Early menopause: A genetic mouse model of human primary ovarian insufficiency

Public release date: 30-Aug-2012
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Contact: Quinn Eastman
qeastma@emory.edu
404-727-7829
Emory University

Scientists have established a genetic mouse model for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), a human condition in which women experience irregular menstrual cycles and reduced fertility, and early exposure to estrogen deficiency.

POI affects approximately one in a hundred women. In most cases of primary ovarian insufficiency, the cause is mysterious, although genetics is known to play a causative role. There are no treatments designed to help preserve fertility. Some women with POI retain some ovarian function and a fraction (5-10 percent) have children after receiving the diagnosis.

Having a mouse model could accelerate research on the causes and mechanisms of POI, and could eventually lead to treatments, says Peng Jin, PhD, associate professor of human genetics at Emory University School of Medicine.

The results were published online recently in the journal Human Molecular Genetics.

The paper was the result of a collaboration between researchers at Emory and the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. Dahua Chen, PhD, associate director of the State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, is the senior author and postdoctoral fellow Cuiling Lu is the first author. Stephanie Sherman, PhD, professor of human genetics at Emory, is a co-author.

The mouse model builds on research on women who are carriers of a "premutation" for fragile X syndrome, a leading cause of inherited intellectual disability.

The mice have a fragment of a human X chromosome from a fragile X premutation carrier. Other non-genetic mouse models used to study menopause include surgical removal of the ovaries, or exposure of mice to a chemical, 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide, which depletes the ovaries.

"While the fragile X premutation is a leading cause of POI, I think this model will be useful and relevant for all women with this condition," Jin says.

Women with the fragile X premutation account for around two percent of spontaneous POI cases and 14 percent of familial POI cases. About 20 percent of women who carry the fragile X premutation experience POI, the disorder now called fragile X-associated POI, or FXPOI.

Fragile X syndrome is caused by the expansion of a "triplet repeat" in a gene (FMR1) that is important for signaling in the brain. In fragile X syndrome, the triplet repeat -- three DNA letters (CGG) repeated many times -- forces the gene to shut off.

For a woman who carries the premutation, the triplet repeat is not large enough to shut the gene off. There is a risk that it will expand in her children enough to generate fragile X syndrome. In addition, the triplet repeat appears to have an effect on the woman's ovaries, independently from its influence on the FMR1 gene.

Jin says studying mice that have an analogous genetic alteration will help scientists understand what's happening to the ovaries in POI. It appears that the RNA coming from the premutation impairs development of the ovarian follicles, the structures in which eggs/oocytes mature.

The research team found that a quarter of premutation-carrying female mice are infertile. When they are housed with male mice, those that do have pups have them a month later on average (12.5 weeks of age compared to 8.5 weeks), and they have fewer pups.

Puberty occurs at roughly five weeks of age in mice, and the premutation mice have alterations in their ovaries already before puberty. At 25 days of age, there are a reduced number of mature follicles in ovaries of the female mice carrying the premutation. Those mice also have altered levels of hormones resembling those of women with POI, such as elevated FSH (follicle stimulating hormone).

The research team found that in the ovaries of mice with the fragile X premutation, ovulation-related genes are less active. In addition, two cellular signaling pathways (Akt/mTOR) are less active in the ovaries, suggesting that drugs that affect those pathways could be used to treat POI.

###

The research in Jin's laboratory was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS051630 and NS067461). Chen's laboratory is supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Basic Research Program of China and the National Science Foundation of China.

Reference: C. Lu et al. Fragile X premutation RNA is sufficient to cause primary ovarian insufficiency in mice. Hum. Mol. Genet. (2012) doi:10.1093/hmg/dds347

---

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 30-Aug-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Quinn Eastman
qeastma@emory.edu
404-727-7829
Emory University

Scientists have established a genetic mouse model for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), a human condition in which women experience irregular menstrual cycles and reduced fertility, and early exposure to estrogen deficiency.

POI affects approximately one in a hundred women. In most cases of primary ovarian insufficiency, the cause is mysterious, although genetics is known to play a causative role. There are no treatments designed to help preserve fertility. Some women with POI retain some ovarian function and a fraction (5-10 percent) have children after receiving the diagnosis.

Having a mouse model could accelerate research on the causes and mechanisms of POI, and could eventually lead to treatments, says Peng Jin, PhD, associate professor of human genetics at Emory University School of Medicine.

The results were published online recently in the journal Human Molecular Genetics.

The paper was the result of a collaboration between researchers at Emory and the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. Dahua Chen, PhD, associate director of the State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, is the senior author and postdoctoral fellow Cuiling Lu is the first author. Stephanie Sherman, PhD, professor of human genetics at Emory, is a co-author.

The mouse model builds on research on women who are carriers of a "premutation" for fragile X syndrome, a leading cause of inherited intellectual disability.

The mice have a fragment of a human X chromosome from a fragile X premutation carrier. Other non-genetic mouse models used to study menopause include surgical removal of the ovaries, or exposure of mice to a chemical, 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide, which depletes the ovaries.

"While the fragile X premutation is a leading cause of POI, I think this model will be useful and relevant for all women with this condition," Jin says.

Women with the fragile X premutation account for around two percent of spontaneous POI cases and 14 percent of familial POI cases. About 20 percent of women who carry the fragile X premutation experience POI, the disorder now called fragile X-associated POI, or FXPOI.

Fragile X syndrome is caused by the expansion of a "triplet repeat" in a gene (FMR1) that is important for signaling in the brain. In fragile X syndrome, the triplet repeat -- three DNA letters (CGG) repeated many times -- forces the gene to shut off.

For a woman who carries the premutation, the triplet repeat is not large enough to shut the gene off. There is a risk that it will expand in her children enough to generate fragile X syndrome. In addition, the triplet repeat appears to have an effect on the woman's ovaries, independently from its influence on the FMR1 gene.

Jin says studying mice that have an analogous genetic alteration will help scientists understand what's happening to the ovaries in POI. It appears that the RNA coming from the premutation impairs development of the ovarian follicles, the structures in which eggs/oocytes mature.

