Thursday, May 31, 2012

Bismarck Youth Baseball | Bismarck Parks & Recreation

Q:? Is registration for the 2012 season open?
A:? No, registration for the 2012 is closed as of 04/25/2012 (earlier for some divsions).

Q:? When does registration for the 2013 season open?
A:? At noon on Friday, February 1st, 2013

Q:? Where do I go to register?
A:? A link will be posted right here, on this website (www.bismarckyouthbaseball.org)

Q:? Who can register?
A:? Bismarck and Burleigh county residents.? If you live on the west side of the river you need to register for Mandan's Cal Ripken league.

Q:? How much does it cost?
A:?? 2012 cost was $125 which included $25 in pre-paid raffle tickets.? 2013 costs may or may not be the same.

Q:? Do you accept on-line payments?
A:? Yes

Q:? What is the minimum / maximum age?
A:? The player must be at least 6 years old and no more than 12 years old as of April 30th

Q:? When does registration close?
A:? When all the divsions fill up, so hurry.

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Fermentedly Challenged: Colorado Beer News 053112

Colorado Beer NewsToday is World No Tobacco Day. A day to put away the smokes and clear the air a bit. Instead, have a pint of craft beer and celebrate the fact that we're one more day closer to the weekend! If you don't want to put away the smokes, celebrate Genghis Khan's birthday instead. Here's what's happening around the Colorado beerosphere today Thursday, May 31st, 2012.

Colorado Beer News is continually updated during the day (10am to 3pm) with new stories as they break, so stop back here often for all the latest. If you'd like to subscribe to this daily by email, sign-up here.

Oskar Blues (Longmont) - The brewery just completed acquisition of the land that is also home to their Home Made Liquids & Solids restaurant this week. Oskar Blues had been leasing the property but decided the time was right to plop down $1.525 million and own the property. This will allow them to expand the restaurant and increase parking. Eventually, OB would like to use the rail line next to the restaurant and open up a beer train between Longmont and Boulder. For a complete story on this, check the Denver Post article.

Pateros Creek Brewing (Fort Collins) - Today marks the 15th and final week in their staff's Outlaw Contest. The final tapping today will be The Golden Finale by their beer slinger Alex. This is their Stimulator dry-hopped with Apollo hops. The brew taps at noon. Come get some before it's all gone. Get ready for their 1 year anniversary party happening at the brewery on June 9th starting at 4pm. Top 3 outlaws on tap, food, music and fun.

Grimm Brothers Brewhouse (Loveland) - Next Door Food & Drink presents it?s first Grimm Brothers Brewery Dinner. June 4th, 2012. $35 per person plus tax and gratuity. There are still a few seats left. If you haven't been to Loveland's newest dining experience this is your opportunity to explore this great place. Chef Ricky and his crew are planning a night you won't forget. Call them at (970) 541-3020 to make your reservations. Restaurant located at: 222 E. 4th Street in Loveland, CO.

Great Storm Midsummer PartyGreat Storm Brewing (Colorado Springs) - Come join in the fun on Thursday, June 21st, to celebrate the longest day of the year, Midsummer. They'll have live music by Mark's Midnight Carnival Show from 5-7 pm, and starting at 11 am they'll be offering four new beers: Our summer seasonal, Midsummer Ale, a light, golden ale aged on lemon, lime and orange zest; Blue Spruce Juice, a small batch dark ale flavored with fresh, hand?harvested Colorado Blue Spruce tips; Assistant Brewer Stephen Shelton?s Dark Side Ale, a big malty dark English ale; and CAUTION: Brewing Co.?s Toaster Bat Black, a smoked, peated, robust porter. Located at: 204 Mount View Lane #3 in Colo. Springs, CO.

Left Hand Brewing (Longmont) - There's going to be plenty of good food available via food trucks outside the taproom this week. Thursday brings J.A.M.'s and their grilled cheese sammiches from 4pm-8pm. On Friday, SaltBox Food is back with gastropub offerings from 4pm-8pm. Then on Saturday, BedRock BBQ will be outside with their BBQ'ed selections from 4pm-8pm. Grab some and wash it down with a pint.

Great Divide Brewing (Denver) - The Denver brewery makes some wonderful brews and last night, Fermentedly Challenged reviewed one of their year-round favorites: Great Divide Hoss Rye Lager. This fiery orange-red brew has a lot of sweet spicy flavor. Check out the full review on the blog.

Carbondale Bread and Brew Festival (Carbondale) - This weekend marks the first annual Bread and Brew Festival. Over 16 breweries will be there pouring across two days (June 1st and June 2nd) at the Performing Arts Center at Third Street. Live music, bread making, homebrewing, great food and more. For details on this new festival, check their official webpage.

Odell Brewing (Fort Collins) - This day in brewing history 10 years ago marked the start of Odell Brewing making a special brew just for the Town Pump, the oldest bar in Fort Collins, CO. Today is the 10th anniversary of Town Pump Pail Ale. And to celebrate, the Town Pump is offering up $2.75 pints of this ale from 8pm to close today through Sunday, June 3rd.

Equinox Brewing (Fort Collins) - If this is Thursday, it must mean there is another firkin being tapped today. Starting at noon, stop in for a taste of Vernal Hefeweizen, an ale conditioned with Mandarin oranges. These firkins don't last long so the sooner you get there the better. Located next door to Hops & Berries at 133 Remington Street in FoCo.

Dry Dock Brewing (Aurora) - Heads up to all Dry Dock patrons! On Sunday, June 3rd until 6pm, Dry Dock Brewing will be closed for Mike and Donna's Wedding. Stop in after 6pm to get your fills that day.

Aspen Brewing Company (Aspen) - Make your plans now to kick off Chili-Brew Festival weekend with a beer pairing dinner at Ajax Tavern on Thursday June 7th @ 6:30PM. The cost is $55 per person, for a amazing five course meal paired with Aspen Brewing?s finest brews. Tell your friends, and make reservations, there is a limited number of seats available. Call Ajax Tavern to reserve your seat! (970) 920-6334. The dinner located inside The Little Nell at 675 East Durant Avenue in Aspen, CO.

New Belgium (Fort Collins) - Did you know that New Belgium also has a series of apps about their beer? They started out with an app about their Shift Pale Lager. Today they have a new app "Enjoy the Ride / Fat Tire" content. And coming in September, they'll have another app all about Ranger IPA. For Android - search for "newbelgium" and look for New Belgium on iTunes. ALSO - Want to win a Fat Tire cruiser bike? Use Twitter and Tweet your best story and include the #EnjoyTheRide hashtag and you're automatically entered in to win! Rules about this are at newbelgium.com/Enjoytheride.

