Oculus Rift developer kits go up for regular pre-order, catch VR procrastinators

Anyone who's been wanting to make a game for the Oculus Rift headset, but hemmed and hawed during the Kickstarter run, now has a second chance. Oculus has kicked off its own pre-order campaign that offers the VR developer kit at the same $300 that it cost for the more proactive among us, or $345 for those beyond US borders. As an added incentive, the first 1,000 who pull the trigger still get a copy of Doom 3: BFG Edition to show what the Oculus Rift can do. Twiddling your thumbs will have cost at least a month -- these new kits won't ship until January -- but the pre-order still means a head start over competing developers that haven't yet seen the virtual light.

Filed under: Displays, Wearables

Oculus Rift developer kits go up for regular pre-order, catch VR procrastinators originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/5fHJPsgs2Y8/

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Is Anorexia a Cultural Disease?

A very svelte Daisy Duck models Dolce & Gabbana for Barneys' holiday campaign

Photo courtesy Barneys New York.

From the outside, my eating disorder looked a lot like vanity run amok. It looked like a diet or an obsession with the size of my thighs. I spewed self- and body-hatred to friends and family for well over a decade. Anorexia may have looked like a disorder brought about by the fashion industry, by a desire to be thin and model-perfect that got out of hand.

Except that it wasn't. I wasn't being vain when I craned my neck trying to check out my butt in the mirror?I truly had no idea what size I was anymore. I was so afraid of calories that I refused to use lip balm and, at one point, was unable to drink water. I was terrified of gaining weight, but I couldn't explain why.

As I lay in yet another hospital bed hooked up to yet another set of IVs and heart monitors, the idea of eating disorders as a cultural disorder struck me as utterly ludicrous. I didn't read fashion magazines, and altering my appearance wasn't what drove me to start restricting my food intake. I just wanted to feel better; I thought cutting out snacks might be a good way to make that happen. The more I read, the more I came to understand that culture is only a small part of an eating disorder. Much of my eating disorder, I learned, was driven by my own history of anxiety and depression, by my tendency to focus on the details at the expense of the big picture, and by hunger circuits gone awry. The overwhelming amount of misinformation about eating disorders?what they are and what causes them?drove me to write my latest book, Decoding Anorexia: How Breakthroughs in Science Offer Hope for Eating Disorders.?

Efforts to fight eating disorders still target cultural phenomena, especially images of overly thin, digitally altered models. Last month, the Academy for Eating Disorders and the Binge Eating Disorders Association ?issued a press release condemning the high-end department store Barneys for giving beloved Disney characters a makeover. Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck were stretched like taffy to appear emaciated in honor of Barneys' holiday ad campaign. The eating disorders groups wrote (PDF):

Viewership of such images is associated with low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction in young girls and women, placing them at risk for development of body image disturbances and eating disorders. These conditions can have devastating psychological as well as medical consequences. This campaign runs counter to efforts across the globe to improve both the health of runway models and the representation of body image by the fashion industry.

All of which is technically true. But when you look at the research literature, several studies indicate that environmental factors such as emaciated models are actually a minor factor in what puts people at risk of an eating disorder. A 2000 study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that about 60 percent (and up to 85 percent) of a person's risk for developing anorexia was due to genetics. A 2006 follow-up study in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that only 5 percent of a person's risk of developing anorexia came from shared environmental factors like models and magazine culture. A far greater environmental risk (which the study estimated constituted 35 percent of someone?s risk of anorexia) came from what researchers call non-shared environmental factors, which are unique to each individual, such as being bullied on the playground or being infected with a bacterium like Streptococcus. (Several very small studies have linked the sudden onset of anorexia and obsessive-compulsive symptoms to an autoimmune reaction to strep infections.)

Eating disorders existed long before the advent of supermodels. Researchers believe the "starving saints" of the Middle Ages, like Catherine of Siena, had anorexia. Reports from ancient history indicate that wealthy Romans would force themselves to vomit during feasts, to make room in their stomachs for yet another course. In modern times, anorexia has been reported in rural Africa and in Amish and Mennonite communities, none of which are inundated with images of overly thin women. Nor does culture explain the fact that all Americans are bombarded with these images but only a very tiny portion ever develop a clinical eating disorder.

Frankly, I think the Barney's creation of Skinny Minnie and her newly svelte compatriots is ridiculous. They look absurd and freakish. I think we should be aware of and speak out against the thin body ideal, the sexualization of children, and the use of digitally altered images in advertising. I think we should do this regardless of the link to eating disorders. My objection to the AED and BEDA?s response is that it reinforces an "I wanna look like a model" model for how we think of eating disorders. It implies that eating disorders are seen as issues for white, upper-class women, which means that these life-threatening disorders often go undetected and untreated in men, the poor, and minorities.

