The age-old thought process behind Libertys WNBA megadeal

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After firing and re-hiring their coach within a three-month span, the Liberty are firmly pointed forward and have a clear goal in mind: to get younger.

On Monday, the Liberty consummated a blockbuster WNBA trade, shipping 32-year-old Cappie Pondexter to the Chicago Sky in exchange for 27-year-old Epiphanny Prince, in a swap of guards who played at Rutgers. The age difference was no minor detail.

When we made the change to bring [coach] Bill [Laimbeer] back about a month ago, we talked about doing a full evaluation of the Liberty and where we were headed, Kristin Bernert, the teams Senior Vice President of Business Operations, said Tuesday on a conference call. We decided that we probably needed to make some roster moves and plan not just for next year, but for the next 5-6 years. We have a young post player in [26-year-old] Tina Charles. Can we align somebody like Cappie, with a similar skill set, around the same age as Tina? This sets us up for 5-6 years down the road.

With youth the buzzword of the day, Laimbeer part of the methodically assembled core of the 1980s Bad Boy Detroit Pistons as an NBA player detailed what he envisions for the future.

Were building a basketball team for many years to come and want [players of] a similar age, said Laimbeer, who parted ways with the Liberty in October only to return to the fold in January. Essence [Carson], [Alex] Montgomery, those are players are in their mid-20s, right in their time slot where they should be blossoming. Accumulating this kind of talent, theyre all going to grow together. Thats our plan and hopefully it will come to fruition.

Right now, the team that we have assembled is wing-dominant. Were gonna play a little small ball with this lineup. We want to grow our players. This is not win right now. This is about building something. Were going to be more wing-dominant, but with Tina in the post we want to grow to see what we have and then the following year we can add a piece that we really need.

In Prince, the Liberty think they acquired a younger version ofPondexter.Laimbeer said Prince is a scorer with deep range who can handle the ball and [functions well] in the pick-and-roll.Prince said shes excited to play with Carson, a former college teammate at Rutgers.

Im really excited to get back out with E, she said. We pushed each other [in practice].

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The age-old thought process behind Libertys WNBA megadeal

The Fix: Rand Pauls libertarian electability argument and its limits

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Sen. Rand Paul is reportedly set to announce his presidential campaign in April. And(timing!) his supporters are happily pointingto newQuinnipiac polls of three key swing states, which show for a change that a Republican is running neck-and-neck with Hillary Clinton.

That Republican, of course,is Paul.

Of particular interest are the results inColorado and Virginia, where Clinton narrowly leads Paul 43-41 percent and 44-42 percent, respectively within the margin of error. No other Republican is so close in the three states polled the third being Iowa. And that includes Jeb Bush, who is tied in Virginia but lags in the two other states.

A sampling of the Twitter analysis:

All the usual caveats of early polling, of course, apply here. This poll predicts nothing, but it does give a sense of *very early* views of the candidates.

And thoughit's a good picture for Paul, it's also not that surprising. Colorado and Virginia, after all,should be some of his better states.

The former is known as the birthplace of the American libertarian movement. And a 2009 study from George Mason University ranked it as the second most-libertarian state in the country when it cameto "personal and economic freedom."

And Virginia, while not renowned for its libertarian streak, per se, gave Ron Paul 40 percent of the vote in his 2012 primary match-up with Mitt Romney his best showing in any state. It's worth qualifying that they were the only two candidatesonVirginia's ballot (in contrast to other contests around that time) making Ron Paul the only so-called non-Romney option and likely inflating his total at least somewhat. But 40 percent for a Paul is still 40 percent for a Paul.

And there's plenty of evidence of Virginia moving more toward libertarianism, up to and including Robert Sarvis, who had the third-best showing ever for a libertarian gubernatorial candidate in Virginia's 2013 governor's race.

None of this, we would emphasize, is to diminish Paul's case for electability. In fact, it's part and parcel of it. That's because both of these states and other more libertarian stateslike Nevada and New Hampshire arguably the most libertarian state in the country just happen to beswing states in 2016. And Republicans would love to have a candidate who runs well in these states. Paul could be that guy, at least in theory.

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The Fix: Rand Pauls libertarian electability argument and its limits

The Fix: Is Rand Paul the GOPs Great Libertarian Hope against Clinton? Yes and no.

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Sen. Rand Paul is reportedly set to announce his presidential campaign in April. And(timing!) his supporters are happily pointingto newQuinnipiac polls of three key swing states, which show for a change that a Republican is running neck-and-neck with Hillary Clinton.

That Republican, of course,is Paul.