San Luis Valley Brewing (Alamosa) - If you're headed down to Alamosa this weekend, stop by Cole Park on June 1st through the 3rd for Summerfest on the Rio. San Luis Valley Brewing will be pouring 6 different beers at the fest. Look for them set up right next to the big Bud semi-truck. On Friday night after the fest wraps up - head to the brewery for some live music from 9:30pm to 12:30am.

KB Kraft Beer (Colorado Springs) - The brewery is reporting that during the weekend their parking lot will be resurfaced and during that time they will not be open. They will, however, be tapping a cask ale on Friday afternoon and will stay open long enough to ensure that there are no leftovers.

Colorado Brewers' Festival (Fort Collins) - Tickets are now being sold for this year's festival. VIP tix get you in 1.5 hours early each day. Over 40 breweries pouring over 60 different beers. Live music, tons of food vendors and lots of outdoor fun! To be held in Civic Center Park downtown Fort Collins. It all happens on June 23rd and 24th starting at 11am (VIP) and 12:30pm to 6:30pm for the rest. More info at: www.DowntownFortCollins.com or call (970) 484-6500.

Looking for some music to go along with your beer? Check the Brewery Music Listings and see who's playing at your favorite brewery or beer bar in Colorado. Updated daily.

Beer Fest CalendarLooking for a beer festival? Check out the listings on the 2012 Colorado Beer Festivals & Events Calendar.

There's even more Colorado beer happenings and discussions on the Fermentedly Challenged Facebook page. Thanks for helping us grow to over 850 "Likes" so far in 2012!

This article came from FermentedlyChallenged.com - a Colorado beer blog.
Don't miss another article. Subscribe to Fermentedly Challenged by RSS today. If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing, re-tweeting, Stumbling or +1'ing this to let others know about it. Cheers!

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Tips to learn about the home improvement job you plan on ...

Home improvement could be the solution for you if your house needs repairs. There are many projects that you can complete with only a minimal investment and some basic skills. Here you will find suggestions on how you can get started easily. After reading these tips, you will have a better understanding of what it takes to take on your own home improvement projects.

Before you remodel anything in a room think about painting it. Painting the walls and ceiling before you install the floor is just common sense. Although you can use a drop cloth to protect things while you?re painting, it?s better to avoid the problem entirely if you can.

Make sure the contractor listens to what you have to say. Hiring a contractor that is honest is important, but you need to be aware if they are listening to any of your concerns. If your contractor isn?t acknowledging your opinion, then you may not get what you want. Make sure that they pay very close attention to what you tell them.

Stucco is a good option for outdoor siding. Stucco is fairly easy to apply, although you may need to use forms. Whether you do the job yourself or hire a professional, your home?s new stucco exterior is going to retain its fresh, attractive appearance for many years to come.

Make sure a contractor you?re considering hiring has the proper documentation before you sign them on. You c an find out via your state government site or phone. An unlicensed contractor is a sign that they did something to lose their license, or are just a scam artist.

Find a contractor that knows how to listen to you. Having a trustworthy contractor is incredibly important, but so is making sure that they hear your concerns. An inattentive contractor may not complete the job as you intended. Make sure you are being listened to with open ears.

A well-made and contemporary front door can lead to an increase in the value of your property asphalt shingle roof. It is possible to freshen the appearance of your entry door by purchasing one of the many styles of knob and lock combinations available on the market.

One way to improve your home is to install fixtures to reduce water usage. You will find an array of toilets, hot water heaters and shower heads at your home improvement store, all guaranteed to reduce water use. Updated plumbing fixtures always increase your property?s value, especially when they are eco-friendly. In addition, they?ll significantly reduce your water bill.

Use steel wool as a temporary measure to plug any holes or cracks that are allowing mice to find their way into your home. The rodents are not able to chew through this, even though they can chew through just about anything else, so you can use this as a stop-gap until you make a permanent repair.

Apply an asphalt sealant to your driveway to keep it from weathering and cracking. The elements can cause your driveway to crack if not protected. Protect your driveway from the weather by applying a sealant.

You need to check out your roof to see if there are any maintenance issues during the spring. Keep an eye out for curling or blistering of the shingles, then replace them if they are damaged. Repairing minor damages when they are first noticed will help prevent having to have major work done later on down the road.

Ideally, you will now have a whole new perspective of how to reach your goals for improving your living space. A home improvement project can make your home into a showplace. Don?t let improving your home feel like a chore, make it into a hobby. That way you?re both saving money and having fun.

Author: Dorcas Beal

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Romney's campaign misspells "America" in new app

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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

On Thailand trip, Suu Kyi visits Myanmar migrants

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi waves while leaving a community center in Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. Kicking off her first trip abroad in nearly a quarter-century, Suu Kyi offered encouragement Wednesday to impoverished Myanmar migrants whose flight to neighboring Thailand is emblematic of the devastation wrought on her homeland by decades of misrule.(AP photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi waves while leaving a community center in Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. Kicking off her first trip abroad in nearly a quarter-century, Suu Kyi offered encouragement Wednesday to impoverished Myanmar migrants whose flight to neighboring Thailand is emblematic of the devastation wrought on her homeland by decades of misrule.(AP photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi waves to the crowd while leaving a community center in Mahachai, Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. Kicking off her first trip abroad in nearly a quarter-century, Suu Kyi offered encouragement Wednesday to impoverished Myanmar migrants whose flight to neighboring Thailand is emblematic of the devastation wrought on her homeland by decades of misrule.(AP photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi arrives at hotel in Bangkok on Tuesday May 29, 2012. For 24 years, Aung San Suu Kyi was either under house arrest or too fearful that if she left Myanmar, the government would never let her return. Now, in a sign of how much life there has changed, she's back to being a world traveler.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, center, receives flowers from supporters as she arrives at Yangon International Airport before her departure for Bangkok on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)

Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi smiles upon her arrival amid tight security at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Suu Kyi is in Thailand to attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2012 to be held May 30-June 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)

(AP) ? Kicking off her first trip abroad in nearly a quarter-century, Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi offered encouragement Wednesday to impoverished migrants whose flight to neighboring Thailand is emblematic of the devastation wrought on her homeland by decades of misrule.

"Don't feel down, or weak. History is always changing," she told an exuberant crowd of thousands southwest of Bangkok. Many held signs saying, "We want to go home," and Suu Kyi said her visit was aimed at learning how she could help them.

"Today, I will make you one promise: I will try my best for you," she said.

Suu Kyi, who arrived in Bangkok late Tuesday, left her luxury hotel and the skyscraper-packed capital Wednesday for the nearby town of Mahachai, home to Thailand's largest population of Burmese migrants. Thousands of Myanmar's downtrodden crowded around her and chanted: "Long Live Mother Suu!"

