104157.htm An increasing number of people die from unintentional home injury, in large part due to accidental drug overdose, according to a new study.Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:41:41 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221104157.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221084618.htm Intense Facebook usage is found to have a positive effect on psychological well-being, according to a new study.?Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:46:46 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221084618.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221084602.htm Researchers have determined normative data for different exercises such as hopping or running. This enables parents and experts to gauge the motor skills of young children for the first time objectively and thus identify abnormalities at an early stage.Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:46:46 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130221084602.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130220203711.htm Similar to talking about being fat, talking about being old is an important an indicator of body dissatisfaction, shows new research. Body dissatisfaction is known to be correlated with, and predictive of, physical and mental health problems including binge eating, emotional eating, stress, low self-esteem, depression, and use of unhealthy weight control behaviors. High levels of talking about weight and being fat, ?fat talk?, is known to be a good indicator of body dissatisfaction.Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:37:37 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130220203711.htm

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/rss/living_well.xml

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The new ABC's of sales (oops, I mean conversion)

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By Phillip Klien
Owner & Chief Innovation Officer, BTBuckets

Learn tips and tricks from the Jedi salesman!

Admit it ? when you think of ?sales,? you immediately conjure an image of a sleazy car salesman pressuring you to buy something different than what you really want. It?s as if sales is something of a necessary evil.

Well, we don?t do this as overtly in the internet industry. We like to think our objectives are more noble, focusing on the famous ?conversion.? But really, it is all about closing the loop on transactions ? on the internet or in a used car lot, we?re all salespeople.

In the offline world, the ultimate mantra for sales is ?always be closing? (ABC). ?What this really means is that selling is a process with stages and, if you follow the process, you will simply be closing your prospect to the next stage in your own specific sales cycle. Salespeople are hammered to follow these guidelines and prompt (read: persuade) people to complete a transaction. In any industry, businesses can use the sales process blueprint and customize it to their own products or services.

However, the internet?s free flow of information has created an environment where buyers and sellers are often equally educated about a product, changing the way transactions are closed. In online purchasing, it?s ultimately up to the customer to close the loop on a transaction, and in many ways, this has turned the entire sales process upside down. The question at hand is how to adapt the ABC concept online.

There?s a new framework for the traditional ABC?s of selling that Daniel Pink first introduced it in his latest book ?To Sell is Human.? This new framework hones in on:

• Attunement: Bringing oneself into harmony with individuals, groups and context.
• Buoyancy: Learn from life insurance salespeople and the world?s premier social scientists what to do before, during and after your sales encounters.
• Clarity: The capacity to make sense of murky situations. One of the most effective ways of swaying customers is to uncover challenges they may not know they have.

Mr. Pink proceeds to explain how to be an excellent salesperson by incorporating these approaches. Let?s take a look at how to apply these behaviors to our online conversion process:

Attunement

For me, this rings a bell immediately ? personalization. There are changes we can apply to the buying experience through personalization that translates into the conversion process. If we are attuned to a user?s characteristics (where they came from, if they have already bought from us, how many products they?ve seen, what city they are visiting the website from, etc.), we can create a more harmonious experience by leveraging this data to create different experiences for each users.

QUICK WIN: Get a handle your analytics data and find the three top cities your users are located. For each of these cities, write a customized message about that city that appears on the first page where these users land. Something as simple as this may completely change how the user will react on your site.
Buoyancy

Mr. Pink discusses how to be prepared to deal with rejection throughout the entire sales process. This calls for an understanding of human intuitions and how people make decisions, which can be examined in studies like Robert Cialdini?s weapons of influence. Ultimately, it?s about being prepared and learning from the sales experience. This can be translated into the online world through A/B and multivariate testing on websites. This enables you to avoid rejection and optimize the conversion rate by extensively testing your website experience.

QUICK WIN: Don?t know what element to start testing on your product page? ?Start by simply trying one a persuasion techniques, like one of Cialdini?s 6 weapons of influence, and begin testing.

Clarity

When I read about clarity in Mr. Pink?s latest book, I thought of user reviews. Whenever I am deciding if I will buy a new book on my Kindle, I rush to the user reviews before even reading the plot summary. There are various stats showcasing the benefit of featuring consumer reviews on your product page and even resources showing that bad reviews are better than no reviews at all.

QUICK WIN: Create an incentive for users to review the products they purchase. Offer a discount coupon on a future purchase if the user goes back to your site and reviews the purchased product.

I hope this brings new light on how you are optimizing your user experience and would love to learn more on how you are using sales (ahem, conversion) techniques on your website at the San Francisco Conversion Conference in April. ?My session will be about the 5 elements every high-converting product page must have.

About the Author

Phillip has an active role with web analytics and adserving in Latin America. He is also co-founder of Predicta, an adserving and web analytics software/service provider in Brazil that was selected by Fast Company as one of the most innovative companies in 2012. Phillip is also a tutor for the award-winning UBC Award of Achievement in Web Analytics and helped develop measurement guidelines for the IAB. He is the founder of BTBuckets ? a free on-site behavioral segmentation and targeting platform and SiteApps ? app store for websites.

