Crumpler's House of Horror Laptop Backpack

I love bags that transition effortlessly from the cubicle farm to the urban outdoors, a sack big enough to hold everything you'd need in either environment, but simple and compact enough to carry. Crumpler's House of Horror laptop bag ($130) hits all those high notes, sliding quickly onto your shoulders as a backpack when you're riding the subway rails to fitting snugly in your palm via two top handles that turn it into a business tote.

Like all of Crumpler's bags, the House of Horror has an exquisitely minimalistic and chic design, and a lot of attention paid to detail. It also has a signature bizarre-yet-catchy name (I guess its shape resembles a haunted house... ) and a price tag that prevents it from being an impulse buy.

Available in two colors, gunmetal and rifle green, this laptop bag holds notebooks up to 15 inches but expands in practically every direction to stow a whole lot more than that. It measures 16.5 by 13.3 by 8.6 inches (HWD) and expands to 732 cubic inches. When empty, the bag weighs a meager 1.52 pounds, so it adds no perceptible heft to your load.

A zippered compartment in the front of the bag fits larger items, like books, a tablet, or your lunch. Just above it is another, smaller zippered pouch designed for quick access. Both front-side sections open wide, letting you easily peer into them and find whatever you may have dropped inside. Neither is a bottomless pit, an example of Crumpler's fine attention to detail. And did I mention that both the fabric and all the zippers are water resistant?

Inside the main section of the House of Horror bag you'll find a lightly padded laptop compartment with a single-strap Velcro closure. Opposite it is one more zippered half-sized pouch, similar to the one on the bag's front top side, which I found ideal for tucking away cords, headphones, and charging cables while I was testing out the bag (I have many more thoughts on how to master bag organization).

You won't find any other pen holders or tiny and miscellaneous slots inside this bag, which I actually appreciate, and other minimalists will, too. There's plenty of room for everything you need, and not an inch of wasted space.

I carried around the House of Horror for a few days, both on foot and bicycle. I adore the two handles on the top of the bag that let me carry it like a classy tote. The backpack straps, on the other hand, weren't perfectly comfortable. While I don't have any major complaints, the adjustment mechanisms on the straps were stiff, although they'll probably break in over time. Between the laptop compartment and the back of the bag isn't much padding, which means the House of Horror conforms to your shape?unless of course you're carry oddly shaped or off-kilter objects that jab you through that thin layer, which happened to me a little.

House of Horror's main selling point is its style and size, and I do think it's an amazing bag for trendy office workers who want to use the same gear bag on the weekends or when traveling. It would be a stellar "personal item" or piece of hand luggage in the airport.

I recommend practically any Crumpler-branded bag, and the House of Horror is no exception. Given the $130 price tag, though, you do need to fall in love with the design to make the purchase worthwhile. A slightly less expensive non-Crumpler alternative which holds up to 15-inch notebooks is the $100 Booq Mamba Daypack (4.5 stars, Editors' Choice)?which has a very straightforward and unassuming look. And if the House of Horror's style just doesn't strike your hardcore note (or you have a massive laptop) try the all-black and very edgy looking Chrome Citadel Laptop Bag ($190, 4 stars).

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Google Gives Tablet Video Viewers A Taste Of Its Knowledge Graph With Play Movies & TV Update

We've all been there: you'll be watching a movie when someone familiar enters the frame, and you just can't place a name to the face. Well, if you're watching said movie on an Android tablet, those days may soon be over. Google has just pushed out an update to its Play Movies & TV app lets users tap into the search giant's Knowledge Graph as soon as they pause a flick.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/1Y8N6a6b0R0/

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UK church exhumes grave rumored to house a king

Mar 26 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGATour on Monday (U.S. unless stated): 1. Tiger Woods $3,787,600 2. Brandt Snedeker $2,859,920 3. Matt Kuchar $2,154,500 4. Steve Stricker $1,820,000 5. Phil Mickelson $1,650,260 6. Hunter Mahan $1,553,965 7. John Merrick $1,343,514 8. Dustin Johnson $1,330,507 9. Russell Henley $1,313,280 10. Kevin Streelman $1,310,343 11. Keegan Bradley $1,274,593 12. Charles Howell III $1,256,373 13. Michael Thompson $1,254,669 14. Brian Gay $1,171,721 15. Justin Rose $1,155,550 16. Jason Day $1,115,565 17. Chris Kirk $1,097,053 18. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uk-church-exhumes-grave-rumored-house-king-180833728.html

