In conversation with Epic Games' Mark Rein: Unreal Engine 4 support for Oculus Rift (and everything else), and thoughts on next-gen

Epic Games isn't just offering up its ubiquitous current-gen game creation tool Unreal Engine 3 to Oculus Rift developers, but also its next-gen tool, Unreal Engine 4. Epic Games VP Mark Rein told Engadget as much during an interview at this year's Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, repeatedly stating he's "super bullish" on the Rift, all the while rocking an Oculus pin on his exhibitor lanyard. "Oh, for sure," he said when we asked about UE4 support for the Rift. "We're working on that now." The Rift dev kit was demoed at CES 2013 running Unreal Engine 3's "Epic Citadel" demo, and Epic's offered support to the Oculus folks since early on, making the UE4 news not a huge surprise, but welcome nonetheless.

The next-gen game engine was being shown off at GDC 2013 with a flashy new demo (seen below the break), as well as a version of its "Elemental" demo running on a PlayStation 4 dev kit (shrouded behind a curtain, of course). Rein was visibly excited about that as well, unable to contain random vocal outbursts during the presentation. "It's a war out there, and we sell bullets and bandaids," he jokingly told us in an interview the following day. The quote comes from coworker and Epic VP of business development Jay Wilbur, and it's fitting -- Epic only makes a handful of games, and the company's real money comes from game engine licensees. In so many words, the more platforms that Unreal Engine variants can go, the better for Epic (as well as for engine licensees, of course). "It's a good place to be -- we try to support everything we can. We have to place some timed bets on things that we feel are gonna be the most important to licensees, and also to us where we're taking games. But because the engine is portable -- it's written in C++ -- a licensee can take and do whatever they want," he said.

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals, Software, HD

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Zumba teacher could get jail in prostitution case

Alexis Wright appears with her attorney, Sarah Churchill, Friday, March 29, 2013 in Cumberland County Court, in Portland, Maine. Wright, a dance instructor accused of using her Zumba fitness studio as a front for prostitution pleaded guilty Friday to 20 counts in a scandal that captivated a quiet seaside town. (AP Photo/Portland Press Herald, John Ewing, Pool)

Alexis Wright appears with her attorney, Sarah Churchill, Friday, March 29, 2013 in Cumberland County Court, in Portland, Maine. Wright, a dance instructor accused of using her Zumba fitness studio as a front for prostitution pleaded guilty Friday to 20 counts in a scandal that captivated a quiet seaside town. (AP Photo/Portland Press Herald, John Ewing, Pool)

Alexis Wright appears with her attorney, Sarah Churchill, Friday, March 29, 2013 in Cumberland County Court, in Portland, Maine. Wright, a dance instructor accused of using her Zumba fitness studio as a front for prostitution pleaded guilty Friday to 20 counts in a scandal that captivated a quiet seaside town. (AP Photo/Portland Press Herald, John Ewing, Pool)

FILE - In this March 13, 2013 file photo, Alexis Wright, 30, leaves the Cumberland County Courthouse in Portland, Maine, after a hearing in the case of the Zumba fitness instructor charged with prostitution and tax and welfare violations. The defense and prosecutors resumed a settlement conference Friday, March 29, 2013, after the first round of discussions failed to produce a plea agreement. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) ? The dance instructor who used her Zumba fitness studio as a front for prostitution faces jail time after pleading guilty in a case that captivated a quiet seaside town known for its beaches and picturesque homes.

The plea agreement, which calls for a 10-month sentence, spares Alexis Wright from the prospect of a high-profile trial featuring sex videos, exhibitionism and pornography. She's scheduled to be sentenced on May 31.

Wright quietly answered "guilty" 20 times on Friday when the judge read the counts, which include engaging in prostitution, promotion of prostitution, conspiracy, tax evasion and theft by deception.

"We're very satisfied with it. It's an appropriate outcome, given the gravity of her actions," Assistant Attorney General Darcy Mitchell said after the brief court hearing.

The 30-year-old Wright was accused of conspiring with insurance agent Mark Strong Sr. to run a prostitution business in which she kept detailed records indicating she made $150,000 over an 18-month period. She was also accused of using a hidden camera to record sex acts without her clients' knowledge.

She was originally charged with 106 counts. All the counts in the agreement were misdemeanors, including three counts relating to welfare and tax fraud that were reduced from felonies.

Strong, 57, of Thomaston, was convicted this month of 13 counts related to promotion of prostitution and was sentenced to 20 days in jail. He was originally charged with 59 counts.

The scandal became a sensation following reports that Wright had at least 150 clients, leading to a guessing game of who might be named publicly in the coastal town of Kennebunk. Attorneys who have seen the client list say it included some prominent names. Those who have been charged so far include a former mayor, a high school hockey coach, a minister, a lawyer and a firefighter.

Working together, Strong and Wright represented an unusual pairing.

Wright had attended college classes and ran dance classes for the local parks and recreation program before opening her studio in Kennebunk. But she was also engaging in paid-sex acts in the studio, in her apartment and in her office, law enforcement officials said.

Overseeing the operation and watching the sex acts live on his office computer 100 miles up the coast was Strong, a married father of two who ran a successful insurance agency in Thomaston.

It came as no surprise that Wright would seek a plea agreement because evidence presented in Strong's trial was so overwhelming. A video played for jurors showed Wright engaging in sex acts with a man who then inquired about her rate before leaving $250 cash on her massage table.

After the man left, the video showed Wright pocketing the money.

There was plenty of electronic evidence because the two kept in touch via text and email and because Wright videotaped the clients and Strong watched live via Skype. Videos showed them speaking openly of ledgers, payments and scheduling.

Under the plea agreement, prosecutors will seek restitution of $57,250 from Wright after she's released from jail.

Defense lawyer Sarah Churchill said Wright is married and employable, and she expects Wright will be able to enter into a payment plan. Churchill left the courtroom without talking to reporters.

Residents of Kennebunk were frustrated by the media coverage of the scandal.

Names of purported clients trickled out as they were charged, leading to speculation about who else might be on the list. But residents soon grew weary of the media's attention, especially after it became clear that only a few of clients were locals.

