Diamonds. For thousands of years, they have been believed to bring good luck (and bad luck!) ? health, wealth, and protection against most of the ills that can befall mankind. The worldwide retail market for diamond jewelry was $60 billion in 2010...
Source: http://artinfo.com/news/story/the-billion-dollar-business-of-diamonds-from-mining-to-retail
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As well as a record six individual world championships between 1968 and 1979, including three titles in a row between 1968 and 1970, Mauger also won the long track world championship three times between 1971 and 1976. more...
1979 - key events
Source: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/timeline/2/9
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Public release date: 31-Aug-2012
Share ] Contact: Soeren Kragh Moestrup
skm@biokemi.au.dk
(45) 28-99-22-82
Aarhus University
Scientists at the research centre MEMBRANES at Aarhus University, Denmark, have completed an old puzzle, which since the 60s from many sides has been regarded as impossible to complete. The challenge was to solve the structure of the protecting protein complex that forms when haemoglobin is released from red cells and becomes toxic. This toxic release of haemoglobin occurs in many diseases affecting red cell stability, e.g. malaria.
Technically, the most important finding in this report in Nature is a high-resolution three-dimensional mapping of the so-called 'haptoglobin-haemoglobin complex'.
"After many failing experiments, our breakthrough came when we gave up using human material and went to the local slaughterhouse to purchase pig blood. Not a particular high-technological approach, but this transition from studying human blood to blood from a species with close homology had magic effects. After running into dead ends for two years and trying out the most complex gene-technological ways to produce the right material, it suddenly worked", says Sren Kragh Moestrup, the head of the research group at Department of Biomedicine.
The discovery provides new essential information on haemoglobin that makes up most of the red cell interior. Haemoglobin is an essential blood component for transport of oxygen, but it becomes toxic with potential damaging effects on tissues, in particular the kidneys, when it is released from the red cells. An excessive release can occur in many diseases, such as malaria and other infections.
However, the body has a sophisticated defence system. The first line defence is carried out by the blood protein haptoglobin, which captures haemoglobin and gates it to a receptor that engulfs the haemoglobin-haptoglobin complex. This function of the receptor named CD163 was originally discovered by the same group.
"We have now shown how this unique protein complex forms by generation of a detailed 3-dimensional map of each atom. This shows for the first time how the complex is formed and explains the tight protein association", says PhD Christian Brix Folsted Andersen. He has together with Master's student Morten Torvund-Jensen been an essential driving force in the project.
The results have also led to an unexpected discovery of a novel type of protein structure and a new patent submission on exploitation of the discovery for use in generation of a new type of synthetic proteins to be used in therapy and diagnostics.
###
The Nature paper "Structure of the haptoglobin-haemoglobin complex" is available.
MEMBRANES is a research centre at Aarhus University with focus on membrane proteins.
The present international and interdisciplinary project has been headed by Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, with participation of Science & Technology, Aarhus University and experts from Brazil and Norway.
Financial support from The Lundbeck Foundation, The Novo Nordisk Foundation, The Research Council of Norway, The European Research Council and The Danish Council for Independent Research.
More information:
Professor, DMSc Sren Kragh Moestrup, MEMBRANES, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Denmark. Mobile +45 28 99 22 82; skm@biokemi.au.dk
Assistant professor, PhD Christian Brix Folsted Andersen, MEMBRANES, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Denmark. Mobile + 45 30 26 48 55; cbfa@biokemi.au.dk
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Public release date: 31-Aug-2012 Share ] Contact: Soeren Kragh Moestrup
skm@biokemi.au.dk
(45) 28-99-22-82
Aarhus University
Scientists at the research centre MEMBRANES at Aarhus University, Denmark, have completed an old puzzle, which since the 60s from many sides has been regarded as impossible to complete. The challenge was to solve the structure of the protecting protein complex that forms when haemoglobin is released from red cells and becomes toxic. This toxic release of haemoglobin occurs in many diseases affecting red cell stability, e.g. malaria.
Technically, the most important finding in this report in Nature is a high-resolution three-dimensional mapping of the so-called 'haptoglobin-haemoglobin complex'.
"After many failing experiments, our breakthrough came when we gave up using human material and went to the local slaughterhouse to purchase pig blood. Not a particular high-technological approach, but this transition from studying human blood to blood from a species with close homology had magic effects. After running into dead ends for two years and trying out the most complex gene-technological ways to produce the right material, it suddenly worked", says Sren Kragh Moestrup, the head of the research group at Department of Biomedicine.
The discovery provides new essential information on haemoglobin that makes up most of the red cell interior. Haemoglobin is an essential blood component for transport of oxygen, but it becomes toxic with potential damaging effects on tissues, in particular the kidneys, when it is released from the red cells. An excessive release can occur in many diseases, such as malaria and other infections.
However, the body has a sophisticated defence system. The first line defence is carried out by the blood protein haptoglobin, which captures haemoglobin and gates it to a receptor that engulfs the haemoglobin-haptoglobin complex. This function of the receptor named CD163 was originally discovered by the same group.
"We have now shown how this unique protein complex forms by generation of a detailed 3-dimensional map of each atom. This shows for the first time how the complex is formed and explains the tight protein association", says PhD Christian Brix Folsted Andersen. He has together with Master's student Morten Torvund-Jensen been an essential driving force in the project.
The results have also led to an unexpected discovery of a novel type of protein structure and a new patent submission on exploitation of the discovery for use in generation of a new type of synthetic proteins to be used in therapy and diagnostics.
###
The Nature paper "Structure of the haptoglobin-haemoglobin complex" is available.
MEMBRANES is a research centre at Aarhus University with focus on membrane proteins.
The present international and interdisciplinary project has been headed by Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, with participation of Science & Technology, Aarhus University and experts from Brazil and Norway.
Financial support from The Lundbeck Foundation, The Novo Nordisk Foundation, The Research Council of Norway, The European Research Council and The Danish Council for Independent Research.