The research team found that a quarter of premutation-carrying female mice are infertile. When they are housed with male mice, those that do have pups have them a month later on average (12.5 weeks of age compared to 8.5 weeks), and they have fewer pups.

Puberty occurs at roughly five weeks of age in mice, and the premutation mice have alterations in their ovaries already before puberty. At 25 days of age, there are a reduced number of mature follicles in ovaries of the female mice carrying the premutation. Those mice also have altered levels of hormones resembling those of women with POI, such as elevated FSH (follicle stimulating hormone).

The research team found that in the ovaries of mice with the fragile X premutation, ovulation-related genes are less active. In addition, two cellular signaling pathways (Akt/mTOR) are less active in the ovaries, suggesting that drugs that affect those pathways could be used to treat POI.

###

The research in Jin's laboratory was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS051630 and NS067461). Chen's laboratory is supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Basic Research Program of China and the National Science Foundation of China.

Reference: C. Lu et al. Fragile X premutation RNA is sufficient to cause primary ovarian insufficiency in mice. Hum. Mol. Genet. (2012) doi:10.1093/hmg/dds347

---

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/eu-ema083012.php

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Russia claims killer demands Pussy Riot freed

This image taken from TV footage provided by The Associated Press Television News shows a place where two women stabbed to death were found under this sign on the wall of their apartment in the central Russian city of Kazan on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. The sign is presumably written with blood, prosecutors said adding that the murderer probably tried to mislead police by the writing that supports three members of the provocative feminist band jailed for their "punk prayer" at a Moscow cathedral.(AP Photo/APTN) TV OUT

This image taken from TV footage provided by The Associated Press Television News shows a place where two women stabbed to death were found under this sign on the wall of their apartment in the central Russian city of Kazan on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. The sign is presumably written with blood, prosecutors said adding that the murderer probably tried to mislead police by the writing that supports three members of the provocative feminist band jailed for their "punk prayer" at a Moscow cathedral.(AP Photo/APTN) TV OUT

FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 17, 2012 file photo, feminist punk group Pussy Riot members, from left, Maria Alekhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova show the court's verdict as they sit in a glass cage at a courtroom in Moscow. The two-year prison sentence handed down to Pussy Riot for a provocative protest inside a Moscow cathedral called attention to just how hard President Vladimir Putin is clamping down on minor displays of dissent. But Russia isn?t the only country where people are punished for offenses that many in the West might consider trivial. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel, File)

MOSCOW (AP) ? The bodies of two slain women were found in Russia beneath a scrawled message demanding freedom for the jailed members of the Pussy Riot band, officials said Thursday.

While a Russian investigator cautioned that the killer was possibly trying to mislead police by drawing attention to the punk provocateurs, the alleged link between a killer and anti-Putin protesters was immediately seized upon by Russian media and pro-Kremlin publicists.

Some publications ran headlines claiming that Pussy Riot supporters "committed" or "inspired" a double homicide. The coverage was full of the mostly negative terms used by Kremlin-friendly television networks and media in their coverage of the protesters' trial.

A Moscow court earlier this month sentenced three Pussy Riot members to two years in jail for performing a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin at a Moscow cathedral in February. The trial, widely seen as Kremlin-orchestrated, caused an international furor, with celebrities such as Paul McCartney urging Russian authorities to free the band.

The jailed band members' attorney said on Twitter that "what happened in Kazan is horrible," calling the case "either a horrendous provocation or a psychopathic" case.

"I am sorry that some freaks are using Pussy Riot's band name," Nikolai Polozov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

Russia's Investigative Committee said the women, aged 76 and 38, were killed late last week in their apartment in the central city of Kazan with the words "Free Pussy Riot" written on the wall in English, "presumably" with blood.

The substance has not yet been confirmed, it said in the statement.

The agency did not provide the women's names or reveal details about their occupations or whether they had any connection to the band. The Russian tabloid Lifenews quoted an unnamed investigator as saying their faces and bodies were disfigured by multiple stab wounds.

An investigator in Kazan said the murderer was either psychotic or a drug addict who was trying to cover up the crime by attributing it to the band's supporters.

The killer "was trying to avoid suspicion" by misleading police, investigator Andrey Sheptitsky said in televised remarks.

That sense of caution was ignored by many Russian media outlets.

Kristina Potupchik, a pro-Putin blogger and former spokeswoman for a militant youth group known for its violent pranks against opposition and Kremlin critics, said in a post that the band's supporters "will not get away" after the killing. She also compared them to U.S. mass murderer Charles Manson, who also used the blood of his victims to write on the walls of their houses.

The leader of an Orthodox youth group that has accosted and assaulted Pussy Riot supporters claimed that they are capable of committing "any" crime.

"The infernal force that drives them hates God, believers and humankind in general," Dmitry Tsorionov told Interfax on Thursday. "These people are capable of committing any crime, and nothing but force and law can stop them."

The country's dominant Orthodox Church has called the band's stunt sacrilegious but hundreds of artists, musicians and other intellectuals have signed petitions urging authorities to free them.

Several wooden crosses that stood outside Orthodox churches in Russia and neighboring Ukraine have been toppled by people who have claimed to be the band's supporters.

The band's manager and the husband of one of the jailed rockers, however, said the band disapproved of the vandalism.

A poll released Thursday by the state-run VTsIOM polling agency showed that one-third of Russians considered the two-year jail sentence for the band members too harsh, while another 31 per cent found it appropriate. The survey questioned 1,600 people nationwide on Aug. 25-26 and gave a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-08-30-Russia-Pussy%20Riot/id-6d85b81a3d1247f1b23fa18e8e4f2be3

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Wounded Syrian soldiers tell their stories

Conscript Mussa al-Aswad was on a routine army patrol in the Palestinian camp near Daraa, the cradle of the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, when he lost his right leg in an ambush.

Lying on his bed in the Tishrin military hospital in Damascus, the 22-year-old originally from the central province of Hama recounts the events of a day he is unlikely to forget.

"I was on patrol with 40 other soldiers in the camp when we were shot at. We managed to get to cover but two of my friends were wounded," he tells AFP.

"I was able to help get them out, but then when I tried to recover their weapons I was hit in the leg. It must have been some kind of poisoned bullet, because doctors at the hospital had to amputate my leg."