So far, 66 people have been charged as clients, York County Deputy District Attorney Justina McGettigan said. The state will continue to pursue charges against additional people identified on Wright's ledger if the evidence is strong enough to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt, she said.

Things have largely returned to normal in Kennebunk. On Friday night, a free dance was being held at Wright's old Pura Vida Studio, where Zumba continues under new management and a new name, Danceworks.

Jeremiah Ouellette, manager of New Morning Natural Foods Market, across the street from the fitness studio, said residents have put the prostitution episode behind them.

"I think people have really lost interest," Ouellette said Friday evening. "People really don't care anymore."

___

Follow David Sharp at http://twitter.com/David_Sharp_AP

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-03-30-Zumba-Prostitution/id-5ae429c0213144a7a3c1d4200fc10f59

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The Evolution of Gaming?.Old School Style!! ? Greenville College ...

Written by Russell Sztukowski.?Media by Michael Trieb.

For many thousands of years, cultures have entertained themselves with games. Board games have been thought to date back five or six millennia to small wooden artifacts found in the tombs of the pharaohs, to carved stone tablets found in South American ruins. While many ancient games still remain, such as Chess, Checkers, Go, Mancala, and Backgammon, since the start of the 20th century, the popularity of board games has increased dramatically. Throughout the 1900s board games seemed to be a very popular family activity. Tons of new companies?sprung?up and began producing names we know and love today, such as Monopoly, Scrabble, Clue, Sorry, and many others.

Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics depicting a board game
Photo via spotonlists.com

Into the late ?70s, ?80s, and early ?90s, it seemed as if board games reached their pinnacle. New and intriguing ideas and concepts were coming out on the fly, and more complicated games were being created involving moving parts, batteries, small electronic mechanisms, and large, colorful, and decorated setups. One may begin to wonder where these types of games went to. Today, the, the most common games we see played are card games, classic favorites, or simple setup games, like Apples to Apples, Uno,?trivia games, Monopoly, and the like. Why did the board game market find a peak and taper off into a steep decline coming into the 21st century? What happened to the creativity of the game companies? In the early ?90s the?video game?market was still young, but as years progressed, the market exploded in advances, with new technologies blooming and old ones becoming obsolete just as quickly. An array of video-gaming platforms arose and new companies were being born left and right to take hold of the new technologies and dive into this fresh new market. Computer comprehension and graphical capabilities became simply stunning as more and more memory was able to be fit in smaller and smaller quantities. In this explosion of computerized gaming, it seems that there was also a shift away from the production of board games by companies. However, with the age of?video games?becoming so apparent with the 4th generation of the PlayStation to be released by Christmas, and games becoming so sophisticated that they can track your movements, some might wonder whether board games are becoming obsolete and cannot keep up with current technologies. Are board games dying?

MONOPOLY
Photo via allaboutfunandgames.com

Granted, the old styles have passed into a vague mist from which there seems an unlikelihood of returning. There is clearly no resurfacing for games like? It From the Pit, where you have to move your player pawns before the mechanical arm snags you into an icky swamp, or Forbidden Bridge, where stealing one of the precious jewels may cause the flimsy rope bridge to cast you into the alligator-infested waters below. While video games are still a hit, some board games that are new to the market have made a much greater impression than expected and may even be causing a shift back towards a more classic style of gaming for some of the more dedicated consumers. The new games are similar in many aspects, but are quite different in others. Newer board games seem to be geared towards the older and more sophisticated audiences, and less towards a youngsters and a family-oriented style of game play (though some may still be played in that way). These newer games include Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, Game of Thrones, Mice Mystics, Agricola, Decent, Pandemic, and Dominion.

So perhaps the issue is not that there are not great games out there, but that they are not main-stream enough to get a hold of and play with your friends. Although the styles of good board games may have changed slightly to a more targeted audience, the market is still out there for those who are interested. It is important to understand though, that you?aren?t?going to find anything worthy of the ?board game junkies? on the shelf at Walmart. Much of the market has turned away from storefront shopping and is vastly located online. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=812rZ_JBzlI So, don?t fret fellow nerds and gamers! While we may never again see the beloved and interactive games from our past like Fireball Island, Tornado Rex, or those truly classic adventurous games such as Hero Quest, a new breed of board games is being unleashed that may mark our generation just as those before us did. It is up to you, though, to decide whether this for the better or the worse.

?

Source: http://papyrus.greenville.edu/2013/03/the-evolution-of-gaming-old-school-style/

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'Shore's' JWoww to tend bar on 'One Life to Live'

Ben Gabbe / Getty Images Contributor

By Access Hollywood

Former ?Jersey Shore? star Jenni ?JWOWW? Farley is heading to ?One Life To Live.??

The reality star is set to play Nikki, a bartender at the nightclub Shelter, on the rebooted soap, heading to Hulu, Hulu Plus and iTunes on April 29.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: The returning stars Of "One Life To Live"

According to a release from The Online Network, which is producing the soap, Jenni?s character, ?can mix an Alabama Slammer as well as ... flirt with customers. As Shelter?s newest barmaid, club owner Blair Cramer (Kassie DePaiva) knows that it?s best to keep an eye on Nikki so things don?t get out of control.?

VIEW THE PHOTOS: "Game Of Thrones" stars at season 3 premieres across the globe

Apparently Jenni got so into character, she forgot the acting part of it while rehearsing an on-screen slap with co-star Josh Kelly, who plays Cutter Wentworth.

While learning how to do a ?pretend? slap, Josh asked Jenni to try it out and she missed the ?pretend? part, and gave him a real slap, according to TOLN.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: "Dancing With The Stars": Season 16, Week 2

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Source: http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2013/03/29/17515005-jersey-shores-jenni-jwoww-farley-cast-on-one-life-to-live?lite

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Residential Lawn Maintenance ? You Need Help in Home ...

Whether you own a piece of land, a rental property or a home of your own, there are going to be times in life where other things pull you away from focusing on keeping up the appearances of your home?s yards, grass, trees, gardens and more. If you?re a normal person, you most likely have a job that you have to work at and there are demands on your time that you might not start out knowing you had, but over time they end up pulling you away from a variety of things that you once thought would be easy to get done. With that in mind, if you?re in the Brandon, FL area or just about anywhere, you?ll want to look into residential lawn maintenance as a way to help ease the burden stress that is found in today?s hustle and bustle world.

