Curbing Campus Confusion ? The Washtenaw Voice

As another academic year begins, plenty of students will step foot on the campus of Washtenaw Community College for the first time. Whether you?re the fresh out of high school 18-year old pre-law student, or the 40-year-old accountant who wants to take a photography class, college can be a mystery for the first couple weeks.

Between learning where your classes are on campus, to where to go get a quick snack between classes, it takes some time to master.

Have no fear as The Washtenaw Voice?has compiled a guide that features the who, what, where and when that every new student needs to know.

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Education beyond the classroom

Just because it?s a community college, it doesn?t mean Washtenaw Community College doesn?t have plenty of ways for students to enhance their experiences.

Student Activities, located on the newly-renovated first floor of the Student Center, is the best way to find out about the various clubs and activities offered throughout the year. Open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. every day, there is always someone in the office to help you find the best fit for you.

For the athletes on campus, Club Sports offers numerous sports and intramural activities to students that run through the entire school year. If you?re only interested in having a little fun and not the competitive side of sports, drop-in sports are also offered throughout each semester.

Club Sports is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Be sure to visit the brand new Community Room on the newly renovated first floor of the Student Center. It features table tennis, pool, darts and air hockey and a wide array of tech toys.

And if you?re interested in becoming part of the student-run newspaper, The Washtenaw Voice, stop by our office in TI 106.

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Parking

Over the first few weeks of the semester, finding reasonable parking will be a hassle for even the most veteran WCC student. For those of you with 9 a.m. classes, a good rule of thumb is to plan on being to campus by 8:30 a.m. in order to get a decent spot. Between traffic around campus and the stampede of drivers looking for spots, it can easily take this long to find a spot.

If you don?t mind a bit of a walk, there is always parking in the lots out by the ML Building and further down in the lots near the O.E building. The year-old parking garage can be hit or miss depending on the time of day and what the weather is like outside. On rainy days those spots tend to fill up quicker.

In the afternoon, you can try your luck and hope to catch an empty spot in the lots closest to your class. The parking garage usually has a few spots open by 1 p.m.

By the time evening classes begin, most lots have plenty of parking and the traffic around the college tends to die down, making getting to campus an easier task.

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Advising and Counseling

We?re all here for a reason, from students looking to transfer to a four-year institution, to the woman looking to improve her resume for an existing job. But it?s important to make sure that you?re taking the right classes for your goals.

To make sure you?re on the right path to success, visit the counseling office located on the second floor of the Student Center. Typically, the counseling office is open Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. ? 6 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

A word of advice: Be prepared when you visit and ask good questions. The more thought you?ve put into your academic future, the better advisers can help you.

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Tutoring

Having trouble with that required math course? No worries, as a student, free tutoring is available to help you stay on top of your classes. Learning Support Services is located in LA 104 should be the first stop for students looking for help outside of the classroom.

LSS is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5p.m.

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Getting around campus

Finding all the different buildings on campus can be a headache at first, but knowing how long it takes to get from point A to point B can be an even bigger challenge; especially when scheduling classes back-to-back.

The most centrally located building on campus is the Student Center. Inside of SC, you will find the campus bookstore and eateries on the first floor, and financial aid, counseling and many more important offices and services on the second floor.

Also there is a bridge on the second floor that connects to the Liberal Arts building. From the inside on the LA building you can reach the parking garage and the Gunder Myran building via covered walkways on the second floor.

Heading to the southeast of campus you can find the Occupational Education building. Next to that is the Great Lakes Regional Training Center. At the far end, you will find the Morris Lawrence building.

Right out front of the campus are the Technical and Industrial and Business Education buildings. Located on the second floor between the two buildings is another covered walkway. Also on the second floor of the TI building is the Copy Center which provides computers and printers for students to use.

On the northwest side of campus are the Industrial Technology and Henry S. Landau Skilled Trades buildings.

Just across the street on the north side of Huron River Drive is the Health and Fitness Center.

Below are expected walk times from the Student Center to the various buildings on campus:

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ML ? 5-7 minutes

GM ? 2-3 minutes

Skilled trades ? 5-6 minutes

BE ? 3-4 minutes

TI ? 1-2 minutes

OE ? 1-2 minutes

LA ? 2-3 minutes

Health and Fitness Center ? 4-6 minutes

Parking garage ? 3-5 minutes

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Campus Safety and Security

Campus security is located in the parking structure on the northeast side facing the Occupational Education building. Besides patrolling the campus, a number of services are available.

For those late-night walks back to your car, an escort can be called to walk with you if you?re not comfortable doing so alone. Contact the Campus Safety and Security office using any campus telephone and dialing extension #3411

A motorist assistant is also provided for various vehicle issues. If you have left your car lights on and need a jump, Campus Security will provide a vehicle jump-start.

The Lost and Found is located within the Campus Security office. Found items will be held for one month.

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Quiet Places

Finding a quiet place to study or relax between classes has always been a struggle. The library might seem like the most logical place to be when seeking a quiet environment, but that isn?t always the case and can often times be a distraction.

Within the library are study rooms students can use with a reservation or a first-come-first-served basis. These rooms are a great way to quietly study alone or with a group.

Between the Business Education building and the Gunder Myran building is a large grassy field that makes for a perfect spot to relax and pull out a book or unwind by playing with a Frisbee or a football. The field is big enough that large crowds aren?t an issue and the only noise you might hear are the sound of birds.

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Notable Staff

Rose Bellanca is the president of WCC. Bellanca oversees progression of the school and the direction it is heading.

