'Fountain of youth' telomerase: Scientists successfully map enzyme that has rejuvenating effect on cells

Mar. 27, 2013 ? In collaboration with an international research team, University of Copenhagen researchers have for the first time mapped telomerase, an enzyme which has a kind of rejuvenating effect on normal cell aging. The findings have just been published in Nature Genetics and are a step forward in the fight against cancer.

The mapping of telomerase may boost our knowledge of cancers and their treatment, says Stig E. Bojesen.

Mapping the cellular fountain of youth -- telomerase. This is one of the results of a major research project involving more than 1,000 researchers worldwide, four years of hard work, DKK 55 million from the EU and blood samples from more than 200,000 people. This is the largest collaboration project ever to be conducted within cancer genetics.

Stig E. Bojesen, a researcher at the Faculty of Health and Medicial Sciences, University of Copenhagen, and staff specialist at the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, has headed the efforts to map telomerase -- an enzyme capable of creating new ends on cellular chromosomes, the so-called telomeres. In other words, a kind of cellular fountain of youth.

"We have discovered that differences in the telomeric gene are associated both with the risk of various cancers and with the length of the telomeres. The surprising finding was that the variants that caused the diseases were not the same as the ones which changed the length of the telomeres. This suggests that telomerase plays a far more complex role than previously assumed," says Stig E. Bojesen.

The mapping of telomerase is an important discovery, because telomerase is one of the very basic enzymes in cell biology. It relengthens the telomeres so that they get the same length as before embarking on cell division.

"The mapping of telomerase may, among other things, boost our knowledge of cancers and their treatment, and with the new findings the genetic correlation between cancer and telomere length has been thoroughly illustrated for the first time," says Stig E. Bojesen.

The human body consists of 50,000,000,000,000 or fifty trillion cells, and each cell has 46 chromosomes which are the structures in the nucleus containing our hereditary material, the DNA. The ends of all chromosomes are protected by so-called telomeres. The telomeres serve to protect the chromosomes in much the same way as the plastic sheath on the end of a shoelace. But each time a cell divides, the telomeres become a little bit shorter and eventually end up being too short to protect the chromosomes. Popularly speaking, each cell has a multi-ride ticket, and each time the cell divides, the telomeres (the chromosome ends) will use up one ride. Once there are no more rides left, the cell will not divide any more, and will, so to speak, retire. But some special cells in the body can activate telomerase, which again can elongate the telomeres.

Sex cells, or other stem cells which must be able to divide more than normal cells, have this feature. Unfortunately, cancer cells have discovered the trick, and it is known that they also produce telomerase and thus keep themselves artificially young. The telomerase gene therefore plays an important role in cancer biology, and it is precisely by identifying cancer genes that the researchers imagine that you can improve the identification rate and the treatment.

"A gene is like a country. As you map it, you can see what is going on in the various cities. One of the cities in what could be called Telomerase Land determines whether you develop breast cancer or ovarian cancer, while other parts of the gene determine the length of the telomeres. Mapping telomerase is therefore an important step towards being able to predict the risk of developing different cancers. In summary, our findings are very surprising and point in many directions. But as is the case with all good research, our work provides many answers but leaves even more questions," says Stig E. Bojesen.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Copenhagen.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Stig E Bojesen et al. Multiple independent variants at the TERT locus are associated with telomere length and risks of breast and ovarian cancer. Nature Genetics, 2013; 45 (4): 371 DOI: 10.1038/ng.2566

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/9AHjRkHYpZI/130327133341.htm

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PROMISES, PROMISES: Climate Change

The issue:

Slowing the buildup of greenhouse gases responsible for warming the planet is one of the biggest challenges the United States and President Barack Obama face. The effects of rising global temperatures are widespread and costly: more severe storms, rising seas, species extinctions, and changes in weather patterns that will alter food production and the spread of disease.

Politically, the stakes are huge.

Any policy to reduce heat-trapping pollution will inevitably target the main sources of Americans' energy: the coal burned by power plants for electricity and the oil that is refined to run automobiles.

Those industries have powerful protectors in both parties in Congress who will fight any additional regulations handed down by the administration that could contribute to Americans paying more for electricity and gas at the pump. There's also the lingering question of how much the U.S. can do to solve the problem alone, without other countries taking aggressive steps to curb their own pollution.