First and foremost, working adults will often find that the 40 hour a week grind doesn?t leave a lot of room for maintaining a lawn much like the neighbors. Even if you have a fancy riding mower, you will have to dedicate a great deal of time to the upkeep and overall options that you have to keep your yard from growing into a full fledged mine field of weeds, dead grass, and ant hills. Unless you have someone coming by and taking care of your lawn for you, it will be over grown in a short span of time.

If you have a backyard, garden, or trees on your property they will get overrun with issues. For instance, large trees that aren?t trimmed could end up coming down and causing structural damage to your home in a storm. This happens all the time, and most people don?t realize how difficult it is to clean up after these things occur. Even if you?re vigilant about your home?s appearance, there will be times that you just can?t get to all the yard work you want to, and that will pose an issue with the value of your home, and the look that it has to the outside world.

Residential lawn maintenance is not that expensive, and can be done for you whenever you need it.

When you call a professional company they can make sure that your home is looking pristine, and the yard is not full of pests, insects, weeds, or any issues that might bring down the value that you have in your investments. It?s important to look into this option for a variety of reasons.

If you?re renting your property to someone else, and they don?t keep things up or simply don?t know how, you could fulfill that part of the upkeep by hiring someone to look out for it. A company that specializes in this type of work can not only ensure that your lawn is looking good, but that there are no issues with the irrigation, drainage, sprinklers, and much more. You will gain peace of mind, and that?s hard to put a price on, even in these modern times. Don?t skip out on this option, lest your home loses value due to improper upkeep.
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Pain-Topics.org News/Research UPDATES: CAM Exercises Aid ...

Within the scope of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), a number of exercise modalities ? such as tai chi, qigong, yoga, and lesser-known movement therapies ? have been studied as aiding persons with fibromyalgia. A meta-analysis of the current research literature found some evidence for the beneficial effects of these exercise types, with tai chi appearing to be most favorable.

Fibromyalgia affects an estimated 15 million persons in the United States alone, a majority are female, and diminished aerobic fitness and poor physical function in afflicted patients have been well documented. Exercise has been strongly recommended as an adjunct to medication therapy for fibromyalgia, but traditional forms of strenuous aerobic, stretching, and strength-building exercise often appear to have limited benefits for reducing pain while improving function, and patient discontinuation rates are sometimes unacceptably high.

In view of these concerns, Scott Mist and colleagues at the Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, conducted a systematic research review and meta-analysis of land-based CAM exercise therapies that have been increasing adopted by patients with fibromyalgia, including: qigong, tai chi, yoga, and several less familiar movement therapies [Mist et al. 2013]. For purposes of their review, the following definitions were used:

1. Exercise was defined as ?planned, structured physical activity whose goal is to improve one or more of the major components of fitness ? aerobic capacity, strength, flexibility, or balance.? (Studies of exercise therapies conducted in water were excluded in this review.)
2. CAM was defined as ?a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered to be part of conventional medicine.? (CAM approaches involving low levels of exertion, such as brief yoga with an emphasis on mindfulness or breathing, were excluded.)

Their search discovered 16 qualifying studies; 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 6 of a more observational nature in design. In total, 832 patients with fibromyalgia participated, with 490 allocated to CAM exercise interventions. The mean sample size in the studies was 52 (range 6?128 participants), and the median retention rate in all studies was 81%. The researchers noted that the studies were largely conducted in middle-aged women, but demographics summary data were not provided in the report. Overall, the strength of the included studies was rated as moderate-to-low.

The primary outcome endpoint of interest was FIQ total scores or FIQ pain scores, converted to standardized mean differences (ie, Cohen?s d) as measures of effect size [interpreting effect sizes was discussed in an UPDATE here]. The FIQ (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire) is a widely used, self-administered, 20-question tool for assessing the current health (ie, physical function, pain, other symptoms) of patients with fibromyalgia in clinical and research settings [more info on FIQ here].

Writing in the March 2013 online edition of the Journal of Pain Research, Mist et al. report the following results [data adapted from tables in the report]:

• Six studies of tai chi demonstrated a pooled, large-sized effect = 1.14 (95% Confidence Interval, 0.88?1.39; P<0.001). Only 1 of the 6 studies did not achieve statistical significance and the remaining 5 were of good size with narrow confidence intervals, all of which suggest a reasonably strong level of evidence.
• There were 3 studies of yoga, with a pooled, moderate-sized effect = 0.45 (95% CI, 0.12?0.76; P=0.005). Only 2 of the 3 studies were statistically significant.
• Qigong was examined in 6 studies and there was a pooled, moderate-sized effect = 0.47 (95% CI, 0.25?0.69; P<0.001). However, only half of the individual studies achieved statistical significance and the outcomes overall varied extensively from each other, with wide confidence intervals (ie, the studies were highly heterogenous).
• Individual trials also were reported for the following modalities (with effect size, 95% CI, P-value): Pilates (0.77, 0.19?1.35, P=0.009); BMP, or Body Movement and Perception therapy (2.25, 1.67?2.84, P<0.001); Biodanza (3.92, 3.05?4.80, P<0.001). All 3 modalities exhibited large, statistically significant effect sizes, with relatively narrow confidence intervals; however, these were single trials of each modality needing replication for further confirmation.

  NOTE: The individual trials itemized above add up to more than 16 in total because some studies examined more than one modality. Pilates involves nonimpact strength, flexibility, and breathing exercises. Body Movement and Perception (or, Ress?guier) is based on selected low-impact gymnastic movements integrated with postural exercises. Biodanza, or ?life dance,? most often uses dance and related movements to optimize self-development and deepen self-awareness.

According to the researchers, only 2 participants reported any adverse effects (increased shoulder pain and plantar fasciitis), and none of the studies found any serious adverse events. Therefore, given the lack of negative effects, and the medium-to-high effects sizes for pain reduction and other benefits, Mist and colleagues state, ?there is little risk in recommending these modalities as a critical component in a multimodal treatment plan, which is often required for fibromyalgia management.?

COMMENTARY: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses can be robust methods for establishing the quality and strength of evidence for pain management therapies. An understanding of these statistical methods was discussed in an UPDATE article [here].

