CAROLINA NATURALLY

Friday, July 9, 2010

Stem Cells From Human Blood Can Be Reprogrammed

Blood drawn with a simple needle stick can be coaxed into producing stem cells that may have the ability to form any type of tissue in the body, three independent papers report in the July 2 Cell Stem Cell. The new technique will allow scientists to tap a large, readily available source of personalized stem cells.
Because taking blood is safe, fast and efficient compared to current stem cell harvesting methods, some of which include biopsies and pretreatments with drugs, researchers hope that blood-derived stem cells could one day be used to study and treat diseases — though major safety hurdles remain.

Stem Cells From Human Blood Can Be Reprogrammed

What to eat and drink for energizing sleep

The protein and fat in a glass of warm milk can actually keep you up and make you sleep fitfully.

Better choices

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In Matters Of Health

In Matters Of Health

Allergy triggers that might surprise you

These common items and activities may be the culprits behind your symptoms.

Why chocolate may irritate your nose

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Georgia resident world's oldest person?

Eastern nation claims oldest living person

A former Soviet republic says a woman in a remote mountain village turned 130 on Thursday.

Questions about proof

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Man freezes to death in bid to escape heatwave

A 38-year-old Taiwanese man froze to death as a heatwave swept the island - after he walked into a refrigeration room to cool off, police said on Tuesday.

Chen Sung-mou, a worker at a sugar factory on the offshore island of Penghu, was found unconscious inside the room on Sunday and was pronounced dead in hospital.

He had apparently entered the room to seek refuge from the heat, police said.

But it appeared that hypothermia caused him to fall asleep, trapping him inside the room, even though the door was unlocked.

Belgian undertakers plan to dissolve dead and flush them into sewage system

The controversial new method is said to be less expensive and more environmentally friendly than running highly polluting crematoria or using up valuable land for graves. The departed would go into the sewage systems of towns and cities and then be recycled in water processing plants.

The proposals are being studied by the EU and if approved, it would mean the procedure could be used across Europe. However, opponents of the plans say it smacks of a Frankenstein callousness towards the dead and one survey in Belgium found many people found the idea "disturbing."

"The idea is for the deceased to be placed in a container with water and salts and then pressurised and after a little time, about two hours, mineral ash and liquid is left over," said a spokesman for the Flemish Association of Undertakers. The European Commission is investigation whether the resulting liquid could safely be flushed into the sewage system. Authorities in the northern Belgian region have yet to decide whether to approve the process.

Six states in America – Maine, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, and Maryland have recently passed legislation that allow the process to be used. Although experts insist that the ashes can be recycled in waste systems, the residue from the process can also be put in urns and handed over to relatives of the dead.

Broom Hilda

Wine Vending Machines

Pennsylvania now has vending machines from which you can buy a bottle of wine -IF you are sober enough for a breath test, have a valid driver’s license proving your age, and don’t mind having your picture taken by a machine. If that sounds too complicated, you should know that wine vending machines are a plan to make it easier for people to buy a bottle, because of the complicated liquor laws in the state.

Individuals can buy wine and liquor for home consumption only in state-owned stores staffed by public employees. Private beer distributors sell cases and kegs only. Licensed corner stores, delis, bars and restaurants can sell beer to go, but only up to two six-packs per customer.
Numerous attempts at reform have been turned back by special interests intent on keeping their slice of the pie. So simply stocking Chianti and cabernet on supermarket shelves is not an option under the state’s post-Prohibition liquor laws.
The liquor board has tried to be more consumer-friendly in recent years, including opening 19 full-service state stores in supermarkets. The board touts the kiosks as another step toward modernization – “an added level of convenience in today’s busy society,” liquor board Chairman Patrick Stapleton said in a statement.

Not everyone is convinced that the vending machines are a good idea. Some say the machines will not be effective enough in keeping underage drinkers from using them. At the same time, others say the machines will be too difficult to use. However, customers have given the machines thumbs ups in early surveys.

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Grownups build their dream tree houses

These miniature marvels boast air conditioning, kitchens, and other comforts of a real home.

See inside

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Natural ways to boost your metabolism

Adopting these healthy habits can help fire up your metabolism to burn more fat.