The promise:

"My plan will continue to reduce the carbon pollution that is heating our planet, because climate change is not a hoax. More droughts and floods and wildfires are not a joke." ? Obama at the Democratic National Convention, Sept. 6, 2012.

"I urge this Congress to pursue a bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change. ... But if Congress won't act soon to protect future generations, I will. I will direct my Cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy." ? Obama in his State of the Union speech, Feb. 12, 2013.

The prospects:

Obama has shown he doesn't need Congress to take action against climate change.

In his first term, he struck a deal with automakers to double fuel economy standards. After failing to pass a climate bill through a Democratic-controlled Congress, he proposed rules to control heat-trapping pollution from future power plants.

His chances of going through Congress are no better the second time around.

While some liberal Democrats have proposed legislation to tax emissions of carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, Republicans controlling the House have pledged to block any and all efforts to price carbon pollution. Democrats from states with coal and oil probably will be stumbling blocks.

Obama has more tools he can tap to deal with the problem. The big question is how aggressive he will be and how he will balance expanding domestic energy production with his climate goals.

On the one hand, he says he supports an "all of the above" energy plan that uses all of the nation's energy resources. But should he proceed with regulations to control pollution from existing coal-fired power plants, the single largest source of carbon pollution, those regulations probably will contribute to shuttering facilities already struggling to compete with cheap natural gas.

Also looming is a decision whether to grant a permit to the Keystone XL oil pipeline, which would transport carbon-laden tar sands oil from Canada to Texas.

While the pipeline project is a better alternative from a carbon pollution standpoint than shipping the oil by rail, the emissions created by harvesting tar sands, processing them into oil and eventually burning it in automobiles in the U.S. and abroad will contribute to global warming.

Obama also backs the natural gas drilling boom brought about by hydraulic fracturing, but that boom is also responsible for releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Bottom line: Obama is likely to take more steps to reduce the pollution blamed for climate change. But those actions probably will not be of the scale needed to help much in slowing the heating of the planet.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/promises-promises-climate-change-072207960.html

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President Obama makes his Final Four picks

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) ? President Barack Obama is picking Florida, Indiana, Louisville, Ohio State to reach the Final Four.

President Obama filled out an NCAA tournament bracket for ESPN for the fifth straight year. On the women's side, he selected Baylor, California, UConn and Notre Dame to advance to New Orleans.

ESPN will reveal his full men's and women's brackets Wednesday morning.

Indiana and Louisville are each No. 1 seeds. Ohio State is a No. 2 seed and Florida is a No. 3 seed

Baylor, UConn and Notre Dame are all No. 1 seeds and California is a No. 2 seed.

In 2012, President Obama's men's bracket ranked 2,347,421 out of 6.45 million entries, placing him in the 63.6th percentile.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-03-20-BKC-NCAA-Obama's-Bracket/id-2698d4e956b441e6a3e4424a662e2037

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Hilary Mantel up for 3rd major literary award

LONDON (AP) ? Hilary Mantel is homing in on a clean sweep of Britain's three top literary prizes with a nomination for the Women's Prize for fiction.

The novelist has already won the Booker and Costa prizes for her Tudor novel "Bring Up The Bodies."

The 60-year-old writer is one of 20 candidates announced Wednesday for the Women's Prize, previously known as the Orange Prize. Nominees include previous winners Barbara Kingsolver and Zadie Smith, as well as Gillian Flynn, for her best-seller "Gone Girl."

The award, in its 18th year, celebrates writing by women in English from around the world. The winner will receive 30,000 pounds (US$45,000).

Mantel's critically acclaimed historical novel is a sequel to "Wolf Hall," which also won the Booker.

The winner will be announced in London on June 5.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-03-13-Britain-Women's%20Prize/id-e324e6e448bb4497996bf5bb5ce55ad0

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How to Do Internet Business Advertising The Right Way

How to Do Internet Business Advertising The Right Way

For individuals who are preparing to commit their own period as well as profit the actual thrilling however or else unknown globe associated with Online marketing, you have to very first perform considerable investigation in your market marketplaces, to see that internet marketing or even marketing to make use of. The well-structured Web advertising and marketing marketing campaign might not be difficult in order to build or even put into action, that is should you choose your own research, as well as stay with your own guidelines. Here are some useful online business marketing ideas to think about.