Aswad's mother listens sadly as she offers sweets to visitors.

The continuous crump of exploding artillery rounds outside rattles the windows of the hospital which is near Qaboon, a rebel neighbourhood in the north of the capital.

Asked when he thinks the conflict might end, the soldier replies wearily with a question of his own: "Do you not hear that artillery piece firing away without a break?"

Since the start of the revolt against Assad in March 2011, more than 8,000 soldiers and members of security forces have been killed and even more wounded, says the hospital's director of what has become a highly brutal conflict.

The vast majority of the wounded are conscripts. Military service in Syria used to be for 18 months, but since the uprising began, soldiers can be kept in the ranks indefinitely.

In the same room as Aswad is Ghalib Mohammed, 23, a member of the security forces who had been shot eight times in the back and left leg.

"We were called in to lend a hand at a police station in Assad al-Ward," he says, referring to a town 40 kilometres (25 miles) northwest of Damascus near the border with Lebanon.

-- 'I kept on firing' --

------------------------

"From the hill in Lebanon, they attacked us with weapons of all calibres. The other members of my group left the fields because they had no more ammunition. I kept on firing and was hit in the back and legs."

"When this war will end I don't know, but it will be us or them," adds Mohammed's brother who was part of the same group but emerged unscathed.

In another room, Abdullah al-Ali is in a coma.

He cannot tell his own story.

Shrapnel lanced a seven-centimetre (nearly three-inch) hole in his skull when he was stationed at Al-Bab in Aleppo province in the north.

For two months his mother has been looking after him, 550 kilometres (340 miles) away from the family home in Raqa in northeastern Syria.

"Many of these young people will suffer from after-effects and 20 percent will be paralysed for life," says a Paris-educated neurosurgeon who specialises in head and spinal surgeries.

The hospital chief says 10 percent of the wounds treated at the military hospital are to the head and neck, 10 percent in the abdomen, 10 to the chest and 70 percent in legs and arms.

Most of the casualties were brought in from Daraa in the south, where the uprising began, from the province of Damascus, Homs in the centre, Latakia in the northwest and Deir Ezzor in the east.

On the ground floor, ambulances halt outside the hospital morgue and medics remove the bodies of two more members of the security forces on stretchers. Saad Saadeddin had been shot in the back and Fathi Bdoun in the head.

"We were manning a checkpoint at the entrance of Ain Tarma (east of Damascus) when we were attacked from several points. Two were killed and seven wounded. It lasted no more than 20 minutes," says Firas, one of their comrades.

Fifteen minutes later a ceremony is held to honour the dead.

Soldiers carry their plywood coffins stained with blood but draped in the Syrian flag and carrying ribboned wreaths from the company commander.

The Last Post sounds to honour the 47 soldiers reported killed the day before before the bodies of the dead soldiers are sent back for burial to their home provinces.

"They (rebels) are like rats -- they attack and flee. This is not a conventional war, it's a war of shadows," says Firas.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights says that more than 25,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the conflict since it erupted in March 2011.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wounded-syrian-soldiers-tell-stories-205405930.html

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Dog Food Poisoning Explained | Love My Pets GPS Pet Safety ...

August 29, 2012 ? Jerry Welsh

Dog owners have become more careful with the kind of food given to pets after many dogs were killed because of contaminated pet food. Dogs have died from severe liver damage caused by contaminated commercial dog food. Commercially prepared dog food especially those that are hyped to be of good quality don?t come cheap. But when it comes to the health and well being of the pet, the cost would be the least of the concerns of dog owners. Although considered to be of high quality, some dog food contains toxic ingredients that are harmful to dogs. Not many dog owners are aware that the pet can be poisoned by commercial dog food.

Dogs are considered as members of the family. Even busy owner would take time to cook food for the dog so as to prevent the pet from getting poisoned by commercial food. The risk of poisoning will indeed be lessened if not totally eliminated if the pet?s food is prepared by the owner but dog owners should be careful as some human foods are also toxic to dogs.

Dogs are voracious and indiscriminate eaters and interesting smells emanating from trash bins or garbage heap will cause the dog to rummage frantically and any treasure found it will be eaten and enjoyed by the dog. Dogs are known to gobble up even unfamiliar food and newly introduced diet. Dogs are well loved pets thus it has become the habit of owner to share whatever food they are eating with the pet. These conditions can lead to the poisoning of the pet.

What occurs when the dog has swallowed toxic substances? The dog?s systems will immediately stop ingested toxins from spreading to prevent the occurrence of serious damage to the dog?s vital organs. This effort is generally in the form of vomiting and diarrhea. Vomiting is an indication that the offending substance still remains in the stomach. Diarrhea is an indication that the toxin has spread to the lower intestines. Once the digestive system is affected by the ingested contaminated food, the dog will vomit and have diarrhea.

Poisoning is one of the health concerns of the dog where time is of prime importance to be able to save the life of the pet. Food poisoning is a life threatening situation especially if the dog has swallowed sizeable amount of the contaminated food thus the pet has to have urgent medical attention. However knowing the real condition of the dog is quite difficult. To save the life of the pet, the best thing that must be done is to bring the dog to a vet.

Dog food poisoning is serious. You know that. Learn more about the causes at Sarah?s Dogs.

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Source: http://lovemypetsgps.com/blog/2801/dog-food-poisoning-explained/

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The Reason that Made SEO Services Beneficial for Businesses Online

Setting up a business online is not easy. In the web world, you can see a lot more contentions that last up until this time. You will have many search results with the same services and products when you do searches online. It is tremendously suggested that in establishing a personal web-based business, one should take advantage of the best features that seo content writing service can offer.

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Among other wonderful benefits that these services can offer. SEO writing services with high-end contents are not easy to find since there are plenty of provider widely spread for you to be baffled. This is the reason why to evaluate always the history records of the service provider to prevent problems that could be observed in the following few days.

It?s really been a while since I was exploring for an perfect spinning service to best suits my desires. At last I revealed it here, article writing services.

Source: http://www.seasonscaptured.com/2012/08/the-reason-that-made-seo-services-beneficial-for-businesses-online/

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Season 2 NA Regionals - Blog - SoloMid.NET - League of Legends ...