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Certain breast cancers have a trait that could be attacked by new therapies

Mar. 27, 2013 ? More than 100 women per day die from breast cancer in the United States. The odds of developing breast cancer increase for women taking hormone replacement therapy to avoid the effects of menopause. New research by University of Missouri scientist Salman Hyder may lead to treatments for breast cancers associated with taking these synthetic hormones. Hyder, along with an international team, found that hormone-therapy-related breast cancer cells have a physical feature that could be attacked by cancer therapies.

"We identified a specific cell membrane protein that blocks cell death in breast cancer cells and allows these cells to grow in response to hormone replacement therapy," said Hyder. "Others have observed an over-abundance of these proteins in a population of breast cancer cells which may explain increased risk of breast cancer in women who consume hormone replacement therapy. Therapies could be developed that would block the activity of these cell membrane proteins, which would make cancer cells more likely to die. The membrane protein is known as PGRMC1."

The proteins identified by Hyder and his colleagues were affected by progestin, one of the hormones given to women to stave off the effects of menopause. Progestin is a synthetic chemical which mimics the hormone progesterone. In hormone replacement therapy, doctors prescribe progestin along with synthetic replicas of the hormone, estrogen.

"Every progestin type that we have tested has negative effects," said Hyder. "A growing body of evidence suggests women should be wary before taking progestin. However, if women take only synthetic estrogens, such as estradiol, it leads to a higher risk of uterine cancer. Hence, the two must be taken together, but even then they seem to still increase cancer risks in post-menopausal women."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Missouri-Columbia.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Hans Neubauer, Xiangyan Ruan, Helen Schneck, Harald Seeger, Michael A. Cahill, Yayun Liang, Benfor Mafuvadze, Salman M. Hyder, Tanja Fehm, Alfred O. Mueck. Overexpression of progesterone receptor membrane component 1. Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society, 2012; : 1 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0b013e3182755c97

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SHkVesu6mas/130327163258.htm

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Get moving: Walking benefits physical, mental health

The American Heart Association's National Walking Day is Wednesday, and health experts are using it to raise awareness about the benefits of walking.

"All cardiovascular exercise is great, but walking has the lowest dropout rate of them all," said Nellie Kelly, director of communications for the American Heart Association in Tulsa. "It's the simplest positive change you can make to effectively improve your heart health."

Benefits

According to the American Heart Association, research has shown that walking at least 30 minutes a day can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, breast and colon cancer and Type 2 diabetes.

Sonja Boswell of the St. John Stroke Center said recent studies have also shown that the risk of stroke decreases by 20 percent for people who walk for 30 minutes three to five days a week, and by 27 percent for those who walk for 30 minutes five to seven days a week.

"Those are really dramatic numbers," she said.

Walking 30 minutes a day can help people lose weight and lower their cholesterol. It can also help decrease blood pressure by 5-9 mm/Hg, Boswell said.

"That can be as much as some anti-hypertension medications that we prescribe," she said.

The benefits of walking extend to mental wellness, too

"You're up, you're moving, you're increasing your oxygen flow to your brain," Boswell said. "It increases mental acuity, it has been shown to increase memory, and it also helps decrease stress and anxiety, and stress and anxiety can be tied back into blood pressure problems."

Getting started

Michael Watkins of Fitness Together said his job revolves around getting his clients moving. Fitness Together offers personal fitness training to individuals and small groups. It also works with companies to help with their wellness programs for their employees.

Watkins said he tells clients that they can break up the 30 minutes into smaller pieces.

"Set an alarm at your desk, and get up and walk for 10 minutes," he said.

To get the full benefits, though, Boswell said people should not break up walks into less than 10 minutes. It takes 10 minutes of having your heart rate up to get into what she called a "cardiac zone" where blood vessels widen and blood circulation increases.