In this meta-analysis by Mist et al., the modality with the best data profile and largest effect size ? suggesting a higher level of strongly favorable evidence ? was tai chi. Second choice would be qigong (albeit the data were somewhat inconsistent), and yoga would be third. The other 3 modalities appear to have promise, but they were solitary trials, so the reliability and strength of evidence cannot be determined. [Note: the Mist et al. article is open access, allowing interested readers to download and examine the forest plots and other data for themselves. See link in the reference below.]

The generally small sample sizes in the included studies (mean n=52) and predominance of middle-aged female subjects limits the statistical power and generalizability of study outcomes to other clinical populations. Another limitation, noted by the researchers, was that only a single interventionist (ie, exercise instructor) was involved in each of the trials. It is possible that a skilled, caring, and/or charismatic instructor in some trials, but not others, might have influenced beneficial outcomes.

The researchers write that all but 2 studies report positive outcomes; however, the study outcomes data indicate that only 1 of the studies was negative (ie, effect size = ?0.42 in a study of qigong). Furthermore, while the rest of the data point-estimates were indeed positive (ie, point effect size estimates >0.0) a third of them (5/15) were statistically non-significant, which might temper enthusiasm regarding the strength of the evidence overall.

Prior Pain-Topics UPDATES have discussed exercise modalities ? including tai chi and, most commonly, yoga ? as benefitting various acute and chronic pain conditions [series here]. More specifically, a study by Wang et al. reported in 2010 [UPDATE here] found that tai chi afforded significant relief from muscle pain, better sleep, and a higher quality of life with less depression in persons with fibromyalgia (this study also was included in the meta-analysis by Mist et al.).

It is of some concern that most of the trials in the meta-analysis by Mist and colleagues, no matter how small the number of subjects, used multiple assessment instruments for detecting numerous endpoints. This increases the chances that at least some positive statistically significant results might be produced; however, it also increases the risk of Type I error, or finding significant results due to random chance alone (ie, false positives). Mist et al. were wise to focus only on one measure ? FIQ scores ? even though this might have limited the scope of potentially beneficial therapeutic effects that could be assessed and discussed in their report.

Meta-analyses in most areas of pain research also highlight the problem of studies examining the same topic using different patient-selection criteria, disparate outcome measures, and other methodological variations. This sort of inconsistency challenges the validity of combing data from the different studies in aggregated, or pooled, estimates of effect size. In fact, Mist et al. noted that there ?was a significant amount of heterogeneity? across the studies they examined [particularly evident in the analysis of qigong] and, while they did not report calculating tests of heterogeneity, they did appropriately use random-effects modeling in their pooling of data.

As often is the case, Mist and colleagues advise that there is a need for large, meticulously designed and rigorously executed trials with active parallel arms ? such as comparing traditional aerobic exercise with a CAM-oriented approach ? to extend this body of evidence. However, it could be a many years before such studies are conducted and, then, it is questionable whether they will use methodologies that are statistically comparable to earlier trials. Clinical research is sometimes a very ?messy business.?

REFERENCE: Mist SD, Firestone KA, Jones KD. Complementary and alternative exercise for fibromyalgia: a meta-analysis. J Pain Res. 2013;6:247-260 [available here].

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Source: http://updates.pain-topics.org/2013/03/cam-exercises-aid-fibromyalgia-meta.html

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North Korea says it is in 'a state of war' with South Korea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) ? North Korea warned Seoul on Saturday that the Korean Peninsula had entered "a state of war" and threatened to shut down a border factory complex that's the last major symbol of inter-Korean cooperation.

Analysts say a full-scale conflict is extremely unlikely, noting that the Korean Peninsula has remained in a technical state of war for 60 years. But the North's continued threats toward Seoul and Washington, including a vow to launch a nuclear strike, have raised worries that a misjudgment between the sides could lead to a clash.

North Korea's threats are seen as efforts to provoke the new government in Seoul, led by President Park Geun-hye, to change its policies toward Pyongyang, and to win diplomatic talks with Washington that could get it more aid. North Korea's moves are also seen as ways to build domestic unity as young leader Kim Jong Un strengthens his military credentials.

On Thursday, U.S. military officials revealed that two B-2 stealth bombers dropped dummy munitions on an uninhabited South Korean island as part of annual defense drills that Pyongyang sees as rehearsals for invasion. Hours later, Kim ordered his generals to put rockets on standby and threatened to strike American targets if provoked.

North Korea said in a statement Saturday that it would deal with South Korea according to "wartime regulations" and would retaliate against any provocations by the United States and South Korea without notice.

"Now that the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK have entered into an actual military action, the inter-Korean relations have naturally entered the state of war," said the statement, which was carried by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency, referring to the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Provocations "will not be limited to a local war, but develop into an all-out war, a nuclear war," the statement said.

Hours after the statement, Pyongyang threatened to shut down the jointly run Kaesong industrial park, expressing anger over media reports suggesting the complex remained open because it was a source of hard currency for the impoverished North.

"If the puppet group seeks to tarnish the image of the DPRK even a bit, while speaking of the zone whose operation has been barely maintained, we will shut down the zone without mercy," an identified spokesman for the North's office controlling Kaesong said in comments carried by KCNA.

South Korea's Unification Ministry responded by calling the North Korean threat "unhelpful" to the countries' already frayed relations and vowed to ensure the safety of hundreds of South Korean managers who cross the border to their jobs in Kaesong. It did not elaborate.

South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said the country's military remains mindful of the possibility that increasing North Korean drills near the border could lead to an actual provocation.

"The series of North Korean threats ? announcing all-out war, scrapping the cease-fire agreement and the non-aggression agreement between the South and the North, cutting the military hotline, entering into combat posture No. 1 and entering a 'state of war' ? are unacceptable and harm the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula," Kim said.

"We are maintaining full military readiness in order to protect our people's lives and security," he told reporters Saturday.

The two Koreas remain technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. Naval skirmishes in the disputed waters off the Korean coast have led to bloody battles several times over the years.

But on the streets of Seoul on Saturday, South Koreans said they were not worried about an attack from North Korea.

"From other countries' point of view, it may seem like an extremely urgent situation," said Kang Tae-hwan, a private tutor. "But South Koreans don't seem to be that nervous because we've heard these threats from the North before."