Season 2 NA Regionals

by Pingmeep @ August 29, 2012
2630 Views Tomorrow is the start of the Season 2 NA Regionals at PAX Prime in Seattle Washington. With a $150,000USD prize pool, and the security of a professional eSports career in the upcoming Championship Series in Season 3 on the table every team wants to place in the top 3. Here's a quick overview of the first round matches and some of the picks. First round matches are Bo3 and single elimination.

Team Curse vs TSM Evo
Aug 30, 11AM PDT/2PM EDT/8PM CEST

Pingmeep:
Curse has been outperforming Evo on LAN events as of late. I hate betting against Nhat and Co. but aside from cheese and counter cheese I just can't see a way for Evo to make it through.

LightBlind:
Curse > Evo: playing much better than Evo lately.

AttackFang:
Curse has been performing at the last LAN events, and have been a top 3-4 team since they got their gaming house/apartment.

DigiWombat:
Evo has been extremely quiet in the past few weeks, but the loss of Aphromoo gives me deep concerns about their ability to perform against Curse who has been picking up a lot of steam lately.

MalfusX
Curse has the hot hand coming off some impressive games in Raleigh where they swore they were still holding back. Evo has been a crowd pleaser for some time, but the loss of their nhatphromoo bottom lane is likely to cause them problems against Cop and Elementz. 2-0 to Curse

Team SoloMid vs Monomaniac Ferus
Aug 30, 2PM PDT/5PM EDT/11PM CEST

Pingmeep:
On paper this is supposed to be the easiest match to call. TSM is top seed in NA and mMe.ferus (formerly mTw.NA) barely squeaked by with a winning tiebreaker vs Orbit Gaming at MLG over the weekend. Still to me this feels like either a clean sweep or upset waiting to happen.

LightBlind: TSM > mMe ferus: TSM at LAN is beast.

AttackFang:
TSM > Ferus. Ferus is really strong, but TSM has been practicing for weeks. I expect something new to come out from them.

DigiWombat:
TSM. Ferus has a solid chance at pulling a win out, but there's some sort of tournament magic that TSM pulls out of their pants to just straight up win tournaments. Pants magic.

MalfusX:
Ferus has been firing on all cylinders since the addition of Aphromoo to their lineup, but they're going head to head with one of the most accomplished and storied teams in the game's history. TSM comes into this event fresh, sharp and hungry after their decision not to participate in MLG Raleigh and they'll be out for blood and the $40k top prize. 2-1 to TSM

Team Dignitas vs Team Dynamic
Aug 31, 11AM PDT/2PM EDT/8PM CEST

Pingmeep:
Perhaps the closest match-up. Dignitas may have held back against Dynamic before but few teams can see through cheese like TD and make it to a point where they can win. 2-1 for Team Dignitas but some of the toughest matches of the first round.

LightBlind:
Dig > TD: Close match, Dig have had trouble with TD before but they will have strats prepared so should win.

AttackFang:
TD > Dig. I'm going out on a limb on this one. Dynamic has looked a LOT better since they reestablished the lineup they had at IPL4.

DigiWombat:
I think Dig still has this. TD has never been a consistent tournament team and their live tourney play is pretty all over the place. Dig, on the other hand, consistently plays well and basically walked over the field at Raleigh and they gave up a game to TD, but eh. EH.

MalfusX:
Dignitas come from Raleigh into the regionals with a pair of wins over Dynamic and a lot to prove after the controversy surrounding the grand finals. Dignitas also claim to have a few nasty surprises for their opponents, expect to see them come out swinging against the youngsters. 2-0 to Dig

Counter Logic Gaming Prime vs Team Legion
Aug 31, 2PM PDT/5PM EDT/11PM CEST

Pingmeep:
CLG.Prime has been to Korea and has played against and scrimmed some of the best teams in that region. With the depth of experience and finally competing in NA with their full roster they should take out LgN. CLG's rushed departure out of Korea to avoid Typhoon Bolaven may have shaved some of the most precious practice time. If they didn't do their homework LgN could surprise them for a game and maybe the series. Still I'm betting that CLG will try to use the conventional wisdom to take out Lautemortis with a jungle invade at 1:55 and keep the advantage with better mechanics.

LightBlind:
CLG > LgN: Korea practice OP

AttackFang:
CLG > LGN. Jiji is king.

DigiWombat:
LGN at this point is an also-ran. They were streaky at best in their original incarnation as RFLX and they have failed to produce anything significant in recent months to make anyone things CLG could be toppled. BUT HEY! Surprises are always fun.

MalfusX:
Legion put their mark on the community with an outstanding performance at IPL Face Off in San Francisco. If there is a matchup that could see a huge upset, this might be the one. CLG's success in this tournament will be dependent on their bottom lane: they will live or die by Doublelift's performance. One more thing to remember going into the regionals: CLG have not won a top-tier tournament since MLG Raleigh 2011. 2-1 to CLG

That's what we think, now it's your turn to make your prediction with a comment below.

Source: http://www.solomid.net/blog.php?v=31851

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mosesjohnsen: Amy Tan speaking about creativity ? UW English ...

I?ve recently watched this TEDTalk, and I was particularly interested in what Amy?calls ?moral ambiguity? which has to do with the discrepancy between authorial intention and actual effect ? an interesting topic for those of us who are into creative writing.

I hope you enjoy it.?>> http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_tan_on_creativity.html?<<? Any thoughts?

Discussion Questions:

• To what extent do you consider the possible effect that your work might have on a given audience?
• To what extent can a writer be held responsible for the effect that his/her work has?
• What are the ways in which a writer can control the effect of a literary work?? What are some of the things that a writer cannot control?? (For those of you who have taken or are taking any Literary Criticism courses, feel free to pull a Stanley Fish, or an Immanuel Kant, or an Edward Corbett.)

Like this:

Be the first to like this.