Stuart Blacklaw is the vice president for instruction; he handles the curriculum for the college and is the person to see if there is an issue with a course.

Peter Leshkevich is the director of student development and activities. If you?re looking to get more involved at Washtenaw, see Leshkevich and he will let you know what sort of events are coming up.

Pamela Horiszny serves as the chair of the board. Trustees include seven members and convenes twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The meetings are open for students to attend and are located in the Morris Lawrence building in Room 150.

Jacques Desrosiers can be often seen walking around the campus making sure everything is in check. As head of security on campus, if there is a problem or an issue of safety, Desrosiers is the person to speak to.

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On/off campus food

A long morning of classes would make anyone hungry, but finding a place to eat good, inexpensive food without being late to your next class can sometimes be a bit tricky.

All food on campus can be found within the Student Center. Bakuzio?s offers a wide range of Starbucks coffee drinks, packaged sandwiches, assorted pastries, bagels and a selection of juices and teas. Depending on the time of day, the line isn?t more than a five-minute wait.

Subway is available for those wanting to grab a quick lunch or even take it on the go. The line for Subway may often be full, so plan ahead if your break is right around lunch time.

Edibles is specifically accommodating to students who wish to serve themselves any of the food selections. Edibles focuses on the ?grab-and-go? concept. It offers salads, sandwiches, and pizza.

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Off campus eats

Besides the assortment of nearby fast-food chains, an array of delicious and quick food is available near campus.

Noodles & Co. has a selection of pasta dishes that you can take to go and are very tasty. Just 1.3 miles from campus, it is located at 3601 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Eight minutes roundtrip.

For a quick bite to eat in the morning, Tim Hortons is located 2.7 miles from campus at 760 S Hewitt Rd., Ypsilanti. 10 minutes roundtrip.

Big Moes? Coney Island offers take-out and has the usual Coney Island menu items. Breakfast is served all day as well. Only 0.9 miles from campus, located at 4860 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Seven minutes roundtrip.

The New York Pizza Depot offers pizza by the slice, 10-inch personal pizzas and delicious calzones, all food you can grab and go. Located four miles from campus at 605 E. Williams, Ann Arbor. 22 minutes round-trip.

Bob Evans is a 1.2-mile drive from campus and offers carry-out. Its menu is an assortment of soups and salads and American style foods. Prices are fair and the quality is great. Located at 2411 Carpenter Road, Ann Arbor. 10 minutes roundtrip.

If you?re in the mood for some shwarma or falafel, Haifa Falafel has great Middle Eastern dishes on its menu for a great price. Located at 4585 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. 10 minutes roundtrip.

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Source: http://www.washtenawvoice.com/2012/08/curbing-campus-confusion/

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Quit The Pattern Of Loud snoring In Your Own Life ?

Snoring loudly can seem like such a minimal annoyance in the beginning, but because the night time go by with very little rest, the issue can quickly escalate for an unexpected emergency as you get more and more exhausted. This information has lots of information and advice on loud snoring and what you can do about it.

Keep reading for additional details on these efficient tactics.

Think about learning how to play the musical musical instrument preferred by the Aussie Aborigines, the didgeridoo. This instrument can be a lengthy, available-ended pipe and may aid in your fight from loud snoring. A single conclusion in the didgeridoo is positioned against the mouth. Flex the muscle tissue of your tonsils and blow using your pursed lip area to ensure they rapidly flap. The air that is released resonates in the hose and makes the unique audio.

In order to scale back on snoring loudly, transform over and sleep in your corner, not lying on your back. When you sleeping lying on your back, particularly with only a couple of bedroom pillows, mucus can gather within your sinus passages. Slumbering in your favor helps keep the mucus out from the passages, and you won?t possess a blockage which will cause heavy snoring.

If your loud snoring appears serious, you ought to speak to your doctor. You will likely need to have a sleep research to figure out when you have apnea. Should you, the doctor will probably recommend that you employ a CPAP unit at nighttime. The CPAP machine causes air flow into your airways to keep them open. This keeps you from heavy snoring and it also makes certain you happen to be properly oxygenated.

Sleeping on a strong pillow can help decrease snoring loudly. This will give your head the appropriate assist and will keep your throat muscle groups from calming too much. As soon as your neck muscle tissue are far too relaxed, your air passageway is lowered and snoring is increased. Company and additional firm cushions can be bought in most stores.

To help you end snoring issues, stay away from consuming getting to sleep pills or other sorts of tranquilizing medication that will help you rest. These sleep at night assists may help you are feeling more soothing, in addition they bring about equally heavy snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Some tranquilizers are even addicting and may cause health conditions if overused.

If all the other heavy snoring remedies have failed you, it could be time for you to think about getting surgical procedure to help ease your snoring loudly. Nowadays surgery in the nasal area and throat is shown to heal loud snoring in more than 70% of patients with the majority of them in no way snoring once more. Even so, this needs to be a last resort.

There is absolutely no must put up with evening right after night of loud heavy snoring from your sleep at night spouse. As you have seen using this report, there are several things you the two is capable of doing to deal with this concern.

Discuss these ideas with your loved one who snores to actually both can rest soundly every single night.

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Source: http://all-articles-directory.com/quit-the-pattern-of-loud-snoring-in-your-own-life/

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Controlling gene expression: How chromatin remodelers block a histone pass

Monday, August 27, 2012

Two opposing teams battle it out to regulate gene expression on the DNA playing field. One, the activators, keeps DNA open to enzymes that transcribe DNA into RNA. Their repressor opponents antagonize that effort by twisting DNA into an inaccessible coil around histone proteins, an amalgam called chromatin, effectively blocking access to DNA by enzymes that elongate an RNA strand.

