Archive for August, 2009

Open discussions in the early Obama presidential vacation?

The U.S. president, Barack Obama, began his first vacation in the exclusive island of Martha’s Vineyard (Massachusetts), accompanied by his family and a long list of political problems.

Obama begins the White House has described as a “deserved rest”, amid a strong debate inside and outside his party on the plan to reform the health care system, with the country in recession, a high deficit and two war.

In fact, the government cut its forecast for the budget shortfall for fiscal 2009 to 1.58 billion dollars (1.1 billion euros) from 1.84 billion dollars (1.2 billion euros). This is mainly due to the removal of a sum of 250,000 million dollars had been booked earlier forecasts for potential bailouts of banks in the future.

Seven days on the island

It is expected that some of the closest friends of Obama, the presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett and Eric Whitaker Medical Chicago, accompanying her during a week stay on the island, one of the favorite destinations of the country’s elite progressive .

The Obama rented a mansion known as “Blue Heron Farm” ( “Blue Heron Farm”) that has access to a private beach, a garden with trees, swimming pool and a basketball court, the favorite sport of the president.

11.34 acres of the property is rented for $ 35,000 (24,400 euros) per week, costing the Obama of his pocket.

In addition, the White House has asked the media to respect the privacy of Malia and Sasha, Obama daughters, 11 and 9 years.

The arrival of Obama has revolutionized the exclusive resort, with a permanent population of about 20,000 is multiplied by five during July and August.

The island is filled with all kinds of souvenirs with the image of the presidential family, from shirts to mugs, key rings and ice cream and muffins by the name of Obama.

Average game player has 35 years – overweight and depression

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Video games are often considered an adolescent obsession, but in fact the average player is a person of 35 years, often overweight, suffer from depression and being withdrawn, a U.S. research revealed.

Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC for its acronym in English) observed the behavior of 552 adults between 19 and 90 years of the Seattle-Tacoma area, in United States.

Of these participants, 249, or nearly 45 percent, were keen on video games. Men accounted for 56 percent of those players.

The team found that male fans of video games and using internet weighed more than other men. Meanwhile, the women players reported higher levels of depression and lower overall health than those without such a hobby digital.

The researcher James Weaver and his colleagues suggested that video games in adults would be a form of “digital self”.

In particular, women would be involved in these digital environments cerebral incentive as a way of distracting.

“In short, ‘literally removed their minds’ of the concerns while playing a video game,” the author said in a statement. Adult fans of these games would also be less sociable, outgoing and energetic than non-players.

These results were consistent with those of previous studies on teenagers who like video games a lot: this activity is linked to sedentary lifestyle, weight issues and mental health.

Also, adults of both sexes depend on players over the Internet and social support as the rest of the people, which supports the suggestion of previous studies on the “sacrifice of the social activities of real life to play games” involving the practice in adults.

The research, published in American Journal of Preventive Medicine, concluded that there are links “measurable” between video games and health risks.

As had been hypothesise, experts found a higher body weight and number of days of poor mental health in adult players compared with their peers without such support.

Seven ways to throw money! Avoid it!

Every day, without realizing it, we waste money on unnecessary things at first glance may seem a small expense, but add the amount to hundreds of dollars per month.

Small adjustments in your habits can help you save and increase your emergency fund in these hard times.

Here are some examples of what to avoid:

Buy bottled-water: In the U.S. water quality is the battery, and buy bottles or gallons of the liquid is really unnecessary.

Buy-vitamin: Many people spend money on vitamins that the body eliminates every day. Instead of purchasing these supplements, be sure to get the nutrients through food.

-Keep a fixed phone line: Unless you have a person who can not use wireless, do not need. Almost all telecom companies offering fast Internet connection without having to phone home.

-No search for best deals for auto insurance: If you wear a lot of time with the same insurer, it is time to compare prices. An increase in the deductible from $ 250 to $ 500 can save you 7% in the policy, and if your car is too old do not need to pay in the event of a collision (collision), because if it is damaged you will most likely buy another rather than repair it.