Evaluate Exactly how Your own Site Is actually Faring

To be able to build the practical web advertising and marketing strategy, you need in order to get a grip on exactly how your own site is actually faring. Take a look at your own statistics, as well as perform a small mathematics. For instance, in case your internet company gets a minumum of one 1000 site visitors normally each week, as well as will get 20 product sales each week consequently, this suggests that the customer in order to product sales percentage appears from 100-to-1. If you are averaging a thousand site visitors, as well as you can near the purchase upon 20 of these, which means that you are shutting 1 purchase for each 50 site visitors.

Setup A good E-mail Tackle Catch Program

If you are unsatisfied using the method your own internet company is actually producing site visitors, or even replicate clients, one easy however efficient method of obtaining much more targeted visitors on the internet is actually via establishing a contact tackle catch program. When you develop a contact catch web page, it is fairly simple to maintain all of them through obtaining aside. Provide your own potential customers some thing associated with worth, as a swap for his or her get in touch with info along with other particulars. The things associated with worth you could provide them with can sometimes include a totally free e-book, e-mail program or even guide, or perhaps a free of charge e-newsletter. Additionally, you might get in touch with all of them and gives your own knowledge, in addition to give them free of charge as well as useful info associated with exactly what these people initially asked for. The important thing here?s help to make your own potential customers really feel unique.

Promote Upon E-zines

Based on internet marketing veterans, e-zine marketing nevertheless continues to be among the best and many inexpensive way of obtaining targeted visitors, as well as with regard to growing your own achieve on the internet. Merely go to a good e-zine listing, as well as look for the right e-zines inside your specialized niche. You may even desire to sign up for a lot of all of them, as well as publish your own content articles, together with your hyperlinks along with other marketing things.

And when you have carried out these types of actions, ensure that you?ve got a program with regard to calculating your own outcomes, once you have folded away your online company marketing campaign.

Source: http://michiganangelfund.com/2013/03/06/how-to-do-internet-business-advertising-the-right-way/

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Tamed Dragon supply ship arrives at space station

This frame grab made available by NASA TV shows a view of the SpaceX Dragon capsule on the end of the International Space Station's robotic arm, Sunday, March 3, 2013. SpaceX, the California-based company founded by billionaire Elon Musk, had to struggle with the Dragon following its launch Friday from Cape Canaveral. The spacecraft is delivering more than 1 ton of supplies to the the International Space Station. (AP Photo/NASA TV)

This frame grab made available by NASA TV shows a view of the SpaceX Dragon capsule on the end of the International Space Station's robotic arm, Sunday, March 3, 2013. SpaceX, the California-based company founded by billionaire Elon Musk, had to struggle with the Dragon following its launch Friday from Cape Canaveral. The spacecraft is delivering more than 1 ton of supplies to the the International Space Station. (AP Photo/NASA TV)

This frame grab made available by NASA TV shows a view of the SpaceX Dragon anchoring to the International Space Station Sunday, March 3, 2013. SpaceX, the California-based company founded by billionaire Elon Musk, had to struggle with the Dragon following its launch Friday from Cape Canaveral. The spacecraft is delivering more than 1 ton of supplies to the the International Space Station. (AP Photo/NASA TV)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) ? A privately owned Dragon capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, delivering a ton of supplies with high-flying finesse after a shaky start to the mission.

The Dragon's arrival was one day late but especially sweet ? and not because of the fresh fruit on board for the station astronauts who snared the capsule.

SpaceX, the California-based company founded by billionaire Elon Musk, had to struggle with the Dragon following its launch Friday from Cape Canaveral. A clogged pressure line or stuck valve prevented thrusters from working, and it took flight controllers several hours to gain control and salvage the mission.

In the end, the Dragon approached the orbiting lab with its 1-ton load about as smoothly as could be expected, with all of its thrusters, or little maneuvering rockets, operating perfectly. The capture occurred as the two spacecraft zoomed 250 miles above Ukraine.

"As they say, it's not where you start, but where you finish that counts," said space station commander Kevin Ford, "and you guys really finished this one on the mark."

He added: "We've got lots of science on there to bring aboard and get done. So congratulations to all of you."