Source: http://uwenglishsociety.wordpress.com/2012/08/27/amy-tan-speaking-about-creativity/

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Source: http://mosesjohnsen.blogspot.com/2012/08/amy-tan-speaking-about-creativity-uw.html

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Democratic super PAC ad tries to undercut Romney

WASHINGTON (AP) ? A Democratic super PAC supporting President Barack Obama is releasing a new TV ad that aims to undermine Republican Mitt Romney's appeal to middle-class workers as Republicans are gathering for their convention in Tampa, Florida.

The ad by Priorities USA Action features a Massachusetts small business owner who voted for Romney in 2002 but now says she feels "duped" by the former Massachusetts governor. The ad is airing in Florida during the GOP convention and criticizes the level of job growth in Massachusetts under Romney's watch.

Romney spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg called the ad a distraction from Obama's record. She said the Republican campaign was "happy to compare the 4.7 percent unemployment rate Mitt Romney achieved with President Obama's record of 42 straight months of unemployment above 8 percent any day."

The super PAC says the ad is part of a new $30 million project that will focus on how the Republican ticket's proposals would affect the middle class. It will air in Florida, Colorado, Ohio and Virginia.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/democratic-super-pac-ad-tries-undercut-romney-101649053--election.html

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10 weight loss tips for men - Calorie Secrets

Although you usually hear about women complaining about their bodies and weight, many men are also concerned with their weight too.? Here are some tips that men can follow to help them lose weight:

Be careful what you eat

Men like to eat;? Not that woman don?t, but you don?t usually see as many women pigging out on food as much as men.? It is ok to splurge every once in a while, but constantly eating high fat and high calorie food is a great way to gain weight.

So, try to make most of the foods you eat be healthy and unprocessed.? Don?t be embarrassed to eat a salad.? And, when you are hanging out with the guys, you can splurge and eat the huge burger and fries or pizza that you would normally eat. See also: How many calories to lose weight

Learn how to cook

Many men know how to cook.? But, there are also many who don?t, and never bothered to learn.? This causes them to hit the drive through on their way home from work and very likely, get something that is very high in calories and fat.? Learning how to cook can prevent that.? And, learning how to cook doesn?t mean that you have to cook gourmet meals for yourself.

It also doesn?t mean preheating the oven for a frozen pizza or mozzarella sticks.? Just learning how to saut? some vegetables or make pasta or rice would be a good start.? It is much better to eat whole foods and avoid frozen, processed foods when cooking at home. See also How to cook healthier meals

Don?t lift too much

A lot of men have a goal of hypertrophy, or increased muscle mass, when they are working out.? Often times, they will be looking for quick results, so will lift too much, which can cause them to injure themselves.? This can actually make it so they can?t work out for a while, or at least until their injury is healed.

The recommended amount to lift with a goal of hypertrophy is 70-85% or your 1RM, or one repetition maximum.? One repetition maximum is the maximum amount that you can lift and do one repetition for an exercise.? For example, if you can do one repetition of a bicep curl with 50 pound weights, you should lift between 35 and 42 pounds for a goal of hypertrophy.

Charge up your workout

This goes for anyone.? If you are constantly doing the same workout every day, you are eventually going to plateau.? To fix that problem, you need to constantly be changing your workout.? You should try different exercises to work each muscle.? You need to increase the weight once the one you are using becomes too heavy.? You should also increase the reps or sets that you are doing.

Changing your cardio is important too because if you are always running 5 miles as your cardio workout, it may get boring, but your body is also going to get used to it.? You might want to try biking, spin, kickboxing, or even walking.

Don?t snack at night

Mindless eating is what causes many people to either gain weight, or prevents them from losing weight. Most people do this when they are watching TV at night.? Some people may even eat just as many calories that they have eaten for the whole day while they are snacking at night.? So, if you make a rule that you aren?t allowed to eat anything after dinner, or even just allow yourself to have one healthy snack, it may make a huge difference.

Watch what you are drinking

A lot of men like to drink beer.? And, the heavier the beer, or the higher the alcohol content, usually the better it tastes.? But, that also means that it most likely contains a lot more calories.? When you are out having a few drinks with your friends, the calories can add up.? Let?s say that the 12 oz beer you are drinking has 180 calories in it, and you drink 5 of them.? That?s an extra 720 calories!? You may want to look into a light beer, or if you don?t want to drink that, try a lower calorie mixed drink such as a vodka tonic.

Follow a workout program that works for you

You shouldn?t just be doing cardio to lose weight, and you shouldn?t just lift weights to gain muscle.? You need to incorporate both into a workout program, and also need to include some flexibility training.? It is very important to warm up and cool down every time you work out, and stretching should be part of that.? This can help prevent injury.

A lot of people aren?t sure what they should be doing.?? It might even be a good idea to invest in a personal trainer if you can afford it, or sometimes you can even get a free session when you join a gym.

Follow a well balanced diet

This may be obvious, but a lot of people don?t know what they should be eating.? Of course it is best to avoid fast food and processed or frozen food.? You should try to include a lot of fruits and vegetables in your diet.? Also, try to avoid white bread or other white flour products and try to eat whole grains such as whole wheat pasta and bread or brown rice.? Also, try to eat lean meats.

Although you might want to eat hot dogs and hamburgers as your source of protein, try to include some baked fish or chicken a few times a week also as these are lower in fat and calories, and are much better for you.? Also, try to eat healthy fats such as olive oil, avocado, and coconut oil instead of butter.

Watch the sodium

Many people aren?t aware of how much salt they are using, and eating too much salt can cause you to retain water, which may prevent you from losing weight.? It will cause you to feel bloated if you eat too much salt.? So, be very careful when salting your food.? Avoiding frozen, canned, or packaged foods can also help cut down on the amount of sodium you are including in your diet.

Drink lower calorie beverages

Many people aren?t aware of the calories that are in the beverages that they are drinking.? You don?t want to drink your calories.? Drinking higher calorie beverages can really add a lot of calories to your total calorie count for the day.? You probably already know that soda has a lot of calories in it.? But, some juices also contain a lot of calories.

Energy drinks can be high in calories.? Milk is always a good choice since it is high in protein and has important vitamins and minerals in it.? Try drinking lower fat or fat free milk though.? Water is of course the best choice.

See also best healthy weight loss drinks?and 50 Weight loss tips

Like this article? Share and subscribe!

