David Axelrod book planned for 2014

NEW YORK (AP) ? One of President Barack Obama's top advisers and strategists during his first term has a book deal.

David Axelrod is working on a memoir scheduled for fall 2014. At least two other former Obama administration officials, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Timothy Geithner, also have books planned next year.

Penguin Press announced Axelrod's book on Tuesday. According to Penguin, Axelrod will write about his long friendship with Obama and offer his views on elections and government.

Axelrod helped run Obama's successful campaigns in 2008 and 2012 and worked as an adviser to the president during his first term. The 58-year-old former political writer and ex-columnist for the Chicago Tribune recently joined NBC News as a senior political analyst.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-04-09-Books-Axelrod/id-82aaed6d8bf240a4ac38ce8f3c544531

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The Board Game Family "Made For Play" - Board Game Documentary

?Made for Play? documentary now available on DVD!

Did you know that play takes a lot of work?

Especially when that play is a board game!

As a society we often take a lot for granted. It?s so easy to pull a board game or card game off the shelf, sit down, and have some fun playing with our family. But do we ever really think about how much work goes into making the games for us to play?

Well, the ?Made for Play? documentary will give you a new appreciation for board games.

Our friends at The Spiel published a video documentary that provides an amazing view into the manufacturing process of board games ? ?Made for Play: Board Games & Modern Industry?. And it?s now available on DVD!

We wrote about the documentary last fall when the film was made available online via YouTube and Vimeo, but the DVD is out now and offers much higher quality audio and video, plus subtitles in English, French, Swedish, Spanish, and Polish.

The film is just $20, plus shipping and can be ordered through The Spiel Website. DVDs are shipped to US and international addresses via USPS Priority Mail.

While they were in Germany for the Spiel Essen (the largest board game tradeshow in the world ~ 200,000 attendees), they visited a major board game manufacturing company ? Ludo Fact ? to document the fascinating board game manufacturing process.

Order your copy today.

The Made for Play documentary shows incredible detail of what it takes to make and assemble all the components of board games and card games.

• Game boards
• Cards
• Cardboard Tokens
• Wooden pieces
• Plastic pieces
• Dice
• Rulebooks
• Scorepads
• Insert trays
• Game boxes

It?s a fascinating look into all the work that goes into the 4-6 week process of manufacturing great board games and card games.

We hope the film gives you a greater appreciation of the time, effort and investment that goes into every quality board game that makes it to the marketplace and your home. The business of fun requires a lot of hard work! ? The Spiel

Get a copy of ?Made for Play? on DVD!

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Posted on April 9th, 2013

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Source: http://www.theboardgamefamily.com/2013/04/made-for-play-board-game-documentary/

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HBT: MLB creates task force to attract black players

Even if we are taking the annual Lapchick study with a grain of salt due to its failure to use common denominators, Major League Baseball takes the underlying issue of the decline of U.S.-born blacks in baseball seriously enough that it?s doing something about it:

Major League Baseball has created a task force to study why the number of African-Americans playing the sport has declined in recent years, The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

The 17-member committee, which will be chaired by Tigers president/GM Dave Dombrowski, will hold its first meeting in Milwaukee on Wednesday. He?ll be joined by several other baseball executives, plus Stanford athletic director Bernard Muir; Frank Marcos, senior director of baseball?s scouting bureau; and former White Sox and Mets manager Jerry Manuel.

I wish baseball hadn?t made a mockery of task forces and studies with that whole Oakland thing, because I would like to think that this would lead to some actual useful and actionable information.?Here?s hoping it does, because it would tickle me pink if baseball could figure out how to get more kids to put down the footballs and basketballs and pick up a bat and a glove.

The answer, at least in part, is probably money and engagement by people and organizations with money. Because we have to face facts that baseball is not a cheap sport to play on the amateur level, what with its single-use fields, travel and equipment requirements. ?I know there are urban initiatives afoot by the league, but in addition to that I?d like to see something less charitable/community-involvement-oriented and something of something that is more ruthlessly talent-development-orients. A system in which teams try to identify and support young baseball talent in the U.S. with an idea toward making them major league ballplayers. The draft disincentivizes this, sadly, but perhaps there?s a workaround or league-wide solution.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/10/mlb-creates-a-task-force-to-study-the-decline-of-u-s-born-blacks-in-baseball/related/

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Working and Facebooking: No Longer Impossible

Early in my career I had to be quick on the draw when it came to social media. Having Facebook open was a waste of time. MySpace (which was still popular at the time) was a HUGE no-no. I don?t know why one was worse than the other, but it was for some reason.? Anyway I was a subordinate to everyone, as careers tend to start, so the last thing I wanted was to do was send the message that I indulged in silly little time-wasters designed to stalk high school boyfriends. So when my supervisors walked by, I had to shrink that screen FAST.