Of particular interest are the results inColorado and Virginia, where Clinton narrowly leads Paul 43-41 percent and 44-42 percent, respectively within the margin of error. No other Republican is so close in the three states polled the third being Iowa. And that includes Jeb Bush, who is tied in Virginia but lags in the two other states.

A sampling of the Twitter analysis:

All the usual caveats of early polling, of course, apply here. This poll predicts nothing, but it does give a sense of *very early* views of the candidates.

And thoughit's a good picture for Paul, it's also not that surprising. Colorado and Virginia, after all,should be some of his better states.

The former is known as the birthplace of the American libertarian movement. And a 2009 study from George Mason University ranked it as the second most-libertarian state in the country when it cameto "personal and economic freedom."

And Virginia, while not renowned for its libertarian streak, per se, gave Ron Paul 40 percent of the vote in his 2012 primary match-up with Mitt Romney his best showing in any state. It's worth qualifying that they were the only two candidatesonVirginia's ballot (in contrast to other contests around that time) making Ron Paul the only so-called non-Romney option and likely inflating his total at least somewhat. But 40 percent for a Paul is still 40 percent for a Paul.

And there's plenty of evidence of Virginia moving more toward libertarianism, up to and including Robert Sarvis, who had the third-best showing ever for a libertarian gubernatorial candidate in Virginia's 2013 governor's race.

None of this, we would emphasize, is to diminish Paul's case for electability. In fact, it's part and parcel of it. That's because both of these states and other more libertarian stateslike Nevada and New Hampshire arguably the most libertarian state in the country just happen to beswing states in 2016. And Republicans would love to have a candidate who runs well in these states. Paul could be that guy, at least in theory.

See the original post here:

The Fix: Is Rand Paul the GOPs Great Libertarian Hope against Clinton? Yes and no.

Is Rand Paul the GOPs Great Libertarian Hope against Clinton? Yes and no.

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Sen. Rand Paul is reportedly set to announce his presidential campaign in April. And(timing!) his supporters are happily pointingto newQuinnipiac polls of three key swing states, which show for a change that a Republican is running neck-and-neck with Hillary Clinton.

That Republican, of course,is Paul.

Of particular interest are the results inColorado and Virginia, where Clinton narrowly leads Paul 43-41 percent and 44-42 percent, respectively within the margin of error. No other Republican is so close in the three states polled the third being Iowa. And that includes Jeb Bush, who is tied in Virginia but lags in the two other states.

A sampling of the Twitter analysis:

All the usual caveats of early polling, of course, apply here. This poll predicts nothing, but it does give a sense of *very early* views of the candidates.

And thoughit's a good picture for Paul, it's also not that surprising. Colorado and Virginia, after all,should be some of his better states.

The former is known as the birthplace of the American libertarian movement. And a 2009 study from George Mason University ranked it as the second most-libertarian state in the country when it cameto "personal and economic freedom."

And Virginia, while not renowned for its libertarian streak, per se, gave Ron Paul 40 percent of the vote in his 2012 primary match-up with Mitt Romney his best showing in any state. It's worth qualifying that they were the only two candidatesonVirginia's ballot (in contrast to other contests around that time) making Ron Paul the only so-called non-Romney option and likely inflating his total at least somewhat. But 40 percent for a Paul is still 40 percent for a Paul.

And there's plenty of evidence of Virginia moving more toward libertarianism, up to and including Robert Sarvis, who had the third-best showing ever for a libertarian gubernatorial candidate in Virginia's 2013 governor's race.

None of this, we would emphasize, is to diminish Paul's case for electability. In fact, it's part and parcel of it. That's because both of these states and other more libertarian stateslike Nevada and New Hampshire arguably the most libertarian state in the country just happen to beswing states in 2016. And Republicans would love to have a candidate who runs well in these states. Paul could be that guy, at least in theory.

See the original post here:

Is Rand Paul the GOPs Great Libertarian Hope against Clinton? Yes and no.

Let’s Play Stranded Deep Gameplay Part 18 – Seals? Exploring Islands – Gameplay Highlights – Video

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Let #39;s Play Stranded Deep Gameplay Part 18 - Seals? Exploring Islands - Gameplay Highlights
Let #39;s PlayStranded Deep Gameplay! Stranded Deep is a gaming coming to early access in 2015. Today on Stranded Deep I continue my journey to find the perfect ...

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Let's Play Stranded Deep Gameplay Part 18 - Seals? Exploring Islands - Gameplay Highlights - Video

C&C Red Alert 3 – Soviet Mission 8 Easter Islands, The Stone-Faced Witnesses [HD] – Video

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C C Red Alert 3 - Soviet Mission 8 Easter Islands, The Stone-Faced Witnesses [HD]
http://www.youtube.com/user/MartinKiller88/videos Check my other longplays (mostly in HD quality) on my channel. If you really liked my videos, don #39;t forget to subscribe. C C Red Alert 3 is...