The Kaesong industrial park, which is run with North Korean labor and South Korean know-how, has been operating normally, despite Pyongyang shutting down a communications channel typically used to coordinate travel by South Korean workers to and from the park just across the border in North Korea. The rivals are now coordinating the travel indirectly, through an office at Kaesong that has outside lines to South Korea.

North Korea has previously made such threats about Kaesong without acting on them, and recent weeks have seen a torrent of bellicose rhetoric from Pyongyang. North Korea is angry about the South Korea-U.S. military drills and new U.N. sanctions over its nuclear test last month.

Dozens of South Korean firms run factories in the border town of Kaesong. Using North Korea's cheap, efficient labor, the Kaesong complex produced $470 million worth of goods last year.

___

Follow Sam Kim at www.twitter.com/samkim_ap.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nkorea-says-state-war-skorea-014344604.html

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HIV antibodies that are worth the wait

Friday, March 29, 2013

An effective vaccine against HIV-1 remains elusive, but one promising strategy focuses on designer antibodies that have much broader potency than most normal, exquisitely specific antibodies. These broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) can handle the high mutation rate of HIV particles that makes normal, very specific antibodies useless within a short space of time. A study published by Cell Press on March 28th in the journal Cell reveals surprising mutations in these antibodies that are crucial for strong protection against HIV-1. The findings could guide efforts to design better HIV-1 vaccines.

"This study demonstrates a fundamental aspect of antibodies' function and development that was not fully appreciated before," says study author Ron Diskin of the Weizmann Institute of Science. "We show that it will be important to pay more attention to previously ignored regions of antibodies to design effective vaccines."

Scientists have recently found that some HIV-1-infected individuals produce bNAbs naturally several years after infection. Animal studies have shown that these antibodies are very effective at protecting against and controlling HIV-1 infection, but what makes them so effective was unknown. Antibodies are Y-shaped molecules, and most variation is found at the two tips of the Y, called the complementarity determining regions, where antibodies make direct contact with the virus. On the other hand, relatively few mutations have been found in framework regions (the bottom half of the Y), which maintain the structural integrity of the antibody. Until now, the role of framework region mutations had been unclear.

The study, led by Michel Nussenzweig of Rockefeller University and Pamela Bjorkman of the California Institute of Technology, has revealed that HIV-1-fighting bNAbs accumulate mutations in framework regions, in contrast to most antibodies. Surprisingly, these mutations strengthened the antibodies' antiviral activity while conserving key structural features. The researchers suggest that several years are required for infected individuals to produce these potent antibodies because it takes time for the right combination of various mutations to accumulate.

"Our study shows that the immune system has a variety of ways to make effective antibodies and that mutations in antibody framework regions, which are usually not changed when antibodies mutate to increase their efficacy, are required for anti-HIV antibodies," Bjorkman says. "This has clear implications for efforts to raise effective antibodies for the next generation of HIV vaccines."

###

Cell Press: http://www.cellpress.com

Thanks to Cell Press 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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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127512/HIV_antibodies_that_are_worth_the_wait

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Fewer children mean longer life?

Thursday, March 28, 2013

New research into ageing processes, based on modern genetic techniques, confirms theoretical expectations about the correlation between reproduction and lifespan. Studies of birds reveal that those that have offspring later in life and have fewer broods live longer. And the decisive factor is telomeres, shows research from The University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Telomeres are the protective caps at the end of chromosomes. The length of telomeres influences how long an individual lives.

Telomeres start off at a certain length, become shorter each time a cell divides, decline as the years pass by until the telomeres can no longer protect the chromosomes, and the cell dies. But the length of telomeres varies significantly among individuals of the same age. This is partly due to the length of the telomeres that has been inherited from the parents, and partly due to the amount of stress an individual is exposed to.

"This is important, not least for our own species, as we are all having to deal with increased stress," says Angela Pauliny, Researcher from the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Gothenburg.

Researchers have studied barnacle geese, which are long-lived birds, the oldest in the study being 22 years old. The results show that geese, compared to short-lived bird species, have a better ability to preserve the length of their telomeres. The explanation is probably that species with a longer lifespan invest more in maintaining bodily functions than, for example, reproduction.

"There is a clear correlation between reproduction and ageing in the animal world. Take elephants, which have a long lifespan but few offspring, while mice, for example, live for a short time but produce a lot of offspring each time they try," says Angela Pauliny.

The geese studied by researchers varied in age, from very young birds to extremely old ones. Each bird was measured twice, two years apart. One striking result was that the change in telomere length varied according to gender.

"The study revealed that telomeres were best-preserved in males. Among barnacle geese, the telomeres thus shorten more quickly in females, which in birds is the sex with two different gender chromosomes. Interestingly, it is the exactl opposite in humans," says Angela Pauliny.

###

The journal BMC Evolutionary Biology has classified the research article "Telomere dynamics in a long-lived bird, the barnacle goose" as "Highly Accessed".

Link to the article: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/12/257

University of Gothenburg: http://www.gu.se/english

Thanks to University of Gothenburg 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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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127500/Fewer_children_mean_longer_life_

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TSX dips as euro zone worries weigh on banks; golds rise

By John Tilak

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index was little changed on Wednesday, with declines in bank stocks partly offset by a jump in gold miners, as weak economic data from the euro zone and worries about the Cyprus bailout dragged on investor sentiment.

Gold-mining stocks benefited from a jump in the price of bullion, whose appeal as a safe haven tends to increase on negative economic news.

Confidence in the euro zone's economy dropped in March, after four straight months of gains, the European Commission said.

Europe remains mired in recession and has been showing mixed signs of a recovery.

"The situation in Europe represents a short-term risk for the market. The resurgence in those concerns is a source of volatility," said Craig Fehr, Canadian market strategist at Edward Jones in St. Louis, Missouri.

"The near-term risk relates to the confidence in the financial system in Europe and the reverberations around the world," he added.

After securing a bailout deal, Cyprus will reopen its banks on Thursday while limiting withdrawals, banning checks and curbing the use of Cypriot credit cards abroad, among measures imposed to avert a bank run.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index <.gsptse> unofficially closed down 6.73 points, or 0.05 percent, at 12,699.65. It earlier fell to 12,622.50, a one-month low.