Fast-forward 7 years, and now if Facebook is NOT open on my desktop I?m not doing my job.

Let?s take a minute and appreciate how cool it is that social media is a one-stop shop for entertainment, time-wasting, and incredibly powerful and ever-emerging marketing and customer communication. And that it?s an integral part of my (and probably also your) job.

But there is still a huge stigma about having Facebook open at work. The truth is, even though practically every workstation in America has a desk on it with Internet connectivity, ?being online? still feels taboo.? But why? We all acknowledge that we need and use the Internet for business interests, especially in the association space.

I find inspiration and content on practically every website I visit. My daily smile that I post on MemberClicks? social media every morning almost always comes from Reddit, widely recognized as the biggest time-waster website out there. Pretty much every jpg that inspired my SocialFish contributor posts came from Pinterest. Now Pinterest is part of my daily workflow as MemberClicks has a presence there, but it?s still fairly new in the social marketing world and has yet to prove itself as a must-have for internet marketing campaigns. (Side note: This isn?t to say that Pinterest hasn?t been a very valuable resource for us, but for an executive with limited time and resources it might not yet be the best investment of time from a marketing standpoint.) So in theory, you could be searching for paint swatches or a crock-pot recipe and be struck with your next brilliant blog idea. Like I frequently do, apparently.

For example, here?s the pin that led to this blog:

Naturally, there?s the NSFW concern. There is a wide (and we mean WIDE) variety of content available online that?s? shall we say? inappropriate. Try as you might to keep your computer screen PG-13, it?s almost impossible to avoid it, even with filters.

And then there?s also the fact that social media might have absolutely nothing to do with your job. Your company might even have it blocked, along with YouTube, Twitter, and other social networking platforms.

So here?s what you say to your boss when you make the case for that content to be unblocked, or when you have to think fast to justify why you were on Facebook between 9am and 5pm on a Wednesday. Now keep in mind these are LEGITIMATE reasons to use social media for business. If you were price comparing Italian leather boots between Amazon and Zappos you are on your own.

1)?? You were monitoring the activity on your company/association?s page

Every department in every company from the CEO to the janitor needs to look in on their employer?s social media from time to time. Remember that social media is the public?s chance to speak directly to anyone and everyone about what?s going on in their life, and that includes any interactions they may have with you.

2)?? You were checking out the competition or partners

Intellectual property should be guarded, but the Internet, social media in particular, is a playground where ideas are shared. Who set the bar for your industry?s social media presence? You need to keep an eye on that.

3)?? You were looking for relevant content to share or read

If it you want it to be successful, content must be shared on social media. That?s a huge part of where the term ?going viral? comes from, except instead of literal word of mouth things are passed through Facebook mentions and Twitter links. I can almost guarantee that if you?re looking for something to read about your business, area of expertise, or your association?s interest you will something on social media.

So now do you feel better about having Facebook open when your boss walks by? Or bosses of the world, do you feel better about your employees spending their work time on Facebook? If not, that?s ok. Change doesn?t happen overnight. But I bet you? it will happen.

Source: http://www.socialfish.org/2013/04/working-and-facebooking-no-longer-impossible.html

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Polluting plastic particles invade the Great Lakes

Apr. 8, 2013 ? Floating plastic debris -- which helps populate the infamous "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" in the Pacific Ocean -- has become a problem in the Great Lakes, the largest body of fresh water in the world. Scientists reported on the latest findings from the Great Lakes in New Orleans on April 9 at the 245^th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS.

"The massive production of plastic and inadequate disposal has made plastic debris an important and constant pollutant on beaches and in oceans around the world, and the Great Lakes are not an exception," said Lorena M. Rios Mendoza, Ph.D., who spoke on the topic at the meeting.