Both teams maneuver by chemically modifying histones?the activators by decorating histones with acetyl groups?let's call them green flags?causing them to loosen their grip on DNA. The repressors retaliate by marking histones with red flags, often methyl groups, which call in de-acetylase enzymes to clip off the green flags, restore the chromatin barrier and end that round of gene expression. Disturbing this biochemical balance lies at the heart of many diseases, particularly cancer.

Recently, the lab of Jerry Workman, Ph.D., investigator at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, reported in the journal Nature that a reserve of "pre-acetylated" histones sits on the chromatin sidelines ready to sub for histones whose green flags get clipped by repressors, a tactic aiding the activators called "histone exchange". In a companion study published in the Aug. 26, 2012 Advance Online Publication of Nature Structural & Molecular Biology the Workman lab now shows that a repressor called Set2 in yeast recruits a protein assistant to block the histone exchange. That study reveals a heretofore unknown mechanism to keep gene activation under control and ensure that erroneous transcription does not occur.

"Accurate gene expression is critical for normal cell function, and when this control is lost cells grow abnormally," says Workman. "These two studies identify mechanisms used by cells to regulate gene expression, which is important for our understanding of what goes wrong in diseases marked by unregulated cell growth, like cancer."

The study began when the group, in collaboration with Stowers proteomics experts Michael Washburn, Ph.D., and Laurence Florens, Ph.D., applied mass spectrometry analysis to identify any protein expressed in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that bound to chromatin in regions patrolled by Set2. Those regions were readily apparent by the presence of Set2's red flag methyl group planted in a specific histone protein interacting with DNA.

"We knew that Set2 added this mark in the middle and downstream parts of genes to recruit de-acetylases," says the study's lead author Michaela Smolle, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in the Workman lab. "But the proteomic search allowed us to cast a wide net for other proteins associated with that mark?a bit like fishing."

Among the fish caught was a component of a yeast chromatin "remodeler" known as Isw1, providing circumstantial evidence that the Set2 red flag attracts Isw1 as well as de-acetylases. Additional genomic experiments evaluating the entire genome of a yeast mutant lacking Set2 supported that idea: not only were the red methyl flags missing but the chromatin landscape was devoid of Isw1 as well.

To assess Isw1's biological function the group exploited yet another yeast mutant, this one lacking the ISW1 gene itself. Microarray analysis of global transcription in ISW1 CHD1 mutants showed widely perturbed gene expression marked by aberrant expression of RNA snippets rather than complete transcripts. Biologists view the presence of such "cryptic transcripts" as indicators of cellular stress.

Analysis of acetylation and methylation patterns in chromatin of ISW1 mutants revealed the probable cause: mutants showed ramped up histone exchange activity marked by excessive levels green-flagged pre-acetylated histones along the length of many genes, a condition likely favoring initiation of truncated RNAs.

"Our work shows that the Set2 methylation mark plays two important roles to ensure that RNA transcription starts only at the beginning of the gene and not in the middle," says Workman. "On one hand, it recruits Isw1 to block incoming histones, and on the other it also recruits a deacetylase to remove any acetylation marks that might happen to have sneaked in."

The Workman lab uses yeast, fruit flies and mammalian cells to study multiple factors that activate and repress transcription. Thus far, they have characterized players in the repressive Set2 pathway primarily in yeast, in part because yeast represents an ideal organism for mutational analysis and has a fairly small genome?6,000 genes compared to the 25,000 or so in humans or mice.

Smolle notes that although yeast genomes are simpler, the principles that govern Set2 activity in yeast will likely hold true for its human counterparts, among them the human protein SETD2. "Yeast has a single methylase, while humans have several, and flies and humans have several Isw1-like proteins," she says. "While you cannot equate one with the other precisely, you can be reasonably sure that what happens in yeast happens in humans as well but tends to be more complicated."

Workman agrees, adding that these discoveries have significant implications for human disease. "Strikingly, the human homolog of Set2, SETD2, is implicated as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer and in renal carcinoma, and those cells are deficient in the SETD2 methylation mark," he says. "These findings strongly suggest that SETD2 could be important in controlling cell growth and preventing tumors. Thanks to yeast, we now know more about how Set2 does that."

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Stowers Institute for Medical Research: http://www.stowers-institute.org

Thanks to Stowers Institute for Medical Research for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

This press release has been viewed 54 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/122939/Controlling_gene_expression__How_chromatin_remodelers_block_a_histone_pass

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Federer rolls on, Murray struggles at Open

World No. 1 Roger Federer launched his quest for an 18th career Grand Slam title by defeating American Donald Young 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to reach the second round of the US Open.

The 31-year-old Swiss star, seeking a record sixth title on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts, showed the form he used to win last month at Wimbledon and two weeks ago in Cincinnati by advancing in only 94 minutes.

That lifted Federer to 22-0 in night matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium before a typically raucous New York crowd.

"Being back in New York as World No. 1, it's crazy and I enjoy it," Federer said. "It definitely brings out the best in me. The crowds are incredible.

"For me I hope we can keep it going out here."

Olympic champion Andy Murray, who beat Federer for London gold, battled into the second round while defending women's champion Samantha Stosur, top seed Victoria Azarenka and third seed Maria Sharapova cruised in their openers.

Three-time US Open champion Kim Clijsters stretched her US Open win streak to 22 matches while Czech fifth seed Petra Kvitova and Chinese ninth seed Li Na also advanced on a day where rain halted play for more than two hours.