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C&C Red Alert 3 - Soviet Mission 8 Easter Islands, The Stone-Faced Witnesses [HD] - Video

China builds islands in disputed waters

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Story highlights China is building islands in disputed waters in the South China Sea Land reclamation taking place at five sites, IHS Jane's Defence Weekly says. China creating 'chain of air and sea capable fortresses'

Satellite images from late January analyzed by IHS Jane's Defence Weekly show that China is reclaiming a significant amount of land at three sites in the Spratly Islands, in addition to two other sites previously documented by the defense publication.

"Where it used to have a few, small concrete platforms, it now has full islands with helipads, airstrips, harbors, and facilities to support large numbers of troops," James Hardy, Jane's Asia Pacific editor, told CNN.

"We can see that this is a methodical, well-planned campaign to create a chain of air and sea capable fortresses across the center of the Spratly Islands chain."

In November, the publication reported that China was building an "air strip capable" island at least 3,000 meters long on Fiery Cross Reef.

The South China Sea is the subject of numerous rival -- often messy -- territorial claims, with China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam disputing sovereignty of several island chains and nearby waters.

The areas in dispute include fertile fishing grounds and potentially rich reserves of undersea natural resources.

READ: China's military not ready 'to fight and win future wars'

The latest images show for the first time reclamation at Hughes Reef -- a "large facility" is being constructed on 75,000 square meters of reclaimed land. Jane's also said that significant progress has been made at Johnson South and Gaven Reefs.

"The buildings on Hughes Reef and Gaven Reefs have almost identical footprints: that of a main square building with what appears to be an anti-aircraft tower or radome at each corner.

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China builds islands in disputed waters

Temporary air services in place for Fogo Island and Change Islands

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The following is an update on the ferry service between Fogo Island, Change Islands and Farewell:

The MV Captain Earl Winsor is now making ferry runs from Fogo Island/Change Islands to Farewell without the assistance of an icebreaker.

Depending on weather and ice conditions, ice breaker assistance from the Canadian Coast Guard is expected to arrive on Thursday, February 19.

Fixed-wind air service began yesterday and will continue today, Feb. 18 between Fogo Island and Gander. Helicopter service has commenced between Change Islands, Fogo Island, and Farewell. The complete schedule is listed below.

Individuals with medical appointments will be given priority access provided they have sufficient documentation.

Fixed-Wing Air Service for Fogo Island

Departures from Gander

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Temporary air services in place for Fogo Island and Change Islands

Scientists unveil 'epigenome roadmap' genetic code

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Code interacts with human genome to tell DNA what to do

(ANSA) - Rome, February 18 - The most comprehensive information so far into the human epigenome - chemical compounds that modify or mark human DNA to give it instructions about how to perform - was released to the public on Wednesday in a free online database and in 24 articles published by the Nature group of scientific magazines. The research is a product of the Roadmap Epigenomics Program, an 2008 initiative funded by the U.S. government at a cost of 240 million dollars, planned to last 10 years. This release of information about the human epigenome is being hailed as the most important discovery into human genetics since the 2001 publishing of the first draft of the human genome, the chemical sequences that make up DNA. Researchers hope epigenomic information will help cure and prevent diseases like diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and Alzheimer's by decoding how the epigenome operates on human DNA.

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Scientists unveil 'epigenome roadmap' genetic code

Scientists Unveil Map of Human Epigenomes in Effort to Fight Disease

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Newswise Virtually every cell in the body carries an identical genome. But how is it possible that each of the bodys 200 different types of specialized cells in the heart, brain, bone, skin and elsewhere develops from the same DNA instruction book?

As it turns out, reading that instruction book and carrying out its directives are controlled by chemical markers that attach to DNA to activate or silence genes. These chemical markers, known as the epigenome, vary vastly from one cell type to another and, when disrupted, can play a role in the onset of many diseases, from cancer and Alzheimers disease to diabetes and autism. Probing the epigenome could improve scientists understanding of the molecular basis of disease and lead to new treatments.

Now, for the first time, researchers have assembled a comprehensive map of the human epigenome. The mapping, by scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and other institutions, includes detailed descriptions of the epigenetic markers in 111 types of cells and tissues. Partial epigenome mapping is available for many other cell types, and new information will be added as it becomes available.

The research is published Feb. 18 in the journal Nature. More than 20 additional papers, including three by scientists at the School of Medicine, appear simultaneously in other Nature journals to show how epigenetic maps can be used to study human biology.

Weve only scratched the surface of the human epigenome, but this massive resource marks the beginning of an era, said a principal investigator of the epigenome mapping project, Ting Wang, PhD, assistant professor of genetics. We can now begin to describe humans in molecular detail.