Fish and birds could be harmed from accidently eating the plastic particles, or absorbing substances that leach out into the water, Rios said. Her team knows from analyses of fish stomachs that fish are consuming the plastic particles. Fish also could pass such substances to consumers, but Rios said research on that topic is just beginning.

Much of the plastic pollution in the oceans and Great Lakes goes unnoticed by the casual observer because it is so small. In the samples Rios' team collected in Lake Erie, 85 percent of the particles were smaller than two-tenths of an inch, and much of that was microscopic. Her group found between 1,500 and 1.7 million of these particles per square mile.

Fish, however, often mistake these bits of plastic for food. "The main problem with these plastic sizes is its accessibility to freshwater organisms that can be easily confused as natural food and the total surface area for adsorption of toxins and pseudo-estrogens increases significantly," Rios said. It is not yet understood whether these toxins enter the food chain in harmful amounts.

Rios also pointed out that the problem of ocean plastics is quickly growing. Plastic production has increased 500 percent since 1980, and plastics now account for 80 to 90 percent of ocean pollution, according to Rios. Some of this comes from plastic bags, bottles and other trash, or from fishing lines. Another source is household products like abrasive facial cleaners or synthetic fibers shed by clothes in the washing machine. The researchers also found large numbers of plastic pellets, which are shipped around the world to be melted down and molded into everything from plastic milk jugs to parts for cars.

The plastic pollution problem may be even worse in the Great Lakes than in the oceans, Rios said. Her team found that the number of microparticles -- which are more harmful to marine life because of their small size -- was 24 percent higher in the Great Lakes than in samples they collected in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. With a volume equal to 1.65 million Olympic swimming pools, the Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world, and this is the first time that scientists have looked there for plastics.

The problem of plastic pollution in the oceans, however, has been widely known since at least 1988, when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration first described the so-called "Great Pacific Garbage Patch," an area in the North Pacific Ocean where currents have concentrated plastics and other pollution. The patch varies in dimensions, but estimates indicate that at times it has been twice the size of the state of Texas.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/VHgis-zQ6cw/130409095410.htm

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Health and Fitness Talk ? Sickle Cell Disease

by Kimberly Allen, RN

Sickle cell disease (also called sickle cell anemia) is a blood disorder that is inherited.? It is a condition that affects mostly people of African descent, however, it also develops in other ethnic groups. ?There are over 70,000 Americans with sickle cell disease and approximately 2 million Americans that have the sickle cell trait.? Sickle cell disease is an autosomal recessive disorder which means it requires 2 abnormal genes, one from each parent.? Those that inherit 1 gene are carriers which is called having the sickle cell trait.
In sickle cell disease, there are not sufficient healthy red blood cells available to carry oxygen throughout the body.? Normal red blood cells are round and flexible allowing them to move easily through the blood vessels.? In a person that has sickle cell disease the red blood cells are sticky and rigid.? They are shaped like crescent moons or sickles thus the name sickle cell.? Because the red blood cells are sticky, rigid and irregularly shaped they tend to get stuck in the smaller blood vessels which slows and can even block the blood flow which in turn slows or blocks the oxygen from reaching parts of the body.? This can cause? significant pain as well as cause damage to muscles, organs and bones in your body.
Usually the symptoms of sickle cell disease manifest after an infant has reached 4 months of age.? The major symptom is anemia.? Normal red blood cells have a life span of 120 days, then they die? and are replaced by new red blood cells.? In a person with sickle cell disease, the red blood cells affected only have a life span of 10-20 days.? Because they die off so quickly there are not enough new red blood cells to replace them which leaves them with a chronic shortage of red blood cells to deliver oxygen throughout their body, which in turn leads to chronic fatigue as well as? other symptoms of anemia.? People with sickle cell disease also experience episodes of severe pain.? These are known as sickle cell crises and occur because the sickle cells have? gotten stuck and blocked the blood flow throughout the small blood vessels located throughout areas of the body including the chest and abdomen as well as the joints.? Some people even need to be hospitalized in order to manage the crisis.? One of the first symptoms a parent may notice in an infant is swollen hands and feet caused by the sickle cell red blood cells obstructing the blood flow in and out of their hands and feet.? People with sickle cell disease are also more prone to infection because the spleen which helps to fight infection tends to become damaged by the sickle cells.? Children with sickle cell also tend to experience slowed growth and delayed puberty in teenagers.? Another problem that some people with sickle cell disease have is with the tiny blood vessels in their eyes.? If those blood vessels become blocked by the sickle cells the retina can be damaged causing vision problems.
Currently the only potential cure for sickle cell disease is a bone marrow transplant.? However, this is a very serious procedure that carries serious risks including potential death.? Because of this treatment for sickle cell disease usually focuses on avoiding crises, relieving symptoms and preventing complications.? People with sickle cell disease need to see their doctor regularly to have their blood checked and their overall health monitored.? Some doctors will recommend that children with sickle cell disease start taking penicillin when they?re 2 months old until they are at least 5 years old to help prevent serious infections like pneumonia.? For adults with sickle cell disease the doctor may recommend a medication called hydroxyurea which can help decrease the need for blood transfusions and reduce the frequency of crises.? Because hydroxyurea increase your chances of developing an infection it is only recommended for adults.? There have also been some concerns raised that long-term use on this medication may cause leukemia or tumors in some people.? Your doctor will be able to help you decide if this medication will benefit you.