Top seed Federer broke Young in the eighth game of the match and held to claim the first set in 27 minutes and then broke him three times to claim the second after only an hour on the court.

Young delivered a final-game fightback before falling on Federer's third match-point opportunity, after which the winner said he felt pressured at times by Young, who ended a 17-match losing streak only last week.

"There is pressure. Donald played well," Federer said. "Obviously I am going in here as the favorite."

Even Federer, who next faces Germany's Bjorn Phau, can feel some first-match tension against an opponent who should fall with ease.

"All of us, even Federer, have to get a feel for the tournament," Clijsters noted.

Britain's third-seeded Murray, still seeking his first Grand Slam title, struggled at times in dispatching Russia's 73rd-ranked Alex Bogomolov 6-2, 6-4, 6-1.

Murray put a scare into his supporters by clutching his left leg after a point in the fifth game of the final set but blamed the problem on cramping after being pushed throughout the match, which lasted two hours and 15 minutes.

"Struggling a little bit," Murray said. "There were a lot of long points, especially at the beginning of the match.

"Just a little bit of cramping. I have to stay better hydrated for the next matches."

The match began with four breaks of serve. Murray connected on only 28 percent of first serves in the opening set.

"A six or seven out of 10," Murray said. "I didn't serve well at the beginning but I won in three sets against a tough player."

Next up for Murray will be Croatia's Ivan Dodig, who dispatched Japanese qualifier Hiroki Moriya 6-0, 6-1, 6-2.

Australian seventh-seed Stosur began her repeat bid with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Croatia's Petra Martic.

Stosur, seeking her first title since upsetting Serena Williams in last year's US Open final, fired 10 aces to advance in 51 minutes. Stosur won the first 19 points of her match before a double fault ended her bid for a golden first set.

"You knew you were going to lose one at some point," Stosur said. "It did pop into my head for a split second. Then I hit the double fault and it was erased."

Russia's Sharapova dispatched Hungary's Melinda Czink 6-2, 6-2.

Sharapova, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning the French Open last June for her fourth major, had not played since losing to Williams in the Olympic final but looked solid.

"I was just happy to be back on the court," Sharapova said. "I haven't had a match in a few weeks."

Clijsters, playing in the final event of her career at age 29 so she can spend more time with her family, defeated US teen Victoria Duval 6-3, 6-1. The Belgian won US Open crowns in 2005, 2009 and 2010 and hopes to claim another.

"I've always felt very comfortable as soon as I step on the hardcourts and in New York," Clijsters said.

"There's a lot of positive emotions I use when I'm out here. I've had some good practices and I'm trying to carry that into the matches."

Azarenka needed only 50 minutes to oust Russia's Alexandra Panova 6-0, 6-1 while Kvitova downed Slovenia's Polona Hercog 7-6 (8/6), 6-1.

Li, a first-round US Open loser the past two years, beat Britain's Heather Watson 6-2, 6-3 to book a date with Aussie Casey Dellacqua.

"Maybe this year, I just was in the final Montreal and I won in Cincy, so I got a lot more confident," Li said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/murray-sharapova-second-round-us-open-012752883--ten.html

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From the Editor's Desk: Verdict fatigue; Motorola sends pigs into the air; how to really hate a device

Phil Nickinson

I'm supposed to take this more personally, I've been told. I'm supposed to hate Apple and what it's litigious self with every fiber of my being. I'm supposed to cry in my beer for Samsung, for HTC, for anyone who's ever had an injunction handed down. I'm suppose to hate the player, as well as the game.

That's just not me. I don't set my hair on fire, especially about things over which I have no control.

Here's what I do hate, in no particular order:

  • I hate that patent litigation has become the focus of the past several months. (It almost makes me long for the bad old, sky-is-falling days of Carrier IQ.)
  • I hate that instead of writing and talking about phones and tablets, we have to concentrate on lawsuits about phones and tablets.
  • I hate that it takes the focus away from the developers, without whom none of this would matter anyway.
  • Most of all, I hate that it's come this far.

That patents should be granted for software certainly should be debated. That patents are granted far too easily hardly is up for debate. Let's hope by this time next year we'll be talking about new and innovative products, and not this mess. I'm sick and tired of patents.

If you've yet to do so, check out the podcast I did with Rene Ritchie from iMore.com on Saturday.

And now, for some more good (and bad) from the past week in Android.

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/uCUiHWeVAVg/story01.htm

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Tracking Isaac: The latest on the storm's path

A person walks by a sign warning about Hurricane Isaac, in Key West, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Isaac gained fresh muscle Sunday as it bore down on the Florida Keys, with forecasters warning it could grow into a dangerous Category 2 hurricane as it nears the northern Gulf Coast. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

A person walks by a sign warning about Hurricane Isaac, in Key West, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Isaac gained fresh muscle Sunday as it bore down on the Florida Keys, with forecasters warning it could grow into a dangerous Category 2 hurricane as it nears the northern Gulf Coast. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

A cyclist rides his bike in Key West, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Tropical Storm Isaac gained fresh muscle Sunday as it bore down on the Florida Keys, with forecasters warning it could grow into a dangerous Category 2 hurricane as it nears the northern Gulf Coast. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

Workers put up shutters at a local cafe in Key West, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, as they prepare for Tropical Storm Isaac. Isaac gained fresh muscle Sunday as it bore down on the Florida Keys, with forecasters warning it could grow into a dangerous Category 2 hurricane as it nears the northern Gulf Coast. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