-Have “vampire power”: The electronic devices that are connected all the time, or forget to disconnect consume hundreds of dollars a year. For example, cell phone chargers, computer modem and connected to electricity odorizantes are adding cents each day. If you are forgetful, are a good team Smart Strips (www.smarthomeusa.com), which connect several appliances at once and off according to what you set.

Eating-out during the work week: Simple, but difficult at times. Confined to the food once a week and save hundreds of dollars.

Despise-discount coupons: In the era of frugality, practically all retail companies issue them. Persíguelos and save thousands of dollars a year.

Infant nutrition: when the kids do not want to eat

They prefer hot dogs and hamburgers, and flee to the green leaves. Or look for excuses to avoid sitting at the table. When conflicts break with the boys when it comes to food, in addition to reviewing what they are used, experts are studying the family.

“It is important to the formation of eating habits, and for this model is the family. The child observes in the table,” says Dr. Liliana Trifon, vice president of the Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez -. So, if you do not want to eat that do so, but to remain seated and family. ” This, of course, ruling out physiological problems of the child.

At 3 years, usually a rejection of new foods is called neophobia. The food is no longer his main concern, and said not before trying a bite. “One option is to change the form of preparation and cooking. Furthermore, it is not recommended because it has a separate dish to eat like the rest of the family,” explains nutritionist licensed Marisol Díaz, a member of the Association of Dieticians and Nutritionists Dietitians.

Regarding food, there are two figures of boys, the good food and always inappetence. “The gastric capacity of children is the fist of his own hand, compared with an adult is enough, but strikes,” explains pediatrician Maria Eugenia Lier, German Hospital.

“If the weight, growth and skills you gain, or development, are appropriate to their age have to be calm, although we find it. Food is a way of communicating, so it must be in a pleasant environment, warm and fun, “adds Lier.

The food is not just food

It is also retaining and affection. “Food is a dialogue between mother and child. She, through food, gives him affection and restraint. The kid gets when he feels secure and loved. So eating disorders are complications in this dialogue,” concludes Monica Cruppi licensed member of the Psychoanalytic Association didacta Argentina.

And that communication is affected when the focus is food. In some cases, rejection can express different emotions, like anger or fear, and is also a way to attract attention. “If a child of 3 or 4 years that the mother needs to continue with the spoon, turning that situation ends in a side benefit, because it manages to get something else,” Trifon says.

Order the schedule, respecting the pace of daily meals and the child’s appetite, maintain a quiet atmosphere at the table, free from distress, anxiety or upset are some of the patterns of the Dietary Guidelines for children, the Ministry of Health and Environment of the Nation (MSAL).

What is food needed for the development of children? The food guide pyramid is a local version: chart healthy eating, known as oval food. A scheme conducted by MSAL, including water consumption and reiterated the importance of carbohydrates (bread, cereal, pasta and rice) followed by fruits and vegetables, dairy and, to a lesser extent, protein (meat, fish and eggs), fats and oils, and finally sugar.

For boys, Diaz outlines the key nutrients are iron, present in meat, and calcium in dairy products. In what was a very good supply of vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables. The nutritionist recommended not to overdo the use of commercial juices or soft drinks which displace the fundamental as food and milk which, moreover, provide only empty calories and sugars incorporated predispose to the formation of tooth decay and overweight.

Avoid meats, excess salt and saturated fats (copetín products and fast food) that do not provide essential nutrients. Does candy? The criterion is the common sense. Depends on the frequency and significance: “It is better not to relate them to a prize, so the child can enjoy,” said Trifon. Rich and unavoidable.

Decalogue of recommendations, of the licensed Cruppi Monica:

* Do not force a child to eat certain food because it can get everyone who refuses

* Avoid discussions related to food

* The rejection of food can be a way of asserting their independence

* To avoid punishment, pleading and bribery

* Do not let the kids play while you eat

* Do not read books or watch television during meals

The world’s most powerful women

The Forbes list of most powerful women in the world is not a listing of popular or famous women. Is a list of influential women. For example, Queen Rania of Jordan (No. 75 on the list) is perhaps the woman with the voice of the entire Middle East. Their feed is 600 000 Twitter followers.