More information:
Professor, DMSc Sren Kragh Moestrup, MEMBRANES, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Denmark. Mobile +45 28 99 22 82; skm@biokemi.au.dk
Assistant professor, PhD Christian Brix Folsted Andersen, MEMBRANES, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Denmark. Mobile + 45 30 26 48 55; cbfa@biokemi.au.dk
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/au-dss083112.php
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Many people have apprehensions about sending their elderly relatives to senior homes, mainly because of some horror stories that their relatives have told them, and even media reports. Some are just scared of sending their relatives to the senior homes, because of how the movies portray them. It is true that some of these homes offer a less than exemplary experience, but several offer the best service available. Here is some important information about senior homes that you should know if you plan to shift your elderly relative soon to a senior home.
A good senior home will be nothing short of a luxury hotel, while keeping the health aspects in mind. They have decent furniture and accessories, and there is the possibility that some senior homes might provide more luxury and comfort than the senior?s previous residence. Not just comforts, a good senior home provides nutritious, medically supervised food, which brings back the strength that the elders need. A typical diet consists of vegetables, fruits and even meats for those who can consume that kind of food.
Senior homes have doctors on call, and some of them have in house doctors who take up residence in the senior home. In any case, a good senior home will have the doctor going on rounds for anything from twice a day to twice a week, and if there is any serious medical issue, the authorities inform the family immediately. Senior homes also have nurses and helpers on call, and they are well experienced in taking care of the seniors. For example, their care and expertise can help greatly in increasing the amount of mobility of the seniors, and increase the age until which the senior can be mobile.
Religion plays an important role in the senior home, and many senior homes allow the people to follow whatever religion they wish to follow. Some senior homes may also have religious services taking place on a regular basis. Festivals, traditional events, etc., the senior home celebrates all of them with the same gusto and fervour that a group of friends would have.
Living in a senior home does not mean that the person is a shut in. Many senior homes routinely plan outings, picnics and even longer trips for the house members, all under medical supervision. Various recreational activities take place routinely in the senior home, and keep the seniors busy and excited about their stay there.
These houses have a concept of visiting hours, during which the family can meet their elderly relatives. During this time, the families can also meet people who run the senior home, and keep a tab on how the home treats the elderly. Sometimes, they even hold annual get togethers, so families can come together and have a memorable time.
These are just some of the aspects of a senior home and staying in such a place. There are several senior homes spread all over the country, and most of them have a website that provides you all the information about it, like the services offered, the tariffs and anything else.
Another option that you can consider is homecare. Homecare agencies in orange CT and other places in the country provide excellent services in senior and elder care, personal care and more so that they lead a comfortable life. Click here to know more.
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The days of consumers wandering into a car dealership and, while distracted by the balloons and streamers, putting themselves at the mercy of a car salesperson are pretty much over, and car dealers know this. But if you?re new to car buying, you may not know how to prepare yourself in advance and get yourself the best deal. If you want to buy a car for a fair and reasonable price, take a look at these seven things you must do before you walk into a car dealership.
Determining what your needs are ahead of your visit to a car dealer will save you and the salesperson time that might be wasted on showing you models designed for a lifestyle very different than your own. Ask yourself how much do you drive and how far? Do you have kids that need to be transported? Are you looking for a car that is eco-friendly? Narrow down your selection to one or two specific vehicles, and then see if they?re available at a dealership near you.
Itemize your monthly income and spending to determine how much you can afford for an initial down payment, as well as how much you can afford each month (and for how long) to pay off a loan with interest. Knowing the amount you can afford and sticking to that number is crucial when negotiating the price of a car. Remember to negotiate the car?s total price first; the monthly payments will take care of themselves.
The cost of a loan will depend on your credit score. By law, once a year, you can request, see, and print up your credit report from the three major credit companies. For a small fee, you can find out your credit or FICO score for two of those three companies anytime. Armed with this information, you are a step ahead of a car dealer who might try to base a financing plan on a score that?s not actually yours!
Automakers offer incentives and sales as do the dealerships themselves. There are also government rebates, sometimes in the form of tax breaks, available to qualified customers who purchase hybrid, alternative fuel, or electric cars. Once you select a car, check to see if there are incentives and rebates available so you know what kind of savings you are due.
Your car price will come with a standard and legal set of additional fees that you?ll have to budget for as well, including sales tax (of course), title and registration fees, and cost of delivery. However, there are fees that are completely unnecessary that a dealer might try to tack on at the end of a sale, such as ?dealer prep? or ?rust proofing? fees. Find out ahead of time what fees you should expect to pay and which are absolutely unnecessary so you don?t end up paying more than you budget for.
Again, this will require some homework on your part, but it?s better you do it than rely on the dealer to do it at the time of your trade-in and purchase. Once you?ve determined the value of your trade-in, use that figure in your budgeting and while negotiating.
The invoice price is the price the dealer paid the automaker for the car you plan to buy. Dealer holdback is the percentage, usually 2% or 3% of what the dealer paid, that the automaker returns to the dealer and is sometimes used to inflate a car?s invoice price. Edmond?s recommends you begin instead with a car?s true market value in your negotiations instead of the invoice price in order to have a figure that more accurately reflects what the dealer paid for the car.
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Source: http://twitter.com/petersuderman/statuses/241384502256074752
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Learning takes place through the active behavior of the learner. It requires the ability of the learners to plan how to meet their targets, follow their plans and improve their performances. Key learning skills refer to a particular set of skills that is commonly needed in a range of activities in learning process. These skills include listening skill, communication skill, note-taking skill and test taking skill.
Listening skill:
To achieve short term goals, medium term goals and career goals efficiently, learners must be good listeners. The ability to listen carefully allows them to better understand assignments, build rapport with classmates and teachers, work in a team-based environment, answer questions and find underlying meanings in what other say. To demonstrate to the speaker that they are paying attention, they should do these things.
1. Maintain eye contact
2. Sit still
3. Nod their head
4. Lean toward the speaker
5. Repeat instructions
6. Ask appropriate questions when the speaker has finished
Communication skill:
To describe thoughts clearly, concisely and convincingly, learners need good oral communication skill. It is extremely important to develop the ability to converse, to discuss, to argue persuasively and to speak in the classroom.
