Tongue bristles help bats lap up nectar

Bumps stretch out as mammals drink

By Meghan Rosen

Web edition: May 6, 2013

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BRILLO TONGUE

Rows of bristles line the tip of some nectar-feeding bats? tongues and spring out to gather nectar when blood fills them during feeding, or when artificially pumped full of liquid, like the tongue tip shown in this scanning electron micrograph.

Credit: Courtesy of Cally Harper

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A rush of blood to the tongue helps some bats slurp up their food. Erect bristles that spring from the tongue tip of a nectar-feeding bat, Glossophaga soricina, help the bats snag sweetness from flowers, a new study finds.

As a bat reaches its tongue deep into a flower (or a manmade feeder), muscles stretch out, forcing blood from the middle of the tongue down into hairlike nubs that sprout from the tip, biomechanist Cally Harper and her colleagues at Brown University in Providence, R.I., report May 6 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The nubs are like water balloons that fill up when the bat feeds.

Those blood-inflated bristles grab lots of nectar quickly, making it easier for the mammals to snatch food on the fly.

Scientists had assumed the hairy bristles lining nectar-feeding bats? tongue tips were like floppy mop strands, limply soaking up liquid. But the new study shows that the tongue bristles are actually much more active.

?It?s like if you walked into your kitchen, picked up the mop out of the corner, and the mop reached down to the floor and spread out all of its tendrils,? says biologist Margaret Rubega of the University of Connecticut in Storrs, who studies hummingbird tongues.

To see the bristles in action, Harper and colleagues stuck a high-speed video camera on a clear acrylic feeder, and rigged up fiber optics to shine bright lights on the bats? tongues. Then the team filled the feeder with sugar water and watched as bats swooped in for the treat.

When the animals lapped up the sweet water, the sides of their glistening pink tongues turned bright red and blood-engorged bristles swelled into spikes. Like a multipronged soup ladle, the swollen spikes each pull in some nectar, Harper says.

Unlike with other mammals? tongues, the nubs of nectar-feeding bats have adapted to the flowers the animals drink from, says biologist Alejandro Rico-Guevara, a colleague of Rubega?s at the University of Connecticut. Other nectar-feeding animals such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, use different strategies to suck up food, but all have evolved long tongues with special tubes, tweezers or bristles to help them drink.

The findings suggest that the honey possum, a mammal with a brush-shaped tongue tip, might also use the inflate-a-bristle technique to gather its treats, Harper says. And perhaps the bats? tongue action could one day inspire floppy surgical tools that become firm when pumped full of air or liquid, she says.

Hairlike bristles on the tip of a nectar-feeding bat's tongue help scoop up nectar. In this slo-mo video, a bat slurps up sugar water from an acrylic feeder.
Credit: courtesy of Cally Harper

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/350226/title/Tongue_bristles_help_bats_lap_up_nectar

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Europe's jobs crisis comes into sharper relief

By Andy Bruce

LONDON (Reuters) - Europe's policymakers are starting to recognize chronic unemployment as a crisis in its own right, rather than something that will resolve itself when the economy improves.

Compared with the United States, where the labor market is a key determinant of economic policy, European authorities have been more passive in their approach to jobs for many years.

But the depth of the jobless epidemic, especially in euro zone countries like Spain and Italy, means their rhetoric is at least changing.

Friday's spring economic forecast from the European Commission was a case in point.

Invoking European Central Bank President Mario Draghi's pledge to protect the euro, the European Union's Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said the EU would do "whatever it takes" to overcome the jobless crisis.

In previous forecasts, Rehn mentioned reducing unemployment mainly as something that would only come further down the line, after the completion of painful reforms.

Jobs data from across the Atlantic, also released on Friday, contrasted starkly. The United States added 165,000 non-farm jobs in April, while the unemployment rate there fell to 7.6 percent, its lowest since December 2008.

Business surveys on Monday will reveal more about the pace of job losses in the euro zone, where the jobless rate hit a new record 12.1 percent in March, meaning more than 19 million euro zone citizens are out of work.

"At some point they're going to have to change tack, and maybe 12.1 percent unemployment is the time," said David Blanchflower, economics professor at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, and formerly a Bank of England policymaker.

He noted ECB President Draghi did not mention the labor market at all in his economic analysis of the euro area last week, after cutting interest rates to a new record low of 0.5 percent.

"If you see the latest minutes from the (U.S. Federal Reserve), they really are targeting unemployment, as they should be. They really do take it seriously," he said.

NO QUICK FIX

Even if Europe's politicians increasingly recognize joblessness as a crisis that must be fought actively, little exists that could spur a quick change in fortunes.

"There are always measures which the authorities can take to get the labor market going," said Philip Shaw, chief economist at Investec in London.

