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So you want to design your baby?
Bart Fauser and Paul Devroey provide an authoritative tour of the intricacies, pitfalls and ethical labyrinths of assisted conception in Baby-Making

Source: New Scientist
Posted on: Tuesday, Nov 08, 2011, 7:24am
Views: 37

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/115011/So_you_want_to_design_your_baby_

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Bank Transfer Day: A Resounding, If Unanticipated, Success for Credit Unions (The Motley Fool)

Frustrated by one too many nickel-and-diming fees from her bank, LA gallery owner Kristen Christian created a Facebook event on Oct. 4 that called for people to move their money from banks to credit unions. Titled "Bank Transfer Day" and scheduled for Nov. 5, the event struck a chord with a large number of people. More than 70,000 RSVP'd in the month leading up to the action, and its rapid spread and synergy with the burgeoning Occupy movement ensured it a flurry of (mostly) favorable media coverage.

However, it's easy to click a link on Facebook; going through the process of closing a bank account one has used for years, changing direct deposits, canceling credit cards, and so on, is a much more intensive affair. Additionally, some credit union observers viewed the scheduling of the event on a Saturday (when many banks are closed) as a mistake, arguing that "[i]f something like Bank Transfer Day were to ever really take off in the credit union industry, it would need the support of trade associations like CUNA [the Credit Union National Association]."

Building momentum
In the first few weeks after the announcement of Bank Transfer Day, word spread, in large part through the online networks of the Occupy movement. The event was touted by the main Occupy Wall Street Facebook pages and seized on by the Occupy groups in many smaller cities as an effective form of local action against "too big to fail" banks.

As for the credit union movement itself, the reaction was initially cool but supportive. However, as the event continued to pick up steam and draw media attention, movement trade associations and individual institutions alike started to increasingly embrace and support Bank Transfer Day. Many credit unions ran radio ads touting the event, and CUNA released special "Bank Transfer Day" T-shirts with messages such as "FEE-H8R" and "CU > Bank." In the final week, the headlines of Credit Union Times and major credit union blogs were dominated by discussion of the logistics of and possibilities for the coming event.

A final boost came on Nov. 3, when CUNA announced the results of a survey, which showed that approximately 650,000 people had joined credit unions since Sept. 29 (the day Bank of America (NYSE: BAC - News) announced its reviled and since-rescinded $5 per month debit card fee) and that they had brought about $4.5 billion in deposits with them. JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM - News) and Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC - News) have also rescinded their proposed fees.

To put those numbers in perspective, more people joined credit unions in October than had done so in the entirety of 2010. Though the survey was unable to parse out how much of this explosive growth was simply driven by the introduction of new bank fees versus how much was motivated by Bank Transfer Day, it's clear that the action was already having a major impact.

The day arrives
In preparation for Nov. 5, many credit unions decided to extend Saturday hours and add extra staff to accommodate the possible added load of setting up new accounts, but there was a great deal of uncertainty as to what the day would actually bring. Having spoken with many credit union leaders, the editor of Credit Union Times noted that she is "not sure anyone knew what to expect from Bank Transfer Day, because what people say they'll do is very often different from what they actually do."

Though detailed statistics on the day are not yet available, anecdotal reports suggest that the preparations made were not in vain. In Joliet, Ill., Numark Credit Union reported that in the four hours its locations were open, they opened 26 checking accounts and made several loans and business referrals. By contrast, the credit union's executive vice president noted that "[o]n a usual Saturday, we're lucky if we open two accounts."

Bank Transfer Day was also an occasion for increasingly open cooperation between credit unions and the Occupy movement. According to The Wall Street Journal, representatives of several credit unions visited the Occupy Wall Street encampment in Zuccotti Park to educate people about credit unions and assist them with opening accounts, and members of Occupy Philadelphia reached out to Credit Union Times for help finding knowledgeable credit union people to help run a teach-in. Protesters in a number of cities also celebrated the event by picketing in front of banks, and in Seattle, an estimated 100 Occupiers marched two miles from their camp to open credit union accounts en masse.