Drink yourself to slimness

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Busker Ed Alleyne-Johnson performs Don't Fear The Reaper

Ed Alleyne-Johnson is a British electric violinist and prolific busker. He has been busking since he was a Fine Art student at Oxford University in the early 1980s.

He uses an electric violin that he carved with a kitchen knife, a custom pedal-board, and an amplifier which he modified to run off rechargeable batteries.

This setup has enabled him to perform on the street in almost every major city in Europe, and across the United States and Canada.

He can often be seen performing in Chester city centre, near the Grosvenor shopping precinct and the Chester Cross, and more recently on the streets of York.

World’s Tallest Tent Opens in Kazakhstan

The world’s tallest and arguably the most futuristic tent has opened to the public in the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan. The Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre, located in the capital city of Astana, is 150m (490ft) high. The centre has a huge indoor leisure park, shops, restaurants, movie theaters, and even an artificial beach inside the building!

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Website.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:
Immunize yourself against a dangerous case of flakiness that's making the rounds by ensuring that your communication style is direct and to the point.
Others may have a hard time expressing their feelings, which results in lots of time-wasting, but you don't have to let it affect your work.
It may help to rehearse what you want to say ahead of time and to cut out anything extraneous that could confuse your flightier peers.

Some of our readers today have been in:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Paris, Ile-De-France, France

Bremen, Bremen, Germany

Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

Cairo, Al Qahirah, Egypt

Rauma, Western Finland, Finland

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

London, England, United Kingdom

Coffs Harbor, New South Wales, Australia

Pzeszow, Podkarpackie, Poland

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Oslo, Oslo, Norway

as well as France, and the United States in such cities as Sheffield, Chattanooga, Valley Springs, Brockway and more

Today is Thursday, July 8, the 189th day of 2010.

There are 176 days left in the year.

Today In History July 8

Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:

SCUD DAY (Savor the Comic - Unplug the Drama)

Well we made it through the day - Charleston was nice.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:
Supremely capable and hard-working people like you aren't always the best at expressing feelings, but that all changes for you today.
You've got a lot of emotions that you need to get off your chest, and you're determined to express them to those who are closest to you.
Not only are they pleased to hear you let it all out, but they reciprocate in ways that will please you immensely.

Some of our readers today have been in:

Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

Bangkok, Krung Thep Thailand

London, England, United Kingdom

Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Hanoi, Hanoi, Viet Nam

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal

Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia

Coffs Harbor, New South Wales, Australia

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Gdansk, Pomorskie, Poland

Dartford, England, United Kingdom

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

as well as France, and the United States in such cities as Baraboo, Worcester, Oakland, Joliet and more

Today is Wednesday, July 7, the 188th day of 2010.

There are 177 days left in the year.

Today In History July 7

Today's unusual holiday or celebration are:

Chocolate Day

Tell The Truth Day

and

Father-Daughter Take A Walk Together Day

On Vacation

We the editorial staff here at Carolina Naturally are officially on vacation starting today.

And while we will be kicking back in various locales for the next week the rest of the staff will be compiling items of interest as they do every day for this blog so there will be posts just like there are each day but the number and the timing will be whatever and whenever the mood strikes us.

Act of patriotism mystifies office workers

Employees can't figure out who saved their fallen flag, until they see security footage.

Surprise Samaritan

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World Cup Soccer

Dutch star's unstoppable shot

Giovanni van Bronckhorst makes a powerful case for the World Cup's best goal.

Watch the left-footed strike

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From soccer rebel to international star

Bastian Schweinsteiger credits German leader Angela Merkel with reviving his career.

The chancellor's pep talk

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World's Largest Hedge Maze

Italian publisher Franco Maria Ricci, the man who published some of the world’s most fantastical works and luxurious volumes has created its biggest maze. His labyrinth of bamboo hedges at Fontanellato near Parma reportedly covers some seven hectares (17.5 acres), which would make it more than five times larger than the Pineapple Garden Maze on Hawaii, the largest permanent hedge maze in the Guinness Book of Records.

The maze is scheduled to open to the public in 2012. Bring a cell phone with you if you go, just in case you get lost.

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