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=778a356f9559ffdfb45239221462505f

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Gay couple sues after photo used in anti-gay flier

Tom Privitere and Brian Edwards, a married couple living in New Jersey, said their engagement photo was altered from the original by the group, Public Advocate of the United States, which opposes gay marriage, in mailers sent during campaigning for Republican statehouse seats in Colorado.

By Miranda Leitsinger, NBC News

Tom Privitere and Brian Edwards posed for their engagement photo, holding hands and kissing, in front of the Brooklyn Bridge in 2010. The image captured one of the happiest days of their lives. But earlier this year, their special moment was soured when the photo was used in two anti-gay mailers in Colorado.

On Wednesday, the couple and their photographer filed a lawsuit Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Colorado against Public Advocate of the United States, a nonprofit that opposes same-sex marriage. They are seeking a court order saying the group violated the law, damages, costs and attorney fees for the allegedly unauthorized use of the copyrighted photo.

---

?We want to take back the beautiful moment in our lives that was reflected in our engagement photo before it was hijacked,? Edwards, a 32-year-old college administrator living in Montclair, N.J., told NBC News on Monday before traveling to Colorado to file the lawsuit. ?We also ? want to take a stand for others who might be similarly targeted in the future.?

The couple, who met in New York in 2000, got engaged in December 2009. The next year in May, photographer Kristina Hill snapped their engagement photos. The pair married later that year in a civil ceremony in Connecticut.

?All that we did was what any other couple would do to mark their engagement and have these photos taken for family and friends to share our joy and our excitement and help people (see) what path we were taking toward our wedding,? said Privitere, 37. ?It was a great, great day for us.?

Kristina Hill/Kristina Hill Photography

This original engagement photo of Tom Privitere and Brian Edwards was taken on May 23, 2010. The couple married in Connecticut later that year.

The couple alleged that Public Advocate seized upon that personal moment to spread what Edwards called a ?message of hate? in two mailers it sent this spring during Republican primary races for the Colorado statehouse.

One of the mailers targeted State Sen. Jean White, who supported a bill that would have granted same-sex civil unions. Across the couple?s image were the words: ?State Senator Jean White?s Idea of ?Family Values??? The other one, aimed at House candidate Jeffrey Hare, read: ?Jeffrey Hare?s Vision for Weld County?? Both candidates lost their races.

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A friend alerted the couple to the mailers in late June. It?s not clear how Public Advocate got the photo, which the pair had posted to a blog about their engagement and impending nuptials. They say the group never asked the couple or Hill to use it.

When contacted by NBC News for comment on the lawsuit, Eugene Delgaudio, president of Public Advocate, said in an email that he was looking into it but did not elaborate or provide further remarks.

?The use of Tom and Brian?s likenesses, or of Kristina?s copyrighted photo, was wholly gratuitous,? said their attorney, Christine Sun, of the Southern Poverty Law Center. ?Public Advocate could have just paid for a stock photo of a gay couple kissing but instead Public Advocate decided to take this very personal photo of this happy moment and use it to attack gay people.?

? ? the doctrine of fair use is not intended to allow people to use copyrighted work just because it?s cheaper than paying for something,? she added.

The couple has experienced sleepless nights and anxiety since they learned of the mailer. They?re concerned about the impact of the mailers upon others who may have seen it, such as gay youth and their families who may be struggling with accepting them.

?Colorado is a positive step in trying to right a wrong,? said Privitere, who works in entertainment ticketing. ?We?re nervous to be thrust into the public spotlight again. We?re nervous that we?re not going to represent our community the best that we can. But we?re going to do all that we can to try to fix or make this right.?

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/26/14098656-gay-couple-sues-after-photo-used-in-anti-gay-flier?lite

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United African Organization: Tanzanian Bye Bye Summer BBQ

Event: Bye Bye Summer BBQ

Date: September 29th

Time: Noon to 6pm

Location: Schiller Woods West Forest Preserve Grove Number 9, on the intersection of Irving Park Ave. and Cumberland Ave.?

This will be a great chance to enjoy the final days of warm weather in Chicago, meet TCA members, TCA Leaders and friends of Tanzania and be a part of organizing our next big event.?Please bring food and drinks to share, and don't forget to bring your family and friends and clothes to play soccer in!

Source: http://unitedafricanorganization.blogspot.com/2012/09/tanzanian-bye-bye-summer-bbq.html

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Pantech Vega R3 packs Snapdragon S4 Pro, 5.3-inch screen into one hand

If there's one thing that defines the phablet, it's not hand portability -- what's on the market usually demands something of a stretch. Pantech wants to keep our grip at least slightly in check through its imminent Vega R3. The Android phone's 5.3-inch, IPS-based LCD isn't what we'd call modest, but it's framed by an extra-thin bezel that Pantech claims is still comfortable in one hand. The R3 will be powerful, no matter how you hold it. It touts the same quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro we just saw in the LG Optimus G along with 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel camera and a 2,600mAh battery that can top up 100 minutes. South Koreans can pick up the Vega R3 from one of their three major carriers on September 25th. Sadly, we're not expecting an American variant of the design given an emphasis on cheaper and smaller Pantech models in the US.