We also can look closely at the epigenetic differences between cell types. We dont yet understand what those differences mean or what epigenetic changes drive cell specialization or the initiation of disease. But thats where were headed. This resource opens up many new doors in biology and the biomedical sciences.

The epigenome also lies at the intersection of the genome and the environment. People have little control over their DNA, but epigenomes are dynamic and potentially can be altered by changes in lifestyle, such as diet and exercise, or by pharmaceuticals. That makes the epigenome a critical player in health and disease.

The mapping initiative, referred to as the Roadmap Epigenomics Program, is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund.

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Scientists Unveil Map of Human Epigenomes in Effort to Fight Disease

Most Comprehensive Map of Human Epigenomes Is Unveiled

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Two dozen scientific papers published online simultaneously on Feb. 18, 2015 present the first comprehensive maps and analyses of the epigenomes of a wide array of human cell and tissue types. Epigenomes are patterns of chemical annotations to the genome that determine whether, how, and when genes are activated.

Because epigenomes orchestrate normal development of the body, and disruptions in epigenetic control are known to be involved in a wide range of disorders from cancer to autism to heart disease, the massive trove of data is expected to yield many new insights into human biology in both health and disease.

The 24 papers describing human epigenomes will appear in print on Feb. 19, 2015 in the journal Nature and in six other journals under the aegis of Nature Publishing Group. Collectively, the papers are a culmination of years of research by hundreds of participants in the Roadmap Epigenomics Program (REP), first proposed in 2006 by academic scientists and key members of the National Institutes of Health. All will be freely available at Natures Epigenome Roadmap website.

The DNA sequence of the human genome is identical in all cells of the body, but cell typessuch as heart, brain or skin cellshave unique characteristics and are uniquely susceptible to various diseases, said UC San Franciscos Joseph F. Costello, PhD, director of one of four NIH Roadmap Epigenome Mapping Centers (REMC) that contributed data to the REP. By guiding how genes are expressed, epigenomes allow cells carrying the same DNA to differentiate into the more than 200 types found in the human body.

In cancer research, said Costello, the new data will hasten a merging of genomic and epigenomic perspectives that was already underway. Youve had cancer researchers studying the genomethe role of mutations, deletions, and so onand others studying epigenomes. They've almost been working on parallel tracks, and they didnt talk to each other all that much. Over the past five or six years, theres been a reframing of the discussion, because the most recurrent mutations in cancer affect epigenomic regulators. So the way mutations in the genome play out is through epigenomic mechanisms, and major pharmaceutical companies now view epigenomes as an important target.

Costello holds the Karen Osney Brownstein Endowed Chair in Neuro-Oncology in the UCSF Department of Neurological Surgery, and is a member of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCCC).

The overarching findings of the REP, which include data on 111 distinct human epigenomes from all four REMCs as well as from dozens of individual labs around the world, are covered in a Nature paper for which Manolis Kellis, PhD, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, is senior author. In addition to the many implications for normal human biology of the most comprehensive map of the human epigenomic landscape so far, the authors write, our data sets will be valuable in the study of human disease, as several companion papers explore in the context of autoimmune disease, Alzheimers disease, and cancer.

DNA molecules are long, thin double strands containing genes, the discrete units of information that serve as recipes for the protein-making machinery of the cell. In order for DNA molecules to fit into the small space of the cell nucleus, they are compressed and packed like cooked spaghetti, and also wound around spool-like structures called histones. Chemical epigenetic marksthe addition of methyl groups in or near genes, and modifications to histonesdetermine whether genes are available to be transcribed and translated into proteins. Though epigenetic marks are stable, they are reversible, and they can also be altered by environmental factors such as diet, exposure to toxins, and aging. Such changes affect gene expression, which can lead to disease.

The REMC directed by UCSFs Costello included researchers from UCSF; the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC); the University of Southern California (USC), Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL); and Canadas Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre and the University of British Columbia (UBC), in Vancouver, Canada. The group provided important data to the REP on several cell types, including epigenomes of the normal human placenta, sperm, breast cells, blood cells, fetal and adult brain cells, and skin cells. Misha Bilenki, PhD, a member of Costellos REMC with an appointment at Canadas Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, is co-first author of the Nature paper of which Kellis, of MIT and Harvard, is senior author.

A unique contribution of Costellos REMC was the creation, by WUSTLs Ting Wang, PhD, and David Haussler, PhD, and Jim Kent of UCSC, of the Roadmap Epigenome Browser, a web-based tool that gives scientists worldwide open access to the complete data from the REP.

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Most Comprehensive Map of Human Epigenomes Is Unveiled