Five of the 10 main sectors on the index were higher.

Bank stocks reacted most sharply to the euro zone worries, losing 0.9 percent. Royal Bank of Canada gave back 1.3 percent to C$60.71, and Toronto-Dominion Bank fell 0.9 percent to C$83.95.

Energy shares declined 0.2 percent despite higher oil prices.

The materials sector, which includes mining stocks, added 1.1 percent as gold stocks climbed. Gold prices were up on the bleak news out of Europe.

Gold shares, down about 16 percent since the start of the year, advanced 1.8 percent.

"I like them as buys," Matt Skipp, president of SW8 Asset Management, said of gold stocks. "I see it as a nice entry point for the first time in a couple of years."

Goldcorp Inc gained 2.5 percent to C$34.27, and Barrick Gold Corp added 2 percent to C$29.90.

In company news, the battle for Agrium Inc's future intensified ahead of an April 9 vote after the two most influential proxy advisory firms disagreed on the candidates shareholders should back in the election for Agrium's board of directors.

Shares of the fertilizer maker were down 0.7 percent at C$99.69.

($1=$1.02 Canadian)

(Editing by Peter Galloway and Leslie Adler)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tsx-may-open-lower-dragged-euro-zone-worries-122241837--sector.html

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Sprint Epic 4G Touch will receive Android Jelly Bean update today (update)

Sprint's Galaxy S 4 recently took one step towards being ready for mass consumption, however the carrier hasn't forgotten the device's forefathers. We've received a memo from an anonymous tipster advising that the Epic 4G Touch is set to make the jump to Jelly Bean (Android 4.1, to be exact) starting sometime today. The new software bump will come directly from Samsung and will require a visit to an external website that has yet to go live. The memo also notes that in order to perform the update, you'll need access to a rig with Windows 7, Vista or XP -- in other words, OS X and Windows 8 users will have to visit a Sprint store to get their fix. For those fortunate enough to gain access in the coming hours, let us know how it's treating you in comments below.

Update: Waiting for official confirmation? Then just check Sprint's official log of updates for the Epic 4G Touch on its website, which now lists the GB27 version. It's scheduled to start today, and to answer the question of why it's only going out via PC download and not OTA, the log cites the (unspecified) size of the update.

[Thanks, anonymous]

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Sprint

Comments

Source: Sprint

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/28/sprint-epic-4g-touch-jelly-bean-update/

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Federal plan aims to help wildlife adapt to climate change

WASHINGTON ? The Obama administration Tuesday announced a nationwide plan to help wildlife adapt to threats from climate change.

Developed along with state and tribal authorities, the strategy seeks to preserve species as global warming alters their historical habitats and, in many cases, forces them to migrate across state and tribal borders.

Over the next five years, the plan establishes priorities for what will probably be a decades-long effort. One key proposal is to create wildlife "corridors" that would let animals and plants move to new habitats. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Daniel M. Ashe said such routes could be made through easements and could total "much more than 1 million acres." The plan does not provide an estimate of the cost.

The effects of climate change are already apparent, the plan notes. Oyster larvae are struggling off the Northwest coast. In the Atlantic, fish are migrating north and into deeper waters. Geese and ducks do not fly as far south. In the West, bark beetles destroy pines because winters are not cold enough to kill infestations.

The plan, called the National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy, does not prioritize species to target, although "the polar bear is the poster child" of wildlife threatened by global warming, Ashe said.

But efforts have already begun to protect wildlife. The lesser prairie chicken in the Great Plains, for instance, also faces threats from mining, oil production, farming and ranching. Climate change models estimate that the chicken's habitat could undergo a 5-degree Fahrenheit rise in temperature and a drop in precipitation by 2060.

The federal government already pays ranchers and farmers to remove land from production to create wildlife refuges. If native prairie were restored to 10% of that land, according to one analysis, that could offset the prairie chicken's projected population decline.

Recently, some state-level efforts to adapt to global warming have been stymied by politicians who reject climate science. In North Carolina, for instance, planning to build infrastructure along the coast that could withstand storm surges worsened by sea-level rise has been delayed. State politicians dismissed scientific models that predicted the rise by the end of the century.

But efforts to help wildlife adapt have not provoked a backlash so far, state and administration officials said in a conference call.

"With coastal communities, there are challenges with coral populations, with changing dynamics in fish population," said Eric Schwaab, assistant administrator for fisheries at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "So people are less focused on why and more focused on what's next."

neela.banerjee@latimes.com

Source: http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/lWgpBkrCHFU/la-na-adaptation-strategy-20130327,0,6954975.story

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WideAngle: Finally, All Your Photos in One Place

You take more photos than ever these days. So do all of your friends. But where are all of those photos? You never look at them because they're scattered across the Internet abyss. WideAngle can help. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/gnVjE5LtAfQ/wideangle-finally-all-your-photos-in-one-place

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On the second day, Supreme Court considers DOMA (Washington Post)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

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This Portrait of Old Star Wars Actors Should Be the Movie Poster for Star Wars Episode VII

Since it's pretty much an open secret that the old cast members of the original Star Wars trilogy are coming back for the next movie, this portrait of them at their current age should absolutely be the next movie poster for Episode VII. Hand painted by artist Adam Schickling, the portrait captures our favorite heroes with all their beautiful wrinkles. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/uluQr-0lOi8/this-portrait-of-old-star-wars-characters-should-be-the-movie-poster-for-star-wars-episode-vii

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Cyprus financial crisis boosts demand for digital dollars

Jeff Cox , CNBC.com ? ? ? 16 hrs.

They won't make a sound no matter how many of them you try to toss in a bucket, and you can't pitch them in a fountain and wish for good luck. But make no mistake, bitcoins are getting big.

The online alternative currency, previously little more than a curiosity in financial markets since its 2009 inception, has zoomed in trading value since the Cyprus banking crisis erupted two weeks ago.

With fears spreading that even insured deposits might not be safe in similar nations hit by banking crises, those looking for a haven to store their wealth have fled to the complicated world of digital cash.