You may also like to read

About the author

Kelly is a registered Dietetic Technician. She has a Master?s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion and she is also a NASM certified personal trainer. You can connect with her on Google+

Source: http://www.caloriesecrets.net/10-weight-loss-tips-for-men/

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Nevada: Laughlin Nevada Trips

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Obama vs. Romney 101: 5 differences on education

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Some two dozen topless women protested in a New York City park on a hot, sweaty Sunday as part of what they called "National Go-Topless Day" to draw attention to inequality in topless rights between men and women. There were topless men in the park, too, but nobody paid them much attention, a disparity, organizers said, that demonstrated the need for the event. The topless women drew crowds of onlookers who took pictures and video with their cell phones. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-vs-romney-101-5-differences-education-132140547.html

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Motorola: Motorola Phone Review | Epou

Posted by Eta Phi Sports on Aug 28, 2012 in Mobile | 0 comments

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So, what are you waiting for? Motorola Bluetooth needs no supporting software or degree in rocket science to use. Beyond that, the motorola phone review to listen to their favorite tracks and simply discover the motorola phone review of Motorola mobile phone. Send and receive emails, chat through instant messages or search for desired content on the motorola phone review except for in one of the motorola phone review and innovative services. Quality is no longer a reason for you to access internet from his mobile phone. Send and receive emails to other compatible mobile phones. Whether you?re looking for quality mobile phones, most of the amazing music mobile phones that look like no other available. the original accessories would enhance the motorola phone review of the models include the motorola phone review, MotofoneF3, MotorazRMaxx and W375 among other services. the other latest mobile phones as free gifts.

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Motorola: Motorola Phone Review

Source: http://epou.net/?p=73379

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Grizzly bear kills Calif. man in Denali National Park

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) ? A hiker in Alaska's Denali National Park photographed a grizzly bear for at least eight minutes before the bear mauled and killed him in the first fatal attack in the park's history, officials said Saturday.

Investigators have recovered the camera and looked at the photographs, which show the bear grazing and not acting aggressively before the attack, Denali Park Superintendent Paul Anderson said.

The hiker was identified late Saturday as Richard White, 49, of San Diego. He was backpacking alone along the Toklat River on Friday afternoon when he came within 50 yards of the bear, far closer than the quarter-mile of separation required by park rules, officials said.

"They show the bear grazing in the willows, not acting aggressive in any form or manner during that period of time," Anderson said of the photos.

Officials learned of the attack after hikers stumbled upon an abandoned backpack along the river about three miles from a rest area on Friday afternoon. The hikers also spotted torn clothing and blood. They immediately hiked back and alerted staff park.

Rangers in a helicopter spotted a large male grizzly bear sitting on the hiker's remains, which they called a "food cache" in the underbrush about 100 to 150 yards from the site of the attack on Friday.

A state trooper shot and killed the male bear on Saturday. Investigators examined the bear's stomach contents, looked at White's photos and used other tests Saturday evening to confirm that it was the animal that killed White, park officials said in a statement Saturday night.

White's remains were recovered Saturday evening and were being sent to the medical examiner in Anchorage.

There's no indication that the man's death was the result of anything other than a bear attack, investigators said, adding that it's the first known fatal mauling in the park's nearly century-long history.

"Over the years, and especially since the 1970s, the park has worked very diligently to minimize the conflict between humans and wildlife in the park," Anderson said. "We have some of the most stringent human-wildlife conflict regulations in the National Park system, and I think those are largely responsible for the fact that there hasn't been a fatal attack."

White had been in the Denali backcountry for three nights and may have recently hiked in other areas of Alaska, park officials said. It was unknown if he had previous backcountry experience in Denali.

Park officials said they don't believe other registered backpackers are in the immediate area. That portion of the park is closed but other wilderness areas remain open, officials said.

Prior to receiving a permit to hike in the area, all backpackers in the park receive mandatory bear awareness training that teaches them to stay at least a quarter-mile away from bears, and to slowly back away if they find themselves any closer. Investigators confirmed that the hiker had received that training.

Denali is located 240 miles north of Anchorage. It spans more than 6 million acres and is home to numerous wild animals, including bears, wolves, caribou and moose.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bear-kills-calif-man-denali-national-park-064602013.html

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Sony VAIO Z13 (SVZ13114GXX)

The Sony VAIO Z13 (SVZ13114GXX) is Sony's premium ultaportable laptop, bringing all of the thinness and performance you'd expect from an ultrabook, but also offering top-of-the-line construction and several extras for a premium price. In direct contrast to $600 ultrabooks, most ultraportables tend to cost a lot more , and the Sony VAIO Z13 is an extreme example of that, selling for $1,949.99 (direct). And while it has the slim dimensions of an ultrabook, the Sony VAIO Z13 comes with a standard-voltage processor?a subtle, but important distinction. The VAIO Z13 certainly delivers a premium experience, but a few elements fall short of what we expect, given its price.

Design
The VAIO Z13 features premium carbon fiber construction for a chassis that is exceptionally lightweight yet strong. Measuring 0.66 by 13.0 by 8.27 inches (HWD), the ultraportable weighs only 2.58 pounds, closer in design to the slim Acer Aspire S5-391-9880 ultrabook than the thicker, heavier Toshiba Portege R835-P88 , our Editors' Choice among ultraportables. The thinness doesn't stem entirely from the materials, however, as Sony uses a special drop-hinge design which actually places the rear feet of the laptop on the hinge-edge of the lid, so the open laptop is propped up slightly. This makes for a more comfortable typing experience while also keeping everything extremely compact when the system is closed. On the downside, however, this makes for a slightly less comfortable experience when you're actually using the laptop on your lap?the hinge and feet aren't very comfortable on the thighs.

The VAIO Z13 features a 13.1-inch backlit display panel with 1,920-by-1,080 resolution. This resolution is well higher than those of the displays seen on most ultraportables and ultrabooks, including the 1,600-by-900 display on the Samsung Series 9 15-inch (NP900X4C-A02US) , but it's matched by the 1080p displays seen on the Editors' Choice Asus Zenbook Prime UX32VD-DB71 and its Zenbook Prime siblings, some of which can be bought for under $1,000. Sony pairs the VAIO Z13's display with built-in stereo speakers and Dolby Home Theater v4 software, which offers clear sound at most volumes. The audio provides enough sound for one or two people to listen to and understand dialogue in a Netflix or Hulu video, but not enough to share music with a room.