In preparing this list, Forbes has been fixed in women who were at the helm of a country, a large company or a nonprofit organization with influence. The post is occupied by combining two parameters: visibility (for references made to them in the press) and the size of the country or that organization.

The chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Sheila Bar, retains second place in the list and has had to deal with the systematic expropriation of 77 banks throughout this year. In a struggle to get more power for his agency has had to measure forces with the Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

The executive directors of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi (No. 3), Cynthia Carroll of Anglo American (No. 4) and Irene Rosenfeld of Kraft Foods (No. 6) are among the most executive power of the world and have the mission to go ahead with their businesses in times of particularly complex.

The Singapore sovereign fund Temasek has achieved an excellent annual return (on average 18%) under the leadership of Ho Ching (No. 5), although at this time is look for a successor.

This year’s list includes several new names and prominent, both United States and other countries. Sonia Sotomayor, Judge of the newly appointed U.S. Supreme Court enters the list at the 56. It will be the third woman and first Hispanic to achieve going into this court. The first lady Michelle Obama, heroine of women workers and the families of U.S. military ranks 40.

Among the Cabinet secretaries of State who have entered the list are Janet Napolitano, Secretary of State for National Security (since 51) and the Secretary of Health and Social Affairs, Kathleen Sebelius (post 56). For its part, the Chairman of the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), Mary Shapiro (in post 55) is in turmoil, now that Congress is considering new standards for the financial services sector.

All eyes are also directed to the new prime minister of Iceland, Johanna Sigurdardottir (No. 74), which seeks to recapitalize the banks of their tiny island-state, which recently has been on the verge of economic collapse all. Sigurdardottir defend Iceland’s entry into the European Union and euro adoption, and these ideas are not just found full support among Icelanders.

In the technology sector, Carol Bartz (No. 12), which in January this year was named CEO of Yahoo! and was the former director of Autodesk has a strong pressure to bear: in the shadow of the search engine could be signed with Microsoft, Bartz has to prove to investors that it is able to maintain revenue and net income.

Engineer training, Ursula Burns (14th) has been named president and CEO of Xerox is the first African American woman who runs a large U.S. public company.

This year, instead of including characters who are prominent in the media, we have given them their own list.

Find that walking is actually very effective in improving health

Hundreds of medical studies have shown for years that make plenty of physical exercise on a regular basis is good for health. But if you are not a broker or a professional cyclist, or prefer a more “soft” questions arise as walking.Walking is really good for health? Or is too soft to influence the cardiovascular system?

Well, if you like walking, do not forget to do this because according to a report published in the periodical dedicated to the health of men who edits the respected Harvard University, USA states that the road deserves respect as much physical as it is often given.

Professionals who wrote the work showed that walking is really effective in preventing.

Two experts reviewed the findings and coordinated more than 4295 articles on this subject published between 1970 and 2007. Of these, 18 observational studies met the highest standards of quality.And each of the studies collected information gathered on the health of those involved and the amount physical exercise, especially walking, carrying out over several years.

Was also analyzed compiled information about their habits and cardiovascular risk factors such as age, smoking and alcohol. Participants were followed for an average of 11.3 years. When scientists completed the work of 18 studies, found that just walking often reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in no fewer than 31% and reduces the risk of dying by 32%.

Moreover, these health benefits are effective for both men and women.

Another question answered that the study is that the cardiac protection began to take effect when the distance people walk was about eight miles every seven days, maintained a good pace (about 5 km / h). Of course, as people walked more distance, who beat more than a wolf, get better health benefits.In other words, each step during a walk is also a step towards good health.

Red head people tend to fear of pain visiting the dentist : study

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Not many people enjoy visiting the dentist, but the red hair people tend to fear the dentist more than the rest, and genetics may explain why, according to U.S. researchers.

