Cave dwelling nettle discovered in China

Dec. 28, 2012 ? South West China, Myanmar and Northern Vietnam contain one of the oldest exposed outcrops of limestone in the world. Within this area are thousands of caves and gorges. It is only recently that botanists have sought to explore the caves for plants. This exploration is yielding many new species new to science, that are known only from these habitats.

The current study was published in the open access journal PhytoKeys.

Kew botanist and nettle expert Alex Monro says, "When my Chinese colleague Wei Yi-Gang from the Guangxi Institute of Botany first mentioned cave-dwelling plants to me, I thought that he was mis-translating a Chinese word into English. When we stepped into our first cave, Yangzi cave, I was spell-bound. It had an eerie moonscape look to it and all I could see were clumps of plants in the nettle family growing in very dark condition."

The plants do not grow in complete darkness but do grow in extremely low light levels, deep within the entrance caverns of the caves (sometimes, in as little as 0.04% full sunlight). The British and Chinese authors have been collecting plants from the Nettle family in this limestone landscape for several years and have just published a paper describing three new species, one from a cave and another two from deep gorges.

The cave-dwelling nettle species in question, was found growing in two caves in the Guangxi province of China. Of the species discovered in gorges, one is known from an unusual and striking rock mineral formation called petaloid travertine. Petaloid travertine is a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs that over time forms large petals of rock, in this case clinging to the vertical walls of a gorge.

These plants are members of a genus of Nettles known as Pilea, that is believed to have over 700 species Worldwide, up to one third of which may remain undescribed.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Pensoft Publishers, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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. Alex Monro, Y.G. Wei, C.J. Chen. Three new species of Pilea (Urticaceae) from?limestone?karst in China. PhytoKeys, 2012; 19 (0): 51 DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.19.3968

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0NpLQoSf1pw/121228133732.htm

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Better Way Health Says: 'It's Not Just About Food!' | StAug News

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Better Way Health Says: ?It?s Not Just About Food!?

How to Have an Even Happier, Healthier 2013!

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We talk about food. We talk about less sugar, cutting the fat, improving cardio, taking that beta glucan and eating beta glucan-filled foods so that you live longer, healthier lives. But, what most people do not know, is that life and health is not all about food and exercise. And our friends at BetterWayHealth.com want to talk to you this holiday season about the benefits of ?drink,? so that when you reach for that glass on New Year?s Eve you will have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.

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What most people do not know in this age of constant exercise and constantly ?bashing? people about their weight ? and what and when they eat ? is that liquor is also something that allows people to live longer. When it comes to two categories ? abstainers and heavy drinkers ? we are talking about people who are leading their bodies toward heart attacks and strokes. BUT, a moderate drinker of alcoholic beverages (wine, beer and distilled spirits) is far less likely to suffer heart attacks, diabetes, arthritis, enlarged prostate, dementia, and several major cancers. This is not a new concept, by the way. This is something that even doctors will tell you, considering that alcoholic beverages help with tension, stress and even the easing of nerve endings and muscle pain. As long as you don?t overdo it ? this is a true health ?pleaser.?

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Believe it or not, the medicinal properties of alcohol are mentioned everywhere throughout history; many books from various communities (including the ?Good Book?) talk about alcohol and how it cures. As early as the turn of the century there was evidence that moderate, controlled consumption decreased the risk of heart attack, not to mention huge evidence of other health benefits when it came to adding ?a drink? to daily life.

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Reviews, studies, reports ? a great many things show a strong relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and the reduction in cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease. Even the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has reported that moderate drinkers have the greatest longevity. But they?re not the only ones who report this. Health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption have existed since one of the earliest? scientific studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association which appeared in 1904. And the World Health Organization (WHO) Technical Committee on Cardiovascular Disease also weighed in by saying that ?the relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and reduced death from heart disease can no longer be doubted.?

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So?when the New Year comes along and the wine is flowing and the friends are smiling, what exactly is the best drink to add to the diet that will improve cardiovascular function and, perhaps, save you from heart disease?

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There are no ?set? rules when it comes to the various alcohol categories, but the total calorie count has to be taken into consideration. Say you add one drink per day to your diet ? perhaps in the evening after the hard, fast job has come to an end and it is time to relax and do something for yourself! Generally speaking, a serving of wine has fewer calories than a serving of beer, which in turn has fewer calories than a serving of mixed drinks. Beer, as everyone knows, contains a great deal of carbs ? while most wines and liquors are low-carb categories. If you want to make the choice as simple as possible, go with a nice glass of wine or liquor. When we speak about liquor, however, we are NOT speaking about mixed drinks. In fact, doctor?s point out that when it comes to mixed drinks: ?It is the mixers, syrups, and sodas that get people into calorie trouble, because most drinks start with 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits that only have around 96 calories, but mixologists turn that into a beverage with hundreds of calories when special things are added.?