Folko Weltzien, 38, kite surfs as high winds from Hurricane Isaac gusts on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, in Miami. Isaac gained fresh muscle Sunday as it bore down on the Florida Keys, with forecasters warning it could grow into a dangerous Category 2 hurricane as it nears the northern Gulf Coast. (AP Photo/The Miami Herald, Carl Juste)

Craig Jones, left, and Kimberly Branson secure their boat in Key West, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012 in preparation for Tropical Storm Isaac. Tropical Storm Isaac gained fresh muscle Sunday as it bore down on the Florida Keys, with forecasters warning it could grow into a dangerous Category 2 hurricane as it nears the northern Gulf Coast. (Alan Diaz)

Tropical Storm Isaac is already hitting the Florida Keys with rain and wind, and it may become an even stronger hurricane as it makes its way toward the northern Gulf Coast.

Isaac is expected to make landfall somewhere along the Gulf Coast by Tuesday or Wednesday ? the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. That storm caused disastrous flooding all along the coast. A hurricane hasn't hit the Gulf Coast since Ike in 2008.

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION

Party officials are trying to cram four days of convention events and festivities into three as Isaac approaches. The storm is not expected to directly hit Tampa, but those in attendance ? and especially those protesting outside ? can expect to get wet.

DAMAGE

Most of the damage down by Isaac so far has been in the Caribbean. At least seven people were killed by flooding in Haiti, including in tent cities filled with earthquake victims, and two others in the Dominican Republic. Isaac scraped Cuba, downing power lines and trees. As of early Sunday afternoon, the storm was just beginning to hit the Florida Keys and had done little damage aside from scattered power outages.

WHERE WILL IT HIT?

On Sunday afternoon, Isaac is expected to pass over the Florida Keys. From there, it will hit somewhere along the northern Gulf Coast.

Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center have warned that right now, it's extremely difficult to determine exactly where on the Gulf Coast Isaac will make a direct hit. But it is expected to gain significant strength over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and is likely to become at least a Category 2 storm. And it is a massive system: Tropical storm conditions extend as far as 200 miles from the center, meaning even communities not in the direct path could get a lashing.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-08-26-Tropical-Weather-Glance/id-783c741b9a3e4c4ab3d1382ccd60559f

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Joel Parkinson and Jeremy Flores emerge triumphant in Round 3 at ...

Joel Parkinson and Jeremy Flores emerge triumphant in Round 3 at Billabong Pro Tahiti

Australia?s Joel Parkinson and France?s Jeremy Flores successfully advanced to the fourth round of Billabong Pro Tahiti, the fifth of ten stops on the 2012 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Championship Tour, following their winning performances in their respective Round 3 heats that went down at Teahupo?o in Taiarapu, Tahiti, on Sunday, August 26.

Parkinson got the better of America?s Taylor Knox in the seventh heat to secure his place in the fourth round while bringing the competition to a premature end for his rival.

The eighth heat saw Flores put on an impressive performance to down Brazil?s Heitor Alves, consequently advancing to the next round of the competition while sending his rival packing.

The rapidly increasing three-to-five foot waves breaking at the primary event site on the latest day of elite tour, promising to deliver a handful of exquisite performances as the best surfers from around the globe squared-off for survival in front of a massive crowd, both physically present as well as catching the action live through webcast.

The seventh heat pitted Parkinson against Knox in a man-on-man battle for the Round 4 spot. While the Australian surfer had been in top-notch form since the start of the season, Knox had made his own intimidating form evident on the opening day of the latest elite tour event, taking down the former two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning.

As the contest got underway, Parkinson went through a series of average scores before posting a 7.00 on the score-board and immediately followed it up with a 5.83-point ride, thus finishing with a heat-total of 12.83 points.

Knox responded with a lacklustre performance, managing to score a mere 1.70 and 2.77 off his best-two waves to finish with a heat-total of 4.47 points.

The eighth heat saw Flores square-off with Alves. The French surfer looked promising right from the word go, scoring a 6.60 off his first business-wave and went on to add an excellent 9.00 to his account in the dying minutes of the heat to end up finishing with a heat-total of 15.60 points.

Alves responded with a couple of scores in the six-point range, finishing with a resultant heat-total of 12.60 points. The response proved inadequate, consequently forcing him to concede victory and thus the Round 4 spot to his rival.

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Joel-Parkinson-and-Jeremy-Flores-emerge-triumphant-in-Round-3-at-Billabong-Pro-Tahiti-a182901

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Darkness, Alanis top CD reviews | Music | Entertainment | London ...

Summer?s almost over but the music never ends. This week: The Darkness glam it up, Alanis remains ironic, 2 Chainz tells his story, Divine Fits fit their name and more.

The Darkness

Hot Cakes

Glam-Rock

2.5 stars out of 5

Do you believe in a thing called redemption? Justin Hawkins and co. hope so. Reunited and reformed, these British glam-rock satirists seek to recapture their mojo with their long-overdue third disc. And for the most part, they succeed ? provided you like your ?70s arena-rock with plenty of recycled Angus riffs, faux-Freddie falsettos and teenage double-entendres. Let there be shlock!

Download: Everybody Have a Good Time; Street Spirit (Fade Out)

Alanis Morissette

Havoc & Bright Lights

Mom-Rock

2.5 stars out of 5

Ironic: With her eighth album, the poster girl for scorned-woman angst has fully morphed into the voice of middle-aged irrelevance. Once again utilizing Guy Sigsworth?s fusion of dreamy trance ?n? dance with crunchy pop-rock, Morissette proffers her usual navel-gazing about motherhood, marriage, fame and feminism. Equal parts Madonna and McLachlan. But nothing you oughta hear.