Among the items on board: 640 seeds of a flowering weed used for research, mouse stem cells, food and clothes for the six men on board the space station, trash bags, computer equipment, air purifiers, spacewalking tools and batteries. The company also tucked away apples and other fresh treats from an employee's family orchard.

The Dragon will remain at the space station for most of March before returning to Earth with science samples, empty food containers and old equipment.

SpaceX ? Space Exploration Technologies Corp. ? has a $1.6 billion contract with NASA to keep the station well stocked. The contract calls for 12 supply runs; this was the second in that series.

This is the third time, however, that a Dragon has visited the space station. The previous two capsules had no trouble reaching their destination. Company officials promise a thorough investigation into what went wrong this time; if the thrusters had not been activated, the capsule would have been lost.

Ford said everything about Sunday's rendezvous ended up being "fantastic."

"There sure were some big smiles all around here," NASA's Mission Control replied from Houston.

The actual anchoring of the Dragon to the space station, 2? hours after its arrival, also unfolded without a hitch. "The Dragon is ours!" Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield announced via Twitter.

In a tweet following Friday's nerve-racking drama, Musk said, "Just want to say thanks to (at)NASA for being the world's coolest customer. Looking forward to delivering the goods!"

Musk, who helped create PayPal, acknowledged Friday that the problem ? the first ever for an orbiting Dragon ? was "frightening." But he believed it was a one-time glitch and nothing so serious as to imperil future missions. The 41-year-old entrepreneur, who also runs the electric car maker Tesla, oversaw the entire operation from Hawthorne, Calif., home to SpaceX and the company's Mission Control.

The Dragon's splashdown in the Pacific, meanwhile, remains on schedule for March 25.

NASA is counting on the commercial sector to supply the space station for the rest of this decade; it's supposed to keep running until at least 2020. Russia, Europe and Japan are doing their part, periodically launching their own cargo ships. But none of those craft can return items like the Dragon can; they burn up on re-entry

Russia also is providing rides for U.S. astronauts.

SpaceX and other companies are working toward launching astronauts in another few years. Musk leads the charge; he said he can have people flying on a modified Dragon by 2015.

NASA's space shuttles, retired to museums after a 30-year run, used to be the main haulers for the space station. At the White House direction, the space agency opted out of the Earth-to-orbit transportation business in order to focus on deep space exploration. Mars is the ultimate destination.

___

Online:

NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/launch/index.html

SpaceX: http://www.spacex.com/

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-03-03-US-SCI-Private-Space/id-4b7cc340f2104aa9b5a43d6909359a51

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Product Launches ? What You Should Know

Mar 02

There are so many different aspects of both online and offline business that have the potential for overwhelming anyone. All the old vets of internet marketing who pioneered eczematreatmentsite.org went through that and know the deal. There are several reasons why those who are making money with their business tend to outsource as much as possible. We understand if you are not quite at that point, though, but there is much available that is very low cost or no cost. There is nothing more frustrating than learning the hard way, and we are talking about getting educated about any new marketing or business method, first. However, regardless of how you approach outsourcing or anything else, just recover and roll with any mistakes you may make. In order to successfully launch a product online, you have to consider several factors. Your product?s launch can make or break its success which is why it?s so important. Here are some steps to take to help ensure a successful launch for your product. Hype up the Launch: When you?re doing a product launch, the aim should be on selling the event to the people, instead of selling the product. In order to succeed with your product launch, you should focus on the actual date and make it stand out in people?s minds. If you have the capability of making your customers anxious about your product launch, then you will definitely create a huge buzz about this event. Selling the event will eventually help you sell more products because you have gotten so much attention. The product will have no problem selling itself when you make your focused market want it so much. It is that easy. We all get excited about events. So, why not utilize this to your advantage? Before the product is launched, your focus should be to make the customers want the product so much that they cannot wait to make a purchase. Lengthen the Pre-Launch Period: to make sure that your launch works well and that you get enough buzz built up, you should make sure that you have a long enough pre-launch period. This is the phase in which you do as much prep as possible to make sure that your product sells well. When you don?t do this and just launch the product right after you announce it, you run the risk of only making a few sales. However, the reason you put a lot of planning into your launch is to ensure a flood of sales on the actual launch date. Launching a product online gives you the best opportunity to create a really good buzz for what you are selling and when you release information in a slow-drip kind of fashion, you create a real sense of need and urgency in your customers that will ensure that they will want to know more. Without putting in enough time with your buyers you won?t see any sales on the day of your launch. A good sized pre-launch period is at least five to six weeks long. If you don?t want to spend that much time on that you should at least put in three weeks. This gives you enough time to build a good level of interest in the launch of your product. We are confident many would like to take advantage of the full power of click here in their internet business; but you have to be careful and avoid proceeding with limited knowledge in your campaigns. Obviously there is tremendous variation among small web business owners when it comes to knowledge base about marketing techniques. One answer to this perpetual problem has been marketing forums because you can get acquainted with people who are doing the same things as you. We make every effort to cover as much as we can when we produce our articles, but just remember you will be receiving an incomplete set of guidelines. So much of what happens in online business is the result of someone deciding to test something out and it leads to something new. Keep Your List Informed: Keep your email list of customers up to date about your upcoming product launch. They will be more prepared for the launch when you let them know about the product in development. Send out promotional emails from time to time and give them access to any material that will help you presell the product to them. Your sales can be increased by 5 times after the launch if you take this one step. All of the things you do during your pre-launch period will inform the success of your post-launch period so don?t hold back.