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If calories are a concern, pick a drink that is served ?neat? and skip the extras completely. (A 1.5-ounce serving of vodka, gin, whiskey, etc., is roughly one hundred calories, which is online with a five-ounce serving of wine. Beer, of course, can cost you a little. Light beer can range from 90-100 calories per 12-ounce serving, whereas a regular beer is around 300 calories, which is a great deal to take in (even though this is still the number one choice for consumers.)

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In essence, a glass of wine can provide you with all the health benefits you?re looking for, and when drinking liquor, just make sure it?s all by itself to give you better health. But if mixed drinks are your ?choice,? just make sure that you use mixers that are diet tonics, sodas and/or juices to keep them healthy. There?s always compromise when it comes to healthy/dietary foods, so drink is no different.

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If you find yourself at that holiday party, just remember to have your drink then, perhaps, switch to a different, non-alcoholic drink, such as sparkling water with a squeeze of lime. This way, you can feel refreshed and not have to worry about any ?battle of the bulge? from over-consumption. If self-control is an issue (as it is most times with delicious foods), simply go for the lower-calorie and often more bland? drinks. That way, cutting yourself off will be absolutely no problem whatsoever.

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In the end, enjoy and celebrate the New Year ? AND also work at least one glass of wine (if possible) into the diet so that you can save your heart the stress and tension it receives from the everyday hectic life. But, above all, turn to BetterWayHealth.com in the New Year and get the advice, friendship and help YOU need to live a healthier life!

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Happy Holidays!

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www.BetterWayHealth.com

Source: http://staugnews.com/2012/12/28/better-way-health-says-its-not-just-about-food.html

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SeaWorld files to go public with $100M IPO

FILE - In this Monday, March 7, 2011, file photo, park guests watch as a killer whale flips out of the water at SeaWorld Orlando's Shamu Stadium in Orlando, Fla. SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, filed for an initial public offering of stockthat could raise $100 million.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

FILE - In this Monday, March 7, 2011, file photo, park guests watch as a killer whale flips out of the water at SeaWorld Orlando's Shamu Stadium in Orlando, Fla. SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, filed for an initial public offering of stockthat could raise $100 million.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Looks like Shamu may soon be making a splash in the stock market.

The company behind the water shows featuring killer whales, dolphins and other animals at SeaWorld on Thursday said it was planning to go public.

SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. filed for an initial public offering of stock with an initial goal of raising $100 million. That number is likely to change as the company's bankers gauge interest from investors.

SeaWorld's owner, Blackstone Group LP, will likely sell some of its stake in the deal. But the private equity firm will still own a majority of the voting power of the company's shares after the IPO, the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SeaWorld plans to use money from the IPO to pay debt and make a payment to Blackstone.

Blackstone bought SeaWorld from beer brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2009 in a deal worth at least $2.3 billion.

The Orlando, Fla., company did not list a date for the offering. The company also did not say how many shares would be sold, or for how much. SeaWorld plans to use the "SEAS" symbol for its stock, but did not say on which exchange it plans to trade.

Besides the three SeaWorld parks, the company's eight other properties include two Busch Gardens parks and Sesame Place, which is based on the children's TV show Sesame Street.SeaWorld said about 24 million people went to its parks in the 12 months through Sept. 30.

In the first nine months of this year, it earned $86.2 million, up 73 percent from $50 million in the same months a year ago. Revenue rose 7.6 percent to $1.16 billion.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-12-27-SeaWorld%20Entertainment-IPO/id-481382e295804808b78d62c21055f642

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Self Improvement And Empowerment Blog: How to Stop Feelings of ...

I seek strength, not to be greater than another, but to fight my greatest enemy, the doubts within myself. ~P.D. Cast

Of all the elements that form the comfort zone, unworthiness is without question the most insidious.

Unworthiness is that shadowy deep-seated belief that creeps into our minds and tells us we are undeserving and not good enough, inadequate and fundamentally flawed. Unworthiness serves as a shield to insulate us from risk, chance and the unknown.