Kimberly Allen is a registered nurse with an AND in nursing. She has worked in ACF, LCF and psychiatric facilities, although she spent most of her career as a home health expert. She is now a regular contributor to HealthAndFitnessTalk.com, dispensing advice and knowledge about medical issues and questions. You can reach her with any comments or questions at? mussatti3@gmail.com.

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Source: http://www.healthandfitnesstalk.com/sickle-cell-disease/

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Reduced Guilt? Chocolate Gets A Healthy, Fruity Makeover

You could cut up to half the fat from chocolate without sacrificing taste by infusing it with fruit juice, scientists say.

iStockphoto

You could cut up to half the fat from chocolate without sacrificing taste by infusing it with fruit juice, scientists say.

iStockphoto

Chocoholics, rejoice!

British scientists have developed a new fruit-juice-infused chocolate that they say has up to 50 percent less fat than the regular stuff. And it's tasty, too.

The scientists, led by University of Warwick's Stefan Bon, created the hybrid chocolate using a blender to generate microscopic droplets of fruit juice fine enough to blend into molten chocolate.

Bon and his team presented their research on Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans.

According to Bon, these "micro-bubbles" of juice preserve that oh-so-satisfying velvety texture of chocolate, while also replacing much of the fat content. "This approach maintains the things that make chocolate 'chocolatey,' but with fruit juice instead of fat," he explains.

Sneaking fruit juice into chocolate may not change the "mouth feel" of the much-beloved treat, but Bon admits that it does subtly affect the taste.

"Obviously, the blend of fruit juice and chocolate gives it a twist," he writes in an email to The Salt. However, since the juice is spread out in the chocolate, Bon says that the taste isn't overwhelming and instead gives the chocolate "a hint of juice flavor."

So far, Bon's team has made chocolate infused with apple, orange and cranberry juice. And if you don't like fruit in your chocolate, don't worry. The scientists say that it's also possible to use other fluids to lower chocolate's fat content ? diet soda, vitamin C water, even alcohol (though that raises a whole new set of issues.)

For the boozy chocolate, the scientists had to develop a completely different infusion method. Instead of using a blender, they thickened up the chocolate using particles of agar gel, often used as a stabilizing agent in food.

"Using this alternative technique, we can not only introduce fruit juice and water, but also alcoholic beverages," writes Bon.

Although chocolate contains antioxidants, the potential health benefits of indulging in this treat can be negated by its high fat content if you overindulge. According to Bon, a two-ounce serving of dark chocolate can contain around 20 percent of your total daily recommended fat intake.

"We have established the chemistry that's a starting point for healthier chocolate," says Bon.

But don't run out to the candy store quite yet. Bon says that it's now up to the food industry to "take the next steps and use the technology to make tasty, lower-fat chocolate bars."

And while some chocolate purists may disagree, I, for one, see no problem sinking my teeth into a delicious bar of reduced-guilt chocolatey goodness.

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/04/08/176573384/reduced-guilt-chocolate-gets-a-healthy-fruity-makeover?ft=1&f=1007

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