The road ahead
Though the final numbers are still coming in, it's clear that Bank Transfer Day was a resounding, if unanticipated, success for the credit union movement, which gained an enormous number of new members and a great deal of free publicity concerning the nature of their model. Already, the movement is abuzz with chatter about how to continue building momentum, with suggestions including increasing outreach to the "unbanked" and initiating a "national branding campaign."

What remains to be seen is whether this particular wave of customer defections will negatively impact the bottom lines of major national banks in a meaningful way. It is possible, as some credit union critics have suggested, that Bank Transfer Day simply hastened the departure of unprofitable customers that Bank of America and others were trying to drive off anyway, in which case the action might actually have had the effect of increasing those banks' profitability.

If, however, Bank Transfer Day has caught the imagination of a critical mass of moderate to high-wealth individuals who decide to move not just their deposits, but also their mortgages, car loans, and more, it may well send a message to the banking industry.

Fool contributor Matt Cropp spends his spare time reading credit union board meeting minutes from the 1950s and enjoying yak puns. He doesn't own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article. The Motley Fool owns shares of Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/fool/20111108/bs_fool_fool/rx162628

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Svetlana Feller: 9 Ways to Get Radiant Fall Skin

Fall is a time to repair and restore. As the seasons change, so do thoughts about our skincare and fitness routines. Stay out of those old patterns of putting away your skin and fitness goals when you pull out the jeans and sweaters. Make this fall the time to bump it up, and improve on the summer skin and body goals you already achieved. Since my clients ask me about this almost daily, I'd like to share some of my best fall recommendations and tips:

Cool it down. Hot water can be very drying to the skin. Use lukewarm water when washing your face and consider shorter shower times (good for the environment and your utility bills, too!).

Moisturize! Skin needs change as the seasons change; use a moisturizer that fits your current skin condition. Summer is hot and humid, so a heavy moisturizer is not needed. By the time fall hits and temperatures drop, skin becomes more dehydrated, especially coming off of summer and tanned skin, and you must transition accordingly.

Hydrate your skin. Drinking water helps your skin stay young looking and is good for your overall health. Be sure to take in at least six 6-oz. glasses per day, or more if you are actively exercising three to four times per week (which you should be).

Practice safe sun. This is a big one! Exercise your melanin. If you don't use it, you can lose it. The cloudy layer that arrives during the fall doesn't protect your skin from UV ray damage. To prevent your skin from aging prematurely and to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen and wear sun-protective clothing. If you must have your sexy bronze glow, be safe! The skin cancer foundation reports that tanning beds put you at a high risk of melanoma. UV rays and tanning beds contribute to 90 percent of premature aging.

Keep your summer glow with an organic spray tan! Facial wrinkles, neck wrinkles and brown spots are all trademarks of the sun. At-home spray tanning products are available everywhere and the convenience of companies like mine, Spray Di Sole, are making spray tanning safe and beautiful. Convenient choices are on the market to keep a healthy glow through the fall!

Exfoliate. Exfoliation is a process of scrubbing the face and body to remove dead skin cells to expose younger, fresher skin. Avoid harsh physical exfoliates; instead try mixing sugar with olive oil to help bind the moisture to the skin. You should exfoliate once per week.

Switch up your makeup. You should transition to fall makeup shades, but the switch from summer to fall makeup doesn't have to be drastic; try opting for warmer shades. Try a creamy lipstick rather than gloss and if your summer glow has started to fade, dust bronzer on your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. This fall is all about the "nude" color palette -- it's universally flattering and totally gorgeous because nudes enhance a woman's true skin tone and beauty.

Stay active. Make sure you're happy in the skin you're in. As the seasons change, you might notice a change in more than just your skin care regime: you might see a change in your mood too. Try to excercise at least 30 minutes a day -- you will feel better by boosting your endorphins.