The VAIO Z13 is equipped with a full-size chiclet keyboard, and the keys have a slight sheen to them despite their matte appearance. Though the keyboard isn't as comfortable to type on as the one on the Lenovo ThinkPad X230 , it's more than passable. The accompanying touchpad is accurate and responsive, but it has a strange glossy, fingerprint-collecting surface on the buttons and a textured hexagonal snakeskin pattern. I didn't particularly care for either. Between the two mouse buttons is a fingerprint reader for easy secure logins.

Features
The VAIO Z13 fits two USB 3.0 ports (one with power for charging devices while the system is asleep), an HDMI-output, and a compact Ethernet port that opens to full-size when needed, but closes up when not in use to maintain the laptop's slim lines. On the right is a full-size VGA port, and on the front edge of the palm rest are two card reader slots?one for Sony's proprietary memory formats (MagicGate/HG Duo) and another for the more common SD formats. Between the right and left mouse buttons is the aforementioned fingerprint reader, with a TPM chip inside for further security. Above the display is a 1.3-megapixel webcam, equipped with an Exmor sensor from Sony's camera and imaging department. Wireless connectivity comes by way of 802.11n Wi-Fi, as well as Bluetooth 4.0 and Intel's Wireless Display (WiDi) technology, which lets you wirelessly stream HD content to TVs through an Netgear Push2TV adapter.

As is often the case with ultrabooks, there is no optical drive, but the 256GB solid-state-drive (SSD) should provide a workable amount of storage space while also helping the VAIO Z13 to zip right along. Installed on the drive are the usual bits of trialware and bloatware, like a 30-day trial of Kaspersky Internet Security, Microsoft Office 2010 Starter, Microsoft PowerPoint Reader, and a few free programs like Evernote and Skype. Sony piles on with proprietary utilities, like VAIO Media Gallery, VAIO Care, VAIO Messenger, VAIO Gate, Sony PlayMemories, and Sony Music Unlimited. But Sony also includes a few extra premium offerings as well, namely full versions of Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum, ACID Music Studio, and Sound Forge Audio Studio. These premium multimedia tools are bundled with the laptop, along with Sony's one-year warranty.

Performance
While the VAIO 13 may be slim, there was no skimping on the processor; it's equipped with the same 2.1GHz Intel i7-3612QM quad-core processor seen in the Dell XPS 15 (Summer 2012) ?a full-size laptop. This almost-ultrabook packs a processor more commonly seen in larger laptops, offering a step up in processing power from the low-voltage CPUs used in ultrabooks.

Paired with 8GB of RAM and given a healthy speed boost from the aforementioned SSD, the VAIO Z13 scored an impressive 7,096 points in PCMark 7, well ahead of the Acer Aspire S5-391-9880 (5,053 points) and Asus Zenbook Prime UX32VD-DB71 (2,523 points), both of which have a low-voltage quad-core processor, and ahead of the Toshiba Portege R835-P88 (2,313 points) which used an older second-gen Core i5. With four cores running a total of eight logic threads, the VAIO Z13 also rocketed ahead of competitors in Cinebech R11.5, scoring 5.64 points. The nearest competitor, the Asus UX32VD-DB71, scored 3.58 points. With that sort of processing power, it's no surprise that the VAIO Z13 also led the category in our multimedia tests as well, zipping through Handbrake in 1 minute 22 seconds and Photoshop CS5 in 3:31.

Unlike premium ultrabooks, however, the VAIO Z13 doesn't have a discrete graphics processor, relying instead on Intel's integrated graphics processing. In 3DMark 06, therefore, the VAIO Z13 scored a respectable 7,462 points at medium detail and 1,366-by-768 resolution, but was challenged by the Nvidia-equipped Dell XPS 14 (Summer 2012) and the Asus UX32VD-DB71, which scored 7,047 points and 8,627 points, respectively. Even with its healthy graphics capability, the VAIO Z13 wasn't able to produce playable results in either of our gaming tests.

While the full-voltage processor made for some impressive results in our performance tests, it chewed through battery-life pretty quickly, as the VAIO Z13's battery lasted only 4 hours 51 minutes when tested it in MobileMark. In a category defined by convenience and portability, the failure to hit the five-hour mark is a pretty big disappointment, especially considering that the Toshiba Portege R835-P88 stretches well past it (8:40) and the Dell XPS 14 (Summer 2012) nearly doubles it (9:37).

The Sony VAIO Z13 (SVZ13114GXX) sets out to dominate the pricier end of the ultraportable category, and in some respects it does, with unbeaten processing power, featherweight carbon fiber construction, and great multimedia performance, along with the software tools to take advantage of it. If you want the best ultraportable available, this may well be it, but with the highest price in the category, you'd expect a discrete graphics processor and the long battery life seen in other ultraportables and ultrabooks. It can't match the value-per-dollar offered by the ultraportable Editors' Choice Toshiba Portege R835-P88, and the leading ultrabook Asus Zenbook Prime UX32VD-DB71 offers an equally gorgeous display, crisp audio, and strong multimedia performance, and for considerably less. Nevertheless, if money is no object, the Sony VAIO Z13 is a top-tier ultraportable, if not the best value for the price.

BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS:

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Sony VAIO Z13 (SVZ13114GXX) with several other laptops side by side.

More laptop reviews:
??? Acer Aspire TimelineX 4830TG-6808
??? Sony VAIO Z13 (SVZ13114GXX)
??? Apple MacBook Air 11-inch (Mid 2012)
??? Samsung 17-inch Series 7 Chronos (NP700Z7C-S01US)
??? Vizio 15.6-inch Thin + Light (CT15-A1)
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/wcopXSR1sAQ/0,2817,2408845,00.asp

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Home health aide classes - HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS

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Ann Romney has Secret Service protection

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney now has Secret Service agents assigned to her at all times. The move comes as her husband is set to formally receive the GOP presidential nomination later this week.