A few studies in recent years have discovered that red hair tend to respond less to the local pain inhibitor and may need higher doses of anesthetic to achieve the same relief that people with other hair color.

But the latest findings of U.S. researchers, published in the Journal of the Dental Association of United States, shows that red hair tend to show particularly nervous about the consultations with dentists, possibly due to an enhanced fear of pain.

“Between them there is more than twice as likely to avoid the dentist,” said the researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, and the School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, Kentucky.

Investigators believe the red hair are more sensitive to pain due to a genetic variation responsible for the color of his hair.

The gene mutation in the melanocortin-1 receptor or MC1R, produces red hair and fair skin.

Although once thought to change the MC1R gene affected only the skin, hair and eyes, more recent investigations have shown that also works in the brain, influencing the sensitivity of a person to pain.

The latest study involved 144 adult Caucasian evidence for variant MC1R gene. They were asked about the anxiety they felt at the time of going to the dentist, on the fear of dental pain and have avoided visiting the dentist.

They found the variant gene in 65 of 67 red hair and 20 of 77 people with brown or black hair.

When researchers analyzed the data, found that individuals with variant MC1R gene showed greater anxiety at the time of going to the dentist and had a chance more than twice to avoid doctor visits.

Researcher Catherine Binkley, University of Louisville, said this indicates that dentists should ask all their patients, but especially the red hair on the anxiety suffered against any procedure that should be and should use “methods appropriate “to help them deal with the problem.

Your guide to care and buy tires

It is important to see the inflation pressure recommended by the manufacturer. This information is located on the inside of the fuel cap on the side of the driver’s door or in the user manual.

Hence the pressure indicated may vary depending on whether the car usually takes one or more passengers. You can also display in pounds or bars (usually this is reading in German cars), but out of doubt ask your dealer.

Tire Review

The most common wear is caused by constant friction against the pavement, which can not be prevented. What you can prevent abnormal wear is caused by unbalanced wheels, an irresponsible way of handling inflation pressure or a weak.

The inflation pressure should be reviewed at least every 15 days or before a highway exit and you should always measure with cold tires, which are heated with the noise and increases the pressure with the expansion of the air.

The proper use of the valve cap is vital to maintain the pressure and e Vitar foreign particles that enter the rim, especially water. Almost all tires have wear indicators: one or more marks indicating that the minimum height should be recorded.

Critical signals

The first thing to do is look at a revision to the surface of the tread has no irregularities, lumps or excessive wear on the sides.

When there is wear on the outer edges means that it is rolling the car with low tire pressure, which accelerates wear, reduces the carrying capacity of the vehicle and increases fuel consumption.

When wear occurs at the center of the tread, is due to a high inflation pressure, resulting in the reduction of area of contact with the floor and a loss of adhesion.

If detect irregular wear in other parts of the rim, it is important to review the order and change the tires to the first sign of serious flaws.

How to choose new tires?

The recommendation is to choose the tires suggested by the manufacturer.

Each type of tire specifications is not necessarily a wider tire is better ‘grip’. Hence the importance of knowing the nomenclature of each tire.

Remember that tires have expiration date, you should know to look for an oval embossed on the side, which corresponds to the date of manufacture. Hence there are four digits in relief, are the first two weeks of the year in which it was built and the remaining two are the year itself.

For example, if 06/05 means that the tire was built the sixth week of 2005.

Typically a tire loses the properties of natural rubber after five years to produce.

Learn to “read” your tires

To choose the right tire, know the meaning of each number and code that is recorded. For example: P205/55R16 94V.

1. The “P” means that it is a passenger car, though many small trucks and SUVs can carry this sort of prefix. The “LT” is the term used by truck or midsize pickups. Some brands omitted that designation.

2. The 205 is the width of the cross section (cross section width) of the tire in millimeters, and the remaining 55 is the ratio between the height and width of the side of the rim, ie 55%.