Download: Woman Down; Numb

2 Chainz

Based on a T.R.U. Story

Rap

3.5 stars out of 5

Personality goes a long way. And Atlanta rapper Tauheed Epps ? fka Tity Boi of Playaz Circle ? has charisma to spare. The overnight sensation?s salacious booty odes, outrageous drug tales and audacious rhymes (?Take the camel toe and turn it into casserole?) drive this inconsistent mishmash of club cuts, R&B ballads and VIP cameos. Pity all the jams aren?t equally colourful.

Download: Money Machine; Crack

Divine Fits

A Thing Called Divine Fits

Pop-Rock

4 stars out of 5

Let?s get it out of the way: Yes, Divine Fits are a supergroup built around Spoon man Britt Daniel and Wolf Parader / Handsome Furrier Dan Boeckner. But the truly superlative part of this debut is how the former?s impeccable craftsmanship and the latter?s loose-limbed aesthetic complement and complete each other on these irresistible nuggets of indie-rock and synth-pop. A perfect fit.

Download: Like Ice Cream; What Gets You Alone

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Last of a Dyin? Breed

Southern Rock

2 stars out of 5

?What the hell have we done?? asks Johnny Van Zant. He?s talking about America; he should look in the mirror. Now down to one original member ? guitarist Gary Rossington ? the self-tribute band?s latest travesty finds them selling out their three-guitar redneck rock with hick-hop, Southern metal and funk. Granted, it?s not as offensive as 2009?s God & Guns. Still, enough is enough.

Download: Last of a Dyin? Breed; Homegrown

Steve Vai

The Story of Light

Prog-Rock

3 stars out of 5

A short story it is not. Guitar wizard Vai claims this is the second part of a trilogy that began with his last studio disc, 2005?s Real Illusions: Reflections. In this chapter, the axe-slinger unspools another hour of his trademark string-bending virtuosity over a varied lineup of instrumental backdrops that run the gamut from proggy complexity to neo-blues and gospel. Not quite a cliffhanger.

Download: Velorum; John the Revelator

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Sugar

Copper Blue & Beaster | File Under: Easy Listening (Deluxe Editions) Alt-Rock

Both: 4 stars out of 5

Sweet. H?sker D? singer-guitarist Bob Mould?s more accessible ?90s power trio have finally given their catalog the deluxe treatment. Both their soaring and searing full-length releases ? 1992?s Copper Blue (which comes bundled with ?93?s darker leftovers EP Beaster) and 1994?s FU:EL ? are augmented by a batch of B-sides and a bonus live disc. One quibble: Why not a box set?

Download: Dum Dum Boys (Live); Mind is an Island

Chilly Gonzales

Solo Piano II

Classical

3.5 stars out of 5

Gonzales is playing it straight again. Eight years after his acclaimed 2004 disc Solo Piano, colourful ex-pat pianist (and frequent Peaches / Feist collaborator) Jason Beck finally returns to his roots, tastefully presenting 17 short and mainly sweet neo-classical pieces laced with elegant melody and understated beauty. Hope we don?t have to wait another eight years for the threequel.

Download: Minor Fantasy; Evolving Blinds

The Flatlanders

The Odessa Tapes

Country

3.5 stars out of 5

The legend continues. This latest archival release from long-overlooked Texas troubadours Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock consists of songs cut at a studio in 1972, shortly before they made their debut album. Not surprisingly, it?s mostly familiar turf, from Gilmore?s nasal warble and the trio?s laid-back harmonies to the set list and singing saw. Not bad for a dry run.

Download: Dallas; One Road More

Dead Can Dance

Anastasis

World Music

4 stars out of 5

Some things take time. It took Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry 16 years to get around to this album. Naturally, they?re hardly in a rush. These eight epic tracks ? average length: seven minutes ? are journeys in themselves, languidly traversing a multiverse where grand orchestrations and exotic textures swirl around his Morrisonian baritone and her wordless majesty. Worth the wait.

Download: Children of the Sun; Opium

Branford Marsalis Quartet

Four MFs Playin? Tunes

Jazz

4 stars out of 5

They aren?t just any four MFs. Along with Marsalis on tenor and soprano saxes, you?ve got longtime pianist Joey Calderazzo and bassist Eric Revis, plus wunderkind drummer Justin Faulkner. And they?re not just any tunes: This is a strong collection of new post-bop, peppered with standards, New Orleans fare and a Monk classic ? all handled masterfully yet approachably. Find it.

Download: The Mighty Sword; Teo

The Heavy

The Glorious Dead

Soul-Rock

3 stars out of 5

How you like them now? Three years after their James Brown knockoff vaulted them out of obscurity, these Bath soul-rockers try to stave off one hit-wonderdom with their third album. But even though the platter ticks the right retro boxes ? funky-drummer beats, fuzzed-out licks, echoes of vintage soul and R&B ? it?s ultimately a slow-burner that never catches fire. No guts, no glory.

Download: Can?t Play Dead; Don?t Say Nothing

Los Straitjackets

Jet Set

Surf-Rock

2.5 stars out of 5

Mexican wrestling masks. Twangy Ventures guitars. Instrumentals that hit the sweet spot midway between the garage and the surf. Yep, it?s a Straitjackets disc. And if you?ve never had the pleasure, now?s as good a time as any to crank the hi-fi and do the Frug. But if you?re hoping these Nashville throwbacks have a few new moves, you might want to double-check their name.