"I had only seen her on TV and in newspapers," said Saw Hla Tun, who left Myanmar's Karen state seven years ago and earns a meager wage carrying heavy salt sacks on his back. "I couldn't hold back my tears when I saw her."

After speaking to the crowd from a fourth-floor balcony at a community center, the Nobel Peace Prize winner met with migrant workers who told her they face mistreatment from employers but lack knowledge of their rights and have no legal means to settle disputes.

Suu Kyi spent 15 of the last 24 years under house arrest. During intermittent periods of freedom, she dared not leave Myanmar ? not even to visit her dying husband ? because she feared the military junta ruling at the time would not allow her to return. Now, in a sign of how much life has changed, the democracy activist and newly elected member of Parliament is traveling across Thailand, where she will speak later this week at the World Economic Forum on East Asia.

She'll return to Myanmar briefly before heading to Europe for a five-country tour in mid-June. Her stops include England where she'll address the British Parliament and Oslo, Norway, to formally accept the Nobel Peace Prize she won 21 years ago.

Fixing a battered economy is one of the most crucial challenges facing Myanmar, also known as Burma, as it begins opening up in the wake of 49 years of military governance that ended only last year.

Thailand hosts around 2.5 million impoverished Burmese who have fled here to work low-skilled jobs as domestic servants or in manual labor industries like fisheries and the garment sector.

Andy Hall, a migrant expert and researcher at the Institute for Population and Social Research at Thailand's Mahidol University, said the Burmese migrants ? up to a million of them undocumented ? make up between 5 and 10 percent of the Thai work force, contributing as much as 7 percent of the nation's GDP.

Many are exploited and paid reduced wages. Some have been trafficked; some have had their passports confiscated by employers. Hall said they were nevertheless "the lifeblood of a lot of the Myanmar economy, sending home money to support families who don't have enough money to eat."

"They have no voice, they can never speak up or stand up," Hall said. "So for Aung San Suu Kyi to visit is like a dream come true, someone who finally may be able to bring attention to their suffering."

One of the migrants, a 26-year-old woman named Khin Than Nu, works at a Thai canning factory and dreams of her home in Myanmar's Mon state.

"We left our parents in Burma, and all my brothers and sisters work here to support our parents," she said. "I hope Daw Suu will help develop our country, and bring jobs so we can go home."

Associated Press

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Syria, Sarajevo and Srebrenica: When outrage isn't enough (CNN)

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Travel insurance gives you extra security against terrorism

Cautionary tales on travelling gone wrong without insurance are widely available online. Whether it is forgetting the cover for cancellation, emergencies, loss of valuables, or anything else ? there is a hefty price to pay when you face misfortune along the way.

The spectre of international terrorism has brought the threats of travelling to a different level. ?Whether it?s bombing in hotels, embassies, or public transportations ? westerners are especially at risk of being the target of this devastating crime. An Amsterdam girl was in Bali in 2005, when the bombing happened. She was at the proximity of the location and thus suffered minor injuries from the flying mortars. However she had purchased a complete travel insurance which covered emergency cases such as terrorist attacks or natural disaster. The travel insurance company swiftly covers for her medical expenses in Bali and flew her back to Amsterdam to her family.

It is definitely wiser to protect yourself with affordable, yet reliable travel insurance package researched and purchased online before embarking on any trip. Be sure to renew it if you want to prolong your travel and read all the fine prints before making your payment!

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Shape-shifting wings make stealthy Batbot more agile

STEP aside Batman, there's a new show in town. A drone that mimics the way a bat changes its wing shape in flight could make small uncrewed vehicles far more agile.

"Bat wings are highly articulated, with wing skeletons very similar to those of human arms and hands," says Julian Colorado at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain. "The way bats change the shape of their wings has great potential for improving the manoeuvrability of micro air vehicles."

The US military - which part-funded this research - is keen on drones that flap like birds because they can be far stealthier than faster, fixed wing aircraft. Colorado and colleagues in Madrid and at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, have built a drone with a half-metre wingspan inspired by a type of bat called the grey-headed flying fox.

The "Batbot" replicates the way a bat changes the profile of its wing between the downstroke and upstroke. On the downstroke, a large wing surface area is required to generate lift and propulsion. On the upstroke, however, that large area would create drag, so the bat folds the wing inwards. On the robot, the up/down flapping motion of the soft silicone wing is performed by an electric motor in the bat's body - as it is with other bird-like, flapping drones. The difference is that the extension and contraction of the wing is controlled by shape-memory alloy wires that switch between two shapes when different currents are applied in much the same way as the human triceps and biceps do.

See graphic: "Flexible flapping"

Situated between the "shoulder" and "elbow" of the robot, these wires rotate the elbow, pulling in the "fingers" to slim the wing profile on the upstroke (Bioinspiration and Biomimetics, DOI: 10.1088/1748-3182/7/3/036006). "This contracts and extends the wings in a similar way to the biological counterpart," says Colorado.

The Batbot is not flying stably yet, but Dario Floreano, director of the Swiss National Center of Robotics in Lausanne, already considers it "a major step towards more agile and autonomous flying robots".

"It is an example of how robotics is gradually moving from rigid mechanical components towards higher-agility bionic systems made from soft materials, elastic components and artificial muscles," says Floreano.

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Saturday, May 26, 2012

Human rights protests drown out Eurovision

By Margarita Antidze, Reuters

BAKU, Azerbaijan -- Tens of millions of television viewers will tune into Europe's annual pop music contest in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan on Saturday, but a war of words over human rights may drown out the singing, self-promotion and kitschy costumes.

Hundreds of excited Eurovision Song Contest fans have already arrived in the oil-rich Azeri capital of Baku, which has undergone a $60 million facelift in preparation for the event with a shiny new 23,000-seat rectangular Crystal Hall on the shores of the Caspian Sea at the centre of the celebrations.

"People are very friendly in Azerbaijan and food is fantastic. We enjoy being here and we love Eurovision," said Dmitry, a 19-year-old flag-draped fan from Moldova, accompanied by new Azeri friends.

The multi-purpose Crystal Hall arena was built by a German firm in eight months for an undisclosed sum of money.

Russian grannies, Humperdinck among top Eurovision contenders

But human rights groups say some buildings in the centre of Baku were specifically torn down with the song contest in mind and that the forced eviction of residents, especially in areas around the Crystal Hall, casts a shadow over the event.

Azerbaijan won the right to host the annual contest last year in Germany with the victory of its entry, the love song "Running Scared," from Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal, better known as Ell/Nikki.

It is the fifth former Soviet republic after Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine and Russia and the second Muslim country after Turkey to host the event.