3. The R does not ring, you want to say that the tire is radial, ie it is built with certain materials to have a uniform construction, stronger side and will not deform when cornering.

4. The number 16 is the rim diameter in inches.

5. 94 corresponds to the maximum load supported by the tires.

6. The letter V is the code that displays the speed limit constant speed that can withstand the rim. In this case is 240 km / h, but there are other letters for different speeds.

The secret to the world’s most expensive coffee – Kopi luwak

It is called Kopi luwak is taking place in Indonesia and is a true luxury in United States, a bowl can cost $ 40 and half kilo bag even sold between 100 and $ 400.

Known for its strong aroma and a flavor reminiscent of caramel or chocolate mad to coffee lovers, the exotic Kopi luwak not only surprised by its price. Complicated and also because of its unusual method of production, which explains its value and make it a rarity in the culinary world.

The secret? The grain is processed in an “organic” in the digestive tract of the civet (or luwak his name in indonesia language), a small animal like the raccoon or weasel. So, to get coffee (Kopi for the locals) will be fed to the civet with the ripe fruit of the coffee and then pick up their feces to extract them and digested grains, but still intact.

According to experts, the gastric juices of the civet are responsible for fermenting the grain and give it a new flavor: enzymes break the proteins that make traditionally become more bitter and the sweet.

Once harvested, the beans are washed and roasted only slightly, not to spoil the complex flavors that have been developed during the digestive process. The collection is so complicated, fully manual and craft-only occurring between 300 and 400 kilos per year.

Usain Bolt breaks the world record of 100 meters after running the distance in 9.58 seconds

BERLIN / AP – Usain Bolt crushed the world record of 100 meters after running the distance in a staggering 9.58 seconds, winning the world title in Berlin.

The Jamaican sprinter made a flawless race, which clearly imposed its great rival, the American Tyson Gay, second, and his compatriot Asaf Powell, bronze medal.

11 hundredths Bolt lowered his previous world record (9.69), achieved in the final of the Beijing Olympic Games last year.

Bolt made a false departure yesterday in the first semifinal round. Rather than get nervous. The Jamaican plusmarquista, triple Olympic champion, won his race and stopped the clock in 9.89 seconds with little disheveled.

For his part, Tyson Gay also won in the end a little tighter with Asaf Powell. The U.S. scored 9.93 seconds.

The semifinals will be disputed only two hours before the grand finale, scheduled for 1935 GMT.

Bolt passed the proficiency test, but with uncertainty.

The Jamaican sprinter, who also owned the world record (9.69), before its ahaña yesterday was a void at the exit to advance to the semifinal. In the second attempt, the judges re-enact an adjusted false exit, which put a knot in the stomach to the Olympic stadium in Berlin.

Latin American athletics sneaks past the Puerto Rican and Dominican Javier Culson Félix Sánchez in the final of the 400 meters hurdles world of athletics.

Sanchez and Culson finished second and third respectively in the semifinal series and managed to qualify directly for the finals tomorrow.

The motor industry changes its strategy and aims for hybrid and electric cars.

PSA Peugeot Citroën has announced an alliance with Mitsubishi to develop and produce components for the electric car, while working on the design of hybrid or electric car. More quietly working the wiring porriñesa Auto, which manufactures cables for specific car powered by electricity, for three years investigating how to respond to new market and has developed an electronic control system to automatically turn off the car in case of accident or fire

J. CARNEIRO | VIGO The electric car has moved from fiction to reality in just one year. The bet of the big manufacturers for these vehicles are more respectful of the environment and lower consumption, and government incentives have forced industries to change their motor strategy and betting choice in this segment. Galician companies do not want to lose this race and have to work to develop components for electric cars and hybrids, with the assistance of the Automotive Technology Center of Galicia (CTAG).

The first company to take this step was wiring Auto, which manufactures cables for specific batteries of these vehicles. This firm, whose R & D is at the center of Gándaras As in O Porriño (Pontevedra), takes three years investigating new cabling systems for electric cars. Marcos González, director general of wiring and wiring Auto Driving, said that this new product line also involved other Spaniards, in United States and Portugal.