Remember, happiness is beautiful. As for the frumpy fall mood; reach for the walnuts! These brain-shaped nuts have mood-boosting effects and help with the aging process. They are high in omega 3s and fiber. Foods rich in omega 3s help with your serotonin levels, which is the key to metal well-being. Fiber helps keep your blood sugar levels regulated. With the combination of both of these you will feel the boost.

Love the skin you're in!

Spray-tanning expert Svetlana Feller is the innovative mind behind the first commercial spray tan treatment. In 2007 -- after many hours working with chemists and thousands of spray tan applications -- she opened Spray di Sole, the original "spray-only" spray lounge in Studio City, Califor-nia. In a few short years, Svetlana has become the most sought-after spray tan artist in Hollywood, perfecting the skin of stars from LeAnn Rimes to Sylvester Stallone. Using an organic high-grade vitamin-enriched solution that is nourishing to the skin, Svetlana combines specialty techniques that contour every body. She has been featured on "The Doctors" and "Good Day LA," and has written for or been interviewed in CoCo Eco, Genlux, Haute Living and Brides. Spray di Sole is featured on 5-Star ho-tel spa menus such as The Four Seasons Spa Hotels, Trump SOHO and MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and has affiliates across the United States and Canada. Visit Svetlana on Red Room, where you can read her blog.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/svetlana-feller/fall-skin-tips_b_1078699.html

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Berlusconi faces crunch vote, pressure to quit (Reuters)

ROME (Reuters) ? Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, under massive pressure to resign, faces a crucial vote on public finances in parliament Tuesday which could sink his government if enough party rebels desert him.

Berlusconi has denied reports that his resignation is imminent as he struggles to hold his center-right coalition together, but the increased political uncertainty in Italy has added to turmoil in Europe, hitting global markets Monday.

Chances of defeat in the vote seem to be receding because the center-left opposition may abstain to highlight Berlusconi's lack of support, without hindering the essential ratification of 2010's public accounts.

However, the opposition is preparing a subsequent no-confidence motion that could be held within days.

Yields on Italy's 10-year bonds touched their highest since 1997 at 6.67 percent Monday, a level seen as unsustainable for Italy's massive debt and which could spiral out of control.

Italy has the third biggest economy in the euro zone and its debt worries are a huge threat in the wider crisis facing the continent's single currency.

Berlusconi's failure to adopt reforms swiftly to defuse the debt crisis has fueled dissent within his party, though estimates vary widely over how many center-right deputies will jump ship in the key vote in the lower house due at 9:30 a.m EST

The 75-year-old prime minister spent the weekend trying to win back the support of enough deputies to avoid humiliating defeat in the vote, which he has already lost once.

If he is defeated again, Berlusconi could either resign immediately or be ordered by President Giorgio Napolitano to call a confidence vote.

BERLUSCONI DEFIANT

Berlusconi reiterated his determination to continue at the helm of the government Monday even though several people close to him, including Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, have said they believe he no longer has a majority.

"We will carry on, we have to be ready to fight because a new unelected government including the left would be the opposite of democracy," Berlusconi posted on his Facebook page Monday evening.

European equity markets pared losses Monday following talk that the prime minister was close to resigning, indicating how much markets would welcome his departure.

Italy's government bond prices would recover and the yield spreads would narrow by a full percentage point if the government fell, according to a Reuters survey of 10 fund managers last week.

But even if he goes, there is uncertainty about how Italy can tackle its crisis. Berlusconi and his Northern League allies have insisted the only alternative to him is an election early next year, likely to push back reforms even further.

The possibility of a national unity or technocrat government, preferred by markets, is opposed by Berlusconi and League leaders whose parliamentary support may be needed for it to function.

(Editing by Andrew Roche)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111108/wl_nm/us_berlusconi

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Avril Lavigne, Brody Jenner Tweet About Bar Brawl

'I got attacked by 5 people last night out of nowhere. Not cool,' Lavigne writes.
By Jocelyn Vena


Avril Lavigne
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images

Avril Lavigne and her boyfriend, former "Hills" star Brody Jenner, were reportedly in a bar scuffle over the weekend in Los Angeles. Jenner was injured while trying to break up a fight at the Roosevelt Hotel, according to TMZ.