"The problem is, given the depth of the crisis, they're unlikely to make a material, positive impact for quite some time. There is absolutely no quick fix to the problem."

Given how Europe has dragged on global economic growth for the last few years, officials there have had no shortage of advice from politicians around the world.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew last month said a rush towards fiscal austerity in Europe had worsened the economic situation in some countries, arguing that there is a need to assess the impact of budget cuts on growth and employment.

He and his G7 finance minister counterparts meet on Friday in London, and although the agenda focuses on fighting tax evasion, the event will provide another chance to discuss how Europe can return to prosperity.

Ultimately, the solution lies in the structural reforms that are already slowly taking place, and also in the restoration of Europe's banking system.

Shaw cited the fact U.S. banks recapitalized earlier than their European peers, particularly in the euro zone, as one of many reasons why the American economy has performed better, therefore creating more jobs.

"(U.S.) unemployment peaked in double digits back in 2009. Looking at a snapshot now, the U.S. seems to have less of an unemployment issue than continental Europe," said Shaw.

"However, that hides the fact it's been a long, hard grind getting the jobless rate down in the U.S."

And even a return to sustained economic growth might not be enough to guarantee European unemployment will fall significantly, said Blanchflower.

He co-authored a study, released last week, showing how the statistics showing an apparently resilient jobs market failed to cover a sharp rise in the number of people working less than they would like.

"If any recovery comes, presumably it's going to come by the incumbent (employees) working more hours, which means the unemployment rate doesn't come down as fast as you'd have thought," said Blanchflower.

"So it looks like we're going to be stuck with high unemployment for a long time."

(Editing by James Jukwey)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/europes-jobs-crisis-comes-sharper-relief-190435318.html

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Parenting in the Pew ? Tips for Stressed Out Parents and Fed Up ...

I get asked lots of questions by parents visiting our church for the first time, but by far the most common is this:?Why don?t you hold Sunday school during the service? ?It?s so hard to have my five-year-old with me during church! ?We do have a Sunday school, but it meets after our corporate worship service, and children five and older are expected to stay with their parents during this service. ?(Younger children and babies can attend the nursery.) ?I get a similar question from single adults, senior citizens, and college students:?Why don?t you hold Sunday school during the service? ?I can?t enjoy the service with all of these whiny, squiggly, rowdy children in the sanctuary! ?

A Jewish friend recently told me that her synagogue holds two seders each Passover ? one upstairs for the adults and one downstairs for the children, who were so badly behaved that the adults banished them to the basement. ?Given the Bible?s injunction that adults need to pass on the story to each new generation, this is surely a failure. ?As is the current Patheos debate about babies crying during church. ?But whose failure is it? ?The parents who think the world revolves around their precious bundles? ?Or the other adults who feel entitled to peace and quiet and orderliness at all times?

Church, unlike my quiet times of Bible study and prayer, is communal experience. ?We come together to make a joyful noise for our God. ?We come together to encourage each other in faith. ?We come together to welcome newcomers into a relationship with God and his people. ?And that welcome extends to children. ?Our job as a congregation is to welcome children into the life of the church. ?This job may fall primarily on parents, but it won?t work if the entire community doesn?t pitch in. ?Here are some suggestions for all of us. Nearly all of them are taken directly from a book that I cannot recommend highly enough, Parenting in the Pew.

FOR PARENTS: ?Church is not a time-out from parenting. ?It?s not like date night, where you and God are gonna have some special time. You have the responsibility, and incredible blessing, to lead your child in the life of your church. ?This means recognizing that the church is not there only for your child?s enjoyment. ?They are part of a community, and teaching your children to respect that community is important work. In a culture that entertains children into a spiritual coma, this is not going to be easy. ?But it will be worth it.

• Sunday morning starts Saturday night.? Lay out clothes, offering envelopes, and gather together all you will need.
• Make Sunday morning different! Set the alarm early enough to allow for a relaxed pace.? Have a simple, special Sunday breakfast.
• Allow time to get settled.? Take children to the bathroom before the service begins.
• It?s often helpful to sit as a family toward the front of the sanctuary.? Children who can see will feel more a part of the service. If, on the other hand, you think you?ll need to take a break during the service, sit near the back and on the aisle so you are less likely to disrupt things as you leave and return.
• If you need some time to quiet a crying baby or help a squiggly youngster re-focus, feel free to step out of the sanctuary for a bit.
• Worship WITH rather than BESIDE children. ? Help those who can?t yet read by singing the words of the chorus into their ears so they can sing along. Have them squeeze your hand whenever they hear a repeated word like God or Hallelujah.
• Help young readers follow along with Powerpoint and Bibles.? Point out words for young readers and even non-readers who can pick out repetitive words.
• Allow children to participate in the offering by sharing their allowance and bringing it forward with your family?s offering.
• Whisper instructions, questions and comments. ?Now is the time when we tell God how great He is.? ?What do you think will happen next in the story??
• When young children need a break, step out of the sanctuary.? Rejoin when they are ready to participate again.
• Be firm and consistent.? Apply the same discipline for worship infractions that you apply at other times.
• On the way home, ask what people did, enjoyed, and wondered about during the service.