"Incremental demand for bitcoin is coming from the geographic areas most affected by the Cypriot financial crisis?individuals in countries like Greece or Spain, worried that they will be next to feel the threat of deposit taxes," Nicholas Colas, chief market strategist at ConvergEx, said in a report on the startling trend.

Read More: It's Back! Dark Cloud From Europe Stalls US Stock Market Bull Run

Bitcoins operate on a network that, at least on the surface, resembles a typical exchange on the capital markets. Buyers can exchange their paper currencies for bitcoins and use them wherever they are accepted. Sellers can exchange their bitcoins back for their original currency.

But the value of the currency has been anything but typical.

Bitcoincharts.com lists the value of bitcoins compared to other currencies, including U.S. and Canadian dollars, euros and pounds.

Cypriots fear run on banks as branches prepare to reopen

On one of the U.S. currency exchanges, labeled "Mt. Gox," the bitcoin value has zoomed to more than $87 in Wednesday trade. That represents close to a 20 percent gain over just the past week, a one-month gain of 41 percent and nearly a quintupling of value in the past year.

The "Mt. Gox" euro trading has seen numbers nearly identical to the dollar pairing.

Read More: Cyprus Controls to Hit Foreign Transactions

A more sober perspective might suggest that bitcoins are at best a momentary bubble and at worst a risky chance to take considering their novelty.

But the trend also exemplifies just how nervous cash-holders are over the European situation.

"This is a clear sign that people are looking for alternative ways to get their money out of the country," said Christopher Vecchio, currency analyst at DailyFX. "If we're going to talk about the stability of the euro and whether or not there are going to be capital controls in place not just in Cyprus but around the euro zone, I think there is some efficacy behind bitcoins as an alternative liquidity vehicle."

The role of alternative currency had been falling largely to gold over the past several years. But the precious metal has been on a pretty aggressive downward path since its most recent peak in October.

Gold advocates, though, continue to stress its importance as a safe haven and store of wealth.

"Why would anyone trust an electronic form of money that could get hacked and then diluted into oblivion?" said Michael Pento, president of Pento Portfolio Strategies. "We already have a form of money that is indestructible and whose supply cannot be increased by any government or individual decree. It's called gold."

Yet currency pros are at least willing to give bitcoins the benefit of the doubt as a legitimate trading vehicle as situations like Cyprus continue to crop up.

The $964 million bitcoin network pales to the $4 trillion a day in total currency trading, but it's clearly growing.

"Right now it seems safe. Personally it wouldn't be my preferred vehicle to trade money because it's unregulated," Vecchio said. "But people are deeming it legitimate even though it's not backed by a sovereign. That could be the attraction behind it. There's no sovereign credit risks to bitcoins."

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653351/s/2a10569b/l/0L0Snbcnews0N0Cbusiness0Ceconomywatch0Ccyprus0Efinancial0Ecrisis0Eboosts0Edemand0Edigital0Edollars0E2B9111490A/story01.htm

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APNewsBreak: Pentagon cuts number of furlough days

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Pentagon will sharply cut the number of unpaid furlough days civilians will be forced to take over the next several months from 22 to 14, defense officials said Wednesday, reducing the impact of automatic budget cuts on as many as 700,000 workers.

According to defense officials, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made the decision Wednesday, as military service chiefs and defense leaders continued to work through the details, trying to prioritize how they will allocate the more than $10 billion that Congress, in an attempt to take some of the sting out of the across-the-board budget cuts, shifted to operations and maintenance accounts. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter ahead of the public announcement.

While some of the military services initially considered eliminating the furloughs altogether, senior leaders argued that since not all the services could do that, it would be better to treat all civilians across the defense department equally.

The military had been faced with some $43 billion in automatic, across-the-board cuts that kicked in March 1, but lawmakers passed a massive spending bill last week that shifted money around in order to give the Defense Department more flexibility in how it found the savings.

Initially, civilians would have been required to take one day a week off without pay for 22 weeks, through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30 ? a 20 percent pay cut for more than five months. The congressional action has given officials the leeway to lessen the salary cuts and also spread money around to other key priorities, including training, maintenance and possible ship deployments.

As an example, the Navy had delayed the refueling overhauls of two aircraft carriers, the USS Theodore Roosevelt and the USS Abraham Lincoln ? critical maintenance work that officials said would be among the priorities if additional funding could be identified.

Under the new plan, the unpaid furloughs would not begin until mid-June, with notices going out before that.

Officials have been meeting over the past week to discuss the range of options, including how many of the furlough days could be eliminated.

The Pentagon has declined to say how many of the 800,000 civilian employees would be exempt from the furloughs, although officials have estimated it would be at least 10 percent of the overall civilian workforce. Officials said last week that about 5 percent of Navy and Marine Corps civilians and about 24 percent of Army civilians likely would be exempt from the furloughs, although those numbers may change with the new funding.

Exempt workers include civilians in the war zone and in critical public safety jobs, as well as people whose jobs are not paid for through congressional funding. As an example, some employees may be contractors or people working in facilities that pay for operations out of their earnings, such as some recreation jobs or foreign military sales.

Critics have complained that the Pentagon has overstated the effects of the spending cuts and has canceled or sliced into more visible and popular programs. In early announcements the Navy delayed the deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf and canceled several other ship deployments, while other services slashed training, equipping and maintenance programs, cut commissary hours and warned that 15,000 teachers and staff would be furloughed one day a week at the 194 military schools around the world.

The Pentagon had said they would manage those furloughs so that pupils got the required hours of education and the schools did not lose their accreditation.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-03-27-US-Budget-Battle-Pentagon-Furloughs/id-6d5faa71a91145a5b2fe857e22b66d05

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Google To Send Out Invites To Its Glass Explorer Program Over The Next Few Days, No Word On When It Plans To Ship Them

Google just announced that it will send out invitations in the next few days to those who participated in its #ifihadglass campaign. Later this week, it will contact those who had the best ideas through Google+ and Twitter and invite them to purchase Glass for $1,500 and then pick up their devices at a number of events that the company is planning in San?Francisco, New York and L.A. later this year. It’s not clear when exactly Google plans to ship these Glass Explorer Editions. During I/O last year, Google allowed developers to pre-register for Glass, but it’s been very quiet about the program ever since.?Given that it is about to make its selection for the #ifihadglass program public (and with the next I/O kicking off just a few weeks from now), chances are the company will also provide an update to these pre-registered developers soon. For now, Google stressed in today’s Google+ post, the program is only open to individuals. “We also want to call out that we received great applications from businesses. At the moment, our Explorer Program is only for individuals. However, we are working on connecting with businesses in other ways,” the Google+ team writes. @lavr_mvlno You’re invited to join our #glassexplorers program. Woohoo! Make sure to follow us – we’ll DM in the coming weeks.— Project Glass (@projectglass) March 26, 2013

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/CTQz3o4vepc/

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A Thailand Backpacking Adventure [Guest Post] - Alpha Travel ...