Decorations and demonstrations

In preparation, Azerbaijan has trained thousands of police, temporary staff and volunteers in basic foreign language skills to welcome contest participants and cope with the thousands of fans arriving from around Europe.

"I have been trained for a few months and can speak basic English now," said Elchin Guluzade, a 43-year-old taxi driver, who drives one of the dozens of cabs bought ahead of the event.

Taxis as well as buses and streets of the capital Baku are decorated with Eurovision emblems and the slogan "Light your fire!" Locals and guests stroll around in Azeri national colors of red and green as well as blue Eurovision t-shirts and caps.

"I think that many more people will learn about our beautiful country after Eurovision and many more will come to see it," 19-year-old student Sabina Mehdiyeva said, adding her voice to many Baku residents who welcomed the contest.

Despite the effort to highlight progress that the oil-producing nation of nine million people has made since independence in 1991, critics of President Ilham Aliyev's government have taken the opportunity to air allegations of human rights abuses.

Critics accuse Aliyev, who in 2003 succeeded his father to the presidency of the Caspian Sea country north of Iran, of clamping down on dissent, but Baku says the country enjoys full freedom of speech and a vibrant opposition press.

Dozens of peaceful protesters were arrested this month in central Baku during rallies and marches demanding democracy and the resignation of the government.

"A stern crackdown of freedom of expression, dissent, NGOs, critical journalists, in fact anyone who criticizes the Aliyev regime too strongly, and we've seen this continue right up until the Eurovision Song Contest," Amnesty International Europe and Central Asia director John Dalhuisen told Reuters.

But senior Azeri officials responded to allegations by calling them "anti-Azeri propaganda."

"Their conclusions do not correspond with reality", said Ali Hasanov, head of the public and political issues department at the presidential administration.

The government is also under fire from Islamic figures as well who object to the Eurovision pageant. Senior Iranian cleric Ayatollah Sobhani has issued a statement urging Muslims in the region to protest what he described as "anti-Islamic behavior."

The song contest, which is a major show business event in many participating countries, has also been marred by the decision of Armenia to pull out of the contest this month.

The move underscored tensions over Nagorno-Karabakh, a mainly Armenian-populated enclave inside Azerbaijan that Armenian forces seized control of after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The economic crisis in Europe is a factor in this year's competition. The home country of the winner must host the competition next year. According to ITV, Spain's entry, Pastora Soler, was asked "not to win" by her country's public television channel because?the country would not be able to afford to host the elaborate ceremony.

Related content:

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

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Wildlife researcher photographs rare Sumatran rabbit

Friday, May 25, 2012

Using camera traps, wildlife researchers including doctoral candidate Jennifer McCarthy and environmental conservation professor Todd Fuller of the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently captured photographs of one of the rarest animals on earth, the Sumatran striped rabbit. They say it may now be found only in two remote national parks on the Indonesian island.

Their pictures and other observations are reported in the current issue of Oryx, The International Journal of Conservation. The rare rabbit was first photographed in Kerinci Seblat National Park in 1998 and has rarely been seen since.

"Whether the rabbit does occur undetected in other parks is not certain, but the importance of protecting these two known strongholds of the species is critical," say McCarthy and colleagues. "As the human population of Sumatra rises, both parks are increasingly threatened by encroachment of villages and development of roads and infrastructure. It is important to focus conservation efforts in these areas to prevent a loss of what could be the final two populations of Sumatran striped rabbits."

Sumatra's Bukit Barisan Mountains, where the rabbits were captured on film, form the rugged backbone of the sixth largest island in the world. Since 2008, McCarthy and Fuller have been conducting an ecological study of the clouded leopard, Asiatic golden cat, marbled cat and leopard cats in Indonesia's Bukit Barisan Seletan National Park.

McCarthy says, "As part of my dissertation research on the four felids, or cats, we also happened to get pictures of this very rare rabbit. There had been a few camera-trap photos seen of it before, but very, very rarely. We wanted to take these observations a step further, so we worked with colleagues from the University of Delaware and the Wildlife Conservation Society's Indonesia Program to contact every researcher we knew throughout Sumatra who was doing camera-trap research, probably 20 or 30 people. This gave us good coverage of the island."

"We asked them about sightings of the Sumatran striped rabbit and report the results in our paper." Overall, the conservation biologist adds, "The biggest news is that we only received recent sighting information from these two parks. For the first time, we can pinpoint that these two areas may be the only ones remaining where this species occurs. We can't say they don't occur elsewhere, but we are saying it's important to preserve those areas in order to save the species."

Habitats critical to many forms of wildlife in the parks face constant pressure from nearby coffee and palm oil plantations and from those who want logging roads built, she adds. Roads would not only destroy habitat but would allow humans, including poachers, access into relatively wild and remote places. In Sumatra between 2000 and 2009, more than 7.6 million acres (3.1 million hectares) of forest were lost to such encroachment, McCarthy says.

Much of her work was done at fairly high altitudes, in dense rainforest and rugged terrain, along volcanic ridges up to 3,900 feet (1,200 meters) high, where human encroachment is low, McCarthy says. The area has a relatively high density of wildlife, including tigers, so the investigators never travel alone and always have a park ranger with them. After walking miles to visit their cameras and snares, they roll out their sleeping bags in local villages as guests of families with no electricity, running water or modern plumbing.

McCarthy says, "It's such a beautiful place. I hope we are able to increase conservation initiatives. At this point we really need to increase the involvement of local people in order to save these areas. There is some appreciation of the value of wildlife, especially for the tiger. But the root of the problem, the loss of habitat, hasn't really slowed down. We feel our presence and the fact that our research supports a park ranger has helped to make a difference."

###

University of Massachusetts at Amherst: http://www.umass.edu

Thanks to University of Massachusetts at Amherst for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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How to find a Santa Clarita rental ? REMAX Relocation Real Estate ...

We have been saddened as a few of our clients, that were unsuspecting, have been scammed by the best of the best. The leasing or rental representative company you choose in the Santa Clarita cities makes all of the difference in the world.

There are a couple of new companies that have started operating in the rental and lease business in our fair city. To answer the question of, ?how are they?, will take about one year.

For the time being. Pleas let the Paris911 team introduce to some of the best Santa Clarita rental and leasing companies, that have time on the job, and that endorse one of the best teams at Remax of Santa Clarita: Paris911.

If you want more information about the best Santa Clarita Rental and Leasing companies go to the best real estate website for the Santa Clarita Cities. Type the word ?rent? into the MacBOX!