Source: http://www.gdpodcast.com/991/product-launches-what-you-should-know/

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Disney Impressions ? Using Personal Tech in Walt Disney World ...

Personal technology has created a revolution in the way we work, play and communicate with each other when we are at work, home and on vacation. This is the first in a series of looks at what is available specifically in terms of personal technology usage in the parks. (Note for purposes of this series I will be dealing with Apple iOS products such as various flavors of iPhone and iPad. Please leave comments on application to other devices such as Android or Windows devices if you use one of them instead.)

I think that it is appropriate to spend some time discussing a philosophy of the use of personal tech while we are enjoying WDW. Let me state from the outset that I am a tech geek both by schooling and desire. I never met a technology that I didn?t love and have been an early adopter for many years including many variants that failed. (Beta video tapes, quadraphonic sound vinyl records, laserdisc players, Sony Minidiscs to name just a few. I plan to donate them all to the Smithsonian in my will?lol). Even so, I hate to see families where the younger kids are staring at Kid Icarus or Pokemon on their Nintendo 3DS while the teenagers are texting their BFFs all the while mom and dad are staring at the Park Map or Times Guide trying to figure out where to go or what show to see next, only to find the wait time is an hour when they get there.

What is wrong with that picture? Well, we have the kids totally disconnected from their families and the whole experience that is a Disney vacation. Next, we have frustrated parents who could use some help in planning their time in the Parks to have a much more enjoyable experience for the whole family. Fortunately, as the saying goes, there?s an app for that.

First let?s look at some non-Disney specific apps that may help to solve the disconnected kid problem. You can start by giving each kid a task that involves the use of some aspect of personal technology. For example instead of playing with the 3DS, give them the task of taking photos of the family, attractions etc. You can start with a simple digital camera and explain that they are creating a story of the family?s trip to The World. Later at home they can create a digital album on the computer or a printed book of the trip. Older siblings can assist with this and make it a project for all of the kids. They can also select some of the photos to create a calendar for the next year. Each month can explore aspects of the trip and help relive the memories for the future.

If your kids have a cell phone, they can take the photos with the phone and do as suggested above or use the photos in real time while in the Park. They could post individual photos on Facebook or create a Facebook photo album. One of them may want the responsibility of doing a check-in at each attraction either with Facebook or an app like foursquare or tagging people in photos. For a kid who has a creative bent, they can experiment with instagram and post photos they they have worked on. Similar opportunities are available with Twitter and google+. One note: if you do not like advertising that you are away from home for security reasons, be sure to check the security settings for the account where you are posting the information/photos so that only your friends can see them since presumably they know you are at Disney (and probably jealous as well).

If you are new to the Parks or just need a refresher on what is there, several of the more popular guides such as Birnbaum?s Official Guide, PassPorter?s Walt Disney World and The Unofficial Guide ? Walt Disney World are all available electronically either as e-books or downloadable pdf files. These can be placed on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. I personally find them easier to read and use on a larger format such as an iPad Mini but any of the platforms can be made to work. The kids can use them to learn about the upcoming attraction they are in the queue for or look at the menu for a table service or counter serve restaurant for example. Parents can judge the suitability of an attraction for a very young child or get some idea of the pricing at a restaurant.