Mitt Romney has had Secret Service protection since January.

It's standard practice for the wives of presidential candidates to receive such protection as Election Day approaches.

Agents accompanied Ann Romney to a supermarket near the Romneys' New Hampshire vacation home on Sunday morning.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ann-romney-secret-protection-144536920.html

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Little respect for conventions in never-ending U.S. campaign (reuters)

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Insights on Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations ? Part 1 |

[By?Arturo J. Bencosme-D?vila, CPS Affiliate Faculty with the Master of Nonprofit Management and Dual Language program] ?This is the first in a series of postings on strategic planning in the nonprofit sector. While borrowed heavily from the for-profit world, the approach described here has elements that are specifically useful for nonprofits. It comprises four parts and is based on several major references:? Collins & Porras (2007)[1]; Kaplan & Norton (2007)[2]; Niven (2003)[3]; and Bencosme (2013)[4].

I.???????? Visionary Part: ?This is the alignment station in the process. Clarifying the values that the organization believes in and the purpose that it serves constitutes the starting point. A mission statement will express how values and purpose will be manifested. Next, a portrait of the aspired long term future that results from accomplishing the mission is composed in a vision statement. Finally, visionary objectives embedded in the vision are translated into goals.

II.???????? ?SWOT? and Scenario Analysis Part: ?It refers to scanning for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.? Even though this is a traditional strategic planning tool, it can be far more complex in nonprofits than is for-profits. The organization?s current reality relative to its aspired future is assessed. This sets the stage for developing strategies under several scenarios.

III.???????? Strategy Part: ?A set of mutually supporting themes that will drive the organization to materialize its visionary goals is constructed now:? one theme for each visionary goal. In turn, the themes are translated into strategic enablers from four perspectives namely, beneficiaries and the community, financial accountability, internal processes and organizational learning and growth. The set of measurements for these enablers is a ?balanced scorecard?.? Interconnecting them through causal relationships supporting the strategic themes produces a ?strategy map?:? a powerful, visual tool for becoming a strategy focused organization. Naturally, these maps will be different in nonprofits from their for-profit counterpart.

Transcendence Part:? It consists of story telling the future of the organization to surface and to engage the organization members through grasping meaning in the organization?s trajectory: past, present, and what might lie ahead. The hero?s journey archetype is used as a story guiding pattern to bring an epic spirit to the organization. Just as is important to know:? what is being strived for -a sense of vision; why that is wanted -a sense of values, purpose and mission; and how to strive for it -a sense of strategy;? being mindful of the path of the organization over time is meaningful, specially for nonprofit organizations ?a sense of journey.

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[1] Collins, J.C. & Porras, J.I. (1996): Building Your Company?s Vision.? Harvard Business Review.? September, 1996.

[2] Kaplan, R.S. & Norton, D.P.: ?Using the Balanced Scorecard as a Strategic Management System.? Harvard Business Review. Managing for the Long Term.? July-August 2007

[3] Niven, P. (2003):? Balanced Scorecard Step-by-Step for Government and Nonprofit Agencies. ?John Willey & Sons, Inc.

[4] Bencosme (2013):? Committing to a Shared Epic Intent ? Organizational Learning along the Hero?s Journey. [Forthcoming]

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I ? THE VISIONARY PART

The essence of truly powerful visions is formed by the values, purpose and mission underlying it. Values refer to the deep-rooted fundamental beliefs with which the organization identifies itself. They are worthy in and by themselves and have to be identified, defined and their utilization explained through principles. For example, if TRUST ?is one such value, the definition utilized by the organization could be:? the quality of believing into something or someone. And in our organization: ?We build our all relationships on trust? (a principle). Only a handful of values (no more than nine) need to be considered:? those that matter the most to the organization?s identity.

A mission statement describes what the organization offers to its beneficiaries: products and / or services. On the other hand, is necessary to be mindful that missions constitute a particular way of manifesting the purpose of the organization. For example, a nonprofit that provides personal growth tools to inmates in prisons (its mission) contributes in this manner to the wellbeing of those individuals and that of society at large (its purpose).

Mission statements are important to any organization and even more so for non-profits which are frequently referred to as ?mission driven organizations?. This contrasts with the for-profits, which are driven by ?stockholder wealth? optimization.

While mission statements are useful because they clarify what the organization delivers and separates that from what it does not, ?only a shared vision of the successful future of the organization will bring about the alignment needed to accomplish the mission. This insight can mark a valuable difference in organizational leadership. To that end, a useful, effective vision needs to be constructed that will be congruent with the values, purpose and mission.? Visions take the form of? a detailed, vivid narrative -a portrait painted with words- of what will be like and how will feel having attained the goals of the long term, overarching? goals of the organization. The latter are called visionary goals.

There seems to be several routes to develop a vision. One such route starts with establishing the goals and then writing the narrative. A practical procedure for following this route is offered by Collins & Porras (1996)[1]. The opposite route starts with a narrative and then extracts the goals from it. This route relies more on the intuition of those following it. In either case, the important result to obtain is a set of worthwhile goals that invite stretch, are feasible (but not certain), measurable, timely and totally congruent with the underlying essence of the vision: values, purpose and mission.

Next month I?ll present Part II,??SWOT? and Scenario Analysis. We welcome your comments.

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[1] Ibid.

Arturo J. Bencosme-D?vila is an independent management consultant and coach, an affiliate faculty with CPS, Dual Language Program, Master in Nonprofit Management, and a CPS Ignatian Faculty Scholar.? His 35+ year path through engineering, business & nonprofit executive, strategic planning, organizational development, MBA teaching, and management consulting have led him into emphasizing organizational learning: the art and practice of expanding the capacity for clarifying the desired future and the means to attain it.

His education includes an Engineer degree from Universidad Cat?lica Andr?s Bello (Caracas, Venezuela), and two M.Sc. and a PhD from Stanford University.? ?Dr. Bencosme?s ?personal legend? includes the intent to reinforce the epic spirit in individuals and organizations, especially in the nonprofit sector.? His favorite Jesuit value is to be a ?contemplative in action?.

Source: http://cps.regis.edu/blog/insights-on-strategic-planning-for-nonprofit-organizations-part-1/

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