Another tip Watkins recommends to beginners is to walk with a friend.

"Going out alone can be daunting," he said. Walking with a buddy will also keep you accountable.

Boswell said there are many ways to incorporate walking into your day.

"You don't necessarily have to have gym clothes on," she said. Park farther away or walk over to talk to a co-worker on another floor or in another building rather than sending an email, she suggests.

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National Walking Day

ONEOK started Walking Wednesdays about six months ago.

Robert Babcock, the senior wellness coordinator for ONEOK, said the program encourages the company's employees to take some time out of their day on Wednesdays to walk.

This Wednesday, on National Walking Day, the company is encouraging downtown workers to join them at 11 a.m. at ONEOK Plaza, 100 W. Fifth St., for a community walking event.

Danny Cahill from "The Biggest Loser" will give a short talk about the importance of walking. A DJ and food vendors will also be at the plaza.

Then, at 11:30 a.m., attendees can join a 30-minute walk around downtown.

Babcock said they have also developed a downtown map showing pre-determined walking routes that they will give out to attendees.

"We're trying to help get individuals out of the office," he said.

Nellie Kelly of the American Heart Association said this is part of the message the association is trying to get out.

"We are trying to get people to think about walking on their lunch breaks or to have walking meetings at work, not just to think about walking as an at-home activity," she said.

Those attending the National Walking Day event at ONEOK Plaza will also have the opportunity to sign up for Heart Walk, scheduled for April 20.

The importance of shoes

Experts say walking has the lowest drop-out rate of all exercise forms. You don't need lessons or a gym membership or special equipment.

But Michael Watkins of Fitness Together said it is important to have a good pair of shoes.

"The more you walk, the more you notice your feet," he said. "If your feet are always hurting from walking you're not going to do it."

Kathy Hoover at Runners-World Tulsa suggests getting your feet fitted.

Knowing your foot structure and biomenchanics - such as whether you have a high arch or flat foot - will help you find the right shoes.

"Each of the companies will have a shoe for each of those foot structures," Hoover said.

Original Print Headline: Get moving

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nour.habib@tulsaworld.com

Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/articlepath.aspx?articleid=20130328_4_D1_CUTLIN348972

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Woman sits out office Powerball pool ? and coworkers win

By Erin McClam, Staff Writer, NBC News

It?s a lottery nightmare: You decide not to kick in for the office Powerball pool ? and your coworkers strike it rich.

It happened at a real estate agency in Florida. Jennifer Maldonado, who started working at the firm two weeks ago and had yet to receive a paycheck, opted out of the $20 buy-in because she was watching her money. She showed up for work Sunday to find the rest of the office screaming, hugging and crying.

They had won $1 million ? about $83,000 apiece before taxes.

?I knew I was the only one who hadn?t put in the money, so I thought they were pranking me and going out of their way to make me feel something,? Maldonado told The Miami Herald. ?My boss sat down and said this was real.?

But the 12 coworkers at Keller Williams Partner Realty in Plantation who won are giving her a break. They won?t say how much, but they have decided to cut Maldonado, an administrative assistant, in on the winnings.

?As a team we put together a fat pile of money,? Laurie Finkelstein Reader, head of the office real estate agents, told the Herald. ?If we do the right thing and always care about other people, the right thing will happen to us.?

The office pool bought 120 tickets. They didn?t win the $338 million grand prize ? that went to a convenience store owner in New Jersey ? but they did match five numbers: 17, 29, 31, 52 and 53. It takes five plus the Powerball to hit the jackpot.

They almost didn?t win at all. Finkelstein Reader bought the tickets at a 7-Eleven in Pembroke Pines, and the clerk, who spoke only Spanish, thought she wanted $120 worth of tickets, 60 at $2 a pop, instead of 120 tickets.

As Finkelstein Reader explained the misunderstanding, an angry line formed behind her. One man skipped to another line and bought a bunch of tickets. Finally, Finkelstein got her second batch of 60 tickets.

The winning ticket was in that second batch.