Some of us may already be aware of certain limiting and negative beliefs we have about ourselves. These we can learn to heal and change. The real problem goes deeper? it?s the unconscious self-doubt and unworthy feelings we accept about ourselves.

The unworthiness mantra is ?Don?t try it, don?t even think about it.?

Without realizing it, we allow unworthiness to sabotage us in a hundred different ways, using endless justifications to keep from reaching for our dreams. For the sake of shielding ourselves from even the remote possibility of having to face our own fundamental inadequacy? we will do whatever it takes to just not think about it.

We repeatedly second guess our choices; falling into endless mental reruns picking apart what we could or should have done differently; over time finding it harder and harder to make definitive decisions that will enable us to move forward.
We avoid testing (or exposing) ourselves by allowing days, weeks and years to go by as we focus on the daily minutia of life and tell ourselves we?ll get to the big important stuff as soon as we?re ?caught up? or when the ?time is right.?
We use our responsibilities, especially to others, as shields to prevent ourselves from trying something new.

While there?s a lot to be said for gratitude, there is a BIG difference between appreciating all the good things and people in your life and choosing to settle for less because you don?t believe you deserve or are capable of more.

A few months ago I received a heartbreaking note from a reader who wanted to share with me why she had just unsubscribed from IGG. She went on to explain that while she enjoyed the articles and found them inspiring they also depressed her because she found herself focusing on all that she could never have or be in her life. ?A lot of people have it worse than me, so I just need to stop dreaming and be grateful for what I have now.?

How to Resolve Feelings of Unworthiness

Be willing to challenge beliefs about yourself: Begin by exploring the ?why? behind negative self talk. Make a positive statement about yourself such as I am a loving person or I deserve to achieve my dream of (fill in the blank). Then focus on any negative or contradictory thoughts that pop into your mind about your declaration. A personal journal is a great tool for this exercise. The more specific you can be with your statement, the greater the likelihood you?ll be able to uncover those sneaky unworthy feelings.

One step at a time: Once you begin to identify unworthy thoughts or triggers you can start gently stretching the limits of your comfort zone. Be willing to try different strategies and don?t be discouraged if you have to keep at it for awhile. These feelings of unworthiness have likely been with you for decades, so be kind to yourself, celebrate small victories, and be patiently persistent.

Let go of the past: For some reason, at some point in your life you came to the conclusion that you were lacking. Maybe you were bullied as a kid, or maybe you made a mistake? maybe it was a real whopper of a mistake and now you?re stuck mentally rerunning the experience and what you could or should have done differently. It?s time to let it go. The longer this has been going on the tougher it will be to clear it from your mind, but meaningful change always begins with a decision and in this case it?s up to you to choose not to give those thoughts the energy they require to remain an active part of your life.

Risk change: The thing about unworthiness is over time it becomes a comfortable companion and it is awfully tempting to stay with what?s known rather than risk the discomfort of change, rejection or even failure. Focus on your dreams and find a purpose that is important enough to motivate you to muster the strength and courage to step into the unknown and be free of what?s holding you back.

Be willing to ask for help: Sometimes feelings of unworthiness stem from a major life change or a traumatic event. As valuable as self-directed personal growth exercises can be, it?s important to understand that asking for help is not a weakness. Even the most courageous and successful people from time to time need a helping hand to move forward.

Sometimes the space between where you are and where you want to be can feel like a massive distance, but the truth is even the most self-confident among us will experience doubt from time to time. We may not be able to completely avoid it, but we can become more resilient by developing a strategy that enables us to effectively conquer feelings of self-doubt and unworthiness. Providing useful self development, self empowerment and self esteem tips and reviews online.

Source: http://selfimprovementandempowerment.blogspot.com/2012/12/how-to-stop-feelings-of-unworthiness.html

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Source: http://foegafsad.posterous.com/self-improvement-and-empowerment-blog-how-to

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Prep Blog: Post Christmas Tournament Madness ? CBS Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ? The Christmas holiday has passed, and high school athletes got a few days off to open gifts and enjoy family time.

But the weekend after Christmas is one of the busiest in the state for high school teams as virtually every hockey, basketball and some wrestling squads compete in a holiday tournament. It gives fans a chance to see some of the best teams in the state square off in a competitive atmosphere without an entire season being on the line.

With that said, here are some of the best bets if you want to see some of the best teams and athletes in the state in action the rest of the week.