Be safe and give us some time to review these new leasing companies. We will be sure to give you the 911
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Friday, May 25, 2012

Chocolates for All People and All Seasons

Chocolates comprise some of the most loved foodstuffs. Indeed, to so many, chocolates are synonymous with love. Just as rose flower expresses the aroma and feeling of love, so does chocolate express the taste of it.

Probably, chocolate could be the most delicious product ever derived from the Cacao plant.? Chocolates have been embraced by people of all ages in all societies where the presence of Cacao products has been exhibited. Whether it is hot or cold, whichever season it may be; Spring, Winter, Autumn or Summer, Chocolate taste and Chocolate love continues to embrace many.

Chocolates are not only an expression of love, but also an expression of creativity that has been transmuted from one generation to another, one race to the next, across all societies, cultures and ages. Indeed, if there is one taste of unity, Chocolate passes it one hundred percent!

The existence of different tastes and varieties of chocolate is a clear testimony of its inspiring effect. It inspires love, it inspires creativity. We cannot afford to mention all types and tastes of chocolates as this would be a manifestation of our ignorance. There are as many types of chocolates as are different expressions of love. We can only dare mention a few that we know. Some of these types include gianduja chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, milk chocolate, unsweetened chocolate, couverture chocolate, dark chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, sweet dark chocolate, white chocolate, and Candy coating chocolate, cocoa powder, among other expressions.

Contact us at Amelie Chocolat on 0845 2570645 or email us at info@ameliechocolat.co.uk or visit our website.

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How to prevent prostate cancer

Christopher Thomas

Christopher Thomas has written 127 posts in this blog.

View Bio

. Prevention, Recent Articles ? By Christopher Thomas on May 25, 2012

How does cancer affect the prostate gland?

The prostate is a small gland that sits under the bladder in men. The main function of the prostate is to make some of the fluid that protects and nourishes sperm. One in six men will develop cancer in their prostate during their life. Nearly 90% of new prostate cancers, and almost all deaths resulting from prostate cancer, are in men over the age of 60.

The prostate is normally a rubbery, uniform structure.? If a cancer forms, it often disrupts the architecture of the prostate. This can sometimes be felt as a lump or hardened area by placing a gloved finger in the rectum and pressing forward.

There are many things men can do today to lower their risk of prostate cancer. Diets rich in animal fats and red meat are associated with prostate cancer, possibly due to toxic chemicals generated when meat is cooked at high temperatures. By contrast, diets high in fruit and vegetables protect against prostate cancer.

Actions and options to prevent Prostate Cancer

  • Screen for cancer with a digital rectal exam and a PSA blood test every year from the age of 50 if you are at risk. Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits for you
  • Eat a diet naturally high in antioxidants
  • Lycopenes (high in tomatoes, pink grapefruit, and watermelons)
  • Isoflavones (in soy products)
  • Sulforaphane and lutein and zeaxanthin (in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage)
  • Selenium (in brazil nuts)
  • Moderate your intake of animal fat (especially fried, roasted, broiled, grilled or barbecued meat). Diets rich in animal fats and red meat are associated with prostate cancer, possibly due to toxic chemicals generated when meat is cooked at high temperatures
  • Rotate your animal products on a 4-day basis ? one skin-free poultry day, one trim red meat day, one fish day and one vegetable day. Then repeat
  • Grill rather than fry your meat to drain off the excess fat
  • Boil chicken before browning and drain away the fat with the water
  • Keep up your Vitamin D levels (sun exposure, oily fish, fortified foods or supplements)
  • Choose from salmon, sardines, anchovies and tuna and have at least twice a week
  • Take a walk in the early morning or late afternoon sun and expose your limbs to the sunshine

Should I test for prostate cancer (prostate screening)

Prostate cancer cells often produce increased amounts of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that can also be detected via a simple blood test. It is controversial whether regularly performing either of these screening tests is able to prevent disability or death.

This is because even though doctors can detect a few cases that kill, screening may result in some innocuous cancers being unnecessarily treated with major surgery. Men who have prostate cancer prevention high on their priority list should have both a digital rectal exam and a PSA blood test every year from the age of 50. This is a discussion worth having with your doctor.?

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(Queen's University) Researchers at Queen's University in Kingston, Canada have identified a possible cause for the loss of a tumor suppressor gene that can lead to the development of more aggressive forms of prostate cancer.

READ MORE How can I prevent cervical cancer?

What tests can I do as part of a cervical cancer prevention program? Cervical cancer affects over half a million women around the world at any given time. In countries where screening programs exist, at least four out of every five deaths due to cervical cancer occur in women who have not had a Pap test in the past 10 years, ...

READ MORE Actions to prevent breast cancer

Get an annual mammogram Screening should be performed annually from the age of 40 years or earlier if you have a family history of breast cancer Perform a monthly breast self-examinations Just after the end of a period is best, when your breasts are least likely to be swollen and tender. If you do it regularly and become familiar with the feel of ...

READ MORE What can I do to prevent colon cancer?

How do I test for colon cancer? Cancer of the colon affects nearly one in 20 adults. Regular screening is the best way to prevent death from colon cancer. Most colon cancers arise from polyps, which are small outgrowths from the surface of the colon. Although the great majority of colon polyps are harmless, over time (at least 5 or 10 ...

READ MORE How does cancer develop?

What happens to our cells when cancer develops? In a healthy human body, different cells pull together for the common good. In its simplest terms, cancer is a disease that develops when this cooperation breaks down. Instead of being team players, some cells go their own way, leading to uncontrolled growth. They intrude on and destroy adjacent cells and tissues. Sometimes ...

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  1. New Queen?s University research sheds light on gene destruction linked to aggressive prostate cancer
  2. How can I prevent cervical cancer?
  3. Actions to prevent breast cancer
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  5. How does cancer develop?
Tags: animal fat, brazil nuts, brussel sprouts, cooked tomatoes, cruciferous vegetables, lycopenes, prostate-specific antigen, PSA blood test, rectal exam, red meat, vitamin D

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SpaceX Dragon set for rendezvous

The SpaceX company's Dragon cargo capsule is expected to join up with the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday.

Nasa has cleared the unmanned vehicle to move in close to the orbiting platform after a successful series of demonstrations on Thursday.

SpaceX is attempting to become the first commercial concern to run a freight service to the ISS.

Dragon carries half a tonne of food and spares for the 400km-high laboratory.

Astronauts onboard the station will try to grab the ship with a robotic arm once it gets within reach.

The crewmen will then berth the vessel to a free port on the underside of the platform.

"Dragon's 'go' for berthing day," said SpaceX mission director, John Couluris, on completion of Thursday demos.

And Holly Ridings, the Nasa flight director overseeing the SpaceX mission, added: "We had a very successful day, a great day in space; and certainly from the Nasa side we're excited about how the mission is going so far."