FOR THE REST OF US: Church is not an adults-only resort. ?Yes, many parents need to do a better job parenting at church, but your hostile eye-rolling is not helping. ?Neither is your attitude that it?s not your problem to solve. ?How much support do the single mothers get from you? ?The mothers of colicky babies or special needs kindergarteners? ?Has your church gone out of its way to make non-Christian college students feel welcome but very little to make eight-year-old boys feel the same? ?If you can?t sing while a baby cries or an autistic girl bumps into you while she tries to get comfortable, might you not be the one who needs to adjust a few things?

• Remember the commitment you made as a church when children were dedicated, a commitment to encourage them to become disciples of Christ.
• Introduce yourself to the child sitting beside you.? Make him or her feel welcome and important.
• On occasion, ask a parent if you could invite one of their children to sit with you during the service.
• Understand when parents need to take young children and babies to the nursery or the rest room and then return to worship.
• Have patience with the learning process, and pray for families that you see are struggling.
• Compliment children who listened attentively during the service.

Source: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/homeschoolchronicles/2013/04/parenting-in-the-pew-tips-for-stressed-out-parents-and-fed-up-congregants/

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Finally A Cute Robot That Doesn't Have The Crazy Eyes

Wall-E has adorable droopy eyes and is totally compelling, but I have to remind everyone that he isn't real. If you need a minute to let that sink in take as much time as you need. We're gonna talk about Romibo and you can catch up later. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/WPKzkby3M_c/finally-a-cute-robot-that-doesnt-have-the-crazy-eyes

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Social Media Marketing Tips That Take Your Business To The Next ...

Social Media Marketing Tips That Take Your Business To The Next Level

There are several crucial things to think about as you venture into the world of social media marketing. Social networking is a great way to market your business online. Knowing where to start can be tough. Use the helpful strategies outlined below to aid you in marketing your business effectively.

Make sure you have a set plan before you attempt social media marketing. You need to have a realistic view of the time and resources it will take to manage the site. Establish time guidelines for each aspect of your campaign. To succeed, stick as closely as possible to your plan.

TIP! Think twice about paying for a professional social media marketing service. There are a large number of firms that simply seek to defraud and prey on business owners who do not have experience with internet marketing.

Write a guest post on another person?s blog, or allow one to make a guest post on yours. Both methods can increase traffic to your site. When guest blogging somewhere else, make sure they let you link back to a website of your own. Make sure you also allow your blogger to link back as well. This increases traffic for everyone involved.

Social Media

TIP! If you want to maximize your social media efforts, make sure they all tie together through links. For example, put links to your Twitter, Youtube and Facebook pages on your blog.

Use plenty of social media buttons. Make this an integrated part of your blog and add it to your email signature as well. If you operate more than one social media profile, you should always include links to each one.

To pass along information from popular Twitter users, you can re-tweet their updates or use the @ symbol followed by their username. Users are notified of your post; many will re-tweet the message and respond soon thereafter.

TIP! To maximize your social media marketing, place a social media widget on your site. If you really want to stock up on followers, make sure that you?re placing the proper widgets on your site.

Adjust your Twitter profile settings to ensure that all of your business posts are automatically tweeted. You can also link to quality blog posts from other bloggers which match the topic of your feed. They might enjoy the publicity, and your followers are sure to like the stellar content you provide.

Running contests on Facebook and Twitter can really bring in visitors if the rewards are worth customers? while. Social media is by definition connected, so news of a great contest will spread like wildfire. The contest should be fun, and related to what you sell. A contest example that you can try out is to design a logo for one of your upcoming products.

TIP! To obtain subscribers to your social media profiles, offer deals and special offers to followers. If they only see special promotions through Facebook, then it becomes a great marketing tool where people will help you advertise through these social media sites.

Social Media

It is very important to brand yourself in social media. Use the logo from your company for your profile picture. Maintain color schemes throughout your different social media accounts. This allows your followers to trust, and know, who they?re listening to and following. Branding should be an important strategy.

TIP! Gaining a large following on social networks necessitates more than just pushing your products. Include testimonials, relevant articles and links to content your followers will find useful.

A photo submission contest is a fun way to get the word out about people who use your brand. Including your brand, tell your users that they will receive a prize for the photo that is most creative. Users can submit their photos and share them with others; in doing so, they would be spreading the word about your company to people who might otherwise not find you.