Download: Yeah Yeah Yeah; Jet Set

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DOWN/STREAM

Wilco

Roadcase 001 - 006

Once upon a time, fans followed their favourite bands on the road. Now they just follow them online. Chicago post-rootsers Wilco ? who have been streaming shows on their site for years ? get in the instant-bootleg game with six recordings from their latest tour. Each tops two hours, boasts remastered sound and different set lists, and sells for between $9 and $12. You can?t go wrong.

wilcoworld.net

Domo Genesis & The Alchemist

No Idols

Domo is a member of L.A. rap troublemakers Odd Future. Alchemist is a Beverly Hills producer who moonlights as Eminem?s DJ. The latter supplies minimalist beats, late-night basslines and creative colourings. The former tops them with nimble verbal contortions delivered with laid-back confidence. Their half-hour mixtape collaboration leaves you wanting more. No idle hands here.

limelinx.com

Pussy Riot

Putin Lights Up the Fires

You can?t stop the rock. Even as they were being jailed on a ridiculous charge of hooliganism, the members of this Russian punk-rock collective dropped this noisy new nugget of dissent on the Interwebs. What are they saying? Doesn?t matter; what counts is that they should be free to say it. Because it?s apparently important enough to make a dictator fear three women with guitars.

hypem.com

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DVDs

Graham Parker & The Rumour

Live at Rockpalast 1978 + 1980

Soul-Rock

4 stars out of 5

About time. Angry young lad Parker and his crack band have long been some of rock?s greatest unsung heroes. Now you can see why. These two fiery gigs ? one in a dim studio, the other at a festival ? spotlight them at their peak as they fuse soul, punk and rock into a potent sound midway between Elvis C. and Van the Man. The technical quality is dodgy, but the content is superb.

Triumph

Live at Sweden Rock Festival

Classic Rock

3 stars out of 5

Nope, it?s not another vintage gig from the Triumph archives. This show just happened in 2008, when Canada?s other beloved power trio reunited for one night (and presumably one large payday) at a Swedish fest. Not surprisingly, they seem rusty at times ? but the 72-minute gig still delivers enough magic power to make it a treat for old fans. Now, can we have a reunion tour, please?

************************************

GARAGE BAND

Everyday Feels Like Sunday

Winnipeg, Man.

www.reverbnation.com/everydayfeelslikesunday

This Peg City outfit?s name suggests a Morrissey tribute band ? or perhaps an indie collective inspired by Of Montreal. Their thrift-shop garb and frowning pictures, however, look punk. So their music, naturally, aims to recreate the Sunset Strip sleaze and boogie-metal of M?tley Cr?e and Guns N? Roses. Sigh. Only in Winnipeg. Even if the latter weren?t just a string of sub-standard, poorly executed bar-band cliches, bottom line is it all makes no sense whatsoever. It?s called context, guys. Look it up.

VERDICT: ?Motley fools.?

?1 star

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UPCOMING

Sept. 4

Animal Collective

Centipede Hz

Cat Power

Sun

Deerhoof

Breakup Song

Melissa Etheridge

4th Street Feeling

Ian Hunter

When I?m President

Matchbox Twenty

North

Matt Mays

Coyote

Bob Mould

Silver Age

Sheepdogs

Sheepdogs

Smash Mouth

Magic

Stars

The North

Dave Stewart

Ringmaster General

?

?

Source: http://www.lfpress.com/entertainment/music/2012/08/20/20120101.html

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The Cheerio Family: Pregnancy Update: 34 Weeks

How far along:

Total weight gain/loss:
I am quickly approaching a total of 20 pounds... Sheesh. It all comes on so fast near the end for me. I am retaining water like crazy, too, so I'm perpetually feeling bloated.?

Maternity clothes:

Yes. I often visit my non-maternity side of the closet with hope and wonder if I'll ever truly wear any thing from there again. Sigh. The grass is always greener...

Movement:

I joke that Evan is like a little hamster on a wheel, which would be funny if it weren't true, and totally?uncomfortable. She should not be able to do as much contorting and flipping as she does right now based on our respective sizes... I think as shocked as I am by her movement now, I'm more nervous about how active/wakeful she will be when she arrives!?

Gender:

GIRL!

Emotions:?

"Everything is illuminated." I've always been hyper-sensitive and overly emotional, but this is new ground for even me. I have broken down in tears so frequently lately that I can't usually remember what upset me in the first place.

Food cravings:?

Meh, nothing sounds/looks/smells/tastes good to me right now. Everyone always jokes about the pregnant ladies who eat like they've been starved for ten years, and sometimes I can and do eat like that, but mostly, I want to eat enough to sustain myself and move on.?

Well, maybe at home... I've been going out for food a lot lately and I always eat more when I am eating out than at home. Note to self: perhaps that is where you added those few extra pounds???

Sleep:

Ha! Sleep is for the childless and non-pregnant. Insomnia is what I've got!?

Symptoms:

All the usual suspects: back pain, anemia, contractions, heartburn, nausea, exhaustion, misery.

Stretch marks?:?

No, nothing yet. I am trying a new product this week called Bio-Oil that others have sworn by, so we'll see...

Labor Signs:

Contractions? Yes. Labor? No.?

Belly Button in or out:

Technically, it is still in... but at night, after a long day, I can kind of see/feel the top coming out. GROSS. It totally weirds me out and makes me all kinds of anxious.?

What I miss:?

Everything. I cannot wait until this baby is here and I can start to feel normal again.

What I am looking forward to:?