Note-taking skill:
It is one of the most effective ways to understand the material being presented in the class. To take notes effectively from the lectures, learners should do these things.
1. Write title and date on the page
2. Leave a wide margin to add questions, comments and new information later
3. Skip lines between the subtopics
4. Highlight key phrases
To take notes from textbooks, they should do these things.
1. Skim the whole section
2. Write in their own words
3. Describe a sequence of events
4. Enlist main topics and the subtopics in outline form
5. Make graphical organizer if necessary
6. Categorize detail
7. Write a summary for each section
To take notes from the classroom discussion, they should do these things.
1. Use a personal form of short hand of symbols and abbreviations of common words
2. Listen for key words
3. Use arrows or stars to indicate most important points
Test taking skill:
It is another effective way to get good performance. Before taking the test, learners must have knowledge about test anticipation. It includes format of the test, time required for the test and worth of the test. To prepare the test, they should do these things.
1. Study difficult and boring subjects first
2. Schedule study time during their best time of the day
3. Take regular short breaks
4. Study where they will be alert (not in bed, or in easy chair or sofa where they can get too comfortable)
5. Concentrate on remembering the main idea
6. Ask questions of themselves
7. Study with a partner to compare notes
Lastly, to post test analysis of the test, they should do these things.
1. Analyze the received grades
2. Analyze the missing answers
3. Analyze the type of questions (did they perform better on certain types of questions)
4. Analyze the time of the test (did they have enough time to finish the test and to review answers).
Source: http://toddsblogs.com/referenceandeducation/2012/08/30/key-learning-skills/
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Source: http://www.theindychannel.com/video/31397998/index.html
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We require someone who has excellent writing skills as well as exceptional critical thinking skills. The assignment requires 2000 words (5/6 pages) and needs to be completed within 5 days
This is a very small project by itself but require good critical thinking as well as good knowledges of advertising and communication in general
You must have strong understanding of marketing communications theories.
All further information will be provided
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Source: http://www.freelancer.com/projects/Marketing-Advertising/Marketing-Project-Communications.html
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Public release date: 29-Aug-2012 Share ] Contact: Todd Reubold
reub0002@umn.edu
612-624-6140
University of Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (08/29/2012) Can we have enough to eat and a healthy environment, too? Yesif we're smart about it, suggests a study published in Nature this week by a team of researchers from the University of Minnesota and McGill University in Montreal.
Global demand for food is expected to double by 2050 due to population growth and increased standards of living. To meet this demand, it is often assumed we will need to expand the environmental burden of agriculture. The paper, based on analysis of agricultural data gathered from around the world, offers hope that with more strategic use of fertilizer and water, we could not only dramatically boost global crop yield, but also reduce the adverse environmental impact of agriculture.
"We have often seen these two goals as a trade-off: We could either have more food, or a cleaner environment, not both," says lead author Nathaniel Mueller, a researcher with the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment and a doctoral student in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. "This study shows that doesn't have to be the case."
Mueller and colleagues used management and yield data for 17 major crops to take a big-picture look at how much water and nutrients it would take to bring underperforming farmlands to meet their food production potential. They also looked for places where fertilizer use could be cut down without substantially reducing crop yield. They found:
The researchers caution that their analysis is at a coarse scale and that many other factors, including land characteristics, use of organic fertilizers, economics, geopolitics, water availability and climate change will influence actual gains in crop production and reductions in adverse environmental impacts. Nevertheless, they are encouraged by the strong indication that closing the "yield gap" on underperforming landspreviously identified as one of five promising points for meeting future food needs, along with halting farmland expansion in the tropics, using agricultural inputs more strategically, shifting diets and reducing food wasteholds great promise for sustainably boosting food security.
"These results show that substantial gains are indeed possible from closing the yield gapand combining these efforts with improved management of existing lands can potentially reduce agriculture's environmental impact," Mueller says. "They also offer concrete suggestions as to where and how we can focus future efforts. This work should serve as a source of great encouragement and motivation for those working to feed the 9-billion-plus people anticipated to live on this planet in 2050 while protecting Earth's indispensible life support systems."
###
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Public release date: 29-Aug-2012 Share ] Contact: Todd Reubold
reub0002@umn.edu
612-624-6140
University of Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (08/29/2012) Can we have enough to eat and a healthy environment, too? Yesif we're smart about it, suggests a study published in Nature this week by a team of researchers from the University of Minnesota and McGill University in Montreal.
Global demand for food is expected to double by 2050 due to population growth and increased standards of living. To meet this demand, it is often assumed we will need to expand the environmental burden of agriculture. The paper, based on analysis of agricultural data gathered from around the world, offers hope that with more strategic use of fertilizer and water, we could not only dramatically boost global crop yield, but also reduce the adverse environmental impact of agriculture.
"We have often seen these two goals as a trade-off: We could either have more food, or a cleaner environment, not both," says lead author Nathaniel Mueller, a researcher with the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment and a doctoral student in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. "This study shows that doesn't have to be the case."
Mueller and colleagues used management and yield data for 17 major crops to take a big-picture look at how much water and nutrients it would take to bring underperforming farmlands to meet their food production potential. They also looked for places where fertilizer use could be cut down without substantially reducing crop yield. They found:
The researchers caution that their analysis is at a coarse scale and that many other factors, including land characteristics, use of organic fertilizers, economics, geopolitics, water availability and climate change will influence actual gains in crop production and reductions in adverse environmental impacts. Nevertheless, they are encouraged by the strong indication that closing the "yield gap" on underperforming landspreviously identified as one of five promising points for meeting future food needs, along with halting farmland expansion in the tropics, using agricultural inputs more strategically, shifting diets and reducing food wasteholds great promise for sustainably boosting food security.
"These results show that substantial gains are indeed possible from closing the yield gapand combining these efforts with improved management of existing lands can potentially reduce agriculture's environmental impact," Mueller says. "They also offer concrete suggestions as to where and how we can focus future efforts. This work should serve as a source of great encouragement and motivation for those working to feed the 9-billion-plus people anticipated to live on this planet in 2050 while protecting Earth's indispensible life support systems."