If you are a foodie and are interested in more information about what is available at a given restaurant and a review of it, I strongly recommend you subscribe to the Disney Food Blog. They have a wealth of info available on their website to give you a jump start on planning at home and their modestly priced downloadable e-books are a wealth of info you can carry on your portable device into the parks. They have both general WDW restaurant info as well as specialized books on the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, EPCOT Snack Treats, and Holiday Treats among others.

In future posts I plan to cover both Disney and third party applications available for use in the Parks. I will attempt to give you unbiased advice on the use and usefulness (or lack thereof) of an app.

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This entry was posted on March 1, 2013 at 8:00 am and is filed under Columns. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Source: http://www.wdwfanzone.com/2013/03/disney-impressions-using-personal-tech-in-walt-disney-world-part-1/

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Rove: GOP needs candidates who reflect diversity

Republican strategist Karl Rove speaks at a luncheon at the California Republican Party convention, in Sacramento, Calif., Saturday, March 2, 2013. Rove told California Republicans to "get off the mat", and to find candidates to reflect the party's diversity. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Republican strategist Karl Rove speaks at a luncheon at the California Republican Party convention, in Sacramento, Calif., Saturday, March 2, 2013. Rove told California Republicans to "get off the mat", and to find candidates to reflect the party's diversity. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Republican strategist Karl Rove gestures while at a luncheon at the California Republican Party convention, in Sacramento, Calif., Saturday, March 2, 2013. Rove told California Republicans to "get off the mat", and to find candidates to reflect the party's diversity. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) ? GOP strategist Karl Rove said Saturday that rebuilding the Republican brand in California will be a tough task that will require them to diversify and create a strategy to spread their message to a wider audience.

Referring to the state party's deep losses in recent years, Rove said it needs to focus on larger themes of restoring jobs and reducing government spending.

He also said the party must recruit candidates who reflect the diversity of the country, and in particular, California. By next year, Hispanics will overtake whites as the state's largest demographic group.

"We need to be asking for votes in the most powerful way possible, which is to have people asking for the vote who are comfortable and look like and sound like the people that we're asking for the vote from," Rove said.

His message to delegates, activists and local party officials throughout California was in line with the philosophy behind his new political action committee, the Conservative Victory Project. The committee was established to support Republican candidates it deems electable, offsetting GOP candidates who might offend key parts of the electorate.

Rove told activists at the Republican Party's spring convention in Sacramento that rebuilding would be "a big task," but noted Texas as an example. Once a Democratic stronghold, the state elected Republicans to 95 of 150 state House seats in November. Democrats have not won a statewide office in Texas since 1994.

Republicans hold the opposite status in California, where Democrats won supermajorities in the Legislature last fall and hold every statewide office. The GOP accounts for less than 30 percent of the state's voters and has been losing favor with Latinos, women and younger voters.

Rove said rebuilding the California Republican Party might be so tough that party activists might choose to continue on their current path, "or you can get up off of the mat and throw yourself back into this contest."

"Think smart, be active, be committed, rebuild the organization, ask for the vote in the right way, and speak boldly and proudly about our universal principles in a way that attracts support of your fellow Californians," he said.

Rove appeared at the convention as a favor to former state Senate Minority Leader Jim Brulte, a longtime friend who was expected to be elected as the state party's new chairman on Sunday.

His suggestions on expanding the types of candidates being fielded struck a chord with Tyson Greaves, a 63-year-old party member from San Jose who said pushing for diversity within the party is crucial.

"It's pretty clear to me that you don't have authenticity or credibility in a community if you show up only in an election cycle," he said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-03-02-US-California-GOP-Rove/id-9bc6f02528ab44918830e4362689c0a7

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Local history buffs munch on muskrat in Michigan

In a Feb. 19, 2013 photo, Charlie Hyde, past president of the Algonquin Club of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, displays his plate of food _ which includes muskrat meat _ while moving through the buffet line at the annual Muskrat Dinner at the Monroe Boat Club in Monroe, Mich. Hyde and his fellow history buffs chatted about local lore and heard from a speaker about the War of 1812, but the star of the show was the sherry-soaked rodent, boiled to perfection and plated. (AP Photo/Mike Householder)