Boys Hockey: Schwan Cup

The Schwan Cup is easily the biggest boys holiday hockey tournament in Minnesota with 48 teams playing in four brackets around the Twin Cities. The thrill for the players is getting to the championship games in each bracket, which are all played at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul

The Gold Division is loaded with Minnetonka, Hill-Murray, Blaine, Burnsville, Breck, Duluth East, Edina and St. Thomas Academy. Most of those teams end up at Xcel Energy Center in March for the state tournament. Action got started Wednesday, with the highlight of the day being St. Thomas Academy?s 2-1 overtime win over Edina.

The other top hockey tournament in the metro is the Sports Authority Classic at the St. Louis Park Recreation Center. Action starts Thursday afternoon and the field includes Bloomington Jefferson, Wayzata, Eden Prairie, Moorhead, Lakeville North, Benilde-St. Margaret?s, Elk River and Maple Grove.

Boys Basketball: Catholic Spirit Tournament

The University of St. Thomas serves as host to one of the better boys high school basketball tournaments this weekend. Action gets started Thursday with an 8-team bracket that includes Wayzata, Hill-Murray, Rosemount, Providence Academy, Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Agnes, Milwaukee Bay View and Holy Angels. You?ll notice mostly private Catholic schools in the field.

The Granite City Classic at St. Cloud Apollo should also be a solid tournament. The field of 10 teams includes Rocori, Becker, St. Michael-Albertville, Blake, Sartell, Delano, Buffalo, St. Cloud Tech, St. Cloud Apollo and Apple Valley, which features one of the state?s top players, Tyus Jones.

Girls Basketball: Dick?s Sporting Goods Classic

The top girls basketball tournament in the metro area is the Dick?s Sporting Goods Classic at Hopkins High School. The field includes host Hopkins, St. Paul Central, Eden Prairie, Prior Lake, Minnetonka and Osseo. There?s also a very competitive tournament at Hill-Murray, which includes the host as well as Cretin-Derham Hall, Cooper, Totino-Grace, Wayzata, Mounds View, Centennial and Stillwater.

Wrestling: The Clash National Duals

If you want to see some of the best high school wrestling in the country, head to Rochester Community and Technical College this weekend. It serves as the host for the Clash National Duals, which are Friday and Saturday. There are 12 Minnesota schools in the field, led by national powerhouse Apple Valley.

Other Minnesota teams in the field include Burnsville, Forest Lake, Hastings, Kasson-Mantorville, Kimball, Owatonna, Prior Lake, Rochester Mayo, Simley, St. Michael-Albertville and Zumbrota-Mazeppa.

Also a good reminder: The Target Center will host the Timberwolves Shootout, an all-day basketball tournament, on Saturday, Jan. 5. The event features five Minnesota teams, and the day starts with Lakeview Christian Academy facing Onalaska (Wis.) at 9 a.m. At 11 a.m., DeLaSalle faces Blue Valley Northwest High School of Kansas. Roseville will face Valley High School of West Des Moines, Iowa, at 1 p.m. The final and featured match-up of the day puts Minnesota?s two top junior recruits against each other.

Tyus Jones and Rashad Vaughn will lead Apple Valley and Cooper respectively in a game that?s scheduled for 3 p.m. I?ll be at that game to get my first in-person look at each player. Both have received several offers from the best Division I programs in the country. The Gophers have offered scholarships to both.

Source: http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/12/27/prep-blog-post-christmas-tournament-madness/

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PANTHERS MAKE STUPID PETS (Gametime with Smosh) - YouTube

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Real-estate, Serious Home And Leased Land; Definitions ...

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Source: http://wilco.mit.edu/harvardbank/ideas/it/real-estate-serious-home-and-leased-land-definitions-discourse-and-explanations

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Former tea party leader blames GOP for setbacks

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Republican Party and stupid statements by some candidates are to blame for GOP losses in last month's congressional elections, the former leader of a tea party group said Monday.

Dick Armey, who until recently led the conservative group FreedomWorks, said some GOP candidates said "stupid things" that party leaders should have taught them to avoid saying. He said Republicans had a lot of candidates who did "dumb things" during their campaigns.

Armey, a former Republican House majority leader from Texas, did not specifically mention controversial comments about rape by GOP Senate candidates in Indiana and Missouri that contributed to their defeats in November. Republicans had been hoping to win control of the Senate but ended up losing seats instead, and they lost strength in the House as well.

Armey said it is the party's job to support and train candidates.

He left FreedomWorks after an internal dispute about the group's direction.

Armey made his remarks on "This Morning" on CBS.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/former-tea-party-leader-blames-gop-setbacks-123938193--election.html

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