Thailand ? a popular gap year destination and a favourite among backpackers.? With a promise of a hot climate, stunning architecture and plenty of adventure, there?s no wondering why!

We caught up with traveller?Emily Suart?to share her experience of?visiting Thailand. Read on to find out about?how to plan your own Thailand adventure, riding elephants and even learning to cook Thai food!

• Hello Emily, tell us a little about yourself?

Hello! My name is Emily, I?m 22 and from South East London. I?m currently in my final year of studying?at University?and wondering what?s going to happen next!

Upon finishing our A levels, my friends and I knew we didn?t want to go straight into studying, so we decided to take a year out and get a taste of what the world could offer. After working hard to save as much money as possible we packed our bags and travelled around Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, and in the process had the best five months of our lives!

• What inspired you to visit Thailand?

Thailand. Mecca for all travellers hungry for some excitement. The promise of a hot climate and beautiful beaches was too tempting for us and we knew we had to explore it for ourselves.

The opportunities are varied, with jungles, temples and bustling cities in the North, and opportunities for snorkelling, diving and hedonistic bucket parties in the South. Thailand offers something for every visitor, and definitely lives up to expectations.

I?ve since returned for a family holiday to visit my sister, who has now moved to Koh Phi Phi. The trip was just as exciting, proving that Thailand also has much to offer to the more mature visitor (sorry Mum and Dad)!

I?ve spent a total of six weeks in Thailand and have visited Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Krabi, Ao Nang and Koh Lanta. Everywhere offers something different, meaning the opportunities for adventure are unlimited!

Accommodation is very cheap and we paid between ?2-15 a night for a bed, staying in hostels, hotels and guest houses. For the multitude of backpackers there are lots of dorm rooms available, but paying a couple of Baht more will often get you a private en suite room. Of course, if slumming it isn?t really your thing, there are plenty of luxury hotels for a fraction of what you might pay in the UK.

• How did you go about planning your experience? Did you face any problems organising it?

Planning a trip in Thailand is really very easy and most?activities can be organised at last minute. My friends and I had around-the-world tickets and Thailand was one of the stop-offs. Apart from that and the first night?s accommodation, we literally had nothing else booked- not even a flight out! Booking travel internally can often be booked at your hotel; otherwise there are usually travel agents.

Booking places to stay is also very easy and can generally be done online. Visa-wise, you don?t need to apply for one unless you?re staying for more than 30 days, which was enough time for us to do everything we wanted anyway.

The only problem we faced was actually travelling over the border to Malaysia by coach. A lady ripped us off by telling us we had to pay a certain amount of money to cross the border and in our naivety and panic we paid up, later realising it had been a scam. I would just advise backpackers to keep their head screwed on, and make sure you find out in advance before travelling whether there will be any payments needed.

• Did you do any exciting/adventurous activities?

Thailand offers lots of different exciting adventures, often for not much money. For example, we did lots of boat/snorkelling trips, including visiting Phi Phi Leh where the film The Beach was filmed. One particularly good day trip was the trekking in Chiang Mai. We did a long walk through the jungle and eventually arrived at a stunning waterfall and had a swim to cool off. We then got to ride elephants, before finishing with white water and bamboo rafting. It was a tiring day, but one filled with excitement! Before booking a trip, please make sure the elephants are in good care and when you are there make sure they are fed and watered well! Our enjoyment should never be at the expense of the animals? welfare!

• You also did a Thai cooking course, how did you organise this??Do?you still cook the recipes you learned?

One of the best ways to get involved in a culture is to learn to cook some of the cuisine. Cooking courses are widely available and can usually be organised and booked from your hotel/ hostel. I have done courses in both Chiang Mai and Ao Nang, and they were both really hands-on, fun and a cheap way to enjoy a banquet at the end of the day!

We were taken around the local market, shown different vegetables, rice types, noodles and spices, and as a result we were completely immersed into the Thai culture. We each had our own cooking station, and with the help from our lovely teachers, we were quickly and easily able to make six delicious dishes. Eating it was the hardest part of the day as there was so much of it!

With the aid of the free recipe book we were given at the end of the class, I?m now able to cook Penang curry, Pad Thai and Spring Rolls, all the way from the UK!

• Did you face any problems whilst in Thailand? How did you overcome them? (language barriers, money, severe problems, cancellations)

Perhaps the worst thing that happened to us was my friend getting scratched by a dog and having to get a series of Rabies jabs in both Thailand and Australia. In the end she was fine and as we told her, this could have been avoided by staying away from the dogs!! Apart from this and the scam on the border, nothing too bad happened. Unfortunately we regularly had upset tummies from the food, but this is unavoidable and shouldn?t stop you from trying out the delicious cuisine; just don?t drink tap water and avoid dodgy-looking street food!

• What was the highlight of your trip and why?

There are too many to mention! We made lots of new friends whilst travelling, and this was maybe one of the best things. Dancing on the beach with friends and our drinks in buckets was a particular highlight.

• If you could describe your entire Thailand experience in one word what would it be?

Liberating.

• And finally, what one piece of advice would you give anyone planning to travel?

My best advice would definitely be to keep a diary!! You can record where you?ve been, what you?ve done and stick tickets and photos in it. Your memories will last much longer and it will be an extra souvenir for you!

If you enjoyed this post please help others by sharing and tweeting it!

If this has inspired you to go travelling make sure you have travel insurance for your trip! Take a look at Alpha?s Longstay travel insurance policy and get cover for as little as ?13.11

Source: http://www.alphatravelinsurance.co.uk/blog/a-thailand-backpacking-adventure-guest-post/

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