In general terms, this company has developed a new type of aluminum and copper conductors for starter batteries of electric vehicles and hybrids. “Mix the two metals, rather than using only copper, which allows cutting the cable and lighten the weight of the plant about 40%”, says Gonzalez. This in turn reduces the consumption of the vehicle.

This ensures that the project manager is in a phase “well advanced” and that in the coming weeks will start testing vehicles in the hands of some customers who prefer not to disclose for obvious reasons of confidentiality. Auto wiring has also designed an electronic control system for electric vehicles whose function is to disconnect the vehicle in case of collision, overturning or fire.

Gonzalez said that the production of cable will have a specific weight in electric cars, because the wiring is the “nervous system” of the vehicle. Within this system, the fiber optic increasingly gaining ground, according to the manager. Auto wiring has among its major customers to supply the Volkswagen group-wiring of the new Seat Exeo, as well as first-tier suppliers such as TRW and Faurecia.

Behind the first incursions of the suppliers in this segment Galicians CTAG is the center of reference in Spain participating in a project of the European Union (EU) called Green Car sought to lay the foundations of ecological car of the future.

This vehicle is most likely electric or hybrid, so the CTAG has focused its research in three basic lines: control and management of the electric car electronics, new materials and associated processes, and new models of traction. The last of the line addresses the connection between the engine and the electric or hybrid drive system of the vehicle, while the second concerns the search for new biodegradable materials, durable and lightweight, such as polymers and fibers produced from starch corn, pine cellulose. These developments CTAG is working with the Galician companies and multinationals.

However, CTAG is also devoting large resources to the design of infrastructure for recharging electric cars. “It’s one of the main problems to be solved, while a great opportunity for us,” explained the direction from the center. The introduction of electric vehicles in the market is setting up a network of recharging the batteries to power plug. Governments like those in Israel already have in place adequate infrastructure in areas such as parking lots, shopping malls, airports, hotels, etc..

One of the most powerful multinational betting on electric cars is PSA Peugeot Citroën, which this week confirmed that it will work with Mitsubishi to develop and produce components for such vehicles. In this sense, both groups are working on their own in developing its own hybrid vehicle to the mains plug.

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U.S. offers more courses on the internet … free

The video sharing site YouTube recently created EDU on YouTube youtube.com / edu for more than 100 schools and universities that offer education on the internet.

Among the thousands of videos on YouTube are praised EDU classes professor of physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Walter Lewin, whose clips have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.

Other institutions of higher education with videos on YouTube are the University of California at Berkeley, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford and Yale.

Interested in dentistry? Then the YouTube channel of the School of Dentistry, University of Michigan could be the right place, with a total of 426 videos.

The courses offered are free on YouTube and EDU do not award merit, but the number of schools that offer classes on the internet that can be credited toward a degree is flourishing.

According to a November 2008 study conducted by the Sloan Consortium, more than 3.9 million students in United States took at least one course online in 2007, the latest year with available statistics.

That represented an increase of 12% over the previous year, according to Sloan, a nonprofit organization whose mission is “integrating education ‘online’ to the dominant center of higher education.”

The economic crisis, rising unemployment and higher costs of gasoline in the survey were cited as factors that could fuel the demand for online education.

Schools and universities, however, are not the only knowledge that offer free online.

Nature Education, for example, launched Scitable.com, a site described as “a common space for learning science.”

“What we wanted was to Scitable (…) take all the tools and technology available today,” said Vikram Savkar, editorial director of Nature Education, a division of the British publisher Nature Publishing Group.

“One of our goals is to level the playing field in terms of science,” he told AFP. “Most countries in the developed world believes that labor force in science and research is key to national development.”

“Science affects almost everything-medicine, agriculture, industry, but access to information and high quality science education is distributed unequally in the world,” added Savkar.

“In many cases it is expensive. In many cases it simply is unaffordable,” he explained.