Dragon was launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Tuesday.

It has spent the intervening period raising its orbit closer to the altitude of the ISS.

Thursday's tests required Dragon to show off its guidance, control and communications systems at a distance of just 2.5km from the station.

The operations were required by Nasa to prove the new vehicle's responsiveness.

Astronauts Don Petit and Andre Kuipers, reported seeing Dragon moving below them, and were even able to send a command to the capsule to turn on a strobe light.

Unlike the Russian and European robotic freighters that drive all the way into docking ports on the ISS, Dragon merely has to position itself in a zone 10m under the platform to be captured by the Canadarm2. It will be Petit who will be at the arm's controls to make the capture and berthing on Friday.

Ms Ridings, speaking at the Johnson Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas, cautioned reporters that there was still much to be done: "This is a demonstration flight; a test flight, as we've been saying.

"To get through [Thursday] obviously makes you feel positive, but in terms of the activities for Friday, there's still a lot of really new things that the teams need to perform."

She stated that capture and berthing would probably occur around 10:30 CDT (15:30 GMT; 16:30 BST).

To date, only government-owned and operated vehicles have approached and docked with the space station.

The Dragon mission is part of Nasa's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (Cots) programme which was established to help shift some of the agency's traditional roles and activities into the private sector.

The agency is providing seed funding of approximately $800m to SpaceX and another company, Orbital Sciences Corporation, to enable them to develop new rocket and cargo vehicles.

Orbital's rocket is called Antares, and its freighter is known as Cygnus. The pair should go into space together for the first time before the end of the year.

Once the companies have reached the milestones laid out under Cots, lucrative ISS re-supply contracts will kick in.

Watch Tuesday's launch from Cape Canaveral

For SpaceX, this is valued at $1.6bn (?1bn) and calls for a minimum of 12 Dragon missions to the ISS.

By buying in transportation services from the commercial sector, Nasa hopes to save money it can then spend on more challenging exploration ventures far beyond Earth, at asteroids and Mars.

Freight is just the first service to be contracted out. The ferrying of crews to and from the ISS will be next.

SpaceX wants this business as well, and is developing the safety and life-support systems that would allow Dragon to double up as an astronaut taxi.

Continue reading the main storyVital statistics: How do the spacecraft compare?

Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter

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Obama to campaign in Iowa, promote energy plan

(AP) ? As President Barack Obama readies for a return to the Iowa State Fairgrounds, his campaign is reminding voters that it was in that same spot where Republican rival Mitt Romney declared last year that "corporations are people."

Democrats slammed Romney's assertion as a gaffe that showed the former Massachusetts governor was aligned with big business.

The Obama campaign uses a clip of Romney being heckled as he made his corporation remarks in a web video released Thursday morning. The 30-second video then says Obama will be in the same spot Thursday, telling voters, "See you there."

Obama will hold a grass-roots campaign event at the fairgrounds Thursday evening. Earlier in the day, Obama will be seeking support for an election-year agenda to encourage renewable energy along with a more immediate prize: the state's up-for-grabs voters.

Obama was pushing Congress to support clean energy tax incentives, part of his congressional "to-do list" that he contends could help bolster the economy. The president has tried to portray congressional Republicans as obstructing his ideas to create jobs and said Republican challenger Mitt Romney would follow their lead.

The president was stopping in Iowa on Thursday after attending fundraisers in Colorado and California, returning to the state that launched his presidential campaign in 2008 and could play a pivotal role in whether he gets a second term. Iowa is a prime general election target for Romney, who narrowly lost the state's caucuses but expects to compete for the state's six electoral votes.

Obama was visiting TPI Composites in Newton, Iowa, a manufacturer of wind turbine blades that employs about 700 workers in a community that once served as headquarters for appliance maker Maytag Corp.

The president plans to urge Congress to renew the federal production tax credit for the wind industry, which is set to expire at the end of the year, and expand a tax credit that supports clean energy manufacturing.

Obama's "to-do list" includes a number of economic initiatives that the president has pushed previously, aiming to help manufacturers, strapped homeowners and veterans.

Republicans say the renewable energy tax credits have failed to spur the job creation that Democrats once promised and more concrete steps ? like removing government barriers to energy production ? would have a greater impact on the economy.

Obama was starting his day with a private fundraiser in northern California, his third fundraiser over two days in Silicon Valley.

Associated Press

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Real estate industry pushes Senate on refi bill | Medill | Washington

by Mara Grbenick, Medill News Service for Marketwatch on 05/24/12

WASHINGTON ? Real estate and mortgage industry leaders urged a Senate committee on Thursday to back a plan that would lower interest rates for homeowners with government-owned mortgages.

Appearing before the Senate Banking Committee, Mark Zandi, chief economist and cofounder of Moody?s Analytics, said lawmakers must act quickly because ?mortgage rates are very low, and this is such a good time to refinance.?

The Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act of 2012, proposed by Senate Democrats Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Barbara Boxer of California, would benefit homeowners whose mortgages are owned by the government-supported entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and whose homes are worth less than the value of their current loan.

The legislation is part of President Barack Obama?s ?to-do? list for Congress, a set of measures that hasn?t received a warm response on Capitol Hill.

?We need to fix the housing market to get the economy moving and create jobs,? Menendez said. ?Refinancing should be one of the strategies [to attack the housing problem,] particularly for borrowers who are making their payments, whose interest rates on their mortgages are above today?s interest rates.?

Under the plan, homeowners could take advantage of current market mortgage interest rates, which are between about 3.875% and 4.5% versus the 5% or 6% that some homeowners now pay.

The bill would go further than the existing Home Affordable Refinance Program. Now in its second stage, HARP is ?not designed to help enough underwater homeowners who are eligible and deserve assistance,? said Bill Emerson, CEO of Quicken Loans, Inc.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency, the regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, said there have been just 1.2 million HARP refinancings since the program?s inception in 2009 ? a ?disappointment?, according to Zandi.

Borrowers who would become eligible for refinancing under the proposal would save on average between $2,500 and $3,000 annually, according to industry experts. This could help prevent bankruptcy filings and the impact on local communities would be ?significant,? said Moe Veissi, president of the National Association of Realtors.

The legislation didn?t get an entirely hostile response from Republicans. Sen. Robert Corker, a committee member and Tennessee Republican, said he is ?open to looking at this? and that he hopes there will be a mark-up on the bill.

In the interest of streamlining the process while the interest rate environment is favorable, witnesses said it would be an appropriate compromise to target loans originated prior to June 1, 2009, rather than through the proposed extended period of July 1, 2010.

If the bill does not pass, ?roughly 2.5. million to 3.5 million refinancings would still happen? in the existing HARP, Zandi said.