###
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/uom-ssh082912.php
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Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Pro 1.65.0.1000 Beta | 10 Mb
Malwarebytes advanced technology protects businesses from the constantly-evolving threat that malware poses to corporate systems. From data loss to network corruption, undetected malware can decrease revenue and wreak havoc on your network. Malwarebytes provides maximum protection while using minimal resources, to keep your system focused on your business.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware PRO Features include:
? Flash ? Lightning fast scan speeds
? Thorough ? Full scans for all drives
? Works Well With Others ? Cooperative functionality
? Puts YOU first! ? Priority database updates
? Puts Malware in the Slammer ? Quarantine function holds threats and lets you restore at your convenience
? Talk to the hand ? Ignore list for both the scanner and Protection Module
? For Your Pleasure ? Customizable settings enhance performance
? Lock It Down ? Password protect key program settings
? Chameleon ? Gets Malwarebytes running when blocked
? Toolbox ? Extra utilities to help remove malware manually
? Nitty Gritty ? Command line support for quick scanning
? RPP, Yeah You Know Me ? Realtime Proactive Protection Module
? Hablamos Everything! ? Multi-lingual support (Klingon still in beta)
? Support for Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and 7 (32-bit and 64-bit)
Languages Available: English, Albanian, Arabic, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Koraen, Latvian, Macedonian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian.
Operating Systems: Microsoft ? Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7.
Changes in Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.65:
New Features:
? Future versions will be able to upgrade without requiring a reboot after installation
? Protection module now controllable for the entire machine instead of being limited to individual user accounts
? Filesystem Blocking and Website Blocking can be enabled or disabled separately via the Protection tab
? Protection logs now show when malicious file execution blocking is enabled or disabled
? Realtime protection may now be cleanly terminated via the ?Exit? option in the tray without leaving any running processes
? Japanese language support added
Improvements:
? Malwarebytes Chameleon enhanced to be even more effective against the latest threats
? Realtime protection now starts much faster on Windows Vista and Windows 7
? Eliminated performance issues caused by database updates and Ignore List manipulation on Windows Vista and Windows 7
? Pop-ups for threats detected by realtime protection can not be minimized
Issues Fixed:
? Saving logs to custom locations after scans now works correctly
? Context menu setting is now honored correctly after performing a program upgrade
? Users who have previously completed the trial will not be prompted to start the trial upon upgrade or reinstallation
? Dates and times of items listed in the Quarantine are now displayed correctly
Source: http://irfree.com/applications/108334-malwarebytes-anti-malware-pro-16501000-beta.html
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BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's second-biggest guerrilla group says it is willing to hold unconditional peace talks to end five decades of war, but refuses to end its kidnapping, bomb attacks and extortion of foreign oil and mining companies before negotiations start.
Nicolas Rodriguez, leader of the National Liberation Army, known as the ELN, told Reuters in a rare interview that he is open to negotiate an end to the bloodshed with President Juan Manuel Santos' conservative government.
"We are open; it's exactly our proposal, to seek room for open dialogue without conditions and start to discuss the nation's biggest problems," Rodriguez said in a video filmed at a hidden jungle camp in response to questions from Reuters.
Rodriguez' comments come as rumors swirl of behind-the-scenes peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country's biggest rebel group, and pressure builds for Santos to seek an end to the war.
Intelligence sources told Reuters that tentative, high-level discussions have started between the government and Colombia's biggest rebel group. On Monday, regional media network Telesur said a deal to begin talks had been agreed, but the government denied it.
Rodriguez, the ELN commander better known by his nom de guerre Gabino, said his forces would not declare a ceasefire or turn in their weapons ahead of any peace talks, something Santos has insisted on.
"That possibility doesn't exist under any circumstance," Rodriguez said.
Looking worn after almost half a century fighting for the Marxist group in Colombia's inhospitable mountains, the 62-year-old Rodriguez sat framed by Colombia's flag on one side and a second bearing the black, red and white ELN emblem on the other, a rifle propped against a tree behind him.
He said he doubted the government's willingness to talk.
"The government has said no! Santos says he has the keys to peace in his pocket, but I think he has lost them because there seems to be no possibility of a serious dialogue," he said in what is believed to be his first interview in about five years.
The government declined to comment on the interview.
Rodriguez has a $2.5 million bounty on his head and declined a face-to-face interview because he said intense fighting in the area would put his security and journalists at risk. The video, filmed by the rebels, shows Rodriguez answering Reuters' questions read aloud by another fighter.
Santos, who has meted out some of the most crushing military blows against the ELN and FARC, says the "door to peace is not locked with a key," but has denied any talks are under way.
Former President Alvaro Uribe has slammed Santos for seeking "peace at any cost."
The ELN has battled a dozen governments since it was founded in 1964 and is considered a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union. Both the ELN and FARC have stepped up attacks on the infrastructure this year, hitting oil pipelines and power lines repeatedly.
Inspired by the Cuban revolution and established by radical Catholic priests, the ELN was close to disappearing in the 1970s but steadily gained power again. By 2002 it had as many as 5,000 fighters, financed by "war taxes" levied on landowners and oil companies.
The ELN is now believed to have about 3,000 fighters. It has sought peace before, holding talks in Cuba and Venezuela between 2002 and 2007. Experts say there was a lack of will on both sides to agree a final peace plan.
Rodriguez said the government wants to continue the war because it is a "juicy business that pays dividends."
DENIES DRUG LINKS
An ELN fighter since he was 14, Rodriguez flatly denies government claims that his group, like the FARC, funds its war from the proceeds of drug trafficking.
"Under no circumstance," he said, dressed in olive-green fatigues with red and black epaulets on his shoulders and flanked by two heavily armed fighters -- one a woman.
"The ELN is categoric that we are not involved in drug trafficking and our internal laws, our statutes and rules, demand we maintain impeccable conduct from start to finish."
Rodriguez pledged to continue attacking military targets and oil and mining infrastructure until there is a change to policies that he said "excessively" benefited foreign interests.
Colombia, a nation of 46 million, has attracted record foreign direct investment in recent years as troops push the guerrilla groups deeper into the thick jungles.