The fight took place early Sunday morning between an unknown woman and Lavigne. The site reported that law enforcement sources say that hotel security broke up the altercation and that Jenner and several others were detained. Police have listed Jenner as a victim in the scuffle. Also according to the report, Jenner was the only one involved who spoke to police; Lavigne and the others had already left by the time investigators arrived. The site also posted a photo of Jenner sporting a head injury. Both Jenner and Lavigne addressed the reports on their respective Twitter accounts.

"I don't fight. I don't believe in it. To clear things up, I got attacked by 5 people last night out of nowhere. Not cool. My face is f---ed," Lavigne tweeted. "As in black eye, bloody nose, hair ripped out, scratches, bruises and cuts. So not ok to be abusive to others. Violence is NEVER the answer."

Jenner also used the social networking site to open up about his injuries. "Interesting Saturday night ... Just got of the hospital with a new scar on my face. Charges/chargers!!!" he wrote.

In a tweet posted before the fight, Jenner seemed more optimistic about his time hanging out with Lavigne. "Having the best night with the love of my life @AvrilLavigne so happy right now!! ... #Movember CRUSH!! Haha," he wrote, tweeting a photo of himself with Lavigne.

When contacted by MTV News, reps for the LAPD and the Roosevelt had no further information on the report. Reps for Jenner and Lavigne had not responded to MTV News' requests for comment by press time.

On Monday morning (November 7), Lavigne seemed to be nursing her wounds. "Thank you @EvanT for coming over to visit me today and bringing me a hello kitty ice pack. I'm so lucky to have a friend like you," she said in an update.

This isn't the first time Jenner has been in a highly publicized bar fight. Back in August 2009, Jenner and then girlfriend Jayde Nicole got into a bar fight with "Girls Gone Wild" creator Joe Francis.

Related Artists

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1673830/avril-lavigne-brody-jenner-bar-fight.jhtml

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Missouri to SEC is done deal (AP)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ? After weeks of waiting, Missouri's move to the Southeastern Conference became official on Sunday.

The SEC released a statement saying the conference's presidents and chancellors acted unanimously, and Missouri will join the league effective July 1, 2012.

"The Presidents and Chancellors of the Southeastern Conference are pleased to welcome the University of Missouri to the SEC," Florida President Bernie Machen said in a statement. "The University of Missouri is a prestigious academic institution with a strong athletic tradition and a culture similar to our current institutions."

Missouri will be leaving the Big 12, a conference it has been a part of since 1907, including its days as the Big Eight.

"The Southeastern Conference is a highly successful, stable, premier athletic conference that offers exciting opportunities for the University of Missouri," Missouri Chancellor Brady J. Deaton said. "In joining the SEC, MU partners with universities distinguished for their academic programs and their emphasis on student success. The SEC will provide our student-athletes with top flight competition and unparalleled visibility. We came to this decision after careful consideration of the long term best interests of our university.

"We believe the Southeastern Conference is an outstanding home for the Mizzou Tigers, and we take great pride in our association with this distinguished league."

The addition of Missouri will increase SEC membership to 14 schools, including Texas A&M, which announced last month that it was also leaving the Big 12 for the SEC.

Asked what division Missouri would be in, Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long posted on his Twitter account that Missouri will be in the "East initially."

Interim Big 12 Commissioner Chuck Neinas declined comment.

Sunday's announcement comes as no surprise. Last month the Missouri board of curators gave Deaton the permission to change leagues and from that point on it seemed only a matter of time before the Tigers said goodbye to the Big 12.

Apparently, legal issues and other details took time to work out. The Big 12 needed to have a replacement for Missouri lined up, because the conference needs 10 schools to fulfill its TV contracts.

The Big 12 took care of that and bid farewell to Missouri 10 days ago, when it invited West Virginia from the Big East to join the conference. The league did not even list Missouri among the schools it anticipated would be competing in the Big 12 next year.