Always assess the marketplace before you jump in, if you?re interested in making your business a Facebook profile page, investigate what others have done in your same line of work. Viewing their pages will allow you to figure out what you should, and shouldn?t, do. Your page should be well-designed, attractive and relevant.

TIP! If you?re looking for an easy venue for social media marketing, you should try Facebook. Comments will appear on that person?s news feed so all of their friends see it.

Finding the right way to promote your business through social media marketing will help to increase your company?s visibility. When your business is visible and accessible through the social networks, it will successfully grow. Continue to seek information to assist you, and use the great advice you learned here to get you started.

Get your free website analysis (valued at $97) ? 1-888-513-5974 (tell us that you seen our ad on the website)

Source: http://4thgc.com/social-media-marketing-tips-that-take-your-business-to-the-next-level-2/

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Man charged in Albuquerque church stabbings

An Albuquerque Police officer walks behind the tape at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, Sunday April 28, 2013, in Albuquerque, N.M., the scene of a multiple stabbing at the conclusion of morning services. Police say a 24-year-old man stabbed four people at a Catholic church in Albuquerque as a Sunday mass was nearing its end. Police spokesman Robert Gibbs says Lawrence Capener jumped over several pews at church around noon Sunday and walked up to the choir area where he began his attack. (AP Photo/Albuquerque Journal, Dean Hanson)

An Albuquerque Police officer walks behind the tape at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, Sunday April 28, 2013, in Albuquerque, N.M., the scene of a multiple stabbing at the conclusion of morning services. Police say a 24-year-old man stabbed four people at a Catholic church in Albuquerque as a Sunday mass was nearing its end. Police spokesman Robert Gibbs says Lawrence Capener jumped over several pews at church around noon Sunday and walked up to the choir area where he began his attack. (AP Photo/Albuquerque Journal, Dean Hanson)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) ? Just as the St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church choir began its final hymn, a man vaulted over pews and lashed out at the singers, sending several churchgoers to the hospital with stab wounds, authorities said.

Worshippers screamed as the shocking and chaotic scene unfolded Sunday with the attacker continuing the onslaught until he was tackled and held by church members for officers, who raced to the scene, police said.

Four parishioners were injured, including church choir director Adam Alvarez and flutist Gerald Madrid, police spokesman Robert Gibbs said. All four were treated at hospitals and listed in stable condition.

Three other church members also were evaluated by Albuquerque Fire Department on scene and didn't go to the hospital, investigators said.

Police identified the suspect as Lawrence Capener, 24. He was charged late Sunday on three counts with aggravated battery and ordered held on $75,000 bail.

Court records do not list an attorney for Capener.

It was not immediately known what sparked the bizarre attack at the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass on the city's west side.

St. Jude Thaddeus' pastor, the Rev. John Daniel, said Capener's mother was "very active" in the parish and serves as a Eucharistic minister there.

"He was here occasionally but not very often," Daniel said.

Daniel said that Capener had just graduated from a community college and appeared to be doing well after getting a job.

An off-duty firefighter and others at the church held Capener down until police arrived.

Madrid told KOB-TV that he tried to stop Capener by wrapping his arms around him but was stabbed in the neck and back.

"I bear-hugged him. We were chest on chest. I was wrapping about to take him down to ground, but I didn't have his arms. I had just my arms around his chest, so his arms were free. So that's when he started stabbing me," he said.

Madrid said he thought the suspect was punching him. It wasn't until other parishioners rushed the man that Madrid realized he had been stabbed five times.

The choir's pianist, Brenda Baca King, told KRQE-TV that the attacker was looking at the lead soloist. "I just remember seeing him hurdle over the pews, hurdle over people and run (toward) us and I thought, 'Oh my God, this is not good,'" Baca King said.

Daniel said he didn't see the attack because he had turned his back away from the congregation in order to return the sacrament in the tabernacle.

Archbishop of Santa Fe Michael Sheehan released a statement Sunday afternoon saying he was saddened by the attack.

"This is the first time in my 30 years serving as archbishop in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and as bishop of Lubbock, that anything like this has occurred," Sheehan said. "I pray for all who have been harmed, their families, the parishioners and that nothing like this will ever happen again," Sheehan said.

Daniel said Mass schedule has resumed at the church. A 6 p.m. Monday Mass is scheduled at the 3,000 member church, he said.

___

Follow Russell Contreras on Twitter at http://twitter.com/russcontreras

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-04-29-US-Church-Stabbing/id-cdaf710b49234016ad7dcc2939660652

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Video: Gross: Number of 'Epical' Changes Ahead

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Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/cnbc/51418981/

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