Efforts to rid Colombia of its reputation as one of the most dangerous places to do business have resulted in a rush of investment into areas that were once off-limits. In those areas, armed rebels roamed almost unhindered over great swathes of land and prevented citizens from traveling in many areas for fear being kidnapped.
Even as the $330 billion economy slows, overseas investor optimism may bring in as much as $17 billion this year, mostly into oil and mining. In 2000, investment was about $2.4 billion.
"If there's dialogue, there'll be accords and new ways of exploiting the riches of the country, but if there's no dialogue and on the contrary they insist on taking the side of capitalist demands, inevitably the fighting will continue," said Rodriguez.
Recent attempts by Colombian lawmakers to boost the level of royalties -- taxes paid by oil and mining companies for exploration rights -- have failed due to a lack of government support. Santos has stuck to his stated principal that a contract should be honored and never altered.
Rodriguez, who bore thinning, closely cropped hair and a mustache, warned that kidnapping and extortion would continue until peace was reached and there was a change in the way that foreign companies operated in Colombia.
"We have always said a large part of the insurgency should be funded by the riches of the oligarchy, which has always exploited the Colombian people. And of course, multinationals that pillage our country should finance the revolution."
He said the Colombian people also fund them, but that the bulk of the ELN's money came from the "riches of the enemy."
"That's our reality and we aren't going to change it or deny it."
TALKS 'SHOULD INCLUDE FARC'
The FARC pledged in February to cease kidnapping for ransom, a move widely seen as evidence that drugs and extortion provided sufficient revenue to maintain its 8,000 or so fighters.
The two rebel groups now maintain good relations, Rodriguez said, despite being bitter enemies in the past and often clashing over territory.
Any peace process should include the FARC, he added, though that would not be a condition for dialogue with the government.
"We believe it would be positive to have one negotiating table," he said, adding that his group was keeping an open mind: "We don't have a fixed stance; we have to be practical."
Congress passed a constitutional reform in June that set the legal basis for eventual peace with Colombia's rebels. The reform prohibits guerrilla leaders accused of crimes against humanity, such as Rodriguez, from holding political office.
Rodriguez, who has dozens of warrants against him for murder, kidnapping, rebellion and terrorism, said that law was an obstacle to peace.
"A basis for peace should be the fruit of agreements between the different parties that facilitate the next steps, but here we are working backwards."
(Editing by Daniel Wallis, Kieran Murray and Cynthia Osterman)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-colombias-eln-rebels-offer-peace-talks-refuse-174802047.html
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Since Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon, technology has lead to the replacement of astronauts with robots. Though Curiosity's recent Mars landing has inspired many, NASA says they hope to one day send a human to stand on Mars just as Armstrong stood on the moon.?
NASA scientists comment on the newest image of the tracks left by their Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars. An image of wheel prints on Mars may one day become as iconic as boot prints on the moon, says one NASA scientist.
AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes
EnlargeNeil Armstrong inspired millions with his moonwalk. Can a feisty robotic rover exploring Mars?do the same for another generation? With manned missions beyond the International Space Station on hold, the spotlight has turned on machines.
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The Mars rover Curiosity rolled forward about 15 feet, and is scheduled to start its first big trip -- to a point about 1,300 feet away -- in the next few days.While it did not rise to Armstrong's "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," interest was so high in the rover Curiosity's "seven minutes of terror" approach to the red planet earlier this month that NASA's website crashed. The rover last week beamed home photographs of its first wheel tracks on the Martian soil since its daredevil landing
"There's something exciting about reaching another place in the solar system. If you think about the kind of interest the landing of Curiosity had, you get a sense of that," said Smithsonian Institution space curator Roger Launius. It wasn't on the same level as Armstrong's feat, "but it was pretty darn exciting," he said.
When Armstrong, and then fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin, stepped on the moon on July 29, 1969, an estimated 600 million people watched and listened. "Virtually the entire world took that memorable journey with us," recalled Aldrin after Armstrong's death on Saturday.
Early in the Space Age, the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronauts were the public face of NASA's space endeavor while the unmanned lunar missions that paved the way were in the shadows. The public craved adventure and the manned missions delivered. Aiming for the moon was new and exciting ? not to mention dangerous ? and the U.S. was locked in a Cold War space race with the Soviets.
Next, the space shuttle ferried a new crop of astronauts to low-Earth orbit, but after three decades of service, it became routine. And the Cold War thawed with the Russians and Americans cooperating on the Russian space station Mir and the International Space Station.
With the space shuttle fleet retired, the space station is all that's left. Its crew of six for the most part quietly goes about doing its job about 250 miles (400 kilometers) above the Earth. President Barack Obama nixed plans for returning astronauts to the moon in favor of landing on an asteroid and eventually?Mars.
These days, space exploration is carried out by robotic spacecraft ? commanded by human handlers on Earth. Advances in technology have allowed unmanned spacecraft to go farther and peer deeper, with craft circling Mercury, Saturn, and asteroid Vesta, and others headed for Jupiter and dwarf planet Pluto. The twin Voyager craft are still going strong at the fringes of the solar system 35 years after their launch in 1977.
American University space policy analyst Howard McCurdy said today's generation of explorers was raised on technology and tends to get more jazzed about delivering a car-size rover to?Mars.
"Robotic exploration has taken more of a center stage," he said. "It gets more publicity now than the International Space Station."
When the first?Mars?rover Sojourner landed in 1997, science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke rephrased Armstrong's famous line and said the event was "one small step for the rover."
Three other rovers have followed including Curiosity, which landed Aug. 5 by executing an intricate routine that ended with it being lowered by cables to the surface. Curiosity's acrobatics proved so popular that some 1.1 million people now follow it on Twitter (the tweets are being written by the public affairs office at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which manages the $2.5-billion mission.)
Curiosity chief scientist John Grotzinger said Monday the wheel prints on?Mars?may turn out to be an iconic image just like those first boot prints on the lunar surface.
"Instead of a human, it's a robot pretty much doing the same thing," he said.