Savkar said Scitable, launched in January, has users in over 85 countries to consult the site content, joining a community of teachers and students using their tools of learning.

“It is not a social network with a purely social,” he said. “It’s work to teach and learn.”

For now Scitable is devoted to genetics. But plans to expand the topics to molecular biology, biotechnology and neuroscience, among others.

Viola, synonymous with manhood in South Africa

He was 15 years and girls was smaller than him. Twenty years later the woman sought out and begged him to forgive, something quite unusual in a country which is deeply rooted culture of sexual violation.

Rebombo agreed to tell his story to The Associated Press, to coincide with a conference that provides a report that over a quarter of South Africans consulted in a survey admitted to having raped someone.

South Africa has one of the highest rates of rape in the world. Police records indicate that in 2007 were raped 36,000 women, almost 100 per day and this figure can fall short, because many violations are not reported because of stigma and trauma that they represent.

“The violation is considered a duty for men,” said Rachel Jewkes, director of the study.

Preliminary findings of the study, conducted by the respected and Medical Research Council, issued last month, generated horror, but not surprised the defenders of human rights.

“This is the story of many children, many men,” said Rebombo, who is now 48 years, is divorced and the father of three children.

Her experience reflects the deep cultural roots of the problem in a country rife with violence and with a devastating legacy emotional, social and economic segregation.

When I was a teenager, haunted by what Rebombo to be sufficiently “macho.”

Circumcision was considered a key moment in the life of a child, but his father almost died when he was subjected to the intervention in health and recently vowed that his son did not suffer such abuse. Therefore, Rebombo was undergoing all sorts of ridicule. “I said it was not a real man,” said Rebombo, a burly individual, to speak gently.

The only way to prove that it was well male was raping a woman.

The other boys pushed him to “give a lesson” to a girl who did not want to go out with them. Resisted, but finally relented. Decided to do a Saturday and prepared to consume beer and marijuana to combat fear.

“I could not breathe. I never had a sexual relationship. I was scared,” he said.

Other boys took the girl to an isolated spot and left with a friend and Rebombo.

“He (the friend) started to rape her. She resisted. I looked, dizzy by all that he had taken. He stopped me and said, ‘Your turn’. I assembled it,” said Rebombo.

When they finished, she ran, “he added. He stated that after the rape, do not remember whether he had an erection or not.

Consumed by guilt and fearful of what she claims, tried to prevent it and a year later moved to another town.

In 1996 he lived in Johannesburg and worked with a religious organization that helps women with children who have no work. What shocked the women recounted stories of abuse and violence that had been submitted and began working with agencies trying to end that violence.

“That forced me to analyze my own situation. I felt the need to locate it and apologize,” he said.

Then his old village and searched.

“I told him what he had done years ago had been very ill and asked him to forgive me.”

Between sobs, she told him that she had been raped by two other men. She was married and had children and never told anyone about the rapes, but sometimes trembled when her husband played. His life was never the same, he told the woman.

However, accepted the apology and forgave Rebombo, although it was not easy.

“Maybe you can teach men that they should not do that,” he told Rebombo.

Today the Foundation works with Rebombo Olive Leaf, which helps parents and children cope with HIV / AIDS, child abuse and sexual violence.

The violation is a “deeply rooted in the concept of what is being a man” in South Africa, said the study presented at the conference.

Many experts say the incidence of rape reflects the violence, repression, poverty and psychological deterioration of the system of racial segregation.

“The violence of apartheid became an instrument of control and violence became the norm,” said activist in the cause of human rights Mbuyiselo Botha. “The men were castrated and were discharging their frustration and humiliation among the most vulnerable, women and children.

An estimated 5.1 million of the 50 million people in South Africa carry the AIDS virus, which represents the highest rate in the world.

Despite progress since apartheid was defeated 15 years ago, traditional attitudes to women which lower still perpetuated by public figures like President Jacob Zuma, a polygamist with three wives and that in 2006 after he was accused of rape Unprotected sexual intercourse with the daughter of a family friend who was a carrier of HIV.