In a Feb. 19, 2013 photo, Charlie Hyde, past president of the Algonquin Club of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, displays his plate of food _ which includes muskrat meat _ while moving through the buffet line at the annual Muskrat Dinner at the Monroe Boat Club in Monroe, Mich. Hyde and his fellow history buffs chatted about local lore and heard from a speaker about the War of 1812, but the star of the show was the sherry-soaked rodent, boiled to perfection and plated. (AP Photo/Mike Householder)

In a Feb. 19, 2013 photo, a food preparer applies sherry to muskrat meat prior to the annual Muskrat Dinner at the Monroe Boat Club in Monroe, Mich. Members of the Algonquin Club of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, and other muskrat aficionados _ about 80 in all _ chatted about local lore and heard from a speaker about the War of 1812, but the star of the show was sherry-soaked, boiled and plated. (AP Photo/Mike Householder)

In a Feb. 19, 2013 photo, servers dish out muskrat meat and other offerings in the buffet line at the annual Muskrat Dinner at the Monroe Boat Club in Monroe, Mich. Members of the Algonquin Club of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, and other muskrat aficionados _ about 80 in all _ chatted about local lore and heard from a speaker about the War of 1812, but the star of the show was sherry-soaked, boiled and plated. (AP Photo/Mike Householder)

MONROE, Mich. (AP) ? Most of the menu read like a typical buffet, with soup, salad, turkey, pork and potatoes. But the first offering at the annual Muskrat Dinner in Michigan was distinctive: a pot of the rodent's meat mixed with creamed corn.

"Most beginners are a little hesitant to dive in, especially when they see the carcass laid out on the plate," said Ralph Naveaux, who helped organize the event. "But those of us that have been raised on it, we just adore them. It's almost an addiction."

Members of the Algonquin Club of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, and other muskrat aficionados ? about 80 in all ? made their way to the Monroe Boat Club, 40 miles south of Detroit, for the recent event.

The history buffs chatted about local lore and heard from a speaker about the War of 1812, but the star of the show was sherry-soaked, boiled and plated.

For these folks, chowing down on muskrat was as natural as seeing the animals scurry around local waters.

Algonquin Club member Robert Lynch, of Kingsville, Ontario, was among those looking to sample a taste of history ? muskrat was a staple of the frontier diet of the region's French settlers.

According to Lynch, muskrat can't really be compared to other kinds of meat.

"I heard somebody say that it tasted like a strong, dark turkey meat. And that would probably be the closest," said Lynch, a 70-year-old retired elementary school teacher. "But there's nothing really to compare to it. It's just different. Some would say it was an acquired taste."

Muskrats, also known locally as "mushrats" or "marsh rabbits," are not rats, but they are members of the rodent family. They eat mostly plants and vegetation, are about 20-25 inches long (including their tails) and weigh between 2 and 5 pounds.

Area residents have been dining on the marsh-dwelling critters for two centuries ? ever since trappers first pared away the animal's odorous musk glands and determined its meat was good to eat.

Charlie Hyde, past president of the Algonquin Club, made his way through the buffet line, sat down and began to dig in.

"Yum, yum," he crowed after taking in a fork-full of muskrat meat and creamed corn.

"This is actually about the best muskrat I've had in about a year. It's the only muskrat I've had in about a year," joked the 67-year-old retired history professor from Royal Oak, Mich.

"Actually, it's very good."

___

Follow Mike Householder on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mikehouseholder .

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-03-01-Muskrat%20Meal/id-232f1570ba5d455cba569acacfca0b86

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Even in spring, not much hope for Astros, Marlins

By PAUL NEWBERRY

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 5:40 p.m. ET Feb. 28, 2013

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) - Spring training is supposed to be a time of hope.

Unless you're the Houston Astros. Or the Miami Marlins.

With no-name rosters and in the midst of massive rebuilding jobs, Houston and Miami are more likely to be remembered as among the worst teams in recent history than make an improbable run at the playoffs.

The Astros lost 107 games last year, after 106 defeats in 2011. Houston's main goal will be trying to avoid becoming the first team since the expansion New York Mets in the 1960s to lose at least 106 games in three straight seasons.