Henry Lambright, a professor of public policy and space scholar at Syracuse University, said while Curiosity is inspiring, the world still needs to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit.
"It can't inspire to the degree that Apollo did because a robot can't inspire the way a man can," Lambright said.
On Monday, NASA played a recording from Administrator Charles Bolden that had been sent up to the rover on?Mars?and relayed back to Earth. In it, he thanked scientists and engineers for their achievement.
David Lavery of NASA headquarters said the hope is that someone will be inspired by Bolden's message and become the first human to stand on?Mars.
"Like the great Neil Armstrong, they'll be able to speak aloud ? the first person at that point, of the next giant leap in human exploration," he said.
Follow Alicia Chang's coverage at http://www.twitter.com/SciWriAlicia
Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/YbfEqdXiaeY/Will-Curiosity-inspire-like-Armstrong
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TAMPA, Fla. ? With Tropical Storm Isaac brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, the Republican National Convention schedule was truncated to the extreme Monday. RNC Chair Reince Priebus gaveled in and out a ten-minute session, and hosts cancelled and delayed many events surrounding the convention.
Isaac did not directly hit Tampa Monday; by Monday afternoon it amounted to scattered showers ? at times heavy ? and a bit of wind. The sun came out sporadically around the convention center.
Yet convention delegates on the floor who spoke with The Daily Caller explained that unofficially delaying the convention?s starting gun?was the right thing to do. (RELATED:?RNC unveils national debt clock, immediately recesses)
Hawaii?delegate Jamie Shidel told TheDC that while his plans did not change much, the Hawaii delegation did stockpile some water, just in case.
?Better to be careful than take the risk of business as usual,? he said, noting that he is ?confident? that the GOP has a chance to take Obama?s home state of Hawaii.
John Bates, an Oklahoma delegate, stressed the uncertainty of the schedule and took notice of all the people milling about the convention floor.
?I understand why they did what they did,? Bates said, referring to the delay, ?because if you miss it, there is no way to be right. I mean, even if you are right you?re wrong because it is a Hurricane.?
Michael Coleman, a Maine delegate, told TheDC that his plans have not changed. He?s both pleased the storm?s center missed Tampa and concerned Isaac?s path could spell trouble elsewhere.
?Its a little windy, a little more windy than we?re used to up in Maine,? he said, but not too bad overall.
Kentucky delegate Kevin Smith said things have been going smoothly for his delegation despite the rain.
?We are really looking forward to the speakers,? he said, adding that he appreciated the safety-first focus.
Tina Dupont of Michigan, an alternate delegate, told TheDC that the delay gave her a chance to see more of the convention venue.
?They have moved so many things, like today this would have been going on and its not. And maybe it is good for us because as an alternate I can be down here on the floor,? she said.
?I won?t probably get much of an opportunity. So in a way maybe it?s been good for me but not for the overall event.?
Jim Ayala, a Nevada delegate and Ron Paul supporter, noted the sizable turnout for the quick-gavel event despite Isaac?s shadow looming large.
?The weather doesn?t really seem to be affecting anything at all,? he said. ?We were told by some ?official sources? that this event wasn?t even going to happen today. And look how many people there are.?
?Better safe than sorry.?
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RNC faithful unfazed by Isaac's stormy weather
Gov. McDonnell: Obama, Democrats focusing on abortion to distract from 'failed' record
Conservative foreign policy experts on what Romney should say in RNC address
CNBC host Kudlow: Obama would rather 'punish' the wealthy than 'fix the economy' [VIDEO]
Rep. Schock: Obama has 'failed' young voters [VIDEO]
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rnc-faithful-unfazed-isaac-stormy-weather-053011158.html
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Aug 27 2012
Many business owners believe that it is important for them to get these pieces. One of the reasons is that these store their items better than conventional refrigerators and freezers. Such would allow the fresh produce to be kept fresh all of the time. This will also help perishable items be kept fresh for a longer period of time. These also allow business owners to have their equipment limited to essentials.
Refrigeration units have common traits. For one, all of these keep food chilled. This is one of the ways to keep food free of bacteria that would affect its integrity. Most are also made of insulated and durable steel exterior. There is ventilation that houses the compressor. However, not all of these are created equal. There are different types which could be used for various purposes or edifices.
One of the types is the reach-in model which is an upright storage. This is considered perfect for operation at the back of the house. There are two types of this namely the sold and glass door reach-in units. Both are available in half doors. These may have different sections with storage capacity measured in cubic feet.
There are walk-in types which are useful for restaurants. These places would require a big place to store the raw ingredients. This could still be placed at the back of the house or outside the restaurant. The operators would set up shelving systems so it will be organized. This type is best used for boxed items such as alcohol or juices. Some units have their own floors which are installed on the existing floor.
There are also refrigerated prep tables which are used for cook line. This is the area in a commercial kitchen where food is prepared. There are two versions of this product namely the salad or sandwich and the pizza prep tables. There are cold storage wells known as the cold rails that keep the food pans of ingredients cold. The major difference of the two types is the cutting board. The pizza prep has deeper board that is used to accommodate the pizza?s diameter.
The refrigerated merchandisers or display refrigerators are used to display certain products. Such are those used in groceries and pastry stores. Most of these can fit in small places and are used mainly for display.
There is also the bar type unit which is designed with stainless or black vinyl. This is to get the streamlined look that is needed. As the name suggests, this is used in most bars. There are also different types of units that are under this classification.
Most of the industries that rely heavily on food and preservation of ingredients. Such would demand for the use of commercial refrigeration equipment in Pittsburgh. It is important to choose the appropriate type for the establishments. Not only will this keep the food fresh, this would also help save on cost.
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As mobile technology and social sharing have reshaped the media industry in recent years, many legacy newsrooms have struggled to figure out just how to most effectively incorporate smartphone reporting into their content. Now, the The Wall Street Journal thinks it has found an innovative new approach.
It's called WSJ WorldStream, and it's a hub for mobile video shot via smartphone by the Journal's award-winning team of more than 2,000 journalists around the world. The platform launched Monday in conjunction with the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla.