Zuma was acquitted, but his comments about women, sex and Zulu culture generated much controversy and ugly scenes off the court, where some of his supporters burned pictures of women.

Recently, a judge sentenced her to four years’ imprisonment for any individual found guilty of rape and said it was lenient because it was a man “educated” and the victim was “an adult woman” who had made finger, according to The Star

Jewkes, director of the study, said the violations were “closely associated” with the traumas of childhood and family structures “abnormal”, in which one parent is forced to leave home for work.

U.S. House approves 2000 mln dlr further orders

The Democratic proposal to cover the September 30 2010 and added to funds from a program of loan guarantees from the Department of Energy included in the package of the government’s economic stimulus enacted in February.

1,000 million dollars in initial funding approved this summer to boost sales of frozen industry is already sold out, officials said.

Consumers rushed on dealerships last month to take returns backed up by the State of $ 4500 for the replacement of gasoline vehicles to spend by more efficient.

Unofficial estimates of the Government and industry shows that it has sold nearly 250,000 vehicles under this program.

It is now expected that the Senate follow the House draft.

But as an important senator, chairman of the Energy Committee Jeff Bingaman, opposed to using the funds of the Department of Energy for automotive program.

Another senator, the ally of the auto industry Debbie Stabenow, said that Congress make the project could take a lot of work compared with the rapid adoption that occurred in the Cáara.

The White House supports the additional funding for the program since the initiative so far has provided a viable and economic stimulus in the midst of a national recession.

Probiotics prevent colds Child

In a study in China, young children who drank a mixture of these bacteria, called probiotics, milk twice a day during the winter and spring colds suffered less, needed less antibiotics and fewer lost school days than other children who drank milk alone.

Previous work had shown that probiotics can help people suffering from various diseases, since these bacteria enhance the immune response to invaders. But it is unknown whether they are as effective in preventing illness.

The study in China involving 326 children between 3 and 5 years, which included three randomized groups: one took the milk with Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria, another received the same body but with a strain of another bacterium, Bifidobacterium animalis and Finally only drank milk with a placebo (controls).

The children took the formulas for testing twice a day between November 2005 and May 2006, the supervision was conducted by school staff during the week and parents / guardians during the weekends.

In the journal Pediatrics, published authors who, unlike the placebo group, children who ate the Lactobacillus had 53 percent fewer colds, 41 percent less coughing and 28 percent less mucus.

Instead, the group treated with Lactobacillus / Bifidobacterium had fewer symptoms: 72 percent fewer fevers, 62 percent less coughing and 59 percent less mucus.

That meant, for example, 66 cases of fever in the control group, 31 in the cohort treated with Lactobacillus and only 18 in the group treated with the probiotic combination. All cohorts had the same size, with about 100 children.

Also, when children treated with probiotics had a fever, cough or mucus, recovered significantly faster than the control group.

In addition, the duration of disease was reduced by 32 percent with the Lactobacillus and 48 percent with the combination Lactobacillus / Bifidobacterium.

The team also noted that, compared with the control group, antibiotic use was 68 percent lower in participants treated with Lactobacillus and 84 percent lower in those who took Lactobacillus / Bifidobacterium.

Finally, the authors explained that the children treated with probiotics failed to kindergarten or school between 28 and 32 per cent less than controls.

The combination of probiotics used in the study is being marketed as “HOWARU Protect” by Danisco, Madison, Wisconsin.

The team led by Dr. Gregory J. Read, Danisco believes that probiotics reduce the need for drugs, whose use in pediatrics is receiving special attention.

Still, reading some pointed questions. “Not all probiotics are the same (…) not all do everything,” he told Reuters Health. Some strains, for example, are effective against allergies, or to prevent diarrhea.

For the study, said the team used organisms (and dose) of carefully selected “to” prevent colds and flu. ” This suggests that the results would not be applicable to other bacteria or diseases.