"No one expects us to do well," Lucas Harrell said Thursday, after pitching in a spring training game against the New York Yankees. "So, when we do well, it's going to be kind of like, `Oh, wow.' I definitely think we have a chance to shock a lot of people this year."

Brave words, especially when the Astros face the additional burden of moving from the NL into what looks like the toughest division in baseball, the AL West. They'll be matched regularly against two 2012 playoff teams - Oakland and Texas - plus the high-priced Los Angeles Angels, who have three of the game's most dynamic players: Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Mike Trout.

Down in Miami, owner Jeffrey Loria totally dismantled the Marlins after a disappointing debut season in a new stadium paid for largely with public tax dollars. He's now a pariah in south Florida and a laughingstock through the rest of the baseball, settling for a roster that might do pretty well in Triple-A - but not in the big leagues.

"I'm still trying to learn their names," said Davey Johnson, manager of the NL East champion Washington Nationals. "I'm not even sure what position the names are going in."

He's not the only one.

After trading away nearly all their high-priced players in one stunning offseason, the Marlins are prepared to send out a lineup that includes five players with less two full seasons in the big leagues, plus a rotation that has only one starter with as many as 10 wins in a season.

"I feel like we have a plan," first-year manager Mike Redmond said. "Will it take a few years? Maybe. But we feel like we have a plan that's going to work with a lot of young players and a lot of young talent. I'm looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity."

Redmond keeps reminding his players he was one of 19 rookies on the 1998 Marlins, the remnants of a World Series title team that was torn apart by a previous owner. Five years later, many of those young players were the centerpiece of another championship squad.

Of course, Redmond probably doesn't tell his team how the Marlins finished in `98 - 54-108.

"It's a fresh start," he said. "At the end of the day, man, nobody gives us a chance to do anything. We have the ability to go out and surprise some teams. I think we're a better team than people give us credit for. But at the end of the day, we're got to go out there and prove that."

According to STATS, only 21 teams have finished with a winning percentage of .300 or less since 1900 - just two of those (the 1962 New York Mets, in their first season, and the 2003 Detroit Tigers) in the 162-game era. To avoid joining that infamous list, Miami and Houston will have to win 49 games this season, which might be a challenge.

Certainly, both teams can expect to play before lots of empty seats.

Last season, the Marlins drew 2.2 million to their retractable roof stadium, which was the third-highest total in franchise history but ranked only 12th in the NL and was far below expectations. Not surprisingly after the offseason purge, season-ticket sales have slumped badly and Miami won't come anywhere close to drawing that many fans in 2013.

Houston's attendance plummeted to a NL-worst 1.6 million last season, its lowest total in 17 years, and the lack of major moves during the offseason is likely to send it dipping even more.

Redmond doesn't think the ill will toward Loria will have any impact on the players. After all, it's not their fault Miami traded away anyone making a significant salary.

"Players are a lot more resilient to that stuff than people think and give them credit for," he said. "When you get in the flow of the season, all you're focused on is playing the game and doing what you're in control of, and that's how you play. I don't foresee any distractions."

Then, he added, "Would it be nice to have 40,000 in the stands every night? Absolutely. But we can't control that."

The Astros reached the World Series for the first time in franchise history just eight years ago, but that came as a winning era led by Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell was winding down. Suddenly, those guys were gone, and Houston's farm system fell on hard times. The bottom fell out two years ago, and the ownership decided to rebuild with youth rather than go for a quick fix.

That may be the right decision long-term, but it's painful to watch at the moment.

Last season, Houston's payroll dipped as low as $21.3 million. This year, it won't be much higher. Not with a rotation that has only one pitcher coming off a year with double-figure wins (Harrell, at 11-11). Not with a lineup that includes no one who hit even 20 homers a season ago. Not with a new closer (Jose Veras) who is on his fourth team in four years and had all of one save in 2012.

It certainly looked like the Astros had thrown in the towel on another season when shortstop Jed Lowrie was dealt to Oakland just before the start of spring training, yet another payroll-cutting move.

Even so, Harrell said he looks forward to going against the AL West powerhouses.

If nothing else, it will show the Astros just how far they have to go.

"It's one of the best divisions in baseball, and we're moving into it," the pitcher said. "We want to kind of see where we're at, who can make it, who can stick. It's a great division to be in. Either we'll have success or not."

Bet on the latter.

---

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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