Continue reading Pantech Vega R3 packs Snapdragon S4 Pro, 5.3-inch screen into one hand

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Pantech Vega R3 packs Snapdragon S4 Pro, 5.3-inch screen into one hand originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 04:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/oSmKrxkbfgg/

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Are there any fighters who can beat Jon Jones?

Jon Jones' win on Saturday night was awe-inspiring. He survived a grotesque armbar, and came back to win with fourth-round submission. He seems to keep getting better and better with each fight, this time incorporating jiu-jitsu skills into his win. At the moment, he appears unbeatable.

Are there any fighters in the UFC who can eventually take him on and win? Any fighters who can take time to study Jones, figure out his every move, and then finally solve the Jon Jones puzzle?

Dan Henderson: The one-time PRIDE and Strikeforce champion was supposed to fight Jones before he was injured and UFC 151 was canceled. He has already put in the time and effort to fight Jones, and may already have him figured out. His age is an issue, but Henderson still wants the fight.

Alexander Gustaffson: One of Jones' biggest advantages is his reach. He was able to hold Belfort at bay throughout the fight by simply extending his arm. At 6-foot-5, Gustafsson is an inch taller. He has a fight lined up with former champ Mauricio "Shogun" Rua who will show if "The Viking" is ready for the next step.

Chael Sonnen: Based on Sonnen's inability to handle Anderson Silva in their last fight, there is no reason to believe Sonnen could beat Jones. However, the run-up to the fight would be so much fun. Considering the UFC put Jones up against a middleweight who lost a title shot, integrity of the belt doesn't matter as much as entertainment or making money. Sonnen has already shown he can get under Jones' skin in a way no one else has, and that just may give him the edge in a bout.

Anderson Silva: Could he beat Jones? Yes. Will this fight ever, ever happen? No. Silva keeps talking about wanting a fight with welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, and he does have a few challenges waiting for him at middleweight.

Who is missing from this list? Speak up in the comments, on Facebook or Twitter.

Related UFC video from Yahoo! Sports:

Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
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? Colin Montgomerie fears raucous American crowd could mar Ryder Cup's return to U.S.
? Y! Tech: Rioting sweeps Chinese Apple iPhone 5 factory

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/fighters-beat-jon-jones-142406430--mma.html

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Business Internet Broadcast via Internet Radio

??????????? The business generation we are into right now is doing all what it takes to publish their advertisement due to high and tight competition among business owners. The demand of letting their names popular is giving high influence on their sales.

??????????? Strategy wise, to trace the mode of business advertisement, it all started with a simple news paper delivered by a boy riding on a bike and throw it in your garden area. Until, television is invented that there are moving characters seen to promote the business. Now, with the wide use of internet, business industry has taken advantage with the benefits it offers.

??????????? Internet Radio ? the term used to the process of streaming sound waves that conveys a certain advertisement online. One way of using this kind of technology is through streaming media in which the playing file cannot be paused or replayed. Another way of using this kind of advertisement is more on downloading rather than streaming.

??????????? The internet radio is widely used worldwide because of the wide range coverage of advertisement. Like say for example, an advertisement delivered via internet radio in Asia can also be heard in some other continents. In short, the coverage is global as long as you are online.

??????????? Let us check on how the process begins in order to have a business internet broadcast via internet radio.

??????????? First is the streaming radio. This technology allows the sound waves to be distributed online and lossy audio codec is typically and commonly used. The formats to distribute audio are MP3, Ogg Vorbis, Windows Media Audio, RealAudio, and HE-AAC. The data transmitted is continuously streamed online via internet. Sometimes, the streaming has delays and it is referred as lag.

??????????? Second is the simulation in which the local online radio will also air the advertisement.

??????????? The internet radio is very effective in business advertisement because internet radio became so popular. According to a research, around 2003, there were more people who listen to online radio than to a satellite radio. That is why most of the ads now are published online through the internet radio technology. And when it comes to the fast popularity of the business engagement it is also very effective because according to the news last 2008, internet radio provides efficient and large coverage of the online streaming and simulation.

??????????? United States of America as the biggest state in the world, in their business industry, they are embracing this technology. They reported that, it is much efficient than of the satellite radio broadcasting. And in a short period of time they are able to spread the name of the business they are into. This statistics was done last 2008 and as of the moment, they are into promotion of this technology for faster and more efficient business ads.

Research more on mobile broadband at Broadband Expert's great website.

??????????? To be wise with the popularity of the business, internet radio is a wise choice; it gives you more access to the consumer because it is online and it doesn?t need to match a satellite signal in order to have it streamed on air. Indeed, this is a wise business partner.

Jashon Wills is a renowned Author for his innovative articles and books. As a Broaband Expert, he is currently enjoying his skill in?http://www.broadbandexpert.com

Source: http://www.techezi.com/2012/09/business-internet-broadcast-via.html

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