Estimates from the Congressional Budget Office show that bill would pay for itself because of reduced default rates.

The Federal Reserve is now the largest mortgage-backed securities investor with $1.25 trillion in assets, Zandi said. Mortgage-backed securities investors continue to receive interest payments when borrowers are able to pay their loans, and ?one might argue no bigger beneficiary from government policy throughout the financial crisis than mortgage securities investors,? Zandi said.

Medill media partner

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Afghan girls poisoned in second anti-school attack

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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Analysis: How Egypt's elections can transform the Mideast

The main candidates, from left: Ahmed Shafiq, Mohammed Mursi, Abdel-Monein Abu al-Fotouh, Amer Moussa and Hamdeen Sabahi.

By Richard Engel, NBC News

CAIRO -- The upcoming Egyptian elections have the potential to not only change Egypt, but the entire Middle East.?There?s a strong possibility that decades of American policy in the region can be overturned. ?The elections have huge implications for the United States and even bigger ones for Israel.? War and peace may be in the balance.?

Here in our Cairo bureau as I listen to the boats float by on the Nile blasting music as revelers enjoy the city before it?s clogged by voting with checkpoints, there?s talk that this could be a moment like 1979 in Iran, a possible 180-degree shift for the country and the Middle East.? I?ll start at what?s immediately coming up.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Egyptians go to polls to elect a new president.? First off, that?s big statement in itself.? Egypt hasn?t elected a truly democratic leader in its 5,000 years of recorded history. ?This is the land of the pharaohs, the undisputed and often tyrannical God-kings.? Then it was the land of the Romans, sultans, Mamluks, Khedives, kings, European-dominated governments and finally military rulers.?

There are five main candidates who have a chance of winning the election.? Egypt has a presidential system.? The president runs the state.? Who the president is matters profoundly.? In no particular order, the candidates are:

?Mohammed Musri: Mursi is a leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood.? The Muslim Brotherhood, or the Brotherhood for short, is an Islamic group founded in Egypt in 1928.? It has been pursuing a secret campaign to take over the government since its creation.? The Brotherhood wants a state that is modern, powerful, technologically advanced and Islamic.? The Brotherhood is not the Taliban.? It does not want to ban music and pull girls from school, but it does believe that Islam must be the core of politics and society.? The Brotherhood?s slogan has long been ?Islam is the solution.?? In practice that means, if there?s poverty, the Brotherhood will look to Islamic principles of helping the poor to solve them.? The Muslim Prophet Mohammed was a big believer in charity and firmly established helping those in need as a basis of the religion. If there?s disease, the Brotherhood sees Islam and its traditions as having a solution to that too.? In questions of war and peace, the Brotherhood will study Islam and its history to determine if a potential conflict is just and warranted.? For the Brotherhood, Islam is always the solution.? It?s Islam uber alles.? The Brotherhood is a politically astute group.? It is calculating and slow moving, believing that the best way to gain power is by gradually winning political and social influence.? The Brotherhood is the grandfather of nearly all Islamic movements.? It is the mothership from which smaller, often more radical groups were born.? Hamas in Gaza, for example, is a faction of the Brotherhood.?? The Brotherhood is also rich.? Its finances are murky and secretive.? The group has wealthy donors, especially in the Sunni Arab Gulf states.?

According to some estimates, the Brotherhood has a million activists in Egypt.? Mursi is the official brotherhood candidate, but would likely end up as the group?s ?face man.?? Mursi is not charismatic.? He?s not a dynamic speaker.? He wasn?t the Brotherhood?s first choice.? The group initially wanted its powerful money man Khairat al-Shater, a business tycoon who manages the group?s wealth, to be its candidate, but he was disqualified on account of his prison record.? Egypt?s military-backed presidents, including Hosni Mubarak, imprisoned many Brotherhood members, seeing the group as its biggest existential threat.? Analysts say Shater, the Brotherhood?s supreme guide, and its leadership committee would end up being the real force behind Mursi, pulling the strings.?Right after the revolution that toppled Mubarak, the Brotherhood said it would not present a candidate for president, but then broke its promise.? A Brotherhood victory would be a total about-face for Egypt.? Since the late president Anwar Sadat, Egypt has pursued a largely pro-American, Western-leaning policy.? Egypt has maintained a peace treaty with Israel since March 1979, following the Camp David accords.? The Brotherhood has already threatened to cancel the peace treaty if the United States stops providing the $2.1 billion of military and development aid Egypt has received annually since 1982.? The Brotherhood now talks publicly about maintaining good relations with the United States, but at its core the group is not pro-American.? The Brotherhood is actively anti-Israel.? Egypt?s long-term relations with United States and short-term relations with Israel could be at risk if Mursi becomes president.? Egypt is the biggest country in the Middle East.? So goes Egypt, so goes the region.? A dramatic shift in Egypt?s alignment would have global implications.

Photoblog: Egypt prepares for the post-Mubarak presidential era

Abdel Monein Abu al-Fotouh.? Al-Fotouh was a member of the Muslm Brotherhood for decades.? He?s a devoted Islamist.? In fact, he was once of member of the even more radical Gamaa Islamiya (Islamic Group), the same organization of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, the blind cleric imprisoned in the United States for masterminding the first attack on New York?s World Trade Center in 1993.? Al-Fotouh left the Gamaa Islamiya for the Brotherhood.? He then broke from the Brotherhood after the Tahrir Square revolution.? The Brotherhood promised at the time not to run a presidential candidate.? Al-Fotouh disagreed and launched his own campaign.? His disobedience to the Brotherhood?s orders infuriated group?s tightly controlled hierarchy and Al-Fotouh was expelled from the Brotherhood.? Since the revolution, Al-Fotouh has been trying to appeal to Egypt?s liberals and secularists.? He says he?s still a member of the Brotherhood at heart, but wants a state where religion doesn?t drive all policy.? It?s possible Al-Fotouh has a change of heart.? Many of the Tahrir Square revolutionaries are taking al-Fotouh at his word.? But is he really different, or just changing his tune to appeal to a broader base??? Al-Fotouh, like Mursi, speaks about maintaining good relations with world powers, including the United States.? During his campaign, however, Al-Fotouh called Israel ?an enemy state.?? Al-Fotouh is also now backed by hardline Islamists known as Salafists who want to live in a society modeled on the life of the Prophet Mohammed in the 7th century.? The Salafists ? many of them still followers of al-Fotouh?s old group, the Gamaa Islamiya -- ?want to roll back rights for woman and Christians.?Critics say al-Fotouh is trying to be a candidate for everyone, telling revolutionaries and secularists he?s become one of them, while also appealing hardcore Islamists. He has tried to appeal to Christians and women by promising that he will consider appointing one of them vice president should he win. A victory for al-Fotouh would be a win for Islamists.? Is he still member of the Muslim brotherhood in disguise?? Would he make peace with the Brotherhood and return to their fold if he became president?? Al-Fotouh likes to say Turkey is example Egypt could follow with an Islamist leader, but without Islamic fundamentalists deciding how people should live their daily lives.? Critics say its sounds good, but that Egyptian Islamists are much more radical than their Turkish counterparts and that it?s hard to imagine that after decades as a dedicated member of the Brotherhood that al-Fotouh could really have changed fundamentally.? The questions about al-Fotouh?s true beliefs are unlikely to become clear unless he wins the election.?