The group, which held one of 13 tickets nationwide to win $1 million, will pick up its winnings Wednesday. And next time they get together to enter the lottery, Maldonado says she?s in.

?I didn?t realize how lucky they are,? she said.

Pedro Quedaza, an immigrant who came to New Jersey 26 years ago, accepted his $338 million Powerball jackpot Tuesday, saying he'll use the money to care for his family. NBC's Brian Williams reports.

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Congressman wants to telecommute

For the second time, a member of Congress is proposing rule changes that would let lawmakers telecommute to Washington and pass laws without meeting face to face. But is that in the best interests of voters?

The idea of a ?virtual Congress? isn?t new and isn?t likely to get a lot of support in the current Congress, but it does raise some interesting issues.

New Mexico Representative Steve Pearce introduced the idea back in November 2010. His latest resolution argues that that a remote Congress is better for citizens, because it puts elected representatives closer to constituents.

Pearce?s resolution ?directs the Committee on House Administration to establish procedures and rules for the consideration of legislation by Members of Congress in a virtual setting.?

In short, the House of Representatives would be able to teleconference and video conference and ?implement hearings, conduct debate, meet, and vote? under Pearce?s plan.

Pearce?s argument also states that a remote Congress would save taxpayers money by minimizing travel costs, and prevent evildoers who might disrupt the government with a terrorist attack on Capitol Hill by spreading members across the country.

In a 2010 policy document, Pearce provided more details about the plan. For starters, the House wouldn?t be 100 percent virtual, which would keep the proposal from conflicting with constitutional requirements for it to meet in person in Washington.

?Members of Congress would report to Washington for debate and votes on critical bills and bills that pass a certain threshold of spending. Other occasions that warrant they be present in person would be to attend the annual State of the Union or receive addresses by foreign heads of state and other significant events,? he said in 2010.

Article 1, Section 5, Clause 4 of the Constitution requires that if the House or Senate wants to meet in session outside of the Capitol, it needs permission from the other chamber.

The 20th Amendment also requires that Congress ?shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.?

Pearce also states that a remote Congress would insulate members from lobbyists in Washington, and make representatives directly responsible to voters.

?Regular, everyday citizens have little-to-no-input as legislation moves through the subcommittees, full committees or floor debate. That is a problem that needs resolution,? Pearce said in 2010.

Last week, he told The Hill that ?Keeping legislators closer to the people we represent would pull back Washington?s curtain and allow constituents to see and feel, first-hand, their government at work.?

However, critics of the current Congress and its underachieving predecessor point to the constant travel to and from Washington by politicians as a leading cause of gridlock.

Labeled ?The Commuter Congress,? most lawmakers use long weekends to travel home and see family members and constituents. Business on Capitol Hill is often limited to three or four days a week.

For example, in the current calendar for the 113th Congress, the House meets four days a week for 26 weeks in the year; its members are never scheduled to work a five-day week. The House will work on 14 Fridays, out of 52, this year.

Former Senate leaders Trent Lott and Tom Daschle have talked about the lack of personal contact outside of work between Congress members as a direct factor in political gridlock.

?I know many times I would look up on TV and I would see somebody and then the name would come up and it would say ?member of Congress? and I?d go ?I don?t even know who that is,?? former congressman Connie Mack told CNN in January 2013.

A 2011 Newsweek article recounted some tales from prior sessions of Congress, where politicians and their families spent a lot of time with each other outside of the Capitol?and regardless of political affiliation.

?Real legislating?the compromises and deal making that distinguish politics from posturing?happens only among people who know and respect each other,? said author Lisa Miller.

Miller also pointed out two other realities: Some politicians don?t want to be seen as part of the Washington establishment, and it?s easier for congressional members to raise election funds at home.

Back in 1787, when the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia, much compromise was achieved when the delegates met socially after their contentious sessions inside what is now known as Independence Hall. Many also stayed in the same rooming houses. The resulting document was the U.S. Constitution, which set up Congress along with other essential institutions of government.

Scott Bomboy is editor-in-chief of the National Constitution Center.

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/congress-really-allowed-home-full-134018048.html

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