[More from Mashable: WWE Looks to Build on Social Success With 1000th ?Raw? Episode]
Every video posted to the page undergoes editorial review. Nothing that appears will be over a minute in length, reinforcing the focus on quick snippets of video and audio information shot while on the go. San Francisco-based video-sharing startup Tout powers the processing and publishing of clips on the back end. The videos will also be incorporated into other WSJ.com content.
WSJ WorldStream is the newest piece of WSJ Live, the media company's video initiative which has launched four shows over the past year.
[More from Mashable: Flipboard Competitor Pulse Partners With WSJ]
?Our video viewership has more than doubled in the past six months to over 20 million streams, and the creation of this video blog is a milestone in the expansion of video at the Journal,? Alan Murray, WSJ.com's deputy managing editor and executive editor said in a press release.
"We now have the opportunity to deliver that video more quickly and efficiently for use in our rapidly growing video operation," he added.
Do you think WSJ WorldStream is a blind stab at innovation by the Journal, or a cool new way to collect and package original mobile video? Share your opinion in the comments.
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, unizyne
This story originally published on Mashable here.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wall-street-journal-launches-hub-mobile-video-journalists-223129749.html
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KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) ? Tropical Storm Isaac barely stirred Florida Keys residents from their fabled nonchalance Sunday, while the Gulf Coast braced for the possibility that the sprawling storm will strengthen into a dangerous hurricane by the time it makes landfall there.
Isaac was expected to cross the Keys by late afternoon, then turn northwest and strike as a Category 2 hurricane somewhere between the New Orleans area to the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday, the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
The storm was predicted to pass west of Tampa, the site of the Republican National Convention, but it had already disrupted the schedule there because of the likelihood of heavy rain and strong winds.
Even before reaching hurricane strength, Isaac caused considerable inconvenience, with hundreds of flights canceled at airports in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. There were scattered power outages from Key West to Fort Lauderdale affecting more than 6,000 customers, and flooding occurred in low-lying areas.
Wind gusts of 60 mph were reported as far north as Pompano Beach, north of Fort Lauderdale. But while officials urged residents in southeast Florida to stay home, that recommendation was ignored by surfers and joggers on Miami Beach and shoppers at area malls.
In Key West, Emalyn Mercer rode her bike while decked out with a snorkel and mask, inflatable arm bands and a paddle, just for a laugh. She rode with Kelly Friend, who wore a wet suit, dive cap and lobster gloves.
"We're just going for a drink," Mercer said.
"With the ones that are brave enough like us," Friend added.
Along famed Duval Street, many stores, bars and restaurants closed, the cigar rollers and palm readers packed up, and just a handful of drinking holes remained open.
But people posed for pictures at the Southernmost Point, while Dave Harris and Robyn Roth took her dachshund for a walk and checked out boats rocking along the waterfront.
"Just a summer day in Key West," Harris said.
That kind of ho-hum attitude extended farther up the coast. Edwin Reeder swung by a gas station in Miami Shores ? not for fuel, but drinks and snacks.
"This isn't a storm," he said. "It's a rain storm."
With a laugh, Reeder said he has not stocked up aside from buying dog and cat food.
The forecast wasn't funny, however. Isaac was expected to draw significant strength from the warm, open waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and with more uncertainty than usual about the path, a hurricane watch was in effect from east of Morgan City, La., to Indian Pass, Fla.
The storm, which stretched more than 200 miles from its center, was expected to make landfall as a Category 2 hurricane, meaning top sustained winds of 96 to 110 mph (154 to 177 kph).
The Gulf Coast hasn't been hit by a hurricane since 2008, when Dolly, Ike and Gustav all struck the region.
Hurricane center forecasters are uncertain of the storm's path because two of their best computer models now track the storm on opposite sides of a broad cone. One model has Isaac going well west and the other well east. For the moment, the predicted track goes up the middle.
Florida Panhandle residents stocked up on water and gasoline, and at least one Pensacola store ran out of flashlight models and C and D batteries. Scott Reynolds, who lives near the water in Gulf Breeze, filled his car trunk with several cases of water, dozens of power bars and ramen noodles.
"Cigarettes ? I'm stocking up on those too," he said.
Forecasters stressed that the storm's exact location remained extremely uncertain ? a fact not lost on Tony Varnado as he cut sheets of plywood to board up his family's beach home on Pensacola Beach. With the storm's projected path creeping farther to the west, the Mandeville, La., resident joked he might be boarding up the wrong house.
"I'm going to head back that way as soon as we are done here to make sure we are prepared if hits there," he said.
Before reaching Florida, Isaac was blamed for seven deaths in Haiti and two more in the Dominican Republic, and downed trees and power lines in Cuba. It bore down on the Keys two days after the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, which caused more than $25 billion in damage just north of the island chain.
In Tampa, convention officials said they would convene briefly on Monday, then recess until Tuesday afternoon, when the storm was expected to have passed. Gov. Rick Scott canceled his plans to attend convention events on Sunday and Monday.
At Miami International Airport, more than 450 flights Sunday were canceled. Inside the American Airlines terminal, people craned for a look out of one of the doors as a particularly strong band of Isaac began lashing the airport with strong rain and high wind.
Michele Remillard said she was trying to get a seat on a flight to New Orleans, well aware the city could be affected by Isaac later this week. In coastal Plaquemines Parish, La., crews rushed to protect the levees that keep floodwaters from reaching that New Orleans suburb.
"It's a little scary," said Remillard, who was in town for a wedding. "But I need to get home, you know? And if the storm comes my way again, who knows, I might have to come back here."
In Mississippi, officials were drafting an emergency declaration that the governor could sign as early as Sunday. Evacuations had not yet been ordered but were likely, especially in areas vulnerable to storm surge, said Greg Flynn, spokesman for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.
As of 2 p.m. EDT, the storm was centered about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Key West, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. Isaac had top sustained winds of 60 mph (97 kph) and was moving to the northwest at 18 mph (29 kph).
Tropical storm-force winds extended outward up to 205 miles (335 km) from the center, meaning storm conditions are possible even in places not in Isaac's direct path.