But despite what the SEC and Big 12 plan, the Big East still will have a say in when Missouri and West Virginia will be allowed to start competing in their new conference homes.

Big East Commissioner John Marinatto has been adamant about enforcing the league's 27-month notification period and holding West Virginia in the conference for the next two years.

West Virginia filed a lawsuit challenging that rule and the Big East countered with a lawsuit asking the courts to make the school abide by its contract.

The Big East is in rebuilding mode now and is expected to start adding new members in the next few days. The league last week approved inviting Boise State, Navy and Air Force for football only and SMU, Houston and Central Florida for all sports.

Its goal is to form a 12-team football league, but even if all the schools its targeting accept invitations, there are various hurdles that would have to be cleared ? including waiting periods and exit fees ? to have them in the Big East by 2012.

It's possible Missouri could be stuck in the Big 12 until West Virginia can depart from the Big East.

The SEC had said it was working on schedules for a 13-team conference when Texas A&M joined.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111106/ap_on_sp_co_ne/fbc_missouri_sec

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Protein May Make UV Exposure Safer In Morning

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The early bird gets the worm--and may avoid skin cancer. Because a new mouse study suggests that, for humans, tanning in the mornings may be less likely to permanently damage DNA and cause skin cancer.

A mouse’s levels of the DNA-repairing protein XPA are different from ours--they peak in the morning and bottom out in the evening. Researchers exposed mice to UV radiation when their XPA was at its minimum level, around 4 a.m., and others to the same rays around 4 p.m., when XPA levels peaked.

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Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=f90e38725ced7cbf4390b6d32b23913e

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France to sit out Palestinian UN membership vote (AP)

PARIS ? France says it will abstain when the U.N. Security Council votes on whether to admit Palestine as a full member of the world body.

Earlier this week, France voted to approve a similar Palestinian request for membership in UNESCO.

But the Foreign Ministry said Friday that, while Palestine's quest for statehood is legitimate, it has no chance of getting past the Security Council. That's because the United States, which wields the power to veto measures there, has said it will vote "no."

The ministry also said it was worried that the vote and its failure would unleash a violent reaction.

Instead, France has offered to help Palestine elevate its status to that of a nonmember state.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/un/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111104/ap_on_re_eu/eu_france_un_palestinians

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At least 10 dead after triple blasts in Iraq capital: sources (Reuters)

BAGHDAD (Reuters) ? At least 10 people were killed when three bomb blasts rocked a busy market in Iraq's capital on Sunday where people were shopping for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, police sources said.

The blasts occurred in Shurja, an important commercial district in central Baghdad where shop owners and vendors sell clothes, electronics, textiles, food and other goods.

"I can see fire and black smoke rising and a large number of fire engines, ambulances and police patrols rushing to the market," a Reuters witness close to Shurja market said.

Police sources said 10 people had been killed in the attack and a source at Baghdad's central morgue said it had received 10 bodies. A source at al-Kindi hospital in Baghdad put the toll at eight killed and 26 wounded.

"The reason behind the fire was sabotage. The perpetrators used gasoline to set ablaze the market," Major General Qassim al-Moussawi, a spokesman for Baghdad security operations, said.

Iraqi forces are preparing to take full responsibility for security by year-end when all U.S. troops pull out of the country, nearly nine years after the U.S.-led invasion.

Military leaders have expressed concerns that militants might ramp up attacks as the 33,000 U.S. troops left in Iraq pack up to leave.

Although violence has dropped since the peak of sectarian fighting in 2006-7, bombings and killings occur on a daily basis and a stubborn Sunni insurgency linked to al Qaeda and Shi'ite militias remain capable of carrying out lethal attacks.

The number of civilians killed in violence in Iraq climbed sharply in October following a string of suicide and roadside bombings in Baghdad. Attacks have also increased against Iraq's army and police.

(Additional reporting by Muhanad Mohammed; Writing by Serena Chaudhry; Editing by Rosalind Russell)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111106/wl_nm/us_iraq_violence

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