See Phillip Live!

Join Phillip in his session on ?Triggering the Sale: 5 Elements of High-Converting Product Pages? at Conversion Conference West 2013 San Francisco, April 15-17 See the?full agenda?and read more about this?session. You can also follow Phillip on?Twitter for some pre-conference networking.

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Only 5 days left on our extended Early Bird discounts ? Register with Phillip?s promo code SF13212 and save another $150 on your discounted Conversion Conference pass!

Source: http://blog.conversionconference.com/conversion/the-new-abcs-of-sales-oops-i-mean-conversion/

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Yoga for Kids and Families ? LOL? Love

While searching online one weekend for something to keep my seven-year-old daughter entertained on a Sunday afternoon, I stumbled upon my new favourite fitness trend: family yoga.

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The class I discovered was at a place called Yoga Buttons ? a Vancouver studio designed just for kids. While they offer occasional adult classes, most of the schedule accommodates a younger crowd. There are classes for babies/parents, toddlers, school-age kids and teens.

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What caught my eye, though, was the family yoga class ? a chance for parents to learn and experience yoga along with their kids. Count us in! As a fitness professional, I?m all for keeping kids entertained with physical activity.

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I suggested to my daughter that we give it a try. She happily agreed and ran off to get dressed in her idea of the quintessential yoga outfit: colourful undershirt, comfy leggings, headband. (Just added to my shopping wish-list: Lol? for kids.)

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We were the first ones to arrive for class, so we settled onto our yoga mats to do some colouring (a surprisingly restorative activity in itself).

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Once the 60-minute class began, I knew we were going to love it. Picture yoga for grown-ups but with stickers, stuffed animals, bubbles and a game of freeze dance to Gangnam Style. OK ? it was nothing like yoga for grown-ups.

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But all the yoga fundamentals were still there. Our cheerful instructor, Leigh, taught us deep Ujjayi/yoga breathing, and we practiced the technique using small stuffed animals perched on our abdomens. We worked on balance. We performed familiar yoga poses, such as Down-dog, Tree and Eagle. And some new ones like Elephant, Parrot and Frog.

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By the time we settled in for Savasana/final relaxation ? the kid-version includes bolsters for pillows, blankets and story-time! ? I felt like we?d run the gamut of a well-rounded yoga practice.

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My daughter and I got some exercise, and we were both feeling comfortably grounded. Plus, I loved being able to share my enjoyment of yoga with my child in a class geared to her age and interests. I?m hoping to see family yoga become a bigger trend this year and beyond. Namaste.

Source: http://www.lolewomen.com/blog/2013/03/04/yoga-for-kids-and-families/

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Baby delivered after crash killed parents has died

Doctors say a baby boy delivered two months premature after the vehicle his parents were traveling in on their way to the hospital was struck by a hit-and-run driver has lost his own struggle to survive.

By Erin McClam, Staff Writer, NBC News

A baby boy delivered after a hit-and-run car crash in New York that killed both his parents has died, a family spokesman said Monday.

Doctors performed an emergency cesarean section at the site of the crash early Sunday in Brooklyn to save the boy?s life. His parents were using a car service to go to the hospital when their vehicle crashed into a BMW at an intersection.?

The driver of the other car fled and has not been found. The owner of that car, identified by police as Takia Walker of the Bronx, was arrested Monday on insurance fraud charges, accused of allowing someone not on the insurance policy to drive the car, NBC New York reported.

Isaac Abraham, who serves as a spokesman for the family?s Orthodox Jewish community, said that the baby would be buried upstate after his body was released by the hospital. He demanded triple-homicide charges for the driver of the BMW.

?This coward left the scene of the accident not even bothering to check on the people of the other car,? he said, according to The Associated Press.

Both of the boy?s parents were 21. The mother, Raizy Glauber, was thrown from the car and landed under a parked tractor-trailer, witnesses said. The father, Nachman Glauber, was pinned in the car, and emergency workers cut open the roof to get to him.

Both died at nearby hospitals.

The mother was 24 weeks pregnant and was rushing to the hospital because she could no longer feel the baby, a relative told The New York Times. After the emergency delivery, the baby was taken to a hospital and had been in serious condition.

John Minchillo / AP

Members of the Satmar Orthodox Jewish community carry caskets Sunday to the funeral of two expectant parents who were killed in a car accident in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The car-service driver, identified by The Times as Pedro Nu?ez Delacruz, was taken to the hospital and released.

Delacruz had a pending application to use the car as a service, known in New York as a livery cab, and should not have been picking up passengers, the city?s Taxi and Limousine Commission told The Times.

The couple had been married about a year and had started a life in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, where the young mother grew up in a prominent rabbinical family, a relative told NBC New York.

In Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon, hundreds of mourners surrounded two coffins covered in black velvet. Jewish law calls for burying the dead as soon as possible.

This story was originally published on Mon Mar 4, 2013 8:59 AM EST

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/04/17179450-baby-boy-delivered-after-car-crash-that-killed-both-his-parents-dies-family-spokesman-says?lite

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