___
Associated Press writers Tony Winton in Key West, Melissa Nelson in Pensacola, Fla., and Tim Reynolds and Suzette Laboy in Miami contributed to this report.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/despite-isaacs-soaking-keys-residents-laid-back-192347177.html
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IRIN News ???Translate This Article
25 August 2012
Most farmers in developing countries rely on buckets and watering cans
JOHANNESBURG, 24 August 2012 (IRIN) - Quietly, a revolution to develop cheap ways to draw water for irrigation is unfolding in small villages and rural regions in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, a new three-year?study has found. This movement has the ability to turn agriculture around in the developing world.The study?by the Sri Lanka-based International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a nonprofit research centre?found that small farmers, tired of waiting for governments to deliver aid, have found ways to access motor pumps, build reservoirs or ponds to harvest rain water to improve their crop . And it is paying off.
'We were amazed at the scale of what is going on,? said IWMI?s Meredith Giordano, who coordinated the initiative. ?Despite constraints, such as high upfront costs and poorly developed supply chains, small-scale farmers across Africa and Asia have moved ahead using their own resources to finance and install irrigation technologies. It?s clear that farmers themselves are driving this trend.?
Surveys carried out in Ghana, Ethiopia and Zambia found that more than 80 percent of all owners of small-scale irrigation equipment had used their own or their family?s savings to buy it. Banks or microcredit organisations rarely lent money to buy the equipment, and help from NGOs or donors was uncommon.
Buckets and watering cans used by most farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are handy for watering small plots and are rather cheap, with negligible operating costs. A treadle pump can cost up to US $100, with families helping out, and the cost of operating it is also zero. Prices for motorized pumps can reach up to $250, but Giordano told IRIN that many farmers had found a way to manage this cost. For instance, in parts of India, a farmer will buy a pump and then rent it out to other farmers when not using it. There are also pump-on-a-bike hire schemes, where cycling entrepreneurs tour rural areas, renting out pumps strapped to their bicycles.
'The proliferation of small-scale private irrigation is an established trend in South Asia that is now gaining ground in sub-Saharan Africa,' said the study.' In many African countries, private irrigation by farmers is already much more significant than the public irrigation sector,' said Giordano. For example, in Ghana, private irrigation by smallholder farmers employs 45 times more individuals and covers 25 times more land than public irrigation schemes.Paying off
The results are becoming apparent. In the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, farmers who have constructed ponds to irrigate crops have seen their incomes rise by 70 percent. A similar initiative in Gursum, an area in Ethiopia's Oromia region, has been so 'successful that it is now known as the ?No-pond-No-wife? sub-district,? said the study. Rainwater harvesting was introduced by the Oromia government in 2002, with ponds being built with plastic sheets. Farmers, however scaled-up the initiative by improving the water-holding capacity of the ponds by joining two plastic sheets, ultimately improving crop yields?so much so that 'farmers without ponds are said to have difficulty finding a wife, hence the area?s nickname.'
The study also found that in Tanzania, half of the dry-season incomes of smallholders come from growing irrigated vegetables. In Zambia, the 20 percent of smallholders who cultivate vegetables in the dry season earn 35 percent more than those who do not.
Enormous impact
The researchers also examined how each of these technologies?use of motorized pumps, small reservoirs, community-managed river diversions?could reduce poverty. They found the growth and impact of these technologies would be enormous. Motorized pumps, for instance, could be provided to at least 185 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, generating a revenue of $22 billion annually. The study took variables such as access to markets, investment costs and availability of natural water sources to calculate benefits.The findings are not surprising considering only three percent of sub-Saharan Africa's water is drawn for irrigation, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, and only four percent of its arable land is irrigated. The IWMI study found that more than 80 percent of the farmers use water cans and buckets to draw water for their food crops. Small farmers across the ocean in South Asia have similarly relied on low-tech forms of irrigation, such as depending on monsoon rains to water their crops.
Yet the study warns that there are also risks to unchecked expansion of smallholder water management. 'The poorest farmers, especially women, still struggle to find the resources needed to access new technologies, which may lead to greater inequities. And if farmers engage in a water free-for-all, supplies in some areas could dwindle past sustainable levels.'
The study recommends that governments and local authorities engage with what is happening on the ground and support it with policies that increase access to loans and improve agricultural extension services i.e., teaching improved farming methods.
jk/rz
Copyright ? IRIN 2012
The material contained on www.IRINnews.org comes to you via IRIN, a UN humanitarian news and information service, but may not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies.
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Source: http://www.globalgoodnews.com/environmental-news-a.html?art=13459045651834755
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BERLIN (Reuters) - Support for Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives has nudged higher, an opinion poll showed on Sunday, but the weakness of two smaller parties highlights the trouble she may face building another center-right coalition after Germany's 2013 election.
The Emnid poll conducted for the Bild on Sunday newspaper showed the conservatives up one percentage point at 36 percent but their junior coalition partner, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), down one point at 4 percent, below the 5 percent threshold for entering parliament.
Merkel may also be vulnerable to a slowing economy as the euro zone debt crisis drags on, though opinion polls show steady voter support for her handling of the crisis and her insistence on heavily indebted states implementing tough reforms.
The Pirates, an upstart party which has won seats in regional elections over the past year, also lost one percentage point to 7 percent, the poll showed. The party, which wants broader Internet freedom, peaked at 12 percent in April.
This is also bad news for Merkel because the Pirates had been drawing away support from her main center-left rivals. A Merkel adviser told Reuters earlier this year that a collapse of support for the Pirates was one of her biggest worries.
Sunday's poll showed the main opposition center-left Social Democrats at 28 percent, down one percentage point, and the Greens, their preferred partner in a future coalition, up one percentage point at 14 percent.
If this tally were repeated in next year's national election and the FDP failed to win seats in the Bundestag lower house, Merkel would most likely end up forging a 'grand coalition' with the SPD as happened in 2005-09.
The Emnid poll was conducted between August 16 and 22 and canvassed the views of 2,792 people.
(Reporting by Gareth Jones, editing by Tim Pearce)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/merkels-party-keeps-lead-coalition-ally-down-poll-112609008.html
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