I'm looking forward to some yummy hospital food right now. Joel keeps reminding me of how much I like it lately.?

Best moment this week:

Margot giving her little sister all kinds of sweet kisses and pats. She left a yogurt handprint on my belly after loving on her sister and I just loved it.

Source: http://www.thecheeriofamily.com/2012/08/pregnancy-update-34-weeks.html

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Survivors: strong gas odor before Venezuela blast

Members of a family walk on a street as flames rise after an explosion in the Amuay refinery near Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Venezuelans who live next to the country's biggest oil refinery said they smelled a strong odor of sulfur hours before a gas leak ignited in an explosion on Saturday that killed at least 39 people and injured more than 80. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Members of a family walk on a street as flames rise after an explosion in the Amuay refinery near Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Venezuelans who live next to the country's biggest oil refinery said they smelled a strong odor of sulfur hours before a gas leak ignited in an explosion on Saturday that killed at least 39 people and injured more than 80. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Family members load belongings onto a truck as they evacuate their damaged home after an explosion in the Amuay refinery near Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Venezuelans who live next to the country's biggest oil refinery said they smelled a strong odor of sulfur hours before a gas leak ignited in an explosion on Saturday that killed at least 39 people and injured more than 80. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Firefighters and rescue teams work at the Amuay oil refinery in Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. A huge explosion rocked Venezuela's biggest oil refinery and unleashed a ferocious fire Saturday, killing over 20 people and injuring dozens in the deadliest disaster in memory for the country's key oil industry. (AP Photo/Diario EL Amanecer)

A large fire rises over the Amuay refinery near Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. A huge explosion rocked Venezuela's biggest oil refinery, killing at least 24 people and injuring dozens, an official said. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

People recover belongings from a damaged house after a explosion in the Amuay refinery near Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Venezuelans who live next to the country's biggest oil refinery said they smelled a strong odor of sulfur hours before a gas leak ignited in an explosion on Saturday that killed at least 39 people and injured more than 80. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

PUNTO FIJO, Venezuela (AP) ? After nightfall on Friday, as red lights began glowing atop the massive Amuay refinery in western Venezuela, the odor of sulfur made its way through the surrounding neighborhood of working-class homes and small shops.

Francisco Gonzalez, a stocky accountant with dark hair, noticed the smell after 7 p.m. as he climbed the stairs to his second-story apartment across the street from the refinery. He had smelled the fumes from gas leaks many times before, so he didn't think much about it as he shut the door.

Six hours later, disaster struck. A powerful explosion ripped through the neighborhood and engulfed part of the refinery in flames, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 80 in Venezuela's deadliest refinery blast ever.

"The first thing I saw was that the apartment didn't have windows or doors or walls, just a floor and a roof," Gonzalez said. "I don't know how we survived."

In the dark, the 31-year-old man made his way downstairs to the street, where he, his brother and sister-in-law joined terrified neighbors. Some were wounded. Others were shouting.

When Gonzalez looked at the back of his right hand, it was bleeding from gashes.

At about 2 a.m., the halls of the hospital were filling up with wounded people. Doctors and nurses hurried to treat the most seriously hurt, while Gonzalez and others sat on the floor waiting their turn.

Back at the refinery, soldiers, firefighters and state oil company workers were diving into action. Bodies were pulled from the rubble and lifted onto pickup trucks.

Stella Lugo, the governor of Falcon state, went on state television to update the nation, setting the initial toll at seven people dead and 48 injured. The toll steadily rose in the next hours.

When she reached the refinery at dawn, Lugo posted a photo on Twitter showing balls of fire and black smoke billowing.

Other government officials went on television saying the gas leak had led to the blast and that the fire was being brought under control. President Hugo Chavez ordered an investigation and declared three days of mourning in the country.

A total of 209 homes and 11 businesses were damaged in the explosion, and a National Guard post next to the refinery was destroyed, Vice President Elias Jaua said on Saturday night. He said 18 of the victims were National Guard soldiers.

On Saturday night, dozens of people who had fled their homes in the neighborhood of La Pastora returned to streets covered with rubble, twisted scraps of metal and puddles of spilled fuel.

Gabriela Nunez, a housewife, returned to her home to gather belongings, saying she was worried about looters who had stolen goods from nearby stores hours after the explosion.

"That forced us to come back, even though we're afraid, to save what can be saved and secure our houses," Nunez said.

More than a day after the blast, the flames were still raging on Sunday, sending up a thick column of smoke.

Amuay is among the world's largest refineries and is part of the Paraguana Refinery Complex, which also includes the adjacent Cardon refinery. Together, the refineries process about 900,000 barrels of crude per day and 200,000 barrels of gasoline.

Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said the country has enough fuel in storage, "10 days of inventories," to keep the Venezuelan market fully supplied. He said fires were still burning in two fuel storage tanks but that other "process areas" of the refinery were otherwise unaffected.

Once the flames are completely extinguished, Ramirez said, "we have the ability to restart our refinery in two days."

Restarting will be a challenge for Gonzalez, who picked through what remained of his family's apartment, sweeping away debris with a broom. Broken glass littered the floor along with fragments of the shattered walls.

The shop on the first floor was also destroyed, but Gonzalez and his brother and sister-in-law all survived with only minor injuries.

"I'm happy to be here telling this story," Gonzalez said, his hand covered in a bandage and with stitches on his arms. "Material things, although they cost us a great deal to obtain, aren't worth much when you compare them with life."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-08-26-Venezuela-Refinery%20Explosion/id-e7f1e08ca29542a99fd9b61fa24c58a6

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