Video: A new role for women in post-Mubarak Egypt

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Amer Moussa:?Moussa is the 76-year-old former Egyptian foreign minister and secretary general of the Cairo-based Arab League.? He is a seasoned and internationally respected statesman.? He?s well known and generally popular in Washington.? Moussa is presenting himself as a steady hand, the candidate who can maintain Egypt?s international relations and not drive the country into isolation or deep into the fold of the Muslim world.? Moussa has said publicly he has no intention of changing or eradicating the Camp David accords with Israel.? He is dedicated to close ties with the United States.? Moussa?s main problem is his association with the former Mubarak regime.? Even though he wasn?t involved in the crackdown and killing of activists during the revolution, he was a key Mubarak associate for decades.? Critics call Moussa part of the ?fulool,? a word that means ?remnants.?? It is a disparaging term.? It is almost like rubbish or trash.? Critics say Moussa is just another fulool of the Mubarak regime that the revolution swept away.? Moussa?s biggest rivals are the Islamic candidates Mursi and al-Fotouh.? Moussa?s Islamist opponents have tried to depict him as a drinker who is close to Israel and the United States.? Moussa believes Egypt is at a crossroads and that voters can pick him to promote stability or Islamists to change the country?s course?in a precarious new direction.

Ahmed Shafiq:?Shafiq is the ultimate ?fulool? candidate.? He was the last prime minister appointed by Mubarak.? Shafiq was, like Mubarak, an air force commander.? Shafiq still defends Mubarak.? Shafiq is presenting himself as ?Mr. Security.?? After the revolution Egyptian police were discredited.? They were seen as the henchmen of the Mubarak regime.? For the past year, the police have largely been absent from the streets.? With the police gone, murder, rape, kidnappings, car-jackings and antiquities? theft have all risen dramatically.? Shafiq says he?ll restore order in 24 hours.? He?s the strongman candidate.? His message appeals to some Egyptians fed up with the deteriorating security situation.? Critics say the revolution replaced one dictator in Mubarak and that electing Shafiq would simply be bringing in another one.

Hamdeen Sabahi.? Hamdeen Sabahi is popularist.? He appeals to the country?s poor.? Economically, Sabahi is a socialist who sees Egypt?s greatest strength as its legions of rural and urban poor.? Politically, Sabahi is a Nasserist, or a follower of the tradition of the late Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser.? Nasser was a champion of Arab unity and a believer in pan-Arab power.? Nasser firmly believed that if Arabs were to unite, they could become a powerful economic and political bloc that could break free of a Middle East many Egyptians see as dominated by American and Israeli interests.? Nasser was no friend of the United States.? He aligned Egypt with the communist Soviet Union and launched a failed war against Israel.? When Nasser died, his successor Anwar Sadat re-orientated Egypt?s economic and politics policies by building close ties with Washington and forging a peace treaty with Israel.? Sabahi?s victory could mean that Egypt?s four-decade-long Western orientation would shift again, reverting to a populist form of pan-Arabism.?? Sabahi has had a recent surge in popularity and was recently supported by 400 famous Egyptian actors, artists, writers and journalists.

On the first anniversary of the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak's regime, hundreds of thousands poured into the revolution's symbolic center, Cairo's Tahrir Square. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports.

The likely outcome
What?s likely to happen?? None of the five candidates are likely to win an outright majority when voting closes at 8 p.m. Cairo time on Thursday evening.? To win, a candidate needs more than 50 percent of the votes. ?It?s widely expected, however, that each of the five leading candidates will win between 10 to 30 percent of the vote.? Mursi for example could win 20-25 percent, Moussa might take another 20 percent, Al-Fotouh perhaps 20 percent and so on.? Since none of the candidates would have the more than the fifty percent needed for a victory, there would be a run-off.?

The run-off would work as follows:? The two candidates with the highest number of votes -- say Mursi with 25 percent and perhaps Moussa or al-Fotouh or Sabahi with another 20 percent or so ? would face each other.? The run-off election would take place on June 16-17.? The winner of the runoff would become Egypt?s next president, starting his four-year term starting on June 30.? Once the new president assumes office, the military council ? the leadership committee of generals that has been administering Egypt since the revolution ? would dissolve.? Egypt?s first democratically elected president in its history would then run the country and its powerful, US-armed military.

Who?s winning?
Opinion polls have been all over the map.? Many polls put Moussa ahead.? The Brotherhood says Mursi is in the lead.? The polls do not seem reliable.? Political analysts I?ve spoken to believe Mursi, even though he?s uncharismatic, is likely to win enough votes to secure a place in the run-off.? After all, the Brotherhood has a million activists get out the vote, a grassroots support base that?s unmatched by any other candidate.? The run-off, according to some analysts, would therefore be between the Brotherhood?s Mursi and someone else.? It?s anyone?s guess who that someone else might be.? That?s when Egyptians? will have to make an incredibly important choice.? Assuming Mursi is a candidate in the run-off, analysts say the tale of the tape might be like this.

If the run off is between the Brotherhood?s Mursi vs Amer Moussa or Ahmed Shafiq, analysts predict Mursi would win.? Moussa and Shafiq would simply be too ?fulool,? not different enough from Mubarak.? It?s possible, however, the voters could have a change of heart and vote for the promise of stability over the certainty of change.? It?s very hard to predict.?

If the match up, however, is Mursi vs al-Fotouh or Sabahi, analysts say it?s likely Mursi would lose.? The Brotherhood already controls parliament and voters might fear giving the long-banned group too much power.? Again, no one really knows.? What?s certain is that this is a critical time for Egypt, the Arab world, Israel and the United States.? Egypt is at a crossroads.? The path Egyptians chose is important.? Egypt is the most populous Arab nation, the seat of Sunni Islamic doctrine and has tremendous political, religious and social influence on the rest of the region.? For better or worse, it will lead the rest of the Middle East by example.? So goes Egypt, so goes the region.

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Richard Engel is?Chief Foreign Correspondent of NBC News

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